Rue Marie: First thank you for the review. I am sorry for the spelling errors, but it's sometimes a little difficult to write in english (especially the tenses). I think I will have to add some drama for you ... Oh Erik and Meg won't get together that fast ... I'll think of that
Chapter 2
"Good morning Madame Giry, Mademoiselle Giry!" Monsieur Reyer kissed both women's hands and bowed. He was a real gentleman, many years older than Meg's mother, but a good friend.
"Good morning Monsieur Reyer!" The sat down in the little café in front of Notre-Dame. "My daughter told me you have found a new patron?"
"Yes. He's the employer of my son. He's the Comte de Cogne. I met him while I was visiting my dear son. He was very interested in the incident of the Phantom of the Opera and he asked about the Opera Populaire."
"He wants to reopen it?"
"Yes. I told him that it would take years to renovate it, but he said that he has some very quick people. So maybe the Opera Populaire will reopen next year."
"Next year? So soon?" Meg blurted out and than sipped on her glass of water. "I mean we have to find new singers and dancers."
"Perhaps Christine Daae will sing?" Reyer asked.
Meg grew sad and angry and told Monsieur Reyer "Christine's gone and Raoul too. Maybe they won't come back."
"It's a pity, because she was a really good singer. Better than La Carlotta!"
"Everyone is better than la Carlotta" Meg exclaimed and ignored her mothers glance.
"As for the dancers, mademoiselle Sorelli will be thrilled to come back."
Meg sighed. She had been full of hope that they wouldn't get back la Sorelli as prima ballerina, once the Opera Populaire opened its doors again. She had wished for herself to be prima ballerina, but as always her wishes wouldn't be fulfilled.
"Meg dear, where are you?" She heard her mother ask.
"Sorry Maman! I was just day-dreaming."
"You're a little pale Mademoiselle. Maybe you should take a little walk" Reyer stated, in hope Meg would leave him and Madame Giry alone. Just to discuss all what was needed.
"Meg maybe you should go home and rest a little." Her mother gave her the keys for the apartment and Meg sighed. Then she nodded and walked away.
The first thing she did at home was to look into the mirror. Pale? Monsieur Reyer needed better glasses, because her cheeks were more red than white. With a sigh she sat down on the old sofa where her mother slept. It was really uncomfortable and Meg wondered how her mother could sleep on this. "I told her she could sleep in the bed." Meg thought and she told herself that her mother wouldn't sleep one more night on this sofa. She would take care of that. Suddenly she heard someone step into the apartment. "Maman you're back this fast?" Meg stood up and went into the little kitchen were she assumed that her mother would be. She gasped in shock as she saw Erik standing in the middle of the room. "Monsieur what are you doing in my apartment?" She wanted to know, after the biggest shock had gone.
"First little Giry: This is not YOUR apartment! It's your mother's. Second: She invited me to eat with you."
"You actually go out during the day? I thought you are a person who prefers the dark."
"I have many faces little Giry. I am not afraid of the day or the light if you want to say so. I just don't like it when people stare at me, because of my face." He explained her calmly and removed his cloak. He really was very handsome in this black attire that he wore.
"What's with your face? I have never seen it, you always wear a mask. But what I have already seen you look really handsome."
"You wouldn't think that, when you would've seen my whole face." His hand wandered to his face and fell down again. "Christine told me she hated me. Am I really a monster Meg? Am I?" His eyes held a pleading look and he seemed really desperate.
Christine how could you've hurt him so much? Meg thought.
"Meg, tell me, am I a monster? I killed many people, but does that make me something less than a human being?" He laid his hands on her shoulders and shook her lightly.
"Erik! Stop it!" she ordered. He let go of her and stared into her blue eyes. "I am sorry!" He mumbled. "I scared you, didn't I?"
She shook her head and answered "You didn't scare me."
"You're just like your mother you know." He smiled down at her and like in his dream he recognized how small she was.
"Many people told me, but I prefer to be unique."
"O you are unique little Meg Giry." She blushed slightly and his smile grew even wider. This girl could really make him smile, she was too cute. Although she grew up at the opera dormitories with the other ballet dancers, who weren't as innocent as they seemed, she seemed to have kept this innocence. His mind drifted away and he thought of Christine. Christine had been innocent too, her big brown eyes so naïve and so perfect. Meg was even more innocent than Christine it seemed.
"Monsieur you're thinking of her again, aren't you?" Somehow Meg was a little hurt that he thought of Christine when he was with her.
"I can't help it Little Meg. When you're in love you will understand!" He told her wisely.
"How would you know if I hadn't been in love before?" She asked him.
He took her chin in his hand and looked straight into her eyes. "You've got this look in your blue eyes. This look full of innocence, if you would've been in love you would have another look in your eyes. Maybe you'd be hurt, for he has not returned this love." Her blue eyes dove in his and she thought her heart would stop. There was so much loneliness and longing in them and she just wanted to hold him and make the pain go away. Meg wanted to heal the damage Christine had done. It was a new feeling for the dancer to want to hold a stranger, a male person she didn't even knew. His hand wandered to her cheeks and he caressed it. He had such a soft touch, how could anyone be frightened of this man? She couldn't understand it, he seemed so passionate. She reached out her hand and laid it onto his cheek. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the touch of her long fingers. "Christine" he mumbled and Meg drew back in shock, she felt an electricity jolt jerk threw her body. Nervously she ran her fingers threw her blonde hair and took a few steps back. He opened his eyes when he didn't feel her fingers on his flesh anymore. "Meg?"
Her breath was faster than normal and she seemed a little upset. "I am not Christine!" she told him angrily.
A little confused Erik stared at the little dancer. "What did I do?"
She took a few steps away again. "You called me Christine! I am not Christine damn you. I am Meg, Meg Giry!" She shouted. She didn't know herself why she was that angry. It was just a name, the name of the woman that meant the world to Erik. Both remained silent as Madame Giry came home and filled the kitchen with her presence.
"Ah Erik, I am so glad that you followed my invitation." She smiled warmly at the man and then glanced at her daughter. "Aren't you feeling well Meg?"
"I am okay Maman! I have just a little headache."
"Perhaps you should lie down a while?" Erik offered and smiled at her.
"I'll just drink some water and eat something, I don't have to lie down and rest." She got herself a glass of water and sat down on a chair. It was silent for a few moments, while her mother was preparing lunch and Erik was standing at the window, glancing out on the street. "Did you finish repairing the organ?"
He turned around and faced Meg as he answered "Almost. There are just some details to repair anymore. Maybe I can finish it until the end of this week."
"Meg please set the table!" Meg sighed and did what her mother told her to do.
After lunch Madame Giry and Erik sat in the little living room and talked about something. Meg was in the only bed room and did some ballet movements, because she wouldn't want to be out of training. She hadn't danced since Don Juan Triumphant and now she felt her muscles ache and cursed herself for not training the last days.
"Erik maybe you can help? Maybe the Comte de Cogne will hire you as an architect?"
"You know that I am more a musician than an architect."
Marie Giry grabbed Erik's hand and squeezed it ever so lightly. "You are a genius Erik. You can do everything."
Erik shook his hand and said "I couldn't make her love me." The older Giry brought Erik's hand to his heart and asked "Does it hurt in there?"
He nodded and stood up. "I have to go. Maybe you and your daughter will please me sometime with your presence?"
"If you appreciate it."
Erik bowed and kissed the woman's hand. "A bientôt Marie!" Moments later he was gone and Marie was alone with her daughter again.
