Chapter 32

Poppy slowly woke up and stretched, kicking something soft. Whatever it was let out a groan, and grabbed her foot, causing her sit straight up. "Wha-"

"You kicked me." Came the answer.

Poppy yawned, "I'm sorry."

Erik grunted. Sure she was! He grabbed the other foot. From the position at the other end of the couch, Erik watched her wake up. Her red hair was messy; her white eyes half closed. But to him, she was still beautiful. They had sung until late last night. They had collapsed on the couch, exhausted. They both quickly fell asleep. And some how Erik ended on the opposite side of the couch, Poppy on the other. As he watched her now, an evil thought came to mind. One that soon made him regret it. Erik slowly ran his fingers on the underside of her feet. Almost instantly her eyes went wide and she kicked. The heel of her left foot hit him in the chest. He let out a groan, feeling the breath leaving his body. He saw her shoot off the couch, trip and run over by the organ.

"Felt good Erik? I hope so! Don't try that again. I hate being tickled."

Erik caught his breath, "Oh really? Well then…I know exactly what to do." He stood and stalked over to her, letting his shoes make sound.

She let out a yelp and ran around to the back of the couch. "Don't you dare Erik! Don't even try! I'm warning you!"

Erik just smirked and stopped, making Poppy lose track of him. He stood there and watched her strain listening for him. She moved to the end of the couch and stopped.

"Erik? Come on, this is not funny."

He thought it was. Quietly, he walked up to her, reached out to grab her…when she reached out and grabbed him. Catching him off guard, she was able to spin him, causing him to fall down on the couch. Erik figured that if he was going down, so was she. She let out a surprised gasp, as they both landed on the couch, Poppy on his chest.

"That was not—"Poppy was cut off when Erik raised his head and caught her lips with his. She froze in surprise, but quickly returned the kiss. They were like that for several minutes, lip locked, when someone cleared their throat.

Trying not to laugh and jump for joy, Mme. Giry asked, "Am I interrupting anything?"

Both Erik and Poppy thought at the same time, Yes!

Erik helped a blushing Poppy off of his chest. Poppy sat down on the couch, hiding her face. Erik glared at Mme. Giry. "What do you want?" his voice husky.

Antoinette let Erik get away with speaking to her like that. "We have problems. The cast is demanding that Poppy should be up there. And they are having trouble with the music."

Erik growled, flustered, "The idiots!" he sighed, "Poppy, go on up there with Mme. Giry. I'll fix it."

For once Poppy didn't argue. She grabbed her new cane and shoes and followed Antoinette up the tunnel.

Erik let a string of French curses out, took a few deep breaths, collected his self, and took a different path.