How could this be true? Time travel? Through a mirror? Was he joking? No, he couldn't be. He couldn't because he and Raoul weren't in the Check-In book! But, how could it possibly be true? What am I to believe? I thought to myself as I paced the floor, growing more and more anxious with every step. Suddenly, there was a series of knocks at the door. "Ember, let me in! Let me explain it to you! I know it's hard to believe but it's true! Please just give me five minutes!", Erik pleaded.

"No. I can't let you in. I should've known not to trust someone I hardly knew! What I don't understand is why you'd make up something this stupid, this unbelievable, this absurd!..."

"Please.. Just trust me this once! Have I ever done anything to make you not trust me?"

To this, I had no response. He hadn't done anything wrong. Oh no, I'm giving in again! I at once opened the door to find him out of breath and leaning against the wall. I led him into my room and instructed him to sit on the bed while I got him some ice water. I finally sat down when he said,

"Thank you. For letting me in.. I ran up the stairs after you and found that I had another long flight of stairs to climb before reaching your floor..." He trailed off and took a long drink of the water I brought him. "Your welcome. I'm sorry for running off like that, but you have to admit, that's a hard story to believe.." "So, what made you open the door? I figured I had at least another fifteen minutes of begging to do. And maybe another five minutes of groveling.." He smiled. I returned the smile and said,

"Well, when you said 'did I ever do anything to make you not trust me', I thought about it and...you haven't done anything...yet." I laughed.

"Do you believe me?"

"Sort of. Like, I noticed your..um...outfits and they are a little outdated. Not that that's a bad thing! It's...retro!"

At this comment he laughed, and said,

"I guess you'll have to take me shopping sometime then? Make me look good?"

"Yeah, I guess I will..." At this we both smiled. Then it happened. He leaned towards me, took my hand, and kissed me. It was not a long kiss, but it seemed to last forever. I felt the room spinning around me fast, before finally melting away into infinite bliss. When his lips touched mine, it ignited a spark, and every moment from then on in the kiss just kept feeding the flame. When it was over, there was silence. Until he got up and walked to the bedside table where the rose bloomed in the vase I had kept it in. He examined the black satin ribbon with a grin on his face.

"After the night you had, I thought you wouldn't keep it. But I guess I was wrong." He smiled.

"Thanks for the rose, it really is beautiful. And, thank you for saving me...again.. I'm kind of ashamed of how I keep running off on you..."

"Don't worry about it. Although it does seem that whenever you run away from me you always are in harm's way, and when you are with me you are completely safe."

His facial expression suggested that he though I should stay with him always... Which wasn't too bad of a thought, I actually considered it for a moment but then the room door opened and there stood Christine with Raoul right behind her.

"What is he doing here? In our room?" She snarled.

"Christine, don't be like that! I invited him up and I am completely capable of making my own decisions!" "Yes, I see that.. A bad decision, indeed. What did I tell you! I told you to stay away from him!" She yelled at me.

"Don't yell at Ember. It's not her fault, I came up to see her, and I'm sorry if I am not welcome by you. I'll take my leave..", Erik said.

He started out of the room but I grabbed his arm and said,

"No, Erik. You don't have to leave. This room is mine now Christine, you said it yourself! You said you'd be staying with Raoul, so that means I can invite whomever I want up!"

"Yes, you're right about that. But, I did tell you to make a choice, a choice that meant choosing your best friend, with whom you came here with, or choosing some lunatic from who knows where! And it is apparent to me whom you have chosen! Well, I hope you have fun with your little masked maniac as I will not be talking to you for the remainder of our visit! And maybe, if you keep this up, I won't talk to you for the remainder of our lives!"

And with this, she slammed the door behind her and stormed off down the hall.

"You should have let me leave. Now you've lost a good friend, and it's my fault..", Erik said.

"No! I am not going to listen to her anymore! She's bossed me around ever since we were little, and I don't want to be her friend anymore! To tell you the truth, you and I are better friends than Christine and I ever were!" I said. We both laughed.

"Come, I want to show you something..", Erik said. He led me through halls and passages I'd never seen before. We finally stopped in a big ballroom and went into a small room connected to it.

"Close your eyes...", he said. I closed my eyes and a short time later he told me to open them. He was holding up a beautiful rose pink gown with white lace trim and hand-sewn roses on the fabric.

"Oh, Erik! It's beautiful!"

I ran my hand down the gentle silk gown and carefully examined the delicately placed roses sewn onto it.

"I'm glad you think so, because it's yours."

"What? No, Erik, I can't take this!"

"Well what else are you going to wear to the masquerade on Sunday?"

"Masquerade?"

"Everyone will be coming to it, the blizzard is over now so people will be entering the hotel like mad tomorrow to get ready for the annual 'Opera Populaire Masquerade party'! Here, these go with it." He handed me a pair of white satin gloves, crystal hair pins, and a beautiful lace and white diamond mask. Then he said,

"I hoped you would do me the honor of being my date for the masquerade.." He bowed to me.

"Oh, Erik! Of course I will!" When I said this, he picked me up and twirled me around in his strong arms.

"But, what about Christine and Raoul? Will they come?"

"Most likely, it would be unlike the pretty boy to miss out on this event. But don't worry about them. There will be too many people there and we will be wearing masks!"

After his reassurance, we walked back to my room. "Well, it's late. I suppose I should get some sleep. I'll see you at breakfast?" I asked hopefully.

"Of course, oh and for the masquerade, I shall pick you up at eight.. It doesn't officially start until nine but there will be dancing before the actual contests." "Contests?" I asked.

"Yes, they judge the costumes and you can win ribbons and other things. All sorts of categories.." "Sounds great! I had so much fun tonight. Thank you again for the dress! I'll see you tomorrow morning!" "Don't make me come get you again!" He joked.

"I won't.." I smiled. I gave him a goodnight kiss on the cheek and went to bed in my room. My dreams that night were filled with thoughts of him...