Chapter 6 The Party, Or That In Which We Have Interview Time, A V.I.P. Lounge, A Cell Phone Masterpiece, and Many Many More Special Effects.
The Phans mingled, and by mingled I mean they all clumped into groups, staring at Erik.
I walked over to the counter; and, avoiding the Hot Pockets, started munching on the food.
Brandy walked over to me, followed closely by Erik, who seemed to have latched onto her as the only same person he somewhat knew at this party. She looked at me, "So when do we meet these 'special guests?'"
"Soon; the magical, mystical voice that I can never find will be announcing over the intercom soon to meet in the V.I.P. Lounge."
As I finished speaking a deep, manly voice started speaking over the loud system. "All guests now bearing a red rose with a black ribbon; please report to the V.I.P. Lounge in five minutes time."
"See?" I asked Brandy. She nodded appreciation as the assembled crowd started talking again. We could hear comments, such as: "Where is the Lounge? Why are there special guests? What makes them so special?"
"The V.I.P. Lounge is in the back corner by the buffet. The 'special guests' are the ones who deemed it fit to R.S.V.P. And they are special because they care."
Brandy and I looked at each other before I ran to find the Voice-That-Cannot-Be-Found. As I ran away, Brandy shook her head and wandered off to the Lounge, taking a plate of chocolate bars with her.
I watched with half an eye as the seven girls walked up to the cordoned (A/N: OOO, big word…) section we had designated for the Lounge.
Brandy had spent a lot of time on it. There were drippy candles and stalactites and even an organ; which made Erik brighten before he realized it was only a picture.
I looked back at the girls standing at the ropes and noticed the crowd had grown. There were now thirteen girls standing there; seven had the required roses, but the others had tried to rig flowers to get them in. I saw a few daisies with yellow ribbons. Pastels? For the Phantom? I chuckled. Pitiful creatures.
Suddenly, I felt a shift in the ceiling beneath me. I lay completely still, tensing my body; to no avail, I still plummeted down into the Lounge. Erik swiftly caught me and set me gently on the ground.
Brandy was at the ropes arguing with the girls who were trying to persuade her that the white daisies they were carrying were "really red roses, honestly; would we lie to you?"
Thanking Erik absent-mindedly, I walked over to the ropes. "Those are not roses. You are making a fool of yourself; and making Erik angry. I personally do not want a repeat of bad circumstances." I smiled sweetly at the fuming Phan and lead Brandy away. "Go stand by Erik; make sure he doesn't kill anything. Oh, and hold onto this." I handed my cell phone over and walked back to the ropes.
The daisy Phans had wandered away, but there were still too many Phans.
"All rose Phans please step to the front."
Six girls stepped up to the red ropes.
"Please present your roses."
The six girls held up roses.
Unhooking the ropes, I allowed them to enter. Kalyn stepped up to the rope, holding back one girl who was attempting to slip through. I looked at Kalyn then the girl. "What's all this?"
"A sneak," Kalyn answered. "Imitated the rose, so she's a Phanatic; but it would appear that she R.S.V.P.'ed too late and couldn't get in."
"Oh," I looked at the girl. Only slightly shorter than myself and with the same hair short, black hair, she reminded me of… well, me. I looked at Kalyn, "I really want to take pity on her. She reminds me of me… and you know how I am about that." So, maybe I am wearing my heart on my sleeve here; I don't care.
Kalyn looked at me, "You know how Brandy is about that…"
I nodded and looked back at Brandy. After some thought, I looked at the girl. "What's your name?"
The Phan looked at me stubbornly. "Why?"
"Cause I need to know it if you're going to get in… Now, once more, your name?"
The girl looked down, chastised, and mumbled, "Andrea."
"Ok, Andrea," I replied, "Kalyn is right, Brandy doesn't like people who don't respond, and she thinks it rude for people to crash a party. She'll probably claim retribution (A/N: OOO, I can use big words. Hee hee hee.) and command some task." I looked at the girl who was suddenly angry, "I'll make sure it isn't too horrible."
I looked at Kalyn to let her go and turned; knowing that Kalyn would follow, as would Andrea if she truly wanted to meet Erik.
"Songé," Brandy called, "come meet these awesome people."
I nodded and joined her as she started pulling people forward.
"Emily," Brandy introduced a Phan with auburn (A/N: cool with you?) hair and eyes to match Gerry's. "She was in choir, but we can forgive that, right? Since she's in a music frat… who knows, it could be SAI." Brandy laughed.
"Ronin," a blonde, goth nodded from her seat near Erik (they seemed to really be getting along.) "She sings as well. And I LOVE her taste in clothes."
"Ella," a bouncy girl with really red hair came forward, "Really quite crazy; she should fit in just fine." I laughed a little at this.
"I am so excited to be here… Thank you guys soooooo much! EEP! I get to meet Erik! I swear Brandy, I won't hurt him!" The girl bounced away to sit by Erik. I laughed outright to see the cheerful girl sit next to the dark angel.
"Next, we have Lindsay, but she much prefers Venus," Brandy said as a dark complected girl with brown curls nodded serenely at us from her seat where she was watching Erik and waiting for a quiet moment to talk to him. "I know you'll love this part; she's Italian" I golf-clapped. "And absolutely adores Erik, though she is a LOT more calm than most of the others."
"Kat," a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl waved slightly before zoning in on Erik again, "she may look like a bit of a prep; but don't let that fool you, she's the same as us."
"Megan," a skater chick type looked up from her notepad to nod briefly, "a journalist type. No doubt every word will be documented tonight." Brandy said, jokingly. "I think she has a crush on Erik, but don't quote me on that."
"Ok, nice to meet you all," I called to the gathered Phans. I turned to Brandy, "Now, I have someone to introduce." I pulled Andrea forward. "A sneak, to be sure, but a clever one. Take pity on her; she reminds me of me."
Brandy looked over the defiant girl. "Why should we? She was late, and she has attitude."
"Oh, don't be evil. She reminds you of you and you know it."
"Precisely, I don't think I would let myself into a party."
"Yes, you would."
Brandy sighed, "Alright, but you know it will take payment."
I looked at Andrea, but spoke to Brandy, "I think she'll pay it. But be nice; and nothing too mean."
"Fine… "Brandy thought a moment. "Give me five bucks."
Andrea and I both looked at Brandy. "What?" I exclaimed.
"Five bucks," Brandy repeated with her hand out.
"Er… ok," Andrea said, pulling out a small pouch and handing over a five-dollar bill.
"Access granted," Brandy said
Andrea walked away, more than a little confused.
Her emotion mirrored mine all too well.
"Brandy, I'm a lot scared. What just happened?" I asked.
"You were right. She reminded me of me. Which is a little weird 'cause she reminds me of you too. Meh, so I let her in."
I shrugged and looked around. Suddenly, I heard a familiar ring. "Hey, where's my phone?"
Brandy looked at me, "Huh? Oh, I let Erik play with it. He seems to like it."
"Well, it's ringing. I need it." Suddenly the ring changed again. "Ok, that's weird."
"It isn't ringing. Erik's composing."
"What? How do you compose with a cell phone?"
"I don't know; but that doesn't mean Erik can't do it."
I shrugged as an oddly seductive and haunting melody suddenly came from my phone. "Oh, he's good."
Brandy just nodded, "Uh-huh… more than you know."
"Shut up," I said, trying not to laugh at the bluntness in my friend's tone.
"Ok, I think interview time can begin now." I said, looking around.
"Sounds good to me," Brandy said. "Who should we start with?"
"Well," Kalyn said, "I don't know. Maybe we should do a number guess to find out, then rotate one question at a time around the circle."
"Meh, better than any ideas I got."
"Ok," I said. I jumped onto the counter top behind Erik's seat. "Everyone, attention please."
The Phans quieted, not only in the Lounge, but the rest of the Laundromat as well.
"OOO, I like that." I said quietly.
I clapped my hands and the lights dimmed until there was just a glow around Erik. A spotlight appeared on me.
"Now," I began, my voice amplified to carry throughout the room. "We shall begin Interview with the Phantom."
Aaaaaaand, cue dramatic music. Pause for effect.
"We will begin with the V.I.P.'s; then if there is time, and I don't get too many, we might move out into the larger crowd and take a few questions."
I paused again, hoping for a few cheers or even maybe a little applause.
A cricket chirps
"Oh, come on, people. I work hard at this…" I whined before collapsing backwards from the table.
From the floor, "Ow, dammit, Brandy! Why the hells did you do that?"
"Because you were whining and no one cares."
This results in rousing cheers, applause, and whistles.
"Screw you guys then!" I screamed. "I'm pouting." I crossed my arms and hid behind the counter.
Brandy took my place in the spotlight. "Ok, to begin. I have told Kalyn a number between 1 and 10, we will go around the circle, a-"
Brandy never finished her statement, because I tackled her. Leaving her on the floor, I ran back to the spotlight.
"Now, about that numb-"
Brandy pulled me down, "Or not…"
"I paid for the damned thing…" I said, punching Brandy in the arm.
"I don't give a shit, you freak. You can't even make them laugh."
"I don't care… I paid for it…" (A/N: weak argument, I know)
"Fine… we share…" Brandy said.
I stood up, my hair standing on end. "Agreed."
Brandy stepped back into the spotlight and helped me up. "Ok, on the agreement, you all just heard…"
"Brandy and I will be sharing the spotlight form now on; on the understanding that everyone knows I paid for the special effects."
"And that everyone knows I'm the funny one."
"Bitch," I said.
"Whore," Brandy retorted.
And we were, once again, reduced to punching each other.
Kalyn stepped in. "Ok, this is getting us no where." She grabbed our hands and held us apart. "Quit is or I take over the spotlight."
"Fine, mean head," Brandy and I said, "we were only having fun."
Kalyn rolled her eyes at our instant reconciliation. "I hate how you team up on me," she mumbled.
Brandy and I helped each other back into the spotlight. "Now… the number," Brandy said.
I leaned over and whispered into Brandy's ear.
"Ok," she said, "Right. Now, we have the number and you must guess." Brandy pointed to the girl on Erik's immediate left. "We'll start with you."
Ronin looked up at Brandy, "seven."
Emily, "four."
Venus answered with, "five."
Kat looked up, confused for a second, "Huh? Oh, uh… nine."
Megan said, "two."
And finally, sitting quite close on Erik's right, Ella squeaked, "Oh, um, three, I guess, I don't care as long as I get a turn."
"Alright," I said. "The winning number was seven exactly. Golf Clap to Ronin. And the runner-up was three. Golf Clap to Ella. So we start with Ronin and go to Erik's right."
"Sweet." Ronin said. "Ok." Taking a moment, Ronin composed herself. "Mr. Phantom, have you ever done any morbidity writing?"
Erik looked up from my cell phone. "What is morbidity, madame?"
Ronin lost none of her composure. "Morbidity is like dark and twisted."
"You have listened to Don Juan Triumphante, correct? I believe by most standards that would be a 'morbidity' piece." Erik did the quote-quote fingers as he said "morbidity," resulting in laughter from the surrounding guests. "And I believe that with the life I have lead, I am more than qualified. Do you agree, Ronin?"
"Certainly, Erik," Ronin said, completely certain in calling our beloved Phantom by his name.
I could see Brandy tense as she realized what this meant. Putting my arm on her shoulder, I said, "Alright, next question." I nodded at Ella.
She thought for a moment before looking at Erik. "How did you come to be such a good music writer? I mean, you're a flippin' genius! Would you sing to me?"
Erik looked at the hyper Phan a moment before answering. "Technically that was two questions."
Ella blushed slightly and looked down.
Erik reached over and lifted her head. "Ella, that is fine. I will answer."
Erik looked away as Ella smiled brightly again.
"To the first, I am not certain what a 'flippin' genius' is, but I came to compose so well by studying every moment I could. I acquired a key to the Opera's Libraries and when all was quiet, I would slip into the archives and study the arias, operas, solos, everything. I experimented with my own melodies, soon finding harmonies that suited my ear. Determination and studiousness were the key to my compositions."
Ella sat with wide eyes. "Wow."
Erik smiled. Phan-girls swooned.
"And now, I will sing for you."
Erik stood…
(A/N: How much would you hate me if I made him sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star?" Looks at the threatening crowd I guess that would be a lot? Pop on your head phones and sing along.)
"You have come here
in pursuit of
your deepest urge,
in pursuit of
that wish,
which till now
has been silent,
silent . . ."
The collected Phan-girls sighed; a few fainted.
"I have brought you,
that our passions
may fuse and merge -
in your mind
you've already
succumbed to me
dropped all defences
completely succumbed to me -
now you are here with me:
no second thoughts,
you've decided,
decided . . .
Past the point
of no return -
no backward glances:
the games we've played
till now are at
an end . . .
Past all thought
of "if" or "when" -
no use resisting:
abandon thought,
and let the dream
descend . . .
What raging fire
shall flood the soul?
What rich desire
unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction
lies before
us . . .?
Past the point
of no return,
the final threshold -
what warm,
unspoken secrets
will we learn?
Beyond the point
of no return . . ."
I raised my hands to cover my ears and saw Kalyn and Brandy do the same.
All the Phan-girls took a breath, and, right on cue…
"You have brought me
to that moment
where words run dry,
to that moment
where speech
disappears
into silence,
silence . . .
I have come here,
hardly knowing
the reason why . . .
In my mind,
I've already
imagined our
bodies entwining
defenceless and silent -
and now I am
here with you:
no second thoughts,
I've decided,
decided . . .
Past the point
of no return -
no going back now:
our passion-play
has now, at last,
begun . . .
Past all thought
of right or wrong -
one final question:
how long should we
two wait, before
we're one . . .?
When will the blood
begin to race
the sleeping bud
burst into bloom?
When will the flames,
at last, consume
us . . .?"
Erik, being the ever-charming Angel of Music, sang along with the chorus of Phan-girls. Kalyn, Brandy, and I gave in to the once-in-a-lifetime chance of singing with him.
"Past the point
of no return
the final threshold -
the bridge
is crossed, so stand
and watch it burn . . .
We've passed the point
of no return . . ."
Erik continues alone…
"Say you'll share with
me one
love, one lifetime . . .
Lead me, save me
from my solitude . . .
Say you want me
with you,
here beside you . . .
Anywhere you go
let me go too -
Darling
that's all I ask of you."
(A/N: ok, so I changed that line… it's better for the setting. I'm sure ALW won't sue me. Considering I don't lay claim to his genius.)
As we all came out of our separate trances to find Erik seated and composing on my phone again.
"Oh, wow!" I breathed. "I am in heaven."
Brandy nodded her agreement.
(A/N: Ok, that seemed like a good place to end. WOW! This is almost eleven full pages. No worries. I'm gonna continue the interview, because you wonderful readers all have some really cool questions to ask Erik. I just think that leaving it off here and continuing in another chapter would be best.
OK, to all of you in this chapter, I hope I didn't murder your personalities too much. Sorry, if I did… email or IM me to set me straight.
Brandy also yelled at me and threatened me with dun dun duuuuun RED SHARPIES! They scare me. So, here are her email and IM… she's in Philly for a few days, but if you catch her then – I don't know – bug her or something. Her Yahoo IM is – branflaks 0510 and her email is now you can tell us what you think almost face to face. It'll be fun.
I hope this nice long chapter makes up for the LOOOOOOONG time between updates. I want to make this as interactive as possible so am trying to give you all adequate time to tell me what you want in here…
I also let you all sing with Erik to make up for it, so don't hurt me too bad... please?
I hope you like it.
Alright, enough of my ramblings.
Thankees bunchees for reading. I love getting mail from you all.)