Chapter 7: The Friend and The List

The next day, Christine awoke to the sound of Megs' voice.

"Christine, wake up. It's Meg and mother. We've come to celebrate tomorrow."

"Meg. Mme. Giry. It's wonderful to see you! Didn't you find work in Milan? I've heard it's very nice." Christine was so excited to see them, but knew they had come for no reason.

"What's wrong, Christine? You look like your not excited. I bet you have butterflies." Mme. Giry said with a smirk that gave Christine a hint that there was something more. Much more.

"Yeah. It's so exciting I can hardly bear it! I'm marrying someone who I adore," but there was no passion in her voice. Meg looked at her awkwardly as if she knew what she knew what was wrong.

"Why don't you and Christine talked, girl-to-girl, Meg. You guys have some much to catch up on. I'll leave you two to talk but Meg, when you get done, I want to talk to Christine about some things just concerning her. Well, I'll leave you two to it," and with that said, she left closing the door behind her.

"Do you love Raoul?" Meg asked with tension in her voice.

"What do you mean? Of course I do," lying had become a habit now, having to lie to Raoul to get away with some of the visits she kept very secretive.

"Christine, you said that you couldn't wait for your special day without enthusiasm and when you speak of him, you draw back in fear. Why, Christine?"

"Meg, I don't know. My mind goes one way, probably the best way but my heart goes the other, the more mysterious way, with the Phantom. It's so hard to choose." Christine looked at her best and only friend she ever had.

"Mother will explain what to do," Meg left the room in a hurry to get her mother into the room that held Christine.

"Christine, who do you really love? I know you love both men but there can only be one in your future. I want you to do something for me. Make a list of the positive things and the negative things of both men and maybe that will help," Mme. Giry always knew what would be best for her on behalf of her qualities of a daughterly figure towards Mme. Giry. Having said that, she left the room to have Christine think in her solitude. This is what the list turned out to be:

Raoul:

1) Shared a childhood with Christine

2) Could give her anything she wanted due to richness but:

1) He kept abusing her which hurt her in both aspects of life

2) He hated the man she would always see even if he didn't want her to.

Erik:

1) Give her his music and blessing

2) Give her his love but:

1) Had murdered people

2) Attempted to murder the man she chose

But after all this was calculated she forgot something in the positive column.

3) She loved him back.

After she recognized this, she quickly ran to gather her belongings. Wait, she can't because she is getting married the next day. She stopped in her tracks and slowly unpacked her things. 'What am I doing?' She put one of her dresses on and looked into the mirror.

After running downstairs, she saw her "family" (Mme. Giry, Meg, and Raoul) waiting for her eagerly.

"What took so long?" Meg asked. Mme. Giry shot a glance to her basically saying 'shut up!'

"Sorry, didn't know what to wear on my rehearsal. I found this gorgeous gown just lying in my closet and it looked spectacular!" Christine said this with enthusiasm. Although it was somewhat tight without a corset, she could manage.

She noticed that Raoul was looking at her extremely nervously and she didn't understand why. She had done all of her morning rituals and yet he seemed to be surprised to see her.

"You are acting different. Why is that?" Raoul asked in a stern type of voice.

"I don't think I am. What is different, Raoul?"

"It seems your heart is slowly pulling away from me and it hurts. If you really love Erik, just leave me now so I can at least cancel the wedding properly." As Raoul teared up, Christine had noticed he felt loneliness in his future and didn't know how to plan for that. She looked at him, wiped a tear away and held his hand out to the garden.