AN: So sorry it took me so long to get this up. Life has been hectic. But hear you go the next chapter. It could possibly end in a weird place... but You'll live. lol ps. Meg is also the Leroux version. "Meg it's me! I'm coming in." I said as I pushed the door open. Her black lab Candice gallivanted toward me welding her slobbery tongue.

"Candy! Down girl!" Meg called as she sauntered in her straight black hair trailing behind her. I put my bag down next to the door and walked through the hall to the homey living room. Meg's arts and crafts things from about 3rd grade were strewn about the floor in a disorderly mess. I stepped over a box of markers and began rearranging things so I could sit in front of the roaring fire, which I guessed contained Meg's failed attempts of the Battle of Agues Burg. Meg joined me in the small clear area. "So, what do you think?" She asked handing me a bright pink poster headed with the words 'Ags berg' in bright green block letters.

"Meg this is ridiculous! Please tell me you did this on purpose!"

"Now you see how desperately lost I am with out you! I'm freezing!" and with that she proved my theory correct by pushing the poster board into the fireplace. As if on cue, Meg's mother entered the kitchen to the left of us.

"Can I get you girls some hot chocolate?"

"Yes please!" Meg and I eagerly agreed.

"I see you didn't approve of Meg's poster?"

"Nope. Not exactly. It was a bit on the completely-and-utterly-wrong side of things." I said with a grin.

"Hey Christine?"

"What I asked turning my attention toward Meg.

"How do you spell 'civil'?" she began to pick up a orange sharpie.

"Oh no you don't." I said as I exchanged the sharpie for a TV remote and began to label the poster appropriately. Meg started randomly flipping through the channels as Mrs. Giry handed us our mugs. I chose the one sponsoring 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Sure is. I thought sarcastically. I was off in my world of Josh Groban and James Franco fighting in the Civil war when the doorbell rang. Meg jumped up from her spot on the couch.

"I'll get it!" she yelled practically falling on her face to get to the door.

"Expecting someone?" her mother asked with a raised eyebrow. I shrugged as we both moved to the door.

"Oh... it's only you Raoul." My stomach did a summer salt.

"What? Aren't you happy to see your big brother?"

"Of course I am!" she said jumping into his open arms. "Only I was expecting-"

"John?"

"No."

"Kyle?"

"No."

"Jim?"

"No."

"Mike?"

"Jake."

"Jake... Hmmm… Nope. Don't know this new one. How long?"

"Two weeks."

"Wow! Must be new record, for you!"

"Three more days and it will be!" she said with a proud grin. Raoul laughed and turned toward the hat rack where I was entertaining myself by braiding the strands of a scarf together.

"And you, Miss Christine?" He asked picking me up and twirling me around.

"I'm great." I squealed. He kissed me on the forehead and set me down. I felt dizzy.

"Hey Mom." He said hugging her. Raoul was... extremely amazing. I had a crush on him since I like boys- infancy. Raoul turned his steel blue eyes back toward me.

"Music today?" he asked a small glint of hope in his eyes. Ever since we were kids, Raoul and I would entertain ourselves for hours on end at the piano composing music. We had a tone of little notebooks full of silly melodies and pathetic lyrics. Meg has several tapes of her dancing behind us in her tutu and tights. I looked to Meg for my answer. She nodded. Raoul and I sat at the piano bench. I began picking out a simple melody my mother had taught me. Mrs. Giry pulled Meg into the other room to finish the almost completed project. As I went through the simple right hand, Raoul began picking out a left hand. I complicated my hand and soon we had a flowing piece. I slowed down until the music came to a ringing silence. I felt my eyes well up. I turned and moved to a chair at the corner of the room where I let my tears flow. Raoul moved with me and I buried my face in his chest. He moved closer to me on the small chair and positioned us so I was on his lap. He turned me towards him and looked into his eyes. "Christine? Christine, what's wrong?"

"I- I'm sorry. I Ju-ust..." I broke down into sobs once again and he pressed my head to his chest quietly reassuring and shushing me. He began singing to me softly the lyrics he had come up with for the song. "No more talk of darkness

forget these constant fears

I'm here, with you, beneath you,

to guard you and relieve you..." he ran his fingers down my tear stained cheek. He slowly faded out as he bent lower and lower towards my virgin lips. The closer he got, the safer I felt. He continued foreword until at last, our lips met. Slowly at first, he worked his lips in and around mine. The raw passion conceived there scared me at first. I met him with an equally passionate kiss only more powerful. As if that was his permission, Raoul turned it on. He began to weave his tongue in and out of my mouth I did the same, not sure what to do but following his lead. He obviously liked it because he pulled me closer and slipped his lips off mine and down my jaw. I turned my neck slightly and he went lower and lower until he was on my collarbone. I didn't want it to end but my conscience began to kick in when I realized I was making out with Meg's brother in her living room. Raoul noticed something was wrong and moved back. "I'm sorry... I... I've just wanted to do that for so long..." I answered him by kissing his cheek.

"Me too." He held my hand loosely as he guided me toward the piano. He began playing again. a song I knew well."Think of me

Think of me fondly when we've said good bye..." I let the music surround me as I forgot about my worries... my mother...how much time was left... how many pills my father had taken... I let the music carry me into another world... a world for me. A world for me, Raoul, and our music.

I sat silently, alone in the dark on my swing. The more I thought about what I almost done, the more I realized how stupid it was for me not to have gone through with it. Even if the girl I'd seen was real and not a fragment of the imagination of a love deprived child, she would never fall for a monster like me.

"I'll be back... I... I just need a little fresh air." Raoul got up from his place beside me.

"I'll go with you." I put a hand to his cheek.

"You're very sweet, but I need some me time..."

"I'd feel better if you took the car. The keys are in my back pocket." He said with a grin. I shook my head and said

"Thanks but I'm only going to the park for a while. I'll be right back. Look, I have my pepper spray with me." I tried to convince him handing my key chain size weapon towards him.

"Alright. But I don't like this. Not at all." I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"I know." and left.

I was about to get up when I saw an angel come toward me. I shook my head and realized it was she. The girl from before. I left my swing and hid behind a nearby bush. Her long hair bounced as she walked toward the area I had just vacated. She sat down on a swing and sighed. She began to hum quietly to herself. Her voice was amazing. Especially when she sang words... I heard a door from the opposite side of the street open and close. "Christine? Christine?"

"Christine..." I repeated to myself. Christine turned around and I quickly his myself from her view. She cocked her head to one side before turning back toward Meg.

"Where in the world have you been hiding? Mom and I thought you were with Raoul?" Raoul... a boy. She already has someone. I knew it... N. I won't let this happen. I won't let her go... I must have her... "Mom wants us in for dinner. And it's starting to rain. I do not want you sick again so please let's go."

"Alright..." she said casting a small glance over her should towards me. How could I get her for myself? How?

AN: Thoughts, comments, questions? Leave them in a comment!!