Chapter 5

Those precious few days had flown by in a flash, and before I could even blink, I found myself standing in the hallway just off of the Opera House's Grand Foyer waiting for the Dancing Divas competition to start. The man standing at my right side was fidgeting nervously at his lapels.

"Stop it, Erik! You look fine. If you keep that up, you are bound to rip something," I said, snapping at him more than I had intended. He shot a piercing glare down at me in the dim backstage lighting.

"Christine, this needs to stop. Remember for whom I am doing this. I have been nothing but patient with you this entire week but tonight is not the time to cross me. You have done nothing but criticize and nag at me these past few days, and I am sick of it," he said coldly.

I guess I had been hard on him, but I was just so stressed. I opened my mouth to reply as much.

"I..."

"You realize that you are quickly becoming very much like the very Diva you hate so much." The matter-of-factness in his voice made me blanch. Have I become the obnoxious, controlling, demanding snob that I dread? It was like a splash of cold water that woke me up from a daze. Suddenly, the competition didn't matter. The audience and lights didn't matter. Nothing mattered except for the person standing next to me. I turned to him and took his hands in mine.

"I'm sorry, Erik. I know I have been more than a little difficult this week. I've been just so focused on Carlotta and this stupid competition that I've almost managed to ruin one of the most important things in my life: our friendship." I meant to continue on, but all of my strength left me and I burst into sobs.

"I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry..."

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No, now was definitely not the time for Christine to start nagging at me. I had already passed the same mirror four times making sure everything was adjusted well. The sight that greeted me had made me want to flee back to the dark safety of the lair. It wasn't the obvious image of my mask; I had come to terms with that many years ago. It was the deer-in-the-headlights expression my face held. I was determined not so show Christine how uncomfortable I truly felt and I thought I had managed to hide my nerves well. I was wrong.

"I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry..."

I hadn't meant to upset her. Damn my tongue! As usual, it was my big mouth that had gotten me in trouble. I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her close as her body shook. Now what was I supposed to do? I looked heavenward and did the only thing that came natural. I started to quietly sing.

"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation..."

Upon hearing the familiar tune, Christine's sobs ceased and she finally pulled her face away from my chest. Wiping tears away, she whispered,

"Forgive me?" I couldn't help but smile at her innocent pleading expression.

"I already have." Then to lighten her mood, I wiped away a stray tear and teased, "Oh, Christine. The things I do for you."

All too soon, I heard our names being called up as the next to perform. I took a deep calming breath nodded to Christine and led her out onto the designated dance floor.

Seal my fate tonight... I thought as we stopped in the center of the large granite floor before taking up our opening poses. I heard a murmur spread through the audience that surrounded the floor. The mask. It was always the mask. I suddenly felt the old claustrophobia of being locked in a cage during my youth with the gypsies. I was just a spectacle to them, just a freak to be gawked at. I tried to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat, but it remained firmly budged.

Suddenly, I was brought back to reality by the sparkling eyes of my beautiful dance partner. She gazed at me with a knowing look. She knew me well enough to know that I was scared, no matter how well I may have been able to hide it from everyone else. She grabbed my left hand in her right and dipped into the opening pose. My right arm wrapped around her back to support her body.

"Let's do it! " she smiled up at me as the music started.

At the sound of my musical composition, my nerves went away and my mind blacked out. My strong frame led Christine around the dance floor to the one-two-three, rhythm of the waltz. Round and round we went, gliding from one side to the other effortlessly. I felt like I was flying. Christine's exquisite pink gown flared and spun around her elegantly as I twirled her. The music slowed and mellowed a bit, and our movements became more ballet-like to match it. I spun her out and watched as her free arm extended gracefully at the end of the turn, before I gently pulled her back in.

I paid close attention to my posture and keeping my upper body in proper position as we once again gliding round the floor. One-two-three, one-two-three. I thought I heard some "aww" s from the audience as I dipped her backward and she extended her right leg elegantly above my shoulder. I brought her upright and sent her in another series of spins. The song ended with yet another classic dip backward. Only after we held the final pose for a few seconds did I dare to look Christine in the eye. Her face was flushed from the exertion, but her smile was beaming. I returned her smile and brought her upright again. I looked around and was amazed that I had somehow managed to tune out the loud applause until this moment. The audience was clapping and cheering for Christine...and for me. I couldn't hide the smile that had erupted on my face.

Christine and I made our way over to the judges where we received our scores...28 out of a possible total of 30. While the score may not have been perfect, I sure felt like the dance had been. We had done our best and I would have to be satisfied with that.

There were several other couples left to dance so Christine took the time to get changed into her freestyle costume. I stood in the shadows and watched the remaining couples perform. They all had talent, but it seemed as if most of them lacked the same level of connection with their partners when compared to what I had with Christine. She and I could read each other's movements so well that we were able to easily cover up any little mistake we had made during our waltz. Sighing, I looked over my shoulder and awaited my partner. What could be taking her so long?