A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Also I think I previously forgot to mention that this Erik is strictly based off of Gerry Butlers Phantom, atleast lookwise. I've taked a bit from Kay too. I love Kay's Phantom.

Disclaimer: I continue to own nothing. I've merely changed a character into a dog. No biggie.

Enjoy!

Erik

Erik's day went far better than he expected. The students didn't seem too put off by the mask, and there were no unwelcome questions. All of the students were attentive and seemed to be interested. He felt his lips quirk up again as he walked to the faculty parking lot. He loosened his tie and the first few buttons of his shirt. It was very warm out still, but it was still fairly early in the day. The leather seats inside his black SUV were warm and the air inside was practically stifling. He blasted the air as soon as he started the car. His bag was tossed in the backseat. Various papers were scattered over the backseat. Compositions mostly.

The radio was set to a classical station. When he could tolerate touching the steering wheel, he headed toward his apartment. He squinted against the sun and made a left. Just ahead a familiar sight welcomed him. Christine Daae was heading up the street at a fairly brisk pace. He slowed and pulled up next to her. His finger flicked the switch for the passenger side window.

Christine stared at the strange black tinted-windowed vehicle that pulled up next to her, with slight unease. Much to her relief a familiar face, and mask, moved to the opening window.

"Need a ride?" Erik's lips curled into a quasi-smile.

"Hi."

"Hi." He pushed the door open. "Get in."

"Thank you. This is very nice of you." She welcomed the blast of cool air that hit her as she laid her bag on her lap and pulled the seatbelt over her. Those turquoise eyes seemed to laugh at her.

"You shouldn't have to walk all the way back again in this heat."

"My car is up by the Starbucks. Just up the road a little further. I hope this isn't out of your way."

"No, not at all." He lied. He heard her humming along with the soft music. Had he not been driving he would have closed his eyes and gotten lost in the beautiful sound of it. "Lovely." He murmured.

"Hmm? What's lovely?"

"Your voice is." She flushed, unaware that he had heard her.

"Oh, no. Not really. I haven't properly sung in years." Since the death of her mother. Erik pulled in next to her car.

"It is. Is this yours?"

"Yes, that's it." She was reluctant to leave the cool car. "Oh, stupid, I still have no gas."

"Gas can?" Her brow was furrowed.

"No, but I'm seriously starting to think it would be a wise purchase."

"This happen often?" He chuckled. She joined him.

"Often enough to make it worthwhile."

"Well then, off to the gas station." From this angle all she could see was the mask and the lower half of his face that was shadowed with the day's growth of stubble. She longed to slide her hand over the roughness of his stubble. She nearly did before she caught herself. She had to remind herself that this was her teacher. Yes, she could secretly lust after him, but nothing would ever come of it.

"Thank you so much."

"Oh think nothing of it." Before she knew it, they were back at her car again. When they arrived back at her car he watched he struggle to get the gas from the can into her tank.

"Here, I'll do it. I thought you were a pro at this." He smiled as the gas poured slowly into the car.

"Yes, but I've never had to actually do it. Usually I had a friend with me that would." When the can was empty, Erik shook it, and then recapped it.

"Well you should be good to go then, Christine." He handed her the can then her bag.

"I can't thank you enough." She swung the bag over her shoulder.

"Just make sure you're there on Wednesday, on time." He waved. She watched him drive away.

Christine

It was far warmer than it had been early that morning. Christine was quite sure she would welcome fall and winter with open arms. Unable to secure a ride with anyone, not even her closest friend Meg, Christine started heading toward her abandoned car directly after her final class of the day. She had only walked a quarter mile when the huge SUV rode up slowly behind her. When it came to a stop, she was ready to bolt. This certainly wasn't the best part of town.

When Erik's mask peeked out from the vehicle, she breathed a huge sigh of relief. The cold of the A/C was completely blissful. A familiar tune came on the radio and she started to hum along unconsciously.

"Lovely." She heard him whisper in his deep voice.

Her eyes quickly turned to him. "Hmmm? What's lovely?"

"Your voice." She felt her color rise.

"Oh no. Not really. I haven't properly sung in years." Her refusal came out quickly. Christine recalled the last time she'd sung out loud. The day her mother died. They'd been singing the whole way to her dance class. She smiled sadly at the memory.

Erik's SUV pulled in next to her small car. "It is." He argued one last time. "Is this yours?"

Christine nodded. "Yes, that's it." They dealt with her lack of gas and he went on his way. She waved after him. The day had proved exciting, and the approaching semester seemed to definitely have promise.

Erik

Erik sped the rest of the way home. From the moment he first saw her, music started coursing through his blood. He dared not mess around, lest he forget even a single note or chord. In his state of hurriedness, he couldn't recall if he'd even shut his car door. Lucy, the huge chocolate Lab, waited patiently for Erik. Lucy, short for Luciana, padded closely behind him as he practically ran to his piano. Grabbing a fresh sheet of the staff paper he quickly started to sort out the song in his head.

His fingers flew quickly over the keys, then he would quickly record what he'd just played. He wrote well into the evening pausing only once for the dogs bathroom needs and once for his own. When the notes had finally run dry, his eyes were gritty and his stomach was rumbling. Lucy lay asleep at his feet, snoring softly.

After he'd fed himself, he headed to bed. He had two three-hour long classes tomorrow, and he hoped they would go as smoothly as today's. He gently tore the mask from his face and placed on the nightstand next to his bed. The weight of Lucy settled at the foot of the bed, and he flicked the bedside lamp off. Before long his dreams were haunted by the face of sweaty-face girl he'd met not even 24 hours ago.