Everything was so perfect.
By LiltingBanshee.
Author´s note: Thanks you all for your kind reviews:)
StrangeGirl: Thanks, hope the idea is not too far out:)
phantomfan1911: Thanks for the info about "Destler" I have to admit I´ve only seen the Lloyd Webber version and read the Leraoux book:)
Shdwcat27: Thanks for your endless support for my ideas;)
Leben ist Magie: Thanks for your info. I´m not sureI´ll watch that version after your summary though;) Sorry you think the prologue is confusing, hope this next chapter clears up some things for you:)
Ok, chapter 2...
Christine Destler ran around in her apartment gathering her things. She was late again-she knew it.
"Sarah!" she shouted to the ceiling. "Get down here. Your breakfast is ready and we´re late!"
Minutes later a young girl walked into the kitchen looking quite moody.
Christine looked at her 12- year old and sighed.
"Sarah, we really need to hurry. I´ll be late for work and you´ll be late for school" she said as she placed a bowl of cereal infront of the girl.
"Mummy, I´m not feeling well today", Sarah groaned.
"What´s wrong today?", Christine asked half heartedly. This was becoming an everyday morning conversation.
"I´m feeling a bit nauseous, maybe I should stay home", the girl tried.
"Sarah, you feel nauseous because you kept reading till way past midnight and didn´t get enough sleep. And you can´t stay home, I have to work", Christine said.
Sarah sighed. "I could stay with Dad today", she said and pushed her unfinished breakfast away.
"No, you can´t stay with your Dad, he´s working", Christine snapped.
"How do you know? You haven´t called and asked!", Sarah spat.
"Because he´s always working. Go brush your teeth or you can walk to school", Christine ended the conversation.
After dropping Sarah off at school Christine raced to the theatre. She was late for rehersals again and the show was opening in a month.
This time wasn´t easy for her. Why did Sarah have to make everything harder with her constant pre-teenage behaviour.
Throwing her car in the parking lot, Christine ran to the stage entrance.
Just inside she met her best friend Meg Giry, whom she had known since their early schooldays.
Meg looked at Christine´s flushed face.
"Christine, you´re late. Are you allright?", she asked with concern.
"Yes Meg, I´m fine I just had a rough morning", Christine replied.
Meg knew things were hard on her friend these days. Being alone with Sarah and handling the divorce negotiations had made Christine loose some of her happy spark. Still Meg failed to understand what had gone so wrong between Christine and her husband.
Christine had been so in love with Erik and he had worshipped the ground she walked on. Meg had never seen two persons who were so perfect together.
Yes, there was the disease which had caused the distortion of the right side of Erik´s face, but Christine had never cared. She had loved him with all her heart. Distorted face, age difference, people's comments – nothing had ever made Christine doubt her love for Erik.
And Sarah. The joy the couple had felt when the baby came. Now she seemed to be a burden for Christine. Meg was truly confused, but pushed her thoughts away. They all had to concentrate on the rehersal.
Christine was on the stage with the rest of the cast. The director informed them what they were to go through today.
"Right people. We don´t have long before opening night, so please concentrate. Mr. Destler will be working home today, but he instructed us to work hard on scene 12 and 16. Let´s get started", the director said and clapped his hands.
'Great', Christine thought. She couldn´t really face Erik today.
As they began she looked to box 5 where he usually sat and followed the rehersals.
'God, I have to stop acting in his productions', Christine thought as the music began.
Several hours later Christine was getting ready to pick Sarah up from school. She was bent over to retrieve something from the floor when she heard a voice.
"Christine?". She turned around and saw a well known face.
"Raoul!", she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?".
The man grinned and came to kiss her cheek.
"I was just coming to see a friend who works at the theatre. I didn´t know you were in this production", he said.
Christine smiled. "You´re looking well Raoul. God, how many years has it been?", she asked.
"Must have been nearly 14. How have you been Christine?", he said.
"Good, but busy", she smiled. "And I´m actually quite busy now, but I would love to catch up with you some other time", she said.
"How does caffee tomorrow sound?", he asked her.
"Great", Christine answered delighted, hugged him and ran to her car.
After waiting 15 minutes outside Sarah´s school, Christine decided to go in and get her daughter. The girl was probably caught up in some book in the library.
Sarah was neither in her classroom nor in the library. As Christine headed towards the music room she met the headmaster´s secretary.
"Mrs. Destler are you looking for Sarah?", the young woman asked.
"Yes, do you know where she is?", Christine´s patience was running out.
"Her father picked her up earlier, she…", the woman didn´t get to finish her sentence. Christine was already marching towards her car.
Erik opened the door and stood face to face with a very displeased Christine. He sighed.
"Hello Christine, I thought it might be you".
"Where is my daughter?"; Christine demanded as she marched into his apartment.
"Our daughter is sleeping on my bed", Erik said.
"What do you think you´re doing Erik?. I know we agreed on shared custody, but you can´t just take her when you feel like it without telling me", she sounded furious.
"Christine would you relax! The school called me. Sarah had been throwing up and the couldn´t get a hold of you", Erik sighed. He was in no mood for another argument.
"Why didn´t you call me then?", Christine asked.
"Believe me I tried, but you must have forgotten to turn on your phone after rehersal. Sarah said she told you she wasn´t feeling well this morning, but you sent her to school anyway. Why did you do that Christine?", Erik asked.
"Because she plays that game every morning Erik. If it´s not her stomach it´s her head or back or knees. Anything! How am I to know when she means business?", Christine snapped.
"Mummy?". Both turned at the sound of the voice. Sarah walked into the living room. Her brown curls tussled from sleep.
"Sarah, get your things. We have to go shopping before dinner", Christine said.
"Christine, you can stay here for dinner", Erik tried.
"No, I want her to go to bed early. Sarah now", Christine couldn´t be persuaded.
"Sarah stumped off to the bedroom to get her things.
"Christine don´t be so hard on her. This is difficult for her too", Erik said.
"I know Erik, but she is not making it easier for herself – or me. She constantly answers back to me and she won't do anything I tell her to", Christine said.
"Maybe she should stay here for a couple of days", Erik suggested.
"No", Christine snapped.
"Why the hell not? She´s my daughter too", Erik was loosing his patience.
"Because I don´t want you to neglect her because you have to work", Christine snapped back.
"You work just as hard! Do you call it paying attention to your child when you send her off to school sick?", Erik was not to be pushed around.
"Are you calling me a bad mother?", Christine hissed.
"No, I´m just saying that you´re not a saint either", Erik said harshly.
"Do not…", both stopped as Sarah entered the room. They had agreed not to fight infront of her no matter what.
"Come on sweety, we have to go", Christine tried to find a happier voice.
Sarah said nothing and went to her father.
"Bye Daddy", she said sadly and reached to hug him.
"Goodbye my pet, I will see you soon", his voice sounded tearful.
Christine grabbed her daughter´s hand.
"Bye Erik", was all she said as she closed the door after her.
When they had left Erik cursed to himself.
Why couldn´t he just have one conversation with her without loosing his temper?
And why did she have to be so bloody stubborn all the time?
Yes he worked hard on his music, but she worked just as hard with her performances. It had never been a problem before.
Why was she being so bitchy? If it wasn´t for him she wouldn´t have had half as many stage roles in her career! No, he wouldn´t go there. He had loved writing every part for her. He loved her for God´s sake!
Going to his desk he picked up the divorce papers. In one pull he tore them apart.
He would not let her go without a fight!
Ok, that´s it. There will probably some some (very little) RC romance in this story, but hey! - Erik says´s he´ll fight, hehe:)
Please review:)