Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom of the Opera or any of its songs, script, etc.

Showstopper

Chapter 2 – In the Flesh

The next day, as I expected, even more people knew about the cast list. I was sitting at a table in the courtyard surrounded by my entourage, with my latest girlfriend hanging on my shoulder. I can't keep names straight, and all I ask for is that they can give a decent make-out session.

"So are we gonna go out later?" she asked, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"I can't, we're starting practice today," I replied, brushing her off and standing up.

She gave me a fake pout. "You never have time for me."

I shrugged. "I'm a busy guy, sweetheart."

X-X-X-X-X

After school, I headed back down to the auditorium. I knew I was almost ten minutes late, but I also knew the show couldn't start without me.

I tossed my bag on the floor and walked on the stage with my arms spread wide, accepting silent applause and acting like the star I was.

A woman who was talking with Mr. Marshall spun around. "Ah, here he is!"

I turned on the charm and flashed her a smile. "In the flesh."

Mr. Marshall gave me a stern look. "You're late."

"Never mind, never mind," the woman said quickly. "Now, Andrew, don't you think it will be terribly difficult to perform something as well-known and complicated as Phantom of the Opera in a high school?"

I shrugged. "We've got a pretty good cast this year, so I don't think it will be too much of a problem."

She nodded, jotting stuff down. "Confident in cast abilities… speaking of cast, what's your opinion of Elise Garnierai in the role of Christine?"

The question threw me. I remembered Elise from Godspell last year; she was in the orchestra. I'd been trying to catch her eye, but I wasn't sure if she was quite into it. However, I did like her rebel side.

I smiled at the reporter. "It'll be very interesting to work with her."

She flashed her own toothy smile, though not nearly as charming. "I'm sure it will be."

Mr. Marshall cut in on the conversation. "I'm sorry Ms. Roberts, but that's all the time Andrew has. You see, I make it a priority that the entire cast helps with set construction, and we have a lot to do."

The woman looked slightly put-out, but she recognized defeat. I turned to the director as she strode stiffly through the door.

"Where are we starting?"

"Over here, Andrew!"

Alyson tossed me a paintbrush from where she knelt offstage.

"What's that supposed to be?" I indicated the waist-high box on wheels that she was screwing together.

"It's going to be Jeff and Nick's desk."

I gave her a nonplussed look and she sighed in frustration.

"Is Andre and Firmin more familiar to you?"

I grinned. "I'm just kidding. Let's get to work."

X-X-X-X-X

Two hours later, the rest of the cast had shown up and we had completed two of the backdrops. The tech crew were finishing up one of the paper-mache "boxes", (which I guessed would be put up on either side of the stage) and everyone else was packing up to leave.

I glanced in Elise's direction as she pulled her jacket on and walked out the door. She wasn't looking at me, but talking with a bunch of other girls who were in the chorus. I sighed. I'd have to set her straight at the next practice – if she was going to play a lead, she'd have to start focusing on better people than the ballet rats.

I went back to the dressing room to get some paper-mache glue off my face, thinking aloud.

"She'll come around eventually, everyone does…"

"Andrew…"

I stepped out of the dressing room. "Yeah? Who's there?"

A few lights were still on here and there, but the seats were empty. I gave it up and went back to scrubbing the paste. I leaned toward the mirror, making sure everything looked immaculate once again, and nearly tripped on a random two-by-four leaning against the wall when I heard the voice again.

"Andrew…"

I set the two-by-four back against the wall and ran out to the center of the stage. You can see everything from there, but once again I found the place deserted.

"Whoever you are, you'd better get out here and talk to me. I can't wait around all night!"

The voice laughed, and I turned to see a man wearing all black standing upstage right, watching me from the curtains.

"You certainly possess the arrogance necessary."

I raised an eyebrow and considered his outfit, though not nearly as frightened as I should have been.

A little too emo/Goth, but I'm digging the cape…

He was turned away from me, examining the still-wet backdrops.

I started toward him. "Who are you to say something like that?"

He glanced at me, smirking, and continued: "Fearless… although that could also be considered stupidity…"

Okay, now he was making me mad.

"What, are you a psychologist and I'm suddenly nonexistent?"

He turned on me so fast I didn't have time to move. I also didn't have time to breathe, because the idiot had put me in a noose.

"Y'know how I first thought you were a psychologist?" I gasped, tugging on the rope. "Now I think you're just psycho."

He tightened the noose a little and slapped me.

"Silence, boy."

But I started to laugh.

"You think you can come in here and scare me by dressing up as the Phantom of the Opera? Are you kidding me?"

He smirked again and spread his arms, echoing me mockingly.

"In the flesh."

I scoffed. "This is way too weird to be real."

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A/N: Ohhh, I'm gonna have fun with this, I can tell you that right now. I can also tell you that the 2x4 thing was a reference to tearing down the Godspell set. (Anyone from school would remember it.) Good times. Also: my friend Josie and I are going to start alternating writing the chapters from here on out, she didn't want to miss the fun, and I didn't see a reason to exclude her. We're still working on plot details, etc., so bear with us if you're reading it. :)

--Ash

Phantomfreak07