((All right, I shall try my best to use more clues in the context or smaller words as to make my story easier to understand, though by no means do I plan on dumbing it down. On another note, I am aware that a lot of you enjoy role playing. Go to http/www.The-phantoms-lair. I am still in the process or working on it, but it should be a nice rp site .))

I remained seated on my bed for a long while, hugging my knees to my chest. I periodically would steal a glance at the mirror, wondering if perhaps Erik was surveying me from behind the glass, taking speculation. I shivered, scowling over at the doorway to Erik's layer. Once upon a time I had been very fond of it. Now as I gazed upon its ornately inscribed detail and gleaming face I could feel nothing but a sort of terrified chagrin. "Stay calm... you'll get away... you will." I breathed, clamping my eyes firmly shut. "You're never going back there... it'll be okay... never..."

It was a good three hours before Rachelle burst in through the door, the bags under her eyes and the way her dark hair lacked its normal luster and shine made her appear enervated. On first glance she looked perturbed, but her eyes instantaneously gleamed, her hands flying to her mouth as she rested her gaze upon me. In a matter of seconds I found myself entangled in her violent embrace, trying desperately to myself away. "You had me so worried!" she gave a dry sob, relinquishing her grip on me and holding me at arms length. She scrutinized me, and once she was positive that I had not sustained any visible injuries since the last time she had saw me, she smacked me across the front of the face.

I had not been able to pull away as her hand made contact with my cheek. I careened backwards, instinctively bringing a hand to the point of contact and massaging it gently. "What was that for?" I gasped as I grabbed a hold of the red quilt of my bed in order to prevent myself from staggering backwards even further. It was then I realized that the room was dimly lit. Rachelle's bed was made neatly, the pillows propped up against the ostentatious bed stand, perfectly parallel to each other. There were no wrinkles in the sheets to mar the perfect order of things. Rachelle only made her bed on those times when she was particularly bothered, or perhaps she lacked any other mundane task. Whatever the cast, she had been worried for my safety. I knew this much was true.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR? WHAT WAS THAT FOR! BLOODY HELL, I GOT NO SLEEP LAST NIGHT BECAUSE OF YOU! HALF OF THE CHORUS GIRLS WERE LOOKING FOR YOU, HOW CAN YOU STAND HERE AND-"

"Calm down Rach." I said in what I hoped was a soothing voice. "I'm fine. You see? No injuries." I waved a hand around airily, though this probably did little to prove my point. "Its all right." A wave of warmth enveloped me. I was in the company of my friend now. Nothing could go wrong.

Rachelle, who up until the moment had by this point turned red in the face seemed to be calming down, however tedious the process was. Her features were whipped blank, though her shoulders still heaved from heavy breathing. "Okay..." she repeated in an emotionless tone. When I nodded, she seemed to take my word. Sitting down on her bed, she stared determinedly at her hands. She palpitated as if she were cold, though it seemed to me as though the quivering was merely from relief. "I thought you had gone crazy and ran away or something. Where did you go?"

I could not help but frown as I leaned against the dresser at the foot of the bed, stroking the cherry wood with my hands. "Why would I do something like that?" I asked incredulously.

"You didn't answer my question. Where were you?"

"I was on the roof." I could not stop the words from being born from my mouth. Nevertheless, it was possible I could make this sound as though it were a reasonable explanation and not a half thought out plot to keep Rachelle off my back. "I... I think I'm going to accept that offer of Madam Hewlett's. I want to become a Prima Donna...and you know, its custom for them. At the beginning of the holidays. They'll need someone to play Christine, and I thought that if I really got the feel for what she went through... you know, familiarizing myself with the set... well, do you think my voice is good enough?" Erik had told me he would make me a Prima Donna. I did not doubt that Rachelle and Chelsea's inclemency and verbal assaults ('You betrayed us!') would be very time consuming to deal with, but if the Phantom demanded it, then how could I countervail when I could barely resist his voice?

"You spent the night on the roof?" Rachelle could not refrain from laughing. "The roof? Its freezing outside! Its nearly winter! Of course, I mean, its you... and you always did want to be an actress..."

"You mean you're not angry with me?" I asked, mouth gaping open. I was unable to decide wether or not to be relieved or hurt. "You aren't angry that I left you to be with those prats? All the stupid Prima Donna's who think they're better than everyone else merely because they have nice hair and they can actually sing?" I myself had never been fond of the Prima Donna's. It was true that most of them liked to think they were superior to the Chorus girls and dancers. They took particular pride in their appearance, and I doubted that they spent much less than an hour or two to compose themselves for classes in the morning. If you did not fit into this stereotype, it was typical that you were begging to be allowed back into the chorus girl section within only a week.

"Well when you put it like that..." Rachelle said, attempting a smile.

I simpered, though this smile did not correctly portray my feelings of dread.

I was going to be a chorus girl. Things had just begun.

Sunday passed with little event, for which I was glad. On Monday morning when I reported to Mr. Guandiano's classroom, I was promptly handed a schedule change without a single word. I peered down at it, a small groan emitting from my lips. The only class that had changed was chorus, for I had now been placed in the Prima Donna section, just as I knew I would be. "Lovely." I sighed, massaging my temples in order to calm myself. I allowed the paper to fall idly to the floor without a second thought. What a catastrophe that turned out to be, for it launched a chain of extremely unfortunate events.

"You, a Prima Donna!" I recognized James voice immediately. I felt as though I were being antagonized more than anything. I glowered at this boy... this boy who had once been my friend... my dislike was apparent as I lashed out a hand towards the paper. My fingers clutched at midair and my hand dove back to my table. James was looking over my schedule charily, and his skepticism angered me more than anything he could have possibly said. He ran a hand through his hair, not bothering to even glance at me as he repeated, "Prima Donna?"

"Is that so hard to believe?" I retorted, grabbing the paper up with great ferocity as it was offered to me. James seemed unfazed, merely interested. "Relax, I just didn't know you could sing. I didn't mean anything by it... Every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday we have class together. Before the actual performances we join you at practice on Thursdays."

"Oh joy. Forgive me if I can't contain my excitement."

"Relax, I come in peace." the sixteen year old raised both hands in what was apparent submission. He simpered, chuckling to himself. "I mean, the past is in the past right?" making amends did not seem like something James was willing to do, yet every word he spoke, however humorous he tried to make it sound, it sounded quiet sincere. I flicked my hair over my shoulder, eyeing him with apprehension. The past was to difficult for me to forget by this point. I was quiet sure that nothing anyone could say would make up for it...

"Er, we'll see." I responded. The smug smile on James' pleasant features was enough to make me consider changing my mind, but instead I tried to focus my attention elsewhere. However, the next words that were spoken caused me to whip around quiet violently. "Cool. What about going to see the Phantom with me after rehersal?"

"W-w-what? Not that stupid Phantom of the Opera thing again!" I stammered, trying to fight the look of horror from my face.

"Nooo... I was talking about the movie Phantom. Its supposed to have something to do with ghosts, hence the name. You're a Prima Donna now. The Prima Donna's always get together and go to the movies every Thursday. Do you want to go?" he seemed slightly amused as he spoke. I however, having recovered with amazing haste, did not seem to find it quiet so funny. I positively refused to fraternize with the enemy.

"Actually, I think I'm busy."

"Busy doing what?"

"Busy preventing myself from becoming anything like a Prima Donna." the bell rang. I had expected James to dispatch expeditiously as he usually did, in order to search out his friends and still have a decent amount of time to visit with them. This time, however, he fell into step behind me, a determined aura about him. "Come on, if you don't want to even talk to me when we go, I think I'll get over it, but you have to come! I'm only trying to help you survive in your new choir. I know that you don't expect to be welcomed back with open arms." he dodged pass other students in pursuit of me as I desperately tried to loose him among the crowd.

"And if I do go, what then? I don't think it'll really make a difference." I sighed, halting for the first time. "I promise I'll think about it as long as you just leave me alone. Whatever you say, we are not friends anymore. It doesn't work like that." fortuitously for me, the crowed enfolded him and we found ourselves separated. I was able to speed up to my next class, where I informed Chelsea of the conversation I had just held. Her shock took me off-guard, and then I remembered. "Oh! I didn't tell you I was going to be a Prima Donna, did I!"

Chelsea shook her head with a frown. "No..." she attempted to smile. "You must have gotten some help from the angel of music."

I nodded grimly. "I guess you could say that."

Several hours later I found myself in a commodious classroom, larger by far than that of the chorus girls. The walls were obscured by posters of former productions and notices. There were no desks. Everyone was seated on the floor, conversing gaily with all of the other Prima Donnas. It would be very simple to tell them apart from the chorus girls. Each of them had their hair pulled up in various ways. Those who did let it hand made sure there was an elegant wave to it. Tank tops and skirts were among the only things worn, though here and there some stylish jeans could be made out. There certainly was a lot of pink. I was aware that this came from a superstition originating back to the prime days of the Opera Populaire, when Carlotta still stared in the productions. I was unknowledgeable when it came to such superstitions, but I still felt dreadfully out of place. I felt all eyes on me as I intruded. I could sense that the smiles I received were fake, but I returned them nevertheless.

"Good morning class." said a dreadfully strict voice, which harbored a distinctly french accent. I had still not left the doorway at this point. I turned my head ninety degrees in order to better see the instructor. I had seen Mademoiselle Giry about the school before. Every time, I had gotten the impression of someone who was kind, relenting, merciful. At this moment I had difficulty distinguishing what might have made me think that at the time. Her long blonde hair was pulled up in a bun atop her head. She looked to be in her late thirties, with eyes that looked neither blue nor gray. She wore a very old fashioned stile of cloths, no doubt unlike those that were worn back in the days of Christine.

"As you can see, we have a new student today. This is Adriane Charday. She shows great promise, and I expect her to be treated with the same respect as all of you." Madam Giry smiled briefly at me, placing a hand lightly on my shoulder. I felt only somewhat relieved. Did the others truly have to have a dictum in order to treat me with respect? Why must they be advised? I smiled weakly, sitting myself down on the floor as far away from everybody else as I could. Mademoiselle Giry made her way over to the far corner of the room, were a grand piano lay dormant. "We shall start scales in five minutes time." she instructed, shuffling through some papers that were scattered atop the gleaming surface of the instrument.

"Hello Adriane." I recognized that voice. I turned around to face a girl, who's layered blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail atop her head. Her features were all to familiar. She had been my friend once, back when James and me were friends as well... back before the incident back in the part of the abandoned building about a block away from the opera house... Behind her, I recognized three other girls, each smiling uncertainly. "Hello Regina." I responded to the girl who had addressed me. The other three, Katey, Brittany, and Amanda all remained silent, as if unsure how to greet me.

Regina was bold enough to speak up. "There was some talk going around that you might become a Prima Donna. I had hoped it was true." when I didn't answer, she continued, "I think you should know that some of the others... well, they're not pleased to have someone who might be a potential danger to them having any chance at all in leading in a performance. You really should be careful."

"Don't worry, I think that I can-"

My less than kind remark was cut short as Mademoiselle Giry stuck a note on the piano. Talking subsided at once, and all gazes were focused upon the instructor. "I thought that today the scales could be started off by Erica and then Adriane might sing for us, since she is new. Adriane, just copy what Erica does. I'm sure you'll do fine." I swallowed past a lump that had formed in my throat. I would make a fool of myself, I knew it!

It was easy to locate Erica. She rose from sitting position and remained the only one standing, waiting for the keys to be played. She was smug as she began to sing. I recognized the notes from 'The Phantom of the Opera'. They were Christine's last notes in the song... Erica's voice was clear and pleasant. By the jealous looks of adoration, she was among the best.

All to soon her song was ended, and Mademoiselle Giry said, "Your turn Adriane." The notes were played, and I instinctively opened my mouth, my voice ringing forth. I sang my best, focusing my gaze on the ceiling the entire time. Before long the song was over, and I was aware of an uncomfortable silence. I hesitantly looked to the all those seated on the floor. Awe-stuck gazes met my eyes. I recoiled. Had I been that horrid? I turned to look at Ms. Giry, who was nodding approvingly. "That is what I called singing. Each any everyone one of you, take note. That is the voice of someone who practices." but I don't practice, I thought in stupefaction as I sat down. The rest of my first class was a blur. Erik. He hadn't really taught me. He had forced me to sing, that was true, but had I really learned anything? I met Chelsea and Rachelle on the main stage sometime late, still trying to get over the events of earlier.

"How did it go?" Chelsea asked, popping a chocolate into her mouth as she rested her head on the wall behind her. "I heard that you did amazing during scales."

Maybe now was a good time to tell them. "Yeah. I think I did..."

"Since when have you became such an astonishing singer, Adri? Before you were so... average." how I hated the word average. I had average grades, average talents, average everything. Singing, it seemed, was were I exceeded average. Rachelle's words hardly bothered my at this point though. I was readying myself to make what might possibly be a huge mistake.

"The Phantom... I think he taught me."

"No, I was being serious."

"And I am to!" I hissed, voice low. I glanced around. If Erik was following me, I did not doubt my words would exacerbate tension between us. He would be angry with me. There had been a behest... he told me not to say anything, and I was betraying his trust. "I've met him! He came to me. Through our mirror! The phantom- he's not just a legend! He's real!" my two friends exchanged looks, eyes ample. No one spoke for a moment, and then... laughter.

"That hilarious Adriane!" Rachelle choked, tears rolling down her cheek as she and Chelsea hugged each other in their histerical laughter. "But I know that you don't believe in the Phantom. Besides, why would he come to you?!"

"I'm not joking! He di- hey, what do you mean 'why would he come to me'?"

"Oh, your gorgeous hun, but... come on! Christine was a pushover. She would have gone off and married him for Raol. I think that the Phantom would prefer to go after someone who might actually like, marry him! Your much to difficult!" Chelsea gasped for air as the clutched at her sides. This erratic behavior offended me. My two best friends did not believe me! "Fine!" I murmured, jumping from the stage. "Don't believe me."

Wednesday came far to quickly for my liking. I had been determined to evade anyone who might want to talk to me. The first two people on that list included Rachelle and Chelsea, who seemed bewildered every time I turned from them. I was sure that by then they decided I might have a mild case of schizophrenia or something along those lines. I had become a zombie through the past few days, neither speaking when not necessary nor showing much emotion, two things I tended to do when upset with a friend.

And on Wednesday, I was increasingly agitated. Nearly every abrupt noise caused me to jump. I was sure that my behavior appeared suspicious. Unfortunate enough for James, he had not noticed my chance in behavior, and he made the dreadful mistake of trying to talk to me. "Have you decided wether or not you'll be coming with us to the movies tomorrow?" he asked me during math.

I wasted no time in rounding on him. My words were peremptory and brusque. "I don't plan on going anywhere in a mile range of you if I can!" I snapped. He drew back in obvious surprise and did not make any further inquires or comments.

When Rachelle tried to appologize for, 'whatever she had done', she met the same scurrilous manor. "Think of that next time you decide I'm crazy, will you?" I asked. The hurt look I received brought me back to reality once more, and I shuffled my feet uneasily. "Sorry." I grumbled. "I've had a bad week so far. I'm not angry at you or Chelsea... I just need some rest." I said. Rachelle agreed and allowed me to hurry off towards the dorm, since she had choir practice anyway.

I knew that I was slightly early when I walked into the dorm, but I had hoped to get on Eric's good side. If he had heard me tell Rachelle and Chelsea... "Erik?" I asked, striding to the mirror. "I"m here Erik!" there was only silence to reply to me.

"Maybe I was dreaming." I muttered, sitting down on my bed, hanging my head. "Hopefully..." how I wished desperately for it all to have been a horrible nightmare. How I hoped that it might have just been a trick of my mind...

But soon there was a faint singing, and it gradually grew louder until it seemed to envelope the room in its sweet melody.

"I am your angel of music.

Come to me angel of music.

I am your angel of music.

Come to me angel of music."

Erik came into view, once more offering his right hand to me. I rolled my eyes as I stood and proceeded over to the mirror. "Please, do you really think that I'm going to take your hand?"