A/N: I have a question! -waves hand wildly- Tee hee, I went to a pretty famous camp this past week, and um, I got back today, and I was wondering if anyone has heard of International Music Camp? Fweee, it was fun, camp rocks.
This chapter is cameo...ish. xD Yay. I'm sorry if you didn't get to be in it, there'll probably be more cameos in future chapters, yus.
Thankee to my reviewers.
New Friends, Same Enemies
Rachel was once again, wandering down the corridors of the Opera Populaire, and needless to say, she was once again, bored. She still had no friends except for Erik, but the Opera Ghost was quite hard to associate with when he was in one of his moods.
The Mood of the Day today was: Interrupt Me During My Music and I Will Kill You Slowly and Painfully.
Rachel was not particularly keen of having her neck snapped in two, so she went friend hunting.
Dressed as Anakin Skywalker.
See one Star Wars and you're hooked.
The corridors were packed with people, bustling about, talking about the affair of the new dancer girl and the stagehand.
Rumor had it, it was twins.
Rachel ignored the stairs, and in an effort to get through the halls quicker, she started skipping.
She was halfway through mumbling to 'We're Off to See the Wizard,' when she ran into a floating object of big brown hair.
Oh, wait, it was Christine.
The two girls (kind of) went tumbling down, screeching, making a heap on the floor, entangled.
Needless to say, Rachel jumped up very quickly, leaving Christine a blushing mess on the floor.
No, Rachel did not forget that Christine supposedly fancied her.
Ugh.
For a second, she thought that she should maybe just go on being a boy, but she decided that having another girl fancy her, (and one that she disliked, to say the least,) would damage her physiological being.
Sighing, she helped Christine up.
"Will you quit looking at me like that?" she snapped.
"I'm sorry, Monsieur," the batty girl said bashfully.
"Christine, we need to talk." By the look of Christine's face, the phrase meant the same back in France that it did in America.
Rachel glanced at Christine before dragged her into a room.
"Now, I know you like me, but you can't, because, you hate me."
Yes, Rachel did know she was making no sense whatsoever. According to Christine's face, she thought the same.
"But I do not even know you!" Christine insisted.
"Yes... you, actually do," Rachel breathed in sharply, "I'm Rachel, you know, Erik's 'maid,' or friend," she let out a wiry smile. Christine's face slowly became a very particular color.
"You know, I've never seen that color on someone be-"
She stopped because Christine was shaking from rage all over, and it looked as if the bug-eyed girl's eyes would pop out of her head all-together.
"YOU-"
Rachel didn't hear the rest; she was already running out the door.
xxx
"Ah, ah, ah!" Rachel screamed as Christine was chasing her.
"Ouch!" came a whine too late, as Rachel slammed into her, making Christine trip over the girls. Let's just say it was a pile of girls, and fabric.
"What is with me and running into people lately?" Rachel muttered. She got up and dusted herself off; making sure her shirt was still straight.
She helped the girl up.
"Vous etes une idiote stupide, mademoiselle," the girl said, but she laughed nonetheless. Rachel thought she had a pretty laugh, it sounded like chimes.
The girl had long, curly brown hair and an oval face. The dress she was wearing was a simple emerald green one, with light green embroidery. The sleeves flared out at the elbows and ribbons laced in her hair, where it was braided.
"What is your name?"
"Isn't anyone going to help me up?" Christine whined. Rachel rolled her eyes and told her that Raoul was waiting for her down the hall, which made her run off quickly.
"Rachel," the man-clad girl said suddenly.
"Pardon?"
"My name, its Rachel," Rachel said, amused, "What's yours?"
"Nixie, Nixie Nuit," Nixie replied.
"Wow, I've... never heard anyone with that name," Rachel grinned, but then looked solemn.
"Sorry I ran into you," she apologized.
"Ah, well, it's no big deal, I should be more careful, also. I do not have the gracefulness of the ballet," Nixie said wistfully.
Rachel was interested, "So you're not a dancer?"
Nixie laughed, "No, I am in the Orchestra, one of the only females, I play the harp, it gets quite lonely, but I do have one companion, though she's in the ballet."
Rachel chewed her lip, "Well, now you have two, alright?" she asked.
"Yes, I would like that," Nixie flashed her Rachel a smile.
"So, your friend, she would be practicing right now?"
Nixie replied, "Yes, we can go watch her, if you'd like."
Rachel shrugged, "Sounds like fun.
xxx
Rachel watched the stage as the dancers did pirouettes and leaps across the stage.
"They're really good," breathed Rachel.
She watched as Madame Giry stopped the rehearsal because someone did a turn the wrong way. A young girl came running towards Nixie. She was wearing the traditional practice costume, complete with Pointe shoes. She was short, and had long, wavy brown hair pulled up into a knot. Her eyes were chocolate brown.
"Nixie, you were watching!" the girl puffed tiredly.
"Yes, I was, Ella."
Ella shot Rachel a quizzical glance, and then Nixie, "Who is this, Nixie?"
"Ella, this is Rachel, Rachel, this is my friend I've been telling you about, Ella. I don't think she has that much time to talk today,"
Ella cut her off, "Madame Giry was so mad about the mistakes we were making, she told us to take the rest of the day off, and meditate about what we were doing wrong and how to fix it," she rolled her eyes.
"Ella, you can't talk so disrespectfully," scolded Nixie. Ella just shrugged and picked at her fingernail.
"I need to get out of these garments, and then I can meet you later, is that alright?" she looked up at Rachel with wide eyes. Rachel nodded enthusiastically,
"That's fine! Now, shoo!" she said, pushing Ella, making her start down the hall as quickly as she could with Pointe shoes on.
Soon later, Ella was back with her hair down, framing her face, catching the eyes of some of the stagehands. She blushed as some of them whistled at her.
"Aye now, don't be crude!" yelled Rachel, "Is that a way to treat a lady? Hmm…?" she asked. She got a lot of raised eyebrows at her attitude and dress in return.
"I've been meaning to ask you," said Nixie nervously, "Why are you wearing those garments?" she asked.
"Does one really need an excuse for dressing… down sometimes?" Rachel asked back.
Nixie shook her head and let a little smile escape. "I've just met you, but I feel now, that you could never surprise me with your craziness."
"We'll see," Rachel sang.
"You mates want to come to where I'm rooming? I could show you around, I'm sure Erik is out prowling about," she said.
"Who's this Erik?" Ella teased, "Your suitor?"
Rachel wrinkled her nose, "Yuck, no. I'm just… living with him. He's more of my guardian," she said.
Ella and Nixie looked apologetic, "You're an orphan, then?" Nixie asked. Rachel seemed not to take any offense, though,
"I guess you could say that," she replied. She linked her arms through her new friends', and started down the corridor.
xxx
"Where are we going?" Nixie asked, chewing on her ribbon.
"You'll see, soon," Rachel replied.
"It's dark down here," Ella complained, "and… oh, a rat!"
"Rats are fine, my best friend from… America had two for a pet."
"For a pet?" Ella shuddered. "I hate rats."
"Hush, now, we're here," Rachel said suddenly stopping, causing Ella and Nixie run into her.
She opened the door leading into the lair, making Ella and Nixie curiously look over Rachel to see what was in there. They both gasped in surprise.
"An underground lake!" Nixie breathed.
"Come on, you two, don't be a baby, now. Get into the boat, it's completely harmless, I ride in it all the time."
Nixie and Ella cautiously got into the boat, and sat down right by each other. Rachel started rowing the boat, making her way swiftly to the land on the other side.
"We're almost there…" Rachel said, when,
"Oh my god, a spider!" Ella shrieked, standing up quickly. Of course, I don't have to explain what happened after that. Well, the whole boat tipped upside down, taking the girls with it.
Then, they all shrieked, for Ella and Nixie could not swim. Rachel grabbed them by the back of their gowns, and slowly swam to the shore, kicking wildly. This, of course, did not settle the two girls nerves, for they were scared they could drown. Rachel let go of their gowns and stood up in the water.
"I'm going to die, I'm going to die! I haven't even met a proper suitor!"
"Spider, Ella, there's a spider on your head!" Nixie shouted. Ella was not soothed by this the least, and started wildly batting her arms, screaming 'get it off, get it off!'
Rachel was watching this with the utmost amusement.
"Ella, the spiders off, and why don't you gals just stand up?" she asked, bemused.
"Oh," Nixie exclaimed. The two girls stood up bashfully.
"Well… we need new clothes, stay here," Rachel commanded.
xxx
"Genie! I have another wish!" Rachel shouted as she came into her room.
"As well, what do you want?"
"I want to be able to have any necessity I need," Rachel paused, "please."
"As you wish," there was a clap of thunder, and the genie was gone.
Rachel shook her head at the weirdness, and Ella shouted towards her, "Miss, did it just thunder?"
"Um, yeah I guess! It must be storming… come inside now; I have some clothes for you." Rachel said.
In truth, she had two pairs of flannel pajamas, she handed the dark red pair to Ella, and the green pair to Nixie. She herself had a pair of navy blue. The girls hesitantly took the pajamas, and looked at them, to Rachel, and back to the pajamas.
"Why have you given us men's garments?" Nixie asked.
"Not that they don't look comfortable," Ella purred.
"They're pajamas, or night clothes? You have to admit, they are much easier to roam around in, than the horrid night gowns we normally wear," Nixie and Ella looked at each other and shrugged.
The girls all changed into their dry clothes, and proceeded to hang out the wet ones to dry by a fire that Erik had left burning. They each sat in a cozy armchair by the fire and talked.
"So, what does this Erik look like, hmm?" Ella asked secretively.
"Well, he's tall, mysterious, and charming," Rachel answered back, and it had the desired effect on her two companions that she had hoped it would.
The girls squealed and leaned towards Rachel,
"Are you sure that he is not your suitor?"
"Mademoiselle, I can assure you that I am not Mlle. Pierson's suitor, and if she now has one, I was unaware. She is quite young, yes?" Interrupted a deep voice coming from behind them.
Rachel cringed, he had chosen the wrong time to come in, and that was for sure.
Ella turned around first, taking in the picture of Erik, she squeaked and her face became chalk-white.
"It's him, the Phantom of the Opera," she exclaimed in a loud whisper to Nixie, who gulped and nodded; she looked absolutely terrified.
"Madame, you do know, I can hear you," Erik replied, bemused, "Rachel, I hadn't known that we were going to have company," he sounded less pleasant, now.
"They weren't going to stay," Rachel said hurriedly, "but when we were coming to the shore... the boat tipped over," and seeing his face, she added, "but the boat is fine! I think we're all getting colds though..."
And for good measure, Ella chose this time to sneeze loudly.
"You brought friends down here when I deliberately told you not to," said Erik calmly
Rachel looked at her friends and back at Erik, "But, Erik," she hissed, "these girls are my first friends since I got here, just let them stay for a little while," she asked, her eyes silently pleading.
Erik sighed and glared at her, "Fine, they may stay for the night, but then you and I are going to have a talk," he said.
"Yes, Erik," she said in a small voice.
When he left the room, Ella and Nixie looked expectantly at Rachel.
"What?" she asked.
"Erik, your Erik, is the Phantom of the Opera?" squeaked Nixie, "Your tall, handsome Erik?" she asked.
"Well, he's not mine," scoffed Rachel.
"I can't believe it," said Ella, "Is he holding you ransom?" she asked.
"No! I just... like I said, he took me in, and is my guardian. He wouldn't hurt me," she explained, "really."
"Well, if you're happy living here... I suppose it's alright with us," Nixie said.
"After all, that's what friends are supposed to care about, right?" asked Ella, "Other friends' happiness?"
"Yeah, I suppose that's true," sighed Rachel.
"You guys want to watch a movie?"
xxx
Erik cursed whoever made girls.
Squeals have been erupting from Rachel's room.
"He'd be a fine suitor!"
"I would not mind having to marry him!"
"Are you kidding me? He's hot!"
Erik assumed the last comment belonged to Rachel. He got up from his den and crossed into the living room, which was now strewn with pillows and popcorn on the floor. Rachel, Ella, and Nixie were curled up by the fire once again, watching what appeared to be bright lines shooting at each other.
He walked closer and realized that there were men at the end of the bright lines.
"What are you watching?" he asked. Ella and Nixie went white once again, but he figured that it'd take a while before they got used to him.
"We're watching Star Wars III," explained Rachel.
"And what are those bright lines?" Erik asked.
"Those would be 'light sabers,'" Ella piped.
"The Jedi use them as weapons, it right fascinating!" Nixie said enthusiastically.
The three girls' hair was now in French braids, thanks to Nixie. Rachel was excited to find out her hair grew and fit in two now, she touched the ribbons hanging out of the end of the braid gingerly.
"Do you like our hair, Erik? Nixie braided ribbon through them!"
"They look lovely," he said dryly.
Ella and Nixie looked at each other and giggled. They were finding this Erik quite enchanting.
"I would stay longer, but I fear that being in women's company is making my head hurt," Erik said, "So, goodnight, and please, no more squealing," he begged.
"Alright, Erik, we'll bring the squealing down a notch."
"And a half!" Added Ella.
"And a half." Nixie giggled.
"You know what this means," Rachel said seriously.
"What?"
"That now that you've met Erik, we have to form a Sisterhood, like in Bloody Jack, so we shall never betray each other," she said.
"Now, spit in your hand," Rachel said, and did so.
The girls didn't looks so happy about it, but they spit also. Then she took their hands and clasped them together.
"There, now we've formed the Dread Sisterhood of the Opera Populaire. We can now never betray each other, or tell each other's secrets," she said.
"Of course not."
"We would never do that," Ella said, and Nixie nodded.
"Ok, then, to the Sisterhood!" she said as she lifted her Coke.
"To the Sisterhood!"
xxx
Awr, thanks to all my reviewers! I'm sorry that I couldn't use all of your cameos. I really appreciate my reviews anyways; it means a lot to me that you all reviewed! I just got finished with my yet-to-be-published book, Under the Jolly Roger, the newest of the Bloody Jack series, which supposedly doesn't come out until August 1st, though I had bought it at Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago…
Huh.
Well, thanks to my reviewers:
Christina: Thankee very much for the compliment. :D
aragornlover: Yay! I made my longest chapter yet, also. Am I good, or am I good? ;D
daferretgirl: Ha, yes, my friend also had a problem with that, also. But never fear, Rachel's hair is growing longer.
Nixieharpist: Yes, Christine is pretty stupid, eh? But it all caught up with her… hehehe.
Ankh of Hearts: Fop abuse is good. Awr, and we don't need more glomping, I have people who already do that. xD
Phantomchild199: Awr, thank-joo. I like it when people get excited. xD
Ocean Queen Kai: I'm sorry I couldn't pick you; I was almost done with the chapter when you reviewed. I'll have more cameos in later chapters, though, so feel free to enter those.