WOW, I haven't updated this in a while. It's mostly been rotting away. D:
oo0o0oo
"Tori? Tori! What's the matter?"
Tori turned around quickly to face Meg, her face flushed from anger and from running so far. "Meg!" she hissed. "They were starting to suspect something! I can't let that happen!"
Meg blinked and backed up a little bit, surprised at her outburst. "But that was no reason to leave so abruptly. You're not-"
"I know, I know! I simply..." She covered her face with her hands, taking in a deep breath before answering shakily. "...needed to get out of there."
There was a long silence, during which Meg stared at Tori in confusion. Was she leaving because the ballet rats were starting to make connections that they shouldn't, or did she leave because it was actually true? Or both? Either way, the pieces didn't quite fit in her mind as neatly as they should. Sure, the Opera Ghost was gone and Tori was married around the same time, but that was no reason to jump to conclusions.
Was it?
Tori turned and kept up her brisk pace towards the stage.
Meg sighed in exasperation, chasing after her for more answers. "Tori! Tori, come back, please!"
---------------------
The entire rehearsal was spent in near silence, save for the singing, orchestra, and fast-paced shuffle of feet across the wood of the stage floor. Tori was in a generally sour mood for reasons the ballet rats couldn't place, but some of them started to make snide comments on her based on the evidence they had. All the while she ignored their whispers and didn't make eye contact with their hungry eyes, but instead focused on her dancing and singing, which was slowly starting to decline out of pure stress.
When the rehearsal ended, she met up with four people to discuss her situation and her mood.
The first two were the managers.
"So we heard you were married recently, Madamoiselle Tori," Firmin gushed, smiling in a friendly way that somehow came across as hostile to Tori.
"Yes, sirs. What of it?"
Andre shifted through some papers, no doubt her application here, before setting them down and nodding cheerfully. "Yes, well...do you wish to continue here or do you wish to find work somewhere else? You're one of our prized singers, you know."
She nodded slowly. "Indeed, I wish to stay."
"How far do you live?"
"Not too far away to be a problem, but a considerable distance nonetheless."
"Perfect!"
The next was with Madame Giry. She was curious as to what had become of the ghost after Tori had gotten married, and she had her ways of finding out everything about what was between her and him.
"Tori."
She stopped mid-step to the changing rooms, turning to face her elder. "Yes, Madame?"
The ballet mistress tapped her cane nervously. "I would like to know what has become of Erik. You and him..." She bent down close to Tori, whispering so that the passing cast members would not overhear and spread gossip about them.
"Is he your new spouse, Tori?"
She blinked quickly, whispering her answer as well. "Yes. Just the other day."
Madame Giry leaned back and smiled comfortingly. "Well done. Good luck to your new life."
The last was Raoul, a person she had begged and pleaded God that morning that she would not see that day, or for a long, long time.
She was about to leave the Opera House for the carriage outside when he caught up with her.
"Tori, good day to you!"
Tori exhaled slowly. "Yes, good day to you too, Raoul," she said quietly and bitterly.
"What's this? Married, I hear?" He smiled painfully. "Good luck with him!"
She nodded slowly; he was being unusually acceptive of her descision, despite his claim over the last few months that he really did love her. He was sweet, yes, and had indeed slipped once, but she didn't want him to bother her anymore, politely or not. "Thank you, Raoul. I'll be sure."
She flagged down a taxi, got into it, and left before Raoul had the chance to ask his question.
Damn...I must ask her tomorrow, then...
