Chapter 2Coffee Shop Drama

The next morning, Meg invited Christine for coffee in the college's café, Common Grounds. "I discovered this neat little spot during orientation over the summer," Meg had said. The girls talked for a few hours in the cozy, dark café. Meg entered Crawford College this year as a freshman majoring in dance. Her mother, Madame Giry had just gotten a job at the school as an adjunct music professor.

"So how did you and Raoul meet?" Christine asked. "He probably told me yesterday while waiting for you, but I had zoned out." She started blushing. Meg noticed and got a gleam in her eye.

"Raoul tends to have that effect on most girls."

"Yeah...Oh!" Christine looked up startled. What had she done? She did all but admit that she was attracted to Raoul right in his girlfriend's face! "I'm, I'm sorry!" she stammered. "I-I didn't mean anything by it..."

"Why should I care if you like him?" She then realized Christine's misunderstanding, and started to giggle. "Ah, I see now. You're worried that I'm the jealous girlfriend. No, we dated for a while, but that was it. We are just really good friends now." She continued and answered Christine's initial question. "We went to the same prep school academy. I was more focused on dance and him on business and finance, but we did see each other during core classes and around campus. We just sort of hit it off, him being class President and me being Captain of our dance team. I never thought I would have a relationship with somebody like him. He is heir to practically and empire! You've heard of Chagney Enterprises, right?" Christine nodded. They were one of the largest conglomerates in the world. She had not thought to put Raoul and the company together.

"When he graduates, he will be working for his father until he is experienced enough to run the company himself. Talk about pressure! Getting back to Raoul and I, we tried dating, but we both quickly realized that we were better off as best friends, almost like brother and sister."

"You two certainly look like siblings," Christine chimed in. "I..."

"Vhat do you means you are out oof soy!" an angry screeching voice filled the small café and cut off Christine. The two girls turned to look at the screaming girl. They couldn't quite decide which was louder: the girl's ranting, or her bright red and orange Hawaiian-print dress.

"I need a soy latté!"

"I'm sorry, miss, we are all out of soy until tomorrow," the clerk said with wide eyes.

"I VANT TO SPEAK TO ZEE MANAGER!"

"Carlotta Guidicelli," Meg said at Christine's questioning look. "She's a transfer student from Italy. She's a junior in voice, I think. Total prima donna. Raoul was telling me about her. She supposedly trained at the Paris Opera Academy for like ever, and thinks she is god's musical gift to the world. She can hit unbelievable notes, but secretly, Mom thinks she sounds like a dying cat." Meg and Christine both giggled. The black-haired girl stormed over and slammed a hand down on their table.

"And just vhat are you two laughing at?" she snapped. She did indeed have an accent.

"Just the fact that I think the clerk needs to find a new change of pants," Meg replied without missing a beat. "What with your voice and all, that would be enough to scare anybody!" Carlotta glared down on them as Christine and Meg tried to cover their giggles.

"You vill learn to laugh at me yous insignificant children!" She marched back to the door and slammed it open, letting loose several phrases and expletives in Italian.

"I'm sorry about that, Christine. I forgot that you will probably have most of your classes with her."

"Don't worry about it. I've handled worse than her," Christine smiled at Meg and took her last sip of green tea. Inside, though, she wasn't so sure of herself. People like Carlotta somehow seemed to get to her.

Meg had to run off to her first class of the year, so Christine decided to take advantage of the warm sunny weather to explore the campus. She soon found herself in the middle of the brick music buildings, the place she would spend most of her time once classes started. She opened the door to one of the buildings, Sullivan Hall, and went to step inside. She looked up just in time to collide with a tall black-clad figure on his way out.

"Opps! I'm sorry," she said wide-eyed and looked down in embarrassment. The man cleared his throat in response and hurried out into the sunshine. It took a few moments for the image of the man to reach her brain. He was dressed completely in black, with a stylish black trench coat, and a black fedora that hid his face in shadow. What struck Christine as odd was the bright white mask he wore over right side of his face. She felt strangely drawn to him and was overcome with the urge to introduce herself. She turned around quickly to track him down, but even though their confrontation happened only seconds ago, he was nowhere to be seen. Disappointed, she entered the building.

"Well, who is this guy that has you all talkative all of a sudden?" Meg asked later in the cafeteria.

"I don't know, but he looked too old to be a freshman," Christine replied, taking a forkful of spaghetti.

"Describe him. I've probably seen him around," Raoul insisted between bites of garlic bread.

"Well, he was tall, probably little over six foot, dressed in all black with a fedora and a trench coat..."

"Ok, that weeds out little over half of the male student population around here," Raoul smirked, referring to the odd dressing trends of the school's art students.

"He was also pretty handsome from what little I could see of his face. It was in shadow from his hat and the right half was covered with a mask..." Christine jumped at the sound of Raoul's fork dropping on his empty plate and Meg started choking on her chocolate milk.

"Did you just say he was wearing a mask?" Raoul asked, eyes wide in alarm.

"Yes, a white one, but I don't see..." she stammered, confused at her friends' sudden reactions.

"Stay way from him, Christine," Raoul learned closer and spoke with a low warning tone. "That man, that thing, is dangerous."

"Dangerous? What do you mean? What has he done?" Christine asked in frightened curiosity. Raoul scanned the room and then proceeded in a hushed voice.

"He has been here longer then most students remember. He never seems to go to class, and he never graduates. He's rarely seen around campus at any time and very few even know his name, so most just call him The Phantom. He has no known family, and rumor has it that he is a murderer. Of the several 'suicides' that have happened on campus, most people think he murdered them or drove them to it. That man is unpredictable, and a cold-blooded killer. Stay away from him, Christine. You too, Meg. Just STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" His expression was one of seriousness and fear. Meg was practically his sister and he wasn't sure exactly what he felt about Christine yet, but he did not want to see these two innocent girls fall at the hands of this monster.

"Hey, I heard that Delta Cappa Gamma is throwing a party tomorrow night in celebration of the new school year and their new members. We should go!" Meg said enthusiastically after a few silent moments.

"Sure, I'm game," Raoul said in response, chugging the last of his ginger ale.

"Umm, a frat party?" Christine asked hesitantly. "I've never been to one but I've heard they get pretty wild."

"Oh come on, Christine. What's the worst that can happen when we'll be there with you?" Meg grabbed a hold of Christine's arm, face full of excitement and anticipation. Christine smiled and shrugged. "Alright, I'll go. Like you said, what's the worst that can happen?