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Chapter 8 (wow already?)

The next three days crept up quickly on Orianna. Each day she had grueling ballet practices with Madame Giry and then an hour or so with her Angel. On the day of the show, Orianna woke up bright and early. She was so nervous she had barely even slept that night. What ifs plagued her every thought. What if she tripped? What if she forgot her routine? Her head was swarming with images of her pirouetting right off the stage or knocking into someone, usually Carlotta (those were the happy images).

As she stood on stage in costume with Meg and Anaya, she noticed two men walking around, with their manager (who Ori had only met once), inspecting the ballerinas and such. Orianna quirked a brow and leaned over to Anaya's ear.

"Who are those two?"

"Meg thinks they are the new managers." Orianna shrugged and watched as Carlotta massacred line after line in the opera. After she finished, Orianna felt like her ears were bleeding. She sighed but got into place in the line. She tried to keep up with the rest of the girls and was actually doing a good job of it. Until she felt eyes upon her, she looked up and noticed the three men staring at her and talking in whispers. She quickly looked away but she was behind a step in the routine. She heard Madame Giry bang her stick.

"You! Christine Daae, concentrate girl!" Madame Giry demanded.

Orianna nodded her head and then faded into the back with the other dancers. Finally, the scene ended and Monsieur Lefevre called everyone's attention to him.

"May I please have your attention? As you know, for some weeks there have been rumors of my imminent retirement. I can now tell you that these were all true, and it is my pleasure to introduce to you the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire, Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre."

Everyone clapped for them and they stepped forward and bowed. Orianna rolled her eyes.

"I'd like to present to you gentlemen our leading soprano for five seasons, Signora Carlotta Guidicelli and of course…." But, Orianna zoned out. She tried so hard to pay attention but ADD took its affect on her brain. She began to bite her nails and curl a piece of hair around her fingers, while staring up at the ceiling. Suddenly, the piano started which woke her from the zoning. All the girls were moving the edge of the stage and to the side so that Carlotta could sing. Orianna and Anaya sat on the ground near the edge of the stage and Meg stood behind them.

"Think of me…Think of me fondly…" Oh god, Orianna thought, she's going to massacre the beautiful song…again. But, she got as far as you long to take your heart when the backdrop suddenly fell, almost hitting Carlotta. All the girls screamed even Orianna and Anaya grabbed her arm; it surprised them all. Meg looked around and suddenly burst out:

"He's here:
the Phantom of the Opera ...
He is with us ...
It's the ghost ..."

All the girls looked around at each other with troubled faces and whispered rumors about the ghost. Orianna sat in whispered voices with Anaya and didn't listen to what was going on. But, she watched as Carlotta, and then after her Piangi, left the stage. Orianna laughed to herself quietly on the inside. Then, she watched her old manager, smile and wave goodbye to everyone before leaving the stage. This caused even more excitement within the group. It seemed as if everyone was leaving. Madame Giry walked offstage and picked up an envelope and began to talk with the managers. Orianna looked at Anaya, who looked incredibly happy that Carlotta was gone.

"…with the Vicomte de Chagny as your patron." She heard Madame Giry say. The last name struck a cord within Orianna's brain. She raised a brow trying to figure out why that name was so familiar. But, before she could think anyone she heard her name said by Meg, who had her hand on Orianna's shoulder.

"Christine Daae could sing it, sir." Orianna looked up at Meg, then to the managers. They looked just as puzzled as Ori did.

"The chorus girl?' One of the managers said.

"She's been taking lessons from a great teacher."

"From whom, Miss Daae?" Orianna quickly stood up. How did meg know? She bit her lip and clasped her hands together.

"I don't know, sir."

"This is ridiculous."

"We shall have to refund a full house, Andre! A full house!"

"Let her sing for you, monsieur. She has been well taught." Madame Giry piped in. Orianna looked back at her, her eyes as wide as they could possibly get. She wanted to murder both of them. She wasn't that good of a singer and since she got here, she didn't even want to attempt to sing. The manager named Andre motioned for her to come to center stage. Hesitantly, she made her way to the front of the stage. She was extremely nervous and felt sick to her stomach.

"From the beginning of the aria then, mam'selle."

Orianna nodded and the music began. When it was her cue, she began to sing extremely low so no one could hear how bad she was.

"Oh Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves." Andre raised a brow at Orianna. She glanced back at Anaya and Meg, they both looked hopefully. They believed in her. She nodded her head and looked at the maestro.

"May we begin again?" He rolled his eyes and nodded. He stopped the music and started it from the beginning. She closed her eyes and let the music flow through her.

"Think of me

Think of me fondly,
when we've said
goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while -
please promise me
you'll try.

When you find
that, once
again, you long
to take your heart back
and be free -
if you
ever find
a moment
spare a thought
for me ..."

Orianna opened her eyes and spun around. She noticed that everyone was staring at her open mouthed. Even some of the crewmen in the flies stopped to listen to her. Anaya and Meg looked thrilled.

"It seems as if we found our new leading soprano." Andre said.

Orianna couldn't believe her ears. Leading soprano? Orianna Ginny Southen was a leading soprano…in an opera.

(A/N)- Wow…either the last chapter really sucked or no one likes this story. I said it would get better and I promise it will. But, thanks only to Galasriniel who said I and that was it lol! Thanks anyways! Hope this chapter is better!