Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews! It made me so happy to see that I had FOUR reviews in one night! I literally can't tell you how pleased I was to hear all your wonderful opinions on the story so far. Anyway this is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Just don't expect the current situation between a few known characters to get any easier quite yet ;)...

SapphireBlueSea: Ahh I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I hope you shall enjoy this one too! Thanks for another review! :)

Erik's Guest: Thanks for the lovely review. :) Yes, I think I've got it kind of planned out now. :) Yes she is indeed. Well...because I never like making it easy for my characters...not quite. ;) I know! :( He will get his turn for plenty of hugs eventually, don't worry! :) I hope you enjoy this chapter. Again, it isn't an easy situation for Charlotte at the moment but...I hope you understand the decision she makes given what she believes presently if that makes sense. Anyway hope you enjoy. :)

EriksAngel170: Thank you for the review! :) Nope and there is more to come hehehe. But I promise that the situation will begin to get easier due to certain events that will soon happen. And I shall say no more about that hahaha ;)

ShapeShifter15: Aww I'm glad you like the story. :) Yeah I wanted to do something a little different. Yeah, I agree. It took me a long while to like Raoul as a character but I definitely do think some of those stories can be unnecessarily harsh and a little cliché too. Yep pretty much. :)

An invitation

The managers announced they would reluctantly allow the Opera Ghost to stage his opera a few days after the Masquerade. I found the whole thing rather amusing. They had gathered us in the auditorium at the start of rehearsals and it was obvious they were furious about it. I thought they were exaggerating a little too much though.

My smirk dropped the moment that the Vicomte announced that he wished to watch all rehearsals. Just when I thought the three of them couldn't exaggerate the situation anymore. Presumably this was because he was less than thrilled too. I was worried though. Partly it was because he had accused me of knowing the Phantom at the Masquerade already. Mainly, it was because of the events that had occurred that night. The very thought made me feel nauseous again.

After seven hours of continuous rehearsals, I managed to slip away for a quick break, once Meg had returned. It didn't help that the Vicomte had watched the majority of today's rehearsal, though luckily, he and the blundering managers seemed to have disappeared somewhere.

I exited the auditorium, heading down the grand staircase as I neared the front entrance, seeing that the managers were stood in the foyer, doing nothing as usual. They were talking to the Vicomte and someone else who I didn't recognize. I tried to slip around them as quietly as I could.

"Ahh Mademoiselle Higgins, just the person we were talking about." Firmin announced.

I heaved a heavy sigh, a feeling of nausea hitting me again as I reluctantly turned to face them, keeping my eyes trained on the managers. My hands dropped from the buttons of my coat which I had been hastily buttoning up and I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Yes, Marcel Bonneville here is quite the worthy acquaintance of ours. He's a famous French author as it goes and he was wondering if we could suggest anyone to introduce him more informally to Meg Giry."

"You mean to say that you are not the beautiful Meg Giry?"

I turned to glance at the man stood in front of me. He was dressed smartly. His short hair was a bronzed brown shade, pushed back from his face. He was quite handsome, with piercing sea green eyes and high cheekbones. A smirk lifted the edges of his lips. He also seemed quite tall, a good foot taller than me at least.

"Well given that I have just been addressed as Mademoiselle Higgins, I would say not."

His smirk grew wider, his eyes shining with humor. "Oh I like you. Most people would have probably just laughed at such an unobservant comment."

I shrugged. "Well I'm not like most people."

"Yes, I can see that." He insisted, his eyes trailing over me.

I blinked, turning back quickly to the managers, who were staring between the two of us with interest.

"Was that all?"

"Oh well given that Christine will be occupied on her break with the Vicomte de Chagny, we was rather hoping that you might introduce him to Miss Giry now?"

My eyes had already fallen to the Vicomte before they had even asked. He seemed to be avoiding my eyes, glancing anywhere but to me and his face seemed a little flushed. I instantly opened my mouth to say something before realizing it wasn't a good idea, especially not in front of the managers. Anything I would say would only be out of anger, out of jealousy at the thought of those two. Wait…jealousy?

"Well there's no hurry presently, gentlemen." Marcel insisted quickly.

I glanced back around to see that Marcel's eyes hadn't seemed to have left mine.

I shrugged. "Well you heard him. I shan't be away from rehearsals for very long anyway."

I turned quickly to escape them before they could argue any further. They couldn't exactly stop me given that everyone else had been given a short break. I was certain they wouldn't have stopped Christine, given that she was spending it with the Vicomte.

I blinked, feeling guilty at my thoughts as I headed out the main entrance. What was wrong with me? I needed to stop thinking in such a way. None of this was Christine's fault.

It wasn't like I was really needed for rehearsals anyway. I didn't have much of a role and it left me feeling a little lost. I headed back after taking a small wonder around the city though, knowing that I couldn't really take too long.

I breathed a weary sigh as I reached the front entrance. The truth was, I was dreading going back to rehearsals. It would require remaining in the Vicomte's presence for another however many hours. Though I doubted that he would try to talk to me, which was one positive. If he wanted to, he would have done so already.

I moved back into the auditorium to find that Marcel was still busy talking to the managers at the front. The Vicomte seemed to have wondered away from them a little and as soon as he saw me, he began to march this way. Oh, well it appears that I might have spoken too soon.

I frowned, glancing around to try to spot another exit from where I was stood, but given that I was in the middle of the stalls, there was not. It would look a little desperate if I moved through the seats just to get away from him. Now I felt really nauseated.

His forehead was creased in concentration as he stopped in front of me. "May I speak with you for a moment?"

"I don't think that's a good idea."

He sighed, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling. "Please, I just wanted to inquire something."

"Whatever it is, it cannot be of much importance."

I peeked behind him to see that everyone had stopped dancing for a moment. Meg and Christine were stood to the side, talking to one another. Meg kept glancing this way though, not looking too pleased. Great, that was all I needed.

I glanced back at the Vicomte to see that he seemed a little flustered as he dropped his gaze, fiddling nervously with his hands. Given how confident he usually was, this caught my interest.

"I actually wanted to discuss the events of the Masquerade with you."

I could feel my face reddening at the reminder and my eyes fell back to the stage to see that Meg was still looking this way. I sighed, glancing back at the Vicomte to see he was patiently waiting for my response.

"Like I said before, I really don't think that's such a good idea." I replied, before making my way around him quickly.

"But what happened that night-"

I instantly turned back to glare at him. Could he say it any louder?

"Nothing happened. You are still engaged to Christine so that makes this conversation as pointless as the events at the Masquerade."

I might not have meant that. But if I could get him to believe that I did then perhaps he would leave me alone.

He blinked, seeming surprised for a moment before he tried again. "Charlotte-"

"Just stay away from me." I forced the words from my mouth, before quickly turning away from him.

I felt wretched to say the least. I knew I was right though. It was obvious that whatever happened was just what it was, a moment of insanity. He was still engaged to Christine. Perhaps if that fell through then-

No, what was I saying! It was only a few days ago I'd swore that this couldn't happen. Perhaps it would pass, if I kept as much of a distance as possible…hopefully.

Marcel turned to glance at me as I exited the aisle, smiling as I headed over to the managers.

"Miss Higgins, we meet again, and what a pleasure it is if I do say so myself."

I gave him a curious look. "I think you are getting a little carried away. I have only just met you."

"Perhaps I am a little; I think it might be your presence that overwhelms me." He teased, making me roll my eyes.

"Well as compliments goes; that sounded more uneasy than it did charming." I teased.

I turned my back to head up to the opera stage, certain the conversation was finished.

"Well perhaps I would be able to company you to supper tonight, see if I can change your mind about that?"

I turned back, pursing my lips for a moment. "Have you not been introduced to the lovely Meg Giry yet?"

He nodded. "I have as it so happens. Christine was polite enough to introduce us when she arrived back from her break."

I nodded. "Well then perhaps you would consider asking for her company to supper instead."

"But I am asking you."

I paused, seeing that he was being serious about this.

I found my eyes automatically fell back towards the Vicomte to see that he was watching us both, a frown slowly appearing.

That was all the encouragement I needed. Whatever he had wanted to talk about couldn't have been of any importance. If it had, he would already have broken off his engagement to Christine. So I needed to stop being silly and realize that nothing was going to happen.

"And what sort of time were you thinking of arranging this supper?"

"Around six, perhaps."

I pursed my lips in thought. "Well you could always make an appearance at six and then if I do not have too much of an eventful night, I might perhaps accept your invitation."

He smirked at that. "Well I might meet you then."

"You just might indeed," I replied just as cryptically.

I turned back quickly. Perhaps if I went out with Marcel then I would grow to like him in the same way. It was worth a try, right?