Wow three reviews ... I am so happy! ...

Rachie: Thanks for the review. Meg and Erik won't get together so soon, sorry.

Rue Marie: I am happy that you liked it. First I wanted to take Christine or Raoul as an enemy, but I think Carlotte has more reason for hating Erik.

sbkar: Thank you for the review!


Chapter 4

Her mother was as thrilled as Meg herself was. "I am so proud of you!" Madame Giry exclaimed and hugged her daughter. Now the stage had a new Giry who was to enchant the audience.

"I know it's not the Opera Populaire, but it's well visited and the money will be enough for both of us." Meg led her mother to a chair and let her sit down.

"Your father would've been proud too." Seconds after these spoken words the two women heard a knock on their apartment door. "That would be Erik. I invited him for dinner."

"You are inviting him very often Maman."

"Do I hear some criticism in your voice my dear?"

"No Maman, but I am asking myself why you are inviting Erik for dinner." While she spoke those words, Erik knocked again.

"I do not want him alone in his cellars. I am afraid that he will hurt himself." Madame Giry got up and opened Erik the door. "Good evening Erik" she greeted him and let him in.

"Good evening. Good evening Meg"

"Erik" she greeted coldly. She had not forgotten what had happened last time they had met. He had called her Christine, and it had hurt her.

"The dinner will be ready in half an hour. Why don't you tell Erik the great news?" Marie tasted the soup and watched Meg and Erik sit down.

"What news?" Erik wanted to know.

"I am prima ballerina" she told him and stood up the set the table.

"That's great." The man smiled at Meg, but she ignored him. He wondered why and he just wanted to ask her, but then it crossed his mind that she would only ignore him. Therefore, he just sat there and observed her. She was dressed in a simple white dress and she looked so cute in it. Her blonde hair was down and that made her look like an angel.

Of course, she noticed that he was watching her and she really tried not to blush, but her cheeks turned a light shade of red. She turned around and took three glasses out of the cupboard. "You want to drink some wine Maman?" Her mother nodded and turned to Erik "You too?"

"Yes please. Can I help you with something?"

"No, but thank you" the older Giry said and took a nip from her glass.

"Why are you drinking water?" Erik asked the younger Giry.

She raised one of her eyebrows and answered sternly "I am sixteen and I don't like alcohol, especially wine."

"It's a pity, because the wine is really good" Erik stated after he had tasted the drink.

"Tell me, did Christine like wine?" It had just been a thought in her mind, but somehow her mouth had opened and she had said the whole question. She saw how he grimaced and stumbled a few steps back.

"Meg!" her mother exclaimed and stood beside the dancer. "You shouldn't have …"

Erik silenced the older woman with a snarl. "Be quiet Marie. And you should not say things you don't understand little Giry" And she was little Giry again.

She ducked her head a little. "I didn't want to … I am sorry."

Erik stood up and said "We will eat together another time Marie. I better go now, before something happens neither of us really wants to." He opened the door and went away.

Meg looked at her mother, but then something caught her eye. He had forgotten his cloak. "He has forgotten something. I better bring him his cloak, before he catches a cold." With that, Meg followed Erik and let her mother alone.

"Erik, Erik please wait a moment!" She shouted after him and was relieved as he stopped and turned around.

"What little Giry? You're coming after me to remind me of Christine?"

"No, I just wanted to give you your cloak and I wanted to say sorry again. I am really sorry, it had been just a thought, but then suddenly it plopped out."

"You should watch your tongue little Giry."

"I told you once that I am not little anymore."

"I remember and I once told you that you are not allowed to tell her name when I am near." He took his cloak and wanted to go, but Meg grabbed his hand and held him back.

"Why are you so scared?" He turned around again and she saw his sad eyes. "You know that Maman and I wouldn't mind if you would take your mask off as long as you're with us."

"You don't want to see my face little Giry, I know." His hands lay on her shoulders and he began to tell her, what he had told Christine too "This face which earned a mother's fear and loathing … A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing … you see I can't take it off. It would just scare you little Meg."

"No! I am not easy to scare. Erik we could be friends, but that means that you have to tell me and show me something about you."

"Why do you want to make friends with a monster? You are really weird."

"Oh thank you. This was my first compliment from a man" she said sarcastically. He stayed quiet and so she reached up to his mask. While biting her lip, she wanted to take it off, but grabbed hold of her hands and said, "Don't do this, please."

"I want to be your friend Erik. Please let me be your friend." She looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Not today little Meg. Go home little one and tell your mother that I will visit you two tomorrow evening."

"You are not angry anymore?" Meg asked him. She looked at his face and saw forgiveness in his eyes. Little did she know that no person had seen this before.

"Tell me one man who can be angry with you, longer than three minutes" he requested. He smiled as he saw her blush and look away. "Good night Mademoiselle Giry" Erik bowed, kissed her hand and walked away.

At home, Erik sat down at the organ and thought about earlier. He had been very angry with the young Giry girl, but then she had brought him his cloak and she had gazed at him with these big blue eyes, searching his face for something. What did she look for? Did she look for kindness? He shook his head, this young woman was so complicated. First, she made him angry and then she apologised and wanted to make friends. Yes, she was a very complicated little thing. His mind drifted to Christine. Why did he always have to thing about this young soprano who left him? She was there beside him from morning to night she was always there. He shook his head again and shoved the thoughts about Christine away. Erik sighed, stood up and went into his bedroom. Maybe he would not dream of Christine tonight, maybe he would find his deserved sleep tonight.