From Angel's Eyes
Chapter Ten
Christine sank back in her chair.
"Terri?"
"Has she ever acted unkindly towards you?"
"Well, she's friends with Rebecca. None of those girls like me. But she's never been… openly hostile, as you put it." Christine said, staring at the frozen image.
The police officers looked at each other and then the woman said,
"Christine, you can go. Dr Carter, would you please bring in Miss Ennis?" Christine stood and went to the door with Dr Carter. Everyone in the theatre fell silent as they left the office and watched as Dr Carter crossed to Terri. She looked at him blankly.
"Yes, Dr Carter?"
"Go to the office please, Terri."
Terri stood, looking composed, if a little pale. Christine leant against the wall and watched in silence as they passed her. The door closed and everybody began to whisper. Christine went to the water dispenser and drank some thirstily. Her throat was unbearably dry and she felt a little nauseous. A hand touched her shoulder and she turned. Max looked down at her in concern.
"What happened? What's going on?"
"I… it was Terri. She's the one who wrecked my car." Christine said. There was a sudden hush as Rebecca and her friends stood up, glaring at her.
"How can you accuse Terri of something like that?" Rebecca demanded. Christine narrowed her eyes.
"I didn't accuse her. The CCTV footage pretty much speaks for itself." She said angrily.
Rebecca stared at her and then turned to whisper with her friends. Christine sank into a chair, massaging her head to put off the headache she felt dawning.
It was twenty minutes later when the door opened. Everyone fell silent again and Nadir looked around.
"Christine, could you come in here for a moment?" Christine entered the office and saw Terri sat, arms folded and glaring at everyone. If looks could kill, Christine would have been a corpse before she got past the door.
"Christine, take a seat." The policewoman said. Christine did so and the woman said in a calm voice that apparently came with the job,
"Now… Terri has admitted to sending you the letters and vandalising the car. But she says the light was an accident."
"An accident?" Christine repeated, looking at Terri who glared at her. Dr Carter looked extremely distressed.
"Terri, why on earth did you do these things? That's the only thing that I don't understand!"
"Because Christine always gets everything! She stole the part from Rebecca, she gets all of the attention in the show and… and she took Max, when everybody knows that I like him!" Terri burst out.
Christine blinked and stared at her, her head reeling from the information.
"This is about Max? You thought that justified nearly killing me?" She said, in disbelief.
"I didn't drop the light! I don't know what happened, it was probably just an accident like the stagehand said. I just used it as a chance to send you that note. I just wanted you out of the show!" Terri said furiously. Christine stared at her in disbelief.
"You… I… you did all of this because you like Max?"
Terri didn't reply, glowering at the desk. The policeman looked at Christine.
"The matter now is to sort out punishment. Do you plan to press charges?"
"I don't know… I hadn't really thought about it…" Christine said, still stunned. Dr Carter stepped forward.
"What if we inform Terri's parents and have her pay for the damage done to the car? Would that suffice?"
They looked at Christine, who nodded. And then Erik said,
"I believe that's all then. Thank you for your time, officers. If you'd care to call me at this number, we can sort out any paperwork then." He clearly wanted to get rid of them and did so rather efficiently within a few minutes. Then he turned to the two girls sat in the office and said coldly,
"Miss Ennis, I want you to collect your things. As from this moment, you are no longer in the show."
"What!" Terri shouted disbelievingly. Erik glared at her.
"I believe I informed everyone that whoever was found to be harassing any other member of the cast would be excluded. I am a man of my word, Miss Ennis. Just be grateful that charges aren't being pressed. I will personally ensure that your parents are informed of what has happened here. Please leave immediately, before I have to have the officers escort your from the premises."
Terri got to her feet, slamming the chair back forcibly. She glared at Christine.
"This is all your fault, you stupid whore! Just because you're sleeping with him, you can get away with everything!" Christine's jaw dropped and Erik slammed his fist on the desk. Terri bolted for the door. Erik looked at Nadir.
"Make sure she leaves."
"Mr Destler, don't you think this is a little rash? We've got three weeks to the opening night and now we have no Meg!" Dr Carter fumed. Nadir interrupted,
"There's a young lady in the chorus who would be suitable for the part. Kirstie Ellison."
"You think she could do it?" Dr Carter asked and Nadir nodded. Erik said,
"Nadir, inform Miss Ellison she now has the part of Meg Giry. Dr Carter, dismiss the other students, I highly doubt that we will get any rehearsing done today."
The two men left, leaving Christine alone with him. Erik began to push papers into his case. She stared at her hands and whispered,
"I'm sorry."
"What for?" Erik said, looking up at her.
"Causing all this trouble…"
"Don't be ridiculous. You're not the one to blame here. I only hope that we can get the show up again without another dramatic distraction like this." Erik said calmly. She looked up at him and smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Erik. You're… you've been so great about all of this."
"I make it a personal duty to protect my cast. If you wait until the rest of the students have gone, I'll give you a lift home."
When Nadir had made sure that everyone left, and after reassuring Dr Carter that everything would be fine (this took a considerable amount of time) Christine picked up her things and followed them outside. Her car had already been taken away for repairs.
Sat in Erik's luxurious car, she couldn't help admiring the way he had handled the whole conversation. Erik noticed the little smile on her face and lifted an eyebrow.
"What is so amusing?"
"I was just thinking how much I'd hate to have you mad at me, after seeing how you were with Terri." Christine said. Erik smirked slightly and Nadir chortled.
"You should see him when he's really angry."
"You mean you can be even scarier?" Christine asked.
"Oh yes." Nadir confirmed. Christine glanced at Erik. His smirk widened.
Christine smiled and leant back in the car, looking around at it curiously. She had never been inside a car that had its own television and fridge. Erik saw her glancing over the many gadgets and smiled.
"I have no idea what half of them do."
"You could just live in the car. It looks like you've got just about everything you need." Christine smiled. Nadir grinned and pointed at a button.
"Try that one."
Christine glanced at Erik who nodded. He didn't know what it did either. Christine pressed the button and laughed a small cupboard opened under a seat, revealing a variety of food and drink. Erik looked at Nadir.
"Do you just sit in here on your days off and play with the buttons?" He asked witheringly.
"Occasionally. There's also a DVD player and VCR, CD player, gamestations..."
"You're kidding? I love this car!" Christine laughed.
Erik smiled at her cheerfulness. You really had to admire the way she could push away the negativity of the morning like that. She settled back in her seat and said quietly,
"This has been one seriously weird week."
"Yes, I seem to remember my life being a lot simpler before I started the show." Erik said. Christine smiled slightly and said,
"Bet you're regretting it now."
"Not for a second." Erik said solemnly. She eyed him.
"Really? Even with how badly we were doing Down Once More and the light fixture falling and the thing with Terri and everything else?"
"Even then."
"Wow. You're one dedicated man." She said, impressed as the car drew up outside her house. "Either that or you're completely insane."
Thompson opened the door and Christine smiled at Nadir and Erik.
"Thanks for the lift. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye."
She thanked Thompson and went to the front door. But she turned and waved goodbye before going in. Erik watched as the door closed and then the car began to drive. He reached into the fridge and pulled out a drink. Nadir watched in amusement.
"You were very good today."
"I do my best." Erik said dryly. Nadir said casually,
"I'm sure Christine appreciated it." Erik looked at him over the top of his drink.
"And what, exactly, are you implying?"
"Not a thing, Erik. Not a thing." Nadir said, helping himself to a drink.
Christine had just gotten back from her walk with Trister the next morning and was opening her post when there was a knock at the door. She frowned. She'd gotten up extra early, knowing she'd have to walk to the theatre due to her lack of transport.
With a piece of toast in her mouth and her half opened letters in one hand, she opened the door and blinked in surprise. She took the toast out of her mouth and said,
"Mr Destler… Erik… What…?"
"I wondered if you needed a lift to the theatre." Erik said, gesturing at the car behind him. Christine smiled.
"That'd be great! Let me just get my things together."
She stepped back to let him in and he closed the door behind him, following her to the kitchen where Trister jumped up at him excitedly. Erik smiled and patted the dog's head, rubbing his ears as Christine chewed quickly on her toast and opened her last letter. She pulled a face and threw it onto the table.
"Bills. Hate them. I'm so glad my parents left me enough to cover everything, I just haven't got the time for a part time job. Help yourself to coffee." She gestured at the coffee pot and Erik poured himself some. She smiled apologetically.
"Sorry about the mess. I normally get everything cleared up before I go to the theatre."
"Well, I could tell the car to come back in half an hour. I'm hardly in a rush to get there and have another debate with Dr Carter." Erik said wryly.
Christine laughed and nodded.
"That'd be great." Erik whipped out a mobile phone and spoke briefly to Nadir as Christine started to load wet clothes into the tumble dryer. Then she swallowed her last piece of toast and started to put the dirty dishes by the sink, running the hot water. As the water ran, she took one of Trister's pills and wrapped it in a piece of bacon.
"Catch it!" she called and he jumped up, snapping up the treat and swallowing it. Erik smiled and she grinned.
"I've used that trick every time and he still hasn't figured it out."
She began to wash dishes and flicked the radio on for the local news and weather. Erik picked up a towel and began to dry dishes. Christine was about to object but he gave her a look and she simply smiled her thanks. The phone rang and Christine rolled her eyes.
"Meg."
"How do you know?"
"No one else calls me at 7:15 in the morning. Hi Meg." She said, answering the phone. Erik listened in amusement as he heard Christine's side of the conversation.
"Yes. No. Yes. Actually, Meg, I really haven't got time to chat, I've got to get to the theatre. No, it's not that I don't want to hear all the details of your date but… yes, yes, I know he's lovely. Oh, I didn't need to hear that!"
She grimaced and Erik smirked. She pulled a face and said,
"Meg, I've got to go. Yes, I'll call you later. I don't know. Maybe, Meg seriously got to go now. Yes, yes, OK. Meg, I know. God, you're worse than my Aunt. I'll see you later. Bye." She hung up. Erik was reasonably sure that he could still hear talking on the other end. Christine sighed as she finished washing the dishes.
"Love her but she can talk for England. And I really don't want to know the intimate details of her date first thing in the morning."
"I was under the impression that teenage girls love to gossip." Erik commented. She looked at him sideways.
"Don't stereotype me! Not that I mind a little gossip occasionally but… ick."
"It was that bad?" Erik said, clearly not believing her. Christine grinned and whispered in his ear. He pulled back in horror.
"Women discuss that sort of thing?"
"No, Meg discusses that sort of thing. There's a difference." Christine said, drying her hands.
She looked at him for a moment, as if considering him. Erik watched her closely. After a moment she asked,
"May I ask you something?"
"You may."
"Did you really make that mannequin?" The question surprised him, arriving completely out of the blue. He nodded and she asked,
"You did that from memory?"
"No…" He wondered how much he should reveal and decided for the whole truth. "Nadir has been carrying a video camera around with him. I don't think you noticed, you weren't supposed to. He recorded you when you weren't paying attention, so we could natural shots of you. I used those as references."
She gaped at him and he wondered if he had gone too far. But she simply blinked and smiled faintly,
"Wow… you really do put everything into it, don't you?"
"I do." He confirmed.
"I'm impressed. Although I still think the mannequin looks too…" she tried to think of a word but he interrupted.
"Let me assure you, Christine, I only made what I saw."
"You must have caught me on a really good day then." She laughed, wiping the surfaces clean as Trister followed in the hope of food.
Erik didn't reply, watching her with a slight smile. He found himself doing that a lot these days. Smiling, that is. Even Nadir had commented on it. Christine threw the damp sponge into the sink and dried her hands properly, looking around.
"I just need to get my score." She led him into the living room, putting things into her bag. Keys, purse, mobile phone, score, pencils for note-taking, hairbrush and hair tie.
"What songs are we doing today?"
"Down Once More. We're going to get through that song even if it kills the three of you." Erik said. Christine smiled.
"And it might just. I wonder how Kirstie reacted to getting the new part."
"I don't know her particularly well."
"I've spoken to her a couple of times, she's really nice. I doubt I'll be getting any death threats from her, even if she does have a crush on Max." she rolled her eyes slightly. "It wouldn't be so bad if I actually liked Max that way. But I don't, so the whole thing was just so ridiculous."
Erik lifted an eyebrow.
"I doubt Rebecca Griffins will be quick to forgive you."
"Frankly, Rebecca Griffins can go to hell, if you'll excuse the language. I'm sick of her and her attitude. I earned this part rightfully and the only way she'd get it is by prying the script from my cold, dead hands." Christine said firmly. Erik smirked.
"An interesting, if rather unorthodox, attitude."
"I do my best." Christine smiled. Erik was about to reply when the phone rang. Christine didn't move.
"Are you going to answer?"
"I'll let the machine get it. If it's Meg again, I don't think I can handle another conversation with her this early."
The machine beeped and a voice began to speak.
"Hi Christine, its Trisha. Sorry for calling this early but if you could ring me ASAP, it's rather urgent." Christine quickly picked up the phone.
"Trisha?"
Erik watched, starting to feel a little worried at the breathless tone in Trisha's voice. He watched as Christine listened and her eyes widened.
"Oh my god… Trisha, that's wonderful! When did you find out? Of course! Oh, I'm so happy for you! Did you tell Mel and Kelly yet? OK, yeah."
There was a beep of a horn. The car had returned. Christine said quickly,
"Trisha, I've got to run, my ride to the theatre is here. I'll call you as soon as I get back. Yeah, absolutely. Bye." She hung up and picked up her bag, astonished. Erik asked,
"Good news?"
"Trisha's pregnant. I can't believe it, I'm getting another cousin!"
"Congratulations."
"Yet I remember after Kelly was born Trisha swore that no way, no how was she ever going through that again. Guess she changed her mind." Christine said absently as they went to the door. She checked again that she had her keys and said goodbye to Trister who was looking depressed at being left behind.
Nadir smiled good morning to her over the top of his newspaper as they climbed in. Christine reached into her bag and took her score out.
"You know what you said yesterday about this part?" She said, flicking through to one of the last pages.
Nadir spied over the top of the financial section as the bent over the score together, animatedly discussing one particular line. Nadir smiled and shook his head. Blind, both of them. Completely blind.
Christine glanced out of the window as they arrived in the theatre car park. They climbed out and Thompson drove off, with instructions to return later on. The three of them went into the theatre, discussing the day's plans. Dr Carter was already there, preparing for the rehearsal.
"Ah, Mr Destler, just the man I wanted to see." Erik reluctantly moved off with Dr Carter. Christine watched him go and then noticed Nadir watching her with a slight smile. She stared at him.
"What?" she asked. He shook his head.
"Nothing."
He paused and then said,
"What do you think of Erik? Just a general opinion." Christine looked surprised and shrugged.
"I don't know… he's… well, he's like no one I've ever met before. You know what I mean, he's just completely unique."
"Is that a good thing?" Nadir asked. Christine glanced at the office, where Erik had disappeared.
"I'm not sure. Yes, maybe. I don't know. He can be so amazing. Like when he's playing the piano, or singing. And other times he can be so damn scary, it's like he's a completely different person."
Nadir had to admit that this was very true. But he was determined to get something out of her and followed her as she sat at the piano.
"It's quite odd. Normally Erik hates being around other people for any length at time, including myself."
"Oh, that can't be true." Christine, looking up at him. Nadir smiled.
"No, it's true. He only keeps me around because I'm used to his temper and his odd behaviour. Anyway, what I was going to say is that he seems to be perfectly content to be around you for hours."
"Only because he has to. I doubt very much that he would look at me twice if I didn't need so much help with the show." Christine said quietly.
Nadir lifted an eyebrow.
"You don't really believe that?"
"What am I supposed to believe? Erik is a producer; he has to talk to me. If I was just a member of the chorus he probably wouldn't bother with me at all. He's a very professional person." Christine said, opening her score and placing it on the piano's music stand. Nadir frowned.
"What about after the show?"
She didn't reply for a moment, staring at the score.
"I don't know." She admitted softly. "I shouldn't think he'd be interested enough to keep in touch. He'll be busy with other things."
"Do you want to keep in touch?" Nadir asked quietly. Christine lowered her eyes to the piano keys and set her fingers in place. But before she began to play, she glanced at him and said in little more than a whisper,
"More than anything."
And then she began to play. Nadir watched her for a moment and then went out into the entrance hall of the theatre. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the miniature camera he had been using to collect footage of Christine and stopped recording.
Down Once More went much better that day, but Christine was distracted by the conversation she had had with Nadir.
What about after the show?
There. It had been said. In four weeks all of this would be over, the performances would be done and everyone would move on, ready for the new school year to begin.
And Erik would be gone. Christine cursed herself for saying those things to Nadir. There was no way that he wouldn't tell Erik what she'd said. And then she'd be completely humiliated. Oh, it would be so horrible…
A pair of fingers snapped in front of Christine's eyes and she blinked.
"Huh?"
"Checking if you're awake." Max teased. Christine groaned.
"Did I zone out?"
"Just a little. Missed your cue as well." Tom said. Christine searched. She wasn't even on the right page for crying out loud! She swiftly found her place and they started to sing. Erik was still in the office so they were doing it without the music.
"Angel of music
Who deserves this?
Why do you curse mercy?" Christine sang, with the two boys doing their parts.
Christine turned the page and waited for the beat.
"Pitiful creature of darkness
What kind of life have you known?
God give me courage to show you
You are not alone!"
She counted the beats and Tom said,
"Kissing, kissing, crying, yada, yada, yada. You two get all the fun in this scene."
"You get to be strangled." Max said. Tom looked at him blankly.
"And that's fun?"
"Sure." Max grinned. Tom rolled his eyes and Christine smiled.
Tom looked at her, grinning.
"So, what sort of kiss are you going for? Quick peck on the lips or full on, lip smacking, make out session?"
"Oh, definitely the second one!" Max said eagerly. Christine elbowed him.
"I haven't put that much thought into it, frankly."
"You haven't? Bloody hell, I have." Max said idly. She stared at him.
"You have?"
"Sure. It's my big moment. I've even been practising the fake tears and I can do a pretty convincing sob." He said proudly. Christine snorted.
"You're so weird."
"No, I'm just dedicated." Max said haughtily. Tom looked at Christine.
"I really pity you."
"Thanks. I deserve it." Christine said with a straight face.
"Still standing here." Max pointed out. Tom and Christine both shrugged and burst out laughing at the expression on Max's face.
He turned to Christine.
"OK, seriously, what do you want to do about this kiss scene?"
"I really don't want to do anything. It's going to be so embarrassing." Christine said, closing her score.
"Nah, it'll be fine. Look, I heard we were doing this song today and I brought breath mints just in case." Max said, waving mints at her. Christine sighed.
"I despair of you."
"Why does every woman I meet say that to me?" Max asked Tom who shrugged. "I thought it was rather nice of me to bring mints."
"It's just a little… weird." Christine admitted. Max shrugged.
"Hey, I'm not over the moon about it."
They both looked at him in surprise. He looked back solemnly and then a grin cracked across his face.
"OK, I'm lying. Christine, is it OK if I picture you in that Music of the Night outfit?"
"You pervert!" Christine cried, punching him in the stomach. He doubled over and wheezed. Tom snorted with laughter.
"Christine!" Dr Carter said in astonishment, coming out of the office with Erik and Nadir just in time to see her punch him. Christine flushed red.
"Dr Carter! I didn't… I mean…"
"Max totally had it coming, Dr Carter. Christine was just defending herself." Tom said. Max hit him in the arm.
"You're supposed to be on my side!"
"Since when?" Tom shot back.
Erik cleared his throat.
"If you're quite finished, we'll go through Down Once More. To the end. With no interruptions."
"OK, Mr Destler." Tom said. Christine reopened her score and Max nudged her in the side.
"Last chance for a breath mint."
She gave him a glare that could have shot daggers but he simply smiled charmingly before popping a mint in his mouth.
"Men…" Christine muttered furiously as the music started.
They were almost at the end of the song and most of the cast had arrived and were listening happily. They hadn't messed up once, Christine realised as they neared the pitiful creature part. She kept an eye on Max though. She didn't want him trying anything just yet.
She sang the section and the music swelled into a crescendo. Max looked at her hopefully and Tom grinned. Christine rolled her eyes and pecked him on the cheek. He puckered his lips, leaning in and she pushed his face back. Erik couldn't help smirking.
They finished the song and the cast applauded. The three took a mocking bow and started to laugh. Christine poked Max in the ribs.
"Nice try." She told him.
"Can't blame a guy for trying." Max grinned. Tom nodded in agreement. Erik looked at the three of them.
"That was much better than yesterday. We'll do it one more time and then we can get on the stage with actions."
"Including kissing?" Max asked eagerly. Erik lifted an eyebrow.
"That's entirely up to Miss Danes."
"Ha!" Christine said, jabbing a finger in Max's face, who looked noticeably disappointed. As she walked away he called after her,
"But… but… breath mints. Doesn't that show how much I care?"
"Max, I don't know how you got her to go out with you once. You'll never manage it again." Tom said cheerfully, clapping Max on the back.
The wedding dress wasn't quite finished but June said it would be ready by the next day so Christine stayed in her own clothes as they acted out the scene. The dancers were upstairs but the other cast members were watching entranced as Max spat out the words, "This is the choice! This is the point of no return!"
They sang quite well, hitting the occasional bad note but moving on quickly. They'd decided beforehand that it was better to just get through the whole thing in one go. Then they reached the kissing part. Christine moved slowly towards Max, singing the part perfectly and slipping the ring onto her finger. Max stared down at her as she approached.
"You are not alone!" she sang clearly and then kissed him. On the lips. She pulled back and looked at him. He quickly set about crying as she kissed him again, a little more intently. The music swelled and then faded slightly and he started to sob, clutching his face in his hands. Then he turned away, singing his part. Christine rushed to Tom and began to untie him as he shouted, "Go now! Go now and leave me!"
They finished the song and then turned to Erik for verdict. He looked at each of them in turn and then nodded.
"Good. Very good." Tom, Max and Christine all grinned at each other and the cast applauded. Except for Rebecca. But Christine wasn't particularly interested in what she thought anyway, so the sight of Rebecca sat with her arms folded didn't exactly break her heart.
Max nudged her.
"That was one hell of a kiss!"
"One hell of two kisses." Tom added. Christine smiled sweetly.
"No. That, Max, is what you call an incredibly good piece of acting. Although the breath mints did help." She climbed off the stage and walked off, writing in her score. Max gaped after her.
Erik, who had heard what Christine said, couldn't help smiling to himself.
"No! No, what's wrong with you?" Erik snapped as they went through Down Once More again. Christine stopped and ground her teeth. They were never going to get through this again! She could see Rebecca sniggering and felt like punching something. They had done it perfectly before, why was it hard now?
"Well, why don't you do it? Because I really can't get in the mood now." Max said crossly. Erik glared and leapt up onto the stage with surprising agility.
"Sit down, Mr Hodges." He said calmly. Max took a seat and Erik signalled for the music.
"Now, Miss Danes, put a little emotion into it!" He told Christine. She sighed and began to sing the pitiful creature verse.
She moved over to him slowly, slipping the ring onto her finger. And suddenly she was standing in front of him. The music began to swell and Christine hesitated for only a second before reaching up on her tiptoes. She had to, because Erik was so tall, several inches taller than Max. And then she softly pressed her lips to his.
For a moment he didn't react. She pulled away and looked up at him, her hand on the side of his face. He was staring at her in astonishment, as was everyone else. But Christine pressed on with the scene and kissed him again, not holding back anymore. This was more than a scene, this wasn't just good acting. This was real. This was burning passion and longing, everything she had been dying for since she had met him.
And he was kissing her too, his lips bruising hers, his hands sliding around her back to press her to him, not caring that everybody was watching.
"Christine… Christine, I love yo-" He began to whisper.
"Christine!"
Her eyes snapped open and she saw Max staring down at her. She blinked.
"What?"
"Geez, you sit down for ten minutes and you're out like a light!" He smiled. Christine sat up and looked around. She was sat in the theatre, huddled up on one of the seats. Nadir had told them to take a fifteen minute break whilst he sorted out some sound problems.
A dream, she realised to her disappointment.
"What were you dreaming about?" Max asked curiously and she snapped her head up to look at him.
"What?" She said nervously.
"Well, you were mumbling. Couldn't hear what you said, but I guessed you were dreaming."
Christine felt herself flush red and she hid it by yawning.
"I don't remember. I didn't get much sleep last night."
"I can tell. Come on, we're going through Down Once More again."
"What? But… we just did it." Christine said hastily. Max grinned.
"I know. Mr Destler wants us to do it again."
Christine hesitated and then got up. Tom grinned as they climbed onto the stage.
"Sleeping Beauty awakes." Christine stuck her tongue out and took her place as Erik got onto the stage.
"Just do it like you did before. That was just right." He told them. Christine looked at him and felt herself going red again. Tom laughed.
"Christine's blushing at having to kiss Max again already!"
"I often have that effect with the ladies." Max said modestly and Christine hit his arm.
"Oh, get over yourself. It's just the stage lights, it's too hot. But frankly, as long as none of them are hitting me on the head, I'll manage."
They got into place. Just don't think about it Christine thought to herself, it was just a dream. Nothing more. Just a dream.
"Go." Erik said and they began. Christine put her all into singing the part and not thinking about the dream.
It really wasn't working.
And then came the kiss. Christine moved towards Max. Max. This is MAX. Not Erik. Max. Do not think that it is Erik.
Too late.
Christine kissed Max softly and felt him shiver. She looked into his eyes and then leaned in for the second kiss and all the while the dream was racing through her head. Oh god, the music! The music was dying and she should have pulled away by now! She did so, a little too quickly, her hand on Max's face. It seemed to take him a moment to recover but he was soon sobbing and crying.
The scene ended and Erik nodded.
"Good. That's all for today." Christine blinked and went to put her score away. But Max caught up to her and put a hand on her arm.
"Christine…"
"Don't, Max. It was just acting." She said tiredly. He looked at her closely.
"No, Christine. That was a hell of a lot more than acting."
"Max, stop it! It's a play. You're not the Phantom, I'm not Christine Daae! I was acting!" she said fiercely. Max stared at her and then turned away.
Christine felt guilt rush over her almost instantly.
"Max… I'm sorry. I just… I'd just woken up and I've got a really bad headache and I'm sorry for being so…" He looked back at her and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Christine. I didn't… I felt something just now and I thought that you did too. Guess I was mistaken."
He moved away and Christine sank into her chair, holding her head in her hands.
I did feel something, Max. It just wasn't for you.
A/N: (Wicked Grin) I love this chapter. Characters are so much more amusing when they're all tormented and confused. Mwahahahaha!
Ahem. Anyway, as usual, thank you for the awesome reviews! Please leave more!
Lotsa luv
Katie
