Ok, Ok, Ok, I'm sorry I haven't been updating for a while. Very sorry. I haven't really had as much a chance as I would have liked becuase I've been called in to work a few times over the weekend (it sucks) and I've just got back from work as I write this. Thank you for all the reviews, and for darkdestiney2000 enquired about the quote, it was from Saved By The Bell, well spotted! It was too irresistable, I had to use it! In fact, I would like to take this opportunity to knight darkdestiney as my biggest Italian Job fan! I'll warn you: There is quite a lot of lyrics in the following chapters, all from Phantom of the Opera. I also had to make up a surname for Lyle and Michael.
Sam
xx

The day of the auditions dawned to be a fantastic day. The sun was up, the birds were singing, and the day was as warm as an August summer. None of the children besides Michael and Holly actually wanted to go to school, for obvious reasons. The notices for auditions had been handed out on the following Monday, as noted, and it was required that if they were auditioning for the roles of either The Phantom, Christine, or Raoul, they must auditions in pairs or threes on a chosen song. Naturally, Holly was auditioning for Christine, and once persuaded, Michael had been fairly excited about auditioning for the part of Raoul. They had spent the whole weekend shut up in Holly's bedroom, practicing the different songs that they could perform together. Holly had already been spoken to about the play by Mr Sykes, who had informed her that if she performed well with Michael, he would ask her to perform with the one he had chosen to play The Phantom, to make sure they would sound right together. So as well as learning the lyrics to one song in advance, she was also having to learn the title song 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Coincidently, she already knew every line to every song. Michael and Holly had chosen to sing 'All I Ask Of You' as it was the only song that they could find that Christine and Raoul sung alone.

Stella and Charlie had been begging them all weekend to give them a preview, but neither of them would. In the end, it was driving Charlie, of all people mad. He wanted to hear them singing, so when Holly disappeared upstairs to gather her bag for school, he confronted Alex and the boys, whom had arrived to meet them on the walk to school. They would wait there until Lyle arrived with Michael.

"Guys, you're pretty good at getting around school now aren't you?" Charlie asked innocently.

"Sure." They chorused.

"Anything you want, we can get you." Alex told him. "Phone numbers, emails, computer programs.." The list was endless at what they could have access to. Sometimes Charlie regretted that their children were growing up to be so much like they had been, but it was moments like this that made him proud of it.

"Well, I don't want to get hold of anything." Charlie said.

"What can we do for you then?" Alex asked.

"What time is the audition?" Charlie asked.

"Twelve-thirty." Damon said, looking at the writing on his hand. "In the auditorium."

"Dad, you thinking of sneaking in?" Alex asked with a playful grin.

"Maybe." Charlie said with a smile.

"Good. You can join us then." Nathan said with a wink.

"Yeah, we promised Holly that we'd have a peak in from somewhere hidden to give her a bit of an audience." Alex said.

"Oh really? Where is this 'somewhere hidden' dare I ask?" Charlie said.

"We're gonna climb through the technician box and onto the rafters." Damon told him.

"Isn't than a bit dangerous?" Charlie asked, knowing instantly that Stella would as likely as not faint if she knew that her son was hanging from the rafters of a roof as high as the school auditorium.

"And driving through L.A in mini coopers with $27 million of gold in the back whilst being shot at and chased by a helicopter isn't?" Alex challenged.

"We've done it plenty of times." Nick assured him.

"So, are you in?" Alex asked, just like Charlie.

Charlie grinned cheekily. That was enough an answer for the rest of them.

"Brilliant. But remember, Dad, you're not in charge this time." Alex reminded. "You're following my lead."

Charlie shook his head. Stella's right, he is way too much like me. "Alright." He agreed.

"Meet us outside the auditorium at twelve." Alex instructed. "That way we'll see who this other guy Holly's up against it."

"Alright, people." Mr Sykes said, standing before the small gathering of auditioners. "Today, I am not the only one deciding if you get the role or not. I am joined by a talent scout from the New York School of Performing Arts." Holly looked around, catching sight of a tall man wearing a suit and sunglasses with dusty blonde hair sitting beside Syke's seat. She looked at Michael with an amazed look on her face. "He will be offering his professional opinion on the matters of your performance, and may even be selecting a student for a scholarship programme once your time at Oakcrest is over. Ok, seeing as the auditions for the Phantom were held yesterday, we are doing the rest of the cast today. First up today, Holly Croker and Michael Byrne." Mr Skyes called out, faking a french accent as he always did.

Holly and Michael stood up from their seats behind Sykes and went up onto the stage. Being on that stage gave Holly an amazing buzz. She looked around them at the small crowd of other girls auditioning for the roles of Christine, Carlotta and Meg Giry. Some of them gave her an evil glare as she walked passed them, seeing her as a threat to their chances of getting the role, but she didn't care. She was tempted to look up at the rafters as she climbed the steps, knowing that somewhere above her, Alex, Nathan, Nick and Damon were watching them. Of course, she didn't know that Charlie was also up there.

They held onto the metal scaffolding which lined the roof of the auditorium, taking seats on the metal poles. Being that high up whilst the stage lights were on garanteed that no one below would be able to see them unless they were looking for them, so as long as they stayed quiet.

"Who is that guy?" Charlie asked Alex. "And what's wrong with his voice?"

"Thats Sykes." Alex whispered to him. "He thinks he's French. He tells people he is French. He tells his family they're French. But in reality, he is as French as he is a damn monkey."

"Jesus, a talent scout!" Damon exclaimed quietly. Alex and Charlie frowned, they hadn't heard all of Syke's announcement becuase of Alex's commentation.

"What?" Charlie whispered.

"He's going to offer a student a scholarship to a New York acting school!" Damon replied.

"Hey, they're up!" The twins whispered in unison.

The talent scout stood up and surveyed them both through his sunglasses. "Please state your names." He said.

"Holly."

"Michael."

"Your full names please."

They looked to each other, since when did they need their full names?

"Holly Amelia Croker."

"Michael Aaron Byrne."

Something about that man made them both nervous. Charlie recognised him, but he could not say where from. Maybe he was someone he stole something off in high school, but that didn't narrow it down to a small selection of people as much about a hundred.

The talent scout scribbled something down on the clipboard he was holding. "And the song you will be performing?"

"All I Ask Of You." They said together.

He returned to his seat. "You may proceed."

They waited a few more seconds before starting, Michael coming in first.

"No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears.
I'm here, nothing can harm you -
My words will warm and calm you.
Let me be your freedom,
Let daylight dry your tears.
I'm here, with you, beside you,
To guard you and to guide you."

Holly came in with her beautiful voice, and Charlie smiled as he watched her.

"Say you love me every waking moment,
Turn my head with talk of summertime.
Say you need me wit you, now and always,
Promise me that all you say is true -
That's all I ask of you."

Michael came back in right on time just as Holly finished the last line, giving them a look of approval from the talent scout.

"Let me be your shelter,
Let me be your light.
You're safe - No one will find you,
Your fears are far behind you."

Holly continued once again. Everyone in the auditorium was silent as they listened politely and in awe at their voices.

"All I want is freedom,
A world with no more night.
And you, always beside me,
To hold me and to hide me."

Michael's voice came in much stronger now, exactly as it was meant to, and some of the girls in the back row were whispering amongst themselves.

"Then say you'll share with me on love, one lifetime,
Let me lead you from your solitude.
Say you need me with you here, beside you.
Anywhere you go, let me go too -
Christine, that's all I ask of you."

Holly again came in, her voice softer and gentle.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
Say the word and I will follow you."

For the first time in the song, they sang together, their voices working so well together that even Sykes was almost jumping in his seat.

"Share each day with me,
each night,
each morning."

"Say you'll love me..."

"You know I do..."

"Love me - that's all I ask of you."

They all applauded, even the girls who had glared at Holly. Charlie was grinning, and Alex stopped his father from applauding. "You want us to get detention?" He asked in a desperate hushed voice.

"But she was brilliant!" Charlie argued.

"And you weren't supposed to have seen her!" Alex reminded.

Down below, Michael and Holly started to descent the stage when Sykes stood up. "Wait one moment, Miss Croker." He said delightfully. "We'd like for you to try a song with the Phantom. Patrick!"

A boy of Alex's age came down from the back row, whom she hadn't noticed before. "Smarmy Bastard." Alex muttered, seeing him walk down. Charlie didn't bother to reprimand him on his choice of language, it was obvious from the way that he expected everyone to adore him, and most people did, that he was exactly as Alex had explained.

Holly remained on stage, and Patrick came onto the stage. He was an attractive boy, no one could deny him that, with shining black hair and a soft boy-like face. But everyone knew that he was stubborn and mean. "Now," Sykes continued. "Miss Croker, I trust that you know the song, The Phantom of the Opera?" What a stupid question, of course she knew it.

"Yes, sir." She replied obediently.

"Good. You may begin whenever you are ready."

She drew the lines up in her mind, not knowing at all what this Patrick sounded like, and prepared herself for both the best and worst.

"In sleep he sang to me,
In dreams he came.
That voice which calls to me,
And speaks my name.
And do I dream again?
For now I find.
The Phantom of the Opera is there -
Inside my mind."

There was a few moments before Patrick began in which he winked at her. But when he sang, his voice was wonderous and powerful. Above, Alex was disgusted to see Holly looking at him in awe.

"Sing once again with me,
Our strange duet.
My power over you,
Grows stronger yet.
And though you turn from me,
To glance behind.
The Phantom of the Opera is there -
Inside yout mind."

Holly continued singing, seeing Patrick in a new respect for his vocal talent.

"Those who have seen your face,
Draw back in fear.
I am the mask you wear..."

"...It's me they fear."

Sykes nearly collapsed in the rest of the song where they sang together, and the talent scout was writing furiously on his clipboard.

"Your/my spirit and your/my voice
In one combined.
The Phantom of the Opera is there,
Inside your/my mind..."

"In all your fantasies,
You always knew.
That man and mystery..."

"Were both in you.."

"And in this labyrinth,
Where night is blind,
The Phantom of the Opera is there/here,
Inside your/my mind."

They faded out, and Sykes praised them grataciously. Alex and the others quickly retraced their steps and disappeared from the auditorium roof, and Charlie managed to be out of the school gates before Holly even knew he was there. Even though he hated theater, he knew that he would go and see the school production, it was different when the kids were involved, and he knew that Holly would be awarded the place she wanted so much. When he got home, he told Stella where he had been, but, of course, failed to mention that they had been watching from forty feet above her.