Blonde Angel
Part 8
Meg looked into his eyes, trying to wrap her mind around what he just said. His fingers were still under his chin, it's not like she dared to move or look away. But she had listened, and she was sure she heard right. The Phantom of the Opera wished that she'd kiss him. What a strange thing to ask for, she thought. Meg was young and did not have much experience there. She supposed it wasn't much to ask, it was just a kiss, but a kiss could also be something very personal and intimate. And he wished she'd do it. Meg knew by now, that the Phantom thought much about everything he did and said. He would not ask for this, if there wasn't a meaning to it.
"I will do it, then." She said. But oh he was so tall, she thought again. She reached a hand up to his neck, as she moved closer to him too. He helped, bending down to her, and then their lips met. It was a short kiss, but it was there. Meg could feel her heart beating fast while it happened, and she felt as if she blushed all over. But soon the kiss ended and she pulled back, taking a step back too.
"Thank you." The Phantom said, looking at her as if he could not quite understand what just happened. She gave him a small shy smile, but when she wanted to respond and say something, he turned away from her and back into his boat. He gave her a nod, and then he sailed away. As always, Meg did not begin the journey upwards before she could not see him anymore. And it felt like her lips were tingling all the way.
Meanwhile, Eric sailed back to his lair. He was quiet all the way. The sound of the water around the boat was quiet, and he had not let the gates down after they sailed out. He reached his own lair and landed the boat, stepped onto the shore there. And then he just stood there a little. Staring at a lit candle on a table, before he moved further in. Eric took off his cape, and his gloves, put them on a chair. He reached a hand up to touch his lips. It was as if he could still feel her lips on his. So that was what a kiss felt like. He walked over and sat down on the stool by the organ, and then his fingers touched his lips again.
Meg Giry had kissed him; she had done it willingly and sweetly. It gave him hope. He sighed and felt something wet on his cheek… a tear. Eric wiped it away and then turned to face the organ, placing his fingers on the keys again. Enough of that. He had to finish this, and hopefully it would be enough to convince Christine of his love, so that she would kiss him too. Meg Giry was sweet. But what he longed for was Christine.
Meg went straight to bed once she returned, it was late and it had been a very eventful evening – almost too eventful. She dreamt of singing for him, and then she dreamt of the kiss. When she woke the next morning to have a short meal and then go to practice and rehearse with the rest of the girls, her mother looked at her strangely. Then took her hand and led her a bit away from the other girls. Meg felt a bit uncertain suddenly – had her mother found out what she was doing? That she was sneaking away to see none other than the Phantom of the Opera?
"You came to bed very late last night Meg. The other girls told me." Madame Giry said and Meg looked down at her feet, nicely assembled there on the ground.
"It doesn't mean I'm tired though. I'm fine for rehearsals." Meg replied, hoping to get her mother to think of something else than her not being in bed at the right time. But Madame Giry gave her a strict look. Sometimes Meg wasn't sure if she liked that her mother was at the same time her teacher.
"You always are. But I would like to know where you sneak off to at night. This isn't the first time." Her mother then said and Meg felt worse and worse. She folded her fingers together, while she tried to come up with an answer. Luckily she didn't have to, for right at that moment there was a scream from where the rest of the girls were preparing to rehearse, and her mother had to go and see what it was. A piece of scenery had fallen from above and landed on a girl's ankle, it was broken. Meg looked upwards and smiled silently, everyone knew who did such things.
Meg made sure to try and not be noticed the rest of the day, and went to bed at the right time that night. Tomorrow night she'd see the Phantom again, as planned. After all, he had two requests to her last night. One was that she should return two days later with food for him. And the other was the kiss. Meg was barely able to sleep once she remembered it, and she wondered if he would give her another. Maybe if she thanked him for interrupting, when her mother had begun asking questions, he would grant her with another? Meg had not yet begun to think about what kisses could lead to.