Author's Notes: I's sorry, i know there is probably a few people who would love to kill me for leaving such a mean cliff hanger there for so long, but My home life has gotten a little...well crazy and last week i had to put down my dog Patchy who i had for atleast 15 years so i really couldnt bring myself to write for a few days, then i kinda just didnt have time...silly dietitian appointments and reading books :p but enough excuses.
thank you to my reviewers: Sarahbuggs, theNightEnchantress and Maska.
To Sarahbuggs im glad your story made you smile :) i hope everything is going better, i know the feeling when your a little on the depressed side, lol going through it now :p
though i gathered that everyone hates cliff hangers so ill be nice this chaper and not leave one, scouts honour ;)
I dont own Phantom of the Opera so no one sue me please. and on with the chapter.
Its a little longer than normal so i am trying to make up for it :p
Aurora sat up and turned around, to find Brett standing just behind her, with Kyle lying on the ground just behind him.
"I'm fine now" Aurora replied as she accepted Brett's hand and was helped to her feet "You have the best timing" Aurora chuckled before embracing Brett in a friendly hug.
"What happened?" Brett asked pulling back to look Aurora in the face
"My parents gave permission for the ass hat over there to 'court' me, and I cant stand the guy so I ran and he caught me and well the rest you saw" Aurora closed her eyes and relief washed over her. She was one lucky girl.
First Michael saves her, then Brett.
"You don't seem too shocked by it?" Brett said in amazement
"I have known this him for years, almost every time I saw him he tried to feel me up" Aurora shrugged "I guess I kind of knew he would try something like this sooner or later"
Brett was silent for a moment looking over at Kyle who was holding his nose as if it was broken, and all the while glaring at Brett.
"Do you think you could give me a lift home? I really don't want to stay with him" Aurora said gesturing to Kyle.
"Sure" Brett said
"Kyle, come near me again and I'll kill you" Aurora said sweetly before letting Brett lead her away.
"You are certainly one of a kind, no wonder Michael loves you so much" Brett said as he laughed, thinking about the scared look on Kyle's face once Aurora finished her threat.
On the ride home Aurora asked Brett to tell Michael she had a few ideas forming and would let him know soon what she would do, Brett promised to call him as soon as he dropped her off.
Once they arrived at the Gate Aurora tried to get out,
"Aurora how about I take you up there and explain what happened, then we will make sure that they don't force Kyle on you again, Michael would kill me if I did anything less" Aurora laughed and told the guard to let them in.
Once they reached the entrance hall Aurora hesitated
"I don't know if they will want to meet anyone from the theater"
"But I'm not from the theater" Brett replied quietly and winked at her parents walked out
"Your back early- her mother looked slightly confused "Who's this?"
"This is Br-
"Brett Stenner" Brett said calmy as he struck out a hand for her father to shake
"Stenner, as in from Stenner industries?" Her father asked as he grasped Brett's hand briefly, Aurora had to force her face to remain neutral He was from money, and he didn't tell her, she was going to kill him…
"Oh," her mother looked instantly enchanted by him
"Yes, I found your daughter in the park being attacked by a young male, I thought it my duty to help her" Brett said calmly "We don't want her kidnapped again now do we" He added with a little sarcasm that went unnoticed by her parents.
"We can't thank you enough, would you like to stay for dinner?" Aurora's mother said smiling kindly "As a thank you?"
"I would be delighted" Brett said with a charming smile.
"Dinner is promptly at seven, Aurora how about you take Brett here for a walk through the gardens" Aurora nodded then took Brett's arm and led him in the right direction.
As soon as they were well out of hearing from her parents Aurora said in a would – be - calm voice
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It isn't something one needs to spread around, now is it"
"I suppose not, though you could of told me before you dropped the bomb" Aurora said scowling at him slightly
"I'm sorry, but it works out well now"
"How so"
"Your parents won't mind you spending time with me, and my parents who approve of me being in the musical, we could swing this our way if we are careful"
"You're smarter than you look" Aurora said before stepping out of his reach
"Thank- hey" Brett said as he immediately moved to grab her, when his phone rang
Looking at the screen, Brett looked at Aurora
"It's Michael" Aurora's small smile said it all
"Hey Michael" Brett said in to the phone
"Hey, where are you man, you were suppose to meet me" Michael said impatiently in to the phone
"Michael I got side tracked, you'll never guess who I am with now"
"If it is one of your beautiful girl friends I am going to come over there and hurt you" Michael said jokingly
"Well the girl is beautiful" Brett said with a wink "But I think she is more your girl friend than mine" Aurora smiled weakly wishing she could talk to him.
"Aurora, you're with Aurora, is she ok?" Michael voice said instantly in alarm
"She is fine I will explain later, though we may have a plan, I'll let you know" Brett said
"Tell Michael I love him" Aurora said quietly
Brett started to tell him before Michael said he heard and he loved her too.
"Bye" Brett said after that and hung up.
"This is a very strange situation" Aurora said finally after they walked back up to the house
"Funny I was going to say the same thing to you" Brett laughed
The next week was pretty interesting,
At the theater Steve was still trailing her, but after blocking actors and stage crew constantly Christopher said that he had to stay in the auditorium to watch Aurora.
"It is impractical having you in the way and Aurora is on the stage most of the time, I'm sorry but you are affecting the performance for a number of the cast and crew"
Aurora loved it even though she was on stage most of the time, but she was free for those few precious moments off stage. One such time was when:
During the practicing of the first half, during the "Magical lasso" scene when Aurora wasn't required on stage, suddenly Michael was behind her, turning her towards him and pulling her quickly in to the shadows.
He kissed her hard, to which she eagerly responded. The kiss was filled with love, want, regret, annoyance, and passion.
It was over sooner than both would have liked but before Michael returned to the stage, he whispered in her ear.
"I love you" Aurora smiled and hugged him quickly
"I love you too" Michael squeezed her hand before running behind the stage so he could enter from the other side, making it look like they had just not been together, and Aurora was thankful for that.
Home was even more interesting. Her parents had taken an instant liking to Brett and his money and social standing, and were pushing the two together at every opportunity; they had even gone so far as to get Brett's parents involved.
Brett told his parents the truth as to what was happening and they were only too happy to help and cover for the two, should the need arise
Brett's Parents Victoria and John Stenner, were the perfect couple together, Aurora had rarely seen two people so happy. When Aurora and her parents met the three at a local restaurant for dinner, Aurora noticed that Victoria put a napkin on Johns lap when he forgot, and when Dinner was finished John put his arm around the back of the chair and played with Victoria's earring. It didn't look like he was aware of his actions; it was more just like a habit.
It made Aurora smile. And miss Michael.
"So Brett do you work with your parents?" Aurora's father asked
"No I act in theater" Brett said calmly
"Yes we are so proud of our boy, he is talented"
"You find this life respectable?" Aurora's father asked slowly
"Why of course, he enjoys it. Brett has taken the time to learn the family business too in his spare time, all we want is his happiness" Victoria replied smiling fondly in Brett's direction. Aurora's parents shared a look over the table.
"What production are you working in now Brett?" Alexander asked
"The Phantom of the Opera of course"
"You didn't tell me, you knew Brett before hand"
"You didn't ask" Aurora said carefully "I thought you knew"
"No we didn't" Her Mother replied he voice blank, but Aurora detected a look in her eyes that said we will discuss it later.
The next day at rehearsals, practicing the whole production with costumes went surprisingly well, hardly any mistakes. If only the talk with her parents went so well.
"How did it go" Brett finally asked
"They are a little less in love with you, but your social standing makes up for it" Aurora said in a weak voice,
Brett only laughed
"they aren't going to let me do anymore productions after this"
"That's what they think" Brett said with a wink
"Anna, Michael if I could get you both to re-do the 'Music of the night' there was a few mistakes during it" Christopher called
"Ok" Aurora called back "Can I get changed first" Aurora was still in her wedding dress from the final scene.
Christopher nodded and went to talk to Tyra about her singing during the 'II Muto' She wasn't going off key well enough.
Five minutes later found Aurora, Michael and Christopher up on the main stage with Steve watching closely in the audience.
"Ok Michael when your ready" Christopher signaled the piano.
Aurora was sitting in the boat on the side of the stage and Michael was near the center of the stage as the music began. Michael moved slowly towards Aurora his magical voice washing over her in waves making her smile
Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation . . .
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination . . .
Silently the senses abandon their defenses . . .
Michael struck out his hand for Aurora to take, to help her from the boat. It wasn't hard for Aurora to pretend she was under his spell as Michael slowly lead her around the Lair:
Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor . . .
Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender . . .
Aurora turned her face towards the light and let Michael turn it back; she was savoring the moment with Michael where no one could tear them apart.
Turn your face away from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to the music of the night . . .
Aurora closed her eyes and leaned back in to Michael, before turning to face him, her eyes saying things that her lips couldn't.
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before!
Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar!
And you'll live as you've never lived before . . .
Michael squeezed her hand gently before letting it go and going upstage towards the organ, inviting her to explore more his world.
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you . . .
Feel it, hear it, secretly posses you. . .
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of the music of the night . . .
Michael offered his hand to Aurora and helped her climb the stairs towards the organ.
Let your mind start a journey through a strange new world!
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before!
Let your soul take you where you long to be!
Only then can you belong to me . . .
Michael turned her around so she was facing the audience, and ran his hands over her, gently, He brought her hand up to caress his cheek, enjoying being close to her before stepping away, but keeping his hold on her hand.
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me savor each sensation!
Let the dreams begin; let your darker side give in
to the power of the music that I write -
the power of the music of the night . . .
Michael led aurora back down the stairs half way though the verse and over to the Curtain, which would hide the Christine mannequin (which wasn't ready yet). At the appropriate time he pulled back the curtain, and then caught Aurora as she 'fainted' in to his arms.
He carried her up to the swan bed as if she weighted nothing at all, before gently setting her down and singing the last lines of the song.
You alone can make my song take flight,
Help me make the music of the night..
Ok do i hope my reviewers havent deserted me and shall keep reviewing because i love hearing what people think and even some ideas...
so please R&R and no that doesnt mean read and run ;)
Till next time, Purple monkey dishwasher to all
Emma Riddle