I know I have been lacking with this story lately I'm terribly sorry for that. But I was catching up on my other story. Don't think I would abandon this one. Plus I was having a bit of writer's block, but I have a good idea on what I'm doing, so let's see if I can make this work.
Seeing as they live in the modern day of course the book The Phantom of the Opera would exist. I'm considering if I should include the movie or not. Maybe you guys can help me out with that.
I do not own the song "God Bless The USA."
Chapter 14: A War upon Your Dorm
Brittney woke up the next morning wrapped gently in Erik's arms. She leaned in and kissed him upon the lips before resting her head against his chest again. Feeling him shift she looked up and smiled at him as he opened first his deformed eye and then the handsome one.
"Morning; handsome," she said running her fingers down his cheek.
"Good morning; my kitten. I assume you slept well."
"I always do when I'm with you Erik, but I have a feeling that won't happen very often anymore. Not with Christine on all day patrol," Brittney said with a long sigh.
"You know what we have to do though right?"
"Yes, but I don't want to. I hate having it that she wins. Why can't we win Erik?"
"We already have. We have each other don't we?" Brittney nodded. "As long as we have that she can never win. I love you so much," he said gently pulling her to him and holding her.
"I love you too Erik, but when we start the shouting match; what if we say something that hurts the other?"
"It's only pretend, but I think you should work up some tears or something. I can do the same. We have to convince people that it's over between us."
"When should I meet you for class?"
"Meet in the theatre, I'll find you there." He reached over and lifted the black lace curtain and helped her to climb out of bed. There on the table stacked neatly was her speech outline and note cards.
"You still did my homework?"
"I said I would."
"Oh, right. Well I'm ready to start this when you are," she said pulling on her glasses.
"One minute. There's one thing we should do before we start. Hand me my ring won't you dear?"
Brittney took the black ribbon from around her neck and handed it out to him. "What exactly are you doing?"
Erik took it and looped her ring over the ribbon. "During the argument we'll throw the rings back at each other, but to fool them you'll be throwing me yours and I'll be throwing you mine. They'll never know, but keep it hidden, because you know Christine will notice it if you wear it outside your dorm room."
He reached over and tied the ribbon around her neck for her again. As he reached his hand around the front to straighten it a tear fell on his hand. Brittney was already crying.
"Oh, Brittney, I'm sorry you have to go through with this. I'm so sorry," he said as she leaned her head against his chest.
"Let's just get it over with," she whispered quietly.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded and then looked up and gave Erik a semi-forceful shove away from her. "I'm sorry Erik, but we can't be together anymore."
"What? Why not? I thought you loved me," Erik cried back starting with an innocent victim approach, so he could get tears to flow from his eyes.
"I don't anymore," Brittney snapped quickly and picked the mask up from the desk and threw it at him. She couldn't believe she was going to say this, but it would help move the argument along. "I was just using you for comfort you fool. Do you really think I could love someone as ugly as you?"
Erik stepped back as if he had been dealt a blow to the face as he put the mask back on. Brittney mouthed that she was sorry as his eyes began to glow a violent yellow. He grabbed her homework and threw it at her papers flying everywhere. She fell to the ground trying to clean them all up as he continued to yell at her. "Me ugly, oh that's rich. Did you just come up with that or have you been waiting to say that for awhile now?" Erik bellowed causing Brittney to freeze in her attempt to pick up the papers. "You're no picnic yourself. How are you going to get another guy after me with that simple and innocent act?"
Brittney looked up at him in pure terror. He was either saying this for real or he was a really good actor. She finished gathering the papers as he grabbed her arm and upon unlocking the door pushed her into the hallway.
"Well I never liked the way you played your music," Brittney shouted hoping to gain Christine's attention, which it did. Christine poked her head out of her door and so did a few other students including Vera, Nadir, Raoul, Meg, and RaeAnna.
"I never want to see your face near this room again," Erik shouted taking the black ribbon with his ring off from around his neck and threw it towards her. "Here take your ring back and get out of my life."
Brittney picked the ring up off the floor and pulled her own from her neck. "Fine and here's yours you cold hearted monster," she shouted back through her tears as the ring clattered along the floor.
Once he had picked it up she turned and stormed down the hall towards her room when a clatter and a slamming door forced her to turn around. There on the floor were her shoes with something hidden inside the left one. She pulled them close so no one would see as she went down the hall. As she passed Christine's room she heard from inside, "Excellent now Erik will be mine."
xxxxx
"What the hell just happened?" RaeAnna asked Brittney as she collapsed onto her bunk. "I thought you two were in love."
"We are. We had to pull an act to fool Christine. She wants Erik for herself and threatened me if I didn't leave him, so we just fooled her with that demonstration in the hall.
"She'll find out eventually. Do you really want her finding out it's all a lie?"
"She won't. We have it all figured out."
"I hope so, because some of that stuff you said to him was really hurtful. I just hope he knows that you didn't mean that."
"He does," Brittney said changing into her tech clothes. Then she went over to her shoes, which she had thrown at the floor and pulled out a long stemmed rose with a black ribbon around. On the ribbon in silver sharpie it said, "I'm sorry."
xxxxx
Erik paced back and forth in his room holding tightly to Brittney's ring. He knew she had been acting, but some of those comments really hurt. She had called him ugly and a monster. But he knew deep down inside it must have hurt her to say that. He pulled off the mask to wipe away a tear when a knock came at the door.
He put the mask back on and went to the door looking through the peephole to see Christine standing there. He knew what she wanted, so he opened the door just enough to look at her. "Go away Christine. Now is not the best time to talk to me," he said as he was about to close the door.
She pushed on it before he could and came into the room. She was dressed in black pajama pants with roses on them and a black t-shirt. "So who broke up with who?" she asked as she looked around the room.
Erik thought for a moment. If he said he was responsible, she would want a reason and he didn't have a good reason at the time; and if he said Brittney started it, she would pity him and never leave him alone. Either way he was at a loss. "Brittney started it."
"Oh, Erik, I'm so sorry for you. Besides you don't need a common everyday girl like her when you can have an exquisite beauty like me."
"She's so dense," Erik thought to himself. "Christine did it ever occur to you that I don't want a girl like you anymore?"
But she wasn't paying attention and he saw she was looking at the picture frame on the desk that he hadn't had time to hide yet. "What's this?" She picked it up. "You just had an argument with her and you still have a picture of the two of you on your desk. Do you still love her after she called you a monster?"
"I haven't been able to put it away yet. She just broke up with me if you were paying attention. Now put it back where you found it."
"I think I'll take care of this for you." And with that she threw the frame hard against the floor causing the glass to shatter. Then if that wasn't enough she pulled the picture from the frame and ripped it into tiny pieces letting them fall to the floor like confetti.
Now Erik was pissed. He grabbed Christine's wrist with an iron like grip and shoved her out of the room. "If you know what's good for you you'll never show your face in this room again." He shut the door and locked it leaving Christine to stand there bewildered in the hallway before she went back to her room.
xxxxx
Brittney was all dressed and ready to go for theatre, but it was still rather early, so she sat at her computer and checked her e-mails for the day unable to think of anything better to do. She had hidden Erik's ring away in her jewelry box and put the picture of them in her desk drawer where it would be safe.
Suddenly a knock came at the door and RaeAnna opened it to find Raoul in tears and hyperventilating. Brittney stood up and went to him. "Raoul, what's a matter?" She asked helping him into the room and seating him on the bed.
Raoul sobbed harder and RaeAnna handed him a tissue. He blew his nose and wiped his eyes. "Christine dumped me last night. She gave no explanation as to why. She only said we should see other people and that she never wanted to see me again. I thought she loved me," he said chocking on a sob.
Brittney patted his shoulder as another knock came at the door and Meg and Nadir came in hand in hand. Meg had a scowl on her face while Nadir seemed rather annoyed.
"Christine has gone too far," Meg shouted. "Since Erik turned her down she doesn't like the idea of me being with Nadir, because he's Erik's friend. She's made every one of us miserable."
Brittney nodded. "I think we need to collaborate together about her. I personal thought at the beginning of the semester she was really nice, but now I see her as a…as a…as a complete bitch!"
Everyone jumped at this and then stared at her. Brittney was the last person they would think to swear. She had been around Erik too much. No doubt some of his influence had rubbed off on her.
"Hey she's not that much of a bitch," Raoul shouted.
"Well she must have P.M.S. daily or something, because she has had a bad attitude for quite awhile," Brittney snapped.
"So what are we to do?" Meg asked.
"Well I see Erik during class so I'll pass it by him. None of you have night classes tonight right?" Everyone shook their heads. "Good, then come out to the rugby field at 7pm and there we can come up with some kind of idea on how to calm Christine down. I know we have Christmas break coming up soon, but even if we have to wait till next semester to act then we will."
Everyone gave a cheer, but Brittney shushed them. "She'll hear us!" she hissed.
One by one they left and went to their rooms. There was still plenty of time before class, but Brittney grabbed her backpack anyway and ran to the theatre.
xxxxx
While the others had been discussing Erik was left to clean up the shattered glass and cry over the remains of the picture. At first he thought he could tape it back together, but Christine had made sure there was no hope in that happening, by ripping the pieces up until they were merely tiny scraps.
He knew Christine wasn't going to listen to his warning; she never did. He was going to need to think harder if he was to be rid of her for good and have Brittney back in his arms.
"What would the Phantom do?" he said to himself as he stood up and pulled a small book from the shelf. "The Phantom of the Opera," was written across the cover.
Erik usually questioned the coincidences that his life had with the Phantom. They had the same first name; thanks to his mother, they both had knowledge of music and architecture, they both had a crush on a girl named Christine, and they both wore a mask due to birth defects.
The only difference was Erik didn't love Christine anymore and loved another girl. There was nothing about that in the book and lost for answers he chucked the book onto the bed and gave out a long hesitant sigh.
"Phantom, why can't you help me? You've always helped me before."
"You could kill someone using the Punjab lasso. Showing her you have the power to kill will scare any girl." A mysterious voice said filling the room.
Erik looked around. "Whose there? Show yourself."
"Look in the mirror Erik and you will be able to see me inside."
Erik was officially afraid now as he turned to look at the mirror. He had made it known before that it was hard to scare him, but now he was willing to make an exception. At first he only saw himself looking back at him, but slowly a new image began to emerge before him. It was still him, but he was older and dressed in formal wear with a cloak billowing out behind him. He looked behind him quick and he saw nothing, but the floor.
"I must be dreaming. There's no way you can be me."
"In a way I am and in a way I'm not. Yes, it is true that a lot of things in our lives were the same Erik, but I never lived. I'm an image that was created to entertain. You're a living, breathing version of me that is to walk among the mortal world."
"Who are you?"
"Why I'm the Phantom of the Opera."
"No way, you can't be the Phantom. Yet, you look just like me only more grownup and dressed way much better than I am."
"Thank you, but we have no time for simple conversation. Now I understand you have a problem with a lady friend of yours."
"Yeah, how did you know about that if you're just a storybook character?"
"I'm not a storybook character, I was written in a novel. Honestly you teenagers have no respect. I'm willing to help you out."
"How do you plan to do that? Nowhere in this book does it state that you left Christine to chase after another girl. I don't see how you can help."
"Stop going by the bloody book. There are so many loopholes and blank spots in that book that it's no surprise there are more questions then answers to my life. I'm willing to give you some of my own advice to you, because believe it or not there is Phantom blood flowing through your veins."
"Well I refuse to kill someone. If Brittney found out I did something like that she'd hate me forever and losing her would be the worst thing I can possibly imagine."
"Forget that idea then. The only other thought would be to play small tricks during the performances and eventually end with the destruction of something. That's the best I can think of."
Erik ran his fingers through his hair. He didn't like the idea of ruining the performance just, because he was in a bad mood. He needed to think this through first before he made up his mind. "Look I appreciate your help, but I really need to meet Brittney at the theatre, so if you could go away or something that would be great."
"The other thing about us that's different. Your hair is actually real. I have to wear this blasted wig."
"Um…do you mind leaving now? I really need to get going," Erik said pulling his backpack up onto his shoulders.
"Right of course. If you come up with any questions or a decision don't worry for I will be able to find you." With that the image was gone and Erik was once again looking back at his own reflection in the mirror.
"Okay no more cold pizza before going to bed."
He hurried from the room and made his way to the theatre hoping Brittney wasn't to mad at him and willing to forgive him.
xxxxx
Brittney was standing on stage now having arrived rather early and set up the dry erase board and podium for her teacher seeing as it was buried in the shop amongst the set for the upcoming show Volponoe. She looked down at her watch and tapped her foot. "Where is he? He said he'd be here 5 minutes ago."
Feeling rather bored she decided to practice some singing. She only knew one tune by heart and decided to give it a try seeing as the stage was now empty.
"If tomorrow all the things were gone/ I worked for all my life/ and I had to start again/ with just my children and my wife/ I thank my lucky star to be living here today/ cause the flag still stands for freedom/ and they can't take away."
Erik came in the theatre as she sang, but she didn't notice him, so he stayed to the side so she could finish without getting nervous.
"For I'm proud to be an American/ where at least I know I'm free/ And I won't forget the man who died/ and gave that right to me/ and I gladly stand up/ next to you/ and defend her still today/ cause there's no doubt I love this land/ god bless the USA."
She waited a moment before the next part allowing her voice to take a slight break.
"From the lakes of Minnesota/ to the hills of Tennessee/ across the plains of Texas/ from sea to shining sea/ from Detroit down to Houston/ and from New York to L.A./ there is pride in every American heart and it's time to stand and say/ that I'm proud to be an American/ where at least I know I'm free/ and I won't forget the man who died/ and gave his right to me/ cause I gladly stand up next to you/ and defend her still today/ cause there's doubt I love this land/ love this land/ God bless the U.S.A."
As she sang out that last part Erik began clapping and Brittney looked in shock out into the house. Her cheeks turned a deep scarlet as he came up onto the stage leaving his backpack in one of the seats.
"Did you just hear that?" she asked feeling so completely embarrassed that she tried to look past him instead of at him.
"I thought you did a great job. It takes great talent to memorize the words of a song, but to sing it perfectly without the music is another great talent. I must say I'm truly impressed."
"Erik I'm so sorry for what I said back in the dorms. I was so mad at Christine that those words flew from my mouth and there was no way to stop them. I didn't mean to hurt you," she said sadly.
He watched as tears began falling down her cheeks. Due to the fact that she was wearing a short sleeved shirt he could see the cast very easily and was sure by now her arm was healing, but it would take longer to mend her shattered heart. "I forgive you that is if you forgive me."
"Of course I will. How could I not after I found that rose in my shoe?"
"I had a feeling you would find it. I hated myself for being so mean to you. But it makes me feel so much better to know that you still love me."
They gave each other a strong hug before she told him about the others and that they would be meeting tonight at 7pm by the rugby field to discuss Christine. He agreed to be there and they shared one final kiss before the professor came into the theatre and kicked them off stage.
Okay wow this one was a long one, but I'm sure you guys liked it. For those of you who want Erik and Brittney to stay together probably will find something about the chapter you don't like, but don't worry you guys. I won't break them apart. They work so well together. And yes we will be hearing from older Erik again soon. As I said up at the top should I have Erik and Brittney see the movie over Christmas break or not?