Hello again. Sorry for not updating sooner but my computer fuse blew. Odd... Anyway here is Chapter 2. I hope that you like.
Mademoiselle P: I'm glad that you like it. I promise to try and get some more Jeremy-Erikness in. It doesn't really happen in this chapter but it will in the future...I promise!
Sakume: Cute...not the word that I'd use but OK. Thanks anyway
I have to warn you this chapter is pretty slow and is still character building but stuff starts to happen next chapter so stick with me.
Oh yeah, last time I forgot to apply the Disclaimer so any copyright people scanning this site, this disclaimer applies to Chapter 1 too.
I don't own 'The Phantom of the Opera'. I wish I did, but I don't. The characters came from Leroux, the musical from ALW and anyone else who is tied with the book/musical/film
2. Lunch and Jeremy
Lunchtime was soon upon them. Mr Conclair instructed them that they had to be back in an hour. As soon as she got off the stage Debbie pounced upon her.
'How could you not think that you were good Ali? You're amazing!'
Ali laughed, grateful for the compliment. All morning she had heard Jenna make loud remarks about things that she was doing wrong. Sam came over to join the pair.
'Lunch, girls?' he asked.
The girls nodded and Debbie went to fetch her money that she had left in her coat.
'Ali, you're fantastic,' Sam said kindly. 'I remember you when you were little trying to sing Phantom songs. You were awful!'
Ali laughed and gave him a friendly push.
'No seriously Ali. I'm looking forward to working with you,' Sam said sincerely.
'Ditto,' Ali said. 'It's been so long. I can't believe that we lost contact.'
'Well you stopped coming to concerts when your-.'
Sam's voice trailed off.
'My father died?' Ali asked sensing that her friend was uncomfortable about approaching this topic with her. 'It's OK,' she added.
Debbie returned clutching her purse.
'So what's it to be? Chinese or Chips?'
'Chinese all the way,' Sam grinned.
Everybody seemed to be leaving to go into town. Ali noticed Jeremy sitting alone.
'Wait a minute,' she said to her friends before running over to him.
'Um, hi,' she said awkwardly. 'I'm Ali, by the way. Do you have anyone to go to lunch with? Do you want to come with me, Debbie and Sam?'
Jeremy looked up at her.
'I have my own sandwiches,' he replied sneering slightly.
'Oh, well if you want to come for the walk-'
'I'd prefer not to.'
'Are you alright by yourself?' Ali asked concerned.
'I'm often by myself,' Jeremy said. 'Now go with your friends and enjoy your lunch.'
Ali was pretty speechless. She bit her lip and turned to go back to Debbie and Sam.
'Hey Ali,' Jeremy said from behind her.
She turned to face him. There was an awkward pause.
'Thanks anyway.'
Ali smiled and went back to her friends.
'What did you want with him?' Sam asked
'Just to see if he wanted company,' Ali said. 'Let's go, or we won't have anything to eat.'
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What had he done? She had just asked him to lunch with her and he turned her down. She had looked at him and he had pushed her away. Pushed her away rudely. There was nothing but friendliness in her eyes and he had been so defensive. He needed a second chance. Somehow, he would make her come to him again. Somehow…
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Ali was consumed by thoughts of Jeremy. Why did he separate himself so much from other people? Why was it that he spoke to no-one unless they spoke to him first? She hardly noticed what Debbie and Sam ordered from the little Chinese man at the bar. They were getting a large meal to share anyway. There must be something that she would like.
'Ali? Are you alright? You seem to be off in a world of your own,' Sam asked her.
'No, no I'm fine,' Ali replied giving Sam a weak smile.
He looked concerned and turned back to Debbie who was ordering prawn crackers.
'I love prawn crackers,' she said happily. 'Ali, do you want to order anything?'
'No, I'm fine with what you guys have,' Ali replied.
They got their food and sat outside on the hill next to the theatre.
'Ali, are you sure that you're OK?' Sam asked. 'You've been very quiet since you spoke to that guy Jeremy.'
'It's nothing. I'm just thinking. So, Jenna, what do you think of her?'
'She sounds like a strangled cat,' Debbie giggled
'She's not that bad,' Ali said fairly. 'It's probably that she doesn't know the score very well.'
'Let me tell you one thing Ali, if she got your part, I think that I would throw myself off a building,' Debbie said grinning.
'It would be worse for me!' Sam added. 'Singing love songs with Jenna!'
The trio broke into peals of laughter.
'So I'm alright for singing love songs with am I?' Ali teased
Sam looked at her seriously.
'You're more than 'alright',' he said softly.
Ali looked down at her noodles and twisted then round her fork.
'How do you do that?' Ali said quickly to Debbie. 'How do you eat so easily with chopsticks?'
'Hold them like pencils,' Debbie said, her mouth full of rice.
Sam looked at his watch.
'Guys we have to go. I don't want to piss off Mr. Conclair on our first day of rehearsals.'
When they entered the hall they discovered that most of the cast had returned and we eating inside. Ali looked around for Jeremy but she couldn't see him. They spent the next five minutes talking before Mr. Conclair clapped his hands and asked for silence.
'This afternoon we are going to progress with the first act. Can we get ready for the 'Angel of Music' scene in Christine's dressing room?'
Ali got onto stage with a chair, followed by Debbie and Sam. The first part of the song went well. All the mistakes made were minor. After Debbie left the stage, Sam entered for 'Little Lottie'. Ali smiled at him as he entered thinking that it was odd how their characters hadn't met for years and today was the first time in ages that she had seen Sam. As their song finished, Ali expected to stop as she hadn't seen Jeremy. She got a big shock as she suddenly heard the Phantom sing:
'Insolent boy! This slave of fashion! Basking in your glory! Ignorant fool! This brave young suitor, sharing in my triumph!'
She was so surprised that she missed her cue, much to the delight of Jenna who sighed loudly. It was the first time that she had heard Jeremy sing. His voice was so powerful and commanding. It was such a strange sound to come from such a quiet, secluded person. Ali looked around the stage as she sung her line, looking for her phantom. She couldn't see him anywhere. It was only when Jeremy's voice calmly sung:
'Look at your face in the mirror, I am there inside!'
that she saw him as he stepped into the light. His voice was so commanding that she did not have to act much to be drawn towards him. She hardly heard Sam repeatedly shouting 'Christine'. Jeremy offered out his hand, she took it, following him through the imaginary mirror.
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His heart skipped a beat when she took his hand. Her touch was gentle and her skin was soft. He pulled her towards him pretending that he really did have a hold over her and that she wasn't just acting. She was so beautiful, so perfect.
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'Brilliant! Fantastic!' Mr Conclair cried ecstatically. 'This will look fantastic when we have the mirror and the lights and costumes. Let's take it from the beginning. We'll progress onto some other scenes next week.'
'Your voice is good,' Ali said to Jeremy as he released her hand. 'It's so powerful. You make a brilliant Phantom.'
'Thank you,' he said. 'Excuse me.' With those words he disappeared into the wings. Ali looked after him curiously before taking her place to rehearse 'Think of Me' again.
