Chapter 27: The Silence.

Meg made her way slowly toward the second level of the foyer. The theatre had gown quiet now. The dancers and the singers had been divided into their two groups and continued to practice in their normal fashion, or at least in a fashion that would become normal. Meg, however, was feeling lost. So much had happened in her small world, so many changes, that she was beginning to not recognise herself. She felt week and old, older than she had ever felt. Her body was tire and so was her soul. To much had been happening and she didn't know what to blame the pain on. Her day had been slow but some many thoughts ran through her head. She had given herself to much time to think about the things that were bothering her only making her pain grow.

She heard Christine come out of the ballet hall just as she had started to round the top of the grand stair case. She was talking quickly and in a hush to Andre. Meg couldn't made out much of what was being said, but she did hear Andre mention the handsome new Tenor to take the last remaining lead roll. She had even looked different now. Her motions and the way she carried herself was like someone who had just won at some great battle. The pride radiated off of her and she looked almost nasty in the way she walked through the theatre. Meg was reminded of a time when another Prima Donna has ruled the theatre. It wasn't a happy time for the people that were below her and now Christine looked like that person. Dread swept in around Meg.

She couldn't handle listening much longer as she picked up her pace and rounded the corridor that led to the boxes. It wasn't until the thick silence had closed in around her that she slowed her pace. She was afraid to give to much away when she came to face the Phantom. She had told him she would stand by him, but she didn't understand why he would do something like this. Christine had changed so much. She was not the person they had known, how could he not see it? The only reason she could think of was that he still had feeling for Christine and Meg was beginning to feel her heart break. It wasn't something she had planned on, or expected at all, it had only just happened. She had fallen in love with the Phantom of the opera.

Before she realised it, she was standing outside the door to the Phantom's box. For a split second she panicked as she looked at the number printed on the door. Should she just walk in, or should she knock? Would he actually be in there or was this all just some sick joke someone had planned for her. Maybe it was Christine. Slowly she raised her small hand and tapped lightly on the wooden door.

The door to the boxes swing inward and slowly this one opened before her. Erik smiled as he saw her standing in his doorway. She couldn't help be see the gentleness in his eyes. She smiled back at him. Slowly he ushered her into the box and placed her in a seat at his side. Down on the stage the unfinished paintings looked like a small chorus of dancers. They almost looked like they wanted to move along the stage. The brilliant colours had started to come through. Meg was stunned at the view. Though she had spent most of her life in the opera house she had never witnessed a performance from one of the boxes before. It was true that box five had the best vantage of the stage and Meg understood immediately why it was the Phantom's favourite box.

Erik took his seat next too her and watched her intensely as she looked down at the portraits of herself. Her cheeks had flushed before him as she looked down at the life like images, "tell me," he said startling Meg as he broke the silence, "which do you like the most?" he asked.

Meg shrugged and shook her head, "I don't know," she said honestly, "they are all very beautiful and it would be a shame to not see them all finished. I am flattered that you would have me pose for the painting."

"Well who else would I have chosen," he asked with a slight smiled but suddenly noticed the change in Meg's expression, "something is bothering you."

"I'm fine," Meg smiled but the sadness had not left her eyes.

"You are angry with me," he said as he faced her.

"I am not angry," Meg whispered.

"You are hurt by something I have done though," he said as she looked back out over the stage, "what have I don't that will not allow you to look into my eyes?" he asked.

"I am just being foolish," Meg said her voice cracking a little.

"Foolish about what?"

Meg gasped and ducked behind a curtain as she watched Christine walked out onto the stage among the paintings. She heard her laugh at them and then look out over the theatre. She didn't look beautiful or graceful on the stage, but rather, she looked wicked and full of herself. Meg's eyes filled with tears as she turned and looked back at Erik. She didn't know why but just the sight of Christine had filled her with great sadness. Erik noticed it right away and slipping from his chair he reached out toward the wall of the box. Christine had neither seen nor heard them, as Erik took Meg's hand and led her back into the hidden passage leading out of box five.

Once they were alone again Erik released Meg's hand and stopped before her. She had dried her tears on the back of her hand but couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes. She knew for sure that she would cry once more.

"You are unhappy with my decision to use Christine," he said softly to Meg as he stood before her in the darkness.

"You must have your reasons for choosing her and I have no right to question them," Meg said mustering as much courage as she could to not cry again.

"My reason for it is simple," he said.

"You don't need to justify anything to me, I am simply a dancer," Meg said but regretted saying it once she had.

Erik was silent for a moment. He knew then what had happened in Meg's mind. He had insulted her talents and her heart when he had not explained to her what he had planned for Christine, "you deserve to know as I have hurt you by not telling you," he whispered, "I need to keep her close to keep this secret," he said as he moved closer in the darkness and pulled Meg into his arms, "I cannot let her try and break into what we have, Meg. She's in this for some other, much more selfish, reason than you or I. I am sorry if I hurt you or you were given the wrong impression. I do not have feelings for her anymore." he whispered as he brought his face closer to hers.

A great wave of relief flooded over her as she leaned heavily into him and she aloud herself to cry in his arms. He held her tightly in the darkness. He could feel her hot tears on his cheek and knew that he had said the right thing.

"Its been a long day for both of us," he whispered after a long embrace.

She pulled herself away from him and dried her tears on the back of her hand, "it has," she whispered as she felt his hand on her cheeks.

"Come and dine with me tonight," he said his face becoming clearer in the darkness.

Meg smiled and took his hand once more, to follow him through the darkness back to their silent world.