Aquarian Wolf: Hehe, thanks. You'll just have to wait and see…

Okay! REVIEW, PEOPLE! I will die a happy woman if you review. So yeah, thanks.

Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom Manor, Melanie Ravenswood, Phantom of the Opera, Christine Daae… but everything else is mine!

On to… Chapter 2! Yay!

Melanie and Holly pushed through the auditorium's heavy doors. The theater was mostly dark, save for the bright but rather contained light emanating from the stage. Like a small child, Holly skipped down the steps down to the front row. Melanie, however, walked slowly, running her hand along the armrests. When she reached the bottom, she was surprised she hadn't noticed a large poster boasting:

Roosevelt High School Proudly Presents Andrew Lloyd Webber's:

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

She looked in disgust at it, as if to say, "Thanks a lot, buddy."

She found Holly and walked up to where she was standing.

"You need to check in with that lady, Mel, so you can audition," she explained.

Melanie came over to her, a plump middle-aged woman with frameless glasses scribbling busily on a clipboard.

Melanie cleared her voice and stated,

"Hello, ma'am, I'm here to try out for Christine Daae."

The woman did not move her head but lifted her eyes to the girl.

"What's your name?" She asked in a business tone.

"Melanie Ravenswood."

She stared at Melanie as if she was a celebrity.

"Oh, it's a pleasure, Melanie! Your friend Holly has told me so much about you."

Melanie shot Holly an accusing glare, who shrugged apologetically.

"I'm Mrs. Morris, the drama and chorus teacher."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Morris," Melanie chimed as if she had said that phrase too many times in her life.

'I guess that's what you get for having a congressman for a father and a surgeon for a mother; impeccable manners,' Melanie thought with a sigh.

Not noticing the girl's loud exhalation, Mrs. Morris told Melanie,

"You will be the thirteenth to try out for Christine. You can go wait in that line with the other girls."

Melanie went and stood behind Holly in the long line on to the stage.

"You're trying out for something, Holly? Just yesterday you were insulting your voice."

Holly smiled comfortingly, or at least tried to.

"Nah, I'm just here for moral support."

Melanie's eyes swept across the house, desperately trying to find a familiar face in the crowd. She saw the cheerleaders, whispering and laughing with each other. Some were unkind, but a few of them had been her friend since childhood. She saw Micah, a hyper and hilarious otaku (A/N: Yay! Micah makes a cameo appearance!), apparently drawing something. Then she saw him.

Brett.

He was sitting in the third row, reading what she made out to be The Phantom of the Opera.

'That's appropriate for the occasion.'

He apparently noticed her; he looked up and waved. Melanie waved back, but could feel the heat creeping onto her face.

Mrs. Morris filed through the aspiring performers like clockwork. Faster than she thought it would take, Melanie was at the front of the line.

She looked at Melanie and smiled.

"It's your turn, Miss Ravenswood."

"Knock 'em dead, girl," Holly whispered as Melanie stepped onto the stage.

She slowly made her way to the center, where the lights were so bright that Melanie couldn't see the audience.

"Er, what should I sing?"

"Anything, preferably something from the Phantom of the Opera," Mrs. Morris replied quickly.

"Um, okay."

Melanie breathed deeply and began,

"Child of the wilderness,

Born into emptiness,

Learn to be lonely.

Learn to find your way in darkness.

Who will be there for you?

Comfort and care for you?

Learn to be lonely.
Learn to be your one companion.

Ever dreamed, out in the world,

There are arms to hold you.

You've always known

Your heart was on its own.

So laugh, in your loneliness

Child of the wilderness

Learn to be lonely.

Learn how to love life that is lived alone.

Learn to be lonely,

Life can be lived,

Life can be loved,

Alone."

The last note drifted hauntingly through the auditorium.

Mrs. Morris fell to her knees and broke into tears.

"Brava! Magnifica! Oh, my dear, you were incredible."

Holly beamed proudly at her friend.

Mrs. Morris wrapped her arm around Melanie's shoulder, pulled the girl towards her, and shouted joyously to the audience,

"We have found our Christine Daae!"

Wow, that was long for me. PLEASE, pretty please, with sugar on top, review!

Please?

Okay, thanks.