Author Alert: Hugs and kisses to all of my amazing reviewers! I luff you guys.
This chapter is dedicated to Amey, with much luff. Thanks so much for all of your witty support::Does the clone dance:
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Inside the back room that served as a dressing room, I changed out of my skirt and into my black leather pants. The pants had been one of my only major splurges. It had taken months of careful saving in order to buy them, but it was well worth it.
As I was brushing my hair one final time before I went to my Angel, there was a knock on the door. I walked over, still brushing my hair, and opened the door, expecting it to be Meg, or perhaps the new managers. It was Robert.
I was both delighted and slightly irked to see him. Irked because I was itching to see what my Angel thought of my performance. Delighted because I hadn't seen Robert in so long, and now he was here.
Delight won me over, and I flung my arms around his neck in a spontaneous hug. "Robert!" I cried.
Upon drawing back, I saw a strange look in his eye. Was I too forward? Was this even Robert?
My second question was answered after a moment of silence.
"Christine! How good it is to see you again. It's been, what, seven years?" Robert smiled at me, fondly. Maybe I had just imagined that look in his eyes. But my Angel was expecting me at home, and I couldn't keep him waiting.
"It's been too long, Robert. Come by my apartment sometime and we can talk. Right now I need to go before Joe makes his way over." It was true enough. Joe Buquet, one of our frequent customers, seemed to take delight in sexually harassing myself and Meg. It wasn't terrible, but I didn't exactly fancy a delay in getting home tonight.
Robert looked a bit disappointed, but after I gave him a kiss on the cheek and my address, he spoke again. "I'll come by sometime."
I gave him a quick smile and practically flew out the door.
Normally not having a car didn't bother me. It was only a fifteen minute walk to my apartment building, and I had a gun I kept in my purse, just in case. I wasn't about to walk around at night, alone, and not have some sort of a weapon. It would be about the dumbest thing I could do.
The walk to my apartment seemed to stretch on for countless hours. But finally the dingy apartment building came into view. This was the part of the walk where I was the most alert. Due to my limited budget, the place in which I lived was in a part of town that wasn't exactly know for it's trustworthy and upright citizens. I nervously fondled my gun as I went up to the second floor. I got a couple of cat-calls, but nothing seriously threatening.
I unlocked my door, mind buzzing with excitement. Entering my dark apartment, I scrambled to light a couple candles. With the dim light, I looked over my apartment, wondering what my Angel saw.
I saw a grungy apartment with dirt forever ground into the cracks in the floorboards. Candles lined the walls, and were situated on almost all of the sparse furniture. There were light fixtures, but they were seldom used, to conserve electricity. I looked at the floor. I hadn't gotten around to cleaning it, as I had meant. I wondered what my Angel thought.
I stood there for a minute, wondering where my Angel was. I then heard a voice, the voice I had learned to love and fear over the past five years.
Insolent boy
The slave of fashion
Basking in your glory
Ignorant fool
This brave young suitor
Sharing in my triumph!
My Angel's words were slow and deliberate, and I immediately knew what he was angry about. When I turned eighteen, he had forbidden me to marry; as then he would no longer be able to give me lessons. I had vowed never to have a boyfriend, as I didn't want to get attached to someone whom I could not marry. He must have seen me give Robert the kiss on the cheek.
I spoke, my eyes cast down so as to show proper respect. "Angel, He's an old friend. Nothing more. I'm not going to go and marry all of the old friends that show up at my performances. I gave my soul for you tonight, and only you."
There was a silence. "Forgive me, Christine. I spoke too hastily. I am not here to criticize, but to share in your great triumph!"
I smiled widely. "I did it only to please you, my Angel."
"And please me you did. The Angels wept because of the beauty of your song."
I was touched more sincerely than I had ever been before. "Angel, it is only because of your teachings that I am anywhere near where I am today. I am first and foremost your student."
But one small question was still troubling me, so I unthinkingly asked it. "Angel, you rarely come to my apartment to teach me. Why tonight?"
There was a brief silence, but long enough for me to regret asking the question.
"Christine, do you trust me?" I didn't even pause for an instant before answering.
"Yes, my Angel. I trust you with my life." There was another pause, as if my Angel was hesitating.
"Walk to your mirror, Christine." I did so, slightly puzzled.
"Do you wish to come to me?"
I was going to see my Angel? Father always said that the Angel of Music had no physical form, but his knowledge came from legends, and legends are often wrong. To see my Angel would be amazing.
"Angel, it would be an honor."
In the back of my mind, I heard Robert's voice, but I couldn't process what the words were.
Suddenly I was spinning, and there were a hundred of me; I couldn't tell which of me was real and which the product of the mirror; perhaps none of us were real— only the voice of my Angel was real, telling me things I could not hear.
I stopped spinning, and I was real again. But I was not in my apartment.
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Review Replies:
Monj: I'm glad to know I made you smile! I live to serve.
MetalMyersJason: thank you for reviewing! In my head Erik always has MC's voice, but I wanted to give tribute in my phic.
Dern: Noo! You can't leave me! clings tearfully You're not allowed to!
Harem98: I thought it was kinda cool as well. I didn't want to just have solid blocks of words, so there you go!
Ahomelesspirate: Thank you for reviewing! I always love your reviews.