Chapter 27
Jeslyn comes up to a group of actors hanging around backstage. "Has anyone seen Dameon?" Jeslyn asks calmly. She can't wait to get her hands on the little snot. Nobody responds to her question. She stands there with her hands on her hips, making it quite clear that she isn't leaving until she gets an answer. Finally, one person points toward the corner, where Dameon is huddled up with a group of other actors and Devon. She strides over to them, holds her hand out at Dameon and says, "Okay, Dameon, give me the mask. It doesn't belong to you." Dameon just smiles at her, "Why do you care? It's just part of a costume. It's not like he actually needs it to hide his face." Jeslyn scowls at him, "Just give me the mask." He dangles it in front of her face, "Just a couple of questions. First off, what's this guy's name and where did you find him?" Jeslyn rolls her eyes before responding, "His name's Erik and I met him at an acting camp." Dameon nods his head, "And what were you too doing in the shower together?" he asks, giving an evil grin. Jeslyn narrows her eyes and glares at him. She reaches forward and grabs the mask out of his hand and then storms away with Devon yelling after her, "Hey! You didn't answer his questions! What were you two doing?" Jeslyn doesn't even turn around when she responds, "Wouldn't you like to know!" When she gets back to Kaori's room, Erik and Kaori are sitting in silence, their backs turned toward each other. Jeslyn goes over and gives Erik his mask. She stands in between the two of them, looking at one, then the other. "Okay, I know you both way too well, what happened?" Neither of them respond, but Erik gets up and holds Jeslyn in his arms. "You look so cute when you're pouting," he says. Jeslyn smiles for a moment, "Just tell me what happened." Kaori makes a grunting noise as a response. Erik finally answers her, "She doesn't approve of us fooling around. She thinks that I'm only with you for the 'physical aspect' of the relationship." Jeslyn goes over to Kaori. She sits down next to her, "Kaori, I'm sorry that what we're doing is making you uncomfortable, but we love each other. I don't know how to make that any more obvious to you than by what you've already seen and heard." Erik has gone and laid on the bed, just looking up at the ceiling and trying not to eavesdrop. Kaori speaks, "I know that you guys say that you love each other, but you seemed to fall in love so fast. How do you know it's not just lust?" Jeslyn doesn't know how to respond to this. While she is thinking, Erik responds for her, not moving from his position on the bed, "Have you ever met someone that understood you from the start? You don't have to explain anything to them, they just get it. What if you have so much in common, and all that you do is talk and understand each other completely. When one is sad or hurt, the other is there to help them." He gets up from the laying position, and sits on the edge of the bed. Jeslyn stares at him, realizing just how much she loves him. And he continues, "That's what we have. We complete each other. Without one another, we're just an empty shell leading an empty life. That's the best way I can put it into words, it isn't exactly easy to describe." He holds out his hand toward Jeslyn. She gets up, takes his hand and sits in his lap. His arm is around her waist, still holding her hand, and her head is resting against his. They sit and wait for Kaori's response. After a few moments Kaori smiles. She stands up and gives them both a big hug, even Erik, which surprises him. When she pulls away, both she and Jeslyn laugh at Erik's astonished face. "See, Erik, not everyone in this world is shallow." Erik smiles as he stands up, carrying Jeslyn in his arms. "One of the perks of the relationships," Jeslyn says to Kaori, "Is that you never have to walk anywhere." At this, Erik gets a devilish gleam in his eye and smiles mischievously. He begins to drop Jeslyn, suddenly. She squeals and grabs onto his neck while burying her face in his chest. He catches her at the last moment and laughs. She doesn't move from her frightened position, but is laughing into his shoulder. "This is one of MY perks. I get to have a pretty girl clinging to me as if it was the end of the world." Kaori laughs and pushes Erik toward the door, "Go on you two love birds. Get back to your own room and goof off." Erik and Jeslyn then head back toward Jeslyn's room. It takes them twice as long though, since they have to avoid the random people walking around. The entire Opera House is now awake.