Yay, new update! I was gonna wait a bit longer to post this chapter, but I couldn't help myself. Also, I wanted to let you guys know that I will be hosting a little contest. As you all know, fanart is very popular among the masses. Some interest has been shown in creating fanart for this story. This got me to thinking. What I would like to do is hold a contest for the best fanart pertaining to this story. The best one (with the artist's permission) will become the new cover for this story! If you have any questions or want to enter an artwork, just send a PM telling me where on the 'Internets' it is located. This contest will be open to all artists and will end on May 1st. May the odds be ever in your favor! ;) quick shoutouts to ZombiesForNarnia and XemeraXIII. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 21

The rehearsal came and went as fast as you can say 'butterscotch'. We went over some more ideas and put together a great number for the show. I was so proud of our ability to come up with this ourselves. Madame Giry didn't even have any input, it was so good. With the dancing and the violin, it was gonna be a hit. I decided to make it the last performance of the show.

Once I made it back to my room after giving the violin I borrowed back to its owner, I found Erik sitting on my bed…with my tablet in his hands.

He turned to me. "This contraption is amazing! Never have I seen something so small and fragile be so useful."

I scoffed. "I'm just curious as to how you figured out how to turn it on." I said as I sat beside him, trying to see what he was doing. "So what has you so enraptured?"

"For one thing, the ability to play music without any instruments is astounding, except I don't quite appreciate some of the types of music you have. There is no meaning, save the classical music."

"Um, excuse me, but have you even been through all my music yet?" I asked him, glaring.

"Well, no, but-"

"Then don't assume that all of it is meaningless. I'll have you know that some of these songs have gotten me through the roughest parts of my life. Besides, if you had gotten to the Broadway songs, then you would know some music that has meaning."

He bowed his head. "I apologize."

I shrugged. "It's alright. You didn't know. So, what music did you like besides the classical?"

He thought for a moment. "I liked one song from a girl named…Kelly Clarkson, I believe her name is."

The image of him singing Since U Been Gone made me laugh. "May I ask which song?"

He looked at me as if I were crazy. He had no idea…"Break Away."

My giggles subsided as that sunk in. "Ah. Yeah, I like that one, too. I actually sang that at the county fair one year. I didn't win, but it was really fun."

"You sang in public back in your time? Then why are you scared of singing in front of an audience in this time? And what is a county fair?"

"A county fair is sort of like a carnival. They have rides, games, entertainment, and the best funnel cakes you can get."

Before he could ask what a funnel cake was, I went on. "I guess my nervousness is caused by the time difference. In my time, people could sing in mostly whatever style they wanted and not be ridiculed for their preferences. Here, I have no idea how the audience would react to me or my style. Like I said before, rotten tomatoes could be thrown at me." I paused, letting my statement sink in. I flopped on my back, groaning. "Erik, what if I mess up? What if they don't like me? I'll be kicked out faster than lightning."

All was silent and still for a few moments, then I felt Erik get up, grab my hands, and pull me off the bed. He stood me up straight in front of him and made me look him in the eye. "You will not be kicked out and you will not fail. The audience will fall in love with you as soon as you walk onto that stage."

"How can you be so sure, though? I mean, I am totally not the prettiest flower in the garden, nor the skinniest, and definitely not the best."

"Mandy, I want you to listen to me. You are perfect the way you are. Fat, skinny, blonde, brunette, green or blue. It wouldn't matter. Even though you are beautiful, the kindness of your heart would outshine any physical beauty in the world."

Tears came to my eyes. "You really mean that?"

"Every word."

I sniffed. "I think that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me, Erik. Thank you."

He smiled. "There's no need to thank me. All I did was state the truth."

We stared at each other like we were the only two in the world, losing ourselves in each other's gazes. Then he had to go and ruin it by asking, "So what exactly is a funnel cake?"

After I got done laughing, we made our way down to Erik's lair, me explaining the concept of a funnel cake. Who would've thought that I would be friends with The Phantom of the Opera, telling him about fried desserts and him encouraging me about a performance?

We reached his lair via the boat. It never ceased to amaze me how he could row standing up and never lose his balance. Maybe that's where the muscles come from…

I shook the thought out of my head as he led me to the organ. He sat on the bench as I stood, awaiting instruction. He warmed up by playing a few scales. I watched his hand move effortlessly over the keys and longed to play the instrument myself. The expression on my face said it all. He saw and chuckled, standing up. "Would you like to play a song?"

I cleared my throat and raised my head, attempting to look poised and regal but epically failing in my own opinion. "I suppose I could run through one song." I stated as I took a seat. I made a show of stretching my hands and loosening up, not really sure why I was doing it at all.

I looked at Erik and he motioned for me to begin. I played the first thing I could think of: Toccata and Fugue. It was just something about being down in the lair that made me want to play it all the time. I usually refrained, but this time I played my heart out. Once I finished, I looked back at Erik, only to see a smile on his face. That made a smile grow on mine, as well.

"That was the first song we ever officially listened to together." He stated.

I nodded. "Yeah. I don't know what it is, but whenever I'm down here, it just pops into my head. It's like how you think of the Batman song whenever you think of the Batcave. Before you ask, don't. I will explain Marvel and DC another time." I asked, knowing he was gonna ask. He's just predictable like that.

His only reply was a smile and a shake of his head. "As you wish."