Writer's Note- ok just to warn you this chapter is why this has a teen rating so beware! Oh and thank you all for the good reviews and all the support, it is what keeps me writing!
Chapter 8-Surpise and a Hard Decision
Two week dragged by getting closer to homecoming. The Thursday before homecoming rehearsal went by quickly. Gabrielle along with the other cast members practice Il Muto/ They were in the middle of it when Cathy; the girl playing Christine: spoke out while Elizabeth; playing Carlotta: was singing her lines.
"I don't get it, why does Christine speak out, I mean she does have Phantom on her side?"
Everyone groaned. While Cathy has a lovely voice she isn't a very smart girl. While Mr. Axel was explaining to Cathy the concept of the scene Gabrielle felt hands around her waist. She jumped and screamed. She turned around seeing Aiden smiling. She hit him merciless with her fan.
"Aiden you jerk you scared me."
"Sorry I just wanted to ask what color was your dress again?
She knew he was just asking this to be near her. "I have told you a million times, its light pink, I told you when I got it a month ago and last week when you asked me to Homecoming."
He put his hands around her waist, which made her blush. " I know, but I wanted to double check so I know I got the right color flowers." He whispered in her ear.
This made her very nervous. She removed his arms and walked off stage to retrieve her water bottle. She pretend to drink thirstily. Mr. Axel finished explaining and called everyone back onstage. Gabrielle got back on stage and Aiden sat back down in his seat.
'She seems so distant; maybe I haven't made it clear I have feelings for her. Once I give the ring to her at homecoming she will know and she will be mine' Aiden thought to himself rubbing his hands together.
After rehearsal Gabrielle was sitting on the edge of the stage talking to Elizabeth and another girl.
"Gabrielle do you want to go out some where tonight?"
She smiled but before she could answer Mr. Axel, who was behind them, called out
"Gabrielle remember you promised to help with set today"
Her smile went to a frown. " He is right, I am sorry, maybe another time?"
He sighed "sure, some other time" his head drooped and he walked away.
Everyone left one by one until her and Mr. Axel were the only two people left. Gabrielle looked at her watch
"Where is he, he should have been here 30 minutes ago."
"Maybe he got preoccupied? Sometimes he is working on things and loses track of time."
"Maybe I should go down there."
"No! Never go down there without him getting you, he has a short temper and it might set him off if you go down there without him." She was about to point out that she had gone there without him and he was fine but he cut her off.
"Now go to the theatre room I have to go fax these papers and I don't trust you alone in here." They both walked out into the hallway. She was in the doorway of the theatre room when he went into the teacher workroom. Once gone she ran into the auditorium to the corner of the wing where the couch covered the trap door. She moved the sofa and crawled through the trap door. She tiptoed through the corridor.
'No one tells me what to do' Gabrielle thought to herself.
She got to the water and swam across without thinking. She entered the large room and saw no one. She scanned the room and her eyes stopped at the lump in the bed. She quietly went over to the bed. She could see through the curtain Erik spread out on the bed. His mask on the pillow next to him, but you could hardly see his deformed side because it was smothered into the pillow. He was lying on his side, which showed a very nice sculpted body with a small Japanese symbol tattooed on his hipbone. The covers weren't covering very much. They were below the hipbone about to fall down to display everything his. Gabrielle blushed thinking about seeing all of Erik, and then it brought her in a fit of giggles. Trying to muffle her giggles, it didn't work; his eyes opened staring at her. She covered her mouth with one hand and waved with the other. He pulled the covers up around his chest and grabbed the mask beside him and put it on.
"Why did I have a feeling you wouldn't listen to Scott, and come down here when he told you not to. There is a change of clothes behind the curtains, you can change behind there, I moved my project out of there."
Gabrielle went behind the curtain and changed. She felt more comfortable in front of him. She felt like he could trust him more. She stepped from behind the curtain to see he already got out of bed and dressed.
"You know you had me worried, you always show up after practice, no later than 5 minutes."
He smiled. " I had a late night last night and I needed to sleep, but I didn't realize I would sleep this late. He sat at the piano and motioned for her to sit next to him. She went over and sat next to him. It was very awkward sitting next to him but it felt so right. He put her head on his shoulder and said
"Sing for me, please"
He was shocked. No one ever asked him to sing, so he was delighted to sing for her.
'Say you'll share with
me one
love, one lifetime . . .
say the word
and I will follow you . . .
Share each day with
me, each'
He had such a strong voice, she loved his strong voice he has such power over her.
Gabrielle waited impatiently as the bell turned 3:00p.m. Erik told her there would be a surprise at rehearsal and she was eager to see what it was. The bell rang and Gabrielle was the first one out the door.
"Hey Gabrielle wait up a voice called behind her."
She turned around to see Elizabeth coming up behind her trying to catch up.
"For crying out loud you're in a rush to rehearsal."
"Oh just full of energy, guess it's because homecoming is tomorrow. They chatted about homecoming and schoolwork as they entered the auditorium. Gabrielle was laughing at something Elizabeth said when she stopped laughing and stopped dead in her tracks. There was Erik right next to Mr. Axel, talking to him. He didn't have a mask on; instead he had very good mixture of make-up and anything else to hide the deformity. Gabrielle could tell it wasn't real but that was only because she knew it wasn't his true skin.
"Gabrielle you alright, it looks like you have seen a ghost." Elizabeth said moving her hand in front of Gabrielle's face.
"Oh yea sorry just thinking about something." She said as they walked off stage.
Mr. Axel got everyone attention by clearing his throat.
"Ok everyone we have a special guest today. His name is Erik Devon. He as well use to go here and was involved with the productions. He is a dear friend of mine and I want you to treat him with as much respect you treat me with.
Someone yelled out " So that means no respect?" Everyone groaned and rolled their eyes.
"Now today we will work on 'Think of Me' and 'Il Muto', and if you have your costume please get into them."
Gabrielle groaned. That would mean she has to squeeze into the corset dress for Il Muto. I was a simple gown but it was very lovely. Gabrielle got up from her seat and started to walk to the stage. She notices Erik watching her and she couldn't help but give a grin. Gabrielle helped other people get into their costume and by the time she got into her costume 20 minutes had pass. She walked on stage in a dress. It was a light blue pin stripped color. It has a low square cut, it was corset and then it flowed freely at the bottom. She crossed to her place with her hands on her stomach and chest.
"Gabrielle are you alright?" Mr. Axel asked
She gave a little grin. " I can't breathe." It had double meaning. She couldn't breathe because the dress was too tight and because Erik was around.
He gave her an evil glance and then said, " Alright all we can do is loosen the corset. Elizabeth, come help Gabrielle loosen her dress." He said making sure Erik over heard.
Gabrielle gave him a dirty look as Elizabeth loosens her dress. As they were getting ready for El Muto Christine say in the audience when she felt a hand move down her side and snatch her fan. She sighed
"Aiden give me my fan back," she said without turning around.
"What's the magic word?"
She tilted her head so she was looking up at him. "Pretty please with sugar on top." she with sarcasm.
He was learning in like he was going to kiss her when she heard Mr. Axel yell out
"Mr. Rulter please go to costume mistress for costume fitting and Mr. Giles your suppose to be up on stage."
Gabrielle let out a big sigh. She grabbed the fan and ran on stage. She opened her fan getting ready for the scene and when no one was looking she mouthed to Mr. Axel "Thank you."
The night was going very well. She looked very stunning in her dress. It tied around the neck. It had a thin ribbon underneath her bust. The dress draped around her legs tightly with a slit going up the side. Dinner was perfect. It was when they were at the dance it took a turn for the worst. They arrive and danced the night away. At the end Gabrielle went to powder her nose. Once she walked out of the bathroom she was grabbed and dragged to an empty hallway.
"Erik what is going on, I don't understand."
She stopped there because he pulled out a small jewelry box and opened it to reveal a ring. It was his class ring. It was a sliver band with a sapphire in the middle.
"Oh Erik" She covered her opened mouth
"Think of it as a promise ring, kind of a ring to show we are together."
She took the ring and put it on her finger. It was a little too big but she didn't care. She hugged him tightly then gave him a kiss. He pulled her closer making it a passionate kiss. She pulled away.
"I need to go." She said ask he kissed her neck softly.
He knew she had to leave so they embraced and kissed one last time. He pushed up against the wall and wrapped her arms around her waist. She pulled away and walked back to the dance but couldn't help look back and give a smile. When she got back to the group she was with she turned the ring so the stone was facing down. The night ended and Aiden pulled his car in front of her house.
"Gabrielle I want to ask you something." He pulled out a ring from his pocket.
"Would you be my girlfriend?" Gabrielle gasped with disbelief. This was the same scene she saw earlier but it wasn't going to have a happy outcome.
She looked down and started to mess with the ring that Erik gave her "I am sorry Aiden but I can't, it wouldn't be right."
He frowned. " I thought this is what you wanted, this is why we went to homecoming more than friends."
Is that what he meant? "Aiden I misunderstood, when you said more than friends, I thought maybe juts like a friendly date instead of going in a group of friends, I didn't know!"
"Well now you do know what I meant and I just want to thank you because you broke my heart, I really thought I loved you but I guess I was wrong! Now get out of my car!"
Gabrielle was at the brink of tears "I am sorry I broke your heart but I couldn't lie to you I consider you one of my best friends!"
He stopped from starting the car and looked at her with tears in his eyes. He was about to say something but she blurted out
"I have to go." She got out of the car and ran through her front lawn to her front door.
From then on she knew her life would be a mess because she broke the heart of a man and it would take a lot to fix that relationship, but on the other hand she had someone who she loved very much.
Writer's Note- ok first off I did a promise ring because she is only 17 and too young to get married. Sorry for the end, I could have given more details with the dance but this is long and I wanted to get to the point. Sorry for all the typos, grammar, ect and please review! Oh and I will have one or two more Chapters tomorrow because I have no exams and I get to stay home! So look for updates.
