Thank you so much to those of you who have reviewed and continued to add this to your favorites. I know I say this every time lol but it genuinely does mean a lot to me. I hope you're all enjoying the story so far. Unfortunately I shall not be able to add any more chapters unti Monday night when I am home from my Sister's. :( But I shall forewarn you the next chapter shall be awesome as it begins with the Phantom's opera. ;) Cannot wait to share that with you guys. But for now, here is the next installment in the story. :) Hope you all enjoy! :)

Grapejuice101: Oh there is still more to come before anything should happen. I do hope that I have made their relationship seem believable given the complications of the story what with Christine technically having been engaged to him. Does that make sense lol? :) I do hope you are enjoying the story too. :)

Twisted Every Way

The performance of the Phantom's opera was only a few days away and despite not having a major role, I couldn't deny that I felt nervous about the whole thing. It was an incredible show, though I always knew it would be. Christine seemed incredibly nervous about the show and increasingly on edge the closer it became.

It didn't help that Christine was as upset as she was lately. She would arrive to rehearsals with puffy eyes and no matter how much she attempted to concentrate on rehearsals, it seemed obvious that her mind was elsewhere. I felt horrendous. I hated seeing Christine so upset and I knew no matter what feelings I had for the Vicomte, I couldn't be with him. She seemed on edge at the moment as it was and the last thing I wanted was to make it any worst. Perhaps I was wrong about the whole situation. Maybe I had mistaken her feelings for the Phantom after all. As if I couldn't feel any worst if it was true.

I attempted to throw myself into rehearsals which were difficult given how minor my role was. But Christine's difficulties at the moment were not the only thing on my mind. The Vicomte's sudden disappearance from rehearsals definitely worried me. I attempted to tell myself that it was just because I wanted to try to fix things between him and Christine but I knew that wasn't the real reason. I cared about him. No matter how much I tried not to. I wondered if he was alright, given his sudden decision about Christine and their relationship.

Christine had been visiting her father's grave a lot recently. The one good thing was that it seemed to be taking her mind off of things a little bit. But instead, she seemed to be becoming more stressed about the Phantom's opera. The last few days before the performance were spend in constant rehearsals. We usually finished late in the evening but Christine had managed to slip away an hour earlier so that she could spend some time with her father again.

Meg and I began to retire to the dormitory after rehearsals when we spotted Christine running up the grand staircase. Her hand was pressed to her skirts so that she didn't trip, her head bowed down. We headed over to her to see that she was fighting back tears.

"Are you alright?" Meg asked in concern.

She shook her head, her sobs overriding her ability to speak as she picked up her skirts and ran from the hallway.

I paused briefly, before sighing. "She'll have probably gone to the chapel."

Meg nodded, frowning in worry. She turned back to the grand staircase before her eyes widened; her face flushing as she stormed away. I turned in confusion, before my own eyes widened and I found myself automatically running to join her side.

"What have you done to cause Christine more upset?"

The Vicomte paused in front of us, frowning at her. "It was the Phantom as usual. He had the nerve to accost her whilst she was at her father's grave, muddling with her mind once more!"

"Oh and you happened to be there too, did you?" She sniped angrily. "I think it's a little too late to continue performing as the devoted fiancé, don't you?"

He flushed in anger but continued anyway. "Actually I was on my way here when I saw the Phantom hijack her carriage. I was worried about her which was why I followed her. She might not be my fiancée anymore but I still care for her."

"It seems convenient that you happened to see that on your travels and yet I'd like to bet you were coming back here to see Charlotte, not Christine."

"Wait a minute-"

"I wanted to make certain Christine was alright after recent events."

"Oh, well how very noble of you, but yet again you've actually caused her more pain by your presence. And yet, you claim to be worthier than the Phantom when the both of you only seem to be able to cause her more distress."

Once she was finished, she quickly turned away before he could comment any further, offering one last glare as she did. I looked back at the Vicomte, who was still staring after Meg in shock, hurt swirling in his gaze at her accusation.

"Well she does have a point."

He glanced back at me quickly, narrowing his eyes. "Yes well thank you for the assistance."

"Why should I get involved? You are the one who ended your relationship with Christine rather suddenly."

He took a step forwards, keeping his gaze locked with mine. "I think you can understand why I thought it was best to do that."

I blinked, quickly moving a few steps back from him.

"Given how quickly you ended things, I do not. But if you care for Christine as you assure us you do, then you should talk to her. Ignore what Meg said, the only reason you are causing her more pain is because of your decision."

He frowned. "Why are you saying all of this? You must realize that I do not love her."

"Yes you do!" I insisted. "You said yourself that you came to the opera house to make sure she was alright. You even followed her to the graveyard because you obviously still love her."

"The only reason I did that was because of the Phantom-"

"Who are you trying to convince?" I sighed.

He pursed his lips. His expression seemed desperate; his eyes were searching my features quickly as he replied. "She was not the only reason I travelled back here today."

"Yes, but she ended up being the priority as usual."

"But that was-"

"What I'm trying to say is that you love her more than you care to admit. It seems that any other feelings you might or might not have do not compare to the ones you have for her."

He shook his head, another frown forming. "You have spent months telling me that I wasn't enough for Christine and now, when I've finally realized that I do not love her in that manner, you have suddenly changed your mind. Is it because you cannot handle the truth?"

I flushed at his words, dropping my gaze as I fiddled with my hands. "B-because I saw how upset she was the other night, she was absolutely distraught! I have not seen her like that before and I cannot bear it."

"You know she will be fine eventually. You were correct about her feelings for the Phantom."

"But how do you know that?" I snapped, reluctantly meeting his eyes again. "What if I was wrong the whole time, what if she really does love you more?"

He shrugged. "It does not change anything. It is better to cease the engagement now than to continue into marriage. And she will be fine; I still believe that she was not truly content with me. But I have told you, she is not the one that I love."

"And I've told you, you're wrong. I don't think you truly know what you want. For months, you have been following her around and despising me. I don't see how the last few weeks have been any different."

He frowned. "You must realize why that they have-"

"Just stop this! Do you not think I feel awful enough for having caused Christine's unhappiness?" I snapped.

"Christine will be fine," he insisted, grasping both of my arms in his hold as I attempted to walk away from him. "She has the opera to focus on and then in time, she will come to apprehend her feelings for the Phantom. But you have to understand why I had to and now that I have-"

I dragged myself away from his hold reluctantly, taking a few more steps back from him. I shook my head. "You cannot be seriously thinking in such a way. Christine is barely managing now. I couldn't endure causing her anymore unhappiness when she is already on edge now."

"Charlotte-"

"You need to leave me and at least think on what I've said. Because you don't seem to have thought this through." I snapped before I began to quickly walk the opposite way before he could stop me again.

I felt as though I wasn't certain on anything anymore. But I felt as though his decision to end his engagement with Christine was too sudden. Perhaps he hadn't thought it through enough yet. And even if he hadn't, as if I could even think about pursuing my feelings when she was having a difficult enough time as it was.

I headed towards the chapel, where Meg and Christine were both sat on the floor. I sighed at the sight of her crying into Meg's shoulder. This was why I felt so horrendous about everything. Because no matter I had first believed, she must have felt something for the Vicomte to be this distraught about it.