Three Month's Pause

Chapter Two: Dancing In Lies

A/N: Oh, you guys are so nice. What a warm welcome, my sister and I received! We'd rather expected this story to go unnoticed, but thanks to you lot, that won't happen!

Demon In Me - I'm afraid Erik isn't quite into singing at the moment. You see, he's quietly spying on Christine...it wouldn't make much sense for him to give away his position by singing. But, we'll see if we can work it in, somehow.

Maidenhair: I like Erikway more than Raoul de Pansy. However, I have the sneaking suspicion that my sister has grown fond of the Vicomte, since she liked him more than the Phantom when we saw the 2004 movie. Nevertheless, we've decided to make this Raoul a decent character, seeing as some people like him. :-)

Melinda Daae: Thanks for the review! Here's another chapter we hope you'll enjoy!

MeghanKatherine: The romantic pairing (between Raoul and Chrisitne) is rather a secret, yes. Raoul wouldn't mind telling the whole world about their relationship, but Christine is worried about Erik's reaction and societys', as you'll see in this chapter.

Mortal Phantom: Thanks for taking interest in our story! We'll try to update regularly, although this will probably be a short fic. We weren't planning on making it long, or anything.

You might want to go back and read a bit of the last chapter to understand the beginning of this one.


Meg cast her friend an unhappy look, as she followed her. Christine's weak explanation didn't convince her, but Meg would let the matter rest, seeing as Christine didn't want to talk about it. "Yes, I suppose we should return. Mother can get so upset when ballerinas are away without permission."

As the two girls were nearing the last corner that would lead them to the stage, they heard fast footsteps approaching. Mother Giry rounded the corner, her face determined, yet worried. Her eyes landed upon the two girls and her expression quickly changed to one of angry relief.

"You two! Where 'ave you been? Meg, how many times must I tell you not to wander off during practice! And Christine, your disappearance disconcerted the managers. I can't imagin--" Madame Giry's scolding was interrupted by an unforeseen breeze that made the tapestries flutter wildly.

"Come now," Giry said, stirring the girls towards the stage, and glancing around the empty corridor. "You must practice."

Christine followed Madame G. with a hurried apology. "I'm sorry, Madame Giry! It won't happen again," she said to her instructor's retreating back. Christine gave herself a mental slap. When Madame Giry had appeared all of a sudden, she had almost screamed, fearing that it was the Phantom nearing.

Christine had a feeling that her acute fright was just paranoia and extremely unnecessary. She had to speak to someone about it, though. Perhaps Raoul...

Half an Hour Later

Vicomte Raoul de Changy entered Opera Popularie, immediately feeling the intense setting of the place. Ever since La Carlotta gave her infamous croaking show and Buquet had died during Il Muto, people had been much more stressed. The young ballerinas, ballet rats, Christine told him, were more flighty, the managers were snappier, the audience had diminished and Christine seemed quieter, even whipped.

He was on his way now to ask her to lunch, hoping a day in Paris would soothe her. Raoul walked towards the stage area, where he knew Christine would be practicing, with a bouquet of flowers behind his back. He didn't notice an odd fluttering of a sheet hanging on a railing nearby.

At the Stage...

Christine was struggling in her dancing. The movements that used to come so easily to her were being performed with an effort. Twice she managed to trip fellow ballerinas and despite the warning cry from Meg, Christine had danced right into a small ballet rat. They both had fallen to their knees and the rat had burst into frustrated tears. Getting to her feet, Christine didn't miss the sore looks the managers sent her.

Madame Giry shook her head sadly. Christine was suffering with this new attention on her coming from so many different sources. (The managers, the Vicomte and the Phantom, to name a few.) The young Swedish girl couldn't focus on the steps, the rhythm, or the movement.

"Miss Daae, pay attention!" she scolded when the girl bumped into a young ballerina. Madame Giry knew nothing would be accomplished today in the ballet for the new opera. Her thoughts were reconfirmed when she noticed Vicomte de Changy with the managers.

"All right, girls, that is all for today. End with your exercises and I will see you all again tomorrow. Do not forget today's steps!" At this dismissal many of the girls rushed to each other, forming small cliques as they cooled down. She saw her daughter run to Christine.

"Christine," Meg whispered, holding her friend's hand in concern. "How are you? You seemed rather off during practice. Maybe you'll feel better now, now that Mr. de Changy is here." She pointed.

Christine managed a small smile at her friend's concern and her outright white lie. 'Seemed rather off'? She'd felt like a gangly giraffe out on stage, surrounded by graceful gazelles. However, her appreciation for her friend was quickly forgotten when she realized what Meg had said.

"Oh? Raoul is here?" Christine peered over Meg's shoulder and spotted the Vicomte, standing near the managers, looking quite confident and secure. He was exactly what she needed in this storm of confusion, fear and helplessness - an anchor, stable and reassuring. Christine smiled, her fears of the Phantom and his undoubted powers vanishing.

Meg prodded Christine's side, teasingly, happy to see her smile a true smile for once. She saw how gay and bright Christine became when she was with Raoul. "Of course, he's here, Christine. I wonder who he came to see?" She laughed. "You should go say hello."

Over There...

"Monsieur Andre, M. Firmin, it's good to see you both again." Raoul shook their hands. "How have the rehearsals for the new opera been going so far?"

"Dismal," Andre replied bitterly. "The dancing is a mess, the singers need work and that cursed Phantom of the Opera talk has yet to die down."

"Absolutely ghastly." Richard agreed. "It'll be a miracle if The Silver Box is ready come gala night." He cast a furious glance around the stage, imagining all their money from ticket sales going to waste.

With a furious shake of his head, he snapped out of his reverie. "Yes, well. What did you want?" Richard asked Raoul rather rudely, trying to ignore his gut feeling that this play would ever see opening night.

Back with the Girls….

Christine was about to go and do just as Meg had suggested, but stopped short upon seeing Raoul converse with the managers, both of whom wore ugly looks. "No, I think I'll wait until he's done talking to the managers. He must've come here on business." Christine said, and just like that, her doubts and fears were resurfacing.

Surely, their relationship was socially unacceptable - how could a Vicomte love a singer? How could he love her, let alone entertain the thought of marriage! And what of the Phantom? Where was he now, and what horrible ideas were brewing in his unhappy mind?

"Meg, I feel quite tired. I'm going to my dressing room to change." Christine suddenly excused herself, feeling the need for some peace and quiet, despite the dangers that threatened when she was alone.

Over There Again…

Raoul cleared his throat. "Actually, monsuiers, I'm here for a word with Mlle. Daae. Would that be all right?"

Andre answered him. "Yes, that's fine. Rehearsals are over today, anyway. See if you can talk some sense into her, she's been acting bizarre lately." Raoul was gone before Andre finished his sentence.

To Meg…

"But, Christine--" Meg began, however, the girl had left. This puzzled Meg, she had thought that Christine adored Raoul. Now she wasn't so sure due to her speedy retreat. Yet, that didn't stop her from telling Raoul where Christine had gone when he came up and asked her, moments later. When Raoul had left as well, with a breathless thanks, Meg noticed her mother looking after the Vicomte with a frown on her face.

The Phantom, lurking in the shadows of the curtains, observed all this, scowling. Quietly, deftly, he searched the floor with his hands, touched a wooden knob, pressed it, and was gone.


A/N: Don't worry, Phantom will be a more prominent character in the upcoming few chapters. We'll try to get him to sing, or at least be sadly reminiscent.

Oh, and if you haven't noticed, my sister and I tend to put little tidbits of humor in the chapters. Nothing major, but yeah. It's there. So don't be alarmed if the mood is all of a sudden interrupted by, erm, something odd happening. It's just a red herring.

Anyway.

Well, you know what to do: review! (Please.)