I am looking forward to uploading the next couple of chapters. They will be the mark the beginning of a little drama in the opera house. ;) Thanks for the reviews. Please keep reviewing to tell me how you think the story is coming along so I have an idea on what people think of what's going on so far. I promise your reviews make my writing so much worth while and I cannot wait to share the rest of the story I have written so far. There is still so much to come. As this chapter is quite short, I shall share two instead. :)

Erik's guest: Perhaps he did. ;) I think Christine can be quite naïve when it comes to her feelings sometimes so she probably isn't really certain on what she feels at the moment. All I will say is this chapter might possibly give a clue about the conflict that will slowly start to arise. ;)

So lost, so helpless

It was still dark when I awoke. Automatically, I glanced towards the other beds to see that Meg was sound asleep but Christine's bed was empty. Her duvet was pulled back as though she had been here though.

I grabbed my dressing gown from the coat rack and headed out of the dormitories on my tip-toes. I had a feeling I knew where she might be, given the events of the previous night. I crept towards the chapel, pausing outside as I heard Christine's quiet voice.

"Oh Papa, I wish you were here! I-I just don't know what to do!" She whispered softly, her voice breaking as she sobbed.

When it was became quiet, I knocked softly on the door and took a brief step inwards. She was sat on the chapel floor, her head bowed over, her wild curls hiding her face. I sighed. I hated seeing others upset. She finally glanced round, her puffy eyes wet with glistening tears.

"Hey," I said uncertainly.

I was no good with comforting people, not when I had to speak anyway. I was better at hugging and promising that it would be okay, even though everyone knew it actually wasn't going to be.

"I wanted to be alone with my father." She admitted wearily.

"Oh…sorry, I didn't realize. I'll go-"

"No, no, please stay!" Christine exclaimed as I turned to leave.

I nodded, heading further in the room instead.

"I just meant that I came here to be alone, just for a while. But then I realized that even if he was here, he wouldn't be able to help, not really." She sighed.

I sat beside her and glanced towards the small oval picture of her father, hung beneath the candle. He looked quite handsome and in a way, he reminded me a little like how I imagined the Phantom to look, minus the deformity.

"Why would you say that?"

"Raoul proposed to me last night." She mumbled so quietly, I strained to hear.

"Oh," I said stiffly, not sure what to make of that. "But you don't sound that pleased."

"I am!" She insisted too fervently. "But then I'm not…but oh of course I am! I'm probably being silly. It's Raoul! Of course I would be happy to be engaged to Raoul but…"

"But?" I pressed.

"Oh, I don't know!" She groaned, dropping her face into her hands.

"Maybe you're just overthinking this?" I considered.

It seemed Christine was very naïve and I wondered if perhaps she did really have feelings for the Phantom, but she just didn't know how to confront them. I couldn't exactly blame her. Given how everyone seemed to be terrified of him, her feelings about him probably frightened her too. If was truly having doubts about the relationship already though, then I didn't believe engagement seemed like such a wise choice to jump into. Regrets were a hardship to bear after all.

"Look, Raoul seems…nice," I tried. "You did have a traumatic evening and honestly? I think he should have waited before proposing to you under the circumstances but I'm sure he would understand if you told him you wanted to wait a little longer to be engaged. Just until you're able to think clearer and can make the right decision." I said.

She nodded, lifting her hands to dry her tears. "Yeah maybe you're right."

"I'm not saying this to put you off Christine. I know me and Raoul aren't the greatest of friends but like I said, you're probably just struggling because of everything you've been through. He does seem rather sweet on you so I'm sure he'll understand."

She smiled. "Thank you for the advice."

"Oh that's okay. People often say that I'm brilliant at other people's relations."

"Just not your own relations?" Christine finished with a smirk. "I've heard some of the ballet girls use such a phrase and I never realized how true it was until now."

With a smile, she took my hand and squeezed it. "Thank you for the advice though. I do appreciate it."

I smiled back, giving her hand a squeeze too. "That's okay."