Hmmm. This one is especially short. Sorry. Hopefully will update more soon.

Um…some of both

Erik paced the classroom. Christine would be there in a few minutes for their first lesson. He'd already tuned the piano, but checked it once again. The sun shone in through the few blinds he left up. The street below was busy. He leaned over the piano gazing out the window.

Christine walked up to the doorway. Erik's face was turned away and framed by the sunlight. The left side of his face was simply perfect. He looked like some sort of god standing there. Her breath caught in her throat. As if he sensed her presence, his eyes met hers. They stood unblinking, gazing at each other.

"Miss Daae. Right on time. Come on in." He sat erect on the piano bench. "Would you prefer to sit or stand?"

"I'll just stand here at the piano." She laid her hand on the lid.

"Right. We'll start with some warm ups." He took her through the same set of warm-ups as he did several days before. Her tone was simply gorgeous. Erik found him self getting lost in the sound of her voice, and she was merely singing scales. He chose a few well-known songs for her to sing and another of his own work. When an hour had passed, Erik closed the lid over the keys. "That should be good for today."

Christine stood at the piano. "When should I come again?"

"Whenever you wish to." Erik gathered the sheets of music up and stacked them neatly on the piano top.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, if you like." He rose from the bench to escort her to the door. She told him that she had rehearsal, so she really must go. Naturally he wished to know for what she was rehearsing.

"You could sing the lead for that, easily." Christine beamed at him.

"Well, it's too late for that now. The show starts in only a few weeks. Next time, maybe."

"Your managers would have to be fools not to cast you." He slung his bag across his chest and flipped off the light switch. "What are you doing now? The chorus?"

"Dance." Erik locked the door behind them.

"Hmmm." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, goodnight." He told her as they parted ways.

"Bye bye."

Erik

Erik trailed her, staying a few cars behind. Surely this person who was singing the female lead couldn't be anywhere near as good as Christine. He saw her tiny white sedan pull off to the side of the road, into a meter-run parking spot. His big SUV cruised right by her as he rounded the block. He did not wish for her to see him follow her.

When he came back to where she'd park, thankfully he saw she'd gone already, he pulled in a few spots behind her. Erik slipped in behind a clueless blonde man, and slid easily into the shadows. In no time he was seated in one of the boxes. The chair squeaked lightly when he sat in it. There was a thick set of curtains covering the box, so there was little chance he would be seen or heard.

A loud giggle sounded. Giry's giggle. He stole a quick glance down at the stage through the opening in the curtains. Christine smiled brightly at her friend. A short gray-haired man quietly told the cast to set for the beginning of the show. The orchestra played the overture, and Erik sat back to listen. He winced when a saxophone hit a sharp note, but no one stopped to correct it.

A male, a tenor, Erik assumed the lead male, was the first to sing. His voice was a bit shaky, and ever so slightly nasal, but overall it was good. The male chorus seemed to have the next bit. Their voices were powerful and pleasing. Female voices soon mingled with the men. The first number was delightful, he had to remind himself not to applaud. Some dialogue then a short reprise of the former song followed this.

When the next song started, Erik had the urge to cover his ears. The woman's voice was mediocre at best. Obviously she didn't have the ability to hit the high notes written in the score, as she screeched them out. Erik rose again, and took a good look at the 3 imbeciles that sat in the third row. The short man, a slightly taller and darker man sat next to him, and the blonde boob he'd followed in. They weren't stopping her, they let her continue to butcher the song. The blonde even went as far as clapping adamantly after the horrific number.

Who let these idiots into the musical theater business?

Christine smiled and put her arms around the boy who was lucky enough to be selected as her dance partner. The dance number went smoothly, although a few feet were out of step. His eyes watched her as she finished the dance and disappeared off stage.

Another dreadful massacre followed. He couldn't even sit through it until the end. That woman had to go. These managers didn't seem to have a bit of musical sense. Someone needed to manage them. The young one grinned stupidly at the stage. Erik merely shook his head and took his leave.