Author's note- Yep, it's tomorrow! Already! And there was much rejoicing…crickets chirp Or not…Well, it's that time again! Erik? Erik looks up from writing music

Erik- what?

Jen- It's about that time…

Erik- what time?

Jen- stares Time to write the next chapter….grin

Erik- groan

Chapter 6

Let the Lessons Commence!

Jen threw down the heavy bags on her bed, and watched Gabby do the same. They had just finished shopping, and now needed to prepare for their rehearsal. With Erik. Jen couldn't contain her excitement and "squeee"ed with delight. "What?" Gabby asked, giving her an odd look. "We are gonna go see Erik! We're gonna see Erik!" She said, doing her little happy-dance around the room. Gabby grinned. "Oi, aye we are. Such a lovely voice he has." Jen gave her a jealous glare. "What? He loves Christine anyway."

"Things will change." Jen said, rubbing her hands together, in an evilly-plotting sort of way. "Oh they will huh?" The cellist didn't seem believing. "Aye."

"And you know this how?"

"I'm gonna let the story run it's natural course, and when ever he is in one of those 'Erik needs a hug' scenes, I will be there for just that purpose." Jen said, smiling. "My plan is infallible!"

"Sure it is…" Gabby said, rolling her eyes as she uncased her cello. Jen grabbed her bag of sticks and grinned as she opened the mirror. "Ready?"

"Aye. Let's go." Gabby replied, grabbing her case (which she had closed) and following her companion down the dark tunnel. Soon they saw Erik's lair ahead, and Jen grinned, looking across the lake to see him. "Oi, le fantom!" she called out, and Erik turned. "Ah, come across." He said, making his way to the shore. "We would, but there isn't a boat…" Erik looked at them, then for the boat. It was on his side. "Sorry mademoiselles, I shall come across." With that he jumped in and began to row towards them. Jen was nearly bursting with phan-girlish excitement, though she wasn't sure why. She hadn't acted this way before…it was strange, even for her. Erik reached their shore and lightly stepped out of the boat. He took Gabby's hand and kissed it lightly, then Jen's and she smiled sweetly at him. He glanced at her through his mask, and helped her into the boat. Jen typically wouldn't have let someone help her this way, but his courteous nature was something she hadn't often come into contact with. It almost surprised her. For a man with as many personal issues, he was relatively sweet and gentle. Of course, he was also in a good mood.

Erik rowed the small gondola across the shallow water, and helped them both out. Jen grinned when she saw the new addition to the music-room. A marimba for her (note- for those that don't know, a marimba is like a big xylo…the one instrument that plays a solo in Don Juan, is a marimba) was in the corner. Jen pulled out four of her mallets and walked over to it, hitting the notes perfectly. The mellow, resonant sound of the wooden keyboard filled the room and she smiled. "Thank you, Erik." She said softly, smiling at the Phantom behind her. He nodded his head. "It was not a problem. Those two fools should be reading my letter about now, asking for a new, replacement instrument for you."

"Wha? You ordered them to get a new one?" Jen asked with a grin. She couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, I did. That way I do not have to move this one back and forth." That brought more laughter. "Now, about helping you. Il Muto is the music we shall be playing, yes?" Both Gabby and Jen nodded. "Alright, then get ready to play." Both girls nodded and did as told. Jen rolled the keyboard over, and Gabby got a chair and her cello. When they were ready, Erik turned from his organ and studied them. "We will start at the beginning." He began to play something on the organ, which Jen recognized as part of the show music, and came in as her part permitted. Gabby did the same. "Stop. Good. You two have some musical talent, and training. I can tell. But, mademoiselle Gabrielle, you seem to be doing something wrong." Erik stood and walked towards her. "Now, please play again." He told them. They nodded, and did so.

Gabby grinned as she hit one of her notes, and an idea struck. Erik was close enough to jab with her bow. As soon as she had a note that would cause the bow to go that far, she overshot it, poking him in the stomach. "Ouch." Erik yelped, glaring at her. Gabby grinned, then quickly replaced it with a worried look. "Oh my god, I'm sorry! Sorry! Did I hurt you? Ahh, sorry!"

"I am fine. Now, play again. No distractions this time." They both nodded, and Jen watched as Gabby once again poked him with her bow, this time in the leg. Erik glared murderously at her, and Jen couldn't hold in her laughter. "Ah, sorry! I didn't mean to do it again! Don't hurt me sir!" Gabby pleaded, and he sighed. "Fine. DON'T let it happen again." As if to make sure it would not, he took a few steps back. "Start…again…" Gabby played, but Jen did not. She was laughing too hard. Erik shot her a dark glance, and she stopped, or tried to. The mask only intensified his glare. She sighed and stopped. "Sorry Erik. I couldn't resist." She said, smiling at him. He rolled his eyes. "Can we please get back to music girls?"

"I am NOT a girl!" Jen retaliated. She was around 22, or she thought, she wasn't entirely sure how old her 1800's persona was. Somewhere around that though. "Then do not act like one!" Erik retorted. Jen glared, and he met it. They glared daggers at each other, until Jen thought of it as a staring-contest. Neither blinked, and Gabby thought they must have forgotten what they were mad about before Jen yelled out triumphantly "I win!"

"I beg your pardon?" Erik raged. "You blinked! Nyah!" The Opera Ghost seemed confused, and Jen grinned wider. "Back to music." She said after a bit, picking up her mallets and playing the opening stanza of "The Phantom of the Opera" Gabby joined in, and Erik looked at them like they were both insane. "How did you learn that?" he asked, voice a low whisper. "I told you, future…"

"You said you made that up!"

"Did I?" Jen asked smugly. She liked this. It was fun. Erik on the other hand, was getting fed up with the two girls. They were annoying. Jen's grin was what bugged him the most. It was too knowing, to…something. She seemed to be plotting. He wasn't sure if he liked that. Erik shrugged. He could deal with it. He thought.

Rehearsal continued for the next hour and a half. Gabby continued to poke him with her bow, and Jen would hit random notes, random wrong notes to be exact. It seemed like she was doing it on purpose, and it was beginning to annoy him. Erik kept his temper under control however, and met her cold glares and smug looks with ones to match. When the were finally finished, Gabby began packing up, but Jen stood there and began to play. The mallets hit the bars, creating music unlike what he was used to. Erik had never spent much time around the instruments she had dedicated herself too. "Jen?" he asked. She didn't respond, but the music grew more dark, more resonant. "Jen?" he asked again, tapping her shoulder. The percussionist whirled around, eyes questioning. "Yes?"

"Teach me?" he asked, running a finger along one of the bars. "Me…teach you? The one and only Phantom of the Opera? The musical genius who dwells here? Me, a simple orchestra girl?" she asked. He frowned. "Yes. I would like to play that." He said. Jen tossed him an extra set of mallets. She waved to Gabby, who waved back, then left. "Alright, let's get started." Jen said, smiling deviously at her new student.

Author's Note- Yay, there we go! Enjoy? I did!

Erik- finishes reading I wouldn't ask you to teach me!

Jen- Yes you would.

Erik- No, I wouldn't…

Jen - shrug too bad. I'm the author, so I choose what you do in the fic. And back to our readers…Thanks for reading, and look for another update tomorrow! Until then, review! Reviews make Erik happy! They make Jen happy too!