Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom of the Opera. I am only responsible for my characters and the ginormous party-dance next chapter.

A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews, but I've decided to organize the party for next chapter instead of this one. I'm sorry! I just realized that I had an entire day to get through first – I set up the weirdest timelines lol.

Josie

Chapter 22 – Preparations

I woke up very slowly the next morning. My eyes were glued shut and I was so warm that for a second I felt delirious. I reached blindly to pull the blankets up further and felt a soft, heavy covering.

Cashmere?

My eyes shot open and I sat bolt upright. Erik's cape fell back from my shoulders and I noticed that he was still occupying Kayla's desk chair, now absorbed in the Chronicles of Narnia. (Squee, right?)

"How did this get on us?" I asked, my voice croaky with sleep.

He looked up for the first time. "When that movie was over, you'd all fallen asleep." Erik glanced at the light snow outside. "Et il faisait froid."

(It was cold )

I shrugged and shook the others awake.

Kendall yawned. "What time is it?"

"Ten."

"Why are we up so early?" Sam complained, flopping back down.

Erik rolled his eyes behind the book, but said nothing.

Kayla glared at her sister. "It's a good thing we woke up before eleven," she retorted. "We have to get ready for tonight."

Erik looked up from Narnia at her last statement, decided it was fruitless, and set the book aside. "Forgive me for asking, but what are you 'getting ready' for tonight that would take all day?"

Kendall gave Kayla a light slap. "We never… no, you never told him!"

"There's a costume party tonight," I said. "All our friends are going, it'll be awesome!"

Erik looked slightly alarmed. "What shall I do?"

Kayla smiled evilly. "You're coming too, idiot."

He raised the eyebrow we could see. "You expect me to go to… une fête ou une mascarade dressed like this?"

He stood and spread his arms (as if we needed reminding of what he wore.)

Kayla's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Heck no. Hang on…" she turned and opened the closet. Turning back to us, she had a short dark jacket, tight-looking pants and a ruffled shirt on a hanger.

Erik's and my jaws dropped. "Where did you get that?" we asked in unison.

Kayla was practically on the floor laughing at our expressions. She sucked a breath. "That was priceless. Oh, man… Anyway, Erik, I got it last night before we left. Your Red Death costume just wouldn't do. Je suis désolée."

Erik drew himself up to full height, towering over us. "Le Mort Rouge is my only mascarade costume! Why, of all my ensembles, did you not bring it?"

"Everyone sort of… well, pairs up at the dance, si vous comprenez."

"And?"

"Well… Red Death can't really have a partner."

It took him a moment to fully realize what she was saying, then he glanced around at us.

"And what, pray tell, are you all wearing?" he growled.

"I'm a princess." –Kendall

"I'm an angel." –Sam

"I'm a Spanish dancer." –Me

"I'm… a gypsy." –Kayla

Erik hissed a slow breath. "Who are you expecting me to…" he broke off, his eyes locked on Kayla in disbelieving comprehension.

She smiled, and Sam yanked the bedroom door open.

"I'm starving, let's eat!"

We all rolled our eyes, but followed her downstairs.

In fifteen minutes, we were sprawled around the family room. Erik looked at our plates in disgust. "What is that?"

"Don't they smell good?" Sam tried to waft hers toward him.

Erik privately agreed, but he wasn't about to say anything.

"Try some." Kayla offered him her fork.

Very reluctantly, he took it.

We burst out laughing as his face changed from reluctance to utterly ecstatic.

"What in heaven's name is it?"

"Waffles," said Sam. "Made by moi."

We finished eating (now aided by Erik) and raced back upstairs.

"I'm glad all our outfits fit in our bags," I said. "Otherwise we never would've gotten over here."

"And to think we were bummed," Kayla added, "about not going. Remember, before we found out no time had passed?"

"What do you mean?" Erik asked from behind us.

"Well…" she faltered. "See, when we were down there with you, and when we remembered the party, that's why we freaked."

"Pardonne?"

"That's why we got upset," I translated.

Kayla nodded. "But now we get the best of both worlds. Thanks for coming." She smiled at him.

"Not to be one breaking up tender moments," Sam interrupted, "but it's noon. We don't have all day here."

She ended up being more right than I thought.

"I get my costume first!" I called, snatching my bag and heading for Sam's room.

I was so excited about this costume. My brother had talked me into being a rebel Spanish dancer, and it was gonna be awesome. The black bohemian skirt flared every time I moved (which was wonderful in itself) and I had a hot pink tank top under a shrunken black tie-sweater. Silver sequins accented the skirt hem and lower edge of the top. It was très chic. Kayla gave me a hand with the black stiletto boots and stepped back to admire the ensemble.

"Very you," she said.

"What did you expect?" I asked, tying my bathrobe over the outfit.

"Well, at first you were going to be Maria from West Side Story…"

I snorted. "White is for babies."

She giggled and I went to apply mascara and lipstick.

Erik watched me from the chair in Kayla's room. "You're wearing that?" he gestured disdainfully at the robe, and I gave him a Look.

"The question is, 'Would anyone want to dance with me if I wore this'," I retorted. "And of course not; but you can't see the dress until we're ready to go."

Kendall came in. "How should we do your hair?"

I played with it. "How about totally straight?"

She nodded and we set to work.

A few minutes later, Sam came in dressed similarly to me. "Kendall, Kayla's ready to do your costume," she informed her. "And then she needs a little help with hers."

"Finally!" Kendall laughed.

"So how are we going to do your hair?" I asked Sam.

"I need to curl the ends," she replied, digging through a lower cabinet.

"Oh yes," I agreed. "You can't be an angel without curled hair."

"Shut up," she said good-naturedly, resurfacing with the curling iron.

"You're on your own if that's all there is to do," I said, going back to makeup.

Some eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara, and a coat of red lipstick later, Kendall came in. "Josie, are you done?"

I nodded, and she gestured toward Sam's closed bedroom door. "Kayla needs you."

I glanced in Kayla's room as I passed; Erik was buried in the Chronicles again.

"Y'know, Erik, you're gonna have to get dressed sometime," I called.

"Quelle heure…when does this fete start?"

"Around ten."

"Donc, I will wait however long I wish."

"No you don't!" Kayla yelled. "The Neon leaves at ten till ten! If I have to dress you myself, I will!"

I shut my eyes. "Way too much information! Kayla, there is a child in the house!"

Sam rolled her eyes.

"Fine…" Kayla was tying the wrap of her dress.

Suddenly, Yeah! started playing again.

"Erik!" we yelled. "Are you messing around with the laptop again?"

"Non, je lis."

(I'm reading.)

"Oh!" Sam raced into the room and started digging frantically through her bag.

I rolled my eyes. Her ringtone was Yeah!

"Hello? Hey, Dominic…" My gaze met Kayla's. Why was he calling?

"Sure, Kayla's giving us all a ride. I'll see you there, okay? …What are you going to be? …Come on, tell me… How am I supposed to find you?... Fine, we'll see you there… Later!"

"Qui est Dominic?" Erik, of course.

"He's… a friend," she said evasively.

"Don't ask, Erik," Kayla called.

I lent her some light gold eye shadow and sat on her bed as I waited for her to curl her hair and apply extra makeup.

Kendall finished her hair and flopped down on the bed.

"Oh-my-gosh, it's so cute!" I cried.

She had pulled her hair back in a bun, and the loose bangs hung gracefully around her eyes.

Sam rebooted Kayla's laptop. "We've got a few hours to kill—

"Répètez?" Erik's one problem: his vocabulary needs an update.

"We're early," said Kendall.

"Ah, merci." Then again, gentleman is nice.

He ran a skeletal finger down the bookcase until his eyes lit up. "Le Comte de Monte Cristo…"

"Oui, go ahead," said Kayla, pulling her hair up on one side.

"Hold on, girl." I hopped off the bed and picked up a large rose from her dresser. We clipped it in her hair, and I stepped back to admire the effect. "That's hot."

She giggled and glanced at Erik, who hastily looked back at the book pages.

Thank God she didn't try to press the issue with him.

We played around online until 8:30, when Kayla finally dragged Erik away from the novel.

"Take your time with getting ready. You've got a half-hour all to yourself," she said.

He just nodded, resigned to this fate.

In the space of that half-hour, we ended up emailing everyone to make sure they were still coming. (No small feat considering the ever-growing cameo list. )

"ERIK!"

Kayla stood at the door, screaming her lungs out.

"Did it occur to you that perhaps I've changed my mind?" his voice floated through the walls.

"Did it occur to you that a muse can't change their mind?" she retorted, turning away in frustration. "Man, as soon as people said they were bringing muses, I knew I should've gotten Zorro instead."

The door flew open and Don Juan towered over her.

Kayla turned around and practically melted.

"Then again, maybe not…"

The next fifteen minutes was promptly spent in a stare-down between them.

Sam's cell phone beeped and Kayla blinked.

"No fair! Do-over!"

Erik smirked. "Later, ma chèrie."

It was so easy to put on our coats without him seeing that it felt a little depressing. (Oh well )

We ran downstairs and got our coats on as Kayla chatted and stalled Erik, then I came up to 'pretend' to drag him downstairs as Kayla raced ahead to do the same.

Of course, this means he will wait until next chapter to see our costumes.

His glare could have frozen fire, I swear…

Sorry about all the fluff, but my timelines are wacked and I realized I had a whole day to go through first. Hope it was enjoyable, cameos start next chapter!