Chapter 5 - Discovered

The next couple of weeks went by rather quickly. Kimberlee had given her prom gown design to the seamstress and was at yet another fitting. She had managed to talk one of her school friends into helping with Erik's outfit. After store hours they went up to her friend's father's shop for a fitting. When they arrived her friend was there waiting.

"There you two are, I was beginning to worry."

"Sorry Connie, but we had a hard time getting away tonight. My father has been keeping an extra eye on me these last few days."

"Well duh, he probably suspects something. Why else would you be sneaking around the catacombs and sneaking away at night?"

"He doesn't know about us…or do you think he does?" she asked looking at Erik.

"I haven't the faintest, but I would watch out for Joseph Buquet. He's been leering at you more than usual lately."

"That man is so creepy. Erik's right; watch out for him."

"So where is your dad, if we are going to have this costume ready in time, we'd better get a move on. The prom is only 2 weeks away now."

"He's at the coffee house getting us some java, what else is new. Come on Erik, I've got it set out for you in the change room."

"Thank you Connie," Erik said, then turning his attention to Kimberlee, "you stay here and don't peek."

"I wouldn't dream of it" she said as she gave him a smile.

"Though if my imagination is any good, he's very hot under all that black" she whispered to Connie.

Both girls burst out laughing, just then Connie's father walked into the shop with four coffees in hand.

"Good evening ladies and what is so funny might I ask?"

"You don't want to know dad, girl stuff."

"I see…here's one for you my dear and one for you Kim."

"Thank you sir, Erik is in the change room and will be out in a moment."

"Ahhh, I get it. Tell me, does your father have any idea who you are taking to the prom or does he know anything about Erik?"

"No sir, he doesn't. Erik has always kept to himself at the opera house, ever since I've known him anyway. He is only known as the opera ghost and for now wishes to remain that way."

"Yes, but if you care for him and he for you, surely your father would be happy for you. I know I would want to know the mystery man my daughter spends her time with" looking at Connie, "Ahem."

"I told you dad, you can't meet him until prom. I don't want you scaring him away."

Erik exited the backroom and came onto the floor.

"How do I look?"

Kimberlee's jaw hit the floor. He was so dashing, so handsome in a perfect black tuxedo. The mask she had helped him design would look absolutely stunning with it. Connie looked over at her friend and closed her mouth.

"You're beginning to drool, that's not very attractive."

"Can you blame me?"

"No, not really, I doubt my date will look that good. Erik, well done, you've managed to make our friend her speechless."

Erik blushed and took a bow.

"This isn't fair though, I have yet to see her gown."

"And you are not going to, it's bad luck before the prom" Connie said.

"I thought that was weddings…oh" he smiled.

"And we'll take our leave now. Dad, good job, we'll see you boys shortly."

"Behave yourselves," Connie's father warned.

"Never" Kimberlee replied smirking.

The girls exited the men's shop and went down the street to the bookstore. Once out of sight of the shop, Kimberlee slapped Connie on the arm jokingly.

"I can't believe you told him my dress looked like a wedding dress. Now he's going to freak."

"I didn't say anything of the sort; he said those words, not me."

"Yeah, but you sure left it open didn't you. 'You can't see her dress now it's bad luck'" she repeated.

"Yeah, well what did you want me to say, besides he smiled when he said it."

"Now he's going to have these visions of me in a white wedding gown, when that's not what my dress is at all."

"Shh, Lauren Simms is over there. If she hears us, your father and all of Paris will find out about Erik."

Both girls stopped talking but couldn't contain their laughter. Connie meant well, well actually she meant badly (in a good way). Lauren came over to them and they spoke with her briefly keeping all topics school related. After a while they excused themselves and made their way back to the shop. When they arrived Erik was just coming out of the changing room and gathering his cloak to leave.

"Alright Erik, so the night of the prom Kimberlee and yourself will come here to get ready. The arrangements have already been made for her to do so, but I'm afraid your father will probably want to be here to take pictures and such."

"Probably," she remarked.

"So may I suggest that you introduce this young man to your father as someone you met at school? This will protect your identity at the opera and from her father's wrath when he finds she has a date he knows nothing of."

"We'll figure something out, thanks again for everything sir" Erik said shaking the man's hand.

"You are welcome, both of you. I hope things will work out for you."

The two of them left and headed down the street back toward the opera house. At first they walked in silence, and then Erik took her hand in his and pulled her toward him and into an alleyway. He lifted her hand and gently kissed it looking into her eyes as he did so. He did not like what he saw there, he saw worry.

"What's wrong my love? I thought you liked the tux."

"I do, but Connie's dad was right, I have to introduce you to my father. If I don't, pardon my language here, but he's going to shit bricks. I remember back when Jacob and I started dating. I've never seen a man so determined to break someone."

"How do you mean?"

"You've heard of the third degree right?"

"Yes."

"Well my father gave Jacob the sixth degree, had a background check done, fingerprints, not literally but, well you get what I mean."

"He was merely protecting you."

"Yeah, well I'm surprised there was a second date after that. Although when I think back now, I think I know why."

"Why is that?"

"He just wanted to get into my pants and probably figured since I was a junior at the time that I would sleep with him, no problem. Yeah right, I never even kissed him or let him kiss me. It was a good thing we moved when we did."

"Then your father was right to be suspicious of him, though I think that he will see that my intentions are honourable."

"Yeah right, do you realize that over the last two weeks we've done almost everything but actually have sex?" she asked smirking.

"Well, alright, almost honourable" he said and then he kissed her.

"Come on Mr, we have to get back before anyone notices we are gone."

"You mean before Mme Giry notices."

"Yes, and we have to work out a story to tell my father of you. If you're going to meet him, you'd better be prepared."

"Then let's get going" he said leading the way back.

They entered the opera house through a secret door in the west side of the house, went through the chapel where Erik met Christine for her singing lessons and down to the labyrinth below. They arrived quickly to Erik's home through a secret door and were greeted by something either of them had seen coming. Sitting in Kimberlee's chair was…Mr. Lefavre.