Chapter 3

A/N: I had a brain blast when I was finishing my homework. (It was messy! LOL!) Here is the next installment of my story,

Dreams and Realities.

Disclaimer: See first chapter

It was hard not to laugh when she did fall, but I held my laughter in because this was not a funny moment. Panic ensued and I played the role rather well if I do say so myself. When I get out of this alternate reality, I thought, I think I am going to try out for the drama club. I heard Meg say softly

"He's here; it's the Phantom of the Opera." I smiled for a second but then put on an intrigued face looking up into the rafters for the Phantom. I looked up as one of the managers yelled up. "Buquet! For God's sake, man, what's going on there?" Buquet's voice came from up in the rafters.

"Please, monsieur,don't look at me. As God's my judge,I was not at my post. Please, monsieur, there's no one there. Or if there is, well then, it must be a ghost..." You could hear the wicked smile in his voice. Joseph Buquet was such a slimy worm of a man. I'm glad he gets hung in the movie. Now, I thought to myself again (I seem to be doing this a lot, no?) where are we? Ah yes. Carlotta's diva fit and exit.

"Signora," Andre said, "These things do happen." Carlotta looked furious.

"For the past three years, these things do happen. And did you stop them from happening? NO!" She then turned on the new managers.

"And you two, you're as bad as him. 'These things do happen.'" She mocked them evilly "until these things stop happening, this thing does not happen. Ubaldo! Andiamo! Bring my doggy, and my boxy!" As she walked away, Piangi said,

"Amateurs." He was as bad as Carlotta. I'm glad he gets it in the end too. You could still hear Carlotta ranting as she left,

"Now you see. Bye bye I'm leaving!" The lump in my stomach grew heavier as I realized my time was coming closer to having to sing. I could refuse, I thought, but that would throw off the story and if I ever wanted to wake up I better live the whole dream out. Monsieur Lefevre bid goodbye to Andre and Firmin and walked off. The two new managers began to panic. They didn't have their star and there was no understudy. Then Mme Giry walked up with the letter from the Phantom welcoming them to his opera house, requesting that they leave Box 5 empty for his use and that his salary was due. Firmin ripped up the note in rage.

"A FULL house, Andre!" He said huskily "We shall have to refund a FULL HOUSE!" Oh no here comes Mme Giry's line.

"Serena Daae could sing it." She said. I cringed. I was hoping this wasn't going to happen. Andre looked at me and said,

"A chorus girl? Don't be silly?" However Mme Giry was insistent.

"She's been taking lessons from a great teacher." Andre looked at me incredulously and asked

"Who?" I swallowed the lump in my throat and replied softly and timidly

"I don't know his name, monsieur." Mme Giry gently put her hand on my shoulder and guided me to the front of the stage.

"Let her sing for you monsieur. She has been well taught." She squeezed my shoulder in a motherly way as if to encourage me. I couldn't do this! I will sound horrible and everyone will laugh at me. Suddenly I was engulfed in the same warm feeling that I had felt right before I could dance. It was strange but it gave me a little more confidence in what I was doing. I was directed to sing from the aria and the music began. I heard Firmin tell Andre that this was doing nothing for his nerves. I opened my mouth and I couldn't believe what came out.

End Chapter 3

I couldn't resist a cliffhanger! Constructive criticism and compliments please.