Chapter 3 "Rumors"
Lizzie awoke from the bright sunlight beaming through her bedroom window. She stretched then pulled the covers off of her. She quickly recalled the events of last night and smiled. She had met the Phantom. But he was not like she expected him to be. He was almost content. So wrapped up in music and in thought that he seemed to pay no attention to the world around him. He was so different from the nightmare her father had explained to her.
A quick knock came to her door and Lizzie pulled a beautiful silk robe around her and called:
"Come in" Raoul emerged from the doorway.
"Oh my Lizzie. Your head."
"Dose it look worse?" she asked with concern
"I'm afraid so dear. Now how did this injury come about?"
"I told you last night papa."
"No you excused yourself to bed, before I had a chance to ask." She looked deep into his eyes. She knew she could not tell him about the Phantom. If Raoul knew he was still alive he would never let her return to the Opera house.
"Well I was walking down the hall of the Opera and I tripped." She said with a smile. 'Please let him believe me.' She thought to herself.
A slight grin transpired on to his face, and he sighed.
"Alright, well get dressed and come down to breakfast. Fredrick is here, he wanted to make sure you were okay." He said as he headed towards the door.
"Alright, I'll be down in a moment."
"I'll send Clara in to help you." Lizzie nodded as her father exited. A few seconds later a young dark haired maid entered.
"Well what would you like to wear today Miss?"
"Anything is fine." Lizzie said walking over to the window.
"How about this one. I've always loved it." Lizzie turned and saw Clara holding a ivory dress, with a large pink ribbon tied in the middle.
"Perfect." Lizzie and Clara walked behind the dressing wall. Clara helped her with her corset, under garments, and dress. When they were done Lizzie sat down at the vanity as Clara pulled her hair into a loose bun.
"Thank You." Lizzie said as the two exited.
"No problem Miss." They smiled at each other then went there separate directions. Lizzie down the stairs to the dining room and Clara across the hall to the study.
"Oh darling you look lovely." Fredrick said as Lizzie came down the stairs.
"Thank You Fredrick, but don't even pretend the bruise is not noticeable." She said teasingly to him.
"My dear you look beautiful no matter what scratches you have." A blush rose to her cheeks, as they locked arms and walked towards the dining room. Raoul came in after them and sat at his normal seat, Lizzie to his left and Fredrick next to her. The two men discussed subjects such as politics, foreign affairs, and the rebuilding of the Music Academy. Lizzie simply listened, not contributing to the discussion simply keeping her opinions to herself.
Once everyone was finished, Lizzie and Fredrick stood from the table. She walked him to the door.
"Lizzie?"
"Yes Fredrick."
"Would you accompany me to dinner, tomorrow night?"
"I would be happy to."
"Grand. Good bye Love."
"Good bye Fredrick." Lizzie closed the door behind him and found her father standing in the doorway watching her. His expression looked almost sad but she wasn't quite sure.
"Papa what is it?"
"Lizzie dear, I can't help but think you don't love him."
"Well Papa I am being forced to marry."
"But I thought you loved him Lizzie."
"I am quite fond of him. Now please let's not talk of this any longer."
"Alright fine. What do you want to do today."
"I was hoping we could visit the Opera." Raoul was puzzled by her words.
"Why this new obsession with the Opera?"
"I find it a beautiful, peaceful place. I just love everything about it."
"I guess that's a little bit of your mother in you." Raoul said as his smile faded. "You may go, but I'm sorry I will not be able to escort you."
"It's fine, I'll be alright." Lizzie said as she smiled, this caused Raoul's smile to return once again.
XXXX
Lizzie sat in the carriage fiddling with the hem of her dress, as she often did when she was bored. The carriage seemed to move incredibly slow. She thought back to the Opera Ghost and wondered 'Doesn't he have a name? Perhaps I shall ask him.'
She leaned towards the window, to catch a better glimpse of the busy city. As people saw her face they turned to another and whispered something. Lizzie ignored it, there were to many other things to think about. Such as all the young men looking to her and smiling. Lizzie smiled back as sweetly as she could, as she always did.
They turned a corner, and there it was right in front of her the Opera Populaire. The carriage stopped right in front of the large double doors. She climbed out of the carriage, with the help of their footmen Charles.
"Thank You" she said as her feet touched the ground. He nodded in return. She walked up the stone steps and into the golden doors. The clean aroma filled her senses, and she sighed.
She walked up the beautiful marble stairs and went down the hall. She walked to box 5 and stepped inside. She remembered a passage in one of these walls. She remembered it being on the left side just as you come in. She examined the wall, and found an small line descending from the ceiling to the floor. Normally it would be invisible, unless you were looking for it. 'How am I suppose to get this open?' she thought once she realized there was no handle. She could only one thing to do… she pushed her whole body against the wall, and after a few moments the door opened. She walked through the opening reluctantly. Darkness flooded her vision, so she stretched out her arms to feel where the walls were. She stumbled over her dress many times before her eyes finally adjusted to the dark.
Erik was writing a song on his organ, as he usually was, when he heard someone walking. His head shot up to see Lizzie wandering out of the passage he had shown her the previous night. The bottom of her dress was slightly dirty and the dirt and grim should up very evidently on the white gown.
"Oh Monsieur Phantom you are quite a hard man to reach." she said walking over to him.
"Please call me Erik." Lizzie smiled. "Now may I ask what you are doing here?"
" I came to see you and I was wondering, could you possibly give me some singing lessons? Don't worry you will be paid. . .somehow."
"What makes you think I can." He answered coldly.
"Because I have heard rumors about that Don Juan Opera, people say you sing like an Angel."
"Oh?" He said still not that interested.
"Yes and because. . . You taught my mother." Erik stopped scribbling down the cord, that he had just put together, and looked up at her. She was staring at the ground and a slight blush had crept to her cheeks. He sighed and said:
"Alright. . . But I do not wish to be paid." She immediately looked up at him, her face full of joy.
"Thank You Erik. You don't know how much this means to me." However Erik did not pay any attention to her gratitude, he was lost in his thoughts 'You fool! Why did you agree to that? Don't you remember what happened last time? But This Isn't Christine!' He argued back.
Lizzie must have noticed his turmoil because she placed a hand on his shoulder and asked:
"Erik are you alright?" He seemed startled by her concern and said:
"What? Oh. . .err. . .Yes. Shall we get started?"
"We shall." She stood next to him by the piano.
"Start at a low E and go up the scale." She nodded then followed the piano up the scale to a high C. Erik was amazed at how pure the higher notes sounded. Just like her mother. He cursed himself for thinking about her again.
"You have a lovely voice Lizzie."
"Thank You."
"Lizzie?"
"hhhmm?'
"There are a few rumors about you--"
"What are they saying now?" She interrupted, her voice sounding a little annoyed.
"Well. . .that you and Monsieur Heaton are," He cleared his throat and then continued. "are expecting. Do you understand what I am saying?" Her face was in utter shock. "Forgive me for asking but is it true?"
"Oh God No. Fredrick and I have never done anything indecent."
"I am sorry for asking."
"No, no it's only human nature to wonder I guess." He nodded then tried to get off the awkward subject by saying:
"Lets continue,"
"Yes, alright."
"Try the scale again." Lizzie went up the scale but only made it into a few notes before he stopped and said:
"No, use your diaphragm more. You should feel the sound from here." He said gently touching just over her belly button. She smiled at him, a little uncomfortably and he quickly moved his hand.
"Okay."
"Alright try again." She got a little farther this time but he stopped her again.
"Stand straight, hold your chin up." He said firmly but not mean. She did as he said and then went up the scale… again. She finally made it and he said:
"Alright would you like to start on a song?"
"Yes that would be great." He grabbed a sheet of music from a folder next to him.
Thanks for the spectacular reviews!
I don't like this chapter all that much. . .but tell me what you think.
Tata for now,
AOM24
Rumors
By: Lindsay Lohan
Saturday, stepping into the club
The music makes me wanna tell the DJ, turn it up
I feel the energy all around
And my body can't stop moving to the sound
But I can tell that you're watching me
And you're probably gonna write what you didn't see
Well, I just need a little space to breathe
Can you please respect my privacy
Why can't you just let me do
The things I wanna do
I just wanna be me
I don't understand
Why would you wanna bring me down
I'm only having fun
I'm gonna live my life (but not the way you want me to)
chorus
I'm tired of rumors starting
I'm sick of being followed
I'm tired of people lying
Saying what they want about me
Why can't they back up off me
Why can't they let me live
I'm gonna do it my way
Take this for just what it is
Here we are, back up in the club
People taking pictures
Don't you think they get enough
I just wanna be all over the floor
And throw my hands up in the air to a beat like (what)
I've gotta say respectfully
I would love it if you would take the cameras off of me
Cause I just want a little room to breathe
Can you please respect my privacy
Why can't you just let me do
The things I wanna do
I just wanna be me
I don't understand why
Would you wanna bring me down
I'm only having fun
I'm gonna live my life (but not the way you want me to)
chorus
I'm tired of rumors starting
I'm sick of being followed
I'm tired of people lying
Saying what they want about me
Why can't they back up off me
Why can't they let me live
I'm gonna do it my way
Take this for just what it is
I just need to free my mind (my mind)
Just wanna dance and have a good time (good time)
I'm tired of rumors (rumors)
Followed (followed, followed, followed, followed, followed)
What they want of me
Why can't they (they, they, they, they, they) let me live
Take this for just what it is
chorus
I'm tired of rumors starting
I'm sick of being followed
I'm tired of people lying
Saying what they want about me
Why can't they back up off me
Why can't they let me live
I'm gonna do it my way
Take this for just what it is
I'm tired of rumors starting
I'm sick of being followed
I'm tired of people lying
Saying what they want about me
Why can't they back up off me
Why can't they let me live
I'm gonna do it my way
Take this for just what it is