(looks at reviews, sighs, looks at reviews again, sighs again) It might be the fact that I'm in a pissy mood but I have noticed that all you people want is angst. (sighs at reviews yet again) Angst is still to come. To tell you the truth it will come in about ten chapters. Will you stop asking for the angst? Can't they be happy for once? I mean, my goodness, can't two people be in love and NOT have the world crashing in around them? (cricket, cricket) okay, maybe not, but angst, my faithful readers, will come or have you not read Phantom of the Auditorium? (Iswear that phic has more angst than it does dialogue) Here's a short but necessary chapter. Chapter Thirty-Three:

Meg's Proposition

It wasn't a wake-up call from the hotel that woke Christine up from her slumber, though she thought it was. She groped for the phone next to the bed and pressed it to her ear only to hear the dial tone.

Christine opened her eyes and looked around in the gloom.

Well, almost gloom, she always opened her window and curtains because the room was too dark and was only comforted when the streetlamp was pointing in her direction.

Christine rubbed her eyes and made her way to her purse on the chair next to the door. She reached for the flashing light and put the cell phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Christine?" The voice asked. "Why are you sleeping at this time in the afternoon?"

"Meg?"

"Of course, silly, who else would it be?"

Christine yawned. "Why are you calling me so early in the morning?"

"Christine, it's afternoon."

Christine looked at the window then smacked her forehead at her stupidity. "Sorry, Meg, I forgot. I'm in France."

"France!"

Christine had to put the phone away from her ear because of her squealing. "What are you doing in France?"

Christine sighed and glanced at the clock and sighed, it was four in the morning, she would never be able to get back to sleep. So Christine proceeded to tell her everything. She didn't leave out a single detail. She started with meeting Erik in the coffee shop and ended with what happened after the opera.

Christine could hear Meg telling her to go in on some points and she did, she continued and told her everything.

"Christine," Meg told her. "I am so happy for you! That sounds like the man of your dreams!"

Christine was fully awake now and was sitting on the bed cross legged smiling. "I love him, Meg. I want to shout it from the rooftops and tell the world, I want to tell everyone I know how much I care for him. I mean, he has to feel the same way, right? He did before."

"What do you mean before?"

Christine closed her eyes. Okay, so maybe she didn't tell her everything. She told her nothing of the Phantom of the Auditorium and how he was obsessed with her and what happened in his lair.

"I-I knew him from before and well, he loved me then but I don't know if he loves me still."

"What, you two went out?"

"No," Christine said biting her lip. "He was an acquaintance but I didn't love him back. But I do now."

"It sounds like he does, Christine, I mean, come on, he practically did it with you before you went into your room."

"But I'm not sure," Christine told her friend. "He hasn't told me. He hasn't said I love you. Not even love, nothing."

"Actions speak louder than words," Meg told her. "I think he does love you. He has to."

Christine fell back against the pillows. "I need him to tell me that." Sighing, she said, "So why did you call? I know it's not to hear my life story."

Christine heard Meg giggle. "I was going to ask you when you wanted to come over for the wedding but since you're in France-"

"I'll be there for the wedding Meg, don't worry. I'll be back in LA in three days."

"Good, then," Meg said with joy. "Cause Raoul will be leaving for New York in two weeks for a meeting he's had planned for a couple of weeks and Philippe wanted you to go with Raoul on the company plane."

Christine bit her bottom lip and sat up. "Oh. You want me to go with Raoul on the company jet to New York? Together?"

"Oh, Christine," Meg said worried. "I'm sorry. It's either that or you come driving, Philippe said that getting a plane ticket for you and my mother will be too much."

Christine sighed softly so Meg wouldn't notice.

"Please, Christine," Meg said. "Please accept it. I want you to come to my wedding!"

Christine hated to hear Meg pleading like that. "Okay, Meg. I'll go with Raoul."

"I would hug you if I could, Daaé!" Meg said with obvious joy.

Christine sighed. "Don't worry about it Meg. I'll be there."

"Look, I'll leave you to it, Christine," Meg told her. "You have to get back to sleep."

Christine looked out the window, the dark sky was now turning light blue. "Yeah, Meg, take care, bye."

Christine hung up and fell back on the pillows, groaning. She had to face Raoul again. After what Meg had told her before, he seemed unhappy when she, in turn, was having the time of her life ever since they broke up.

How was she going to tell him that she was with the man that had wanted him dead?

Raoul is not out of the picture, ladies and gentlemen, he will be back. His brother is still getting married, remember? Anyways, maybe I could delete some chapters and give you the angst I promised a little earlier than scheduled. (sigh) Whatever, ten reviews and an update. you know the drill.
Still to come, Chapter Thirty-four: Performing