She went home that night feeling a little foolish.
She felt stupid for responding to someone who was obviously messing with her, and moreover, distracting her. After he had left her alone, she had had a difficult time focusing. He had thrown her off balance. An unfortunate, but positive result of the exchange had been Christine's slight elevation in confidence. She knew for a fact she was less talented than Cara, but hearing someone else give her kind feedback was heartening.
It was highly possible she imagined the whole thing. The practice rooms were small, and had zero discernible nooks or crannies. Not to mention that when she looked out into the hallway, there hadn't been a soul in sight.
She summed up the entire experience to stress and too little sleep. Hearing voices wasn't exactly a sign of top-notch mental health after all. The best thing to do would be to keep herself from thinking about it.
Trouble was, it was all she could think about. No one had ever expressed to her that there was any true potential to her voice. Well, except Professor Reyer, and Meg, but their encouragement always seemed to stem from a place of bias. Meg was biased because she was Christine's friend, and Reyer was biased because he was Christine's teacher. They both wanted to see her succeed by merit of their connection to her.
She had been gliding along for years, coasting by on the idea that maybe one day she would get to sing in the chorus of some opera house if she worked hard enough.
But to hear the praise that man gave her last night…
It doesn't matter! she thought to herself wildly. He was a figment of your imagination! Of course he would think you're better than Cara!
But Christine wasn't so sure.
She considered telling Raoul about what had happened. But what would she even say? The strangest thing happened to me in the practice room last night! This voice randomly starting talking to me, critiquing my singing. An eavesdropping student, you say? Of course, that must have been it. But there was no one in the hallway when I opened the door! The intercom system, yes, that's surely it. Except we don't have one…?
She knew what it would sound like. Years of therapy hadn't convinced anyone that Christine's psyche was completely in tact. She had been so isolated as a child, traveling from city to city with her father as her only company. She wasn't naive; she knew it had resulted in somewhat of a stunted social development. Years in public school had remedied that to some degree, but losing her father had been a great blow to her peace of mind. She had periodically suffered from lucid dreams in which her father was the star. It plagued her mind upon waking, making her believe for a few pleasant moments that her father was still alive. The crash of reality was like losing him all over again.
But she had never heard voices until now. The voice hadn't sounded anything like her father's. Her father had had a rugged tone, slightly gruff, but warm. The voice she had heard in the practice room had been cold. It was higher in pitch, but indisputably masculine. The timber was resounding, as if his voice came from everywhere at once. It had made her feel like she was speaking to a spirit rather than flesh and bone man. And he hadn't revealed himself, so what was she to think? She knew ghosts weren't real, but if it were a man was who spying on her, where could he have possibly been hiding?
"I hope you like chicken salad. It's all I know how to make." Raoul looked at her sheepishly, his boyish face scrunched up in concern.
Christine smiled. "Chicken salad sounds great. I wouldn't know where to start to make it, so you've got one up on me!"
Raoul returned her smile, looking more at ease. He unpacked the backpack he had brought along, placing the various Tupperware containers on Christine's threadbare red blanket.
"I can't believe you still have this ratty old thing." Raoul said playfully, fingering the blanket they sat on.
Christine made a face at him. "Hey, don't insult the blanket! It's been a faithful companion through the years."
"Ah, but of course!" he said grandly. "After all, wasn't this the same blanket that I retrieved for you when it blew off in the wind?"
Christine play-scowled at him. "Of course it is! Don't tell me you've forgotten how we met, Raoul Chagny."
Raoul put a hand over his chest, happy to play along. "On my honor, I could never!" Christine sniffed, and he continued. "Why, it was my most harrowing moment to date!"
"Was it?" Christine said, skepticism seeping into her voice.
"But of course!" He swept his hand grandly. "Jumping over fences, climbing up the jungle gym, leaping into the air! It was a miracle I hadn't broken any bones in the process."
"No," agreed Christine, "Just received a few bumps and bruises for your trouble."
"Nan was furious," Raoul said with relish, almost as if he could see his old nanny in his mind's eye. "She was a horror. She used to hide the Gushers from me and Philippe and would tattle on us to our parents at every turn."
"Still," Christine mused, "You seemed to turn out OK."
"Yeah, luckily."
They settled into eating quietly, casting surreptitious glances at each other every once in awhile. Her mind began to wonder back to the night before, almost without her permission. It hadn't gone unnoticed.
Raoul lowered his sandwich to his lap, looking at her with concern. "Hey, is everything OK?"
She looked up, surprised. It took her a moment to realize she had gotten lost in her thoughts. She smiled, trying to recover herself. "Yeah, why?
Raoul shrugged. "I lost you there for a second. You sure nothing's bothering you?"
She hesitated. It took her a beat or two, but decided that it was probably harmless enough to tell him after all. "Just had kind of a weird encounter last night."
Raoul immediately sobered. "What kind of an encounter?"
Christine shook her head, curls bouncing against her cheek with each toss. "Nothing bad. Just someone interrupting me when I was practicing in the music building. At least, I think there was someone there. I'm not really sure."
She described the experience to Raoul. His brow furrowed, looking displeased with what she told him.
"Christine, you need to be careful. Cartier doesn't exactly have a great reputation for keeping its' female students safe." He considered her. "Maybe you should have someone go with you when you practice."
"I don't have anyone I can ask," she confessed. "Meg, my roommate, is the only person I really hang out with, and she has enough going on."
"Well then, maybe I can walk you to them? Or you can practice at my place? I have a spare room you could use."
She waved his offer off, blushing a little at the invitation to his house. "No, Raoul, really. It's OK. I'm really in no danger at school. We're a female-heavy campus. We overrun the men 3 to 1," she joked halfheartedly.
Raoul looked unmoved. "I don't know, Christine. I don't like it. I don't want to worry you for no reason, but I haven't heard good things lately about Cartier."
Christine frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Philippe told me. Well, I wheedled it out of him, more like. He said that there are a lot of politicians with not-so great connections to students at Cartier."
"No offense, Raoul, but that isn't exactly news. It's been going on for as long as I've been at school, and I'm sure it's a tradition that predates me by many years."
"I know, but I don't think it's just the sexual affairs. I think Cartier is Capitol Hill's dirty little secret in more ways that one."
"What do you mean?"
Raoul cringed. "I'm really not supposed to say, Christine. It's all speculation, but Philippe thinks the corruption is rampant. These are very powerful people. He's warned me not to get involved in your school if I want to have a career in politics. Just...be careful, OK?"
She nodded. "Don't worry, Raoul. I'll be fine." She grinned. "Who knows? Maybe it's just the ghost everyone's always talking about."
Raoul laughed with her. "That would be the least of your school's problems!"
The day out had been good for her. Her skin was warm and glowing from the time spent in the sun, and her mood had vastly improved. She had been able to take her mind off her insecurities, as well as the confusion from the night before.
She was glad she had listened to Meg. The day had been full of good food, good weather...and good company. Raoul had always been good for her, and she felt grateful that they were friends again.
She showered quickly when she got back to the dorm. She was a little tired from the day, but she needed the rehearsal time, and thought a shower would perk her up. She dressed into something comfortable, twisting her damp hair into a tight braid. It was only when she looked at her sheet music that she paused, remembering.
Christine bit her lip. Was it smart to go back there after what had happened? She didn't feel threatened, but the experience had certainly been strange.
Trouble was, it was the best and most convenient place to rehearse on campus. She didn't seem to have much of a choice.
"Out again?" Meg chimed when she saw Christine readying.
Christine lifted her head, nodding in her friend's direction. "Yup. Gotta get that rehearsal time in while I have it."
Meg smiled. "Proud of you. Don't work too hard!"
Christine grimaced around a smile. "I won't. Bye!"
She left wondering whether she should have told Meg about what happened the night before. She didn't think she had any cause to worry, but it might have been a good idea to let someone know of her comings and goings. She grabbed her phone out of her bag and typed a text as she walked.
Hey, can you send me a text if I'm not home by ten? You'll be up by then, right?
She didn't have to wait long for a reply.
You DO know who you're talking to, right?
Christine smiled. Meg was most likely going out, as she usually did on the weekend. She would get home long after Christine did.
You're the best! she quickly replied.
Her practice room was empty and waiting for her when she got there. The building was quieter than usual, typical for a Saturday night. Under normal circumstances, she would have been grateful for it, but she wouldn't have minded a few more people around tonight.
Don't be silly, Christine, she scolded herself. You'll be fine. Just focus on your music.
She shut the door firmly behind her, locking it for good measure. She set down her bag, took out her sheet music, and laid it on the stand.
She took a few minutes to warm up, moving around the room curiously, letting the sound wash over her. It was a familiar friend, a constant companion that had stayed with her throughout the years. It was her consolation, her joy, and even her sorrow. She tried to nurture it as best as she could, but her insecurities often drove her to shy away from her own capabilities. She wished she could be less afraid, and have the confidence of Cara. If only, if only…
Warm-ups finished, she sang one of her usual pieces, if just to give herself a bit of a confidence boost. Ten minutes later, she dove back into her audition piece.
She was a quarter of the way in when she stopped. She shivered a little, a breeze blowing through the air. Perhaps just the air conditioner adjusting, she thought.
"Still going forward with this piece, then?"
She closed her eyes. No one is there, just ignore it…
"I must admit, I think even I am becoming sick of it."
That broke her peace. "You could always just leave me alone?" she suggested, a hint of rancor in her voice.
The voice was silent, and Christine smiled a little to herself. Maybe that'll show him, she thought.
She waited a moment to see if he had truly left, and just when she was beginning to believe that he had, he spoke again.
"I thought about what you said the other day. About being interested in a...tutor."
That she wasn't expecting. "I….yeah?" she replied, lost for words.
He continued. "I have never taken on a student myself, but the idea seized me as intriguing. Seeing as how we've become acquainted, and I am already on campus, it would be convenient for me to give you some guidance. I also have an idea of where you can improve. It seems only natural that I would be the one to aid you."
Christine blinked a few times, trying to understand. He was capable of diverging from the current train of thought with ease, and it unsettled her. Hadn't he been insulting her just minutes ago?
"But...why would you want to help me? You don't seem to like me very much."
"Like you? What need have I to like you?"
She bristled a little at that. But perhaps he had a point. She wasn't in the market for a friend. She had Meg, and now Raoul, too. What she did need, however, was someone to help her with her audition.
In the end, she supposed it was a fair question. After all, they hadn't even met face to face. It seemed unlikely she could form any sort of attachment to someone whose face she couldn't see.
"You're hesitant," he observed. "That's understandable. After all, I've hardly given you any qualifications that would prove that I know what I'm talking about. But perhaps...an example?"
She pursed her lips, but nodded.
"Very good," he said. "Now, if you'd be so kind, repeat that last phrase again, but do not breathe before the whole note, you do not need to. Shoulders back, feet parallel, one slightly in front of the other. Good. Core tight. Chin out just a little...yes, very good. One thing more, do not try so hard to roll your r's, let it happen naturally. Don't think about it. Now try."
She did as he bade her. From the command in his voice alone, she could tell he knew what he was talking about. His confidence in her was ingraining, and it was that factor, if not the rest of his instructions, that made her sound better. Her eyes widened when she finished, the knowledge of what they had achieved in just that moment making her heart race.
"Better already," he said with composure.
"Yeah," she agreed, glancing over towards the music.
She knew she shouldn't really entertain the idea, but she needed this. And he was the only offer she had.
"How would this work?" she asked quietly.
"Just like this. I'll come to you at eight, as I've done the last two nights, and we'll work until we stop. When did you say your audition was?"
"This Friday," Christine said with a gulp.
He hummed. "Not ideal. I'd like more time than that to work with you, of course, but we'll take what we have and make the best of it."
She nodded, unconscious that she was doing so. It hadn't even occurred to her to refuse him.
She opened her mouth. "I know you must have better things to do, but this audition is really important to me. So, I guess, if you really wouldn't mind…."
"Yes?" he said impatiently, waiting for her answer.
"I would like that. I really would. I could…" Here she searched for something, anything other than paying him, which she could not. She made an educated guess. "I could grade papers for you?" Surely he was a professor, or a TA at the least, with all his knowledge?
He scoffed. "I don't have papers to grade."
She frowned. "Oh. Well then...uh…" She looked at the wall blankly, having no idea what else to offer him.
She heard him sigh. "It is fine, Miss Daae. I have the time to spare, and I do not require nor desire anything. Save your commitment and improvement."
She beamed. "Well that's...great! Thank you so much! It means a lot!"
He said, "Fine." And with that ringing note of finality, they were done discussing it. "Now, from the beginning. Let's see what we can do in six days."
A bit of a disclaimer here, I am by no means an expert in vocal technique. I've been singing since I was in elementary school, so I'd like to think I have a teensy bit of an idea about what singing's all about, but honestly, I really don't. I have only my own personal experience to go by, and second-hand from other phics (especially when it comes to opera). Please bear with me. If you have any suggestions or corrections for me, I'm happy to hear them and expand my horizons!
As always, please let me know what you think!