Author's Note- Fondest greetings to you all….
Erik- Don't quote me!
Jen- sorry…couldn't resist…but, hello once again my good readers. It's that time…pulls up reviews
ErikandChritine- thanks for reviewing once again!
Tallacus- hehe, yes…I know. Though, he does get rather annoyed with the us…hehe
Erik- they are going to kill me…
Jen- I wouldn't kill you!
Erik- yes you would…
Jen- no comment
Xtrifinityx- the dunking, yes…I couldn't resist. And finally, someone else who agrees that Gerik isn't hideous without his mask! I can't convince any of my friends at school that he is still hot…thanks for reviewing, and here is another chappy!
Shadow-sun- thanks for reviewing!
Chapter 9
Plans
"So what should we do about her?" Gabby asked. Jen thought for a moment, watching Erik. He seemed at a loss for ideas, so she suggested something. "We could have Erik write a sappy love-letter for her. Like, one that is really deep and meaningful…" she suggested with a shrug. Erik gave her a strange look and she shrugged. "That might work…but, if it doesn't bring her back to him, what do we do?"
"Torture the fop…" Jen muttered under her breath. Erik must have heard, because his eyes lit up. "Punjab him." He said, his voice a dangerously low growl. Gabby glared at both. "We don't want to kill him."
"Why?" both Phantom and percussionist asked at the same time. "Because, then she will hate you." Gabby said plainly, looking at Erik. The two sighed. "True…" Jen muttered. Erik nodded, and the threesome thought again. Silence reigned over the trio long into the night, when suddenly Jen looked up with an idea. "We can let history run it's course." Gabby and Erik both gave her strange looks, though they implied different things. Jen smiled. Gabby's face was asking her why she suggested that, and Erik's was one of confusion. "Are you serious?" the cellist finally asked. Jen nodded. "Dead."
"It won't work."
"Yes it will."
"Mademoiselles, if I may ask, what are you talking about?" Erik cut in, his eyes glowing in the dim light, curious. "How to get Christine to you." Jen said simply, turning back to Gabby. "It is simple. We just let fate work it's course, and meanwhile, we help it along a bit. You know, a rose and letter here and there, helping her get good parts. Erik can bring her down to the lair more." She glanced at him, and he seemed to shiver at the thought. "And, we stay with him more, helping him with…uh…you know." Gabby thought for a moment. "It might work…but, we will have to be careful that she doesn't find out about us." Jen grinned. "Or, we should make sure she knows about us. Jealousy has it's perks."
"Aye…" Gabby said slowly, realization dawning on her. "We can spend almost too much time with our beloved phantom, and Christine will perhaps be jealous that he would take in new students." Jen nodded. "Exactly. What do you think Erik?" Erik looked at her, then Gabby, then back. "I'm not sure what to think of it." He said at last. Both girls laughed. "Then don't worry about it!" Jen said, a wicked smile appearing on her face. Erik wasn't sure if he liked that look, but he decided he would have to get used to it. "Alright, for step one, here is what we will do…"
XxXxXxXxX
Gabby woke up before the sun had risen, hungry. She realized that neither she, nor Jen had eaten in hours, and Erik probably hadn't either. The cellist muttered something about pancakes, and an idea hit her. She smiled, then got out of bed, quietly so not to wake Jen, who looked like a dead body on the bed so deep was her slumber, and put on some comfortable clothes. She then smiled and opened the mirror/door that lead to Erik's lair beneath the Opera House. After the short passage downwards, she found herself in the candle-lit room, greeted by the sound of Organ music. It was faint, though, and she guessed that he wasn't in the main room, but instead his own bed room. Curiosity pricked her, wanted to find out if the infamous Opera Ghost really slept in a coffin or not, but she assumed that was not her place to pry.
"If it is anyone's, it would be Jen." She whispered to herself, then laughed. "Lying perverts." A light nock on Erik's door would suffice, she guessed, and did so. A few minutes later a curious looking Erik greeted her. "Is something wrong mademoiselle?" he asked. The Phantom seemed as if he hadn't slept all night. "I was wondering…where is the kitchen?"
Erik looked at her like she had grown another head, and Gabby continued to stare, looking up at him. He was rather tall, after all. "Why?" he finally asked. "I want to make breakfast. I'm a cook!"
"Really? I could have sworn you were a cellist for the Opera House." Erik replied, bemused. Gabby rolled her eyes. "I have many talents."
"Do you?" he asked, eyes glowing with laughter. Gabby glared. "Aye, indeed I do Mr. Phantom."
"And what would they include?" he asked. A small smile crept upon his face. "Annoying you." Erik frowned. That one was most certainly true. "Follow me." He said at last, leading his student further into his lair.
XxXxXxXxX
Jen woke up in her own bed, to find the room empty. Gabby's bed had been made, for once, and a folded piece of paper rested on her pillow. Jen picked it up, and read it.
Jen,
Gone down to help Erik clean lair. Come find us when you are ready.
Gabby
Jen shook her head and pulled out some clothes for the day. The slightly baggy black pants and a plain green shirt seemed fitting for the day. Making her way down the dark tunnel, she smiled when the familiar golden glow of the lair came into view. She heard an organ playing softly, the music sad and soulful. She didn't recognize it however, and sighed. Erik would be writing Don Juan soon. A small smile slipped across her features. Don Juan had a marimba solo (it does! And now you will know why! Or…later in the story, lol…). "Erik." She said softly, and he turned, then smiled slightly. "Jen. Or mademoiselle? What am I to call you my lady?"
"Jen is fine by me, but I really don't care." She muttered, taking a seat on the organ bench beside him. "So if I wanted to call you an annoying pest, you would not mind?" he asked, slightly amused. Jen gave him a look as if to say very funny, then turned to the beautiful instrument before her. The percussionist ran her fingers over the smooth keys and smiled. Erik glanced at her warily, and she sighed, shaking her head. "You don't trust anyone, do you?"
"I have no reason to trust people." His voice was sad, soft. Gentle and soulful. It spoke of many years of loneliness and discrimination. Jen offered a sad smile. "Do not think you are alone in that fact." She replied, standing up and stretching. Just then, Gabby appeared, grinning widely. "Who wants pancakes?"
Author's note- yeah, a day late, I know…sigh but, thank you all for reading, and…I gotta get back to my homework, lol. So, until tomorrow, review!