A/N: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! I love hearing that people like the story.
CelestialGlowEquivalence: Don't worry, the Phantom will find his way in the story. Like I said, the previous chapter was just Annabella's personal life, and her relationship with her boyfriend.
Norma Jean the Dancing Machine: Haha, thank you! More on the way!
Phantomfan1911: Thank you, I will!
Chapter Four
I woke up the next morning excited. It was the first full run-through, and no Elizabeth was going to mess up my enthusiasm. For once, I was happy to just be in the production— even if it meant this mandatory Saturday morning rehearsal, not to mention putting up with the diva. I had plenty of time before I had to leave, about an hour, but I decided to get ready right away. I pulled a pair of cutoff black jazz pants from my bottom drawer, then the school's drama club t-shirt from next drawer. I glanced out the window. No snow, but it looked cold, as it was a February morning. I grabbed my dark blue hoodie, which was lying a few feet away from me on the floor. I got dressed quickly and pulled my red hair back in a high ponytail. Then I grabbed my ballet slippers. I looked over at the clock.
There was still plenty of time to kill.
Not wanting to wake up my parents, or my sister, or any of my brothers, I tiptoed into the kitchen, grabbing a pouch of Pop Tarts. Then I ran back to the room.
Where is all this energy coming from?
In the seclusion of my room, no one could hear me, so it was safe for me to practice some Meg solos and ballerina choreography. I stuck Disc One of the Original Broadway Cast recording into my CD player and decided to play the CD starting with the overture, so I could finish my Pop Tart.
The CD continued to play. When the music reached my first solo, I sang it, but then had the urge to sing more. So, forgetting my "practice" time, I began to sing for the role of Christine.
I knew every line of the musical, word for word. I sang each line passionately, in character. I imagined myself in the setting. I could see the hustle and bustle of the rehearsals, the quiet calm that was Christine's dressing room, the extravagant costumes. Method acting had always been a strength of mine.
The CD player reached track 6, the theme. I sang through it, as I normally would every time I heard the song. But something was different this time.My voice had no trouble reaching the notes as it normally would have, instead, it grew more extravagant.
I was beginning to scare myself.
I hit the final note. It wasn't a pathetic squeak, as it normally was coming from my mouth, but the note was crystal clear, almost angelic.
No way. This is just too freaky.
In my vision, the Phantom was smiling. I was far too frightened to stay in this state, so I broke out of it. I checked the clock once again, and realized that I'd accomplished exactly what I tried so hard to avoid…
"Oh shit! I'm late!"
I grabbed everything I needed for rehearsal and turned off my CD player. I took one final check in the mirror…
Am I still imagining things?
I saw a face in the mirror behind me for a thousandth of a second. But then I turned around, and my Phantom was gone.