Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom of the Opera. Seeing as how the girls came out of my weirdly twisted imagination, they belong to me… and the real friends they're modeled after, I guess…

Kayla

Ch. 20 – Adventures in Time: Cars and Clothes

Sam bounced over. "What are we gonna do? It's only 9:30, after all. We have all night still left!"

I grabbed Sam by the shoulders to stop her bouncing.

"Slow down and think about it," I said.

"Huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's not gonna be the best thing in the world if Kendall's parents wake up and Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Murderous is in her room with us."

I eyed him. "Especially dressed like that."

Erik snorted. "At least I dress with some measure of modesty."

"Butt out, Erik," Sam glared at him.

"Take it easy," said Josie, biting back a laugh from Erik's comment.

"What are we going to do since he can't stay here?" Kendall asked.

"It's… coming to me," I whispered, closing my eyes and acting like one of those TV psychics.

"Eureka moment!"

"Thank the Lord," said Josie. "Let's hear it."

"We drove, so why not head back to our place?" I indicated Sam and myself.

"What about them waking up and none of us being here?" Sam pointed out.

"Leave a note saying we went out for pizza or something."

She stared at me. "It's quarter till ten!"

I stared back. "We're teenagers. It's what we do."

"That'll have to work," said Josie, stepping between us. "Especially since none of us really unpacked. Let's go!"

Ten minutes later, we had piled our stuff into the trunk and were trying to explain to Erik what a car was.

"That thing is a metal monstrosity!" he swore.

"Erik, calm down. It's one of your taxis without horses, that's all." I grinned. "And it has heat."

This seemed to interest him, so we were finally able to get going.

It was hard to keep my eyes on the road with all of Erik's questions.

"Why is this road smooth?"

"It's made of cement, not cobblestone."

"Intéressant… Why are there different types of taxis out here?" Of course, he had the window seat.

"There are all different kinds of cars," Sam giggled. "There's trucks," she pointed as a red pickup sped past, "and SUVs," a Durango pulled up behind us at a stoplight, "and smaller cars, just like this." She indicated the interior of my Neon.

I glanced at the rearview mirror in time to see Erik shifting uncomfortably against the window. He, Josie and Sam were crammed into the backseat without much room.

"Hang in there, guys," I chuckled. "We're almost there."

I pulled into the allotment and slammed on the brake to avoid a rabbit. Erik threw a skeletal hand into the back of my headrest and cursed.

"Everybody okay back there?" Kendall turned in her seat.

"Non, ça ne va pas ici," he spat.

"Would you rather me have killed the bunny?" I flashed him a glare in the mirror.

He debated for a moment, then sat back. "Allons."

I pulled up the driveway and into our garage. It was 10:15.

"Everybody be really quiet," I cautioned as we slid out of the car.

"Mom and Dad are probably still up, so I'll go in first…"

I slipped in the door.

"Kayla?" I heard my mom call.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you home? Aren't you having a sleepover at Kendall's?"

"We decided to hang out over here, that's all. We'll stay upstairs and be quiet, okay? I swear my room's clean enough."

"…Fine."

I sighed in relief and opened the door to let the others in.

Erik, being the master of shadows as he is, slipped down the side hall and flew up the stairs silent as… well, a ghost.

Sam, Kendall, Josie and I took the long way around – we went through the family room where my mom was watching TV, said hellos and ran upstairs (not nearly as quiet as Erik though).

Luckily he had ducked into the proper bedroom; Sam's hanging beads would have betrayed him, and the master bedroom's door was closed.

"Hi, Dad," I called as we passed.

A muffled grunt issued from under the door; he goes to bed early.

We bounced on the bed as Erik draped himself over my computer chair.

"That was the best cover-up we've ever pulled," Josie giggled, clapping her hands.

"This time there was something a lot bigger at stake," I pointed out.

Erik was taking in the bedroom. I had a whole wall devoted to Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, then a wall for the Broadway production of The Lion King, and pictures of Phantom everywhere. These interested him the most; his gaze shifted to each poster in turn, analyzing the costuming, colors, facial expressions, and the actors themselves.

I pulled out the Leroux novel and tossed it to him. "You can read now, but this was the original version. Tell us how similar it is when you're done, okay?"

He nodded, already three pages into the book.

"Shouldn't we get ready for bed?" Kendall asked. "Your mom checks on us more than mine does."

"Yeah, probably. Nothing says we can't stay up later, but it'll be easier this way," I stood up and looked at Erik.

His turquoise gaze had snapped to us at the mention of preparing for bed, and it made me a little nervous. (Come on, he is the Phantom of the Opera. Cat-eye-sight.)

"Erik, go read in Sam's bedroom for a few minutes. We'll… come get you when it's safe again." I'd been about to say 'call you' but that would've made for a few awkward questions on my mom's part.

He swept out of the room, book still firmly clenched in his hand.

After we'd changed into sleep attire (jammy pants and a comfortable top), Sam pushed me toward her door. I fingered the beads and she yelled down the stairs, "Mom, Kayla's in my room!"

The door flew open and Erik loomed over me. "It's okay, come on," I whispered, seizing his wrist as my mom called vaguely, "Kayla, get out of Sam's room."

The feeling of him watching me as we moved back to my room was more than a little uncomfortable.

I turned on him after closing the door again. "What is there to look at?"

His turquoise gaze never left my face. "You sleep in something so scandalous?"

I glanced down and saw that I had pulled on a black camisole. "It's comfortable," I retorted. "Unlike anything the women in your time wear."

"Oui, but at least they are not so…" he gave me a once-over. "Controversial."

I snorted with laughter as I threw open the closet and dragged out my black satin cape. "How's this, then?"

His eyes brightened as I swirled it around.

"Not as good as yours, of course, but it's mine."

Sam had her DVD player set up on the bed. "What are we gonna watch now?"

Erik rolled his eyes. "Again?"

"Pirates of the Caribbean!" said Kendall.

"Yeah, I haven't seen that in forever," I agreed, glancing at the back of my door (enormous Jack Sparrow poster). "Neeeeedddd… Joooohhhnnnyyy… Orlaaaanndddoo…"

We laughed as Erik settled himself on the chair again.

"Oh, and Erik," I said as I dimmed the light, "When Mom comes up later to check on us, could you conveniently slip back to the corner?" I indicated the space for him; darkened by shadows and not visible from the door.

He nodded as the movie began, eyes flying over the book pages again.

I didn't want something to happen between Erik and Kayla, but I couldn't resist putting that little piece in. She's my character, sue me. Total Chaos and Cameo-ness begins next chapter, so get the information in soon! I already have a lot of my friends from school in it, so this'll probably take two chapters. All I really need to know is a costume (it's a masked-ball-costume-party-thing) and maybe an accessory (i.e., staff, sword, etc.). Think modern Masquerade, guys. I've got a vampire, a Gothic princess, Arwen (LOTR), a wood nymph, a sorceress, and an angel so far. You can use any idea within reason (nothing too inappropriate, you know the drill). And I want details! (i.e., sorceress costume purple velvet w/ cape, full skirt and low-cut neckline with a hole for showing off a belly button piercing.)

As you can tell, you can't use the sorceress costume aforementioned, it's for one of my friends.