A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you for the kind words! Sadly, I have to say, that the next couple weeks will be slow on updates because of midterms and studying. But I'll try and do my best in between. Thanks again to Halley for doing a great job! Note: There will be some confusion in this and the best advice I have for you would be very mindful of the previous chapters to get what's happening. But please don't spoil it for the others! Thank you and don't forget to review!

Chapter Nine:

You Shall Know Me

I can't believe I'm finally in Varsity! Emmy thought cheerfully as she walked through the classroom's door on the first day. She was now a junior and was sharing a class with Trey Michaels!

The auditions for Varsity occurred before the school year ended and Emmy was pleased you didn't have to have a good voice to get in. As long as you can sing the scale and sight read, you were in. But after the summer's lessons, Emmy felt even if she didn't get in the year before she could still try and wow everyone with the new and improve her. And now with Trey, she might even be lucky to get him to notice her.

If not there was her Maestro…

Shaking her head, she made it over to her section and sat down. Glancing around she didn't see any signs of Maggie anywhere, but she did find Sarah in a serious lip lock with Trey.

Scowling, Emmy glared at the back of her former friend. She thinks she has everything now, but soon everything will be mine!

She blinked in surprise at the sudden maliciousness. She did want what Sarah had but the possessiveness of her last thought wasn't what Emmy was going for. Running a hand through her dark hair, Emmy chuckled uneasily just as someone plopped down next to her.

Turning around, Emmy was about to say hi to Maggie, when the words died. True, she hadn't seen much of her friend over the summer, but the drastic transformation that had taken place in Maggie was pitiful. Her skin was too pale and her emerald eyes had lost their luster. Even her stylish hair was suffering! The red curls seemed darker and were pulled up in a messy ponytail and her clothes were ruffled, as if it was put together at the last minute. In honestly, she looked horrible.

"Hey Emmy," Maggie said softly, her voice almost a whisper. "I hope you had a pleasant summer."

Emmy winced. Even though there was no sarcasm or anger hidden in the simple pleasantry, she didn't like the neutral quality that was laced in her tone. And God, she felt awful. More than she did over the summer. How could the months have passed so quickly? Surely it couldn't have been because of Erik…though that was the worst lie ever.

"Sort of," she replied. No use in saying, 'Yeah mine was awesome! Sorry that your sucks because of me'. "Maggie. Is something wrong?"

"Wrong? Why would you think something was wrong? You hardly returned my calls and practically ignored me. So what could be wrong?"

Now there was the dripping sarcasm Emmy assumed would come once Maggie sat next to her. Staring at the ground shamefully, Emmy chewed over what she could say to make things right. She knew very well she couldn't tell her about Erik, which was a given. So what else could she say in her defense for ignoring her best friend? Nothing unless it was some horrendous emergency that had kept her busy.

Looking back at her, Emmy felt her guts twisting in guilt. "I… I'm sorry Maggie. Really I am."

The redhead shrugged but made no comment. Licking her lips, Emmy went on. "I was busy and I failed to spend time with you. I'm so sorry. If you want, we could go to the movies or something this weekend. My treat."

Maggie studied her for a moment, before sighing and giving in. "Fine but Emmy?"

"Yeah?" She smiled, knowing that everything was patched up. The guilt was no longer there and she vowed to spend equal time with Maggie and Erik. Surely, her Maestro would divulge her this wish with all of the improvement she's been making.

"If anything was wrong, you would tell me, won't you?"

Emmy looked at her to see if she was serious. Holding back a laugh, Emmy shook her head at the unneeded concern. "Maggie, why would you even ask?"

She gave her a hurt look. "Emmy this is not a joke—"

"I see that. But why would you say that?"

"Because there's something different about you!" Maggie blurted. "You would never ignore me unintentionally. I know you. And there's something in your eyes that I don't like."

"Oh what?" Emmy retorted. "My eyes are still the same shade since I was born. Nothing wrong there! And besides, the only one who has something 'wrong' going on would be you."

She clasped a hand over her mouth as soon as the word escaped. She definitely did not mean that…

Maggie's eyes widened and narrowed. "I see. Bye Amelia."

She got up and left to go into her own section, leaving Emmy alone and stunned over her behavior. The only times Maggie ever used her real name was when she was really angry with her, which hardly ever was the case. But now… now Emmy blew it and she didn't know why she would say something so mean to her. Maggie didn't deserve it after the way she treated her. Maybe something was wrong and she didn't know…

Of course there isn't! she thought. So what if Maggie is a little moody? Let her sulk. You don't know what could have really gotten into her. You're not a mind reader. So if anyone should complain, I have all the right to! I tried to be nice and make peace, but she was the one who had to ruin it. Not me. Her.

Yet… what if she knew about Maestro? She adores him just as much as me. What if he showed up to her as well? She's jealous! Maybe he cancelled her lessons in favor of me because I was the best. That's it! She's jealous that he likes me more than she. Well, he's mine! And I'm the only one granted to hear his voice and see him!

To see… He won't reveal himself. Unless… yes. I'll ask him. I gave him everything I had to prove myself worthy and it's the least he could do for me. I won't run away or scream in his face. He knows I won't. And he'll do this for me because he can't deny me anything. That's his weakness. If he doesn't then I won't sing for him. It will drive him crazy and he'll have no choice but to concede. Yes! I'll ask him!

Emmy knew quite well what to expect of his deformity, but that won't change anything how she feels for him. He's still the same Erik that she knows from the books and musical. And her curiosity over which was the truest would be something to know.

Does his mask cover his whole face or only half? Did he have the silky dark hair or was it all a wig? Were his eyes golden, blue-green, or what? Did his eyes really burn like fire?

There's one way to find out, Emmy thought and smirked.

xxXXxx

"Maestro?"

The month had passed and Erik had their lessons taken up once more after school. Emmy missed them immensely and having the chance to let her voice ring free was a blessing rather than use her mediocre voice. Even she was beginning to see the annoyance of her singing before.

"Yes Amelia?" the gruff voice replied, coming from all over the auditorium.

She sighed dreamily. She was more accustomed from him in using her full name than the formal "Miss Sawyer". The day they ended the last lesson of the summer, Emmy thought her name was slip of the tongue that he didn't realize he made. But when she returned to him, her Maestro was getting into the habit of using her first name and Emmy found herself loving the way he would pronounce it. Yet she still was not allowed to address him as Erik. Maybe he was fearful his affections for her were becoming deeper and having her call him by his name would only make it worse. Using names meant they would be friends and possibly later lovers.

"I was wondering. You have been teaching me for months now, and again I'm in your debt for having me sound so beautifully."

"You could have easily done it yourself, if you had the right instructor," was his curt reply.

Blushing, Emmy nodded, for what she wasn't sure but thought it best to agree with him. "Yes, well, thank you. It's just… I was hoping, erm… that with the work I've done, you would…"

"Out with it child!" he snapped impatiently.

"Show yourself!" she finished meekly, her face burning with crimson. "I-I would like to see my great tutor. And you wouldn't have to worry about anything from me! Deformity or not, I think you're beautiful anyways."

She bit the inside of her cheek, praying to God he would, and another silent prayer that this wouldn't invoke his anger.

"You wish to see me, heh? I suppose you have been longing for sometime to have a glimpse of the Phantom's face?" His rhetoric questions held no emotion, which made it difficult for her to encode his feelings.

"Unlike my former pupil," he continued. "You listened and obeyed my orders. Because of your obedience you have succeeded tremulously. Something I had thought that would not be possible."

Emmy's breath hitched in her throat. Could it be what she thought was happening?

"Now, I'm not fond of granting such requests from anyone or praises that I feel are not worthy to be given. Though I may provide an exception for your case, Amelia. My trust in human nature isn't immense, but I do trust that you would keep our secret. So far you have without temptations and I pray that this behavior will continue after?"

"Yes! Oh yes it will Maestro!" Emmy cried ecstatically.

"Good. But not now."

Her features fell. "I thought—"

"I have not finished, my dear. We will have our first physical meeting tonight. Do not wonder over how or when. Just know, that I am everywhere and I will come to you."

Emmy's head bowed in gracious reverence. "Tonight it will be, Maestro," she echoed quietly. How long until tonight?

TBC…

I'm at the point in this story where there will be 1 chapter an update, instead of 2. There are a lot of cliffies to come. : )