Disclaimer: I do not own POTO.

Ummm…I guess this answers the question as to whether or not I am still alive…All I have to say is, if you want the chapters to be well thought out and riveting, although I doubt my writing is ever riveting, my muse needs time to sit and do nothing. And the 6th Harry Potter book came out! I will always be a dedicated HP fangirl, requirements being that I have to jump around and yell SQUEEEE a lot and remind my co workers every single day how excited I am for it. So yeah…I've been a little busy…anyway, please enjoy this next chapter!

"They asked us to do what!"

Mask and Black Rose were gathered in Andre's garage for the now weekly Tuesday afternoon band practice, Christine and Andre sprawled out on neon colored beanbag chairs, when Erik surprised them all with the Prom Committee's request that they perform at the annual shindig.

"Just what I said," Erik confirmed causally, "the president, or whatever they're called, just walked up to me and asked if we would do it. Take a look."

Erik handed Christine a red flyer that had been neatly folded in half and read what it announced,

The Cabot High School Prom Committee Presents:

Midnight Masquerade

Prom 2005

"You've got to be kidding!" she exclaimed, smiling at Erik, "this is awesome!"

Erik returned her smile and leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead.

"So," Erik said, glancing between Andre and Christine, "should we accept?"

"Definitely," Andre said clapping his hands together, "just one problem."

"Devon," the three of them said together, Erik and Andre sighing.

Devon had arrived late to practice last week and announced that he was through, storming out of the garage with his bass in hand shouting obscenities over his shoulder. While Erik and Andre had no idea what caused this, it probably had to do with the fact that Christine had finally had enough of his rudeness, this time following her car to Andre's house (Erik had left school early that day) and attempting to catch her off guard which earned him a kick him in the stomach. Well, she was aiming for his stomach, but hit a little bit lower than that…

Christine suppressed a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand and focused in on the conversation at hand.

"Well," Erik began, pacing the concrete floor, "we'll just have to find a replacement. You know anyone, Christine?"

She shook her head and lay back on the beanbag chair, making a strange squeaking sound as she did. There has to be someone…

"I've got it!" Andre yelled, jumping out of his beanbag chair dramatically, "James Carter! He plays bass and his band just broke up, remember?"

"Oh yeah," Christine said, rolling over on her side to look at Andre, "he's pretty good too."

Erik stopped pacing and studied Andre for a moment, holding his chin thoughtfully.

"He could work," Erik agreed, nodding, "do you know his number?"

"Well, it's in the directory, let me call him," Andre said, swiftly moving towards the kitchen door.

He wrenched open the kitchen door and left it open so Erik and Christine could hear the conversation as the phone was hanging on a wall near the door. Erik walked over to Christine's chair and sat in front of it as they heard Andre ask, "Hi is James there?"

Christine smiled down at him and grabbed his hands.

"Can you believe it?" she asked excitedly, "a Masquerade! Even if it is for the dinky old prom…"

Erik nodded silently and grinned mischievously at her.

"What," Christine said warily, raising her eyebrows.

"I have an idea of what we should do," he told her, smiling even more.

"And?" she nodded, urging him to continue.

He rose on his knees to lean in and whisper into her ear.

"How wicked would it be if the The Red Death and his Lady were to attend the mundane high school prom?" he asked.

"Very!" Christine exclaimed, "That is an awesome idea!"

She pulled back and kissed him on the lips.

"Where are you going to get a Red Death costume?" she asked skeptically.

"Oh don't worry about me," he said reassuringly, "just worry about your own."

She stuck her tongue out at him in a "well fine then" way and kissed him again, Andre's conversation with James a soft mumble in the background. Christine pulled away again to whisper into his ear.

"One thing," she said, trying not to laugh, "What makes you think I'm going with you?"

Erik gasped and pulled away to give her a look of mock hurt, Christine laughing out loud at his expression. His bottom lip started to tremble making her giggle even more.

"Awwww," she said, hugging him and pulling him to her chest, "its okay Snooky Bear."

"Snooky Bear?" she heard Erik's muffled voice say, "Can't I have a manlier pet name?"

Christine laughed again and patted the top of his head.

"You can't have everything you want just because your name ends with a K…"

James met up with them after school the next day in the parking lot and agreed to join the band, Andre shaking his hand enthusiastically. Erik, on the other hand, gave a nod and wrapped his arm around Christine.

"Well, I have to get going," Erik said, kissing Christine on forehead.

"Where?"

Erik shook his head and gave one of his mischievous smiles.

"You'll find out in good time, Lady Red Death," he winked at her and walked over to his car a few spaces away, waving at her one last time. She returned the wave slowly and smiled to herself, yet again.

"I better get going too," Andre said, "going to met Meg."

He waved a hand in Christine's direction, and shrugged when she didn't return it as she was watching Erik drive away.

"So, I take it it's working out?"

She turned around to face James who was smiling at her.

"Yeah," her smile brightening, "it is."

"I'm glad."

Although they didn't speak that much anymore, Christine and James had been friends since sixth grade, meeting on the first day of English class. Christine had even developed a slight crush for James, but as the years past, they grew apart and met new people. The last time they had really had time to talk was junior year and Christine was still involved with Raoul. How time flies…

"So," Christine said starting to walk through the parked cars, gesturing for James to follow her, "I take it you heard about Raoul…"

James nodded and put his hands in his jean pockets.

"Must have been hard, but I guess it's safe to say you are doing ok."

"I think I am," she agreed, "although, there are times."

"Understandable."

They crossed the street that lay in front of the school, jay walking, Christine heading for a set of concrete stairs and sitting down, James still following her.

"What about you?" Christine asked, taking off her messenger bag and setting it on a slightly damp stair, "everyday I hear different things about you and Jessica. Which is it?"

James laughed laid back on the stair behind him, his gaze turned towards the blue sky, which had cleared since the rain which had fallen earlier that day.

"Well, you probably know better than I do," he sighed, eyes still lock on the sky, "I just don't know what to do. I really care about her, I do, but I just don't feel the same way about her. Do you understand?"

Christine said nothing, closing her eyes and thinking about his words. Do you understand? Well, she didn't, but she knew someone who probably did…

"Tell her how you feel," Christine said suddenly, "she would appreciate knowing."

"But-" James began, but Christine forcefully cut him off.

"Tell her," she uttered so strongly that she surprised even herself, "if you really care about her, don't lie to her. Don't be selfish about something like this."

Christine closed her eyes and silence fell, the only noises around them being the passing cars of parents picking their children up from school. She heard James clear his throat.

"You're right," he admitted finally.

"Trust me," she said, opening her eyes and turning to face him, "she'll appreciate it later."

James nodded slowly and met her gaze, his green eyes filled with…what was it? Was it regret? A slight wind ruffled his curly, dark blond hair and she had to resist the sudden urge to run her fingers through it.

'Stop it!' she yelled to herself, 'you are over this dumb middle school crush, remember?'

Nevertheless, Christine's thoughts drifted once again to the idea of what it would have been like if they had ended up together. Would they have lasted or would he be here telling some other girl he didn't feel the same way about her.

'Well,' she reasoned with herself, 'Erik much more interesting than either of them. He's certainly more charming, in any case. And handsome…'

She smiled brightly at James and stood up.

"It time for me to get on home," she told him, grabbing her messenger bag and slinging it over her shoulder, "my mother will already badger me on why I was late."

James said nothing but opened his mouth about to say something.

'Just walk away…' she told herself.

"Okay, well, later!" Christine yelled waving and backing away.

She rolled her eyes as she quickly walked over to her car, eager to get home and clear her head. Why, after so many years, did she still find herself attracted to James! It was such a long time ago and he never even gave any indication that he would be interested in her. Christine stopped in front of her car and dug in her red leather purse for her car keys. After a few minutes of searching and not finding them, her temper got the better of her.

"For the love of God!" Christine screamed to the vacant parking lot, "When will high school be over! So much stupid drama!"

A shrill giggle in the background seemed to be the only answer to her question. Slightly startled, she glanced over towards the direction of the previously mentioned giggle, which happened to be Andre's carand noticed a girl with long brown hair and blue highlights...

Christine's anger dissolved as she laughed outloud.

'Meg, Meg, Meg...well, at least someone's enjoying high school...'

She finally realized that her keys were in her pocket and silently unlocked the doors, as not to disturb her friends, throwing her stuff in the backseat and climbing in to start the car. As she was reversing out of the parking space, her thoughts drifted to Prom and of her Lady Red Death costume.

"This is going to be interesting..."

Well, that's pretty much the last filler chapter. I'm sorry it isn't very long, but unlike eijoshie, I despise filler chapters and I suck at writing them. MEH! Okay, well, you know the drill! Love and Peace! Kupo!