Hello again. So Ali and Sam... were you surprised? He He He (slight chuckle turns into manical phantom-esq laugh) Anyway. Thank you for your undying support for my writing... please keep on reviewing.
Madamoiselle P: Well I did warn you that they acted like their characters...
Anyway, you're absolutly right that Jeremy has an anger management problem but that's the Erik in him. Ali may have once been drawn to him, but things distracted her (i.e. Sam) but don't think that Jeremy's going to give up just like that. In the future we get to see a lot more phantom features in him...
Kerrie-A: Yeah no-one likes Jenna... well they're not meant to...
Terpintine Mind: But that's the thing that's so special about Jeremy. He does act so worldly as the Phantom. That's why he is so different to everybody else.
Enjoy my little angels of music...
Maska (M.G)...I really need a life...
Ah yes, just reminding you that I don't own POTO. As I have stated before I own a copy of London Cast Recording of Phantom... where would I be without Mr. Crawford's voice to sing Music of the Night to me? How did I live before I bought it?
6. Masquerade
Six weeks past of stressful rehearsals which became more and more intense as they entered the last week before the production. Debbie complained bitterly about Mrs. Sinell and her stick. Debbie, as she was playing Meg, had more ballet to learn than anybody else and had to be taken aside and tutored privately. Ali and Sam, although they both liked Debbie very much, often used her absence to have time alone together. This was not easy at rehearsals as at most points at least one of them was on stage and Ali had begged Sam to keep their relationship a secret. The only person that knew was Debbie who, as it had turned out, had first suggested to Sam that he took her onto the roof to see the view. Sam did not particularly understand why she wanted to keep them secret. Every time that he protested to Ali, she silenced him with a kiss. He was completely dedicated to her and would practically do anything that she said.
Ali had personal reasons for not wanting her relationship with Sam to become public knowledge. Quite apart from being gossiped about constantly by the cast and having to endure Jenna's snide comments, she was worried about how Jeremy would react to the news. He had seemed to avoid her since the incident with his sketchbook and their singing practises had unexplainably stopped. Ali felt far to embarrassed to ask Jeremy if he would restart them, still feeling that he had not completely forgiven her. There was something else too. Ali felt some kind of deep down bond to Jeremy that she had tried to squash. It was true that she loved Sam but she felt some kind of loyalty to the boy that had improved and developed her voice. He had once shown her passion with his touch and soothed her with his voice but now there was no magic. Anything sensual between Christine and the Phantom was purely acting.
As they met for their final week of rehearsals, Mr. Conclair told them that the set had been built in the theatre and they would now finish their rehearsals in there to 'get a feel for the stage'. The costumes were to be delivered the next couple of days so they could have a full dress rehearsal to get everything in order. Ali had to admit that when she first walked into the theatre, she was very impressed. A track seemed to have been laid down on the stage and several men were testing that the boat ran along it smoothly. A balcony had been set up along the back of the stage and there were platforms built to look like the boxes in the Opera Populaire.
'Well everybody, what do we think?' Mr. Conclair said.
'It's great,' Debbie said staring at the stage, intrigued at how the boat ran up and down the track by remote control. 'It looks just like the West End or Broadway stage.'
'Before we start rehearsing and the technical crew finishes off, I want to talk to you all. Everybody gather round,' Mr. Conclair said.
The cast shuffled to form some kind of semi-circle around the director.
'As you know, we are in our last week of rehearsals and next Friday we will stage our first performance.'
Ali gulped as she remembered how soon the production was.
'Well I thought that tomorrow, after the rehearsal, we could have a little party and sleepover right here in the theatre to help everybody relax. Then everybody will be here for rehearsal the next day.'
The cast shuffled awkwardly.
'I want everybody to have a costume. It's on Saturday and I hope that you can all come. We're going to have our own masquerade!'
Jenna stifled a snicker. Ali had to admit that she was having problems keeping a straight face. Mr. Conclair obviously thought himself incredibly cool and hip and no-body had the heart to tell him that going to a masquerade was not what the average teenager did on their Saturday night.
The cast scattered to get ready to run through Act One on the new stage. Debbie sat down next to Ali as the pair laced up their ballet shoes.
'A masquerade!' she giggled. 'What are you going to wear?'
'Who knows?' Ali replied.
'I think a shopping trip is in order,' Debbie said. 'We'll go after the rehearsal if that's not a problem.'
Ali confirmed that after rehearsal was alright for her. She sighed slightly as she remembered the time that she would stay behind with Jeremy and sing wishing that she had not been so stupid as to make him so angry. But that didn't matter, she had Sam now. As the music blared into the wings, Ali heard her cue and ran onstage with Debbie for the 'Hannibal' ballet sequence. Mr. Lamport seemed to have gathered together a small section of the orchestra that he had promised and they were very loud. Ali tried to concentrate on her dance instead of worrying if she would be heard above the music, especially when she realised that she was dancing out of step and Mrs. Sinell would probably be having words with her after the performance.
After the rehearsal, Debbie practically dragged Ali out of the door.
'Ali, wait!' Sam called after her
'She hasn't got any time to talk!' Debbie called back. 'Shopping, important, must go now, no boys!'
Ali mouthed an apology to him before being dragged around the corner.
Sam went back into the theatre to collect his things. As he turned to leave, he found Jeremy blocking the path.
'Excuse me,' he said coolly.
Sam had never spoken much to Jeremy. Most of their communication had come involuntarily through Ali.
'Of course Monsieur le Vicomte,' Jeremy sneered moving slightly aside so that Sam could pass.
As they met in the door, Sam turned towards Jeremy.
'You stay away from Ali,' he said threateningly. 'I know that you shouted at her and pushed her when she glanced at that stupid book of yours. If you ever harm her, I'll-' Sam faltered slightly
Jeremy took advantage of this
'You'll what exactly?'
'Just leave her alone, or watch your back' Sam said, pushing past the boy and stalking out of the theatre.
Jeremy watched him leave
'No, Sam, no. It is in fact you who should be watching your back,' he muttered to himself.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Insolent boy! How dare he threaten him! He was the only thing that stood between him and his angel. Once he was no longer around, she would come to him. She would sing for him. But how to do it? It had to be subtle. Performed in a certain way. He wished that he could really act like his character and fling a Pubjab Lasso around the Fop's neck. It would take careful planning. But she would once again come to him.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
'Mr. Conclair's masquerade must have done wonders for this shop's business,' Ali commented looking through the costume rental shop.
She could see several members of the cast in there including Jenna and her cronies. The two shop assistants looked overwhelmed.
'Ali, what do you think of this?' Debbie called twirling around holding a Spanish flamenco dress against her.
'Whatever you want,' Ali replied. 'But I think that that dress will only suit someone with dark hair.'
Debbie sighed and put the dress on the rail, rolling her finger around her blonde hair. Almost automatically it was seized by Jenna who looked smugly at the pair as she held it up to her. Debbie pulled a face and walked away quickly, muttering something about not liking it anyway. Debbie continued to search through the rails of costumes while Ali stood against the wall trying not to look too bored. She had chosen her Italian renaissance dress 30 minutes ago. Looking around the room, she smiled weakly at Paul Lummel who looked away quickly. He had recovered well from his fall down the stairs and had no serious injury. He had told everybody that he had slipped and fallen but there were rumours flying around that he had been pushed. Paul had hardly spoken to Ali for the duration of rehearsals and she assumed that Jenna had forbidden him too. Ali began to wander around the shop again looking aimlessly at a large gorilla costume when she suddenly felt a hand slip around her wait and a voice whisper gently in her ear:
'Guess who?'
Ali turned round to see Sam standing behind her. Her bored expression turned into a bright smile. He leaned forward to kiss her but she backed away.
'Not here,' she whispered gesturing towards Jenna and her gang.
Sam sighed and backed away.
'Why don't you want anyone to know Ali?'
'We've been over this Sam. Please just wait until the time is right.'
'Ali, we've been going out for six weeks. It isn't a crime. What are you afraid of?'
'Please Sam,' she said, taking his hand and leading him outside. 'You've understand eventually.'
'What Ali? What's the problem? I promise you that I'll look after you.'
Ali pressed her lips to his and looked into his eyes.
'Please?' she whispered
Sam smiled back at her
'Alright. What are you wearing tomorrow night anyway?'
'Sam! It's a surprise,' Ali teased putting the bag containing her costume behind her back.
Sam put his arms around her to try and take the bag from her.
'Let me see Ali.'
'Why?'
'I'll dress to match.'
Ali grinned at him.
'I'll take you to the right place in the shop then,' she compromised, leading him through the door again.
As she led him over to the renaissance costumes she heard a voice calling to her.
'Ali! Ali! I think I've found the perfect costume!'
Ali looked at Debbie holding up a fairy costume.
'That's lovely Debbie,' she replied.
After Debbie paid for the costume hire she went over to where Ali was waiting and caught sight of Sam.
'Sam!' she exclaimed. 'You shouldn't be here. You can't see her until the night!'
Debbie grabbed Ali's hand and pulled her from the shop and down the street to her house.
After the rehearsal the next day, most of the cast rushed home to make themselves ready for the evening's masquerade. Ali went back to Debbie's house to get ready. Secretly she loved her beautiful dress. The warm red complemented her complexion and she loved the intricate gold pattern on her bodice. As Ali's costume was renaissance, it came with a mask, but Debbie had been running round for the past hour trying to find feathers and sequins to decorate her home-made mask with.
'Girls, we've got 5 minutes,' Debbie's dad called from the bottom of the stairs.
'Ali, do I look OK?' Debbie asked in a concerned voice. 'Should I have put my hair up?'
'Debbie, you look lovely. You'll be the belle of the ball.'
Debbie giggled.
'Only if you're not in the room. You look really pretty Ali.'
Ali smiled and the girls went downstairs.
The masquerade was held in the rehearsal room where the cast had first met. As Ali entered the room, she glanced around for Sam. She was slightly annoyed by the fact that he didn't seem to be there yet so followed Debbie to the drinks table and helped herself to a glass of orange juice. She got a slight shock when a skeleton jumped out at her from behind the drinks table but as it removed its head, she could see that it was Mr. Conclair.
'Ali, Debbie, having a good time?'
'Yes thanks,' Debbie replied.
'Well, will you look at that? Mr. Lamport has come in the same costume as me! Well if you'll excuse me girls,' Mr Conclair said in a highly affronted voice stalking towards Mr. Lamport.
Ali suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder and was spun around. She ended up looking into the eyes of a boy who had the top half of his face covered by an ornate mask. He too was also wearing a renaissance costume and smiling at her.
'You look beautiful,' he whispered.
Ali smiled at the boy she knew to be Sam.
'You look handsome,' she replied.
'My lady,' he said offering his hand
Ali giggled before turning to her friend.
'Debbie, I'm going to dance. I'll see you later.'
Debbie nodded and Sam led Ali to the dance floor. They were indeed a fitting couple, both looking dignified and refined.
Jenna made her entrance as big as possible, catching the light with the number of sequins and replica diamonds sewn onto her dress. She glided onto the dance floor, seeming to 'accidentally' knock Ali out of the way. Sam looked as if he was about to make a comment to her but Ali shook her head and pulled him away.
'What's she meant to be anyway?' Sam asked glaring at Jenna.
'An angel I suppose,' Ali replied looking at the feathery wings that protruded from her back.
'Angel of what?'
Jenna opened her mouth and started to sing loudly with the song that was being played. Both Ali and Sam stared at her stunned.
'Um, music?' Ali suggested
The pair was silent for a moment before breaking into hysterical laughter.
They danced for a little longer trying not to laugh too much at Jenna's obvious attempts to get attention.
'Sam, I'm going to make sure that Debbie's alright. I'll come back in a minute,' Ali said to her boyfriend.
'Shall I come with you?' he asked
'No, don't worry.'
Ali left the dance floor and wandered around the hall trying to spot her friend. Unsuccessful, she went to the drinks table to refresh herself. She found herself standing next a tall boy. She only had to look at him once to recognise him.
'Jeremy!' she cried
The boy turned to look at her
'You look nice,' he said blandly before falling silent.
'Jeremy, talk to me, please!' Ali begged
Jeremy had hardly spoken to her recently. He looked her in her pleading eyes with a slight sneer on his face.
'Go back to your boyfriend and leave me alone,' he said before turning his back on her.
'You know?' Ali gasped. 'How could you know?'
'My dear,' he replied turning to face her again. 'I know everything that goes on amongst the cast members. Don't fool yourself into believing that you can keep anything secret from me.'
Ali didn't know what to say. She looked at the floor completely shocked.
'Surprised? Don't worry Ali. Your secret is safe with me.'
Ali still said nothing.
'What wrong Ali? Got nothing to say?'
Jeremy took a step closer to her and held her chin up towards him.
'You betrayed me,' he whispered in her ear. 'But don't worry, we will sing together again.'
With those words Jeremy chuckled and walked away, leaving Ali completely stunned. She felt Sam approach her from behind.
'Are you alright?' he asked
Ali looked up at him.
'Ye-Yes. I'm going to sit down for a bit. I hope that you don't mind.'
Sam shook his head
'Of course not. What's wrong?'
Ali shook her head.
'Nothing.'
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
He watched as the boy put an arm around her and led her away. Maybe he had been a little harsh towards her but she had to understand what she had done to him. How much she had hurt him. Then she would come to him. How beautiful she looked tonight! How he wanted her for himself! He hated the way that the Fop looked at her and touched her but he would have to be patient. His time would come and he would claim her as his own.
