I'm grovelling! I'm sorry that I haven't updated. Truely. I'm behind on my writing... normally I'm two chapters ahead, at the moment I'm half way through the one that follows this... updates may take a while. My excuse is that my exams are in six weeks, I don't know anything, and am starting to panic...
MagickAlianne: The only reason why I'm not so much of an E/C fan is because she was meant to end up with Raoul... she loved him, he loved her. But that's the beauty of modern fics... we can mess around with the plot and still make it believable!
Angeloftheoperahouse: Glad you liked it. I hope Christian has returned to you in a suitable condition... even though you murdered him (I don't know if I can forgive you for that). I hope that Jeremy was on his best behaviour and didn't lose his temper too much. And by the way, block your ears if he goes hypnotic voicy on you... you never know where you'll end up...
Emma-J-Riddle: You see what happens when Jeremy gets her away from distractions... she acts perfectly. Is isa good or bad thing that Sam came along though? I still think that it's unfair that you get Phantom before us... because it is. My very rubbish reason being is that ALW's from England and Gerry's from Scotland... I don't hate you though... just a mild annoyance lol!
Kerrie-A: Awww thanks (blushes). I'm sorry this was so long... I'm losing my reputation as a regular updater.
toomanycurlz: Sorry this has taken so long. So you've chosen Jeremy? Interesting...
Anonymous (anonymous): NEW REVIEWER! I'm glad you like it.
AMLisdabomb: Well Jeremy can't be wierd all the time can he? And when he isn't being wierd look what happens... he gets the girl. Could this possibly be a hint? Wow! I'm converting you into a Raoul fan. You see, I told you that he was a nice guy...
StrangeGirl: The tension builds... I could resist the Andrew thing... I was wondering if anyone would pick it up. And it was an opportunity for Sam to make a bad joke... I'll hold you to your review promise...
Dungeon Of My Black Despair: Well that's not a bad idea... I will do my best... oh just got an idea... he he. Anyway, I agree, I want my own Jeremy. There isa guy that I think that I like (I'm not really sure) who is dark, tall, quiet... except when he's singing in hisbass voice... basically a living Jeremy...minus the phantomish stuff. Unfortunatly he's not one for talking much and has no idea that I like it... plan to keep it that way... anyway do you care about my failing love life?
maluruloki: ANOTHER NEW REVIEWER! Welcome, welcome... Your birthday's the day after Jeremy's... cool. I very happy that you like it... and even more happy that you like Micheal Crawford and his beautiful, phantomish voice... sigh.
Wow! I had so many reviews. Anyway, I'd better hurry up or Mum will find out that I'm not working... gulp! Well I got a bit carried away and this is quite long so sorry... if that's a bad thing. OK, Ali is no longer under Jeremy's control... that went when she woke up but cannot remember what happened. Jeremy still has temper problems but IS learning to control it... but for how long?
Anyway... I don't own Phantom... so don't sue me. I will never own Phantom... although I will play Christine in a professional theatre if Mr. Lloyd Webber is willing to coach me? Fine... don't then... I'll continue to sing your music out of tune...
15. Admitting the truth
Adam sat in his room, fingering through the photographs that he had taken that night. Selecting the one that he would use, he scanned them onto his computer. He looked for a moment at the photograph that he had taken from behind a tree of Ali kissing Sam.
'I'm sorry little brother,' he said to the screen. 'She's just not faithful.'
Chuckling Adam deleted Sam from the picture and imported an image of Jeremy to go in its place. Adam was skilled with computers and photograph manipulation. It had started when he made a joke birthday card, picturing his friend with a supermodel and had become a hobby. Some of the greatest celebrities in the world were in compromising positions on Adam's hard drive. Adam's phone rang and he picked it up quickly.
'Hello?' he said.
'Adam,' a voice said. 'I grow impatient of waiting.'
Adam recognised the voice as that of the figure in the tree.
'I'm working on it. How did you get this number anyway?'
'That is my business. I know lots about you Adam. I'm standing outside your house right now. Go to your window and see.'
Adam's blood ran cold. Who was this man? What had he got himself and Sam into? He got to his feet tentatively and walked to the window peering outside. He could see someone standing on the road looking straight at him. The sight made Adam jump.
'What do you want? Get lost now or I'll call the police.'
'I'll call Claire.'
'OK, OK! Look I've got a picture which lets say, compromises this girl of Sam's. When I show it to him, he won't be able to deny it.'
Adam swore that he could see the figure's lips upturn into a smirk.
'Good.'
Suddenly the phone went dead and the figure walked away from the house. Adam sat down into his chair. He felt awful in deceiving his own brother in this way but Sam would never have to find out. As long as he could keep Claire, that was all that mattered.
The next evening the cast arrived at the theatre early for the evening performance. Mr Conclair sat them all down to talk about the performance of the previous night.
'Well done for yesterday everybody. I had lots of people tell me how impressed they were with the performance. There were a few things that I want to talk to you about first.'
Mr. Conclair continued to talk about the performance and what could be done better tonight. Ali was very aware of the glances that she received from the cast members. Somehow, the around of the offer that she and Jeremy had received from Andrew the night before had circulated around the cast. The only people that Ali had told were Sam and Debbie. Ali suspected Debbie of letting the secret slip. She was a bit of a gossip. Although, Ali mused, the look on Jenna's face was probably worth the story spreading.
As the cast dispersed Mr. Lamport called Sam over to talk to him. Sam was only happy to leave Ali when he knew that Debbie was with her. They did not go but waited around in the theatre until Sam had finished.
'Is it me,' Debbie said carefully 'or is Sam a little possesive?'
Ali didn't know what to say. Her mouth hung open as she stared at her friend.
'Why do you ask?' she said quickly.
'Yesterday, when you were talking to that man Sam was worried that Jeremy of all people would try something on you. I mean Jeremy! Of all people, he'd be the least likely.'
'I don't know,' Ali mumbled, not looking at Debbie in the eye.
'What aren't you telling me Ali?' Debbie said almost threateningly.
Ali glanced around.
'OK, but Debbie, you don't tell a soul. You promise.'
'Of course.'
'No, really promise. Not like you kept the secret about Andrew and his job offer.'
'I promise.'
'OK, yesterday after the performance, I left the room with Jeremy. He said something to me and then I think that he took me somewhere. I don't remember. Next thing I know, Sam is waking me up because I've fallen asleep in some obscure location.'
'How can you not remember Ali? Did he drug you or something?'
'No, well, I don't know. And before at the interval, he locked me in the prop room with him. It's just confusing. That's why Sam is so upset about me being alone with Jeremy.'
Suddenly a shadow fell across the girls. It was Sam, looking at Ali very strangely.
'Let's go,' he said, not taking his eyes off Ali.
When Debbie had left them Sam pulled Ali aside.
'Why didn't you tell me about the props room?' he demanded. 'Why did you keep it secret? What did he do to you?'
'Nothing,' Ali said quietly.
'Why are you protecting him?' Sam said angrily. 'You obviously know what happened then. Can you remember what happened last night as well Ali? Is there something that you want to tell me?'
'Stop it!' Ali cried. 'Why are you saying this? If I knew, I'd tell you!'
Sam took a deep breath.
'I'm sorry,' he said. 'What happened yesterday Ali?'
'Nothing happened when I was with him. We just talked.'
'Talked?'
'Yes, talked. I asked him about himself and he told me. He lives alone. In some bed and breakfast. He was thrown out by his father. He lives of whatever he earns from working in a music shop.'
'And you believe this?'
Ali gazed at Sam, her eyes wide with amazement. How could he not believe?
'Yes. I do believe him. Why shouldn't I?'
'Because he's obviously been lying to you at some point. Tell me Ali how he survives on his own with the money from working in a music shop but he can give up the time to be in this play.'
Ali open her mouth to protest but Sam interrupted her.
'And let's say that his story is true. Do you remember at the beginning of rehearsals when you got caught in the rain and Jeremy gave you dry clothes?'
'Yes,' Ali said.
'His sister's clothes I remember you telling me. Well if he lives alone, why would he be picking up his sister's clothes? It doesn't add up Ali.'
Ali bit her lip, knowing that her boyfriend was right. She shook her head.
'I'm going to get changed,' she murmured. 'Please don't so anything stupid.'
With those words she left Sam and went to her dressing room, thoughts flying through her mind. Sam was right, Jeremy must have lied to her about something but what? There was only one way to find out.
After Ali got changed into her costume, she looked out the door through the crack to make sure that Sam had gone. Contented that he wasn't there she ran down the corridor to Jeremy's dressing room and knocked on the door. He opened the door, surprised to see her standing there.
'We have to talk,' she said.
Jeremy said nothing but stepped aside so she could walk into the room and closed the door behind her.
'So,' Ali began unsure of how she was going to phrase her questions. 'Second night of performance,' she added quickly.
'Yes,' came her simple reply.
'Yes, yes, you knew that didn't you?' Ali said, aware that she was slightly stuttering.
'Ali, what do you want?' Jeremy asked sitting on his chair. 'Wouldn't your precious little Fop prefer that you were far away from me?'
'Don't call him that!' Ali cried.
'Well it's true.'
'No it's not!'
Jeremy leaned back in his chair and ran his eyes over the girl standing in front of him trying to ignore his thoughts of how beautiful and perfect she was.
'You've lied to me,' Ali burst out suddenly.
Jeremy cocked his eyebrow.
'Have I?' he said calmly.
'Your story doesn't add up. Do you really live alone? Is your life really the sob story that you told me about yesterday?'
Jeremy got to his feet glaring at her.
'So this is what he's told you is it? I should have known that you would believe him.'
'So it's true?'
'Yes it's true!' Jeremy spat. 'Do you think I'm proud of the fact? Do you think that I go around telling people for sympathy?'
He was standing close to Ali now, his face very close to hers. Ali looked away but Jeremy pulled her chin back so she faced him. Ali pulled herself completely out of his grip and walked to the other side of the dressing room.
'So if you live alone in a B and B, how can you give up the time to be in this play?'
'I hoped that I'd get some contacts and be able to get a job here at some point. Satisfied?'
'Not quite,' Ali replied. 'Shortly after I met you, when we were still having singing lessons, you helped me. I had been caught in the rain and you gave me dry clothes. Do you remember?'
Jeremy flinched a little which encouraged Ali to continue.
'You told me that they were your sister's. Well if the B and B story is true, why did you have your sister's clothes. You failed to mention her in your life story yesterday.'
Jeremy said nothing. His body had gone rigid.
'Well?' Ali demanded. 'How are you going to explain that?'
'You didn't care before that boy started putting ideas in your head.'
'Answer the question Jeremy!'
Jeremy paused and looked straight at her, anger apparent in his eyes. He was about to open his mouth and then thought better of it and turned his back on her.
'Jeremy!' she said angrily. 'Tell me!'
'Go away Ali!' he said, his back still facing her.
Ali turned to leave when something on the table caught the light. She turned to look at it and realised that it was Jeremy's sketchbook. The last time that she had looked at his sketchbook, Jeremy had been very angry. She wouldn't make that mistake again. Ali turned to leave but her curiosity got the better of her. Knowing that she was going against Jeremy's will and it was awful that she was doing it while Jeremy was in the room, she opened the book, this time prepared for the monsters. However that was not what she saw. She saw herself. It was almost like looking at a black and white photograph of her. She turned the page and saw a picture of her wearing the clothes that Jeremy has given her. What shocked her even more was that the page was dated. Dated before the incident. She took a deep, shaky breath. What had Jeremy been thinking?
'Haven't you gone yet?' Jeremy said turning round to look at Ali.
He froze as he saw her looking at his book.
'Ali?' he said warningly. 'What are you doing?'
Ali looked up at him, fear in her eyes of how he was going to react. She backed away as he took a step towards her and turned to make a break to the door. Jeremy got there first and she practically ran into his arms as she tried to get out.
'What did you see?' he asked threateningly. 'Tell me now!'
Ali shook her head, trying to get out of his grip.
'Let's go and have a look then.'
Jeremy clamped his hand around Ali's wrist and dragged her over to the dressing table where he looked down on the open pages. Ali didn't even wait for his reaction.
'I'm sorry!' she cried.
Jeremy said nothing but threw the book off the table and turned angrily towards her.
'I thought that you would have learnt from last time. I thought that you would have understood.'
'I don't understand you Jeremy. What's going on in your mind?' she asked gently putting a hand on his cheek.
Jeremy pulled it away with his free hand and glared at her. His grip tightened on both her wrists.
'Jeremy, please! You're hurting me!' Ali cried.
Jeremy pushed her against the wall, still not releasing his grip on her wrists. He stepped close to her so their faces were almost touching.
'I don't believe you Ali! I trusted you to not do that again!'
Ali looked at him directly, feeling the guilt rise up in her though grateful that he was not shouting at her.
'Why do you have pictures of me Jeremy?' Ali dared herself to ask.
Jeremy broke his eye contact with her and looked at the floor.
'Then you draw pictures of how you want me to look and oblige me by giving my clothes. That's obsessive Jeremy! That's stalkerish!'
Jeremy looked at her again, his eyes full of anger.
'Get out Ali!' he said, his voice shaking and releasing her wrists. 'Just leave me alone!'
'You haven't answered my questions yet,' Ali said.
Jeremy suddenly acted. His fingers twisted in her hair and pulled it painfully. Ali gave a little scream.
'Jeremy!'
'I told you to get out!' he snarled. 'I tried to keep my temper for you but you just don't seem to understand what I'm going through!'
'Jeremy, let go of me! Please!' she cried, tears spilling down her cheeks.
'You don't seem to realise what you're putting me through Ali. Do you even care?' Jeremy shouted, pulling Ali's hair even harder.
He dragged her around so that she stood in front of him facing him ignoring her cries.
'I have needed you since the moment I first saw you, and you don't care! You've never cared! You're too happy with that boyfriend of yours that you never even noticed. Well let's think Ali. Let's think about this.'
Ali pleaded for Jeremy to let go of her hair but he did not seem to hear her and continued to rant.
'Who was it that gave to singing lessons and improved your voice? Me. Who was it that comforted you when you were upset about your father? Me. Who was it who-'
Jeremy took a deep breath, his voice trailing off. He released his grip on Ali, who backed away from him, her hand rubbing the spot where he had pulled her hair.
'Now do you understand why I act the way I do? I love you Ali! I love you and you don't care one bit.'
Ali stared at him, her breath shaking. Suddenly she turned and ran out of the door, back to her dressing room. Jeremy slammed his fist on his dressing room table cursing himself for hurting Ali and putting her in an impossible position. How did she do it? How did she make him tell her things that were normally confined to him and him alone? How did she manage to keep him calm for so long? He needed a way to regain her trust, and quickly.
When Ali arrived at her dressing room, she flung herself onto her chair and looked at her face in the mirror. Her scalp was painful from where Jeremy pulled her hair but it had taken a while for him to get angry which was certainly a good sign. That was the only positive thing that had come out of the situation as far as Ali was concerned.
