A/N: I get shivers every time I read this chapter and I hope you do to….ah….I love making my characters squirm…tee hee! Please Review!

Chapter 8

Erik's eyes widened in sorrow for his friend Steve and yet a part of him knew that Richard would get it and so was not very surprised. Pete gripped Richard's hand warmly and gave him a huge grin from ear to ear.

"Congratulations Richard! I knew you'd get it, you were bound to anyhow." gushed Pete in all honesty. Richard nodded stiffly and gave a careless glance at Richard. Steve stepped aside as Richard approached Erik in a slow manner. They stared at each other in silence for a few moments, when Erik said something, which he knew he shouldn't have.

"Congratulations Richard. You are really one of a kind, not many people could win something and cheat the best man running out of the title." Whispered Erik as he nodded towards Steve, indicating that he was the best man for the job. Richard narrowed his eyes dangerously at Erik as he said this, clearly he was not used to hearing someone talk back to him.

"I will rise above this pettiness Erik." Richard said smoothly and shook his hand, but Erik drew it away quickly. "You are jealous, I know it, so I forgive everything you say to me. You expected to come here and take First Chair." Richard looked back towards Steve and Pete and smiled graciously. He turned back to Erik and lost his smile and the mirth in his eyes immediately. "Of course I knew it could never happen. You're only a child, how you managed to even get in this Opera Orchestra I will never know, but I do know this…" He leaned forward close to Erik and Erik could feel his warm breath play across his face. "You shall never have First Chair as long as I'm around." Erik held his ground but dropped his gaze towards the floor after awhile. Richard took this as the fact that he won and he gave a smug smile to the back of Erik's head. He stroked Erik's head almost lovingly and Erik shuddered at his touch.

"Very well then," piped up Pete. "How about we get down to dinner before all the food's gone?" Richard turned on his heel and started down the hall with Pete at his side and they spoke in whispers. Steve fell in beside Erik and hung an arm around his shoulders comfortingly.

"You deserved First Chair Steve." Said Erik quietly as he glared daggers at Richard's back. Steve gave a small laugh and shook his head.

"Thank you for the compliment Erik, but I did not. All the men you saw around Maestro in that group were tremendous violinists. One day I hope to be worthy of First Chair, but happily I'll say that day is not today. Richard earned it fair and square and I daresay he was truly the best for the job. Plus he's a friend, it's always nice to see a friend get something that he deserves." Steve looked up from their conversation and saw Pete and Richard who were walking far ahead of them. "We better hurry up. Ernie's appetite sometimes gets away with him, there might not be any food left when we get there." Said Steve and he quickened his pace towards the hall for dinner.

Erik was finally seated on a stone stair surrounded by Steve, Pete, and Ernie who had his arm around two ballet girls. Richard was nowhere in sight, and Erik had to admit that he was quite glad of that fact. Erik had a warm plate in his lap, which was filled with food as were the tables still, which made Steve very surprised. Erik was eating, careful to avoid joining the conversation because he was too preoccupied with what he said to Richard. It was a thoughtless and careless thing to do. Didn't he want Richard to like him? He's mean you know. Not a very nice person, would you really want a person like that to be your friend? Erik's voice said in an accusing tone. Erik shook his head and grudgingly admitted that he didn't really want to be a friend to someone who could not accept something graciously. He already had Mme. Giry to deal with and Maestro was turning into another force that he had to reckon with, he didn't know weather or not he could deal with Richard being angry with him. It's your fault you know that? Said the voice to Erik, you should apologise, see if he'll at least accept it and move on. You're a very stupid and foolish person I hope you know. Yes, Erik knew that. The nuns had told him constantly when he was living in the orphanage. He was jarred out of his thoughts as he heard his name being said.

"…Erik?" He shook his head and looked at Ernie who had asked the question.

"Sorry Ernie, I wasn't paying attention. Can you repeat what you asked?" Ernie smirked at Erik.

"Erik…Erik…Erik…" Ernie said playfully punching him in the arm. "You're supposed to listen to us, you're supposed to tune out everything that the managers say. You've got it confused. Steve! I did expect better from you, leading young Erik astray. Tsk…tsk…" Ernie continued, wagging a finger in front of Steve's face who broke out into a wide smile and chuckled at the joke. He threw up his hands in surrender.

"My apologies Monsieur Ernie." He bowed slightly at the waist from his supine position. "I shall try and keep the boy under control and attend to my duties with more vigour."

"See to it that it's done Steve. I shall not permit any foolishness in my Opera House!" said Ernie with a strong likeliness to one of the managers.

"And I shall not permit drunken violinists who poke fun at our managers who deem you worthy to pay you salaries and give you board. Maybe I should tell them the error of their ways?" Ernie's face looked as though he had just sat down on top of a tack and the smile dissolved off his face. His head whipped around and Erik glanced over at Steve and Pete who were staring intently up and Mme. Giry who now stood over the four of them. All of them wore looks of surprise and a hint of fear. They quickly rushed to get into a standing position, but Mme. Giry shook her head quickly, signalling that they remain sitting before her. At this point in time much of the hall had emptied as ballet girls and orchestra members either returned to their rooms, sneaked off into the darkened corners or stepped out into the city streets of Pairs before the evening bell. Her black eyes bore into the three and a hint of a smile passed over her features as her eyes rested on Erik for the longest. She motioned for him to stand and he quickly got the message and scrambled to hit feet, careful not to step on her black cloak, which fell to the floor and was attached with a silver clasp at her neck. Her gaze returned to Pete, Steve and Ernie who all looked very small and insignificant sitting down on the ground. "Return to your room. Erik follow me." She turned away from them and Erik threw the three of them a plea for help but they merely shook their heads and made the signal of a noose around their neck. Erik took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm as he turned back towards the back of Mme. Giry who was almost through the doors and rushed off to catch up to her. They left the darkening hall and walked over towards the managers' office where he had been twice before: Once for his interview and once for his eavesdropping. He hoped that he had returned for the first reason and not for the second. She pushed the door open quickly and stepped inside, Erik behind her. The door closed with a sickening thud behind him and Erik felt an overwhelming sense of fear enveloped him. The feeling was twice as worse when he was here last crouching outside the door. He struggled to remain calm as his eyes swept the room and saw M. Firmin, M. Andre and Richard who was leaning against the wall and was smiling politely at him. M. Firmin was sitting in the chair and Andre was standing directly behind him and Mme. Giry took his shoulders and steered him over towards the desk and forcefully pushed him into the seat in front of the desk. The sinking feeling increased and Erik felt that his heart was in his throat. His fingers also throbbed more painfully due to the increase of his heart rate. He tried to maintain the expression on his face as one of innocence but it was challenging due to the pain and fear. Mme. Giry removed her hands and returned to the back of the room, leaning against the door to prevent anyone from entering, although Erik had a strong suspicion that it was to keep him from leaving. Firmin folded his hands and placed them on the desk and surveyed Erik.

"Welcome again to our office Erik." Smiled Andre. Erik wasn't sure if this greeting was truly sincere, but he kept his mouth shut tight, afraid that he would say something else that was stupid. He knew he was in enough trouble as it was, it seemed to always land him in the managers' office, just like back at the orphanage. Richard had obviously told Mme. Giry and the managers what he had said and now they were going to kick him out. You've lasted this long, be proud. Said the little voice in his head. Erik knew it was the truth, three times he evaded the managers and Mme. Giry and avoided his fate of being put back on the streets. Third time lucky he hoped, even though deep down where he stomach squirmed he knew this was it.

"Erik, Richard had told us some things about you, things that we must take action against. He had shown us what we did wrong. Normally, no one could change our decision but well as you must well know Richard is our new First Chair." Said Firmin.

"Every new First Chair, in any of the sections, is granted one wish to do with the orchestra, how it's run, or about it's players." Continued Andre. Erik shot a worried glance over towards Richard and saw that his smiled widened considerably, and Erik knew he was done for.

"I'll go pack my things." Said Erik sadly. Andre widened his eyes in surprise.

"Well that would be a good idea Erik, but how would you know what Richard's wish was?" Erik shrugged.

"It's not hard to guess." He faced Richard openly. "We've never really got along well he and I." He paused, considering his next words, "I'd just like to say before I leave that I'm sorry for what I did and said to you. It wasn't right and I apologise profusely." Richard gave a sceptical look as Erik turned back towards the managers. Both the managers now had an equally surprised look on their faces and Erik faltered.

"What on Earth are you talking about?" asked Andre, "What things did you say and do to him?"

"Oh hush Andre." Said Firmin and a smile brightened his features. "He must be talking about singing to him."

"Ah of course!" exclaimed Andre.

"No need to apologise dear boy." Said Frimin, "If you hadn't done and said the things you did we wouldn't be doing this."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Said Erik. Firmin glanced towards Richard.

"Did you even ask if the boy had stage fright?" Richard shrugged to say that he didn't know.

"Stage fright?" asked Erik.

"Do you even know what we're talking about?" asked Andre, peering closely at Erik.

"I'm not quite sure now. I assumed Richard would kick me out of the Opera House." The two managers burst out into laughter and took their handkerchiefs and dabbed at their eyes.

"Quite the contrary my dear boy." Said Firmin slamming his hand down on the table. "Richard speaks quite highly of your singing talents."

"But I never…" protested Erik.

"Of course you did!" snapped Richard and Erik's eyes flew to Richard's who was staring coolly at him. "After Maestro's meeting, you sang to me. After hearing your obvious talent, I couldn't let it go to waste, now could I?" Erik's mouth hung open as he stared at Richard whose face was starting to form a hint of a smile. Andre looked at Richard with respect.

"He's quite a man Erik, you're lucky to be his friend. His wish was for you to be in the leading role of our Operas."

"He thought you were that good." Added Firmin. "However, as we've not had the pleasure to hear you sing, we've put you in the chorus line. We just cannot push Senior Pianji aside he's been our leading tenor for many, many seasons." He turned towards Richard and nodded, "even though we do trust your judgement, you do understand don't you?" Richard nodded stiffly and Erik could detect a hint of annoyance in him.

"Of course Messieurs." He said with a graceful bow. "I only wish he could have better roles once in a while other then chorus line. I should have known not to ask for the leading tenor for such a child. My apologies."

"No need Richard, no need." Replied Andre with his famous dismissive hand wave.

"Good now that that's sorted out, would you mind Mme. Giry?" Erik jumped at the mention of her name, he had completely forgotten that she was still in the room.

"Of course Messieurs." She said and placed her hands on Erik's shoulders and made him stand. "Come Erik, we'll collect your things and I'll bring you to your new room." His heart sank, not only would he not see his friends again but, now he would be under the command of Mme. Giry and he was already in her bad books.

A/N: There you go guys, three whole chapters! All new! Yay for me! –gives myself a pat on the back- hope you enjoy these because I won't be able to post anymore until the weekend so you'll have to make do with the ones I've given you. Muahahaha! I love being evil! I guess you'll all just have to review, and maybe I'll be nice enough to post earlier! –hugs to all my reviewers so far-