Christene and Jeffery got along well, even swimmingly. She knew she and Jeff, as he liked to be called, had the first seeds of a friendship but there were no sparks. Christene sighed. She had never fallen in love. She never could. It was like all the men she had been around had been lacking something. As she looked at Jordan flirting with Veronica, who was to play Carlotta, she thought "Yeah lacking common decency."

Jeffery and Christene held hands as they sang, "The Point of No Return" She marveled how his voice could hold such power and not rend him in two. He wondered how such a small throat could push those notes so high. Jordan wondered if he was going to be able to hold his lunch down.

Christene sat at her vanity, brushing her hair. The silky curl locks sprang and bounced on her head. She giggled as she remembered Charles playing with them, then sobered. Charles. Tears gathered in her eyes as she thought of her brother. Where was he? After the car accident…better not think of the accident. Charles had left. He was afraid that his family couldn't accept him as he looked. It didn't matter how many times they told him despite the scars he was still their Charles he never believed them. She still remembered him screaming "How can you love a monster!" He never did understand that physical appearance didn't make a man it was the soul.

Suddenly she burst into tears. "Charles oh Charles, your face isn't what matters Charles come home" "Charles!" The angel's heart broke. It simply shattered. His princess was grieving over her brother. Something about his face, he felt his own deformity. She saw past her brother's looks perhaps she could see past his! He swallowed nervous as any adolescent boy." Ange de la musique"

Christene started. "who's there?" "A friend" She turned trying to pinpoint the voice. "If you're a friend come out where I can see you" " I shall my angel but could you do me a favor?" "What?" "sing for me." she suspiciously stared at the mirror. "What do you want me to sing?" "Anything."

Angel I hear you,

Speak I listen,

Stay by my side,

Guide me

Angel my soul was weak,

Forgive me,

Enter at last,

Master."

An answering song answered her unasked question.

Flattering child you shall know me,

See why in shadows I hide,

Look at your face in the mirror,

I am there inside.

She was trembling as she turned towards the mirror but there was no one there. A rose fluttered to her feet. She picked it up. She turned wondering where this "friend" had gone. She turned, her gossamer nightgown swirled around her feet. 'Friend of mine, come out" Only silence greeted her words.

The angel cried why couldn't he face her? She seemed different than her predecessor. He knew the truth, he was scared. He the phantom of the opera was scared of a mere woman. Not such a stretch for a heartbroken man. He would try again later.

Christene continued her rehearsals but now she was apprehensive of her dressing room. She knew she was being watched. Jordan was no help deliberately scaring her to the point of insanity. But most often he was taken up with Veronica. If the rumors were true then they were already lovers. Alyssa and Jeff were pairing up too. In fact half the cast was pairing up with the other but Christene was without anyone. That was the way she liked it. At least that's what she told herself at night when she was alone.