Here is a slightly shorter chapter for those still reading. I hope you enjoy it even though it is shorter and not much happens. It's a sweet, feeling sort of chapter to break up the drama going on. :) Please let me know what you think. Reviews make me happy! :D

The Surprise

The next few days seemed to drag beyond belief and it was utterly frustrating to say the least. I was not very good at being patient and I was excited to find out what surprise Raoul had planned. The weekend was even more torturous because I had had no word from Raoul and I had all the spare time on my hands since auditioning for the ballet in the opera.

Meg seemed to be avoiding me too. Over the last few days, I had not seen her at all which was strange, given that we shared the dormitories. She hadn't even wished me luck for my audition and I was beginning to worry that I had done something wrong. Whenever I woke in the morning, she was always gone from the dormitories.

I had also heard nothing on whether or not Christine had auditioned yet either, which was a little worrying given that rehearsals started on Tuesday morning so hers and Erik's presence would be needed.

Monsieur Khan seemed to be trustworthy enough for now too. He had sat in for the auditions with Marcel Bonneville, along with Madame Giry but I still felt a little wary. Nobody else had bothered to ask around about the Phantom that night. Every audience member had run instead, complaining about the atrocity of the opera and his face.

I arrived back from the market on Monday afternoon to find that the new ballet and chorus girls had finally moved into the dormitories. I was glad that Christine's bed remained untouched though.

I wondered back to the dormitories, frowning when I noticed that the majority of them-including Meg- was stood by my bed, crowding around it and talking excitedly.

"Why are you all crowding around my bed for?" I asked in annoyance, watched as the crowd parted. They gasped at the sudden voice from behind them.

I gasping myself at the large parcel box lay out at the foot of my bed.

"I promise that none of us have looked. I refused to allow anyone to take a peek until you were here." Meg explained quickly, her eyes wide.

I simply nodded, too surprised at the sight of the huge box. I moved forwards, wondering what on earth it could be.

I was more than glad when Meg shooed the other girls away. They all moved back to sit on their beds, the majority of them pretending to read books but I knew that they were still glancing our way.

My hand paused on the sides of the box for a moment. Then, with the slightest hesitance, I removed the top to reveal its contents.

I gasped far too loudly as my eyes and then my fingertips roamed over luxurious silken texture of the dress. It was a metallic shade, folded carefully into the box. The sleeves were shoulder cutoffs, similar to Christine's Don Juan Triumphant dress from the movie but in a lacy pale cream. It contrasted against the vibrant shade of the dress.

"That dress is exquisite!" Meg gasped from besides me, appearing as awed as myself. it was beautiful but with a hint of uniqueness that other gowns didn't offer. I sensed the thought that had been crafted into this dress. And it was just for me, just plain old me.

"Does it have a note attached?"

"I don't think so." I shook my head.

I finally lifted the dress carefully from where it was laid neatly in the box, holding it up in front of me to have a better look at the full length gown.

"Oh that truly is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen!" Meg insisted before glancing around to glare at the other girls when their hushed whispers began to sound around us.

She really was right! There was a mint green wrap separating the top from the full length skirt with a bow at the back of the waist, just below the ties of the dress. The skirt was equally as stunning, with tiny diamonds glistening across the skirt as it caught the light of the dormitories.

"Oh wait, there is a note!" Meg confirmed as she reached out a hand to retrieve the item from the box.

I folded the dress and placed it back into the box carefully before turning to Meg to see what it said.

"When I am near you, your brilliance explodes, and I am blinded with love and pierced with longing. I am cut down to nothing and wait. Come hold me in your strength and dance with me through the caves of our universe…sincerely yours, Raoul. Oh that is so romantic!" Meg practically squealed from beside me.

I wasn't certain on how to react as I stood, feeling my cheeks flush with hot embarrassment as his candid, beautiful declaration. We had already confirmed our feelings but this confession seemed even more sincere. It spoke of his love and longing and it was impossible not to grin at the overwhelming happiness bursting inside of me at his words.

"Who knew that the Vicomte could be quite the romantic poet?" Meg teased, giggling as she said it.

I smiled. "Do you think that this perhaps means that he will accompany me to the ball?"

"Of course it does silly!" Meg scoffed. "There would be no other reason he would have gone to so much trouble. Well besides his obvious love for you of course!" She teased, clapping her hands excitedly.

I laughed at her excitement. It was impossible not to get caught up along with her.