Chapter Seven

DISCLAIMER: OK; I don't own phantom of the opera. Plain and simple

He had given her some tea to settle her stomache. She was grateful for the tea; it would take the bitter mixture of alchahol and vomit out of her mouth. He had not continued talking to her about what they had been talking of before. Every time she would try to get him to tell her; to open up and tell her; he'd reject it and tell her she'd never be able to understand. So; they got to talking about her. Erik learned of Raphael; and of her mother. Karen seemed to be easier to get to open up than Erik; he was stuck in solitude; and Karen was happy to tell him anything he asked. When she finished speaking of Raphael; Erik asked who her next man was.

"There wasn't one." She told him; sipping at her tea. "Alot of guys tried; but I didn't want myself to be hurt again."

"I understand that." He replied. "It isn't any easier the second time."

"Tell me about Christine." She started. "Was she pretty?"

"Beautiful." Erik told her. Taking a drink and then continueing. "To me she was anyway. Raoul loved her too. Sometimes I wonder why she chose him over me; and then I look in the mirror and remember." Karen drank her cup half way and then smiled at him.

"You can see it like that." She told him; trying to make him feel better. "Or you can think of it a different way. You can see it as your fault; or you can see it as Christine's."

"How do you see it?" Erik asked; drinking his tea and waiting for a response.

"Christine's." When he asked why; she replied bluntly. "Because; she chose normality over loyalty. Raoul may have been handsome; and he may have been brave; but If I was Christine; I wouldn't have chosen him." She paused for a drink; and then continued. "Brave men sometimes run out on a girl for a prettier one. Loyal men stay no matter how pretty another girl may look." Erik lisoned as she went on; explaining her views on what had happened almost three years ago. Somehow; she didn't blame Erik for any of it. She seemed to find the blame on others; like his attitude. If they had accepted him for who he was; instead of what he looked like; they wouldn't of had the chandelier problem. If Christine hadn't been so selfish; Erik wouldn't have gotten so hurt.

Erik enjoyed lisoning to her talk; she seemed to be able to tell him the exact words to make him feel better about the past. It made him wish in the back of his mind; that she had come decades sooner; so that he wouldn't have gotten hurt like he did.

Eventually; Erik had gotten up and was playing the organ for her. She had gotten in such a trance from the music; that she started to dance. Erik softly smiled at her as she danced; and kept playing. Even when the music stopped; and Erik was just watching her; she kept going. She seemed to be able to let her imagination take her away from her surroundings. When she heard him clapping was when she stopped. She smiled as he rose to his feet and asked for a dance. They were completely different people when they were together.It was as if they had never been hurt in the romance department. Erik gave his hand out to her; she took it and they began to waltz. Smiling at each other; they seemed to have fun just dancing and talking.

He was almost sad to have to take her back. He took her to the mirror; and this time; when she said goodbye; he replied as such. When she walked through the mirror; she was met by Madam Giry.


"Why were you down there?" She asked almost fiercely.

"Oh, um-"

"And who's idea was it to go to that party last night?" Karen stuttered for an answer; Madam Giry just grabbed her arm and drug her back to the dorms; where Meg lie on her bed in a hangover.

"I'm sorry Madam Giry." Karen apologized. "We hadn't planned on drinking anything. We were just going to stop by and see the party; and then leave. No later than ten, ten thirty. But we ended up staying later."

"You stayed out all night." Madam Giry's voice was sharp and angry. "Meg was lucky I came after her. If I hadn't; then some lecherous stage hand would have, and you! My god, I would hate to think of what would have happened to you if Erik hadn't come and saved your sorry ass. I can't believe you and Meg would behave so recklessly! After Meg said that you and her separated for only a minute before I came after her; and asked where you were; I nearly had a heart attack thinking of what could have- and almost did- happen to you!" Madam Giry stopped; giving Karen a chance to speak in her defense. "I don't want you to go to any more parties;do you hear me girl?"

"Yes Madam Giry." Karen whispered. Madam Giry left Karen and Meg alone; and Karen turned to Meg. "I'm sorry Meg."

"It's nothing." Meg told her; struggling to sit up without a head ache. "Did he really save you? The phantom of the Opera?" Karen nodded; smiling.

"He's really nice." Karen told her. "He's been through a lot; but in the end I think he and I became friends." Meg grinned; and asked Karen how he came to the rescue.

Karen told her. She spoke of what Erik had told her. Of how she was drunk and was almost raped; but he came and took care of her.


That night; as Karen slept; she heard Erik singing songs in her head. She did not try to sleep so quickly; she lisoned to the music; and played with her "Optics" Toy in the dark. She couldn't see the pictures; so it had no real point;but she loved playing with it and lisoning to Erik sing to her. Smiling; she climbed out of bed ,dressed in something better to walk in than a night gown; and walked out of the dormitories; having of course; met Erik down one of the halls. The two left the Opera Populaire and went to the outskirts of Paris; Karen lead him to a field of flowers. Where they sat and talked. Karen had picked one; and grinned at it. Erik was laying down with his eyes closed; but he opened them when he heard her whisper.

"Forget-me-not." Erik rose and asked what she was talking about. "This one.It's called: "Forget-me-not" My mom told me that when I was Iris's age. " She showed him the purple star-shaped flower with the tiny yellow center. She was smiling at it; until all of a sudden she stopped. "Overall; their just pretty to look at." She paused and started smiling at him. "Here. You can get rid of that wilted flower and keep this one." Erik hesitated; watching as she handed the flower to him; and waited for him to take it.

Finally; he did take it.


Hello all. OK; I put the flower thing a bit soon cause I got stuck. I got that forget-me-not thing from the book by Gaston Leroux. Except he said: "Her Forget-me-not eyes" and the flower thing was from a REALLY old sailor moon movie that I'm suprised I remembered. Anyway. I hope ya'll enjoy :D