Author Note:
Hey thank you to all my AWESOME reviewers! You guys rock! I would name you individually...but according to the rules...I can't. You know who you are and just know that I appreciate you SO SO MUCH! Sorry it took so long to update! School is a bitch!
Black Isis
Chapter 3- The Nose
Nicole's makeup brushes swept swiftly across the lid of her eyes leaving a light shimmer of pink behind. She rummaged through her makeup bag, finally pulling out a dark pink to go with it. Nicole was known for many things. Her elaborate makeup designing was one of them. At school, many of the girls told her she should drop out and become a makeup artist. She usually politely declined, saying she could always just do the makeup on her models.
"Hey, if you don't hurry up, we're going to be late." Charo scolded, bursting into Nicole's room. Nicole scowled at her.
"You're just lucky Erik came in dress cloths. He wouldn't have gotten away with wearing a dingy forest green T-shirt in The Nose." She rattled, continuing to apply her makeup, adding gold swirls around the edge of her eye with a thin pencil. Charo rolled her eyes. Her light purple dress fitted nicely to her long slender body and ruffled around her knees, creating an exotic feel to it.
"It has a name, you know." She continued, walking over to a mirror to make sure her hair looked okay.
"Yes, yes,it's some Italian name that I can never remember. Isn't it just easier to say The Nose?" Nicole asked, turning to look at Charo while she fumbled with a large hoop earring. Nicole's dress was several shades of pink that faded into one another with beads lining the bottom.
Charo turned to leave. "I suppose, it just sounds weird." She admitted. "Who wants to eat at a place called The Nose?" she asked. Just then, Nicole's stomach voiced its opinion loudly. Charo giggled.
"I do." Nicole answered, getting up and stepping into her shoes. "Come now, let me go see how Erik cleaned himself up." She said, taking Charo's arm and leading her out of her room.
Erik sat on the couch, his nose crinkled in disgust. He had attempted to use some sort of gel on his hair that Charo gave him. Now he smelt of a sickly sweet strawberry scent that made him want to gag. Well, at least his hair was not all in his face. Hopefully people would not confuse him for that damn fop. His attention was drawn to the other side of the room as Nicole and Charo came down the hall, their heels clicking loudly. Erik was taken aback.
"Are you aloud to wear a dress that has been cut off like that?" he asked perplexedly, getting to his feet. "Your calves are showing!" he exclaimed. Charo stepped behind Nicole, feeling very exposed in her dress now.
"Maybe we should have just gone to McDonalds." She whispered into Nicole's ear. Nicole shrugged. "My wallet would have appreciated it." she retorted, striding over to Erik and looping her arm around his.
"Do not worry, Mr. Phantom, it is perfectly okay to show our calves in the 21st century." She said, smiling sweetly.
Erik shifted his weight, uncomfortable with Nicole touching his arm like that. Nicole smirked, holding tighter.
"Come! I am very hungry." she said, motioning with her head to Charo.
"Right then," Erik said sheepishly, walking out of the apartment with the two girls, Nicole's arm still looped tightly in his. Nicole raised an eyebrow and craned her neck up to Erik's face. He jumped, his heart beginning to pound in his ears as her face drew closer to his.
"You smell like strawberries." She said bluntly. Charo snorted in a very unladylike manner. Erik scowled.
"I do not know what kind of stuff your friend gave me, but I now reek of it." he spat, annoyed that Nicole could smell it so blatantly. Nicole let out a small chuckle.
"Don't worry; I had to be right next to you to smell it, if that's what you're worried about." She reassured.
Erik gawked at the flashing lights of Time Square. He was practically looking up the whole time they walked to The Nose. The sky was beginning to fall into night, the twilight zone.
"Erik, normal people look where they are going when they walk." Nicole said through clenched teeth as she, once again, prevented Erik from stumbling into the busy street.
"If you haven't noticed, Mademoiselle, I am far from normal." He spat, cringing as a taxi driver blew his horn loudly. Nicole sighed, taking Erik's hand in her own. He glanced at her, wondering what she was up to. Her expression had changed to a soft, gentle look.
"I know you are not normal, Erik." She said quietly, almost unheard over the noise of the city around them. "But I am not normal either." She mumbled.
Erik thought over in his head what Nicole had just said. Around him, the sights and smells of New York City made him some what sick to his stomach. Every once in a while he would catch the sent of rotten eggs or body odor. All around him cars honked loudly at one another and steam shot up from little greats in the street. People sat in rags on almost every corner, begging for money. Erik thought he had dismal living conditions.
"The future does not smell very good. Is it like this everywhere?" he asked remorsefully. Nicole shook her head. "No not everywhere. In my home town, it is full of country side and fresh air. Perhaps you will get to see it, depending on how long you stay with me….I mean in the future." She corrected quickly, blushing slightly.
They soon approached a restaurant with a large sculpture of a nose over the entrance. Erik let out a chuckle.
"Is that a nose?" he asked, amused at the very thought of it. Charo and Nicole giggled as well.
"Yes, actually it is." Charo said, walking up to the desk.
"Wait until we get inside." Nicole whispered in Erik's ear. Her hot breath sent shivers down Erik's spine.
"Tryon and Memonsyne, party of three." She said to the man. His eyes darted to the paper in front of him. He looked back up at Charo, smirking.
"I'm sorry, Madam, it does not seem to be on the list." He said plainly. Charo returned his smirk with one of her own, leaning casually on the pedestal.
"Oh my, what ever shall we do?" she asked in a mock worried tone. The man leaned forward.
"I might be able to let you in if you did me a favor." He whispered grinning. Charo leaned forward and ardently planted a kiss on the man's lips.
"Hopefully that will suffice!" she said, laughing. The man leered and nodded, his blue-green eyes sparkling with life.
"How are you, Jamsie-poo?" Nicole asked from behind Charo. The man peered around his girlfriend, spotting Nicole and Erik. He raised an eyebrow at Erik's masked but decided to keep the question to himself.
"Fine, thank you, and you Nicole?" he asked politely.
Nicole shrugged. "Living, I suppose." She answered nonchalantly.
"Who is your date?" he asked, his eyes falling on her hand which was still intertwined with Erik's. Nicole's face turned scarlet.
"Oh no, no, no! He's just a….friend." she said, pulling her hand away. James looked at the two, bemused.
"Please, James, can you show us to our seats now?" Charo asked becoming impatient.
"Of course! Allow me to escort you, Miss Tryon." He said, taking Charo's arm in his. Erik thought that this was mandatory and took Nicole's in his own.
"What are you doing?" Nicole asked in a harsh whisper.
"Escorting you." He answered in a low voice. The inside of the restraint was decorated with various sculptures of parts of the human body. On one wall, there was a large sculpture of a breast. Erik cocked an eyebrow, his eyes scanning all the tables they passed. He only got a few stares, but none lasted too long.
"What's that mommy?" a little girl asked loudly, pointing at the sculpture of the breast.
"Nothing dear." The mother answered, pulling her child back over to the dinner table. Erik laughed quietly, fascinated at everything around him.
"Here is your table. A waiter will be with you momentarily." James announced. He kissed Charo on the cheek before leaving to return to his post.
"Friend of yours?" Erik asked as he sat across from Charo and Nicole.
Charo giggled. "Yeah, he's my soul mate." Charo said dreamily, her eyes glazing over.
"That's what the gypsy told her." Nicole explained. Erik's face blanched, his eyes becoming wide. Nicole covered her mouth with her hand immediately.
"What, what is it?" Charo asked, snapping out of her trance as she saw the two's reaction. Nicole picked up her menu and buried her head behind it.
"Charo, I want the chicken fettuccini and a sweat tea." Nicole said quickly. She slammed her menu down and got up from the table.
"Come with me." She instructed, grabbing Erik's hand and pulling him quickly through the restaurant and back outside.
"Something wrong Nicole, dearest?" James asked as they passed him.
"Nothing James. Mind your own goddamn business." Nicole spat, pulling Erik off to the side of the street. James sighed, turning back to the customers who approached him.
Nicole wheeled on Erik, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry!" she sobbed, throwing her arms around Erik's neck. Erik was slightly shocked at her action. He patted her back numbly.
"There now, you didn't know…" he said shakily, memories still flooding his mind. Nicole shook her head.
"No, Erik, I did know. I just wasn't thinking! Oh God this is some mood swing I'm having." She said backing away. "Please forgive me. It must be that time of month again." She said darkly. Erik was now utterly confused.
"Um, shall we go back inside?" he asked feebly. Nicole sniffed loudly before looping her arm through Erik's once again.
"Yes, lets." She said softly, leaning her head into his arm.
Even though both had agreed, neither one moved. Erik was frozen to the spot as Nicole bunched the sleeve of his jacket up in her fists, nuzzling into his arm. She closed her eyes, taking in Erik's smell. He did not smell of death, as Leroux had described; actually, it reminded her of the smell in the air right before it rained. The smell when the rain first falls, soaking the ground ever so slightly.
"N-nicole?" Erik stuttered. Nicole opened her eyes, releasing Erik's arm quickly.
"Sorry, let's go back inside…" she stopped as soon as she felt Erik take her arm back. She looked up at him.
"I shall escort you." He said, smiling ever so slightly.
Once back inside, the evening carried on as is was supposed to. Charo did not dare to question what all the fuss was about seeing Nicole's reaction to the whole ordeal. The dinner was delicious and James came over and sat with them for the remainder of the meal.
"We better go." Charo suggested, standing up. James pouted melodramatically.
"Can't you stay a little longer?" he whined. Charo rolled her eyes.
"You are such and over actor." She exclaimed, running her hand's through his black hair. Nicole and Erik exchanged looks of exasperation.
"Okay, please, no PDA. I just ate." Nicole said. Charo scowled.
"I don't see you with your boyfriend." Charo retorted. Nicole's expression darkened, her fists clenching into tight balls.
"That's because he was a royal prick and I broke up with him on Friday; but thank you for bringing it up for it is a fond memory that I enjoy discussing!" Nicole growled through clenched teeth. Everyone starred as Nicole left the table.
"Here's your fucking tip." She spat, throwing six dollars at James before stomping off.
The three just watched her for a moment before James turned to Erik.
"Are you going to go after her? Like hell she wants to see me right now..." he said, exasperated at the thought.
"Am I supposed to?" he asked, puzzled at the question. Charo looked like she was on the verge of crying.
"Please do. Who knows what could happen to her at this time of night. She could be kidnapped or robbed…" she said worriedly. Erik nodded solemnly and left the table.
Out on the street, Nicole leaned up against the side wall, tears running down her face. It was such a mistake. Why did she ever have to fall in love with that man when all he would do was…
"Nicole?" Erik's voice came from beside her. Nicole's heart sped up. Maybe he was worried about me! She thought excitedly. She turned her head slowly to look at him, her eyes still gushing with tears.
"What is your pain?" he asked, obviously not skilled in counseling. Nicole smiled weakly.
"Could you take a walk with me?" she asked softly. Erik wasn't sure how to respond. He simply returned her smile.
"Of course." He replied.
"Sorry you had to see that back there." Nicole said, looking at her feet as they walked. "I just loose my temper sometimes." She explained.
"Mademoiselle, you are speaking to someone who is very familiar with losing their temper." Erik assured. Nicole laughed.
"Yes, I know." She said, walking closer.
"How?" Erik asked. Nicole looked up at him.
"How do you know? How do you know all these things about me?" he continued, putting his black gloves back on. Nicole sighed.
"Come with me. We are not far from the theatre." She said, taking Erik's hand once again and leading him through the crowd.
"This is how." She said, leading Erik up to the front of the Broadway Theatre. Erik stepped forward, looking at the advertisement behind the glass encasing.
"The Phantom of the Opera?" he asked perplexedly. "But, that…this is….there is a story about me?" He turned back to Nicole. She nodded dazedly. He turned back to the advertisement.
"One of the most tragic love stories of our time…" he read aloud. His eyes narrowed. "So that's what I am in the future? A tragic figure in a haunting love story." He spat, slamming his fist against the glass.
"Erik, you are adored by thousands of people." Nicole began. "You are admired and…and loved by the public, many of whom never even new you existed." She continued, walking up and placing a hand on his shoulder. He did nothing in response.
"Erik, in the future The Phantom of the Opera is known and loved, not hated." She explained. She felt Erik shudder under her grip. He whirled around, grabbing Nicole and holding her in a tight embrace.
"Then I do not want to go back. I want to stay in the future." He whispered, his head buried in her hair.
"You have to go back." Nicole said gravely.
"But….oh Christine. Does she love me in the story? Do we live happily ever after?" he asked, still clutching Nicole to him. She snaked her arms up around his neck.
"No, Erik, you do not." She said quietly.
James put his arm around Charo's shoulders, kissing her head.
"Come on now, you always act like everything is your fault." He said in an attempt to pull Charo out of her sniveling state.
"But most of the time it is!" she whined.
"Liar." James continued, holding her closer.
"Who is this Erik anyway?" he asked, more than just curiosity in the tone of his voice. Charo shrugged.
"I don't even know. He appeared on Friday night; at least that's what Nicole said." Charo explained.
"And is there a reason he wears a mask?" James asked, sounding somewhat amused.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure there is…" was Charo's reply.
"Come Erik, do you want to take a taxi home?" Nicole asked weakly. Erik trudged slowly at her side.
"You show me so much kindness." He said softly. "You say that I am loved and adored yet you are the only one who looks on me with love." He concluded dismally. Nicole's eyebrows crinkled in remorse as she bit her lower lip nervously.
"Well…people don't know it's the real you! There are people out there who are probably just….just….okay, you are going to find this hard to believe, but just try to be like you!" she finished, grimacing at the look of pure sorrow on Erik's face.
"Why would anyone want to be like me? Look at me! I am a mon-"
"DON'T EVEN SAY IT!" Nicole roared holding a hand up in an attempt to block Erik from her veiw. Erik's eyes became wide as he stumbled backwards in shock. Nicole looked as if she would burst into flames at any moment.
"Your just a human Erik, not a monster." She said, her voice shaking. "You need to just get all that 'I'm a pitiful ugly monster' shit out of your head…because…because…" she stammered.
"Because…?" Erik questioned timidly. Nicole stepped forward, placing her hands on the sides of his face.
"Because you are one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen." She whispered, her eyes glistening in the street lights. Erik felt his breath flee him. No one had ever called him anything remotely near beautiful.
"Nicole…" he began, his eyes soft with compassion. Before he had a chance to make a move, Nicole had turned away.
"Come, we need to get home." She said, walking forward. Erik sighed. She says it, but does she mean it? He asked him self, following her quietly. Nicole stepped onto the curb of the sidewalk, waving her arm about wildly.
"HEY! BASTARD!" Nicole yelled at the taxi that zoomed past her outstretched arm. "DAMN IT!" she shrieked, drawing the attention of several passing people to the pair.
"Nicole, why don't we take that?" Erik said, motioning to the carriage that had just pulled up to the side of the street.
"That's for tours." Nicole explained in a low voice. "I don't know if he'd go outside his rout." She said gloomily.
"Well, let us find out." Erik said, grabbing Nicole by the arm and dragging her over.
"Excuse me, sir, would you be able to drive this woman and myself home?" he asked politely to the grimy looking man who drove the carriage. The man gave them a toothy smile.
"Of course, my lovelies; I haven't had much business tonight, so I won't charge extra." He answered gleefully. Nicole exhaled, returning the kind, but in desperate need of a dentist, smile.
"Thank you, sir." Nicole said, bowing deeply. Erik raised an eyebrow at her sweeping bow before helping her into the carriage.
"It's an old habit of mine to bow." She said, knowing that Erik was a little puzzled.
"Ah, I see." He acknowledged, sitting down beside her.
The carriage lurched forward with the gentle coaxing of the driver. Erik let out a sigh of relief as he leaded his head back into the seat.
"This is more like it." he exclaimed. Nicole giggled, grabbing hold of his arm.
"Hey, thanks." She said smiling. Erik moved his head ever so slightly as to get a better look at Nicole.
"Thanks for what?" he asked. Nicole leaned into his shoulder.
"Thank you for coming out after me." She whispered. "I just need someone sometimes." Erik shifted his weight.
"I think we all do." He replied. Nicole smiled, pressing her face into his shoulder. Erik sighed again.
"I never got a chance to tell you what a good singer you are. With a little work, you could be very good. The best." He continued. Nicole laughed.
"Me? I've never had a single voice lesson in my life!" she exclaimed. Erik smirked.
"Well since you know so much about me, tell me what I do best?" he asked cynically. Nicole snorted. "Well let's see. You're skilled in architecture, composing, trap doors, killing people…." Nicole rattled. The carriage driver made a small noise and the carriage sped up a little.
"Well, all those are true..." Erik confessed wearily. "But you're leaving out one thing."
"Singing, duh. Voice lessons and all that jazz." Nicole spouted immediately, crossing her legs. Erik chuckled.
"I guess you do know a lot about me." He acknowledged.
"I'd like to learn more." Nicole said sheepishly. Erik felt his blood rush to his face.
"Perhaps you will." He said shakily.
Finally, the two reached Nicole's apartment.
"I really need to get to bed." Nicole informed Erik. "Cause I have school tomorrow." She explained further. Erik nodded.
"So, um, I'm going to leave you here at the apartment. My classes are just from ten to three so you won't be alone long. You'll be okay right?"
"Fine. You need to sleep." Erik assured, looking at the clock. "Is it really three in the morning?" he asked.
"Actually it's two. That clock needs to be changed." She corrected. Erik nodded once again, sitting down on the couch.
"Good night Nicole." Erik said, lying back on the couch and closing his eyes.
"Good night…Erik." Nicole replied, turning down the hall.
Before she opened her door, she froze. Turning to the hall closet she opened it and pulled out a blanket. She walked briskly, yet silently, over to Erik and tucked the blanket around him. Erik's eyes opened long enough to see Nicole walking away. He smiled to himself before turning over. So she does mean it.
End Note:
- The Nose was actually a restraunt I've been to (I just couldn't remember the name) and the little girl was actually something I did. Yep...I pointed at a large breast and asked my mom if it was a belly button...(sigh).
- Erik is loosening up slightly. He still appears to be very awquward though. He will return to his old self eventually though...notice I say eventually.
-Updates will take longer than usual because I have a lot of homework to juggle and a very busy squedual. At tops I'll update once a week (hopefully).
-Thanks again for all the amazing reviews!
Black Isis
