Disclaimer: I do not own POTO…WHY MUST YOU TORMENT ME!

Thank you once again for reviewing! Guess what? I got a job at Bojangles. Bojangles! I do get biscuits though. Oh! If any of you all want to email me, it is blackrose 1831 excite .com. I actually check my email now, so drop me a line! I also got a thingy on my space and the address for that is my space/ blackrose 1831. Just remove the spaces.

Iris Knotwise: Did you get my email? Well, if you didn't, you now know my new email address.

Erik'sTrueAngel: I reviewed, but I'll just say again how much I liked the new chapter.

RoseQueen and Kute Anime Kitty: Well, here's the next chapter, with Erik and Christine!

'Thank God that's over'

Christine's bus pulled into the school parking lot around 9 p.m. Even though she didn't talk to anyone the entire trip, she was content to listen to her CD player and catch up on schoolwork.

She pulled on her Jack Skellington beanie and gathered all of her belonging, eager to jump off the bus as soon as the doors opened.

"God, Christine, that's really scary!"

Christine rolled her eyes as Ashley, one of her least favourite people in the world, insulted her hat.

'Oh, what I could do to you…' She thought evilly to herself.

The doors of the rickety bus squeaked open and Christine pushed her way out, not bothering to apologize to the hypocritical band kids. You know, the kind of people that can push and insult you, but when you give them a small taste of their own medicine, they have a hissy fit.

She grabbed her instrument and made sure that she could hold all of her stuff before heading off to her car. About to collapse under the weight of her things, Christine found her car nearby and unlocked it. After she threw her junk into the back seat, she cast a side glance at the group of buses and noticed Ashley struggling and whining for her most likely cheating boyfriend to carry her stuff. Christine laughed out loud as Ashley was clearly refused.

'Yeah…Ashley…right back at you…' She thought, flipping her off.

Christine sped slightly to school that morning, anxious to talk to Erik. He had been on her mind the whole trip and she longed to hear his calming voice and gaze into his stormy grey eyes…

"Snap out of it, Christine!" She told herself, laughing at how pathetic she was.

Christine turned up the volume of her CD player and laughed again when she realized what song it was. The Phantom of the Opera, techno version.

In sleep he sang to me,

In dreams he came.

That voice which calls to me,

And speaks my name.

And do I dream again?

For now I find,

The Phantom of the Opera is there,

Inside my mind…

Christine danced to the beat, well as much as she could in her car, and sang along to the lyrics. Probably not very well because it was early morning.

She pulled into her normal space, in the back, and regretfully turned off her CD player.

"Oh well," she said to herself, "I'm going to see a real phantom soon…"

Christine walked through the parking lot in much higher spirits than usual and was glad to notice that she still had plenty of time to get to class.

She entered the school to receive glares from her peers. She lived in the south and you can say that they don't take kindly to people who don't live and breathe football and don't worship cheerleaders.

Normally, Christine would have flipped them off, but instead, she adjusted her new fish net gloves, straightened her black coat, and walked with her head held high to class.

Outside the door leading down to the art department, Christine noticed with excitement Erik standing there. Her heart sped up as he noticed her and rushed to meet her.

She threw her books down and ran to his open arms. She gave him a bone crushing hug and happily looked up at him. He was already smiling down at her and gently tilted her chin so her lip would meet his.

'I hope we don't have anymore band trips...' she thought vaguely as she relished the feel of his lips on hers.

The reality that they were at school kicked in and they reluctantly drew apart.

"Did you miss me?" Christine asked cheerfully as she jumped up and down.

"Oh yes," Erik replied, "I missed your enthusiasm."

Mrs. Ritchell unlocked the door to the art department and shooed all of the kiddies to run off to class.

Christine rolled her eyes and gathered her scattered books she had thrown on the ground moments before.

Erik waited for her and offered his arm to her. She accepted with a smile and they walked together to art class.

It was lunch time and, much to Christine's pleasure, her math class had first lunch again.

She had walked to her math class as usual after English and, after discovering a note on the door gave a shout and ran to first lunch.

"Hey!" Erik said, after Christine had practically pounced on him, "Have a test again?"

"Yep!" she said, setting her stuff down. She noticed that she wasn't hungry anymore so she sat down beside Erik.

"I'm glad you're here," Erik said to her, "I have something to show you…"

He turned to his back pack and pulled out what appeared to be a book of music.

"What is it?" Christine asked curiously.

He smiled mischievously and handed her the book. Christine's jaw dropped when she read the title.

"The Phantom of the Opera!" she squealed, "For guitar!"

"I thought since you agreed to join Mask and Black Rose, that you would like it," He said laughing at her reaction.

"I love it!" she screamed, throwing her arms around him again.

Erik laughed again and kissed the top of her head. He buried his face in her hair and closed his eyes, hoping that he would remember this moment.

"Erik! Dude, what are you doing?"

Erik shot up and looked around to find out who the speaker was.

It was Andre, one of the other band members.

Andre smirked at Erik who glared at him.

"What is it, Andre?" he said, a little harshly.

"Hey, dude, I just need to talk to you about practice."

Erik rolled his eyes and beckoned him over, adjusting his mask.

Andre was your typical wannabe surfer, high school class clown/jerk. He wore board shorts and flip flops, even though it wasn't even that warm, and an American Eagle surfer shirt, advertising some bogus surf contest.

He was also in the school band, one of the stars of the drum line, which was the only reason he was in Mask and Black Rose.

Christine looked at Andre and said "hello" with a slight grimace. He was one of the more self-assured band kids, and that was a major understatement.

"Oh, hello…Jessica," he said in a lofty manner.

Christine raised her eye brows.

"Not even close, dude," she said shaking her head.

Andre shrugged and turned to Erik.

"So, dude, practice after school?"

Erik looked to Christine who nodded.

"Okay," he agreed, "and Christine will be coming to."

"Why?" Andre asked, impassively.

Christine smiled sweetly to Andre.

"Because I'm joining," she said, happily.

"Like, who says?" he scoffed.

"Me," Erik said simply.

Andre began to protest, but one look at Erik's intimidating expression quickly suppressed any rebuff he might have had.

"We will talk about this at practice, dude," he said in a would-be serious voice.

"Okay, dude," Erik and Christine replied together.

Andre sharply turned on his heel, his flip flops making him trip a little, and stalked off.

They rolled their eyes simultaneously and laughed.

"Don't worry about him," Erik reassured Christine, "no one takes him seriously."

She nodded and looked at the book of music again, smiling a little.

"So, will you be able to write the music for the band?"

"Yep," Erik nodded, "Already started."

Christine laughed and ruffled his hair.

"Well, don't you deserve a muffin!"

"I'll settle for a kiss…" he said pulling her close.

Needless to say, they stayed like that until the lunch bell rang and made plans to meet each other after school so they could go to practice together.

Phluff! I needed to put a phluffy chapter in and I think I did pretty well. Please review! Love and Peace! Kupo!