Strange Angel
Disclaimer: The Characters in this story don't belong to me, they belong to Gaston Leroux, Andrew Lloyd Webber and others associated. If I had the chance to own anything from Phantom of the Opera it would be Erik…. sighs if only dreams could
come true.
AN: Thank you all who reviewed and read my story! Here's another chapter, hope you enjoy and keep reviewing!
Lyrics
Indicates the Phantom/Erik speaking
Thoughts
Chapter Four: I Remember Her
" I could let you go, but then you'd fall."
Christine found herself trying to recall where she had seen this man's face before. He was tall, his brown hair falling just about the shirt of his collar, twin hazel eyes danced and smiled at her as though they were indeed old friends, " Oh, right." Using his hands to steady herself, Christine returned fully onto her own two feet, "Thanks." She smiled somewhat.
"You don't remember me do you?" He laughed, "You lost your scarf, I waded out and brought it back to you from the sea."
She thought a moment, all of this sounded so familiar to her, "Raoul?" She asked with a narrowing of her eyes, and that's when he smiled a nodded confirming her answer, " Oh my… it's been so long."
"You were five." He smiled, his arm circling around her shoulders and lead her back inside the school, "And my have you grown up." He flashed a warm filled smile at the girl.
Something inside Christine was hesitant to this sudden appearance of an old acquaintance, something was screaming at her not to trust him and yet something else wanted to trust him, he could protect her… couldn't he? And that smile, it made her knees feel funny, " Um… thanks." Looking down, the young woman did the best she could to hide the fact she was blushing, " So, what are you doing here?" Her features took a quizzical appearance, "You are a little old for school Raoul." He was after all seven years older than she was.
The handsome smile broke a moment as he chuckled at her question, "Yes Little Lotte that is very true," The smile returned, it felt good to say that nickname again, "But the reason of my presence is that I'm interning here with your school's counselor."
Suddenly a pit rose in her stomach, "Oh…" Covering her sudden act of rebelliousness, Christine smiled and joked, "A Shrink huh?"
"Yes, a Shrink." He eyed her curiously, she didn't look good at all, her face was drawn, and she seemed far to skinny for her height let alone a girl of sixteen who would soon be seventeen and graduating when the year was out… if he remembered correctly, " Are you in a free hour right now?"
"No, I…" She had to come up with something fast, "I was headed for the office actually, but I needed some air." There, that would work wouldn't it? Biting slightly at her lower lip, Christine gazed into his green and brown eyes for any signs he didn't believe her little fib.
She was hiding something, she wasn't acting like the Christine he knew in their childhood and pre-teen years. She was never so drawn and full of secrets, she used to confide in him about anything, "So how are your parents?"
At that moment she wanted to reel, the world around her seemed to swim. Her brown stare danced a moment as she fought the tears, " They're…" She couldn't say it, " They're…" Taking a deep breath, she finally let the word fall out, "dead." Folding her arms, Christine shied away from her childhood friend and leaned against the wall, her head bent low, eyes studying her shoes.
He wanted to hold her, to dry the tears he knew she was crying. He wouldn't ask why, because apparently the circumstances were anything but pleasant, "I'm sorry." He whispered and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Feeling the pressure of his hand, Christine shot up, tears leaving trails down her cheeks, " You and the rest of the world." She snapped at him, " But sorry doesn't make it right, sorry doesn't kill the pain…" She could feel her fingernails digging into her palms as she tightened her fists more in anger, " Sorry doesn't bring them back so I can say it!" Giving him a hard shove out of her way, Christine took off down the hall, she didn't care where she was going as long as it was where no one would find her for a while.
As she ran, she never heard him call her name. She pushed herself to go faster with each second, she didn't even hear the bell ring as students filed out of the classrooms only to be pushed aside by a crying girl in a hurry to get anywhere but here. The world went by her in a blur, she didn't even feel the bodies of those she rush passed or forced aside in her mad dash.
When she finally stopped, Christine clutched at her chest in agony. Her lungs were burning, taking big glups of air, the sixteen ear old girl fell to her knees and curled into a sniffling ball. Her body shook with each sob that racked it, "Why…" She asked the silence breathlessly, "Why!" Hearing her anger echo back at her, Christine blinked and slowly sat up, her eyes adjusting to the semi-darkness as she tried to figure out where she might be.
At first he had debated on going after her, he felt to blame after all he hadn't known about her parents and obviously she would have rather avoided the subject. He stood there a moment watching the students filter passed him, some of them talking about how evil of a teacher Mr. or Mrs. So and So was. But then some of the subject matter began to change into gossip.
"She's lost it."
"Oh, I know, did you see her running down the hall like that?"
"I feel sorry for her."
"They should lock her up somewhere ya know, like a mental ward or something."
"Really."
"Excuse me."
Raoul blinked as he felt a light tap on his shoulder and turned around to see a lanky blond haired girl the same age as Christine looking at him with curious blue eyes, "Yes?"
" Monsieur De Changy?" The girl asked.
"Yes, but please call me Raoul." The girl looked familiar, " Can I help you?"
"I thought so. I'm Meg, Christine's friend." She smiled, "We met once I think."
"Aah." He smiled, that's how she was familiar, "Yes we did, you danced in the same talent competition Christine sang in here a few years ago. You got third place, Christine was second and that Carlotta girl was first… even if we all thought she sounded more like a toad." They both laughed at that, "Did you happen to see where Christine went?"
" Nope, but this is her free hour coming up and sometimes she's in the auditorium to practice." Somehow her best friend's friend looked worried and Meg of course being her nosy little self wondered why, " I can show you were it is. Come on."
"Meg."
"Hold that thought." The blond rolled her eyes and turned around to face her mother.
"Where do you think you are going? You're my aid this hour. Get back into that classroom." The stern woman pointed her finger back down the hall from which they both had come.
"I know Ma, but I was going to show Raoul here where Christine spends her free hour." Meg explained sweetly, hoping to possibly get herself out of playing gofer for her dear mother today.
Annette Giry studied the man standing just behind her daughter. She knew who he was, but why he was here had to be answered, "This school does not allow visitors Monsieur."
" Madame Giry, how nice to see you again." Raoul smiled, " And I assure you I am not visiting, in fact I'm going to be at your charming school for quite sometime seeing as I am interning with your counselor to move on in my own degree pursit."
Her eyes narrowed, "Very well." Annette's sharp features fell onto her daughter, " Make quick."
"Merci" Meg said and grabbed Raoul's hand as she dragged him down the hall and towards the large auditorium.
Annette slowly shook her head as she watched the two faded down the hallway. Looking around her, the older woman paused as a interesting sensation made its way up her spine, "Meg. You wait for me, something is wrong." She called after her daughter who was stopped not by her own want, but by De Changy as she moved as quickly as her long ago injured knee would allow her.
End of Chapter Four
