I stayed awake all night, just dreaming. Dreaming about Erik. We had both shared our first kiss, and that was all I could think about. After that kiss we shared another, and another, and another.

Luckily he got the glass out of my foot because that really started to hurt. Anyways, my foot is wrapped in a bandage at the moment because it wouldn't stop bleeding when Erik took the glass out.

Besides from that, Erik told me that his mother never even gave him a kiss. I knew this from Phantom, but it was interesting to hear it from the real Erik. He started to sob and he buried his head in my skirts. I kissed his head and his forehead, and then he seemed to lighten up.

After that we just talked. I told him all about me (even though he already seemed to know everything) and he told me about himself. It was so interesting to hear what Erik had to say. Some of the things Susan Kay didn't mention in her book, and some were false. But at the moment I didn't care.

Erik carried me to bed after we talked. I had yawned when I was talking and he demanded I get some sleep. After all, we had an Opera to go see the next day, and he didn't want me tired. So ever since he carried me in here I have been awake, thinking about him.

Come to think of it, I am getting tired now. I think I'll sleep. Goodnight.

x x x x x

I woke up to a kiss on my forehead. My eyes opened, and there was Erik, leaning over me and smiling.

I smiled. "Good morning, Erik."

"Good morning, my love."

Erik bent towards me and we shared a passionate kiss. Sometimes I wonder if everything was happening too fast. But it couldn't be. Erik took me in June, and now it was November. Only 5 months, it couldn't of been that long already? Wow.

I was still very sleepy. I didn't want to get up. After all, I probably fell asleep around midnight.

I plopped my head back down on my pillows and closed my eyes. I mumbled, "Erik, I'm tired. I'm gonna sleep in."

Erik didn't reply. He answered me with a wet kiss on my cheek and went away, closing the door behind him.

I slept in for a few more hours. When I woke up, I had a nice breakfast with Erik and we discussed the Opera we were to see tonight.

"Have you seen Hannibal before?" I asked him.

"Yes, many times." Erik replied.

"Did you like it?"

"Of course. It is a splendid piece of work."

I smiled. Before I could open my mouth to ask another question, Erik said abruptly:

"Oh dear! We're running out of food! I'll have to go to the market today - "

"Erik, don't trouble yourself!" I told him. "I could do the shopping, how about that? I'll give you a break."

"Oh Christine," he sighed. "I couldn't let you do that. I wouldn't want you to - "

"It's no trouble!" I assured him. I jumped up from my seat and said, "What will you need?"

Erik kept telling me how he didn't want me to go, but I just told him that it wasn't a problem. After a few minutes of arguing if I would go or not, Erik finally told me what he needed. He wrote everything down for me on a small piece of paper which I stuffed into my coat pocket that Erik bought for me.

After we went across the lake, I hopped out of the boat merrily and Erik told me,

"Be careful out there! I don't want you freezing to death. Is that coat warm? Should I get you a new one? Maybe - "

"Erik!" I giggled. "I'm fine, really! I won't turn into an ice cube. I'll be back soon."

Erik told me once more that I didn't have to go, but I brushed the comment away and kissed his cheek before I left.

Erik gave me proper instructions on how to get out of the catacombs and into town, so I followed them carefully. A few times I got lost, but luckily I was able to steer back on track again. It took me at least fifteen minutes to get out of there.

When I was finally in town, Erik told me the name of the bakery he always went to. Pierre's Bakery. I looked around for it. I finally spotted it some distance away and started to walk there happily.

I said Good morning to everyone I passed. Strangely, I was in a fantastic mood that day. I didn't know why, either. I just felt...extremely happy.

When I found Pierre's Bakery, I walked in and said good morning to everyone inside. Some smiled at me and said Good day back, but others were in a bad mood and only stared at me and wondered if I was crazy. I just ignored them.

"Good day, sir!" I said to the man behind the desk.

The man behind the desk smiled at me and replied, "Good day, madame. What can I get you today?"

I told him the list of breads and rolls Erik wanted. He smiled at me and told me politely to sit down and wait for them. I sat down in a chair in the corner of the bakery and hummed to myself a happy tune. But I stopped abruptly when a man I knew walked inside.

Raoul.

I gulped and turned my head away. I looked out the large window and started to hum to myself again, trying to act as if I had never seen him. But unfortunatley, he saw me.

"Christine! Is that you?"

I pretended I couldn't hear him. I kept humming. Please go away.

This time I couldn't ignore him. He put his hand on my arm and I automatically turned my head to look at him. His face was so kind, so handsome. It was times like these when I really missed Raoul. I couldn't help but smile, faintly.

"Hello," I told him. "What are you doing here?"

"Picking up some bread," he smiled. "And may I ask what you are doing here?"

"The same."

Raoul smiled at me and pulled up a chair. He sat down next to me and I couldn't help but shiver.

"Christine, I need to talk to you," he said, his tone becoming more serious. "It was about this kiss."

I blushed. I turned to him and said, "Raoul, I'm terribly sorry. It just happened! I'm - "

He put his hand on my shoulder. I stopped speaking.

"No," He said. "That isn't it. I was wondering if - well, if you would like to come with me to the Opera Populaire tonight? As a date, perhaps?"

"What?" I blurted, completely shocked. "Um, no, I can't." I said, calming myself. "I'm not going, I can't. I'm sorry, Raoul."

His arm drooped down off my shoulder and his eyes shifted to the ground. He looked limp. I felt terribly sorry for having to turn him down, but I was already going with Erik and I couldn't dare let him know.

"I'm sorry, Raoul." I said again, putting my hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "It's just that, I have other plans tonight - "

"With another man?" He asked suddenly. My eyes opened wider in shock. He looked so serious.

"No, of course not!" I lied. "I have to, um - er - help my mother pull weeds!"

What a lame excuse.

He nodded slowly. I wonder if he bought it? I bit my lower lip and waited. He finally stood up and said, "Until we meet again, madmoiselle." And then he grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly. I think I blushed, a little bit.

And then he left without taking his bread.

x x x x x

The rest of the day I was glum. Why? I have no idea. I believe it was because I lied to Raoul. I felt so terrible for telling him that I couldn't go with him. I couldn't of said, "No, sorry, I have a date with the Opera Ghost!" Hopefully he wouldn't see me there tonight.

I did the rest of the errands and went back to the lair, where Erik was awaiting my return. I set all of the food on the kitchen table and went into the music room to see Erik writing down notes on a sheet of paper.

I crept behind him, hoping I could scare him, but without turning around he said,

"Ah, Christine, good. You're back!" He spun around and smiled at me.

I pouted and put my hands on my hips. "How did you know I was there?" I demanded.

"I could hear you come in."

"But how? I was quiet - "

"You'll have to work on that, darling." He smiled. I crossed my arms across my chest and smiled at him.

He got up from his organ bench and walked over to the kitchen, as I followed him.

"So, how was the market today?"

"It was nice. Not too crowded."

"Ah, that's good. Did you have a nice time?"

I didn't answer. I thought about the run-in with Raoul. I was clutching my skirts and shaking a bit, thinking about Raoul. My eyes were to the floor.

"Christine?" Erik asked.

"Yes?" I said abruptly, looking up to face him.

"Is something wrong?"

"No." I said quickly.

Erik raised an eyebrow and studied me for a moment. Then he said, "Something's wrong. Tell me."

"It's nothing," I lied, and went to go put the bread away. But Erik grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him. I struggled a bit.

"You don't need to be afriad, my love. Tell me what happened."

"Erik, really, it's nothing. It's no big deal - "

"No big deal, hm? If it is no big deal, then why can't you tell me?"

I stammered. "Um, er - because - "

"Yes?"

"I don't want to." I said quickly and struggled to get out of Erik's grasp. But Erik only held onto my wrist tighter and pulled me closer.

"You can tell me." He saif flatly.

"No I can't!" I said finally. Erik let go of my wrist, his face straight, and watched me as I went to put the bread away. Once I was finished, Erik was still standing there, staring at me.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Oh, it's nothing," He said casually, "But I am indeed wondering - did you happen to do something with Raoul that you don't wish to tell me about?"

I gasped. How did he know I ran in with Raoul?

"Just a guess," He said finally, as if reading my mind. "Now, did that happen?"

I looked down at the floor and said quietly, "Yes, I ran into him. He asked me - he asked if I wanted to go to the Opera with him tonight."

"And what did you say, Christine?"

"I said no."

"That's a good girl," He smiled, and walked towards me. He pulled me towards him and kissed my forehead. "You wouldn't want to go with him anyway."

I didn't say anything. I just leaned my head into Erik's sweet smelling chest.

x x x

The day passed by more quickly then ever. Erik told me that in an hour the Opera would start and I had to get ready. I went into my room and picked out a beautiful yellow dress and kept my hair down, letting my brown curls flow. I put a yellow butterfly pin in my hair (Erik gave it to me as a gift) and put the bracelet that he gave me on my wrist. I inspected myself and noticed that I looked like Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

I went out of the room and saw Erik standing there, waiting for me. His jaw fell for a moment and I giggled. He straightened himself and said formerly,

"Shall we get going then, madmoiselle?"

I nodded and he took my hand in his. Kissing it first, he then led me into the boat and I sat there, careful not to rock it so I wouldn't fall over. Erik got in it too and we started to row across the lake.

Once we got to the boxes, we walked down until we reached Box 5. Erik opened the door and let me in first. The box had two red seats and beautiful red curtains, and it also smelled really good. Kind of like Erik. Erik helped me into my seat and he sat down in his. I noticed that he leaned back quite far in his chair.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"I don't want to be seen," He said casually. I nodded.

I put my hand down on the arm rest and then I noticed another hand on top of mine. I looked down to see Erik's gloved hand on mine, stroking my soft skin. I looked up at him. He was already looking at me, and I felt a bit embarrased, so I turned my head away.

The performance started a little bit after that. I watched it in amazement. I had never been to an Opera before. And I tell you, it was fantastic. But a little near the end of the first half, I had to go to the ladies room.

"What's wrong?" Erik whispered to me. I told him that I needed to go to the ladies room, and he told me where to go. In the main hall, there would be restrooms on my right. I thanked him and got up to leave the box.

But once I reached the main entrance, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I spun around.

Raoul.

I gasped. "Raoul? Wh - what? I - "

"Well, why aren't you helping your mother pull weeds?" He asked furiously.

"Raoul I - "

"I thought you couldn't come? So you lied to me?"

"Raoul! Please, I can expla - "

"So, who are you here with? God Christine! I thought that you liked me. You could of just told me!"

"Raoul, I do like you! But - just, not in that way anymore."

Raoul was breathing heavily and panting like a furnace. I tried to back away slowly, but he grabbed my elbow and pulled me to him roughly.

"Raoul, stop!"

"No!" He yelled hotly. "You are mine now! All mine!"

And with that, he roughly kissed my throat. I wailed and tried to pull away, but I just couldn't. He was too strong. But just then, a sword was pointed at Raoul's back. He turned around quickly to see the Opera Ghost staring at him with large, angry eyes.

"May I ask, monsieur, what you are doing?"

Raoul gasped and let me go. I ran over to Erik's side. Raoul stared at me as if I was mad.

"Nothing, I wasn't doing anything!" He exclaimed, shaking.

"Really?" Erik asked calmly. "Because it seems to me, you were kissing this poor girl against her will. That isn't right."

Now Raoul didn't look frightened, he looked angry.

"And so what if I was? Hm? What are you going to do? Stab me?" He looked at Erik's sword.

"Yes, actually, I was planning on doing that." Erik agreed. I tried not to giggle. "But I decided to let you off with a little warning instead. If you ever even touch this girl again, a nightmare beyond your imagination will occur." Then he smiled. "Have a nice day."

Erik grasped my elbow and walked me down a lighted hallway quickly.

"Erik? Where are we going?" I asked.

"To the lair." He said simply. Before I could ask another question, Erik barged into a dressing room, walked over to a large mirror, and opened it. He gestured for me to walk in. I did so, and Erik came in behind me, shutting the mirror back in place.

We walked through the dark corridor, but actually now they had candles and tourches on the wall. I smiled at Erik, who wasn't looking at me, but was staring at the tunnel ahead.

We reached the boat, and I got in quickly. For some reason, Erik was going very fast. I wondered why. But then I remembered Raoul. What if Raoul had followed us? I tried to get that out of my system.

Erik was rowing so quickly I thought he was going to tip the boat over. And it seemed I guessed correctly. Erik started to wobble as he stood on the boat, and I tried to steady it. But I was too late. Erik fell into the murky water, and I went along with him.

x x x x

Sorry it took me forever to update. I am going to try to post the next chapter soon, although I don't know when. School is less then three weeks away. Can you believe it? Ugh. I don't even want to think about it.

Erik: Haha! You have to go back to school! Now I can stay here all day long with Christine. (growls at Christine)

Christine: (backs away slowly)

Me: (pats Christine on the shoulder) Don't worry. Just give him these crazy pills. Knocks him out in a second.

(Erik runs around the room like a madman as Christine tries to force the pills in his mouth)

Me: Okay, please review before Erik starts to break things!

Erik: Help me!