By Hikaru Hayashi

Wow. This story went over better than I expected (which was not at all). Thanks to all those 3 people who reviewed Chapter 1!

Kagome1514: My first reviewer! Yippee-skippy! Do you realize I didn't expect you to read this at all because of the dominant pairing in the story? I know you are the E/C fan. Don't worry about it though. There will be quite a bit of E/C in this story, and, unlike you with your fics, I won't be too upset to write it! (Not wanting to write something for a trivial reason, as that is the mark of a not-so-flexible writer, which ultimately effects how you write. Don't be that way! You're too good of a writer for that. Speaking of, don't you need to update Love of Music…::hint, hint: I like Love of Music!) You may not know this about me, but I don't bash either. NO ERIK BASHING! AREN'T YOU HAPPY? Yeah, I know. I'm too nice.

Countess Alana: (You know, I know someone who spells it "Alannah"! Funny, huh?) "Maybe I should go pay his bail…." This was funny! I loved this comment! I hope you continue to enjoy the story. By the way, I will try to get Erik out of jail within the next 3 or 4 chapters or so (Keyword: "try"). But he will get out!

pearheart: Hi! You too? This is just getting better. I hope you continue reading also.

Disclaimer note: I don't really wanna say it again. I thought I summed it up good in the first chap. Oh well. I don't own POTO...at all.

Chapter 2: Zoning Out

All through class, Christine found herself distracted in her thoughts and not paying attention at all, which wasn't good, considering that she was an honors student in high school and just happened to be sitting in advanced Physics class. She kept on thinking about whether or not they would ever find her father…if he was still alive. She kept on thinking about her poor Erik sitting in that dark, gloomy prison cell. And, what's worse, she tried not to let her eyes wander around her strange new classroom, because every time she did, her eyes would focus on the back of the head of the person sitting in the next row down in front of her. And that person happened to be Raoul.

She didn't know why she felt so attracted towards him. She couldn't keep herself from staring at him. Once, he even turned his head when the person next to him asked him a question and Christine was once again captivated by his crystal eyes. She shook it off as quickly as possible. Darn it… she thought, can I really be that shallow…? A few moments later, she was startled by a tap on her shoulder, followed by Meg whispering:

"Hey, what gives, Christine? Are you okay? You just kinda spaced out…"

"I'm fine," she whispered back.

"Yeah, right!" Meg shot back. "That's why you keep staring at Mr. Handsome over there, right?"

"Huh? Who?"

"You know! That good-looking Monsieur de Chagny…"

At this point, Christine wanted to smack the crap out of Meg. Her face turned scarlet as she snapped, "Shut your trap, Meg…!"

"Is there something you'd like to share with the class, Miss Daae?" came the teacher's voice from the front of the room.

"Uh…no…" she replied; she felt her face turn even redder as the entire class stared at her for a moment. She caught a look of concern in Raoul's eyes. "Talk to me after class," he mouthed to her.

She nodded, letting him know that she understood.

(After class…)

Christine walked out of the classroom. Raoul was standing right at the door.

"Hey there," he greeted. "So, what's wrong? You seemed distracted. I'm worried about you, Miss Daae."

"No, I'm fine," Christine said shyly. "You really don't have to worry about me. And, please, call me Christine! I won't mind."

I only wish I could…Raoul thought to himself. "Anyway, will you have trouble getting to your next class too?"

"No thanks. I'm pretty sure I know where the choir room is!" Christine said as she winked at Raoul. Why did I just do that? she thought immediately.

"Well, okay," Raoul said. "Then, I'll see you later?"

"Maybe," Christine replied. I can't believe I just said that… "Bye, Raoul!" she said as she ran off. "And thanks again!" God help me! I hope Erik doesn't get out of jail anytime soon. I don't think I could face him after today!

Raoul watched Christine as she walked away. He sighed. He admired her so much. After all, she was sweet, though she seemed kind of shy, she was kind, she was very pretty, and she's musical. He found her rather attractive. When he found himself admiring her good looks as she got farther and farther away from him, he struggled to keep himself from running after her. Argh…what am I doing…he thought.

He smacked himself. Get a grip on yourself, de Chagny! You know she's way out of your league. Besides, someone as pretty as her probably already has a boyfriend…but still…she is very pretty… … …shoot. This is why I can't call her by her first name…at least not to her face…I wonder if she likes me? Maybe that's why she acts so shy around me…does she know I like her too…?…No! I can't…

Raoul sighed as he walked away, but not before looking back at Christine's disappearing figure. "Oh, Christine…" he sighed. "She's so pretty…"

"Excuse me! Don't wanna be late!" Came Meg's voice as she rushed by Raoul, bringing him back to reality. That reminds me…If I don't hurry, I'll be late too!

Meg looked back at him once and noticed the spacey look on his face. What's up with him? she thought as she rushed to catch up with Christine.

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As Christine sat in choir, she found herself surprisingly bored. The first day usually was boring for her, but after that she was fine. She even caught herself falling asleep and Meg had to nudge her awake several times. "What gives, Christine?" she asked while the choir teacher was not paying attention; the band director had just walked into the room and they stopped to chat. "What is your deal today?"

"What? No, I'm fine. Thanks anyway..." Christine muttered as she stared out of the window. Normally, she liked choir, but she was really out of it today. It's all because of that Raoul, darn it all… she thought. This is all his fault! … Aw…who the heck am I fooling? Just yourself, my friend.

"Are you sure you're okay, Christine?" Meg asked, her voice bringing Christine back to reality. "I mean, are you sure you're not sick or anything?"

Christine did not get the chance to reply. The choir instructor was done with her side conversation with the band director and immediately started the class of on some scales to work on for the remaining twenty-five minutes of class.

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As Christine and Meg walked out of the choir room (with Meg grumbling about how that was the most boring first day of choir ever), Christine noticed a group of students with art pads. Oh…art students…maybe they're art majors… Now that she thought about it, she didn't really have a major yet. She walked towards the group of students with the intent on asking them about their major since she didn't have one yet.

Meg followed closely behind, wondering what Christine was up to, especially since she stopped dead in her tracks before taking even a few steps. "Now, what is it?" Meg sighed impatiently. "God, you are acting so weird today, Christine!"

Oh no…I can't… she thought when she noticed that one of the art students was Raoul.

Meg seemed to notice as well. "Hey, check it out, Christine!" she said, nudging her friend on the elbow. "Raoul is an art major! He's good-looking and talented!" She grinned slyly. "Go talk to him, Christine."

"What? No! I don't want to!"

"Christine, I know you like him."

Pfah. Where on earth did she get that idea?

"Don't be so shy! Go talk to him. He seems nice. I'm sure he likes you a lot."

Ha ha ha. Very funny…

"So? What are you waiting for?" Meg said as she pulled Christine along. "Don't take all day!"

One of the art students turned around and looked at Meg and Christine. "Hey, what's with them? Why the heck are they just looking at us like that?"

"Maybe they're freshmen…" an older girl said.

"Hm! They're cute," one of the older boys said as he put down his art pad.

"Aww…shucks…" Meg said. "You really shouldn't…"

Raoul looked up. "Who are you talking about?" he said. Then he gasped. "Oh…!...Um… …H-hello again, Miss Daae…Miss Giry…!"

"Do you know them, Raoul?" the older girl asked. "Are they friends of yours?"

"Yep! You bet!" Meg said triumphantly. "We go back quite a ways."

"Miss Giry…please…" Raoul mumbled as he started to blush. "Don't over-exaggerate…"

"And why do you never call us by our first names?" Meg asked. "You are just too much of a gentleman for my taste."

"Yeah, he is kinda proper…you girls wanna know a secret?" the girl asked.

Christine refused politely. Gossip really wasn't her thing. Meg however, jumped forward. "Oh yes!"

"Well, I don't know if it's true or not, but I've heard that Raoul's parents have quite a bit of money."

"Oh…so he's like a prince?" Meg asked excitedly.

"Well, I wouldn't say that, but I do know that he is the heir to a huge sum of money. His parents are…like…rich. I mean, they are so wealthy; it's not even funny. Don't tell him I told you, though. He doesn't like to talk about it. He just wants to be normal like everyone else."

"I see…" Meg mumbled. "I'd like to be rich…Oh and speaking of rumors! Hey, Raoul, did you know that Christine likes you?"

"MEG!" Christine shouted angrily as her face turned a dark scarlet.

Everyone was quiet. The silence was deafening. Christine glared at Meg. "I'm going to kill you…" she mouthed. Meg just shrugged. "Well, you do like him!" she said, speaking the first words in about a minute. "You do like him, don't you?"

"You guys, I'm gonna go get a soda. Who's coming with me?" The boy from before said quickly as he got up. "You'd better come too, Meg."

Meg got the drift immediately. "I get it…" then to Christine. "Well, let's leave you two alone for awhile…you know, give you some space." She giggled as she left with the other art students.

"Wait! Meg!" Christine moaned. "Don't leave me alone with him!"

"Don't worry about a thing, Christine!" Meg shouted back. "Just be yourself! Good luck!"

Great…just perfect…she thought as she glared at Meg's back, muttering about how she was going to find a way to get even with her. She looked over at Raoul. He was staring at the ground; his face turned even redder than Christine's.

"Well, this is just great," she sighed. Meg set this up on purpose…I am going to get her! Even though she was very mad, she put on her best happy face. "Well, Raoul, it's just you and me now, thanks to Meg."

Raoul didn't answer. He just continued to stare at the ground.

Oh, boy… Christine thought as she sighed. This is a fine mess I'm in…what am I supposed to say to him? Why am I panicking? Oh, God, help me…!

End Chapter Two

A/N: The end of chapter two. Yeah, I know, I just had to end it there. I seem to have a knack for ending chapters in weird places.

But, anyway, you wonderful people out there can tell me what you thought of this chapter by reviewing. (Yes, review! Please review! No flames, please!)