I'm so so sorry about the wait! I know it's inexcusable, there were a number of things that prevented me from writing. My boyfriend recently left for the Marine Corps, and I think he took my inspiration to write along with him. Secondly, my mother just remarried, so I had to help with preparations and now we're moving everything into a new house. Third, I transferred universities, so I've been trying to get situated. But I certainly hope this chapter makes up for it! I hope I got all the characters right. Erik and Nadir seemed ok, but I wasn't sure about Madam Giry. Please let me know what you all think-I'd love hear your thoughts!
Chapter 2
"He's what?!"
"Donating blood," Nadir said for the fifth time, now bored. He, Erik, and Antoinette had been eating at the dinner table back at their flat while he explained to Antoinette what had transpired at the hospital.
No, I'm sky diving off the Eiffel Tower. Erik rolled his eyes and poked his steak, not even remotely hungry. He was planning on going back to the music room to compose when they had returned from the hospital, but Antoinette had finished cooking dinner and dragged him to the table.
"Does he even know what the concept of 'donating' means?"
"I'm right here, Antoinette!" Erik slammed his fist down on the table.
"I apologize Erik." She pauses. "So do you know what donating entails?"
Erik's face burned red with anger. "Of course I know what it entails!" he yelled. "They take some blood and give it to some poor soul who needs it!" Stupid woman.
"And then she asked him out for dinner and drinks afterward!" Nadir exclaimed, sounding as though a cure for cancer had been discovered.
"He's going on a date?" Antoinette half whispered.
"Right here!" His words fell on deaf ears.
"Yes, well, she didn't leave much room for debate. He is meeting her at five o'clock tomorrow."
Antoinette clapped her hands together. "Well, that's wonderful Erik! It's about time you socialized with women. Perhaps she'll be the one for you."
"The one to drag me back to the hospital to have my face poked and prodded at! She didn't even see me. She saw the mask and how much money she could make off me."
"Oh, don't be so melodramatic," Nadir chided. "Honestly, I think all of the drama in your operas are going to your head. This woman, for Allah knows what reason, fancies you and wants a date. The least you could do is be civil toward her."
"Yes, I'll be sure to be civil toward her as she sticks a giant, killer needle in my arm," Erik said sarcastically, as he continued to poke and pick apart his steak. "And do you know what else?" He waited until he was sure he had their attention. "All of the donations are anonymous. I won't even know whose life I saved."
"Erik! How much more self-centered can you possibly be?" Antoinette said, exasperated. "Please don't tell me you will go looking for this person in search for some kind of repayment!"
"Lie to me and tell me you wouldn't be the least bit curious to at least know the name of the person your blood went to." Erik pondered for a moment. However, some kind of repayment would be nice. "No, I will not go out and stalk the person. But don't you think it would be nice to receive flowers or a gift basket with a note saying 'Thanks for saving my life'?"
Nadir laughed, but Antoinette glared at him. "Surely you must be joking Erik!"
He continued. "Or maybe have someone do all of your shopping for you, or be a personal driver? Buy drinks after a day at work, box seats at the English Chamber Orchestra, stop a rabid bear from attacking you at the zoo-"
"Erik!"
"You're right, that's not fair-it would probably kill them."
"I really do hope you're joking," Antoinette said seriously.
"Yes, of course I'm joking," he said, exasperated. He stares down at his food, which was still untouched, aside from the stab wounds from his knife. "But you know, of all the years being mistreated by society, being stared at time and again, you would think that someone following me around, ready to cater to my every whim, would be something I deserve." He sighed. "I just feel…like I was pushed and shoved into this whole thing."
"Then don't give blood, stand the poor woman up. It's your life, not mine, nor Nadir's, and we can't tell you how to live. Though I highly doubt a needle will kill you. Just think of the wonderful feeling you'll have when you see a basket of flowers at your front door with the morning paper. Wouldn't that be nice?" With that, Antoinette stood up and began cleaning the dishes. Erik sat back in his chair, feeling like a scolded child.
Nadir followed suit. "I've said my piece. It's your turn to figure out where to go from here."
Erik sat in his Mercedes Coupe in the parking lot of the hospital, contemplating. What do I have to lose? The back corner of his brain asked.
Your dignity for starters. What are you going to do or say if this woman asks if there is some sort of disease on your face? The car was beginning to warm up, as the sun had made its appearance in London after days of never-ending rain. That, or Erik's nerves had caught up with him. He could feel his body shaking and his stomach was in knots.
But I am saving a life, and no matter how you try to put it, it's still a pretty damn good feeling. With that, Erik stepped out of the car and walked into the emergency room.
"Oh! Erik! There you are!" Sophia called over from the main desk. "Glad to see you came back. I thought you weren't going to come back for a moment there."
Erik scratched the back of his neck and felt the blood rush to his cheeks. "Em, yeah, I came back," he said, not sure of a proper reply. Erik took a look around the room. An elderly woman was lying on a bed, attempting to take out her IV, claiming that she had somewhere to be. In another room, a man, whom Erik guessed to be in his mid-thirties was sitting up in his bed, staring at the opposite wall with bruises marring his face, both arms broken. Pieces of his clothes were ripped and missing
"Erik?" Sophia called him out of his trance. "Are you alright? You look a bit lost. Nervous?"
"No," he said plainly and kept his eyes on the young man.
"Car accident," Sophia said, noticing Erik's interest. "He lost his wife," she said gravely. "She was in the passenger seat. Killed instantly when an intoxicated driver came up the wrong lane."
"That's horrible," Erik said, not sure how to handle the situation. He'd never lost anyone close to him, save for his childhood dog, Sasha. He couldn't even fathom losing someone whom he'd planned on sharing the rest of his life with, someone whom he cherished above all else.
Sophia stared between Erik and the young man for another moment before breaking the silence again. "Are you ready to begin then?" Erik nodded. "Alright. Follow me then." Sophia led him down a different set of corridors and attempted to make conversation, but closed her mouth when she saw the grim look Erik was wearing. They walked into a large room, which resembled an atrium, but there were several hospital beds assembled, rather than chairs. Sophia led Erik to a vacant bed and handed him a folder with information.
"Read that through while I set everything up. If you have any questions afterward, I'd be happy to answer them for you."
"Have you read, understood, and completed the health and lifestyle questionnaire?" Erik nodded, feeling the muscles in his arm tense up.
"All the information you've provided is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge?" Erik's throat closed up. He nodded and she pulled out a small needle. "This is just to check for anemia." She cleaned the pad of his finger and pricked it.
"Ow!" Erik jumped back on the bed.
"Believe it or not, that's the most painful part."
"I'll believe it when I see it," he grumbled. She stood up and prepared the needle and tube and attached it to the pint-sized pouch where the blood would be collected. Erik took this time to assess her further. She wore a white blouse with a black sweater vest and black slacks with the customary white lab coat. He took a chance to look at her breasts-small, but not too small. Erik's eyes went back to the floor when Sophia came back and strapped the tube to his wrist.
She handed him a rubber ball. "I'll need you to squeeze this when I stick the needle in-it'll speed up the process." Erik's brow began to sweat. His cheeks were noticeably red. I knew I should have stayed home and worked on the opera. But no-
"Ouch!" Erik looked up from where he lay-Sophia was sliding the needle into the crook of his left arm. There was a small sting, but nothing excruciating. A look of surprise came across Erik's face.
"I told you it wouldn't be so bad," Sophia smiled. "Now just squeeze the ball slowly and you should be done in about five minutes. Let me know if you feel light headed." Erik nodded. He watched the blood flow from his arm, through the tube, and collect into the pouch hooked onto the bed. He waits for the nausea to set in, but it never comes. Instead, a warm feeling takes its place.
Ten minutes later, Sophia carefully removed the needle and tube and Erik looked at his pint of blood with a sense of pride. He almost wanted to take it upstairs and hand deliver it to someone special, as it is the first kind thing to ever come from his heart in a long time.
"So Erik, what do you do exactly?" Sophia asked sweetly after they had been seated at Le Gavroche, a lucrative and much sought after French restaurant by many high end Londoners.
Erik pondered his answer. "I mainly compose music, but I also do some architecture and design on the side."
"That's very fascinating! What sort of music do you compose?" She asked, seeming thoroughly interested. She placed her chin in the palm of her hand and leaned forward slightly.
Erik cast his eyes from his menu to Sophia. She had changed from her blouse and slacks into a magenta v-neck cardigan and very fitted black dress pants, which left little to the imagination. Erik let his eyes wander down slightly before mentally berating himself that no woman could ever love him the way he wanted to be loved, much less want to share a bed and intimacies.
He took a sip of his wine to cool his thoughts. "I compose operas and various classical pieces."
"I've never quite taken a liking to opera. I went on a school trip once to see the Royal Opera House's production of Manon. The story was beautiful, as was the music, but it never 'clicked' with me, I suppose. But it's wonderful that you write music! I love listening to soft piano music," she said enthusiastically. "Do you play many instruments then?"
Erik nodded. "I do, but I much prefer my piano and violin over anything else."
Sophia clapped her hands together. "You should play for me sometime!"
"I don't think I've ever played for anyone before," Erik said more to himself.
"Well, then, a perfect time to start!" Sophia was grinning from ear to ear. A waiter came round to their table and refilled the red wine in each glass and proceeded to take their orders.
"I'll have the lobster salad with mango, please. Erik?"
Erik glanced back at his menu. "The Fricassée de St. Pierre Façon Bouillabaisse." The waiter walked off, but not before looking back at Erik's mask. Sophia must not have noticed, as she picked up the conversation again.
"Yesterday you were saying something about owning a flat in Paris?"
"Yes, I live there when I am not visiting that pesky friend you patched up yesterday."
"Ah, Mr. Khan. How is he? Any better?" she inquired.
"He seemed to be in good spirits as he devoured a steak for dinner last night."
She chuckled. "Hmm, perhaps he passed the stone. That can happen sometimes-the stone is so small that it causes no pain when it is released. So, why did you decide Paris?"
Erik opted not to tell her that Nadir and Antoinette had purchased it for him and the fact that he was born in France. Stay away from topics that bring up the past. "I normally send my compositions to the Paris Opera House and sometimes they want me there to organize productions or galas, especially if some of my work is being performed," he said nonchalantly.
"That must be the most amazing job-to work at the Paris Opera! I've only ever seen pictures. It's a gorgeous building!"
"Yes, Garnier did have a sense of grandeur when it came to architecture."
"Who is that?"
Erik arched his eyebrow. "Garnier? Charles Garnier was the architect who designed the Opera House," he said slowly, his ears astounded that she could not know who built one of the most famous and recognizable pieces of architecture in the world.
Sophia let out a slow "Oh", but had no time to say anything else, as their food had arrived. They ate mostly in silence. Sophia's cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment. The bill arrived and Erik took it deftly from the waiter before Sophia could get to it.
"No, please, Erik, I invited you out. I'll pay." She reached an arm over to take the bill, but Erik caught her wrist and swatted it away. "Please just hand it to me."
"I don't think so." He replied, reaching into his pocket for his credit card. Just as Sophia went into her purse to take out her credit card, Erik pulled a waiter over and handed him the bill.
"Erik!"
"Yes?" He looked at her innocently.
"You are quite insufferable." Her cheeks had gone red again and she wore a look of defeat.
"I do my best."
Erik drove Sophia home, which turned out not to be very far from the hospital. "I like to walk to work," she had said. He pulled up in front of her flat and walked her to the door.
"Would you like to come in for coffee?" She asked with a hopeful smile.
"No, thank you. I must get going."
Her front light turned on and illuminated her face. A beautiful face. No! Curse you for even thinking that she could want you! Besides, you're returning to Paris-there's no time for a woman, even if she did want you.
"Well, I had a wonderful time tonight, thank you. And thank you for the blood donation. You have no idea how much it means to the hospital, and to the person it goes to."
"I think I have an idea." Sophia smiled. She reached up on her toes and kissed Erik softly on the lips. He was stunned. No woman had ever given him a kiss, even his mother! She would never look at you again if she saw under the mask. He had never felt a more blissful sensation. It wasn't a peck. Her soft lips had touched his and lingered for a moment before she pulled away.
"Erik? Are you alright?" Sophia looked up at him with a questioning look.
"Y-yes. Thank you. For a good night. Thank you." She reached up again and kissed him, but she kept her lips on his longer. He heard a faint "goodnight Erik" before she kissed his cheek and went inside. Erik stood still by her door and traced his lips where she had kissed him.
He slowly came out of his shock and began walking to his car. As he climbed into his Mercedes, he chanced a look in her front window. And he sped off into the night.
So, what did you think? I wasn't planning to have the relationship between Erik and Sophia work out-I was actually planning to have the date be a disaster, but it just came out like this.
Le Gavroche is a restaurant in London and the names of the dishes were taken from the official website. And the questions that Sophia asked Erik before donating blood are mandatory questions, and that is how a typical blood donation process works. I recently donated blood for the first time and went off that. And I highly recommend donations! It was such a thrill to do it for the first time and I'm really excited to do it again! Let me know your opinions-I love hearing them!
EdB