How could I be so stupid?

by LiltingBanshee

Author´s note: Thanks for your support:) Ok time to let Raoul know...

Shdwcat27:Thanks, yeah they´re lovely right:) Erik will be here soon.

Wandering-Phantom: Yup:)

Phantomandvampirelover: Thanks, yeah she´s not too smart, but love can make you do crazy things...

inkpems: Thank you:)

phantomann: Thanks, Raoul´s here, Erik on his way:)

Christine was just about to close her locker when she felt someone plant a soft kiss on her neck. She turned around to see Raoul smiling at her.

"Hey gorgeous how have you been lately? I haven´t seen much of you the past couple of weeks" he said and leaned in to place a chaste kiss on her lips.

Not knowing what to do Christine lightly returned the kiss and smiled back at him.

"I´m really sorry Raoul, I´ve had a lot on my mind lately. I know I haven´t been very social" she said and avoided his eyes.

Gently he placed his fingers under her chin and lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Christine, is everything ok with us? You have seemed a little distant and it worries me. I tried to call you a couple of times, but your Mum kept telling me you couldn´t come to the phone. Have I done something to upset you?" he asked with worry in his eyes.

Christine felt a pang of guilt in her heart. He had always been good to her. A great childhood friend to whom friendly feelings had turned to sweet teenage love, but things were different now.
She grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently.

"Raoul you have done nothing to upset me. The problem lies with me. I...there´s something I need to tell you..." she trailed off.

"Are you sick Christine?" he asked concerned.

"No I´m not sick. I really don´t think this is the right place to tell you. My parents are out tonight so would you like to come over at around seven?" she asked him.

"Yeah sure Christine. It sounds serious..." he said.

"It is a serious matter Raoul. But promise me not to blame yourself for anything." She leaned up and kissed his cheek and then left him standing in the hallway with a feeling that whatever she was going to tell him he wasn´t going to like it.

Christine let Raoul into the house with a little smile. She was wearing a comfortable pair of slacks and a t-shirt, so his slim hopes of her intentions being to take their relationship to a new level left his mind instantly.

"Would you like a drink?" she offered as he follwed her into the kitchen.

"A beer would be great" he said.

Opening a beer for him and a soda for herself she let him up to her room.

Taking a sip of his beer he joined her on the bed and sighed.

"So Christine, are you ready to tell me your big secret?" he asked, intending it to be a bit of a joke.

She looked at her hands for a second before she spoke.

"Raoul do you remember the music composer who stayed with Meg´s mother?"

He nodded.

"He became quite a good friend of mine. He gave me singing lessons to help me gain my music college scholarship and he had such a lovely approach to music. He was a real genious Raoul" she said.

"I know you were fond of his talents Christine, but where are you going with this?" Raoul asked.

"I... along the way I fell in love with him. I know you might think it was just a silly teenage infatuation, but it wasn´t. I really loved him. I felt very ashamed seeing as he was older than me and... and I was with you. But he developed feelings for me too and we happened to start a relationship. A sexual relationship" she nearly whispered.

Raoul had gone quite pale and stared at her in shock. "You slept with another man behind my back?" he asked.

She nodded. "I´m so sorry Raoul. I was being a real bitch to you and there are no excuses for my behaviour. I really did love you and I hope we can stay friends, but I fully understand if you never want to see me again."

"How could you do this to me Christine? To us? Haven´t the past two years meant anything to you?" he said, raising his voice.

"Yes they have Raoul. I did love you; I still do, but not the way I used to." Tears were forming in her eyes now.

"I don´t believe this!" Raoul said and began pacing the room.

"There´s one more thing... I´m pregnant with his baby" Christine said. She might as well get it all out in one go.

Raoul stopped in his tracks and stared at her.

"Not only were you stupid enough to sleep with him, but you didn´t use protection? Christine what´s wrong with you? What are you going to do about it?" Raoul asked in despair.

"I can´t do anything. I´m 3 months pregnant. I´m going to have the baby" she said.

"I don´t know what to say Christine. I didn´t think you could do something like this, you´ve always used so much sense in everything you do. You were never the one I pictured in this situation. You´re being very selfish Christine. What about your parents? Your future? Me? The baby´s father? And the baby itself?" Raoul asked.

"I...I´m going to tell Erik and I think my parents will come around once the baby is born. I can take care of my child, we´ll be fine. As for you, I know I´ve hurt you badly. It´s up to you to decide how you want to be around me" Christine sighed.

"Well, right now I don´t feel like being anywhere near you. I really hope that guy will stand by you. You´re in for a rude awakening Christine, taking care of a child is not a game". Raoul got up from the bed. "I´ll see myself out. Good luck Christine. Don´t bother getting in touch for a while, I need to think."

"I understand..." she whispered.

As she heard the front door slam she fell back on her bed with a sigh.

'Was Raoul right? Was she being selfish?' She did seem to hurt everyone around her. But things would be fine once she got to talk to Erik. Erik would take care of them.

Raoul was lost in his thoughts when he felt someone sit down next to him.

"Are you having a staring contest with that sandwich or can I have it?" Meg Giry´s voice brought him out of his reverie. He flashed her a half-hearted smile and pushed the sandwich over to her.

"Knock yourself out" he said.

"Something seems to be bothering you Chagny. Need to talk?" Meg offered while chewing on his lunch.

"Christine is pregnant" he stated plainly.

"Oh, she told you…"Meg's smile faded.

"You knew?" Raoul asked.

"Yeah, she was at my house the day she found out" Meg said.

"Did she also tell you that it's not my kid? That she slept with your mother's house guest?" he asked.

"She told me that as well. How do you feel about it?" Meg felt sorry for him.

"Hurt. Disappointed. I didn't think Christine could act like this. I really want to be mad at her, but I can't. I feel sorry for her instead. Stuck with the baby and everything" he sighed.

"Do you know her parents wanted her to have an abortion, but she ran away from the clinic on the day she had the appointment?" Meg asked.

"She did what?" Raoul was surprised. "She's acting so unlike herself! Defying Charles and Marie's orders! What's happening with her?".

"I know it hurts you to hear this Raoul, but she has fallen in love. She loves Erik dearly and she is protecting their child the way she finds it best. She's doing everything she can to hide the pregnancy right now, so don't go around telling anyone. She will tell her parents when she's ready. They are not going to like it so if you at some point get over the hurt you feel at loosing her I know she'll appreciate the support. She is going to need all her friends Raoul" Meg said and looked at him.

Raoul nodded thoughtfully. "I'll have to think about it Meg, but thanks for telling me" he said.

"I've got to go, thanks for the sandwich" Meg said and rose from the table.

Raoul looked up at her. "You're welcome. And thanks you for listening and for being a good friend to Christine".

She flashed him a smile and left.

Christine let herself into the house. She was quite grateful that the early summer weather was behaving so badly with rain and cold winds. It gave her an excuse to wear sweaters that wouldn't reveal her 4½ months pregnant belly. She had really tried to find the right time to tell her parents, but with their previous reaction fresh in mind she had lost her courage over and over again.

Picking the mail up off the floor she immediately spotted her name on a little envelope in the handwriting she had longed to see for months. Dumping the rest of the mail on the kitchen table she raced upstairs and ripped the letter open.

My Dearest Christine.

My sincere apologies for not responding to your letters sooner, but I have been terribly busy preparing for the autumn season at the opera house.

I hope you are well and I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming exams. You are a bright young woman and you will do well.

I am looking very much forward to seeing you during the summer when I again shall visit my dear friend Anne Giry.

Until then I wish you well.

All my love

Erik

Christine was so happy she almost cried. He still loved her and she would see him again shortly. She just hoped he would be as excited about the baby as she was.

As everyone expected Christine did well at the exams. Her parents were extremely proud, but Christine was worried. She was 5 months pregnant now. That would be impossible to hide under the dress she was to wear for the exam party. She had to come clean.

The family was seated at the dinner table. Christine had finally gathered her courage when fate took a different turn.

Finishing his dinner Charles Daáe turned to his daughter.

"Christine as you know your mother and I were at the Ascott's party last night" he said. "We happened to run into Doctor George Webber. He kindly asked how you were doing now you had decided to go through with the pregnancy."

Trouble ahead...