Sorry this is kind of short...just wanted to post it. So...lets see..

oh yeah! We made it to chapter ten! o0o we are so awesome, aren't we! This has to be my longest fanfic I've made, ever. Haha, weird, huh?

Okay. Enjoy. You probably don't to keep reading this.

Erik stalked through his torture chamber, decided that he wanted to go to his mirror chamber, and got a chair. He put the chair in the middle, with all the mirrors surrounding him. He just stared at himself.

"Lucky bastard…" he said to himself. He was so unbelievably jealous. But, he cared about Monique, and didn't want to upset her in anyway. If she was happy with Vachel…

Then he can try and pretend to be happy. Of course, there would be no way of him being happy with them together. He could at least try…

…Wait a moment. Why should he care if Monique loves that bastard? Maybe he won't bother Monique…but Vachel could need a little talking to.

'Indeed…' he thought to himself. He decided he could drop a visit tomorrow. Tonight, he wanted to say his hello to his friend, Bayard.

Quickly, he made his way to Bayard's room. He dropped in, and moved to the corner. Bayard only had a single candle lit for his room, and it where Erik was at the time, he was barely visible. Bayard heard movement, but chose to ignore it. Probably a bug or something.

"Bayard, why did you not discuss the actor placement with me?" Erik said in a deeper voice. Bayard jumped a little, but calmed. It was only Erik.

"I didn't think you would mind. Do you mind?" he curiously. Erik moved out of the corner, and made his way closer to Bayard.

"Yes, I indeed mind. How can you let that…that boy, Vachel even work here?" he asked disgusted. Bayard sighed.

"I pity the boy. He obviously isn't very skilled in anything…but when it comes to acting...he is very gifted. I am sorry you are not pleased by this, I have to say, he irritates me to no end as well, but I wasn't the only one casting you know." Bayard said bitterly. Erik looked back at him.

"Who else?" he asked curiously.

"Well, my granddaughter was helping out a little. And being the charmer that Vachel is, he charmed his way to the lead part." Bayard sighed a little. Erik lifted an eyebrow.

"Is your granddaughter the blond one?" he asked.

"…Yes...why do you ask?" Bayard looked at Erik. Erik smirked.

"Oh…no reason. I'll be retiring for the night. Good-bye." Erik said getting back to the place he came in. But before he left, Bayard stopped him.

"You have distracted by someone, haven't you?" Bayard now said. Erik stopped abruptly.

"…Why do you say such a think?" Erik said while turning to look at him. He had a look of anger in his eyes. Bayard took a step back.

"Well, you haven't been doing anything for the past couple of months. I haven't even talked to you until now sense then! There is obviously something distracting you." He said with a sharp look. Erik looked down.

"Yes, there is someone, you could say, 'distracting' me. Does that answer your curiosity?" Erik asked harshly. Erik turned and was about to leave.

"It's the girl, isn't it? My sister's servant. The lead actress of our production. It's her, isn't it?" he asked inquisitively. Erik just stopped once more. He turned and stared at Bayard once more as well.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked skeptically. Bayard shook his head.

"Well, I noticed she didn't look as lonely as I predicted she would be in the beginning. I rarely ever see her, because she was usually practically rotting in my sister's room. Then I thought to myself, which can be completely true. My sister is a bitch, of course, but Monique was free to roam the theater if she truly wanted to. But sense she doesn't….there has to be something going to her…." He looked at Erik with a smirk. Erik blushed a little.

"Its nothing like that you old goat! Things are…platonic, between us." He said embarrassed. Bayard laughed in what seemed like the first time.

"You can't possibly believe that it will remain platonic, do you?" he said with his smirk still, walking to his bed. Erik was a little taken back by his words.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"The phantom doesn't make friends with women, he takes them as lovers." He said rolling his eyes. Erik glowered at him.

"I'll have you know that isn't true at all. I've never had a lover within the past year!" he said gritting his teeth. Damn Bayard for reminding him again!

"Well, I know they are just rumors, but I must make my point. You are enchanted by her, are you not? And I must say, you are not the only one. The backstage crew seems to be attracted to her as well, but they would never tell her that. Far too shy, it seems. Tell her, or someone will tell there feelings before you." He said slipping into his bed. Erik just stared at him and sighed.

"But I believe she has chosen already…I'm…too late." He said distantly. Bayard grunted a little.

"It's never too late. Now, if she married the man and then you told her…well…that would be a little late. But go, tell her. Tell her now. Right now. GO!" he yelled at Erik. Erik nodded a little, and left the room. Bayard shook his head.

"Poor fool doesn't realize he's in love. Oh well, in due time he will find out." He said to himself. He blew out his candle, and fell asleep.