Author's Note- One more day…one more day…

Erik- I hate exams

Jen- me too…but, here is the next chapter!

Araiona Dubois- wow, thanks! I am glad you are enjoying it so much, especially after how much I enjoyed your phics! And, it is ok, hehe…I need more of those I think. Thanks for the review!

Ram Jas- haha, yes, if only we weren't…but we are, and that makes it fun! And aye, I know what you mean about guys, trust me…and, glad you liked it. Here be some more Erik/Jen stuff.

Chapter 21

Someone Who Cares

Erik followed Gabby into the small room. Jen was laying on her bed, and he thought at first that she was asleep, but then realized that she was crying. "Jen?" he asked softly. She didn't turn, but mumbled something into the pillow. "I'm gonna leave you two for a little while…" Gabby said, already walking out of the room. She waved to Erik cheerfully, then shut the door behind her. Erik sighed. "Jen."

"What?" she asked, sounding somewhat irritated. She turned, and he saw her reddened eyes. "Gabby said we needed to talk. I agree with her. Can we just talk?" The percussionist nodded, curling into a ball on the bed, not looking at him. Erik sat down on the end of the bed and stared at the wall. What to say? He had no idea. Perhaps she would know. "I wanted to tell you." He began when she did not. "I am sorry about what happened. I know that you care about me. As more than just a friend."

"I haven't been overly discrete, have I?" she asked, a small smile appearing at the corners of her mouth. Erik shook his head. "Not at all."

"I can't help it Erik. I can't help it that I am naturally attracted to you." He didn't respond. "Just like…just like you can't help loving Christine." Christine. The name haunted him. The way Jen had said it made him shiver. It hadn't been a jealous girlfriend tone, but an accepting and friendly one. "I know." He replied simply. "But, I don't want you to be hurt. You have to understand Erik- your plan might not work." Jen told him, looking up for the first time, her eyes boring into him. She was dead serious. It made him slightly nervous. "And if it does not, what will you do? What if…" Jen knew she was lying to him about all of it, she knew his plan wouldn't work. "What if Christine doesn't choose you. What if you can't be her angel again?"

"Then…I don't know." He said simply. Jen nodded. "I know that. Erik, please, promise me that if she doesn't choose you, you will no pursue her anymore. Promise that you will at least try to give her up. I am not saying that you have to choose me when you do, but do not chase after a lost dream."

"I promise." He said. The look on his face told her that he meant it. Jen smiled. "Thank you." Her voice was soft, and she smiled. Erik smiled and she sat up, and scooted over to him. The Phantom put an arm around her. "Friends?"

"Friends." Jen said, and she lay her head on his shoulder, not caring if he denied loving her. She could tell he cared. She wished she could tell him, and prevent all this pain for both of them. She had the means, but couldn't bring herself to show him. "Tomorrow is the Bal Masque." Jen said suddenly, thinking out loud. Erik nodded. "I am going with you, Erik."

"It is dangerous."

"I don't care." She said. "I would rather be caught with you than go alone. We need each other Erik. We need each other to lean on. If you go, I go." She smiled up at him, though he wasn't much taller than her, especially when sitting. Without thinking, she hummed part of All I Ask of You. Erik grimaced, and she stopped. "Sorry…catchy tune."

"If you say so." He said, enjoying being so close. "Don Juan is complete now."

"I know." She said. "And yet, you are still going to make me wait."

"I hope this works." He told her. "Our plan, that it. I hope that those fools will do as I say. Perhaps they will believe in the Opera Ghost after tomorrow." Jen chuckled. "Aye, and the Phantomess."

"Phantomess?"

"I was bored one day. Though, I guess Miss. Daae will become the Phantomess, eh?"

"I guess." Erik said, smiling. He knew that he had nothing to offer the singer- not even a last name for her to take. The Phantom sighed. "Don't worry, Erik. Things will work out in the end."

"So you say. Things have never worked out for me." He told her, memories of his childhood beginning to come back. "I'm here aren't I?" she said, grinning. He liked it when she was so happy. "I guess. One thing." Jen could tell his memories hurt him though. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"You don't want to listen."

"Yes, I do. I think you need someone to listen. Someone who cares. And, Erik, I do care. Tell me." Jen told him, laying back down on the bed. The percussionist grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back to, then looked at him. Erik sighed, and got comfortable. "Alright. I don't remember much of my childhood, other than it was painfully sad. I don't think there is anything worse than being hated by your own mother."

"She couldn't have hated you." Jen interrupted. "I don't think she did. I think she loved me, but, she was terribly afraid of me. I was a child prodigy in many aspects. I was an artist, a musician, and an architect at the age of four. Not a good one, mind you, but I knew as most people your age." Jen's eyes widened. She was impressed. It sounded a lot like the Kay novel to her. "Keep going." She said.

"I wasn't allowed out of the house. Not even for Church. Instead, the priest came to us. I didn't understand why. Then, on my fifth birthday- the only birthday I ever celebrated- I realized why I was so different. It was because of my mask. I took it off, and she became very upset. I was frightened, but my temper got the best of me. You know my temper, Jen." He looked at her, and she nodded, then moved closer. Erik swallowed, somewhat uncomfortable with her being so close, but he liked it none the less. "It was that night that I first began to understand why I was different. Why I wore this." He pointed to the mask. Jen sighed, then reached up to remove the white porcelain. Erik began to reach out to stop her, but she gave him a look that he dared not defy, and let her remove it. He closed his eyes, and she reached out and ran a finger along his cheek. "What happened?"

"She showed me a mirror. I had never seen one before. I looked in it- no mask, mind you, and…" he stopped, tears beginning to run down his cheeks. "And I saw myself for the first time. I thought it was a monster- I didn't know that I was the monster, I was too young. It horrified me, and I smashed it." Erik looked at his hand, and Jen could see that it was still scarred from when he had broken it. "That night I had nightmares about the 'monster' in the mirror. I later asked my mother for a mirror, and took it apart. I realized that there wasn't anything in the mirror. I was entranced by it and began to wonder how to make mirrors for my use. I…don't remember much after that, until when I was sent away." Jen watched, and could tell that it was painful for him. "Erik. You can stop if you want." She said softly, wrapping her arms around him. Erik sighed, she did really care. "Alright." Jen smiled sadly and lay her head down on his chest. "I would tell you a happy story, but, I don't know what to say." The percussionist said, closing her eyes. Erik ran a hand through her hair, and she smiled. "Why can't things be like this?" she wondered out loud. "Why can't fate be kinder."

"I don't know." He said, his arm resting on her shoulder. "I don't know.

XxXxXxXxX

Gabby opened the door slowly, not wanting to wake Jen. She had been gone for a few hours now, and it was getting rather late. The cellist had paused outside of the door for a moment, listening for voices coming from inside, but hadn't heard anything, so she assumed her friend was asleep and that Erik had left. "Jen, I-" She stopped when she saw her friend. Jen was asleep, a little smile on her face, cuddled up to Erik, who's mask was on the little table by Jen's bed. Gabby smiled for her friends and lay down on her bed, not bothering to change, and fell asleep.

Author's Note- aw…Jen/Erik cutness…wheee…hope you enjoyed, and review!