So...as the next chapter of this runs onto this one...I was going to upload them both tonight. Buuuuut I'm feeling mean, especially as this one ends on a little bit of a cliffhanger so I am going to make you all wait until tomorrow night mwahaha. ;) But pwease don't hate me! I promise I shall upload this one tonight, one more chapter tomorrow night, and another one on Thursday night, as I shall not be able to upload another one until Monday because I am at my Sister's for the weekend. :) Thank you so much for those that keep reviewing! It genuinely means so much and gives me so much inspiration for the story.. I promise you that there is still lots more to come though so please keep reviewing. :) Thanks again.

Erik's Guest: I know tut-tut, it's terrible lol! I think that's definitely the plan, although whether it works or not...you shall have to wait to see until the next chapter for all to be revealed mwahaha. ;) It will be worth it though, I think. :) Yes exactly, that's what I was going for. :) Aww glad to hear that. :) Well I hope you enjoy this chapter and thanks again for the fabulous reviewing! :)

Erik's Angel70: Yeah, I tried to keep the story the same, but add in how I think the events might change with added characters such as Charlotte and certain events happening if that makes sense? Sorry! I guess that's what I get for writing my thank you's on the chapter late at night on about four hours sleep lol. Thank again for the review though. Hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

Spaice: Aww I'm glad you've enjoyed it! :) Yeah I'll be honest, I'm really enjoying writing about them and the possibilities of future events hehe. Aww thank you! :) Yeah I tried to imagine the effect another character might have if she was brought into the fold. It's nice to see that that's definitely being appreciated though. :) Thank you for the lovely review though and I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

Confrontation

I explained to Meg and Christine what Marcel Bonneville and I were talking about whilst rehearsing. I knew they had both been watching. I had caught them quickly turning away when I headed back over to them.

"He appeared persuasive, I shall give him that." Christine smiled.

I shrugged in reply, not wanting to make a fuss about it.

"He obviously must be rather interested. He was quite handsome too, I have to say." Meg agreed with a grin.

I raised an eyebrow. "Well that's a little ironic given that the purpose was to introduce the two of you."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, but he was much more interested in finding about you after we spoke."

"Really?" I asked a little warily.

She nodded. "He seemed quite enamored with you actually. I don't know what you said to him when you departed rehearsals, but it must have caught his interest."

"I hardly spoke to him." I scoffed.

"Well then he was obviously captured by your sparkling personality." She giggled.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her. I thought she was getting a little carried away with herself, given that I'd hardly spoken to him. But he did seem polite enough and he was obviously able to handle a joke. I suppose he was quite handsome too, but then I had my reservations. But I also knew that I needed to forget about those.

Nevertheless, Christine and Meg were both insistent that I needed to change straight after rehearsals and they helped me pick something to wear.

"You cannot decline his invitation now that you have already accepted!" Meg insisted avidly when I began to question on whether or not I should still go. "It wouldn't be very polite."

Christine shrugged, offering a weak smile. "She might be correct about that."

I grumbled in complaint instead, accepting the dress from Meg that she had selected for tonight. I supposed they were right but I was feeling dreadfully nervous. I didn't feel as though I would be able to stomach the thought of eating at the moment.

I had to admit the dress was pretty. The top half of the dress was a baby pink shade, with blue crisscross patterns at the front and short sleeves. The skirt was an air force blue shade. It wasn't a particularly formal dress but it was lovely and it seemed rather modern.

Meg helped with my hair. She left it to one side, allowing the ringlets to fall over one shoulder.

"I should probably go." I forced out the words aloud, fighting a frown.

Meg rolled her eyes as she moved me back over to stand in the middle of the dormitories, directly in front of the mirror. Just the place I didn't want to be stood at. I was too nervous to properly glance at myself!

"Well thank you for doing my hair Meg, it looks absolutely lovely." I insisted quickly, my eyes falling from my reflection in the mirror.

I had quite pale skin anyway but it seemed dreadfully so tonight, though Meg had tried to cover that up the best she could so I at least looked a little human.

I thanked her again before moving to leave once again. Their good luck wishes rang in my ears as I said my quick goodbyes before shutting the dormitory door behind me. I was meeting Marcel downstairs so I had assured Meg and Christine that I would be fine walking down the grand staircase on my own.

"I suppose you are on your way to meet Monsieur Bonneville?"

"I thought I told you to stay away from me?" I snapped, trying to sound as annoyed by his sudden presence as possible.

"Well I assumed that was merely said in jest as it often is with you."

Reluctantly, I turned to face him. He was stood by the staircase, watching me curiously, though something in his expression automatically made me press my cardigan around me tighter.

"What do you want Vicomte?"

"Well who says I really want anything?"

I could feel my skin flushing with warmth at the teasing expression he was offering me. I wanted to ask him so many questions. Like why was he saying that in such a…curious manner when he was still engaged to Christine? But it mattered not, for he was obviously just playing some sort of game. Perhaps he was beginning to realize my true feelings and felt the need to mock me.

"Well you are obviously here to ridicule me further. I presume you yourself are on your way to see Christine?"

He flushed a little, dropping his gaze from mine. "I am as it so happens."

"Well don't let me stop you." I snapped, feeling angered once again by that very thought.

"I-well I did come here to meet with you too." He faltered.

I eyed him, seeing how he continued to appear embarrassed as he admitted this.

"Then you should have made an appearance sooner. You already overheard me agreeing to meet with Marcel at six."

He frowned. "I believe the majority of the auditorium overheard your performance earlier on."

"Well clearly you must have been listening too closely, given that both Meg and Christine didn't overhear what was said. And also that wasn't a performance; it was an accepting of an invitation."

"Yes, it must have been convenient for you that I happened to be there." He accused, narrowing his eyes.

"Well it is difficult to escape you the majority of the time given your petty insistence to be involved in every rehearsal. It is not my fault if you did not agree to what you heard."

"Anyone can see that you obviously do not return his affection."

"And what exactly has it got to do with you?" I snapped, crossing my arms together whilst attempting to keep my voice down. The last thing I wanted was for either Meg or Christine to overhear this.

"Well, are you really thinking of allowing Marcel Bonneville of all people, to court you?"

"I don't understand why it is any concern of yours if I do allow him." I scoffed, trying not to become too angry. He was really making it difficult though. "And you didn't seem too concerned when you were talking with him and the managers earlier on."

"That was before he requested your company tonight."

"And I'll say it again. It has nothing to do with you. Are you still engaged to Christine?"

"Yes but-"

"But nothing," I snapped, interrupting him. "You are the last person able to judge me for accepting his invitation, given how naïve you appear to be."

"I feel I have every entitlement to, when we both know that the only reason you agreed is because I am still with Christine."

I could feel my skin growing hotter by the moment at his accusation and the longer I stood here talking about it with him, the more infuriated I was going to become.

"Maybe I simply accepted because he seemed a nice enough gentleman. You, you have no right in questioning who I do or do not see. And I refuse to give you the satisfaction by continuing with this conversation!"

"Yes, they do say the truth hurts." He retorted as I began to walk away.

I turned back to him, taking a few steps forwards. "If you really cannot tolerate the thought of me seeing Marcel, then you should have done something about it sooner. Do not attempt to spoil my evening like some petulant child."

I continued to glare at him once I was finished, waiting for any response that he might have had for that. Because I was truly beginning to feel as though I was right in accusing him of being a coward at the masquerade and whether I wanted to admit it or not, it infuriated me no matter how much I tried not to let it. Why couldn't he just be honest for once?

His cheeks reddened as he stood straighter, obviously attempting to gain his usual confidence back. "Well, it appears that you are determined to meet with Marcel whether I approve of it or not, so I shall not make further judgment. I shall pronounce instead the other reason I wanted to see you tonight."

I sighed. "Which is?"

"Well t-to apologize, for the way I spoke to you the other night." He clarified, stammering again on his words. I presumed he obviously wasn't used to apologizing.

"I wouldn't bother if I were you. Clearly you cannot bear to be honest with yourself and it seems we will just continue to irritate one another so we may as well just stay out of one another's way."

"Please I…well I really would appreciate it, if we could perhaps forget our past transgressions." He insisted, his hand pressing against my arm to stop me walking any further.

I chewed on my bottom lip, keeping my gaze forwards as I continued to blush. Why did my arm feel as though it was somehow burning from his touch? Had it always been like this or had I simply been too angry with him to notice? Whatever the reason, it shook my resistance further as I drew myself away from him slowly, still refusing to look at him.

"Then stop manhandling me for a start. I don't see you treating Christine in such a way. Speaking of which, are you just saying all of this to impress her?"

"No," he said quietly.

I finally forced my gaze to his to see him watching me closely. His expression seemed truthful enough at least. I glanced away again quickly.

"Believe it or not, we have not been seeing much of each other since the masquerade. Besides when I came to meet her for her break today, I have only seen her in rehearsals."

"I'm presuming that that was Christine's choice, not yours."

"Yes but I actually agreed with her. Given her current schedule, I thought it would be more convenient to see less of one another." He confessed, glancing away from me quickly. I didn't believe that for a moment, whether he was lying about the reason or whether he agreed with her.

I shook my head. "Right well I'm presuming that Christine was still the one to suggest it. And I should hate to tell you I told you so, given how many times I have warned you but…but of course I shall not. I can be polite too, though I don't understand the necessity if it is not to please Christine. You have always despised me; the very first day we met, you accused me of being a prostitute."

"No, I did not…alright, I might have a little." He relented, when I raised my eyebrows. "But you appeared out of nowhere, dressed in the most peculiar fashion and you claimed to be from the future. Most people would have thought that you were insane."

"Yes but Christine and Meg didn't. You on the other hand have despised me since I got here and now you wish to suddenly forget everything."

"But I do not despise you. Perhaps I did in the beginning, but I do not anymore." He confessed, gaining my attention again.

He was watching me closely and though I could tell he was being honest with me, something else within his expression caught my interest. His gaze was soft but not as intense as the way he had glanced at me at the masquerade. I dropped my gaze quickly. I wanted to hate him so much. It would have made life a lot easier.

"I understand that you probably think I'm selfish, vain, and arrogant too, though I wish for the chance to prove that I am none of those things-"

"Though I don't understand how, I hate to remind you that you are still engaged to Christine so I don't understand why you would want to."

He glanced towards his hands, fiddling futilely as he replied. "Because I know I've been rather unpleasant, accusing you of things when I have not had any justification to do so. I know I can be unnecessarily cruel at times, particularly to you and I apologize for that."

He obviously really did wish to forget everything. I wanted to groan in annoyance. Why was he choosing to do this now? Why when I needed to attempt to hate him more than ever before?

"Why are you saying all of this now? You seemed to feel quite the opposite at the Masquerade."

"That is why I am apologizing. I still do not agree with what you did but I can understand why you arranged for the Phantom to speak with Christine. It was obviously for her sake." He paused briefly before adding; "I also had quite an unpleasant argument with Christine that night. She told me I had been unnecessarily harsh towards you after I accused you of creating a campaign against me."

"Wait…you told Christine about that?"

"I revealed that we had had an argument and what I said, yes." He clarified.

I shook my head, feeling myself grow annoyed with him once again. I felt it convenient that he had obviously fittingly forgotten to mention the events after the argument. Not that I really wanted Christine to know, not if it would mean hurting her. But it seemed he really was a coward. It also aggravated me that he obviously needed her to tell him how unfair he had been to me.

"Do you not have a mind of you own? Or do you need Christine to think for you?" I retorted angrily.

"No, I already realized I needed to apologize to you. But earlier on, you seemed reluctant to talk and after our…argument at the Masquerade, I thought I should leave it for a while to apologize."

He flushed a little as he mentioned the Masquerade and I chewed on my bottom lip, glancing away quickly from him again as images of that night flooded my brain.

"Look fine okay, I believe you. I appreciate your honesty but I still think we need to keep a distance from one another. But at least we can be civil to one another for Christine's sake."

I glanced back to him, to see what his reaction to that would be.

He nodded, a frown forming again. "Of course, I do understand."

I sighed, knowing that I had to leave. In all honesty, I didn't actually want to now. But I needed to.

"I really need to leave."

His gaze hardened at that. "I wish you wouldn't."

I shot him a look of warning, shaking my head. "Don't start this again."

"Fine, fine, perhaps we should talk about this another time."

"There is nothing to talk about-"

I quickly stopped talking as he stepped forwards, pressing his hands to either side of my arms. I could feeling myself blushing at the feelings his touch caused whilst internally berating myself for it. Why did I continue to feel like this when nothing good was going to come of it?

He was staring at me resolutely, a firm expression shadowing his features.

"I do not want to spoil your evening, so I shall not say anything further. But I shall prove that Marcel Bonneville is not the suitor for you, though he should find himself to be fortunate tonight, given how beautiful you appear."

I froze. His gaze was as intense as the words he had chosen and with one last glimpse over my features and my dress, he turned away to head to the dormitory door.

I was about to ask what his intentions were by such a bold statement, but he had already knocked. It wasn't a conversation I wanted in front of Christine or Meg. But now I was certain he must have been mocking me because if he truly meant that, he wouldn't still be with her.

I stumbled over to the grand staircase, my mind still reeling from his compliment. It didn't seem like a sarcastic comment but why had he said such a thing to me for? I was more unnerved by that then I was by our argument.

He must have realized that I was trying to stay away from him and then he suddenly comes out with something like that. He shouldn't have said anything more said after our argument. I wanted to hate him so much but it was like I didn't have the energy to anymore.