LlamaDuck- why thank you!
Koizak- mmm Jesse as phantom makes me happy!
Awiz! Hey babe! Here is your cookie! AH! Isn't Kyle amazing? Why can't the guys we know be like that?
Nikki007- Oh no! Not drastic measures:hides in fear and writes just for you:
Jesse's Querida- Yes! My story is excellent! Cliffhangers are fun and evil! Hehe
Madmaddy- I am so happy you loved it and of course I will update more!
AnneTrinityRGJM- CAPS ARE COOL, THOUGH! Heh, sorry. Yes, killing Paul would solve a lot of things…
ChandraSinger- I know I really want a masquerade dance so bad! My story does not rock…YOU rock!
Moovalous3- the voice is…well…read on my dear and you shall see. Yeah, I think we all flirt without realizing it.
AtiKTimporta- Am I really that transparent that my story plot is so obvious? GAH! I guess I will have to throw in some shockers then…
Moonmade- thank you
Me'shell is back- thanks mate. Famous, eh? How interesting…
YAY! You all get cookies! Hey, I have realized something. Come May 31st I will have been working on this for two years. So here is my plan: to be done by then. I mean come on, this thing may be my first ever, long story (it is, before this I never wrote anything like it before) and it's my baby but two years is more than enough time. So. This story will be coming to an end ASAP. Maybe, I will more fan fiction, maybe not. You tell me…should I?
Chapter 22
Saturday and Sunday are both sort of a blur to me. Adam, CeeCee, Jesse and I were all so busy getting ready for the masquerade Monday night that it is seriously hard to tell one day from the other. We all took a trip to Aunt Pru's house to pick up CeeCee's costume and also so she could finalize mine. CeeCee had told her approximately my dress size and now she only has to tailor it to my body.
Let me tell you, I was quite scared at the fact Jesse came along with us to Pru's house. I knew that couldn't be good since, hello, he used to be a ghost. That would have to set off some whacked up signals in that woman's head. I couldn't, though, forbid him to go. Adam had gotten Jesse quite excited about meeting her, so I couldn't make up some excuse why he shouldn't come with us.
We pulled into Pru's house around 11:45 Saturday morning. She had told CeeCee that we should get there early and have lunch with her as she worked on my dress.
"Heeeello, my darlings! Welcome, welcome, I had sensed you were here!" Aunt Pru shouted to us from her open door as soon as we parked the car.
CeeCee rolled her eyes and muttered, "Yeah because we told you we would be here…" Jesse and Adam snickered and CeeCee said louder, "Why hey there Auntie. Thank you so much for all your help!"
I flashed a bright smile at Pru and said, "Yeah, really, thank you, thank you for making these dresses!"
Pru laughed lightly and said, "Oh, it was nothing, nothing at all, my dears." She noticed Jesse and said, "Oh! Cee, I have not met this handsome friend of yours yet! Dear, you must let me read his palms or his cards sometime today! I feel a great aura around him. Very strong spiritual energy radiating from him!"
Yes, perhaps because he WAS a spirit... shit, this is not good at all. I told you this would happen! I glanced at Jesse right when he shot me a nervous look and cleared his throat. "Uh, I am Jesse DeSilva. Nice to meet you, ma'am."
Pru's violet eyes were glowing with excitement as she shook Jesse's drastically tan hand compared to her albino white hand. "Jesse…" she cooed. "Yes, yes you must let me read his cards…"
CeeCee cleared her throat and said, "Auntie? Shall we head in and start on Suze's dress now?"
Pru snapped out of whatever type of trance the sight of Jesse had put her in with an, "Oh!" and we were ushered into her house. "Sit, sit, my dears. Would any of you like something to drink? Lemonade?"
"I will get it," I offered. I mean, hey, the woman is making me a dress. The least I can do is pour a drink or two.
"no, no, you need to stay with me, Suze, so I can measure you for your beautiful ball gown! I worked on this all throughout the night. You see, I don't need much sleep. The spirits help keep me awake and energized. There was one that was especially helpful last night. He actually knew a lot about the fashions of the late 1800s. He helped me design your dress, Susie!"
Ok, first off, no one but my mom can call me Susie. But again, she is making me a dress…one that is designed by a spirit? What? My eyes met with Jesse's who had a raised eyebrow. He was the only ghost I knew from the 1800s…
CeeCee sighed, obviously trying to fight back an urge to make some sort of comment. She is slowly becoming more believing towards spirits since I told her about being a mediator, but she still finds her aunt hard to believe. She left the room with Adam to pour drinks for us, even though Adam really wanted to hear more about Pru's latest spirit.
"Oh? A spirit is helping you with my dress? I feel so honored." The sarcasm was apparently evident to Jesse because he frowned at me slightly. I felt guilty then, I mean, I was dating a ghost before so why shouldn't one be interested in making a dress? "What is his name? Do you know?"
"Yes I do know!" Aunt Pru said obviously excited that I was taking interest in her spirits. "His name was Erik! He told me he was alive back in the mid to late 1800s and was around a lot of fancy dressed people because of attending the opera a lot."
My eyes went huge and I started choking on air…or my spit…either way it was not attractive at all. "Erik?" I sputtered out. "Erik…who likes the Opera…oh my GAWD!"
"Yes, Erik…why all the excitement, dear?" Aunt Pru asked me almost concerned sounding.
Even though a sense of fear had crept over my body, I couldn't keep back the smile as I whispered, "Erik…"
Jesse frowned and said, "Is there a need for me to be jealous of this Erik dude?"
I fought back laughter there. Ok, Jesse has been hanging with Kyle too much. He just said, "dude." "No, no. No need to be jealous…just a freaky coincidence probably." I know most of you probably have no idea what I am getting at, but if you remember, Phantom, who Jesse is going to be dressing up as is named Erik.
"I don't get it. What do you mean?" Jesse asked in his sexy confused voice.
"She is talking about the man you are pretending to be on Monday, Jesse." CeeCee said coming back into the room with a tray of drinks in her hands.
"Phantom?" Adam asked.
"Erik." Cee and I said at the same time.
Pru squealed with delight at this freaky situation. "My dears! Do you know what is going on here? A spiritual phenomenon!"
"A whatawhat what?" Adam asked while sitting on the couch.
"Spiritual Phenomenon! The spirit of that you are playing is coming down to guide us in our ways so he and all others are represented correctly! Suze, you are going to be Christine, correct?"
"Yes…" I said, not seeing where this was going for once.
"Well, Erik was in love with Christine, was he not?"
"Yeah, he was." I replied. "So…?"
"So. He obviously came down to make sure that his beloved is correctly portrayed."
For some reason I seriously doubted this all. I mean, come on…the phantom of the opera is fiction. Erik is not real…is he? No wonder CeeCee never believes a word this woman says!
Our silence broke when CeeCee said, "Auntie, do you want Adam and I to make lunch while you work with Suze on the dress?" She obviously was uncomfortable with this newfound situation.
"Yes, that would be just lovely." Her aunt replied already reaching for the dress and handing it to me. "Suze, go and put this on so I can see what needs changing."
"Whoa." I breathed. Man, who ever this Erik guy was he sure knows how to make a dress beautiful. It was a rose pink and wow, how to even describe it. It was an off the shoulder scoop neck line lined with lace and little pink roses. The waist was small and the skirt poofed out to a very full bottom. I can finally see why these women wore hoop skirts and petticoats. All together it made the dress gorgeous. I looked up smiling at Jesse whose eyes were shining with excitement. I think the thought of me in clothes from his era made him extremely happy.
"I have never seen a gown as beautiful as that…my sisters would have loved it…"Jesse muttered to me. I smiled again and left the room to try it on.
Ok…tried to try it on. "Aunt Pru!" I called out. "I am so lost! How do you put this on!"
I heard Jesse chuckle and Pru said, "Un-hook all the hooks on the back of the dress."
"Hooks? Why not a zipper?" I asked. "This is going to take forever!"
"Well dear, with the hooks it gives it more of an authentic feeling…that is what Erik told me to do. It is not wise to upset spirits."
"Believe me I know…" I muttered under my breath. I sighed and started my long journey of putting on the dress.
"Oh wait! You need the corset first!" Aunt Pru called to me.
Nuh-uh. I have to wear a corset? What have I gotten myself into? She walked into the room and handed me the corset. "You see, this makes the dress fit a lot better plus you won't have to wear a strapless bra!"
"Joy. I am giving up breathing but no strapless bra!"
"Here, let me help you…I know how this all works."
Twenty minutes later the dress was finally on me, all the hooks hooked and the corset tied and petticoats in place. I entered the living room area with Pru again and the tailoring finally began.
"Well, not much really needs to be done. I need to hem it still because I was not sure how tall you are, but it looks like it fits you perfectly. Erik helped me with that part."
I frowned and said, "You mean CeeCee. CeeCee told me she told you my dress size and all."
"Well yes, but Erik told me the exact measurements. I did not ask him how he knew but like I said, it is better to do what spirits say."
A look of confusion washed onto Jesse's face as Pru talked about Erik. I think a mirrored look was on my face as well as I said, "How did Erik know my size? I never saw a ghost measure me…"
Pru grinned then and said, "Oh my dear, you must not understand ghosts then. You normally don't see nor feel them so he could have easily measured you without you knowing."
Jesse burst out laughing then. Like, I mean, completely and totally cracking up. I think the fact I, of all people, was being told I can't touch ghosts…um hello Jesse and I "touched" quite a lot when he was still a ghost. I shot him an embarrassed look and said, "Don't mind him, he finds the silliest things to be funny sometimes…"
We finished up the tailoring and ate our lunches and finally left. It was, to say the least, an interesting trip. Who is this Erik? And why was he finding it so important to make my dress?
Later that evening after getting Jesse and Adam's costumes together from thrift shops and a costume store for the Phantom's mask, I sat in my room alone. A smile played at my lips as I thought about the possibility of having my very own phantom. Wait…wasn't Jesse kind of like my own Phantom before, except he was a real ghost? I mean he cared for me and was always, well almost always in my room or where ever when I needed him. Still, though, Erik…
"Erik…who are you and what do you want with me?" I whispered to my empty room.
A voice seemed to whisper almost silently, "I want you…"
Monday---
Monday finally came! I slept in till about 11:00, awaking with sheer happiness within me. Today is the day for the Masked Ball! I sat up in my bed and stretched. Silently to myself I started to think about all I had to do before Jesse came to pick me up at 7:00 PM. Take a shower, dry my hair, do my hair, put on the horrid corset and petty coats and the beautiful dress. My dress…my eyes moved across the room to where my dress was hanging on the wall. I almost burst out giggling giddily at the thought of wearing it and dancing with Jesse.
By the time I was finished showering and dressing in my normal clothes it was about 12:30, and I needed some food. I walked down to the kitchen to find that David was eating also. "Hey Doc, how's it going?"
He smiled at me, his sandwich sticking to his braces, and saying, "Good afternoon, Suze! Are you excited about the Masquerade tonight?"
I grinned widely and replied, "Oh man, more than you know. I am mega excited. I wish I could speed up time so I could get ready now…" As soon as the words slipped out of my mouth I remembered, I CAN control time. Heh, interesting. I might have to do this…
I made some lunch and carried my plate up to my room and called Jesse at the rectory. "Hello?" I heard his sexy voice answer when he picked up the phone.
"Can I speed up time so I can get ready for the dance now? I really want to wear my dress and see you in your Phantom clothes!" I groaned in mock frustration saying, "I can't wait any longer!"
Jesse chuckled softly into the phone and said, "Queirda, it is only a little after 1:00…you have some time to wait."
"But I CAN speed up time, remember?" I whined back at him.
There was a short pause and then he said reluctantly, "Yes, you can, I know, but I do not think it is very wise to be messing with time. You never know what the effects might be."
Sigh. Why must he be so logical? "Fine, you are right…it will probably take me 5 hours to put the damn corset on anyway. I mean, god, how did your sisters survive these things? They are HELL! I hope I will be able to move freely and dance and, you know, breathe."
Now Jesse was really laughing, and I was sure if he was talking to me in person, his eyes would be sparkling. "I personally think your figure is perfect without one, but if the dress was made for it, then I guess you need it. And Susannah, you will not be able to put the corset on by yourself. Ask your mother for help."
I snorted at that, attractive, I know. "Ha, yes, because my mother is an expert at corset tying, no!"
"Good point, but it would be better than you trying to tie it yourself. Just ask her!"
"I will. Jesse, I cannot wait to see you in your phantom mask since you would not let me see you wear it before!"
I could almost hear his eyes roll at that. "I will look idiotic, Susannah."
"NO! No you will not! If it were humanly possible for you to get hotter, the mask would just increase your level of hotness."
"Oh really?" Jesse asked in his deep silky voice. "You think I am hot?"
"No shit Sherlock! Just look at yourself! You are…muy guapo." I giggled at my random Spanish phrase. I am sure its as weird for him to hear my say that as it is weird for me to hear him say stuff like "dude."
"Ah, si, si, I am muy guapo, aren't I?" Jesse said jokingly.
"You speak the truth, babe!" I said grinning and laughing.
Suddenly a huge gust of wind blew in through my windows, even though they were closed. I shivered yet suddenly felt completely at peace. A happy sigh exited through my lips.
"Susannah?" Jesse asked hearing my sigh. "Anything wrong?"
"No," I said walking towards my dress, "Everything is perfect…um…I have to go though."
"Oh…" Jesse seemed disappointed in my sudden announcement that I was leaving. "Well, I will see you at 7. I love you, Queirda"
"I love you too," I half whispered still staring at the dress. "See you tonight…bye." I clicked off before he could reply and the phone fell from my fingers to my bedroom floor.
Why? Why did I say goodbye so suddenly? Because my dress was glowing.
"What the hell…?" I muttered out loud.
"I heard you speaking poorly of the fashions I have created for you, my dear. Would you rather have found your own dress, most likely it being far less beautiful than the creation I have made for you? Is this how you are going to treat your beloved Erik?" A booming, yet almost sad sounding voice called out from…what seemed like my dress.
"E…Erik?" I stammered out. Oh god, what the hell is going on? Why is "Erik", who isn't even suppose to be real, talking to me through a dress he…made for me?
"Yes, it is poor Erik. You have hurt my feelings my child, in your dislike for the dress."
"NO!" I almost shouted at him…no…to the dress…to…the voice. That voice…its so beautiful….no, Suze, it is just a dress, you are just…just…hearing the voice of the phantom of the opera. Oh god.
"No need to shout," he said calmly to me.
"No," I repeated softer this time. "I love the dress, it is most beautiful, and I thank you for making it for me…I was only…well…the corset. I kind of like to breathe, you see?"
He laughed at this. "Yes, breathing is good, but let me assure you that with the corset you will look even more beautiful than you already do. You will shin brighter than any star. Do not worry, it will be fine."
"But…but how do I put it on by myself?"
"Yourself? No, no, dear. You cannot put on a corset by yourself. You must have someone else tie it for you. Like your mother."
"My mother? That is a good idea…" I said back to him. Wait, didn't Jesse suggest asking my mom too and I said it was stupid because she wouldn't know how to tie it? Then why am I suddenly thinking it's a wonderful idea?
He and I kept talking about the dress and dance and, well basically my life in general for a little bit longer. Well, I thought it was only a little bit, until I looked at the clock and saw that it read 4:30. Shit! How the crap did that happen? I didn't move time ahead without knowing did I?
"Erik!" I called out desperately in a panic.
"I am here, calm yourself." He said soothingly.
"We have been talking too long! I will never be able to get my hair done and dressed and completely ready by the time I have to go." I already started towards my vanity to start on my hair.
"You will be fine. Everything will be perfect, I guarantee it. You will be beautiful. Just wear your hair down and curly and put these in it…" Suddenly, sitting on my vanity, were tons of little hair clips to put in my hair. They looked like little pink flowers and matched my dress perfectly.
"Oh, they are wonderful…" I breathed out in shock.
"As are you, my dear, as are you…now I must go so you can ready yourself for tonight. I shall be there, and you shall be my Christine!" With that the room was silent.
At exactly 7:00 my doorbell rang and I yelled, "Mom! Andy! Get the door! I am putting on my shoes!" I then stood up and looked at myself in the mirror. I had done my hair as Erik told me to and it looked amazing. I had gotten my mom to tie my corset, and she actually was not that bad at it. I looked thinner and bustier than I ever had, and I still was able to breathe for the most part! The dress fit absolutely perfectly and I just smiled at my reflection.
"Erik will be so thrilled" I thought to myself. No, that's wrong…I should be thinking JESSE will be thrilled…
"SUZE!" My mom shouted from the stairs, "Come down here! We want pictures with you and…Erik!" she started giggling at that.
I on the other hand did not. I suddenly could not breathe as I remembered Erik's departing words to me… I shall be there, and you shall be my Christine. "No," I thought to myself, "You are being stupid Suze. It is just Jesse. Beautiful Jesse whom you love…
I took a deep breath and walked down the stairs into the living room where Mom, Andy, and Jesse were. My mouth opened when I saw Jesse, at the same time that the three of their mouths opened too at the sight of me.
"Wow…" Jesse said looking me over with sheer admiration. "You are…beautiful, Querida."
I blushed and gave him a hug and said, "Thank you…my Phantom. You look very dashing. I told you, you would look good in the mask!" And he did, oh believe me, did Jesse look good! He was wearing tight black pants and a billowy shirt very much like he used to wear all the time, except now the shirt was also black and he had a black cape that flowed when he moved. He of course had on the white mask on his face. He looked, in a word, divine.
"Pictures!" my mom called out. "I need lots of pictures! You both look wonderful! Suzie, you look so beautiful! You must call Pru and thank her again and again for the dress later! How did she come up with the design?"
'She didn't, Erik did…' I thought to myself. I smiled at my mom and said, "I will. Hurry with the pictures though, we need to meet up with CeeCee and Adam at the dance!"
Our picture was taken about 20 million times and finally we were allowed to go. We were finally on our way to our very first dance together…
TBC!
I PROMISE I will update soon! I only have 17 or so days until my May 31st dead line.
As always, to everyone who is reading this and who REVIEWS thank you, I love you.