Chapter 3
No matter how hard I tried, Erik was always in my mind. In the middle of pirouetting, I would think of his crystal blue eyes, but usually it ended when I was scolded by Madame Giry or when I fell. Meg began worrying about me after some time. She'd spend about thirty minutes out of the day to ask me if I was okay; which I found very irritating. A week had passed and I still hadn't heard or seen Erik.
That night, I quietly slipped away from the dormitories and found my way to the piano room. When I sat down at the piano and began to play, I felt Erik's dark presence. "You wish to see me?" he said. I turned to see him standing there; which caused me to smile and blush. Quickly I pulled out the pen and paper I brought with me.
Yes. I do wish to see you. How have you been? Erik took the paper and read it. "I have been well." he plainly stated. Erik, do you think you could help me learn to talk again? He read the question. There were a few minutes of silence before he finally said something. "I guess I could, but how would we do it?" Crap!
I shook my head with much stupidity. Erik laughed. "Don't worry. We will find a way, Hazel." I shuttered as he said my name. It wasn't so much as he said it, but how he said it. There was something he was hiding behind his voice and perhaps his mask as well. I didn't think it was a fashion thing going on there. Maybe I should just take it off. Erik was turned from me, so I took my chance.
He flinched and turned towards me as his mask dropped to the floor. His face was disfigured and red and blotchy.
...
I knocked Hazel to the ground. "I TOLD YOU TO NEVER TAKE IT OFF! NOW STARE AT MY DISGUSTING DISFIGURATION!" I yelled and pointed at my face. Filled with rage, I grabbed my mask and put it back on then seized Hazel by the wrist and began taking her down into my lair of night and darkness. We stopped to take a breather. "Hazel, why did you do it?" I asked. She was pale and her green eyes were filled with fear. What have I done?
When she made no notion of even nodding, I touched her shoulder. She shrank back from my hand. "I am so very sorry. How can you ever forgive me?" Hazel looked up at me and smiled. Suddenly, I was being hugged by her. I swore I heard her whisper "I'm sorry.", but how could she have. When we broke apart, she began running ahead of me.
"Hazel!" I called after her playfully. Never once in my adulthood had I felt like a child again. She came out nowhere and scared me to death, but I didn't let it show. I grabbed her around the waist and drew her close to me. "Don't do that again." She nodded. Her eyes were sparkling when mine met hers. Does she love me? "Which way shall we go?" I asked. Hazel pointed back towards the piano room.
...
Erik and I stayed up all night talking (sort of). We talked about the upcoming opera and what one another of us thought about it, the new leading soprano, Maria Tabole, and of music. When Erik said it was time for us to part, I quickly wrapped my arms around him. "I'll miss you too. Don't worry though, I promise we will see each other very soon." he said, kissed my forehead, and left down the passage way. He kissed me! My first real kiss from a man! I sat down at the piano and began playing a lively tune that had been running through my head all night.