Author's Note- cries we need more reviews…but, here be the next chapter for those who are reading but not reviewing…I know you people are there!
Erik- one with the story please…
Jen- I'm gonna enjoy this chapter…evil glint in eye
Erik- looks worried
Chapter 7
Things Unseen
Two weeks later, and only days away from the production of Il Muto, Gabby was tuning her cello, twenty minutes before rehearsal. She frowned when the note was once again out of tune, and worked with it for a bit before the desired note came out. "So, is mademoiselle Jen coming?" the man beside her asked. Gabby turned to him. "No, she is still sick Joseph." She said, smiling sadly. "Lovesick…" she muttered under her breath. Jen hadn't been to rehearsal for the last three days; instead, she had been staying with Erik for their 'lessons.' Gabby was beginning to wonder about what had really been happening down in the lair, and shuddered. "I am not going there…" she said softly to herself, still twitching. Joseph gave her a strange look, and she smiled and tried to act normal. She found herself doing that lot lately. It was odd to say the least. Kind of like…kind of like how Jen acted around Erik. She finally concluded. Jen was strange around him. She wasn't her typical quirky self. Well, actually, she was, but not to the extreme Gabby was used to. The cellist sighed and watched as the maestro walked up to the orchestra. He gave them some announcements, but she wasn't listening. Gabby was too captivated by the guy next to her to care. Joseph was handsome, she had to admit. And he was a wonderful musician. When they started playing, Gabby found herself just enjoying listening, rather than playing. She forgot all about Jen and the Angel of Music.
XxXxXxXxX
Meanwhile, down in the lair, Jen was grinning. She was having a great deal of fun teaching Erik. The musical genius's talent wasn't quite so advanced in her field. He could hold the mallets when using two, but not four. Jen remembered that she had trouble with it for a long while as well, however. She still did at times, but right now, it was fun being the person yelling for once. "No, no no! Not like that!" she said, pretending to be annoyed. "Like this! See?" She demonstrated the grip. Erik studied it closely, taking her hand in his own and examining it closely. "Yes." He said at last, picking up the sticks he had been using. Jen sighed and smiled. "Aye, like that." She sad, smiling. "Now try playing."
Erik hit a few notes, and smiled smugly. "See mademoiselle, I can do this." He said, just as the mallets fell out of his grip again. He growled and glared at the wood and yarn devices. Jen laughed. "don't worry. I had trouble for a long time too. It take practice." She told him, smiling as she struck a few chords perfectly. Her skills weren't like some she had seen in high school, but she was happy with them. Apparently, 1870-Jen had had more experience than 2005 Jen. Of course, her present state was also older than her high school self. By about 6 years, to be exact. Jen had found past memories of her former self, of playing in Opera's, of wondering about the Phantom of the Opera. They were faint, yes, but they WERE there. Jen looked back at Erik and smiled. He was still hot. His frown at the mallets was only intensified by his ever-scowling mask, but she didn't care. With a look toward the lake, the percussionist decided that the mood could use some lightening up. She smiled deviously and stretched. "Well, Gabby should be down here in a few minutes." She said. "Let's take a break."
"Alright." Erik agreed, putting the mallets back in her bag and walking to his organ. Jen rolled her eyes. If it wasn't one musical thing it was another with him. Or, it was Christine. His study had frightened her. It was covered with drawing of Christine. "And people say I'm obsessed…" she muttered, chuckling. Erik ignored her and played. Jen smiled. She listened, though she didn't recognize the tune. With a grin she looked at the lake once again, then walked over to it and ran her hand through the cold water. She stepped in, making a splash. Erik turned to look at her, then stood up when he couldn't find her. Meanwhile, Jen was swimming back to the bank, and got into a position where she could easily knock him into the water. Erik looked around. "Jen?" he asked, sounding slightly worried. The percussionist made a soft splash to distract him, then pushed him from behind. The Opera Ghost found himself falling into the water, face first. Jen ducked under, and swam over to him, helping him up. It was rather hard, in the 3 feet of water, but she managed. Erik glared at her grin. "Sorry. I couldn't resist." She said softly, pushing some of his soaking hair out of his eyes. She left her dripping bangs where they were though. Just then, she noticed that Erik had lost his mask. She didn't say anything, and he looked around, then suddenly seemed to realize. A look of terror crossed his face, followed by one of rage. Jen dunked her head under again, and found the white mask, then came up, holding it in her hands, and gently placed it on his face. She smiled at him, his green-grey eyes meeting her blue-grey ones. Without thinking she pulled him into a kiss, the released him. Erik looked shocked, and she looked away. "I'm sorry." She said, voice a whisper.
"You…" he said slowly, as if confused. "My face…it did not frighten you…" he asked softly, looking at her strangely. She shook her head, sending water droplets flying. "No." was her reply. She looked up at him, then back down. "I'm sorry…I…I shouldn't have kissed you…I didn't think…"
"Don't be…" he managed, still unsure what was going on. Just then Jen heard someone clearing their throat, and turned to see Gabby standing there, looking at the two from the shore. It must have seemed odd, seeing them standing up to their knees in water. "Gabby!" Jen said with a started, quickly stepping back. Erik looked at both girls in surprise, then confusion. "Lessons?" he said, still standing in the water. "I'm gonna go change…" Jen said, looking at her soaked clothing. "Be back in a few minutes…" Erik shrugged. "Well, mademoiselle, it looks like it will be just the two of us for the first part of the lesson. Let's start." He said, walking out of the water. Gabby nodded, and got her cello out, ready to play.
XxXxXxXxX
"So…uh…what was going on down there?" Gabby asked Jen, giving her a questioning look. Jen didn't look up from her book- one she had stolen from Erik's study. "Nothing." She said simply. "I had one of those phangirl moments. That is all. And, yes, I will go to rehearsal tomorrow."
"Good! I am getting tired of covering for you!" her friend replied. "So you sure it was nothing?"
"Yes." Jen replied. This was all they had been talking about for the last half hour. "Positive?"
"Yes."
"Sure you're positive?"
"Yes damn it! Now leave it alone! Erik is my friend and I am teaching him percussion. He is obsessed with Christine anyway, I haven't got a chance." Jen growled, glaring. Gabby shrugged. "I'm sure we could fix that. Oooh, I just got an idea!"
"What?"
"Let's haunt the Opera house with Erik!" Gabby said, grinning. Jen gave her a strange look. "Like, tomorrow before the production?" she said, raising an eyebrow. Gabby nodded, still grinning. "If Erik let's us." She said, smiling for the first time that night since kissing Erik. "We will ask tomorrow."
"Ok."
"Now, can I PLEASE sleep?" Jen pleaded. Gabby snickered. "So you can dream of Erik some more?" Her friend glared again. "No."
"Angel of music, guide and guardian…" Gabby started to sing. Jen glared. "Please just shut up!" she said, trying not to laugh at her animated friend. She couldn't help it though, and fell back laughing. "I want to hear Erik sing sometime…" she said, to herself, smiling at the ceiling. She was hopeless, she knew, but that opportunity had been too good. She closed her eyes, and the day's event ran through her mind again. Gabby finished singing when Jen stopped laughing, and turned the light out. Jen smiled to herself. There was nothing…yet.
Author Note- No, this is gonna be strictly an EC fic. nods Er…not really folks…I can't resist…
Erik- reads chapter What? You kiss me?
Jen- yerp…
Erik- I never agreed to falling for you! backs away
Jen- you should have read the fine print on that contract then…
Erik- there WASN'T any find print!
Jen- so? I am the authoress…I can do what I want! evilness And so my readers, I leave you. Hope you enjoyed…See you next time, when our dynamic duo (Gabby and Jen of course) haunt the Opera House!
Oh, and, see that button down there? Just click it and type something! Then press submit! It is cool!
(lame attempt to get reviews)