(A/N: Okay, I know this took forever to update. The truth is, between a huge book report (the book is 1000 pages long!), and a new History project, and voice lessons, and Banquets for honors and chorus, and endless other things… I just haven't had time. I'm sorry, SO sorry that it took so long to update. My guilt was eating away at me near the end…I haven't updated on Crimson Rose yet, either. It's just that I updated that one last, so I figured it was this one's turn… oh well. -- Basically, right now I don't have much time, but don't worry! This weekend is Memorial Day, and I have a three day weekend. I should be able to update a few times in there. Also, summer is ALMOST here! I get out of school June 8 (oh happy day!), and from then on you can expect an update faithfully every other day, or at MOST every third day. Thank you for being patient with me, I appreciate it! Btw, yeah, this chapter is short…I have a banquet tonight. Sorry. It's kind of amusing, though!
PhantomFlutePlayer
Thank you for reading! I'm glad that you like it!
Rosakara
Lol, thanks! I'm glad that you liked that chapter. I hope that you like this one too:)
mlovektowsing
Lol, good point… Christine would have just hated herself if she had turned Erik in!
Dreamer of Fantasy
LOL! How dare you read this stupid thing when you're supposed to be researching Shakespeare! (lol, don't worry, I'm totally with you…I would have been on too!) I'm glad that you like my fanfiction! I've been really upset lately that I couldn't post. It's been nagging me forever… omg, lol, I've done that before, too! I was reading a story and I didn't even realize I was squealing and bouncing up and down in my chair…It was so funny, because I was in homeroom, and everyone was like… Omg, she's gone insane! (well… more insane…) Yay! I'm glad that you like Mariette and Jacques. ((hugs them)) they're in this chapter a lot, and you get to know them a little bit better. Thank you for reviewing!
LuvinLivnReadn
Thank you! I thought Mariette was pretty cool from the moment I started writing her. Actually, to my surprise, I actually like this phic… I usually hate my work. Lol, anyway, thank you so much for reviewing! I hope you enjoy this chapter, too, even if it is short!
erik'sangel527
((squeals)) Yay! Thank you! I'm glad that you liked that chapter…I had a grand time writing it, I know that! Thank you sososo much! I can't tell you how much you guys' reviews make my day!
Aislin of the Shadows
Lol, yeah, Meg's getting on my nerves a little bit in this one too. I thought about it and figured that it was only because she was worried about Christine. I mean, think about it… if some man rumored to be a criminal was stalking your friend (and you didn't know it was Erik!) you'd be worried, right? And if your friend had a really hot guy that she liked, and he seemed to like her too, you'd want them to get together, right? So it makes sense…it's just because we know that they're Erik and Raoul that we're annoyed. Let's forgive Meg on the pretense that she doesn't know either of them that well.
fell4adeadguy
Lol Thank you for reviewing! I hope you like this chapter, too.
friend5
Lol, I'm glad that you like it… you know, I've started most of these responses with Lol…weird. Anyway, thank you SO much! I love getting your reviews—it makes me happy to know that people enjoy what I write. So thank you! I hope you like this next chapter as well!
Erik'sTrueAngel
Lol But who could stay mad at Erik for long, right? I mean…it's Erik ((Drool))
KeeperMusicNight
Glad that you liked the note! And, lol, don't feel too bad for Jacques just yet. Read this chapter…I think you'll find you feel worse for Mariette. Lol!
Mini Nicka
Yep, Erik's in trouble… at the moment. Read this chapter and see if he can get out of it… Thank you for reviewing! I hope you enjoy the (kind of short) chapter.
Chapter Seven: Before the Recital
After trying to calm Meg down, (she wouldn't shut up about how cute Christine and Raoul were together), Christine went to her room. As soon as she was sure the door was locked, she removed Carmelita's old sheet music from her music folder.
What should she do? Christine dropped the music on the bed and hugged herself, trying to block out the chill. She was stuck—she couldn't report to the police, or she could get in trouble for something she didn't even have any part in.
A moment later, she resigned herself. There really was nothing she could do about it at the moment… her eyes wandered to Carmelita's music. Surely it couldn't hurt for her to just…just take a look at it.
Christine picked it back up off of the bed, eyes scanning the music eagerly. She hummed the first few bars to herself, committing them to memory. Who knew? Even without the Phantom's help, she could try to audition. She could just continue to ignore him… Maybe things would work out for the best.
xxxxx
Mariette led them down the hallway to a medium-sized sitting room, then closed the door with a bang and locked it with a key. Then she crossed the room and locked the back door, the only other exit, as well. Mariette stuck the key in her pocket and scowled at them.
"Now, we're going to sit here until you two tell me what's been going on. I know you're up to something, Erik, and Jacques is obviously in on it. I have the key to those doors, so therefore I'm the only way out."
Jacques grinned impishly. "Not quite." he pulled a little remote control from his pocket and typed something into it. Instantly there was a click, and both of the doors swung open.
Mariette frowned disapprovingly, and Erik looked as if he were trying not to smile.
"Give me that!" Mariette snapped irritably. She snatched the little remote from Jacques's hands and pocketed it, then relocked the doors. "Now I'm the only way out."
Jacques said nothing, but there was a smile on his lips.
Mariette chose to ignore it. "So, either you two explain, or I'm going to keep you in here forever."
Erik sighed. "Mariette, you knew I had an…interest…in the little church on the other side of my orchard. I've been planning on shutting it down for a while now. However, I recently changed my mind because it proves as a sufficient meeting place between me and those who I hired to help me scare Carmelita."
Jacques flicked him a glance out of the corner of his eye, but said nothing. He knew very well that Erik had only hired one man to help him… and that man was recently fired. In fact, Jacques was working on making the man seem unstable, just in case he got it into his head to tell someone that Erik was the Phantom and make a lot of money. So far, the man hadn't been smart enough—or stupid enough—to do so.
Mariette, it appeared, knew this as well. "You only hired one man to help you." she stated, eyes narrowed.
"Do you know that?" Erik asked with a sly smile.
She frowned. "Well…no. But if you want to get out of here, you'd better convince me better than that. If you haven't noticed, the doors are still locked."
Click. The doors swung open.
Mariette stared at them incredulously, and then whirled around to glare at Jacques, who was obviously attempting to hold back laughter. He held up his hands in an innocent gesture, eyes glinting.
Mariette could only glower at him. She turned and slammed the doors shut, then relocked them once again.
"Now Erik, explain to me why you went down there today."
Erik coolly met her gaze, arms crossed. "Mariette, I don't believe that is any of your business."
"If you don't tell me now, Erik the doors will remain locked!"
Click.
Mariette didn't even turn and look, but glared bloody murder at Jacques instead. Jacques was fighting to keep a straight face. "It's not me! I swear!"
"I'm sure." her voice was poisonous.
After relocking the doors yet again, Mariette turned back to Erik. "Erik…I just don't want you to get into any more trouble than you already are. Please, please tell me what you're doing. I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the church, and so far it seems as if this isn't about Carmelita this time."
Erik sighed. "Mariette, I really don't want you involved in this. To tell you the truth, I don't think Jacques even knows what I'm talking about, or why I decided to follow that car." He looked to Jacques, who shook his head.
"I really don't know." he said seriously.
Mariette ran a hand through her hair. "Very well, Erik…but if I find out that what you're up to is illegal or immoral in anyway, I will hunt you down, and if I have to beat sense into you, I will. That or I'll just have to lock you up somewhere…" she glared venomously at Jacques and added, "And make sure that the doors stay locked!"
Click.
Jacques quickly turned his laugh into a hacking cough
xxxxx
The next two weeks passed normally for Christine. Whenever she could find time to, she stopped by at Raoul's to practice for her recital. She felt guilty, as if she were just using his house, and didn't really want his company. The only notable event was their date, if you could even say it was notable.
The whole time was rather awkward, with Raoul trying to start conversations that eventually died out. Christine didn't know why, but she no longer felt like she could talk to him as easily as she had been able to when they were children.
He was still as sweet and charming as ever, and didn't take it personally when she had to leave early to work on a report for one of her classes. He asked before she left if she would go out to eat with him again on another night, and she accepted.
The days before the recital were stressful for Christine. Every single spare moment she had was spent practicing…no matter where she was.
Finally, the evening before the recital came upon her.
(A/N: Yay! The recital is in the next chapter…at least, I think it will be! I hope it will be… What do you all think of Jacques, now that you're getting more of his character? Oh, that reminds me…
Jacques's Puzzle: As you might have guessed, Jacques was the one who caused the doors to open. In your review, tell me how you think he did it… and no, he didn't have another remote control! The winner gets a kiss from Erik and recognition in the next chapter! Be the first one to tell me the right answer!)
—Hilary
