Christie followed the sound of the Phantom's footsteps. She stumbled once or twice on the dark steps leading down to the studio, but the Phantom always caught her, even though she never saw his hand or arm. He led her down to the main part of the studio and guided her to the middle of the floor.
"The first thing you need to learn is balance." Phantom said. "But since you take jazz, I think you've got that. I just want to make sure." All of a sudden Christie felt a wind at her ear as Phantom ran toward her. Christie jumped out of the way just in time. She managed to stay on her feet even when Phantom tried to trip her. "Very good. Still more tests."
For about twenty minutes Phantom tried to get Christie to fall, but she wouldn't. She gracefully side-stepped and avoided him, jumped out of the way, and once even jumped over his shoulders. Phantom was very impressed.
"So I was right about you maintaining your balance well. Now we'll move on to the actual stuff. Can you do a handstand?"
"I think so. I haven't tried for a while." Christie admitted.
"Don't worry, I'll help you." Phantom went right up behind Christie. Christie put her hands on the floor and tried to kick her feet into the air. She didn't get them all the way up, but before they could fall Phantom caught them and helped her do a straight-up handstand. "See, nothing to worry about."
Christie nodded somehow sure that Phantom could see the movement. "What next?" Christie asked.
"Next I let go and see if you fall. Try balancing on your hands like you do on your feet. Distribute your weight evenly throughout your body." Phantom said. Christie breathed out and tried to do as Phantom said. After ten seconds Phantom let go and stepped back. Christie began to loose balance and fell to the floor. Phantom chuckled quietly and helped Christie to her feet.
"Ow," Christie said rubbing the back of her head. "That didn't work."
Phantom chuckled softly as he said, "It takes time. You will get it eventually." Christie looked at him.
"I know, but I would rather get it sooner." Christie said. She and Phantom both laughed. They worked at this for about two hours. After two hours Christie could do a handstand relatively well. At least she didn't fall after ten seconds.
They worked at the lessons for two months and Christie was getting pretty good. She was a fast learner, but then she had a great teacher. Next month a talent show was going to be put on at her school, and someone asked her to do a break-dance routine with him. But all was not happy, for an old friend of Christie's, Ross had recently moved into town.
Ross had just come in yesterday and was already at Christie's front door. Phantom saw him, and wasn't pleased.
"Come on Christie! It's Friday, come to a movie with me please?" Ross begged.
"I can't. I have to stay here, I'm expecting… A friend." Christie said.
"I'll be back later then." Ross gave up. Christie closed the door at Ross's retreating back. Then she went up to her room. A couple seconds after she closed the door she heard it lock. It was December and it had gotten dark just an hour ago at seven.
"Come here Christie, come to the mirror." Phantom said in a creepy voice. For some reason Christie felt drawn to it; she went to the mirror. Before she knew what was happening and hand gloved in black grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a tunnel. Christie started to scream, but another hand was put over her mouth.
"Shh, I'm not going to hurt you Christie." Phantom whispered in her ear. Christie knew instantly that she was in Phantom's company. This was so much like the book, it was unbelievable. Phantom led her down a long winding tunnel to an… Underground lake?
"There's an underground lake under the dance studio? How ironic is that!" Christie exclaimed.
"Very," replied Phantom. He had taken his hand from over Christie's mouth when they got half way there, after that point no one could hear her scream. Phantom gently grabbed Christie's wrist and pulled her over to a boat on the lake. To Christie's surprise the Phantom took her to a house, on the lake. It was exactly the way she had pictured the house in the book Phantom of the Opera.
"Whoa. That's kinda freaky." Christie said. Phantom only nodded. Christie finally got a good look at him. She knew who he was the moment she heard his voice on the other side of the mirror. He had a white full faced mask, and chin length blond hair. He gently guided Christie out of the boat and onto the shore. Christie stepped into a beautiful drawing room. It was huge and had all sorts of comfy chairs. Phantom gently took her wrists and made her sit in one of them.
"Christie, I know you know who I am. But what you don't lnow is my name. My name is Derick. Very close to the Phantom's right?" Derick said. Christie nodded. "Well you see the reason I'm so much like him is because I'm his great-great-grandson. The Phantom's grandchild imigratd to the United States when he was young. He was my father. I was born with the same deformity as the Phantom. My mother acted just like his, and I ran away. I was found by a traveling circus and forced to join it. I ran away where your kind mother found me when I was five, and brought me down here. This place was once just an empty cave until I came here. When I was ten I started to build, and what you see is the result."
"Wow, you really are just like him aren't you?" Christie asked. Derick nodded.
"I've been wathing you for a long time. Since you were born. Christie you don't have to guess... I love you Christie." Derick said. Christie smiled and nodded.
"I love you too." She whispered.
A/N: It doesn't end here my friends. The story is just beggining... And for all you phangirls out there this is for you. It's to the tune I'm in love with a Stripper. One of my friends changed the lyrics and there will be a parody based on it later.
He's got the body of a god.
The way he glides on that pole turns me on. Boy... yeah.
He's comin' down from the balcony,
His sexy eyes, oh they freeze me. Boy... yeah.
I'm in love with a Phantom strippper.
He's scary ooh baby, just maybe
He'll take me and wake me, it shakes me
Oh use me, abuse me, confuse me
Your body , I want it, you're nakie.
There will be more of the song in the parody, which will be rated Teen. Yeah, so far it's pretty funny. Look foward to it or else!