Disclaimer: I do not own any of the rights to POTO or Lost by The Cure.

OK! School is over so I will be able to update much more! No more exams, or graduation stuff, or grandparents! Speaking of graduation, it was perfect until I got my first speeding ticket! My first few moments of freedom from high school and I get a ticket! MEH! Episode III is awesome! I love Gerards!

Katie Loves Erik: No I haven't heard their first CD, I can't find it anywhere around here! I'm going to order it eventually.

RoseQueen: I'm glad that you have. I also went through that in middle school, earlier this year too, and this story has kinda been therapy for me. Some of the plot hits close to home.

Erik'sTrueAngel: Thank you so much! I am addicted Lessons on Love and I can't wait for the next update!

Well, here's the next chapter, from Erik's POV…

'Well, she did say she wasn't going to be here…'

Erik had practically combed the school that day, hoping that Christine would turn the corner. It had been confirmed, much to his dislike, that Christine was in fact on the band trip and he was left alone.

Sure, he had his fellow band members, but they had proven to be quite superficial on several occasions. For example, the only reason that any of them had joined was to have a shot at fame, fortune, and all the girls that they could possibly want. Unlike Erik, they cared nothing for the music; they only wanted to become immortalized with music they knew nothing about.

Of course, he had his father. The father that had tortured him mentally since the day he was born. The father that had named him Erik because he saw it "fitting."

'Erik, you seem to be growing sentimental about daddy dearest…' he thought as he exited the school, not caring that there was still half a day of school to go.

He put his hand to his face, checking that the mask was still there. Although his name was intended as a cruel joke, Erik rather liked being named after the legendary masked phantom. When he first discovered the origin of his name, he learned everything he could about him. Erik read all the books and after seeing the musical, he was inspired to shed the stupid medical mask his father forced him to wear and adopted the classic half mask.

Erik found his car and, unnoticed by the brain dead school administrators, slipped out of the school parking lot.

'It really is too easy…' he smirked as he turned left in the direction of the music store.

He looked into his rear view mirror and noticed a police car behind him.

'Shit…' he thought looking straight ahead, trying to compose himself so he wouldn't look like an eighteen year old.

The police car pulled up next to him and in spite of himself, Erik looked to his side at the officer.

The officer glanced at Erik and did a double take.

'Just try and pull me over you son of a bitch…' Erik thought, assuming the officer knew he was skipping.

However, the officer stared curiously at Erik and ran his hand over the side of his face where Erik's mask would have been.

'God damn it!' Erik thought angrily, 'you certainly are a rude little fuck aren't you?'

The light finally turned green and Erik floored the gas pedal, not caring about the cop near by.

He drove in a blind rage, almost missing the music store, and pulled into a space.

'Don't let it get to you…' he thought, trying to calm himself down.

Erik sighed heavily and turned off his car. He climbed out, silently cursing it as it honked when he locked it.

Erik entered the store and immediately went to look at the sheet music.

"Hey! Erik!"

Erik turned around quickly, slightly startled and smiled when he saw who it was.

"Hello Nadir," he said.

Nadir was a slightly older man, in his early twenties. He was of middle-eastern descent with his dark completion and black hair. Nadir had also been a victim of misunderstanding people, so Erik counted his as one of his few true friends.

Nadir walked forward to shake Erik's hand.

"Skipping again?" he said with a smirk.

Erik rolled his eyes and nodded.

"Yeah…I did it too…" Nadir said, laughing, "So, looking for anything in particular?"

"Well…" Erik said, looking down at the box of music, "I was looking for music from The Phantom of the Opera."

"Don't you have that already?"

"Yes…but I wanted it for guitar…"

"Is it for Mask and Black Rose? I thought you said it would be ruined by, how did you put it? Those greedy son of bitches."

Erik looked at him and smiled a little.

"Well, that's about to change…"

Nadir smirked at him.

"Oh really? Erik, have you met a girl?"

Erik turned bright red.

"Yes…"

"And have you asked her to join the band?"

Erik turned even redder.

"Yes…"

Nadir gave a shout/laugh and hugged Erik. Erik promptly pushed him away and backed up, which make Nadir laugh even more. Erik rolled his eyes again.

"So, what's her name?" Nadir asked, still laughing.

"Christine…" Erik said, getting lost in his thoughts.

"You've got it bad," Nadir observed.

Erik looked at him slightly angry, and said, "No I don't!"

"Whatever…" Nadir said snickering slightly.

Erik, exasperated at Nadir, repeated his requested for the music, who went to the store room to look for it.

Erik headed over to the guitars and absentmindedly strummed the strings.

'Am I?' he thought to himself, 'she's all I can think about…'

He walked around the store, occasionally pausing to look at an interesting instrument until Nadir returned.

"Here it is, lover boy!" Nadir called rather loudly.

Erik glared daggers at him and grabbed the music from Nadir's hands.

"It's not that big of a deal, ok!"

Nadir laughed again and patted him on the back.

"Calm down, grasshopper."

Erik threw up his hands and walked to the cash register, handing the music back to Nadir, who rang it up.

"Ten big ones, partner," Nadir replied.

Erik pulled out his wallet, ignoring Nadir's strangeness, and paid him.

He bid Nadir farewell as he collected the receipt and bag.

"Erik," Nadir called from the register.

"What?" he asked, halfway to the door.

"Be nice now…" Nadir said, winking.

Erik flipped him off and exited the store. He unlocked his car, which honked again, and got in.

He laughed slightly as he thought of Nadir. He was the closest thing to a sibling Erik had and had helped him during several tough years, despite the exchange of curses and rude gestures they gave each other.

Erik started his car and turned up the volume of his CD player.

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

In the head of this stranger in love

Holding on given up

To another under faded setting sun

And I wonder where I am...

Could she run away with him?

So happy and so young

And I stare

As I sing in the lost voice of a stranger in love

Out of time letting go

In another world that spins around for fun

And I wonder where I am...

Could he ever ask her why?

So happy and so young...

He listened to the lyrics of the song and realized that they fit him perfectly. Erik sighed as he slipped into one of his moods of depression.

And I stare... But...

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

In the heart of this stranger in love

Holding on given up

To this other under faded setting sun

And I'm not sure where I am...

Would he really turn away?

So happy and so young...

And I stare...

As I play out the passion of a stranger in love

Letting go of the time

In this other world that spins around for one

And I'm not sure where I am...

Would she know it was a lie?

So happy and so young...

He drove the streets to his house in a trance. Just listening to the lyrics and thinking.

And I stare... But...

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

In the soul of this stranger in love

No control over one

To the other under faded setting sun

And I don't know where I am...

Should he beg her to forgive?

So happy and so young...

He looked up in surprise as he noticed he had made it to his house. He turned off the car and CD player but the song still played in his head.

And I stare...

As I live out the story of a stranger in love

Waking up going on

In the other world that spins around undone

And I don't know where I am...

Should she really say goodbye?

So happy and so young

Erik unlocked the front door and noted that it was perfectly organized.

'The maid must have been here…'

Erik's father was very wealthy and because his mother had died during childbirth, he hired a maid to clean the entire house once a week. The money that his father had acquired was evident from the size of the house and Erik's car. Even though Erik was a disappointment to his father, he still gave him the best. Apparently he believed if other people thought Erik was really cared for by the state of his things, he was saved from any questions.

This meant nothing to Erik but made him resent his father even more and caused him to become a loner.

He climbed the stairs of the empty house and walked quickly to his room, locking the door.

Erik looked into his dresser mirror in the near darkness.

And I stare... But...

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

I can't find myself

I got lost in someone else.

The stopped playing in his head and there was silence. He took off the mask and stared at his reflection.

"Please Christine…save me from my solitude…"

Well, that's that! I hope that Erik doesn't come off as being unrealistic. Please review! Love and Peace! Kupo!