Chapter 2

Like a Toad

Once back in her room, Heather immediately headed for her bed, tired after her ordeal. Glancing at the nightstand, she realized she still had not read Clay's note. She sighed. Just then Alyssa walked in, "Oh good, you're back," she said, handing Heather a note. "This is from Scot. Something about the workmen, crew, and stuff." Heather nodded and took it from her. She opened it, and scanned down.

"He says that they don't know anymore than they've been told or seen over the years. Well that's not very fun. Ooh, it says that Madame Giry seems to be holding back on something though. This could be interesting." Heather told Alyssa.

"But how in the world would we get her to talk? She'll only tell us what she'll tell Clay during the Masquerade. Nothing more." Alyssa wondered.

"Good point, I'll have to sleep on that one, try to think of something if you can." Alyssa nodded. Heather picked up Clay's note and opened it. "Andre and Firimin are not talking. However, they are hiding some sort of plot," she read aloud. "Great, another not very helpful clue." Heather rubbed her temples and yawned. Alyssa noticed.

"You go to sleep, Heather, you need it. We can talk more later, since it's already tomorrow. Bye." With that she shut the door behind her and was gone. Heather lay down and within minutes was asleep.

Meanwhile, Paige-as Carlotta- was very mad that the Phantom wanted her to play the Pageboy. She refused. Andre and Firimin insisted that she play the Countess. They begged her and begged her to agree. Finally she did. While Heather fixed her hair, Madame Giry brought her Christine's pageboy costume. Heather quickly put it on and was ready within ten minutes. Alyssa startled her by appearing in the doorway. She looked at the room in distaste. "I don't like it," she said disdainfully. When Paige had agreed to be the Countess once more, the owners had lost no time in moving Heather to a smaller dressing room. It wasn't as nice as the other had been.

"Neither do I." Heather agreed.

They discussed the notes from the night before. "I still haven't a clue about how to get Madame Giry to talk." Heather said. Suddenly a light bulb went off in her head. "Wait a minute. Joe didn't say anything about spells or potions did he?" Alyssa shook her head.

"No. What are you thinking?" she asked in confusion.

Heather got out a scrape of paper and scribbled some things down on it. "Here, give this to Scot as soon as possible. I'm thinking it's time for a little truth spell." Heather explained with a twinkle in her eye. Alyssa smiled, thinking the same thing.

"Cool."

As they were leaving, Heather grabbed Alyssa's arm. "Make sure you tell Scot to have that stuff ready in time for the Masquerade Ball. Okay? We'll do it then," she instructed.

Heather and Paige took their spots on the huge stage bed for the show of Il Muto. Before the show started Heather outlined the plan to Paige. "We'll do it when she explains everything to Raoul." Paige smiled. Before she could answer the curtain raised and they fell silent. As the show progressed, even though she knew it was coming, Heather jumped when the Phantom's voice filled the auditorium. Paige did, too. Clay jumped to his feet.

"Did I not instruct that Box 5 was to be left empty?" his voice boomed.

The people in the audience gasped and turned to see who it was. Their startled faces amused Joe, and he smiled, chuckling to himself. As Paige began to sing again, he laughed even harder when she croaked like a toad. Unfortunately, his fun was cut short as he heard the snoopy crewman coming to investigate. With a swirl of black cloak, he was gone in an instant.

Paige rushed off stage crying. Carlotta's maids quickly rushed her away to be consoled. In no time, Andre and Firimin appeared on the stage. Heather listened through the closed curtain to what they had to say. Firimin tried to cover the mistake by saying it was an accident and that the show would continue in ten minutes. Reaching behind the curtain, Firimin groped around till he found Heather's arm. "Miss Daae will be playing the role of the Countess!" he announced. The audience applauded and Heather went to get ready. Andre introduced the ballet performance.

Heather felt guilty that a man would die tonight. As she finished putting on the undergarments to the countess costume, she could hear the faint screaming through the door. Madame Giry stopped lacing the back and quickly left to see what was happening.

Quickly Heather put on a cloak and left the room to find Clay. She found him within seconds and she rushed him off to the rooftop. "Heather…" a voice whispered on the wind. Heather knew that Joe was standing right in front of her, using the huge statue and the shadows to conceal himself. She glanced at Clay to see if he had noticed it. She could tell that he had. Nervously they continued, hoping that Joe would not decide to change the course of events and do something unexpected.

As they sang and nothing happened, the tension began to ease and they loosed up. They became more comfortable and got into their roles and the song better. Finally Heather gave Clay a big smile. It was contagious and he couldn't help but smile back. Suddenly Heather realized something important, and if possible, her smile got bigger. She had almost forgotten, she got to kiss Clay in this song! And it wasn't just a peck on the cheek either.

Almost jumping with excitement and anticipation, she saw that he was thinking the same thing. Then he picked her up and they kissed. "Heather, I love you," he finished. Then he picked her up and they kissed again. Leaving the rooftop, they hurried down the steps not wanting to stick around and hear Joe sing.

That night Heather and Clay enjoyed a quiet evening dinner in a small, beautiful restaurant. Clay brought her back to the opera house about midnight. He walked her to her room and then left.