The next day the group went on a tour of Paris. They were confined to a hot bus and could only look out on many of the sites, as the following days would be spent at many of the more famous spots, such as the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Champs Elise.
They were nearing the end of their first week in Paris when the group finally got to see the famous Paris Opera House.
"Oh my God….look at the sculptures..." Angela breathed as they walked towards the building.
"Check out the angel at the top---isn't that where the Phantom does his thing?" Jason asked nudging Matt.
"Are we going to get to go inside?" The group moved on quickly and Ryan and Cassie drifted towards the back of the crowd as they made their way closer to the building.
"So---are you enjoying Paris?" Ryan asked as he slipped his hand into hers.
"Mm-hmm." Cassie said looking up at the great opera house. "So far."
"So far?" Ryan said, raising an eyebrow. "Do you expect it to get better?"
"Well, performing of course." Cassie grinned. She hadn't had a chance to get alone with Ryan since their arrival, and they were all exhausted every day after their touring was done. They followed the group up the stairs of the Opera house, but were stopped short of going in.
"We'll not be going in today, as you'll be spending quite a bit of time here in the next two weeks." Mr. Giles said as he barred the entrance to the students. "We'll instead walk down to a café and have lunch before returning to the hotel. You'll all have some free time there to do whatever you wish." Much of the group cheered as the day was still young and many of the girls wanted to go lay in the hotel courtyard and sun themselves.
Cassie was sitting on the balcony of the hotel room when there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Mia said streaking to the door. Ryan came in and went directly to the balcony.
"Hey, you wanna go out with me?" Ryan asked sitting against the wall and staring at Cassie's smile.
"Why, I don't know. I'll have to check my schedule book."
"Oh, your schedule book? Did some French dandy come and ask you out before me?"
"Well, I'm not sure…you see, there have been so many….I'll just have my secretary check my schedule."
"The hell I will!" Mia shouted back from the room. Cassie laughed. Another knock on the door interrupted them. "It's for me!" Mia shouted again.
"Matt is supposed to be coming for her." Cassie said turning on her side to look Ryan in the eye. "She's been getting ready for a hot night on the town."
"I'll bet she is."
"Just a second Mr. Villefort, I'll get her." Mia's voice rang out onto the balcony.
"What does he want?" Ryan asked. Cassie got up and went inside.
"Cassandra, I wanted you to make sure you're going over the scales from 'Think of Me.' I don't want your range falling flat." Cassie felt his eyes roam over her. She was wearing simple sweatpants and a sports tank. Her hair was twisted haphazardly in a clip and her sunglasses were perched on top of her head. Her clothes left nothing to the imagination as to her curves.
"Mr. Villefort, Mia and I have been going over them every night before we go to bed, and every morning after we wake up. I assure you, I'm more than prepared." Cassandra said leaning against the door frame.
"Well, if you ever have any questions or problems, please come to me. There is a piano set up in the conference room downstairs and I'd feel much better if we put it to use."
"Mr. Villefort, I will come and fetch you at the slightest hint of a falter." Mr. Villefort nodded, sending a bit of his dark hair falling into his face and went down the hall. Cassie closed the door and shivered. Mr. Villefort gave off a strange vibe ever since they'd arrived in Paris. He seemed to lurk and knew far too many side streets than made even Mr. Giles comfortable.
"Come on Cassie. I want to take you out tonight." Ryan said coming back into the room and wrapping his arms around her. "Dress for a nice dinner and for walking." He kissed her forehead before he left.
"Someone's got a date." Mia said in a sing-songy voice.
"Yes. It would seem I do." Cassie said smiling. She dashed to the bathroom and showered and washed her long blonde hair. Mia helped comb it out and put it up into two silver barrettes on the side of her head. Cassie put on a nice green party dress that accented her slender waist but was modest in length, coming down to her knees in a nice A-Line skirt. Cassie did her make up and then gazed at herself in the mirror. Happy that she was presentable, she left to meet Ryan in the lobby.
"Wow." Ryan said when he saw Cassie come down the stairs. "You look amazing."
"So do you." Ryan was wearing a gray suit with a yellow shirt and a matching tie. His hair was spiked up and he looked taller in the suit than he did in his school clothes or the casual wear she had grown accustomed to seeing him in.
"I mean, you looked good in those St. Isabel's uniforms, but you are down right sexy tonight." He kissed her cheek gently and then led her outside into the setting sun and the streets of Paris. They walked for some time, finally picking up a cab a few streets over. It dropped them off at a restaurant near the Eiffel Tower. Ryan went up to the maitre de and they were seated on the second floor on a balcony that looked out onto the tower and the rest of the Parisian sky line.
"Mademoiselle." Ryan said pulling out the chair for Cassie.
"Thank you." Cassie laughed as Ryan sat down beside her so they could both look out on the view before them. "Ryan, this is amazing. How did you find this place?"
"The internet is a wonderful tool."
"Sir?" The Maitre de handed Ryan a wine list and Ryan said a few words in French before the man bustled away.
"Ryan?"
"Don't say anything. Just let me take care of it, won't you?" Ryan grasped Cassie's hand and looked deep into her eyes.
"Alright." Cassie smiled. "But if we get in trouble..."
"Pah!" Ryan said. "There won't be any trouble. It's all taken care of." He kissed her briefly before the sommelier came with a bottle of wine and uncorked it. Ryan sniffed the cork and nodded to the man before accepting the glass of pinkish colored wine. He tasted it and nodded and the man poured a glass for Cassie and then filled Ryan's.
"It's sweet." Cassie said. She liked fruity blushes and this was just up her alley.
"You like it?"
"Very much." Ryan and Cassie talked about the coming weeks when they'd be staying at the Opera house and what they planned on doing after they returned to America.
"So you're going to go to school to sing?" Cassie nodded as she took a bite of her salad.
"Yes, I got a scholarship letter a few months ago. I'll be going to school in New York….learning at the conservatory." She looked off into the distance as lights twinkled on.
"Is that what you want?"
"Hmm?" Cassie brought her gaze back to Ryan. "What's that?"
"Is that what you want? To sing at the conservatory? To sing in great operas or on Broadway?"
"I don't know." Cassie said seriously. "When I was a little girl, I used to want to dance….but I never learned how. Then I thought about becoming a lawyer or a doctor." Cassie laughed. "But I'm not smart enough or dedicated enough to that sort of education. I don't think I'm really suited to anything else."
"But is that what you want?" Ryan clasped Cassie's hand in his and brought her gaze back to his. "Do you want to sing for the rest of your life?"
"I'm not sure." Cassie shook her head, her hair catching some of the light of the candles on the surrounding tables. "I mean, it would certainly be interesting." Ryan smiled. "And what are you going to do, Mr. Smarty-pants?"
"I'll be going to school….NYU." Ryan turned his gaze into the distance as well. "Not that it's my choice….."
"Not your choice?"
"Yes….you see, my father is an NYU grad….and my mother….and their parents…."
"Oh…" Cassie sipped more wine. "So it's tradition?"
"Yes." Ryan sighed heavily. "I'd love to break tradition and go travel the world for a few years before going to college. But my father will never hear of it."
"Why not?"
"He's a doctor. He did his undergrad and part of his pre-med at NYU. He was doing residency by the time he was 24. One of the youngest people to get his degree and his license ever. He doesn't believe in screwing around….doesn't even like the idea of my singing and performing."
"Your mother though?"
"She's just country club arm candy." Ryan said bitterly. Cassie straightened up at Ryan's comment. "What? It's very true. She does all the insipid Political conventions, library fundraisers, country club banquets." He waved his hand, "She's pretty to look at, but has nothing real to offer the world. Really just went to school to get her MRS. Degree."
"Ryan…."
"Sorry….I shouldn't talk like that."
"I guess it's just that I've never heard you talk about your family….I guess I know why now."
"Well, neither of us talk of our families….it doesn't seem to be a pleasant subject for either of us. Let's forget about that for now though." Ryan said as he saw Cassie's eyes cloud over.
Ryan refilled their glasses and raised his in a toast.
"To Hell with our futures! Let's live in the now and worry about what tomorrow brings when it comes, eh?"
"To tomorrow!"
Their meal was exquisite. Cassie marveled at the flavors and colors and presentations. She and Ryan were still talking when the maitre de came forward and whispered to Ryan. "Ah, yes…." Ryan nodded and the man bustled away. "Close your eyes, Cass…there's another surprise."
"Another one?" Cassie looked out onto the twilight sky. "Ryan—"
"Close your eyes, or you'll ruin it!" Cassie giggled and closed her eyes. She heard a plate set down on the table and heard Ryan thank the waiter. "Here, open your mouth…" Cassie did as she was asked and tasted the most heavenly chocolate she'd ever had in her life. The light mousse like air on her tongue. She laughed and opened her eyes.
"Straight after my own heart!" Cassie breathed as she looked at Ryan. She looked down at the plate and saw the bowl of mousse surrounded by strawberries and slices of angel food cake. Ryan took up a strawberry and fed that to her next, the fruit tangy after the sweet fluffy mousse.
Cassie also fed Ryan a strawberry. When they were finished, Ryan paid the bill and the two of them left the restaurant. Between the two of them, they'd drained a bottle of wine and had a healthy bit of food with it. They were laughing and giggling as they strolled to the park beneath the Eiffel tower to find a cab.
"Ryan, that was fantastic. I'm positively STUFFED!" Cassie laughed as Ryan held her at arms reach and then pulled her close. "I'll never fit into that corset!"
"Oh, you didn't eat that much…." Ryan laughed. "Besides, you'll work it off…." He spun her slowly and danced with her beneath a street light, the two continuing to laugh. "You aren't ready to go back, are you?" Ryan asked as he put his head on her shoulder and breathed into her neck. Cassie leaned back against his chest and smiled back at him.
"No….why?"
"Because I have more planned."
"Ryan!" A cab finally pulled up and they got in and were taken to a place where horse drawn hacks picked people up and took them on tours through old Paris and through a river front park. Ryan and Cassie climbed into one of the carriages and were taken on a lovely tour of the old buildings of Paris. As they neared the river, the night began to grow slightly chill, a soft mist creeping over the banks of the Seine. Cassie snuggled in closer to Ryan and was surprised when the coach stopped in the park. "What's going on?" Cassie asked. Ryan helped her out of the carriage and paid the driver who handed Ryan a basket and a blanket. He turned to Cassie as the carriage rattled away and pulled a silk scarf from his pocket. "What on earth is that?"
"The better to surprise you with, my dear?" Ryan stood behind Cassie and tied the scarf around her eyes. He took her hand and led her through the grass and up a slight rise. "Watch your step." Ryan would say as they crossed over roots and bumps in the ground. They stopped and Cassie reached for the blindfold but had her hand slapped away lightly. "nuh-uh-uh. Not yet." Cassie heard the blanket being laid out and something else. She stood grasping her arms to herself in anticipation of what Ryan was planning and a little for the chill. "OK…." Ryan spun Cassie around a few times as if they were preparing to play pin the tail on the donkey. Then he removed the blindfold. "Open your eyes…now." Cassie opened her eyes and gasped as she looked out onto the River Seine, and could see Notre Dame Cathedral lit with outdoor lights, the windows within glowing with a myriad of color with the lights inside. She could see the older buildings of the Paris waterfront, their windows lit in the night. A barge floated slowly and quietly up the river, people on board laughing merrily. In the distance, the Eiffel tower reached up into the night sky.
"Oh---it's beautiful." Ryan helped Cassie sit and gallantly put his coat over her shoulders before he lounged on the blanket in front of her.
"So you like it?"
"Ryan, of course I do." Cassie put her arms through the sleeves of Ryan's coat and watched as he pulled out another bottle of wine and two glasses from the basket along with a lighter for the candle that was sitting on the blanket. Ryan lit the candle and poured wine for Cassie and himself. The soft glow of the light cast eerie shadows across their faces and danced on the bark of the tree they were sitting under.
"How on earth did you plan all this?"
"I told you, the internet is a wonderful tool."
"But when?"
"Right after we found out we'd be coming here. I got online and asked some questions and talked to some women…"
"Women?"
"Of course….what a girl wants is much different than what a guy thinks is romantic."
"And if you were going to plan this without the help from the female population?"
"I probably would have brought you to the Seine and rowed you up it and then flipped the boat, gallantly rescuing you from a horrible watery grave."
"You twit." Cassie said slapping him lightly. "You're incorrigible."
"Of course I am…." Ryan sat up and kissed her lightly on the cheek before settling his head in her lap. Cassie continued to gaze out on the barge as it plied its way up the Seine. The mist pouring over the banks of the river gave everything an otherworldly glow. Suddenly Cassie realized Ryan was humming. She looked down at him while he continued to stare out at the distant buildings, absently humming a tune. It took her a few minutes to realize it was 'Music of the Night'. She loved the song, and Ryan's gentle humming made it enchanting. Cassie poured herself another glass of wine while Ryan hummed….they never had talked about their families. Their conversation from dinner slowly came back to her. Ryan had disclosed far more about his family than she had about hers.
"My mother….died when I was a little girl…barely five." Cassie suddenly said. Ryan stopped humming and looked up into her face. "It was sudden. An illness brought on when she was pregnant with a brother or sister. She and the baby both died." Ryan sat up and looked into her clouded eyes. "My father was an important and influential businessman with his firm. He just couldn't take the time to raise me on his own when he was constantly having to go overseas. He left me with my grandparents until I turned twelve. He'd come home for Christmas or for a month during the summer. Back then he used to take me places."
"Like where?"
"London when I was ten, Germany when I was eight." Cassandra smiled. "We'd tour and go different places in America too." Suddenly her smile faded. "Then Dad sent me to St. Isabel's. My Grandparents were too old to care for me…they died about six months apart from each other two years ago." She sighed. "Dad stays overseas almost year round anymore. When he does come home it's only for a little while, and he doesn't take me traveling anymore." Ryan looked away. "He didn't even really care when I told him I was going to be coming to Paris."
"What?"
"Remember that day when we found out that we won?" Ryan nodded slowly. None of them would ever forget that day. "I went to a payphone and called Dad. He didn't remember me telling him I was acting in the play, nor did he realize what it meant to me….He's so distant now."
"I'm sure he didn't mean to be."
"I know…but you're really lucky to have a family involved in your life. I've never been truly connected to anyone."
"I guess I never thought of it like that before." Ryan said as he maneuvered his way where he could pull Cassandra into him, feeling that she needed to be protected or loved. "I always just thought of it as them interfering with the way I want to live my life." Ryan pulled the pocket square from the coat pocket and handed it to Cassie who dabbed at her eyes and smiled at him.
"Now we know about each others' families…."
"Is that what that was about?"
"Well, a little I guess." Cassie laughed. "And a little the wine."