Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Phantom of the Opera. There are days I wish I did. Angelina and some of the other characters that are in here I own. The Phantom in this story is based after the one in the movie. The portrayal in that movie was unbelievable. I hope you all enjoy it and I would love to have reviews and comments. Enjoy!

A/N: Thank you to all who are posting comments! It is much appreciated. I hope that you will enjoy this chapter. I would love to hear your comments and concerns about this chapter. Enjoy it and I will update soon!

Chapter 8 – Same Teacher, Different Student

The music continued to fill the room even though neither of them played. The look on her face must have been something. Angelina was shocked, beyond anything. The voice. It's real. It's not a dream. He's real and he's standing in front of me.

As if being told by some spiritual force, she stood in front of the tall, dark, and handsome man in front of her. Although a white mask covered half of his face, it did not deter Angelina from noticing the handsome features on his face. His square jaw set off his perfect lips. As she continued to look, she noticed his eyes change with the light. They could be sky blue at one time or almost iridescent the next. They were memorizing none-the-less.

He was well-built and almost twice the size she was in height. Dressed in a fine tailored suit, he didn't look as though he belonged in the depths of the opera house. His hands were larger then hers and could probably just envelope them with no problems.

She hadn't meant for her breathing to become labored. Her chest rose and fell faster and harder then she had anticipated. His voice had sent her senses screaming in two different directions. Her mind had told her to leave while her soul had screamed for her to stay.

"You've…you've come?" Her voice stuttered, making her sound like a complete child. I've only stuttered once. I still thank Alexander for that.

"You asked for a teacher."

He had heard her – through the mirror. She thought she was alone the room. The handprint was still upon the mirror where she had pressed her hand to it. Angelina had prayed for a teacher – an angel. Could he be it? Could he be the answers to my prayers?

He stepped closer to her and her breath caught. The weight of her midnight black hair was felt upon her shoulder for just a moment before he brushed it back from her face. His touch was like fire on her skin.

"Do you take back your plea?"

"I…I…" God, she was stuttering again. Trying to get her thoughts and senses in check, he gently slid his hand down her cheek and cupped the back of her neck. She stumbled and fell right into his arms. The large hand he possessed had begun to raise her face to look at him. His stare could have melted every resistance she had left.

"Do you take back your plea, Angelina?"

He knows my name! Oh my God, he knows my name and I never told him. Did I tell him my name? Her thoughts and memories were all jumbled. She couldn't remember five minutes ago. Finally, gathering two thoughts of her own, she stopped stuttering.

"I cannot answer unless I know your name."

Apparently he wasn't expecting that and took a step back from her. His hand never left her neck and his thumb caressed her neck in slow small circles. Angelina swallowed hard, trying to gain her composure.

"How can I answer you if I don't know your name? I cannot simply call you teacher the entire time you are teaching me."

"Calling me teacher would offend you?"

"I think someone of your talents deserves to be called by your name and not your title."

The shock on his face made Angelina smile. Taking all of the courage that she possessed, she stepped closer to him – making his own breath catch. She slowly put her own hand on top of his that rested upon her neck. She watched as his eyes danced from their hands to her eyes.

"Your name?"

"My name is…"

He stopped and she saw the hurt flash in his eyes. She shook her head, ashamed of herself. "I'm sorry. I should have never asked. It was not my place…"

"Erik…my name is Erik."

Erik - an angel's name. My angel's name. The music had finally stopped and the silence seemed to surround them. Both of them were both shocked by events that had only happened for a few moments. Neither of them wanted to let go of each other.

What has she done to me?

What has he done to me?

"Erik? That is your name?"

He couldn't find the words and only nodded his head. She slowly removed his hand from her neck but kept a hold of it.

"You saved me, Erik. I would have been lying on the staircase for days before someone would have found me. What can I do to repay you?"

"Be my student." The statement came out more as a command then a request. He cringed after hearing it. He noticed no change in her angelic looks and proceeded. "I mean…"

"You would teach me?"

"Yes."

"My voice is not that good and my skills are novice."

"I beg to differ."

The shock registered. He was behind the mirror. He had heard me sing. Erik slowly removed his hand from hers and took a step back. He smiled and gestured to everything around him.

"Let this be your classroom and I your teacher. I will teach you everything I can, Angelina. I will teach you everything that I couldn't…"

He stopped, watching the curiosity dance over Angelina's face. You cannot tell her that you taught her mother. She will run just as Christine did.

"That I couldn't teach my other student."

"I will not fail you."

He smiled, her words warming him. "I have no doubts about that, Angelina. But you must return."

Disappointment came to her in waves. She did not want to leave. Angelina had finally felt at peace for the first time in her entire life. She felt as though she belonged there.

"I do not want to return."

"You will return and perform your dance for Carmen. The show is tomorrow night and my managers and choreographer need their star."

"But Brigitte…"

"Do not worry about Brigitte. This will be the last performance that she will be the lead singer. I guarantee you that."

"You cannot seriously be thinking that I will be head singer."

Once again he gently placed his hand to her cheek and watched peace come over the young girl's eyes. "Angelina, your place is front and center. All of Paris will want to come and hear you sing. I will make sure your place is in the spotlight."

He traced his hand down her cheek, to her neck, to her shoulder, and down her arm – finally joining their hands. "I will take you back to your room. You need to get some rest and then tomorrow evening; you will show your dancing skills to all of Paris. And I will watch you, as all of Paris will."

Erik gently picked her up and began over to his boat. He watched as the light from the surface began to fade with the coming darkness. Gently placing her in the boat, their gazes met for one last time.

"You will be magnificent and I will not be the only one to revel in the beauty of it."

Angelina felt him step into the boat behind her. Using a large pole, he pushed from the shore and began down the long hallway, guiding her home.

A teacher. She smiled. I have a teacher. And he believes in me. But something in her mind told her something she had been longing to do since Erik had told her that he would be her teacher. I can tell no one. I cannot tell them I now have a teacher. They will think me mad.

She sat back and listened as the music began again and her teacher took her home.