Wow! I have 50 reviews! When I started I didn't think that I would ever get so many! I love you guys. Just for people that have reviewed 'Words', I won't forget this fic. This one's my baby...it will take priority.
AMLisdabomb: Yeah Jeremy's strange...but would we have him any other way? You are absolutly right about Sam...see below.
Madam Opera Ghost: Wow. Six reviews! That's really sweet of you... So I take it that you're a Jeremy fan too...is Sam that bad? And I'm going to have to disagree with you on the better Phantom. I'll grant you that Gerry is better looking but Micheal has the power in his voice that Gerry can't quite match...he he I'm talking about them as if I'm friends with them...
Emma-J-Riddle: You flatter me. It's really not that great...Anyway...update as requested
Madamoiselle-P: Of course I credited you...how could I not? You came up with the ideas. I can see what you mean about Jeremy being a leader...but not much of a teamworker. If someone disagreed with him, he would just either punch them of go hypnotic voicy on them...
Anonymous (Nyeren): Wow a Sam fan! You're one in a million... I have a bit of a thing for Raoul too...especially in Leroux...
AngeloftheOpera: Well if I ever find my own Jeremy...I won't tell you because he'll be mine...all mine! Mwahhahaha! (phantom-esq laugh)
MeganAngel: Welcome to Or welcome to having a account (brings out cake with candles that sing Phantom of the Opera). I'm glad that you like it. How do you mean saucy? Just saucy or really saucy?
Anyway, this is what happens when Sam brushes with Jeremy...again. Adam's not going to appear in every chapter, he'll just keep cropping up here and there, trying to mess things up. I don't think that he'll be around in the next chapter either. Anyway...
Enjoy...
Maska (M.K)
I OWN PHANTOM OF THE OPERA! I just bought the rights from ALW... (runs away from charging lawyers)...OK, I don't own POTO! I don't! (Struggles out from under a maul of lawyers)...I will one day (evil laugh)
12. Stay out of my way
Sam had taken Ali out for dinner but her mind was not on him. Her thoughts were only on the experience with her 'father'. Sam was concerned but tried not to show it and acted as normally as he could around Ali. They arrived back at the theatre shortly after 6:00 to get ready for the performance. Ali appeared to have got over her earlier experience and was talking as her normal happy self. Sam first led her to his dressing room where he presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
'Isn't this the normal gift for a theatrical star?' he said, giving the flowers to her.
Ali was speechless and could do very little but smile.
'Thank you,' she managed to say.
Sam walked her back to her dressing room.
'So I'll see you later, my Christine,' Sam grinned before closing the door behind him.
Ali, unable to find a vase, placed Sam's flowers into a glass that she had in her room, which was filled with water. Turning back to her dressing table, she got a shock when she saw what was lying there. Lying, half in shadow, there was a red rose tied with a black ribbon. Ali picked it up gently and stroked the petals absent-mindedly. She noticed a small piece of paper also on the table that had been underneath the rose. It simply said:
'Make your father proud.'
Ali screwed up the paper and threw it in the bin and was about to throw the rose in with it when something stopped her. There seemed to be some kind of voice that surrounded the room that instructed her to stop. Ali placed the rose on the table, got into her costume and began to apply her make-up trying to put the rose from her mind. Where had it come from? Something from her father? But her father was dead. But he had spoken to her earlier.
Ali shook her head trying to clear the thoughts and sung a few scales to warm up her voice. She would perform well. She would make her father proud.
When Sam left Ali, he did not go to his dressing room but walked past it and tapped loudly on Jeremy's door. There was a shuffle from inside and the door opened to reveal Jeremy in his Phantom costume. He was not wearing his mask but a side of his face had been made up to show the Phantom's disfigurements. Jeremy sneered at Sam who stood outside glaring at him.
'What did you do to her?' Sam snarled. 'What did you make her believe?'
Jeremy chuckled and looked at him slyly.
'What are you talking about?' he grinned.
Sam lunged at Jeremy, grabbed his collar and stepped into the room and pressed the Phantom against the wall, kicking the door shut behind him.
'I don't know what your game is,' Sam continued. 'I don't know why you're haunting her and for heaven's sake! What kind of sick person are you to impersonate her dead father?'
Jeremy chuckled again at Sam's outburst.
'What makes you think that?' he teased, provoking Sam even more.
'How dare you! Stay away from her Jeremy! She is not yours!'
Jeremy suddenly lunged forward, taking Sam by surprise and knocking him to the floor. Before Sam could get up, Jeremy placed his foot over his neck. Sam gasped for breath.
'We'll see about that,' Jeremy whispered, bending down towards him thus increasing the pressure on Sam's neck. 'What's wrong Samuel?' he continued pressing his foot harder on Sam's windpipe. 'Speechless? Nothing to say?'
Sam was starting to splutter and trying to lift Jeremy's foot from his neck. Jeremy smirked again, pressing his foot down a little harder.
'You Samuel, will leave both me and Ali and not interfere with my plans. If you do, well lets just say that a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.'
Jeremy, chuckling at his own joke, lifted his foot a little to allow Sam enough air to talk. Sam swore bitterly at him. Jeremy shook his head and pressed again on Sam's airway.
'No, no Samuel. We don't want language like that in here. Not very appropriate to a gentleman such as you who is defending a lady. No, not appropriate at all. Now listen closely Samuel. When I take my foot off you, you are going to leave my dressing room and stay out of my way. Understand?'
Sam made a rasping noise that Jeremy took to mean 'yes'. He removed his foot from Sam and dragged him to the door, throwing him outside. Sam stayed on his hands and knees, gasping for breath and coughing slightly. He staggered back to his dressing room, holding onto his throat and took a glass of water before collapsing into a chair.
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How dare that boy come to his room and start telling him what to do! If only he hadn't been so angry at Ali she would never have started to go out with the Fop and he wouldn't feel so alone and rejected. That brother of his seemed to be having little success in splitting the couple up. If Adam did not succeed soon he would be forced to act. If he could not have Ali, Adam should not have Claire or whatever that girl's name was. Maybe it had been beneath him to pose as Ali's father, but he had been encouraged by the way that she had instantly relaxed in his presence. It had seemed to take a huge weight off her shoulders and she seemed calm for the evening performance. That was what he needed for now. She had to give a good performance, she had to be perfect. After all, it was he who first helped her learn her songs.
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There was general exited chatter backstage, ten minutes before the performance was about to start. Despite the requests to be silent, no-body took much notice and the halls were filled with people practising scales and dance steps. Sam escorted Ali everywhere incredibly protectively. She guessed that Sam and Jeremy must have had another brush judging by the dark looks that Sam threw at Jeremy and the sly, smug ones that he received in return. Ali was so lost in trying to work out what had happened that she was completely oblivious to the technical expert who was fitting her microphone. The woman mistook this for nerves and after wishing her luck moved on to Sam's costume.
Ali looked over to Jeremy who was sitting in the corner, his mask on his face staring at her. His stare was so deep Ali, felt herself drawn to him instantly and slowly walked towards him.
'Ali, where are you going?' Sam asked.
'I'll be back in a minute,' she murmured as she made her way across the room.
Sam tried to follow her but was pulled back by the technical expert who was fitting his wires. Ali approached Jeremy who threw a smug glare at Sam before turning to the girl before him.
'Um, good luck tonight,' she said weakly, trying not to falter under his stare.
'And you too,' he replied calmly.
'Aren't you nervous at all?' Ali burst out. 'Aren't you at all unsure of yourself?'
Jeremy stood up to look down on Ali's face.
'You've rehearsed enough,' he said gently holding her arms. 'You will be perfect. Make your father proud.'
With those words he waltzed across the room leaving Ali stunned. She thought of the rose and that experience that with her 'father'. She would make him proud. Her thoughts were disturbed as she felt Sam approach behind her.
'What did he say?' Sam demanded.
'Nothing,' Ali replied. 'Just good luck.'
'He touched you,' Sam muttered darkly. 'Why?'
'So what?' Ali retorted. 'I don't have to ask your permission to do something every time. Honestly Sam, you've become very possessive.'
Sam looked slightly taken aback.
'I'm sorry,' he said. 'I don't mean to, honestly. It's just, I get this feeling that if I leave you alone he's going to try and take advantage of you.'
'Please don't worry,' Ali said. 'Come on. Let's go and find Debbie before the performance starts.'
Sam and Ali found their friend practising her steps.
'I'm so scared!' she cried when she saw them. 'I'm going to forget my words and my steps and-'
'Debbie,' Ali soothed. 'Relax, take a deep breath. Do you feel better?'
Debbie nodded.
'Get into your positions please!' a voice called.
'Ali!' Debbie cried again.
'Good luck,' Ali whispered to Sam, giving him a gentle kiss before going to the wings.
'This is it,' Debbie whispered. 'Weeks of practising have all led up to this.'
Ali nodded, taking deep breaths as she saw Sam on stage in his wheelchair. The overture started booming through the theatre and the chandelier rose from the stage.
'Good luck,' Ali whispered looking helplessly at her friend.
'Go get 'em Christine,' Debbie whispered back giving her a hug.
Ali took several deep breaths, closed her eyes and ran onstage.
