From Angel's Eyes
Chapter Eighteen
Christine didn't have much time to ponder the mystery of Erik's behaviour the next morning. She woke up early to set up the guest bedrooms for Trisha, Jack, Melanie and Kelly. After going shopping for food for breakfast the next day, cleaning the house, doing some solo signing practise and mentally preparing herself for the last show, she was shocked to look at the clock to discover that it was already half past twelve. A few moments later there was a knock at the door.
Christine answered and was greeted with hugs and hellos from her family. They all bustled in, talking cheerfully, taking seats in the living room, where Christine had already set out refreshments.
"How was the drive?" She asked, pouring lemonade for the girls.
"Oh, it was fine. Three hours, good time." Jack said, making a fuss of Trister who was delighted at the full house. Trisha smiled at Christine.
"Ready for your final performance?"
"No! I can't believe it's over so quickly! I don't know what I'm going to do with all that spare time when the show is over." Christine laughed. Trisha smiled, considering her.
"You look wonderful, you know that? So cheerful and bright. Don't you think, Jack?"
"I was just thinking that. You look great." Jack agreed. Kelly tugged Christine's sleeves.
"Can you choose the Phantom instead? I don't want him to be alone."
Christine laughed and hugged her cousin.
"Sorry, I didn't write the script. But if I was the real Christine, I'd choose the Phantom."
"Me too." Kelly said, in a remarkably solemn tone for a four year old. The telephone rang and Christine reached across to answer it.
"Hello?"
"It's Tom."
"Hey Tom. What's up?" Christine said, pushing Trister away as he tried to jump up on her.
"Max and I were talking, and we were thinking that we should get something for Mr Khan and Mr Destler, to say thanks for their help. Do you know what sort of wine they like?"
Christine strained her memory and then told him the name of a wine she knew Erik loved. Tom said,
"Cheers Christine. See you tonight."
"See you later, Tom." She hung up and smiled at her family. "That was our Raoul. You'll meet him tonight, he's great."
"I can't wait to see it!" Melanie said excitedly. Christine grinned.
"Well, I have to be at the theatre for four, so if you can manage to keep yourselves occupied for a couple of hours, I'll see you there. You've got some really good seats."
They spent quite some time just sitting and talking. Mel and Kelly kept trying to persuade her to tell them about the show but she refused cheerfully.
"You'll have to wait!"
At 3:15 Christine got to her feet.
"I'd better set out. Trisha, you know where the keys are, don't you?"
"I'll lock up and everything. And we'll take Trister for a walk as well, so you won't have to worry about him."
"You're the best. I'll see you there!"
She drove quickly to the theatre, running up the front steps. Nadir was in the Entrance Hall, talking to one of the programme sellers. He smiled when he saw her.
"Ready?"
"Absolutely!" She said with determination. He nodded, pleased.
"Go on through. June's here."
"Thanks Nadir."
Erik watched from behind a curtained doorway as she rushed through to the changing rooms. This was… well, to be perfectly honest, it was a mess. He was due to leave at 11:30. His cases were already waiting in the car, parked behind the theatre. Nadir was to spend the next two weeks clearing up business deals and paying the servants for the next nine months, to keep the house in order before flying out to New York.
And Christine still didn't know. Didn't know that by this time tomorrow he would be on a different continent altogether. He had to tell her. Before it was too late. Had to…
He set off towards the changing rooms. But he had only gone a few steps when Dr Carter rushed out.
"Ah, Mr Destler! We've got a couple of photographers here and they wanted to get a picture of you on the stage, with Mr Khan. Would you mind?" Erik was dragged off to the stage before he could speak.
Rebecca was already getting dressed when Christine arrived. Christine smiled.
"You're very early."
"I'm sick of taking ages to get the make-up done. I figured it'd just be easier to get it done now than rushing around later." Rebecca explained. Christine nodded and was just reaching for her costume when Rebecca said,
"Christine?" She looked over. Rebecca was standing straight and looking her in the eye. "I just wanted to… well, to apologise, I guess. I've not been the most pleasant person in the world to you. I was just jealous about you getting the part. I thought for sure I had it. Until you sang of course. I probably wouldn't have been so bad if I knew you could sing."
Christine didn't smile. She looked at Rebecca and then nodded.
"Thanks Rebecca. I appreciate that. You're a really good singer, and a good actress."
"You too." Rebecca said and gave a quick, awkward smile before disappearing into a cubicle. Christine took her own costume and went to change.
Tracy and Kirstie arrived shortly afterwards, talking excitedly.
"I can't believe this is it!" Kirstie cried, tying back her thick, red hair. Christine smiled.
"I know! All that work – this is what it's for. The other nights were just rehearsing for this."
"That's what it feels like." Tracy agreed.
They hurried to get themselves ready. Everything seemed to be taking twice as long as it had before and more than once June swore as she smudged make-up or messed hair up. Eventually she looked at the four of them.
"OK, you're just about ready. Break a leg, girls."
"Thanks June." Tracy said and looked at the other three. They had planned this and Rebecca went to a changing cubicle, pulling out a bouquet of flowers.
"These are for you, June. To say thanks for helping us get ready." She said, handing them to the grinning woman.
"Aw, you guys! OK, stop it or I'll start crying. Now, you've got ten minutes free time. I'm going to check up on the guys." She disappeared.
The girls all sat on their chairs. Christine chewed her lips, forcing herself to be calm. Being hysterical would do no one any good. She listened to the chattering of the other girls until there was a knock at the door.
"Flowers for Kirstie Ellison." A stagehand said, passing in some pretty flowers. Kirstie grinned and took them, reading the card.
"Who are they from?" Tracy asked.
"From my boyfriend." She smiled, blushing. Christine couldn't help smiling to herself. A few minutes later, a teddy bear and a box of chocolates arrived for Tracy, from her own boyfriend.
Christine laughed at their excitement and couldn't help giggling as more flowers arrived, this time for Rebecca. Kirstie smiled at Christine.
"I suppose Mr Destler will be sending you some?"
"He sent us flowers on the first night." Christine reminded her. Tracy looked at her cynically.
"Yes, but that was for all of us."
"I've had quite enough presents." Christine said, wincing as she remembered the lingerie. They all burst out laughing and then laughed again as there was a knock at the door. Tracy answered.
"Yes?"
"Delivery for Christine Danes." The delivery boy said and passed a single red rose, tied with a black ribbon to Christine.
She smiled, looking down at it.
"Is there a message?" Kirstie asked. Christine shook her head.
"No."
She didn't need one.
She didn't know if it was the fact that this was her last time on the stage, or if it was because Trisha and her family were in the second row, or because Meg was grinning cheerfully at her with her family around her or simply because she knew that she was going to give her best performance, but Christine felt that she could not have possibly sung better that night. All of them were on top form, Max and Tom singing more passionately and perfectly than she had ever heard them before.
The end came far too quickly. She, Max and Tom stood at the back of the hall, walking down the centre aisle for the last time as their names were announced. The applause was thunderous and most of the audience had gotten to their feet, screaming and cheering them.
They climbed onto the stage and took a final bow. Christine's jaw was aching from smiling but she just couldn't stop, waving to Trisha and the others, including a screaming Meg. At the back of the hall, she saw Erik slip in and her smile widened.
Dr Carter joined the cast onstage, clutching a microphone.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, a round of applause for The Phantom of the Opera!" He declared and the cheers started again. He waited for them to die down before saying, "I can honestly say that this is the finest show put on by this university. I have never met such a dedicated group of students and it has truly been an honour to work with them."
He smiled around at the students. "But there are many people who you did not see tonight, without whom this production would never have come about." He began to name the set and prop designers, technicians and in particular, June, who was promptly dragged onstage, blushing furiously. Dr Carter grinned and continued.
"But there are two men in particular who deserve our thanks more than anyone. They are Mr Nadir Khan and Mr Erik Destler. Would they both join us?"
Nadir and Erik walked, rather reluctantly to the stage, standing beside it. Christine laughed at the look on Erik's face. He was staring fixedly at Dr Carter, who was still talking.
"And, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have some rather exciting news! I think he was trying to keep it quiet, but I just have to share it with you all!"
No one noticed, but Erik stiffened visibly as Dr Carter continued.
"Mr Destler, I have discovered, has been approached by a professional operatic society and is going to producing the latest show at none other than the New York Opera House!"
There was a gasp, cheers, more applause. Erik didn't notice. His eyes had flicked over to Christine. At Dr Carter's announcement the smile had faded from her face and she was staring at with those large brown eyes. They were no longer warm and loving but shocked and filled with hurt. Erik barely heard the end of Dr Carter's speech, he was only aware of the pained look on Christine's face.
Max looked down at the girl standing beside him as she leant against him heavily, the hand that he was clutching suddenly tightening its grip almost to the point of being painful. She had gone pale. The curtains closed and the last thing that Christine saw was Erik struggling through the crowds to reach the stage.
She stared at the curtains, as still as a statue whilst everyone around her talked excitedly.
"The New York Opera House!" Tom said, "That's incredible! Why didn't you tell us, Christine?"
She didn't reply. She couldn't breathe. In one hand she clutched the red rose Erik had sent to her that night. Max and Tom stared at her and slowly the people around them fell silent as they saw her.
"Because she didn't know." Max said in quiet realisation. Christine breathed sharply, licking her dry lips, lifting a hand to her face, brushing a stray curl back. And then she looked up as everyone turned. Erik appeared on the other side of the stage, his eyes on Christine.
"Christine." He said, almost desperately.
"You're leaving?" She said in distraught, quiet voice. He paused and then nodded. Christine swallowed hard.
"When?"
"Tonight." Erik said.
"Tonight?" Christine repeated faintly. Erik stepped towards her.
"Christine-"
"Were you even going to tell me? Or, what Erik? Were you just going to call from the plane?" Christine said, half-angry, half-upset. Erik didn't reply. Christine breathed deeply.
"How long?"
"Nine months." He said quietly.
"Nine months…" She said slowly.
Erik watched the turmoil in her face and stepped towards her again. But Christine took a step back, away from him, her face suddenly twisting into anger.
"Go."
"What?"
"Just go, Erik! I don't care anymore! Just go to America." She spat, storming past him. He caught her arm.
"Christine, wait!"
"No, Erik. I'm not waiting. You obviously don't care enough to tell me if you're leaving the country for nine months. You'd rather just let me find out a few hours beforehand in front of all of my friends and family. Why should I care if you go? I still have just about enough dignity to walk away from you without begging you to stay." Christine said, pulling her arm from his grip. She looked at him for a moment. "Don't say goodbye. Don't do anything. Just go."
And with that she pushed the rose into his hand and walked away. The people who could see her face as she left saw the blank face of a mannequin instead of the tormented face of a girl whose heart had just shattered.
Meg and her family were waiting anxiously in the entrance hall with Trisha, Jack and Christine's cousins when she emerged from the dressing room. They all fell on her at once.
"Christine?"
"Are you OK?"
"He's going to New York?"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Christine flinched away from their questions and said quietly,
"I'm tired. I just… I want to go home." They all looked at her and she pulled her car keys out of her pocket, looking at Trisha.
"I'll meet you at home." She walked away. Meg went after her and touched her arm.
"Christine?"
"I'm just tired." Christine told her quietly. But Meg knew her better than that. However, she nodded and said quietly,
"I'll call you tomorrow."
Christine nodded and slipped out of the theatre.
Trisha sent the girls to bed as soon as they got home and asked Jack to tuck them in before taking Christine into the kitchen.
"What happened? You went so pale when you came out. Didn't you know?"
"…No. Apparently I wasn't important enough to know." Christine said coldly. Trisha frowned.
"Christine, sweetie…"
"Trisha, I think I just want to go to bed." She said. Trisha nodded.
"OK. I'll see you in the morning.
Christine climbed the stairs and went into her room. She undressed and pulled on a nightdress, climbing into bed. A little while afterwards, she heard Trisha and Jack go to bed. But she didn't sleep for some time.
She woke late. Very late. She found a note on her bedside table.
Christine,
We didn't want to wake you so we left quietly. I will call you when we get home.
Love Trisha
Trister shuffled up the bed, seeking attention. Christine stroked his head absently and then hugged him. He rubbed his face against her and she felt an ache in her chest at the simple affection he showed. She forced herself to get out of bed. It was nearly noon so she took a shower and went downstairs. She wasn't hungry but she made herself some tea and sipped it as she wandered the house. By this time she would have been in rehearsals, practising something with Max and Tom.
And Erik.
Christine bit her lip and put her tea down. Trister was looking hopeful, wanting a walk. Christine picked his leash up.
"Come on." She said quietly, clipping it onto his collar and they set off towards the park. The beautiful weather that she had revelled in these last few weeks seemed mocking now. It should be raining, to suit her mood. But the forecast had predicted bright sunshine all day.
She circled the park a couple of times and as she started back home, she heard someone call her name. Christine turned and saw Max heading towards her.
"I was just coming to see you." He said, wiping his brow. "Are you OK?"
Christine nodded mutely. Max eyed her.
"Yeah, because I totally believe that." She looked at him and he said, "Come on. Let's go back to yours."
They went back to her house. Christine let Trister off the leash and he went to his water bowl, lapping thirstily.
"Do you want a drink?" She asked Max dully. He nodded and followed her to the kitchen. She handed him a can of coke and snapped open one of her own. Max watched her and then said quietly,
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"There's nothing to talk about. He made a choice." Christine replied, twisting the ring pull on the can. Max frowned.
"Christine…"
"Max, it doesn't make a difference, OK? He left. Only an idiot would turn down an opportunity like that! I know exactly how important his music is to him and I'm sure as hell not going to stand in the way!" Christine said angrily.
Max looked at her, his blue eyes staring into hers. Christine met his gaze and then had to look away. An expression of pain and misery crossed her face, involuntarily.
"Why didn't he tell me?" She said in a choked voice. The floodgates opened and she found herself crying, Max's arms around her as she buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing unbearably. Max didn't say anything. Although he felt extreme anger towards Erik Destler at that particular moment.
Meg arrived half an hour later. Christine and Max were in the kitchen, talking quietly when she rang the doorbell. Max answered it and led Meg to the kitchen. She instantly hugged Christine, seeing the miserable expression on her face.
"I brought chocolate." She said, handing Christine a bar. Christine couldn't help smiling.
"That's your answer to everything."
"Because it nearly always works." Meg pointed out.
Christine brushed her hair back and smiled slightly.
"Thanks Meg."
"No problem sweetie. Now, let's get you cleaned up. I am determined to cheer you up and I'm sure Max will help. And tonight we're going to that dance thing and we're going to have a great time."
"Why are you going? You weren't in the show." Christine said in confusion. Meg lifted an eyebrow and smiled sweetly.
"Tom asked me to go with him. So you're stuck with me. Now… first things first, you go and wash your face. You're all puffy. Then we'll eat chocolate, and then we can go for a walk, do some shopping, have something to eat and get ready for the dance. Go on!"
She pushed Christine towards the stairs. Max looked at her appraisingly.
"How did you do that?"
"It needs a firm hand. And chocolate doesn't hurt." Meg said, popping a piece into her mouth.
Christine had to admit, Max and Meg were doing their best to cheer her up. They wandered around town, doing some shopping, having fun, Max cracking jokes all the way. But the fact remained that all she could think about was Erik and how he had betrayed her.
What hurt most of all was that he hadn't told her. Why hadn't he? Why couldn't he simply have sat her down and told her about his wonderful opportunity, his dream coming true? Had she meant so little to him that it just wasn't worth his time?
Christine found herself doubting every moment they had spent together. His insecurities about his face… how many other women had fallen for that? Everything he had said to her, had he used those same loving words to tempt other women to his bed?
And she had fallen for it, like a fool. After two years of making sure not to let anyone too close, just in case, she had let someone in. And he had left. Would everyone leave? She wondered. Anytime she had someone she loved, be it parents or a lover, would they always leave in the end?
She wanted to hate him for what he had done to her. Wanted to scream and shout and rage. But more than that she just wanted to be with him. She just wanted to wake up beside him in the morning, to know that he would be there.
And now he never would be.
The dance started at seven. At 5:30 Christine went home to prepare. Max promised to pick her up on the way.
"You're not leaving me alone with Tom and Meg." He warned. Christine took a shower. Sure, she felt like crap. But Meg had ordered her to look fabulous and although what Christine most wanted to do was curl up in her bed, it was simply easier for her to obey.
She pulled out the dress she had bought only a week ago. It seemed like a lifetime. Although, she had to admit, it was a good dress. It was very dark green, in a Chinese style with golden decorations. Flowers, leaves and a golden Chinese dragon stitched up one side, with slits up to just above her knee. Christine pulled her hair up, using ornamental chopsticks to hold her hair in place.
Trister watched lazily from the bed. Christine went downstairs and put down a bowl of food for him as the doorbell rang. She answered and Max's jaw dropped.
"OK… no fair. If I can't be that pretty, no one can." He grinned. Christine smiled weakly.
"Let's go. The sooner we get there, the sooner I can leave."
"That's the positive attitude I'm looking for." Max said as they walked down to his car.
Christine hadn't been in the University Dance Hall before. It was a large room and had been decorated with flowers, tables laden with food and drink and a band comprised of some music students on a platform at one end. The room was already bustling when Max and Christine arrived. Meg and Tom joined them immediately. Meg grinned.
"Way to clean up, Christine!"
"You look great." Tom agreed. Christine gave a faint smile and Meg handed her a glass.
"Here. Get drunk. It'll help."
"Don't encourage her." Max scolded. Christine rolled her eyes and went to put her bag at the table Meg and Tom had claimed. Kirstie appeared beside her.
"Great dress, Christine!"
"Thanks Kirstie." Christine said. Kirstie smiled.
"You OK?"
"Been better." Christine admitted. "But I'm just going to… well, if Meg has her way, get incredibly drunk."
"Always a good thing." Kirstie winked and disappeared into the crowd. The band began to play and one of the dancers seized Max for a dance, Meg and Tom rushing to find a place on the dance floor. Christine sat at the table, watching with a smile.
Someone appeared beside her. Christine looked up and saw Rebecca, looking a little awkward.
"Christine."
"Hello Rebecca."
"I just wanted to… to make sure that you were OK." Rebecca said. Christine shrugged.
"Yeah, I'm OK."
The song ended and there was the sound of a microphone being picked up. Christine looked towards the stage and groaned quietly. Dr Carter was looking to make another speech. He smiled around at them.
"Welcome, all of you! Enjoy yourselves tonight, you certainly earned it. I just wanted to thank you for all of your hard work and determination. You certainly made it a show to remember. And now Mr Khan would like to say a few words."
Christine stood up sharply as Nadir took the microphone. He looked around with a smile.
"I would also like to thank you for your hard work. It has been an honour to work with such a talented group and I truly believe that you will all go far. Mr Destler also sends his regards. Obviously he couldn't be here, but all the refreshments tonight are on him and that is his thank you to you. It's been a pleasure, ladies and gentleman."
To the sound of applause, he handed the microphone to the lead singer of the band. His eyes met Christine's and he quickly crossed the hall to her. She was painfully aware that everyone was watching them. Nadir was also aware of this and took her outside. He turned to her.
"Christine, are you alright?" She looked at him plainly.
"Not really."
"I… I expected that." He admitted. "Christine, I consider you a close friend now and I hope you think the same of me. I certainly didn't expect you to react like that."
"What did you expect? I couldn't ask him to stay, Nadir. He's been waiting God knows how long for a chance like this. I couldn't ask him to stay. Not for me." Christine said tiredly.
Nadir considered her and then sighed.
"You are an extraordinary young woman, Christine. I'm sorry that you got hurt because of that." Christine nodded and swallowed hard.
"Are you… are you going too?"
"Yes. In a couple of weeks." Nadir said quietly. Christine lifted a hand to push back a piece of hair and Nadir said, "I expect you hate him now."
"…No. No, I don't hate him. I wish I could." Christine admitted. "But even if he had told me, I would have told him to go. Perhaps not quite so… forcefully. But I would have made him go."
She looked at him.
"I'm not upset because he left. Well, I am. But I'm mostly upset because he just didn't think enough of me to tell me."
"Christine, that's not true. He thinks the world of you." Nadir protested gently. Christine looked at Nadir sadly.
"He didn't tell me, Nadir. That's all I know."
"Christine-"
"Don't tell him that you spoke to me. Let him just forget. He's got all he ever wanted now. Don't take that away from him because a stupid girl fell in love with the wrong person." Christine said, pushing open the door.
She paused and then turned back to Nadir. She hugged him quickly and then disappeared into the hall. Nadir stared after her and then turned away.
It is a fact of life that time always slows down when you are miserable, stretching out the hours to unbearable lengths. Over the next two weeks, Christine split her time between walking Trister, practising music, reading, writing a couple of songs, visiting her parent's graves and occasionally spending time with Max, Tom and Meg. The four of them seemed to have become quite close lately.
Several other people had invited her out, meals, drinks, clubs, cinema, bowling, walking and a thousand other social events. Mostly she declined. It felt very much as though time had gone backwards, to before The Phantom of the Opera. When she spent her time in a routine, predictable and safe.
Not so long ago she would have been perfectly happy to live like that. But she had changed so much since then. She had become a different person. Someone who enjoyed going to dinner with a special person, drinking wine, going to the opera, valuing precious moments caught between rehearsals, the true value of waking beside someone with sunshine pouring through the window with flecks of dust floating through the illuminated air.
It was a Friday afternoon and Christine was in the living room reading a book. Or at least she was trying to read a book. She didn't seem to be getting very far. In fact, she was positive that she had read this same line several times over.
She put the book to one side and hunched up on the chair. Her eyes wandered to a scrapbook tucked into a drawer. She reached for it, knowing she shouldn't but unable to resist. It fell open on the page that was most read.
Several pieces of paper were glued into the book. One was the article about The Phantom of the Opera, including the picture that had caused the rumours about her and Erik. There was also the article and pictures from the magazine, showing their first kiss. Various other articles covered the next few pages, reviews of the show, interviews, that sort of thing.
Slipped inside, but not glued, a piece of paper slid into her lap. She knew what it was. An article published only last week from a national newspaper. All about Opera Houses of the world. There, in the corner of the page, was a small picture of Erik and a few notes about his new work at the New York Opera House.
Christine closed the scrapbook, pushing the picture back inside. It hurt less to look at them now, she found. It had been unbearable at first. Every little thing seemed to remind her of him. The aching in her heart had faded slightly now.
The doorbell rang. It was probably Meg or Max. Christine opened the door, about to comment on how they might as well live there, since they never seemed to leave. But it wasn't either of them, nor was it Tom.
Nadir stood on the doorstep. Christine stared at him.
"Nadir…"
"Hello Christine." He said. She swallowed.
"What… what are you doing here?"
"I'm on my way to the airport." He explained. Christine nodded silently. He had come to say goodbye. She said,
"You sorted everything out?"
"Yes. Some of it took longer than expected, but it's all sorted."
"Oh."
She didn't know what to say. Fortunately Nadir spoke next.
"Christine, I spoke to Erik last night. He… he's suffering without you."
"Why are you telling me this, Nadir? He chose to go." Christine reminded him sharply. Nadir nodded and said,
"I know. The reason I'm here is because I'm leaving in about four hours."
Christine frowned slightly.
"And you just decided to stop by on your way to the airport?" Nadir smiled.
"No. This isn't exactly a social call, Christine. I'm leaving in four hours…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. He handed it to her and she opened it. A ticket was inside.
"…And I wanted to know if you want to come with me."
A/N: Will she go? Or won't she? Well obviously I know. Because I already wrote that part. So get reviewing! Remember – reviews feed my ego. When my ego is of a correct size my muse kicks in and tells me to get my arse in gear. Heh. Unfortunately you may have to wait a while for the next chapter, because it's not finished. On the other hand, if I can get my homework finished today and get writing, it MIGHT be up tomorrow. No promises though.
And remember - promises of cookies, hershey's cookies and whatever else you have lying around ALWAYS helps!
Lotsa luv 'n' huggles
Katie
