BEFORE I START THE CHAPTER, I WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO REVIWED, YOU GUYS ROCK! ALSO, IF YOU WANT TO IM ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, MY SCREENAME IS roxysurfrgrl8537 AND MY WEBSITE IS (www. xanga. com / texasgurlii1113 ) only remove the spaces and put an underscore between texasgurlii and 1113) -- observe gerard butler's birthday (11/13) lol, HERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER…
o.O
The next morning I awoke to the sound of my iPod's alarm going off, blasting the overture from 'Phantom of the Opera' into my ear. I sat up and groaned, rubbing my temples. I had a massive headache, and I was really dizzy. I stumbled into the bathroom and flicked on the lights. As my vision cleared and my face came into view I had to bite my tongue to keep from screaming. There was dried blood on random points of my face, and when I reached up to touch it, I saw that my left hand and wrist was covered in it, too. I brought it close to my eyes, trembling. The memories of what I had done last night all came rushing back to me, and I felt terrified and guilty. I could have killed myself subconsciously! I stuck my hand under the faucet and felt the warm water wash away all the blood. I started to become slightly nauseous at the sight of all my blood rushing down the drain, but I shook it off. After all traces of blood were gone, I went to turn on the shower.
After a 10-minute shower, I dressed and did my hair and make-up, stumbling around numbly, still in shock from what I had done to myself. I grabbed my backpack with all my completed homework in it, and started out the front door, after grabbing pop-tarts again, and feeding Aeysha. I drove straight to school, and I arrived at 7:25, with an hour to spare.
I had seen Mme. Giles' car in the parking lot, (She and Meg had their own cars, it was impossible to wake Meg up) so I headed to the choir room. As soon as I entered, I found that it was deserted, except for Mme, who was in her office again. I set my bags down and took a seat at the piano. I had been taking piano lessons for a couple of years, and I was at the point where I could hear a song a couple times and play it almost dead-on on the piano. I started at the keys for a while before a song popped into my head. I placed my hands on the keys and pressed down on the pedals to get the sound I wanted. The smooth sound of the piano drifted around the room, not bothering Mme. Giles, whose room was soundproofed. After the into bars, I began to sing with it.
Playground school bell rings, again…
Rain-clouds come to play, again…
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello, I am your mind, giving you someone to talk to…hello
If I smile and don't believe,
Soon I know I'll wake, from this dream,
Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken
Hello, I am the lie, living for you so you can't hide…hello
I played the few bars of plain piano, where there should have been a cello, and then raised my voice slowly up to the piercing crescendo. My voice sounded pained and genuine, and I could have cried at that moment.
Suddenly, I know I'm not sleeping,
Hello? I'm still here, all that's left of yesterday…
My voice faded into nothingness as the sweet sorrowful song echoed around the empty room. Or so I thought.
"That was beautiful." Said a voice from behind me. "I didn't know you played."
I turned to find Erik sitting in one of the chairs. He was smiling sadly at me. I smiled back, finding joy in seeing him.
"Thank you. This is one of my favorite songs. It's called 'Hello', by a band called Evanescence. My friend Haley got me into them. I'm glad you liked it." I clasped my hands but suddenly felt a warm liquid on my left palm. A sudden terror seized me and I tried to hide my hand before Erik saw it, but to no avail.
He stood and walked over to me, trying to get my hand. "You're bleeding!" He said concernedly. I gave up trying to hide it and let my hand rest limply in his. He turned it over to find the source and gasped slightly. A few of the 8 or so slashes on my wrist were gently pulsing blood. I had forgotten to wear a wristband to cover them. I guiltily looked down and refused to meet his eyes. He put his hand under my chin and gently lifted my face to meet his. "When did you do this?" He asked. He wasn't angry, but he looked pained.
"Last night." I said. "It's the first time I've done it, I swear! I don't even remember it! I guess I just…lost control. I could have killed myself without knowing it!" I finished. I gazed into his eyes, which had turned slightly more yellowish. They had lost the bluish hue and were now turning into cattish eyes. I remembered them from last night, when I had been talking to him. I felt horrible, like I had somehow let him down. He walked over to his bag and took a handkerchief from it. It was made of crimson satin, and I couldn't imagine him using it for anything other then accessorizing. In one corner the letters E.D. were monogrammed into the lovely material. He began wrapping it gently around my wrist but I protested.
"No! I'll ruin it!" I cried. He ignored me and continued wrapping. He tucked the loose end into one of the folds and patted my hand. I could've cried from his gentle manor, but I had cried enough. I was truly stunned by the care and adoration this man was showing for me only two days after meeting me! I began to wonder if he liked me as more then a student. I quickly shook that notion from my head; who knew if he had a girlfriend? I was getting carried away again. I sighed and looked at the handkerchief wrapped around my wrist.
"Thanks." I said to him. "You always make me feel better. Or, in this case, look better." I smiled half-heartedly and he returned it. "I really don't even remember doing this. I just woke up this morning with blood all over me and I freaked out. It was as if someone was controlling me." I shivered. "Like I said, I could've killed myself." I was still a little scared about the fact that I couldn't even remember doing this to myself.
I stood up and sat in my choir seat, pulling my backpack onto my lap. I un-zipped it and took out my notebook and a pen. I scribbled something on it and then asked Erik, "Do you know what AIM is?" He nodded. "Do you have it?" I asked. He nodded again. I thought it seemed a little strange for someone like Erik to have AOL Instant Messenger, but whatever. I handed him the slip of paper. On it, my screen-name was written, along with my cell-phone number.
"Here's my screen-name." I said, showing him. "And that's my cell phone number. Just in case…" I stopped and blushed. "Never mind. What's your screen-name?" I handed him my notebook and pen and he wrote something down. He handed it back and I saw that it had a screen-name and a phone number, too.
"That's my cell-phone number." He smiled. "Just in case." He added as an afterthought. I giggled.
"How is it that you can always make me feel better?"
He was about to answer when the bell rang.
I grabbed my stuff and shoved it into my backpack, which I slung over my shoulder.
"See you in choir!" I said, and before I could even think about what I was going to do, I swooped down and kissed him on the cheek. I then ran out in the hall to get to my locker, leaving a very confused and very happy Erik behind me.
o.O
Right about when I reached my locker was when the full impact of what I had just done hit me.
"Oh. My. God." I stuttered to myself. I leaned against my locker for support as I considered the chances that Erik was ever going to talk to me again. I was SO STUPID! I tried to open my locker to get everything ready, but found that it was stuck. I felt like kicking the damn thing, but instead I just stood there and glared at it.
"It's not going to melt, no matter how long you stare at it."
I jumped and found Meg right behind me. I was about to say hello when she interrupted me.
"So, you broke up with him, then? Was there any chance that someone influenced you to do it? Someone whose name starts with E?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and I couldn't help laughing.
"Maybe." I answered. "But I'm pretty sure he doesn't…wouldn't…like me back. And hoe did you know about Raoul? Ooops, I slipped. I said doesn't. I was in for it.
Meg squealed. "So you do like him! You should ask him out! And Raoul is telling everyone who will listen."
I grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Meagan Anne Giles, what are you talking about? I don't even know how old he is, and besides, he might have a girlfriend already. How do you know he isn't just taking pity on me? And for the moment, Screw Raoul."
Meg looked at the ground, but not before I caught a glimpse of her eyes. They had that mischievous look in them.
"Okay, Meg. Out with it. What did you do?" I released her and tapped my foot.
She grinned cheekily. "I asked my mom about him. FYI, he's 23, and he lives alone with a bunch of servants in that HUGE castle-looking mansion in The Polo Club. Which is, ahem right down the street from you." She finished triumphantly.
I was stunned, to say the least. "He lives about 3 minutes away from me? In my neighborhood? Jesus! He's the one who was moving in during winter break! He has servants? Oh yeah, he told me he had a driver when he walked me home yesterday." Ooops. I winced. Another slip. Meg squealed again.
"HE WALKED YOU HOME!" I slapped my hand over her mouth to shush her, as we were getting strange looks from passerby.
"Yes, now will you shut up?" I hissed. "C'mon we have to get to class. I'll tell you all about it later okay? Now can you try to open my locker?" I watched as she worked her magic on my lock, glad that she hadn't noticed the handkerchief and completely oblivious that a certain masked man had just heard our whole conversation and was silently rejoicing.
o.O
By the time choir rolled around I was completely drained of energy. Meg had been annoying me all day about Erik, and I was pretty sure that he had heard her once or twice. I was doomed. Also, I kind of hoped he had forgotten that I had kissed him on the cheek. I opened the choir door and entered to find out.
As soon as I opened the door from the outside, Erik opened it from the inside. The result was us running into each other and pressing up rather awkwardly against each other. I back up quickly and let him pass, trying to tame my flaming cheeks, but to no avail. I raced to my seat, thankful that Meg hadn't come yet.
Erik came back in and sat at the piano. Our eyes met and we both looked away, blushing. I wondered again if he liked me as more then a student, this time considering the idea. I then realized that he didn't know that I had broken up with Raoul, and made a mental note to tell him when we had a moment alone.
My thought ended abruptly when Mme. Giles started class, Meg barely making it in time.
For the rest of the period I was lost in choir, and thoughts of Erik.
o.O
When choir ended, I found that I was the last one to leave the room. I didn't hurry, and when I had collected all my things I walked up to Erik.
"Um, just so you know, I broke up with Raoul." I informed him. Then I left.
I dropped my stuff in my car and pulled out onto 290 West, right alongside a sleek black Cadillac. I pulled in front of it and drove toward my house, humming randomly to myself. I son pulled up to the little code box outside of the gated community which I lived in, and punched in the code, 4013. I waited for the gate to open, then drove through, and turned right onto my street. I noticed that the Cadillac was behind me, but I thought nothing of it. A lot of people in the Polo Club had Cadillac's.
I pulled into my driveway and noticed that it slowed down just a little, and then continued. I watched it to see where it was headed, and my suspicions were confirmed when it pulled into 505 Pemberton way, The Stone Castle Mansion.
I pulled all the way into the garage and got out of the car, then ran to my computer. I signed in on my AIM, and entered Erik's screen name onto my buddy list, not expecting him to be on. I was surprised when I saw that he was on, with and away message next to his name. I was about to check his buddy info when the away message disappeared and a pop-up message told me that MusicFromTheMask was no longer away.
I double clicked on his screen-name and typed a message.
PointOfNoReeturn: Erik? This is Christine.
I waited for a reply, and one came almost immediately.
MusicFromTheMask: Hello, Mademoiselle. How are you?
PointOfNoReeturn: I'm fine, you?
MusicFromTheMask: I'm fine as well.
I sat for a moment trying to figure out what to say, then I typed something in.
PointOfNoReeturn: I'm sorry about this morning. I didn't mean to.
I waited for his reply again.
MusicFromTheMask: Don't worry, my dear, it was a pleasant surprise.
His reply sent chills up my back. A pleasant surprise?
PointOfNoReeturn: Okay.
PointOfNoReeturn: I didn't know you lived down the street from me.
MusicFromTheMask: Neither did I until yesterday. That was a pleasant surprise as well.
I was secretly overjoyed, and I was about to type something when another message came in.
MusicFromTheMask: So you broke up with Raoul?
I wondered why he was bringing the subject up, and I answered,
PointOfNoReeturn: Yeah, I did. Why?
As soon as I sent that message I regretted it. I sounded like a love-struck teenager flirting with my crush. I hoped that Erik wouldn't reply but he did.
MusicFromTheMask: Any particular reason why you did?
I began to wonder if he had heard Meg and I conversing this morning, but I hadn't seen him anywhere, so I couldn't figure out why he was subtly hinting that I dropped Raoul so I would have just the slightest chance with him.
PointOfNoReeturn: Now that you mention it, there was a reason. But if I tell you, I'm afraid I'll have to kill you. :P, lol
MusicFromTheMask: That's a shame, I was going to tell you something, too, but I guess not.
I was intrigued. I leaned closer to my computer and typed,
PointOfNoReeturn: Wait, I can tell you, but you have to tell me first. Promise I will. But not online. Meg's on, and she knows how to tap into my conversations.
MusicFromTheMask: Well, why don't you come over? We can chat. You can even stay for dinner if your parents will allow it.
I sat back and re-read the message just to make sure I got it right. He was inviting me over? Wow. I asked my mom if I could go to a friend's house for dinner and she told me to be back by 10.
PointOfNoReeturn: My mother says its fine. When should I come over?
MusicFromTheMask: Now is fine. See you in 5.
Then he signed off. I was shocked and excited. Maybe my thoughts were right. I didn't know, but I was going to find out.
o.O
Five minutes later I was ringing Erik's doorbell. It was opened by what I figured was a servant.
"Hello, mademoiselle. Monsieur is in the living room, follow me please." She led me to an open room with beautiful deep red leather sofas and a hand-woven Persian rug. In the middle of the room were two coffee tables, each with a tray of scones on them.
Erik was sitting in an armchair that matched the sofas, but he stood up when I entered.
"Hello." He kissed my hand and bowed slightly. I blushed bright red and giggled. "Do you want anything to drink?" He asked me.
"Um, do you have Root Beer?" I asked, feeling stupid. The servant nodded and turned to Erik. "An iced tea." He told her. She curtsied slightly and left to get the drinks.
I sat down on the couch closest to the armchair, and surveyed the room. In one corner there was an ivory colored piano, and in the other there was a bookshelf. Across from me was a small cubbyhole with a television and VHS/DVD player and aside from that there was a stereo system.
I looked around for a few minutes, until my drink came. I took the glass that it had been poured into and took a sip. Ah, the taste of root beer. It calmed me down a bit and I glanced at Erik. He had his drink in one hand and two coasters in the other. He sat down next to me on the couch and handed me one to put my drink on. I placed it down and waited for him to put his down before asking,
"So, what were you going to tell me?"
He looked thoughtful for a minute and then spoke.
"Mademoiselle, How old are you?"
I was a little surprised but I answered, "17, almost 18."
He nodded and seemed to consider something, then went on. "Forgive me if I did wrong, but I happened to hear your conversation with Miss Giles this morning."
I sucked in a gulp of air and felt my cheeks burning up. Oooh no.
" Is what she said true?" He asked.
"Um, kind of." I answered. "I'm really sorry if it's bothering you. But, to be brutally honest, I broke up with Raoul because I liked being with you a whole lot more, and I was starting to like you. But you're like, 5 years older then me, and you're my teacher…I mean, accompanist. So, it really doesn't make any sense. I mean, assuming you would even like me back, which you don't, so we're all fine. Is it hot in here or is it just me?" I realized I was rambling and shut up, but not before Erik started chuckling.
"Mademoiselle, you have known me for a grand total of two days. Are you sure you like me as much as you say you do?" He raised an eyebrow, the one that wasn't covered by the mask.
"Yeah. I've got it bad, man. Real bad." I said glumly. "And, to make it worse, I feel like I'm professing my undying love to you." I cocked my head and raised one of my eyebrows as well. "By the way, now it's YOUR turn to tell me what you were going to say. So, shoot."
I sat back in my chair and took a sip of my root beer.
"I think I have the same problem as you." He said calmly.
I nearly choked. In a flash, he was lightly thumping my back, trying to get me to breath again. I coughed a few times then looked him in the eye.
"This is crazy. We've known each other for two days! Don't you think we should at least get to know each other a little better before deciding that we like each other? Even though I'm being a complete hypocrite…" I mumbled.
"Okay." Erik said. "My name is Erik DeVazier, I'm 23 years old and I wear a mask. I am 6' 2", I have green eyes and black hair. I love music and singing. I live at number 505 Pemberton Way, and I am the accompanist for a girls' choir. My parents and I never got along, and I never speak of them. My favorite color is midnight blue, and my favorite food is filet mignon. I like to keep to myself mostly, that is, until I met you. I can have a pretty bad temper sometimes, but I am relatively easy to get along with.
"I think I first started liking you when you sang. I believe I fell in love with your voice, before I liked you. I was secretly overjoyed to learn that you had even the slightest feelings for me. There." He smiled at my open mouth. "Now, it's your turn."
"Are you ready for this?" I asked. He nodded. "Okay, here goes. My name is Christine Rose Dekker and I am practically 18 years old. I am 5' 9" and I have dark brown hair, which I dyed black and gold eyes. I also love music and singing. I live at 400 Pemberton Way, and I am in a girls' choir. My favorite color is green and I love apples. I'm pretty outgoing, even though I can get a little morbid sometimes.
"I started liking you when I saw you at starbucks. I would tell you what my first impression was, but I think you'll become a little full of yourself, so I won't. And, I haven't heard you sing, so to be fair, I think you should. And I get to pick the song." I grinned and he considered.
"That sounds reasonable. What song?"
"I think I'll pick…um…how about "When you say you love me", by Josh Groban? I'll play the accompaniment. You do know that song, right?" I asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid I do. Well, may as well do it now. Are you ready?"
I walked over to the piano and sat down, my hands poised. "Ready."
I began playing softly. After the intro, Erik came in, and I nearly stopped at the beautiful sound of his voice.
Like the sound of silence calling,
I hear your voice and suddenly
I'm falling, lost in a dream.
Like the echoes of our souls are meeting,
You say those words and my heart stops beating.
I wonder what it means.
What could it be that comes over me?
At times I can't move.
At times I can hardly breathe.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive
You're the one I've always thought of.
I don't know how, but I feel sheltered in your love.
You're where I belong.
And when you're with me if I close my eyes,
There are times I swear I feel like I can fly
For a moment in time.
Somewhere between the Heavens and Earth,
Frozen in time, oh when you say those words.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive
And this journey that we're on.
How far we've come and I celebrate every moment.
And when you say you love me,
That's all you have to say.
I'll always feel this way.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
In that moment, I know why I'm alive
When you say you love me.
When you say you love me.
Do you know how I love you?
His voice echoed around the room and I sat perfectly still, not daring to break the silence. Just then, he did.
"So, " He asked. "Do I pass?"