Christine: (hands covering eyes) Is it over?

Leighann: No, there's still one left to go…

Kilt Girl: Oh Errriiikk! (Runs to get her kiss)

Christine: Oh heaven! I wish it would end…

(Some painful silence)

Leighann: Erik said he's in desperate need of lip balm.

Christine: …

Red Rose

Chapter XIII: A Change of Scenery

The de Chagny Mansion-

"Raoul, I'm terribly sorry for you. I know how dearly you loved Ms. Daae."

Philippe de Chagny leaned back onto his chair, grasping the wooden arms with slight discomfort. He was much too kind to take perverted pleasure in his younger brother's suffering. Philippe only admired young Raoul, and was proud to see how successful the boy had become.

Yet Philippe watched gravely as his sibling stirred a pot of boiling soup over an open flame. A thick scent of broth filled the air, traveling swiftly into Philipee's nostrils.

"I'm surprised that your strength has returned to you so soon. I had expected months of bed rest," he sighed deeply.

"Yes, and I thank you for helping me out…"

"You are my brother, it'd be wrong not to."

Raoul continued making his lunch, refusing to stare at nothing else but its liquid contents. The past month, he had expected himself to die. Maybe, maybe he even wanted to. A world of loneliness and depression was not for him. Up to the day when Philippe had taken him home from the hospital, Raoul found himself in deep thought of how someone could survive without the undying love a woman. He'd lie in his bed, pulling the covers over his eyes. Only then, would he allow his soul to drift away into darkness. Raoul still denied the fact that his joy, Christine had left him for an Angel of Doom.

As if reading his thoughts, Philippe spoke, "I can hardly bring myself to believe that such a beautiful mademoiselle has left you for an unworthy, misshapen man. It disgusts me, Raoul!" His voice seemed drained of all sympathy and was replaced with a cold annoyance. "Do you honestly think I enjoy watching you mope around all day? You've been nothing but a lifeless fool! This is complete blasphemy, I tell you!" He suddenly stood up, meeting Raoul at his side. "I want you, Raoul, to start over! Take back your life which you have so easily lost these past few weeks!"

Raoul glanced up at Philippe with glassy eyes, as if he were about to cry rivers. "My life will never be the same, do you hear? It will be a long while before Raoul de Chagny ever learns to love again! Don't you dare tell me otherwise, Philippe!"

"You talk as if there is no hope left in the world for you!"

Raoul stared at him warily. "Then perhaps there isn't!" And he continued with the stirring of his soup.

"Lies! You are only telling yourself lies!" The nobleman spat, "There are plenty of woman who seem to think of you as God himself! Raoul, who wouldn't?" He paused briefly before starting his next sentence. This one would prove a point. "At the Opera house, for instance… I have noticed many ballet girls, chorus girls, gazing at you. If I am not mistaken, Christine's friend, the ballerina, she seems to have a liking for you. I have taken notice of this during our time at the Populaire."

"The Giry child? Impossible!"

Philippe grinned as he watched Raoul's flesh heat up. "Is it though?"

"You're insane!" Just as Raoul was about to scoop the steaming soup into a bowl, his spoon managed to slip quickly from his grasp and the hot agony splashed him in the face.

This caused Philippe to blink in shock, watching as his brother desperately went in search for water, to cool his burning sensation. "Raoul? Are you all right?"

There was a moan of pain.

"Shall I get you a mask?"

"It's NOT necessary!" Raoul growled, mentally cursing him.

………

Dear Diary,

I've been down here now for two and a half weeks. Not to say that I'm not enjoying myself. I am, greatly. Erik has given me you, as a quicker way to pass the time. I've never had a diary before. When I was a child, I'd been traveling with father. I would have no desire to take time out of my day to record its fabulous events. But then again, what seven-year-old would want to? Now, being a woman, I have all the excitement there is, for wanting to write down my thoughts and feelings.

To start off, I wish Erik would sleep. I've finally begun to realize that he replaces his slumber with music. Not that I'm complaining. We both know what his music does to me. I just hate seeing him look so tired at times. When Erik insists on staying up, I'd ask if I could stay up with him. He simply shakes his head, saying I need my rest.

Same goes for him!

I wonder if he would take me back to the dormitories for awhile. I need to bathe again, and the lake thing didn't go too well. Once Erik stayed with me, I was a little bit more confident to clean myself. But I swear, something brushed by my foot. It felt oddly of the flesh of a human, and I could even feel his bones! My face turned pale. I was probably just imagining things. When I looked back up to Erik for reassurance, I noticed he couldn't quite meet my eyes…

Dormitories are much better when it comes to baths.

Christine

P.S. I wouldn't mind in seeing everybody. I miss them so!

Christine closed the diary and placed it gingerly onto her bedspread for later. It was lunch time, and any moment Erik would be flying in with something…interesting for her to eat. At times, Christine didn't even recognize the food on her plate, but choked it down with a small smile. For a genius, she would've expected better cooking skills from him.

"Christine! I bring you your lunch, same time as usual. Not a second less!" Erik glided in, the dish resting steadily on the top of his hand, and placed it in front of Christine.

She smiled thankfully, looking down at the meal. Her eyes slightly widened as Christine actually was able to properly identify her…waffles…toast…and orange juice!

"Erik! This looks delisous!" Giggling, Christine took the fork from him. The syrup, the fruit, it was all too good to be true.

And then she hesitated. "Erik…"

"Yes, mon ange?" He said as if he had possessed the innocence of a newborn child. If Erik were not the mysterious, slightly naughty Opera Ghost that he was, Christine would've imagined Erik batting his eyelashes.

"Did you have assistance with the making of this lunch?"

He seemed a bit hurt at that question. "Am I not capable of making my dear some nice, pleasurable waffles?"

"No, but-"

"Can I help it if I never properly learned how to cook?" He waved a spoon in the air, as if he we making a speech.

"That's not what I said-"

"Am I a lost cause when it comes to the world of food?"

"Erik, you are a bit skin-"

The utensil flung across the room. "Skinny? Skinny? Christine, did you know that the average human being only has to eat once a day? I mean, would you prefer I was fat? I happen to be a very attractive, deformed man and-"

"Erik!" Christine took him by the shoulders, waiting for a calm, collected answer.

"I received help from Madame Giry…" He looked down shamefully.

She laughed. "Well now. Was that so hard? And you don't have to look so sad! I'm sure you were a good, little helper!" Christine lightly kissed his uncovered cheek.

"I helped stir the waffle batter." Erik muttered from the corner of his lips.

"Did you really? What else did you do?"

"Madame Giry yelled at me for burning the toast… I had no choice but to start over…"

"Madame Giry! I'm surprised at her!" Christine rubbed Erik's back in comfort. "You did I fine job, I'm sure of it." And taking the knife and fork once more, she sliced into the golden surface.

She took a bite of the blueberry waffle and nearly died with how heavenly it tasted.

"Christine?"

"Erik, they're wonderful!" She blushed as Erik continued to stare at her devouring his waffles baked with love.

"Then I am happy, Christine."

Taking a breath from her indulgence, Christine asked another question. "Speaking of Madame Giry, do you think you could take me back up to the dormitories…just for a bath?"

Flashback

"Erik…is there something in the water?"

"…"

"Erik, is there?"

"…"

"Well, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. It's not like there's any dead bodies or anything."

"…"

"Erik? Erik?"

Silence.

"Heaven, there is!"

Erik blushed remembering that Christine shot out of the water like a bat out of hell, completely forgetting that she was, well…not clothed. His face automatically turned crimson.

"Erik? What's wrong?"

He shook the thought away. "I believe the dormitories would be a better environment for you, my dear. I shall take you up there myself, once you have finished your lunch, which now that I look at it, looks more like a breakfast."

"Then we'll call it a brunch…"

"All right then, brunch. Eat well, Christine. I will come back for you shortly."

And so, Erik left Christine to her waffles.

………

Christine: This chapter was a bit humorous. What did you think, Erik, Leighann?

Erik: (wrapping an arm around me) I especially enjoyed when the fop got burned by his soup. Clumsy fool.

Christine: That was actually based on a real event, Erik…

Erik: (interested) Really?

Leighann: Oh yes! Our friend Penny was making cup o' noodle soup, and managed to get herself burned. She was this close to lowering herself to a mask.

Erik: …

Leighann: (laughs nervously) It works for you though!

Christine: So you may all thank Penny for my flow of inspiration.

Erik: Review, or suffer the unfortunate fate of my Punjab lasso!

Christine: First he's kissing, now he's killing…

Leighann: Talk about mood swings…