Finally they go see Phantom. I'm sorry it took so long to get to this part, but I'm sure you guys all understand. The theatre I describe is one by my house that has couches in it, because it will be easier to work with in the chapter. So let's get on with it. My poor Erik gets so impatient sometimes.

Chapter 21: A Movie Date

It was the beginning of January and soon it would be time for the couple to head back to school, but this morning was used for lounging. Erik was lying on the huge chair in the living room reading his book on Beethoven and Mozart. He had already read it twice, but it was so interesting he decided to read it again.

Brittney was curled up next to him fast asleep. Every once and awhile Erik would look down at her and smile. She was so cute when she was asleep. After awhile her foot shifted a bit rubbing against his. Erik chuckled at the fact that even in her sleep she wanted to play footsie.

Tana walked into the room and was surprised to find the two of them. Erik looked up from the book and raised his eyebrow. Tana put a finger to her lips and snuck up to Brittney. She took hold of her daughter's leg and gave a forceful tug making Brittney snap awake and yelp.

"Hey! What's the big idea?" Brittney pouted as Erik put the book down and cradled her in his arms.

"It's time you two go out and do something aside from lying around the house."

"We do things. I took Erik over to my old high school even though that didn't go so well," Brittney said recalling her old theatre director making mention about Erik's mask after she had deliberately told him not to. Mr. Thaney wasn't always one to listen and Brittney had a hard time getting Erik to forgive her.

"And we went to the museum and art museum," Erik added in having enjoyed those two trips.

"Well you two haven't done anything since. Why not go see a movie tonight or something?"

At the idea of a movie Brittney sat up a bit and thought. "There was one over at the Rosebud I wanted to see. It was called Phantom of the Opera and some of my friends said it was rather good."

Erik sat up at the mention of the title and cleared his throat. "You sure you want to see that one?" he asked afraid of what she would think after seeing it.

"Sure why not?"

If it was anything like the book Erik knew there would be problems with seeing it. Brittney would see that the Phantom was meant to be with Christine after all the time he spent declaring his love. But as the figure in the mirror had told him once it was a good idea to educate Brittney on the story. "No, there's nothing wrong with seeing it tonight. I just wanted to be sure that was the one you wanted to see."

"Oh, well I also choose there, because the Rosebud has couches you can sit on and it's not that pricey. Plus it's only two blocks away from here."

"I see. Well that changes things. We'll go tonight then."

xxxxx

At six thirty Erik and Brittney left the house. Some snow had fallen, but not much. Brittney had her coat on and a fleece blanket around her shoulders trying to block out the wind. Erik held her hand under the blanket and smiled at her as they reached the theatre.

"So do you know anything about the movie?" Erik asked after they had gotten some popcorn and used the restrooms.

Brittney thought a moment as she offered him some of the blanket. "There was a show called Wishbone that had a episode about it when I was little, but I don't remember much of it, and someone did a scene design of the Phantom's lair my freshman year of high school for theatre. That's all I know."

"Well then you have a lot to learn," Erik said taking the blanket.

Brittney looked over at him. "What do you mean? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"You'll see soon enough," Erik explained wrapping his arm around her and giving her a tiny kiss.

The movie started and Brittney watched as things in a dusty old opera house were being auctioned off.

"…We've been told ladies and gentlemen that this is the very chandelier which figured in the famous disaster. Our workshops have repaired and wired parts of it with new electric light. Perhaps we can frighten away the ghost of so many years ago…gentlemen."

The sound of the organ filled the theatre and Brittney could feel herself being swept away by the music and the rising of the chandelier on the screen. It all seemed like magic to her. The chandelier was in place once again and now the camera made its way through the inside of the opera house showing ballet girls and other workers getting ready for a show.

Suddenly Brittney saw something that made her jaw drop. Two girls hurried along and they looked just like Christine and Meg. "Oh my god," she whispered to herself.

The story continued with two new managers being shown the opera house and being announced to the cast and crew. The lead diva La Carlotta was asked to give a rendition of the song "Think of Me" for the managers. Both Erik and Brittney agreed she was awful.

A falling drop stopped the diva and she had a screaming fit before she took off. Christine was then asked to sing after the ballet, mistress Mme. Giry; who Erik noticed looked a lot like Mrs. Giry, said that she was taking lessons and was able to do the part. She was a hit and soon seen singing at the gala that night.

The song "Angel of Music" was beautifully done and soon it came time to see the Phantom. As soon as Brittney got a look at the Phantom's face her jaw dropped even more and she looked over at Erik. The two of them looked exactly alike except the Phantom was older.

She watched in envy as the Phantom led Christine down below the Opera House and sang to her of the "Music of the Night" as she seemed to be hypnotized by the sound of his voice and his music. "The same way I am whenever Erik plays or sings to me," Brittney thought.

As the movie progressed she saw how much effort the Phantom put in towards making Christine his wife. Brittney didn't know why she was getting so jealous over a couple of movie characters. Deep down inside she knew Erik loved her, yet the actions on the screen told her otherwise. The rose with the black ribbon tied on it showed up and Brittney recalled Erik giving her one when they faked the breakup.

Erik, on the other hand, was enjoying himself during the movie. Seeing the book and musical come to life was a joy, but he too noticed how the characters seemed to match people in real life. Inside he was saying thank you to the gods for not making a Carlotta look alike. But he noticed that Brittney looked to be constantly in debate on whether she liked the movie or not.

He reached over and wrapped an arm around her under the blanket. Pulling her close he whispered in her ear. "Are you okay?"

"I am now," she said quietly snuggling against him.

The story continued to the night of Don Juan Triumphant and the couple watched as the Phantom risked his very life to take a part in his opera. Brittney fell in love with his voice as he sang "Point of No Return" hoping Erik would sound like that someday.

Christine did the unthinkable by pulling off the Phantom's mask revealing a face so horrid Brittney buried her head in Erik's shirt out of shock that everything was the same between this Phantom and her boyfriend. Except Erik was no murderer and he didn't have to grow up as a circus freak.

Erik was surprised as she grabbed hold of him and began rubbing her back. She looked up and saw a hurt look in his eyes for the way she had acted. Carefully she reached up and pressed her lips to his and whispered she was sorry.

Brittney managed to watch the end where the Phantom had the Vicomte, who looked just like Raoul; tied up to the portcullis and demanding from Christine that she choose who she loved more. Then the most horrible thing happened; Christine planted her lips on those of the Phantom and gave him not one, but two passionate kisses. However the Phantom let her go with the Vicomte and she made no attempt to stay. She broke the Phantom's heart. Brittney's heart sank at the scene.

The movie ended with an older Raoul placing a music box on Christine's grave showing they had lived happily after all that had happened. But laying on the gravestone was a rose with a black ribbon and the engagement ring Christine had given the Phantom before she left.

As the movie ended Brittney was in tears not for the fact that the Phantom loved Christine after all that time, but because she had made so many comparisons throughout the movie that she thought Erik still loved Christine.

xxxxx

Back at the house Brittney went into her room and watched as Erik followed her. Both had remained silent on the way back and they both looked like they needed to talk.

"Erik…I…" Brittney began as she looked over at him, but as she looked at her she lost her train of thought.

"I probably shouldn't have let you see that. I had a feeling you would react the way you did," Erik snapped suddenly.

Brittney felt small as Erik came and towered over her. In an instant she fell to her knees and hung her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be anything like that."

"Well it was and now you know why I went after Christine, because my life followed so closely to that of the Phantom. It was after she turned me down and revealed me to the whole lunchroom that I realized that it would never be. Seeing that movie brought back many horrible memories Brittney. Plus the way you reacted to the unmasking was hurtful to me. I thought you were used to a face like that by now," Erik shouted his voice starting to tremble.

Brittney looked up and saw Erik close to tears. She reached up and grabbed his hand. "I've always accepted your face and loved you for who you were, but the shock of seeing the Phantom with the same problem as you and the fact that he was so in love with Christine like you once was was what shocked me. Please don't be angry with me. I was really glad I got to see this with you."

Erik looked down at her and slowly got on his knees next to her. For a moment all they could was look into one another's eyes before locking lips and sharing a deep kiss. Their tears mingled and Brittney even reached up slowly pushing the mask off Erik's face and stroking the marred skin with her fingers.

Taking a second to wrap the fleece blanket around them Erik smiled at her. "You know what? I'm glad my life wasn't like the Phantom's."

"Why?"

"Because unlike him I gave up after Christine left me, so I have more time to love you," he replied giving her another breath taking kiss.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and shuddered as he worked at tasting ever inch of her mouth. How could she have been so quick to assume that Erik would be all over Christine again or even have any feeling for her? The girl had betrayed him, abused him, and even used threats as a way to get him to like her. Christine should have taken Raoul back when she had the chance, but now she was left with nothing, because there was no way in hell that Brittney would let Erik go.

So what's to come in the future; young versions of Carlotta and Piangi perhaps? Brittney begins taking French and Erik starts having problems with Raoul. Stayed tuned.