Okay I know my love scenes were getting to common, but that last chapter I couldn't come up with a good plan even though LenisVox gave me an ingenious idea that I may use later. LOL. But it's time to bring up some real conflict. The rating of this story went up to T. Hope you guys like it.

Note: I know Christine has the characteristics of being a little smarter than Erik or anyone else. I guess I forgot to mention that Erik isn't a reincarnation of the Phantom or anything like that. He is only a normal boy that has a lot in common with the Phantom character, but eventually his genius shows and his real purpose begins to show. Be patient.

Chapter 16: Unhappy Holidays

The rest of October and through the beginning of November Christine was nothing, but a bother to Erik, who was beginning to hate her more and more. However Christine wasn't going to give up and came up with the best plan to get some time alone with him when Brittney wouldn't be around to help.

"Hey Erik!" she called to him as she saw him making his way back to the dorms one afternoon.

"What do you want?" Erik asked with an annoyed snort as he pulled his backpack up onto his shoulders better.

"I talked to Mrs. Giry last night and asked if it was okay for you to come home with us for the Thanksgiving break and she said that was fine. The more the merrier."

"I didn't agree to anything. I'm not coming," Erik said ready to head into the complex, but Christine stopped him.

"Oh come on. Meg even invited Nadir to come home too and he agreed, even though I still don't approve of them dating. I thought it could be a double date seeing as you don't have anyone," Christine said sweetly playing with one of her curls.

Erik tried not to notice. That was one of the only things right now that he liked about her. He shook his head and growled. "I'm not coming Christine. Sorry to be a disappointment, but I already have plans."

She wasn't going to let that answer fly. She grabbed him roughly by the collar and pulled him over to the nearby patch of grass. "Erik Destler you leave me no choice, but to force you to come. If you don't I will make sure that Brittney girl is put in her rightful place. I'm sure that even with the threat I made she still sees you and stuff like that."

"No, I hardly ever see her anymore thanks to you."

"Excellent. So you'll come?"

"Fine," Erik said after a long frustrated sigh.

"Goody," Christine exclaimed jumping up and down. She kissed his cheek, much to his disapproval, and ran inside.

Erik just stood there stunned for about ten minutes before he finally realized what happened. "God Dammit!" he cursed rather loudly. "I can't believe I gave into her like that. But she'll do something horrible to Brittney if I don't agree. Man this totally sucks."

He finally collected himself and went into the dorms and up to the third floor. Christine's bedroom door was cracked open a bit and he heard Meg and Christine talking.

"Meg this is so great. I got Erik to come to Thanksgiving."

"Good for you. You've already told me this."

"But you don't understand Meg. I may finally get him to like me and not that Brittney person he hangs around with. I have a hunch the two of them still hang out even though I warned her not to."

"I honestly wish you would leave those two alone. Obviously Erik doesn't like you and poor Brittney is so miserable, because of your cruelty. Plus Raoul thinks you hate him and has left at least 3 messages on the answering machine asking why you never talk to him anymore. Your jealousy is making a lot of people miserable."

"Oh what do you care anyway?"

"Well I hate the fact that you don't approve of me and Nadir for one. It's not up to you who I can date and not. Just because you live in our house doesn't mean you have say over me. My mother thinks Nadir is a very nice boy and we're happy together. So butt out!"

The room fell silent and even Erik was stunned. Meg was standing up to Christine and had caused her to fall silent. He was just about to leave and find Nadir when Christine's voice stopped him. "Well when I have Erik alone he better be ready, because I have a real treat in stored for him."

Erik ran now terrified down the hall and began pounding on Nadir's door. The teen opened the door and pulled Erik inside before Christine saw anything. Luckily they were alone for Raoul was away at class.

"What's wrong with you Erik? You look like you saw a ghost," Nadir asked calmly getting his friend a glass of water.

"Nadir you know that Meg asked you to go to Thanksgiving at her house right?"

"Yeah, what does that have to do with anything?"

"Christine some how got me to agree in going."

"What? But I thought you were going home with Brittney?"

"I was, but if I don't come Christine is going to put Brittney in her rightful place."

"That's awful. But I'm sure that's not why you're freaking out."

"I just overheard her talking to Meg and she's hoping to get me alone while at the house. Luckily it's only for a week, but you have to make sure for no reason that I'm left alone. I don't trust her Nadir."

"All right. I'll stick by you, but does Brittney know about this? She'll have to find another ride home now."

"Can you bring her over here please? I'll be the one to tell her, but I want you here for support."

"Sure hang on a minute."

Nadir stepped into the hallway closing the door behind him and went forward to knock on Brittney's door. She opened it and looked curiously at him. "What is it Nadir?"

"You may want to come with me. There's something you need to hear."

She followed him into his room and found Erik huddled against Nadir's desk crying. She kneeled next to him and curled up against him. "What's wrong Erik? You can wait till you calm down first though to tell me."

Gently she removed the mask making it easier for him then asked Nadir for a tissue, so she could dab at Erik's tears. Just then Erik mumbled something and she asked him to repeat it.

"Nadir you tell her. I can't."

Nadir sat down in a chair next to them and told Brittney what Erik had told him. Brittney wanted to protest, but Nadir stopped her saying there was nothing anyone could do. He promised to watch out for Erik and make sure he was never left alone for long.

"I'll give you my cell phone so you can keep in touch with me at home. That way Christine won't know you're on the phone with me. I hate the fact that you're suffering for me."

Erik didn't respond and could only cry harder as he leaned against Brittney's shoulder. The two witnesses became silent and allowed Erik to just let his tears fall.

xxxxx

Before the day he left Brittney called Erik into her room and handed him the cell phone and charger. "If you ever need me Erik, don't hesitate to call me. I stored my cell phone number inside the phone, so you can easily reach me."

Earlier that week Brittney had gotten her casts removed for all her injuries had healed. She no longer felt pain and was glad to be doing theatre work again.

"So you're not mad that I'm going there instead of home with you?" Erik asked quietly.

"I am disappointed, but you have to go or Christine's threat will hang heavy upon her return. As much as I hate the fact that you'll be there with her I'm glad to know you still love me," she said wrapping her arms around him.

"So am I Brittney. So am I."

xxxxx

Erik had tucked the cell phone deep at the bottom of his bag and everyone piled into his car. He was grateful Phil had agreed to give Brittney a ride home and he was also grateful that Christine and Meg didn't live that far away from campus. It was only about 2 hours out of their way.

When they got to the house Erik waited until Meg and Christine had grabbed their things and headed inside before he and Nadir headed inside. Mrs. Giry welcomed them warmly.

"Welcome back Nadir."

"Thank you Mrs. Giry. It's nice to see you again."

"And Erik may how you've grown since I've seen you last."

"Nice seeing you again Mrs. Giry. It has been awhile hasn't it?"

"Indeed it has. Now you boys will be sleeping down in the basement room while the girls have their room up here. And I promise you they will not bother you down there."

Erik and Nadir smiled and headed down to the basement. It was like a living room down here and two couches had been made into beds. Erik chose the one farthest away from the stairs and put his pack down. He wondered if Brittney was home yet, but probably wasn't seeing as she had a longer drive and had left later then they did.

"The girls won't bother us huh?" Nadir asked. "Does Mrs. Giry know about Christine's plot or is she just being nice?"

"I hope it's the first part. Maybe Meg told her what's going on, because she's afraid for both of us. Besides Mrs. Giry was always nice to me on school field trips that she would chaperone on," Erik said unrolling his black comforter and pillow. He had had Brittney cuddle with him the night before, so that he could engulf in her smell when he went to sleep.

"Maybe," Nadir said as he unrolled his own stuff. "But don't worry buddy. I'll watch your back."

"Thanks Nadir. I knew I could count on you."

"No problem. Now let's go up to the kitchen and get something to eat. I'm hungry."

Erik chuckled and the two of them headed up the stairs. However Christine and Meg were in the kitchen and Erik was ready to retreat down the stairs. Mrs. Giry came into the kitchen with a bowl of cookie dough in one hand.

"Does anyone want to help me with this?"

"I will Mrs. Giry," Erik said. He sighed as she handed him the bowl and he began to mix it. He felt a lot better even though Christine gave him a nasty glare and went into the living room.

"So how is school going Erik?" Mrs. Giry asked as she greased down a cookie sheet.

"Fine. I got an A on my last theatre test and I composed some new pieces," he said calmly.

"I'm glad to hear that dear. You always seemed to be the musical genius. I remember how eager you were to tell me of your new pieces when I came to pick up Meg and Christine after school. I was and am still very proud of you."

"Thank you Mrs. Giry."

"You're welcome dear. Plus it's nice having you two boys here for the holidays. Where are you going for Christmas?"

"Another friend of mine invited me to their house."

"I'm going home," Nadir said sitting down at the kitchen table.

"Erik, aren't you even going to see your parents?" Mrs. Giry asked. "The Summers seemed like such nice people."

Erik looked down at the cookie dough. He had enjoyed the Summers, but it hadn't been the same since his own parents passed away. Once he was old enough he took his official last name and was willing to make it out on his own. And he felt that he had done a good job too. "I may see them over spring break or something, but I'm not eager to be there for a whole month."

"I understand dear, but don't forget they are still family."

Erik only replied with a nod and continued mixing. He wondered about Brittney and how she would be fairing the week so far away from him.

xxxxx

Brittney was rather quiet in the car on the way home and Phil felt bad for her. She told him what had happened and left it at that. They listened to music and eventually Brittney took a nap resting her head against her pillow allowing herself to think of Erik and hoping that Nadir was keeping his promise.

They got into her driveway at 1 am in the morning and Brittney went in right away to tell her mom she was home. Tana sat up and smiled. "Did you and Phil have a safe trip back?"

"Yeah, but I really wish it had been Erik."

"You'll see him when you get back. Christine can't keep him to herself all school year."

"Oh, she'll try I'm sure. Mom I'm scared for him."

"I know you are Brittney. I'm sure he'll call you soon."

They headed through the front door and placed Brittney's things in the foyer. Then with Phil she made plans on when they would meet up to go back to school and after a goodbye he was gone.

"I need to go back to bed, because I work tomorrow. I think you can get to bed your self," Tana said giving her daughter one more hug and a kiss.

"Yeah mom. Good night."

Brittney carried her things up to her room and pulled her comforter out of the bag and threw it onto the bed. She was scared and Erik wasn't there to comfort her. "This is so unfair," she said to herself as she fell onto her bed. Suddenly the phone rang and she jumped up to get it. "Hello?"

"Brittney?"

"Erik? Oh, thank god you called. I was beginning to worry about you."

"I can't sleep."

"What's wrong love?"

"I miss you too much. I'd rather be back at school."

Brittney could hear the sadness in Erik's voice and felt like crying herself. "Oh, Erik if only I could be there with you or vise visa."

"I'm scared Brittney. What about that special treat of hers?"

"Calm down Erik. Nadir will look out for you okay? And I'm only a phone call away."

Erik didn't seem convinced and they talked on the phone for another hour before he was finally calmed down and able to hang up. "I love you Brittney," Erik whispered into the cell phone.

"I love you too. Talk to you tomorrow all right?"

"Deal," Erik said and with that hung up the phone and rolled over onto his side. He had heard the sadness in Brittney's voice and wanted so badly to be back with her. He needed to toughen up and not be so afraid all the time. Meg could stand up to Christine, why couldn't he?

xxxxx

Six hours away Brittney sat down her bed now too afraid to even change into her pajamas and go to sleep. The dread in Erik's voice made her wonder if he was going to last long in that house. Knowing he was in trouble was going to be what made her miserable this Thanksgiving.

She kicked off her shoes and curled up into a tiny ball upon the bed. The sound of the fan helped her to finally close her eyes as she pulled the one thing she had taken from Erik's room right from under his very nose; one of his shirts.

So luckily Erik knows Mrs. Giry and may have some hope of avoiding Christine during break, but when he gets back there is going to be major trouble in store. But I'm leaving you with another cliffhanger go me.