Chapter 17

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Well the story continues….

Faye POV

I got out of the hotel and onto the streets and then out if the blue I see into a familiar face. I was traveling home.

He sees me too. And comes over and bows to me, like any respectable gentleman would do. I curtsey like an honorable woman.

"Destrey! How are you?" I exclaim, trying not to act nervous. He even looked more handsome in the daylight! Oh how I hoped I looked alright. I then see another man behind him and I know exactly who he is.

Oh shit.

"Charles! What are you doing here?" I ask apprehensively. Please oh God, let him no be angry!

"You're coming home." He clearly states, in a monotone manner. Oh no.

"That's what I was planning." I answer in the exact same tone of voice. Keep calm.

"Where was he?" questioned Charles. Don't beat around the bush do you, Charles?

"He's gone Charles, gone." his eyes widened as I spoke with such intensity, that I have concealed my truths and hid them away. To hell what happened, for it is all forgotten!

"Gone." he repeated. He looked relived. Perhaps happy?

"Who are you talking about?" Asked Destrey, absolutely confused, having no idea what we were talking about.

"A strange man who took Faye away from me." Charles said and gave no further explanation. Destrey looked over at me, in a scared expression and glanced back at Charles.

"You are never to leave my sight again." said Charles commandingly. Hell yes I am. I'm done with men telling me what to do and making me feel like a little naïve child. But before I could say anything I was interrupted…

"She can take care of herself." Said Destrey. There was a silence between us three. No one moved or made eye contact.

I began to like Destrey even more than last time. Oh and those eyes…oh God those eyes. Sorry…I just got rejected by the man I loved and now I'm looking at another guy already? What the hell was wrong with me?

Charles didn't say anything. Which made me nervous. I didn't want to be with him on the long carriage ride home, all by myself.

After that long pause Charles said

"Come on Faye, we are going home."

"Could Destrey come as well?" I turned to him. For he was my only hope now.

"I would feel better about it." I turned back to Charles.

"How do you know this man?" Charles asked.

"We-" I began. How was I supposed to go about this without mentioning him? He who started it all.

"We met a while ago. I bumped into her as I was leaving Paris for a time." Destrey answered for me.

"Yes," I agreed with a relieved smile plastered on my face.

"We never got to talk long you see I was required to go outside of Paris for a while. I told her that I would hope to see her again so we would be better acquainted."

Wow. He's good. I thought. He didn't mention him.

"Well, then it is decided." Said Charles, in a change of heart. "Come back with us Monsieur Destrey and tell me about yourself."

Charles winked at me. Oh good Lord. Now he was going to have fun with me. Well, it was nice he was back to his old self. His brotherly self.

It took us five days to get back to Paris, in which in that time I become more acquainted with Destrey. Keeping the phantom a secret between Charles and me. Because we could have been killed for hiding a murderer.

Charles went out for a while leaving Destrey and I alone in the dining area one night at the inn.

"So why exactly did you leave Charles?" asked Destrey.

"Well…I think it was the need to see a place outside Paris… I just needed that sense of adventure." I left it at that. I wasn't going to tell about him.

"I see. I was like you. I went searching for the Opera Ghost and that was my first time out of Paris." He answered.

"Did you work at the Opera Populiare? " I asked even though I knew the answer. . What was it like? Was it everything you ever dreamed of being? Did you like it there? Was it home?

"Yes, I do. As one of the stage hands..." he shifted in his seat.

"Weren't one of the main stage hands murdered? " I ask innocently, for I had heard rumors.

Destrey nodded. And let it be at that.

"Who was the best singer there in your opinion?" trying to get him to talk about himself.

"Christine Daae. For sure." but his expression didn't change. Almost cautious.

"I heard something happened to her." I said innocently.

"She was abducted by the Opera Ghost. But she got out unharmed and her fiancé married her shortly afterwards. We never found the opera ghost though… if you wanted to know. We think he committed suicide." He said flatly. He was lying. He had no freaking idea what happened to him.

"Who sang before Christine Daae?" I asked trying to keep the conversation light as possible now.

"La Carlotta. She was horrid. Nobody could stand her." He laughed. His laugh was contagious and true, I had to laugh with him.

"Why?" I giggle.

"She was a diva and she got hers. The opera ghost put something in …and she began to croak like a frog, it was hysterical."

Then he did a demonstration of her singing and croaking. It was funny and I couldn't stop and we laughed. I haven't laughed in a long while and that just struck me funny or maybe we were overtired, I'll never know. My stomach hurt from laughing so much. Tears were coming, happy tears. I smile and see Destrey smiling at me.

"Did you ever see the opera ghost?" I ask.

"Actually, yes." He replied.

"Could you tell me the story?" I ask playfully.

"Why, of course!" He responded in the same manner and stood up for the table and took my hand and lead me to the couch were I lead my head upon his shoulder and he told me of his encounter with OG.

He started off with "It was just when I began working at the Opera, which was two years ago…and I was trying to get one of the curtains to work, not knowing that the ropes were stuck, and pulling it makes it worse. Then I felt something and I looked up, it was a masked man!"

The masked man said to me, "You know you will never make the curtain to work if you just keep pulling it?"

He showed me the right way to pull the curtain and how to try to get it unstuck. Once I had gotten the motion down and mastered it. I thanked him and he nodded. And then he said.

"If you know any better, I wasn't here, this is now your home and you are the black shadows. You may not ever be recognized by the audience because you don't appear on stage but remember everyone will eventually get their spotlight."

"I know wasn't some huge epic story. But it was kinda strange for me because when I had found out I had seen the Phantom of the Opera, well it was kind of scary for me."

"I understand." And boy, did I understand.

"How long has Charles been gone?" he asked, forgetting the time.

"A couple of hours." I simply reply. I didn't care how long he was gone all I knew in those few hours I had been my happiest in a real long time.

"Oh. He should be here any moment now." He suggested.

"I know, he never likes to have me be alone." I rep

"You're not alone Faye."

I turn my head and I look at Destrey and he had a kind smile on his gorgeous face.

"Faye I would love to get to know you even more, I like you... a lot"

"I do too". I replied vaguely.

I almost fell asleep on the couch, on his shoulder and he must've noticed my quiet demeanor and asked me

"Are you tired?"

"Mmmhhh." I mumble which was a clear yes.

"You should go to bed."

"I should. But I'm too tired to stand, carry me will you Destrey? I don't want to make you uncomfortable or anything."

"It won't make me uncomfortable." He replied as he straightened up, to show off his masculine figure.

And without a moment's hesitation carried me into one of the rooms and laid my down on the bed. He stood there for a minute, and left.

I smile.

"Goodnight Destrey, and thank you.

"Goodnight Faye."

The next morning was all smiles and Destrey was himself. Which eventually I would know it to be as himself.

After that day we arrived at home. At last.

Charles went straight into the hose, and Destrey and I went on a walk. And the first thing I went to see was the Opera Populaire and Destrey went with me. The sun was setting a perfect picture. He held my hand and whispered.

"One day Faye I'll show you the Opera Populaire, and then I'll show you the Apollo's Lyre. The roof is so beautiful just after sunset. You can see all of Paris. " He looked at me.

"I will look forward to that Destrey." I smile, but not even glance at him, staring at the beautiful opera house, for it had been somewhat reconstructed. Which gave me some hope; perhaps it will be a new start. Perhaps the man next to me would give me the hope to move on.

And with that, he kissed my cheek. And we went back to "Home". Hand in hand.

"I hope that you didn't think me too forward Faye."

"No, I'm glad you said that. You're a real gentleman you are."

" Why, thank you Mademoiselle." he said playfully.

We approach the door to my home.

"Well mademoiselle Faye, I got you home safe and sound. Um, I hope to see you often; work often requires me to work long hours, and well… I was wondering…if you'd like to… I mean….well… if…you…wanted…to… have…din-"

"Why don't you come for dinner after work tomorrow? I'll wait for you outside of the opera. I'm sure Charles would be happy if you came. "

"Yes, I was trying to ask you that, but I don't know, around you I get tongue-tied and nervous."

I giggle.

"You don't have to be nervous around me, Destrey, I'll wait for you."

With that I kissed him on the cheek and opened and closed the door. Smiling mischievously to myself. Today was a good day and I haven't once thought about- damn I just thought about him.

I couldn't help but wonder about what he was doing right now, because whether or not I wanted to admit it, I missed him. No, he isn't him, he's Erik. A man who would never love me, and I had to get over him. I was glad Destrey came into my life because he had me forget about Erik, even though it was a little while.

Too bad I didn't know that true love never dies…

How I wondered where he was now, what he was thinking, and what he was doing. It would give me such comfort. Just to know that even though he'd broke my heart; I hoped he was safe, wherever he was.

DUNDUNDUNDUN…. well, what did you think? Please review. Thanks for reading. I am hoping to complete the story by Christmas! So I'll try to update asap. But PLEASE REVIEW!