Author's Note: I'm back! I'm sure that you all missed me. Well, I didn't think that I'd actually post anything while away on vacation, but I wrote this chapter on my Pocket PC and had the time to retype it onto the computer of the family I'm staying with, so I did.

Besides, the fact that I have now seen Phantom of the Opera performed live in London, from front row center seats on the first balcony, was more than a little inspiring. Oh my goodness, was it amazing! I still don't understand how they did it. Earl Carpenter was playing the Phantom, and he was remarkable—I thought his reactions in the final lair scene were superb. You could literally feel the shock of emotion that ran through the entire audience when Christine kissed him…

But enough of that. This chapter is slightly shorter than usual, though I'm hoping most of my wonderful reviewers won't mind too much. I was going to include more in this chapter, but I didn't think I'd have time (or energy) to type it all tonight—I leave tomorrow to spend a week in Venice and Florence. (I'm still on vacation, but this is sort of a vacation within a vacation. Here in Rome I have internet access, but I won't for a week starting tomorrow.) As always, thanks to my reviewers, and I hope that more people start reviewing! If you read it, you might as well take a moment to tell me what you think of it…

Chapter 7: Welcome Surprises

Monday again, Ashley thought as she parked her car before school in the junior lot. Though today, she reflected, might be a better Monday than the previous one. She, along with Kate and basically the school's whole drama program, was waiting for Mrs. Grimm to post the cast list for the musical. Ashley had shared the conversation she'd overheard with Kate, and both of them were fairly certain that the list would be up today, tomorrow at the latest. Though they were both disappointed to know that Chrissy was almost certainly Christine, Kate was starting to feel more confident about her chances at getting Meg's part. Then again, Ashley hadn't been giving her any room to think otherwise.

For once Ashley was glad that she had a first period class. Though the weather was bitingly cold, and she pulled her raincoat tighter around her in anticipation of showers later in the day, the campus was nearly empty. She enjoyed the quiet as she walked through the quad to the drama room, where any cast lists would be posted. Please, let them be posted! she wished, both for Kate's sake and her own. Normally, she would not have cared nearly so much for the musical, though she had always been interested…but this was Phantom! She only hoped that it would be done right, though all her knowledge of Mrs. Grimm so far pointed to this being one of the greatest shows she had ever taken part in.

She rounded the corner of the science building and saw the drama room door at last—and also saw the pieces of paper taped to it. The lists were up! Ash quickened her pace, wanting to find out who the lucky actors were.

She ran up to the door, scanning the lists first for the names of anyone she knew. She noticed Andrew, Chrissy, and even Damien listed as having gotten parts, but she forced herself to continue on down the list, looking for her friend's name before taking the time to see what parts others had received. Finally she saw it: Meg Giry — Kate Ackerman.

"Yeah, Kate!" Ashley said, letting out a whoop of excitement for her friend. She should be here soon, and Ashley couldn't wait to see her face when she found she'd gotten the part.

"So your friend got the part she wanted?"

Ash whirled around to be faced with none other than Damien. Still in black pants, though she thought his sweatshirt was blue, and she counted that as an improvement. "Yeah, she said, wondering if it was luck or fate or something else entirely that kept them running into each other. Then, belatedly, she realized that he must be here to see the cast list, too, and that she was blocking his way. "Oh, sorry!" she said, backing up. "You've got a part, I didn't see which."

A smile crept across Damien's face as he looked at the posting, and Ash was glad that he was too intent on what he was reading to see how it affected her. When he smiled, she decided, he was the most handsome boy in the entire school. It's a good thing he doesn't do that too often, though, she thought privately. Otherwise he'd have every girl in the school fighting over him.

"A part you expected?" she asked, after a moment had passed and he had not yet spoken.

He blushed—blushed!—and shook his head. "Definitely didn't expect it," he said, "but it looks like I'm going to play the Phantom." Though his tone was modest, that gorgeous self-smile had returned.

"Congratulations!" Ashley said, not really surprised. "You'll do well," she added.

"Thanks," Damien said softly, still sounding a little self-conscious. Well, Ash thought, it's an improvement over silence. God, his speaking voice is even nice to listen to…

"Ashley?" she heard someone yell. She and Damien both turned to see Kate hurtling toward them, her backpack bouncing back and forth. In unison, Ash and Damien stepped back from the door, allowing Kate to practically run straight into it before stopping. She quickly pored down the list, voicing her thoughts as she went. "Chrissy, as Christine!" she began. "Oh, God, they don't know what they're getting in to…but Andrew! Hah! Serves him right." She turned to Damien. "Good on you for beating him; he needed it," before turning back to the list. "Come on, Meg, Meg! There!" She pointed at the list, then her jaw dropped and she squealed and hugged Ashley, who was as usual surprised by the force of her friend's emotions.

Damien eyed Kate, looking slightly frightened. "Congrats to you, too," he said, though she was still squeezing the life out of Ashley.

Kate pulled back, as though suddenly aware that it was 6:35 on a Monday morning, and she wasn't supposed to be so exuberant. Ashley got her breath back and laughed at Kate. "I told you so," she said, incapable of escaping Kate's contagious giggles.

"I can't believe that Chrissy's got a lead," Kate said, "but at least Andrew's only Raoul. Though I don't think I want to see them stage kiss," she reflected, a look of disgust on her face. "They might get a little too serious." Andrew and Chrissy had been going out almost since the beginning of the year, and Chrissy's relationship with someone as "despicable" as Andrew was just one more thing that made her such a terrible person in Kate's books.

It was about at that moment that Ash realized, with an unexpected surge of jealousy, that Chrissy would also be required to kiss Damien.

Twice.

But I don't like him, I just like his voice, and the way that he smiles, she reminded herself, and how he's so insanely humble, and…

"Hello, Ash?" Kate said. Ashley whipped around to find Damien gone, and Kate waving a hand in front of her face.

"Sorry, lost in thought for a moment," Ashley said. Well, it was the truth—she didn't have to tell Kate what she had been thinking about.

"I was saying," Kate continued, "that this might turn out well after all. After Damien's auditions, I have no doubt that he can sing and act the Phantom's part. And as evil as he is, I suppose that sometimes Andrew knows how to act." She grimaced.

Ashley laughed. "You're forgetting to praise the pit orchestra in all its glory," she reminded her friend, "and the wonderful singer I hear they've got to play Meg."

Kate laughed. Then, in a more serious tone, "I reserve my final judgment of this musical for when it's actually been produced, but I think it's going to be more than anyone expects."

Ashley, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, could not agree any more.