Greetings all! Wow so many reviews! (tear in eye) I love you guys! I was surprised that you guys weren't more enthusastic about Sam being chocked by Jeremy...considering most of you don't like him...Anyway...
Anonymous (Nyeren): You know more Raoul fans! Wow! I agree that wasn't very nice of Jeremy, but then they do hate each other...and Jeremy will do what he feels like and if that involves crushing Sam's windpipe, so be it!
Angeloftheoperahouse: Your penname's changed. Oh that's just mean, making me pick between Christian and Jeremy. OK I'll share Jeremy if you share Christian...I can't see the Phantom clone and the Fop clone getting on too well though...
AMLisdabomb: Don't you think that Sam has a reason to be possesive and protective? I mean Jeremy is trying to seduce his girlfriend...and Jeremy had just tried to crush his windpipe.
LiTTleLoTTe: Update as you requested. In the dance sequence (because I've played it in my head) Ali and Meg run on at different times... I think that I mentioned it really briefly a long time ago...
Emma-J-Riddle: You update! The performance of Phantom of the Opera is below...
MagickAlianne: You want Jeremy and Ali together that badly? But Sam's just as dedicated to Ali as Jeremy is. He would never cheat on her...or would he?
Madame Opera Ghost: Oh yeah...thanks for reminding about my spelling...(blushes)
Amber Stag: Wow! New reviewer...thank you!
Dungeon Of My Black Despair: Cool pename! True Jeremy is kinda sinister...he has his odd Phantomish moment from time to time...
Megan Angel: I hope you enjoyed your singing cake! It probably won't go much beyond kissing because it's a K+ rating and I don't want to go above that yet. By the way there are three performances...did I mention that? EVERYBODY! There are three performances!
Madamoiselle P: We love our evil Jeremy...any sympathy for Sam? I've now got some sort of rough plan about what will happen. It's true that Ali doesn't understand exactly why Sam is being protective...she doesn't know about the chocking incident. That will change in the future... I will try and put in some more Debbie, just for you...
Phew! That's everybody. I can't say how many chapters until the end but we are coming to the end. OK, in this chapter, after more input from Madamoiselle P- thanks, we are going to find out a bit more about Jeremy...hence the title of the chapter.
Enjoy...
Maska (M.K)
Yeah, I don't own Phantom...yadda yadda...
13. All about Jeremy
She was perfect. Every note hit, the audience in complete awe of her. And it was thanks to him, completely thanks to him. Posing as her father seemed to have done wonders to her voice. Her spirit seemed to be in her voice as it soared through the theatre. Her song had wings. She truly was an angel. The audience loved her. They were screaming for more. The Jenna girl hadn't had that reception. He tore his glance away from Ali to look at her. Her face was contorted in jealousy, glaring at the perfect singer on stage. Sam seemed to be in awe too. It was hard to resist the urge to wipe that smile off his face, that way that he looked at her as if her triumph was due to him.
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Ali was completely blown away by the reception that she received from the audience. They were cheering for her. She looked up to the balcony and saw Sam standing and clapping. This sight would make her father proud. Sam came in a little late for 'Little Lottie' and had to rush through his line. However it wasn't too obvious and he covered his mistake quite well. As Sam left, Jeremy came in, singing into the microphone so that his voice boomed from all around the theatre. His voice was stronger than Ali had ever heard it before and she could almost feel the audience shiver with anticipation for the Phantom's entrance. As Jeremy led her thorough the mirror and the pair exited, there was a frantic rush to get up to the walkway that they were going to run across for the beginning of 'Phantom of the Opera'. Ali, almost tripped over her skirt, not helped by Jenna deliberately standing in her way. Jeremy led her back onto stage as she sung her verse and then ploughed into his, his voice ringing in Ali's ears. Ali felt herself trip slightly as Jeremy pulled her towards him when he sang:
'My power over you, grows stronger yet.'
However, Jeremy caught her and ran his hand through her hair to cover her while she got her balance. The rest of the act ran smoothly although the dummy of Joseph Buquet's body fell out of the Lasso. Ali and Sam received a big cheer for 'All I Ask of You' and Jeremy received a bigger one for 'You will curse the day you did not do, all that the Phantom asked of you.' As the curtain fell for the end of the first act, Ali could hear exited voices as the audience went to get their drinks. One she picked up was a girl's cursing that Christine had pledged love to Raoul, stating that she shouldn't have been so stupid to fall in love with a Fop when she could have had the Phantom.
Mr. Conclair was delighted at how the performance went and came backstage at the interval to tell everybody how well they were doing. After Mr. Conclair congratulated Ali, he sent her to fetch her engagement ring for the second act from the props room. When Sam tried to follow, Mr. Conclair held him back wanting to talk to him about his position during the letter scene.
As the lights in the prop room had blown earlier that day, Ali used the torch that was outside to locate her chain and ring. She however, did not notice the dark figure that slipped into the room behind her and locked the door, pocketing the key. When Ali tried to get out she found that the door was locked and tugged at the handle in vain. Panicking slightly, she started to scream for help until she felt a gloved hand rest lightly on her throat.
'Shhhh,' a voice said. 'You'll ruin your voice.'
Ali turned around to see who was behind her.
'Jeremy!' she cried. 'What are you doing? Why are you following me?'
'Don't flatter yourself, Ali,' Jeremy responded, smirking slightly. 'I was in here alone before you arrived. Why did you shut the door? It's got a self locking system.'
Ali turned back to the door, believing Jeremy's lie. He smiled as she cursed herself for being so stupid, tapping the key in his pocket.
'Well how are we going to get out?' she demanded.
'I have no idea,' Jeremy responded calmly, amused by her panicking nature.
'What if we miss the play?'
'The second act can't start without us, so they'll just have to wait.'
Ali shook her head in disbelief at his lack of concern.
'Are you always this calm? Do you ever get nervous? I mean you were calm before the play. You're calm now?'
'Panicking never helped anyone,' Jeremy responded, seating himself on the floor.
Ali stared at him for a moment before sinking to the floor, her back pressed against the door.
'So what now?' she asked
'We wait.'
Ali sighed and pressed her ear to the door. She could hear no-one outside. Jeremy sat and watched her silently
'So,' Ali said, trying to break the silence. 'Tell me about yourself Jeremy.'
Jeremy looked at her with a surprised expression.
'About me? Why?'
'I'm trying to start a conversation.'
'What do you want to know?'
'Anything. Birthday? Starsign? School? Hobbies?'
'2nd October. Libra. Don't go to school. Music.'
Ali sighed.
'You could expand a little,' she said. 'What do you do if you don't go to school?'
'I work in a music shop.'
'OK,' Ali said. Getting information out of Jeremy was not easy.
'Where did you learn to play music?'
'I stole my father's money and spend it on music lessons.'
Ali looked a little shocked but couldn't help but giggle.
'What did your father say to that?'
'The fool didn't notice for years. He was always out getting drunk, he thought that the money had gone on his alcohol. Well when he caught me, he threw me out. He hated music. I never knew why.'
Ali stared at Jeremy her eyes were completely filled with compassion.
'I'm sorry,' she whispered. 'I guess we've both lost our fathers then. Where do you live now?'
'A bed and breakfast just outside town.'
'What's it called?'
'Why?'
'I could come and visit you some time?'
Jeremy's lips turned into a sneer.
'I'm not sure that your boyfriend would approve of that.'
'Never mind about Sam. So why do you live there? Don't you have any friends that you can stay with?'
'I don't have friends. You've got to look out for yourself in this life. Keep out of the way of everyone, keep yourself to yourself.'
'That's not true!'
Jeremy chuckled.
'You're naïve, Ali. You'll see. Staying in the shadows is the only way forward. Especially when you're different.'
'What do you mean different? You look normal from where I am. Well minus the mask and evening costume.'
Jeremy didn't chuckle. He didn't smirk. He just looked at Ali seriously.
'You should know Ali. You've seen what goes on in my head.'
Ali bowed her head.
'And now you're asking me about it!' he continued, raising his voice slightly.
'I just want to understand,' Ali said gently.
'But I don't want you to understand! This is my life, mine! I will tell people things as and when it suits me!'
Jeremy was shouting now and had got to his feet. Angrily he knocked a pile of books off the table Ali shrank back against the door.
'Hello?' a voice called from outside. 'Is there anyone in there?'
'Yes!' Ali called back leaving Jeremy to stew in the corner. 'We've been locked in!'
There was a scrape of a key in the lock and as Ali moved, the door swung open to show the props manger.
'How did you get locked in there?' he asked curiously.
'It was my fault,' Ali said. 'I closed the door. I didn't realise that it had a self locking system.'
The man looked at her with a confused expression.
'It doesn't. It can only be locked with a key.'
Ali turned round to look at Jeremy who was looking at her smugly from the corner. She shook her head at him in disbelief.
'To think that I once trusted you,' she said leaving the room walking past the props manager leaving him very confused.
'Ali!' Jeremy called commandingly, following her into the corridor. 'Ali, come back to me.'
His intoxicating voice made Ali stop and stand still. Jeremy smirked again.
'Come to me,' he purred, beckoning her with his finger.
Ali turned and stepped towards him. Jeremy smirked again as she took another step, unable to resist him. However it was Mrs. Sinell who broke the trance.
'Ali Connia! Why are you not dressed for Masquerade? Come on! Now!'
Ali turned to follow Mrs. Sinell to her dressing room but Jeremy grabbed her arm staring into her eyes. She shook it off quickly.
'Leave me alone Jeremy. And learn to control your temper,' she hissed before walking away from him.
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Blown it! Again! It was a stupid place to lock her into. He could have arranged somewhere that really did have a self locking system. He wouldn't have to do it if Sam didn't follow her around like a puppy dog. But while he had been in the prop room with him she had done something amazing. She had made him open up to her. No-one had ever had that affect on him before. No-one had been able to make him talk about his history. And she understood. She didn't reprimand him like all those that he had once know for taking money. The stupid drunk deserved it anyway. She understood, she didn't care. She really was perfect. If only it wasn't for his temper!
