A/N: I can't believe how fast this year has flown by! This Friday is my last day of school… I'm in shock. Have finals this week and a million things to do, but at the moment I'm taking a break. Thank you everyone who has been reading this and the best parts are yet to come! Thanks Halley for doing an awesome job! Please don't forget to review!

Chapter 4: Wake Me Up

The date had been a complete disaster. Stephanie made a solemn vow to herself that the next time she saw Veronica; she would strangle her to death.

The so-called 'nice' Bernie was far from what her friend described. Oh yes, he was very attentive and charming, but did his hands wander! He would not stop touching her leg and constantly caressing her arm, whispering in her ear and one time bit her lobe!

Outraged and violated, Stephanie ended the date early and cuffed him across the cheek. She would not be treated like some cheap thing. Bernie was no gentleman not like Dan. If Dan were here, he would kick his skinny arse!

Groaning, she fell on her couch as Harper jumped up beside her. "Hey boy," she cooed, scratching his head. "Did you miss me?"

Harper licked her hand and pushed off of her to get some water. Laughing, Stephanie leaned against the sofa and closed her eyes. Why do some men have to be such jerks? Veronica should have known he was a wanderer! Why would she set me up with some guy who probably thought we…?

Realization hit her and she grabbed a nearby pillow to scream into it. "VEE!"

Count on Veronica Bingley to push me to have sex, she thought with disgust. What does she take me for? I'm not that kind of girl.

Giving one last shriek into the pillow, Stephanie tossed it to the side and left the "couch of shame". She dragged her feet into the bedroom and headed right to the bed without changing.

Landing face first into the plump pillow, Stephanie held onto it for dear life as tears streamed down her flushed face. She didn't care that her make-up was runny or that it would leave a stain, she just wanted to have Dan walk through that door and into her life. She wouldn't have to put up with any of Veronica's blind dates or anymore of Loose Hands Bernies. She would have only one man to satisfy her needs.

Rolling on her back, she stared blankly to the ceiling. How did her life end up to be this pathetic? Erik wouldn't be pleased to know that she spent most of her nights crying over Dan, instead of having a carefree and loving man at her side. But she could not help being mopey. From the moment she first saw Dan, she knew he was the ONE for her and losing him was a stab to the heart.

What if there was only one man for her? What if that man was Dan? What would happen now that he's gone? Did that mean she'll spend the rest of her life as a spinster?

"Once alone, found love, and back to being alone," she said. "Was Dan just my one chance for happiness and normalcy? Is that how it works? To give and take away? So those lessons with Erik had nothing special for me? He'll get the girl and the poor lonely future girl gets everything and nothing."

She wiped away the tears and turned to her side. On her nightstand was a photo of her and Erik before he returned to Christine. She was so happy then to have met him and made a difference in his life. He deserved more than she did, but why she couldn't have that?

"Oh Erik," she breathed. "How I wish you were here again. I know you're the only one who would understand my sorrows."

Stephanie's lids drooped until she at last succumbed to sleep.

xxXXxx

Paris, 1898

Dawn was approaching as Etienne rode up to the stables. Eros was in a desperate need of rest, as was the rider, and he deposited the horse to its own stall before the groomsmen and stable boys arrived.

He took long strides to the house, hustling to return to his room for sleep. He took it upon himself to fulfill his wish of the night before in the arms of a woman. She didn't fill the void within his heart, but then again neither did the others before her.

The cheap scent of perfume stung his nostrils, making him choke as punishment for his insatiable lust. Etienne knew the great shame it would bring to his beloved parents so he kept his liaisons to a low-key in secluded parts where he wouldn't be recognizable. The trips were usually far from the city and hardly worth a franc to travel to those lengths, yet Etienne did anyways. However, this time he didn't take the necessary precautions in clothes, and regrettably had to burn what he wore to ensure his secret.

He was thankful enough to not worry about crossing paths with his father, who would be up as of now. Etienne wouldn't be able to get away with any excuse for wearing the same clothes from yesterday with a raunchy stench stained on them.

He proceeded down the corridor opposite of his parents, his pace quickening as the tempting notion of sleep came closer.

Throwing open his door, Etienne shrugged off his long coat, tossing it to the side. His hands went to his throat, untying his cravat, dropping it to his feet, and as he was about to undo the buttons of his shirt, he froze inches away from his bed.

How he didn't notice in the first place, Etienne couldn't figure out why, but he stared at who was lying quite comfortably on top of his bed covers.

A woman, no doubt, with one hand tucked underneath her head, the other lazily sprawled across her stomach. Light auburn curls were spread upon his pillow, framing her oval-shaped fair countenance. An unsettling, revealing gown of ebony clung to her curves, cutting off at the knees, exposing two slender pale legs and shoulders.

Etienne's eyes widened in astonishment, his pulse rocketing. He squeezed his eyes tightly and opened, hoping this was a mirage. Yet the mystery woman was still there, sleeping without a clue that he was present.

No… no… this can't be! Etienne thought, his hand dragging through his dark brown hair. Oh Heaven above, what the devil is going on!

All too soon, she stirred. Yawning loudly, she stretched her arms, her eyes flapping open, blinking away the evidence of sleep.

Etienne kept his stance, gaping intrusively as her two wandering pupils—hazel and emerald—settled on him.

They stared at each other for a few seconds before she screamed.

TBC…