Deception:

Erik and Willow made their way to class the next day. Upon entering the room, they were bombarded by a rather hyperactive Sandra.

"Did you talk to Kristi? She called me. She said she thought that you were Erik for real… real Erik…" She gave a dreamy smile before flouncing away before either of the two could answer her.

"Yeah… they are friends… you can tell." Willow murmured softly.

Erik rolled his eyes. "I think they share the same hyperactivity drive." Willow grinned at the look of disgust on his face before they both made their way to the back of the room to sit down until class started.

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"I am getting' ahfullah seeick aff zat girl. When do Iii geet zee Erik?" Carlotta leaned over towards Rafe and growled softly.

"As soon as my plan starts. I guarantee that Willow will run from Erik before the day is over." He gave a vicious smile. "Run from him, and right into my arms."

Both smiled wickedly as the teacher came into the class. The plan was about to be put into action.

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"Perfect!" Willow heard the teacher shout as she and Erik finished yet another segment of 'Music of the Night'. He was positive that the would be prepared to perform within the month. As nervous as it made her, she couldn't feel more happy, what with whom her partner was.

Erik, on the other hand, was getting rather nervous. In front of all of these people? I was going to have to reaccount the worst moments of his life. He was going to have to have his new obsession rip his mask off, while he sat there and pretended to let her go away with this new fop… When was it going to end?

However, the smile that she gave him was more than worth the small performance.

"Erik." Carlotta came up behind him a few moments later, as Willow and Rafe were singing 'All I Ask of You' much to his sick disdain.

"Yes?" He asked, finally happy that this woman was good for something, even if only a distraction from this stupid song.

"I waz vondering… ooould oou bee kind enouff, Monsieur James has requested zat I fetch Weelow's costume for zee next practi'ce. 'Owever, eets on zee top shelf. Ooould oou bee kind enouff to get eet for me?"

A chance to get out of the room, and help Willow at the same time? "Of course."

He nodded and left with Carlotta, which Willow noticed, even though she was indeed in the middle of a passionate 'kiss' with Rafe. She let her eyes leave the room with them, and watched as Carlotta looked over her shoulder at her with a rather vicious grin. What was she going to do with Erik?

Suddenly, she couldn't wait for practice to be over.

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"Now, I know eet's 'round here sommahwhere." Carlotta complained again, shuffling through the closet. She looked again at the door, and then a large smile came across her face.

"Did you find it yet?" Erik asked, already annoyed that he had been kept for as long as he had. He wanted to get back to Willow.

"Eh… yes.. eet's right uppah there. Canna you reech eet?" Erik turned, and saw a piece of clothing up on the top shelf of the closet. He nodded at once, and reach up to get it.

It was at that moment three things happened at once.

Carlotta slipped around in front of him, brought his hands down around her, and plastered herself to the front of him, so that he was sure that if someone had saw him, it would look like he was making out with her.

At that moment, the door opened, and a rather shocked sentence came out.

"So… that's how it's going to be?" Erik turned sharply, to see Leanne's wide eyes, tears brimming. "I can't believe you!" She slammed the door, and he watched her head run off down the hall.

"Where were we?" Carlotta asked, looping her arms back around him. Erik, in a fit of rage, shoved her from him.

"You're disgusting." He growled at her.

"Ah, but now… Hoo vill bee your girl?" She laughed throatily, while Erik glared at her.

"Certainly not you!" He got out between gritted teeth. She blinked large brown eyes at him and smiled.

"Ah, but Weelow… she vill run to Rafe…" She laughed again, and made to reach for Erik.

He had other plans. He turned around sharply, and threw the door open, and then happily slammed it in Carlotta's pouting face.

"Willow!" He shouted, running down the hall in the direction that he had seen her head disappear. He hoped that he wasn't too late.

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