Chapter 39. No Quarrel With You
"You are gorgeous," Christian remarked, entering the Moulin Rouge in an overcoat to protect the costume he wore beneath from the pouring rain. "Completely wonderful."
"No one will be here for another few hours," I motioned for him to join me where I lay on the ground, listening to the rain that poured beyond the front doors. "We have at least an hour to rest until people start getting together and asking where the two leads are."
"An hour, eh?" Christian grinned, laying down and facing me. "Hey."
"Hey," I smiled back, reaching for his hand.
"Lying here with you
Listening to the rain
Smiling just to see the smile upon your face
These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more." (1)
"I love you," I whispered, closing my eyes as Christian continued with his serenade.
"Looking into your eyes
Seeing all I need
Everything you are is everything to me
These are the moments
I know heaven must exist
These are the moments I know all I need is this
I have all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more." (1)
The falling rain served as the perfect accompaniment to Christian's singing that grew in force as he entered the chorus. Tightening my grip on his hand, I forgot everything else except Christian's voice, filling me up with the most bliss and ecstasy that I had felt in my life.
Was it real? In a few hours, would we truly be onstage, singing our hearts out to one another only to leave and be each other's forever?
But his voice… it made me forget. It mattered not that Gregory had found out. It mattered not that I was throwing away everything to be with a penniless writer. It didn't even matter that we would probably have to move away to escape the scandal our pairing would likely erupt. As far as I was concerned, we were already together, lying hear as I listened to Christian sing to me, and that was all that mattered.
"I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me." (1)
Opening my eyes, I giggled when he moved forward to kiss the tip of my nose before wrapping his arms around me as we lay, my back against his stomach. His head rested on my shoulder, and I could feel him grinning, which made my smile that much broader.
"There are the moments I thank god that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I've got all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more.
I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me
I could not ask for more than the love you give me
Cause it's all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
Woah…
And I could not ask for more." (1)
Finishing his song, I turned myself around so that we were face to face. Cupping his face in my hands, I kissed him.
"I could not have put it any better."
"Isabel!" Toulouse entered the back of the theatre, clapping when he saw what the backstage hands had done for my costume. "You… you look magnificent! Splendid!"
"Thanks," I grinned, turning around to show Toulouse the white wedding gown I was wearing for the first act. "It's supposed to be my wedding gown. My character becomes married in the first scene and she wears the white gown throughout the first act as a symbol that she is still connected to her marriage. Towards the end of the act, she begins her affair with Christopher. That is when my costume is changed during the set up for the next act when I'll be wearing a scarlet silk dress that will attempt to make my figure, or lack of one, become accentuated and look somewhat voluptuous. I bid them good luck with that one."
"I am sure you will look gorgeous," Toulouse laughed, looking around at the commotion that surrounded us as everyone got in costume and ran about, rehearsing lines and preparing for the production that would start in an hour. "Where is Christian?"
"I think he is off preparing for the production," I answered, wondering the same thing. "It's typical to not see many people you normally associate with with all of this pandemonium around us. It is near impossible to find anyone."
"I believe it," Toulouse agreed. "And Cecille?"
"Cecille?"
"Yes," Toulouse nodded. "Have you seen her?"
"Actually, I haven't." I hadn't thought of Cecille all day, and now the thought overtook me. "I wonder where she is. I would think she'd visit me sometime before the production. Do you think you could try to find her for me, Toulouse?"
"Of course," Toulouse aid before walking off in pursuit of Cecille.
Standing in the shadows once again, Giselle watched as Christian conversed with some of the crew. In his peasant shirt, revealing some of his chest, she felt her breath catch as he laughed pleasantly. Music to her ears. Even his laughter carried a lyrical melody all its own.
Emerging from the darkness, Giselle approached him, hoping her eyes did not reveal what was on her mind.
"Hello Christian."
"Giselle?" Christian turned and rubbed the back of his neck, offering her a smile. "Ready for tonight?"
"Of course," she smiled back, feeling herself go red in the face as his eyes bore into her own. "A professional never worries. They are constantly ready for whatever is to come."
"I suppose…"
"I just wanted to wish you luck."
"Oh, alright." Christian set a hand on her shoulder and nodded his head, a smile still on his face. "Good luck to you too."
Walking away hoping her smile did not reveal too much happiness, Giselle thought of Christian and tonight.
Tonight…
She would have to do Cecille's deed. As much as she pained to pull something like that off for the likes of a woman like Cecille, she thought Isabel had it coming. She was engaged to someone that every woman in Paris would kill to marry, and yet she was off having an affair with a man who could provide her with nothing… the man that she would do anything to have. The man she had dreamt of having ever since the first time someone had told her the love tale of the Moulin Rouge.
Stopping for a moment, Cecille looked at Isabel. She stood alone as a rather short man retreated. A look of panic was etched on her face, and she contemplated taking the best of it and seeing just how upset Isabel truly was. As she walked towards her, Giselle noticed Isabel look down at herself and blush, pulling down her sleeves a bit more to cover her exposed flesh. Seeing this act of insecurity, Giselle hesitated.
Does she not realize how gorgeous she looks tonight? Giselle thought. Here she is, dressed in a gown that made her appear worthy of any man within Paris, a true Prima Donna goddess, and she was trying to cover it up. If I were dressed so, looking as stunning and breathtaking, I would not hesitate to show it off and try to expose, perhaps, even more flesh to draw all eyes to me. Tonight would be my night and I would outshine everyone else.
"Isabel…"
She looked up at Giselle and the worry that was so apparent seemed to fade as a wall of stone came up.
"Hello Giselle."
"Ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Do you think it will all go well?"
"I… I hope so." she looked down as if contemplating the question. "I want it to. For Cecille. For Christian. For Gregory. Even for Ziddler, as much as I wish it wasn't true. I feel compelled to do the best I can, and that's a frightening thing because no one ever depends on me for anything. I've never been in the spotlight before."
Her candid reply caught Giselle off-guard, who was expecting a retort or insult. Some form of bitterness towards her. But it was completely innocent. No harm intended.
"No need to worry. Looking like that, it looks like you've always been in the spotlight."
"More deception," Isabel sighed, wringing her wrists. "I don't like being so nervous. I honestly have no idea how tonight will turn out, and I wish for it to turn out well. Truly I do." she turned and noticed how completely terrified she appeared and smiled. "I'm sorry. This is very out of character, I know, but it's just… I haven't seen Cecille. I think something is wrong."
"I wouldn't worry about it."
Especially because Cecille won't worry if something goes wrong for you tonight.
"She's my best friend," Isabel said matter-of-factly.
"Why are you being like this, Isabel?" Giselle seized the opportunity, completely bemused in the whole conversation. "Why are you treating me like this?"
"Like what?"
"Like I treat you like dirt everyday," Giselle replied. "Where are the insults? The accusations? Something that shows me that you don't like me."
"Cecille doesn't like you. Not me." Isabel answered. "I have no quarrel with you. Even if you do treat me harshly sometimes, I try to take it in intrepidly. There's only those selected few, like Ziddler, that I show no mercy to. I do not wish to fight with you, Giselle. I don't believe that's something either one of us needs in our life."
Speechless, Giselle just stared at Isabel in wonder.
Despite the complete shock that had overtook her, Giselle did know one thing, and it was that what Cecille asked of her to perform tonight was certainly not going to occur. No harm would come to Isabel tonight.
But… Giselle wondered. I have the chance to be a star. I told Cecille I would do it. I don't back out on my word.
Stuck in this ambivalence, Isabel soon left to prepare for the production that was about to begin in a few minutes.
1. Edwin McCain "I Could Not Ask For More"