The two weeks flew right by. We had dress rehearsals every night until Friday, when it was the opening night. Everyone was practically perfect. There would be nothing wrong with the show. Andrew Fucking Lloyd Webber, as Grandma called him because she was so excited for me to meet him, and Joel Shmaucher were staying at a nearby hotel. I came to the Palais Garnier at four thirty on Friday because the show was at six forty and there was a lot to do. I ate a small dinner with the cast, sitting with Alex. "Big night tonight, huh?" he said around five o'clock as I took a bite of my grilled cheese.
"Mhmm," I replied, still chewing. I swallowed and said, "Andrew Lloyd Webber. Can you believe that?!"
"Well, they're sitting in Box Five, maybe the Opera Ghost won't like that." He laughed, unaware that the girl he had a huge crush on was seeing the Opera Ghost, who is real. I gave a little chuckle, but I wasn't sure if Erik would be cool with it. I just said, "Well, he'll have to deal with it."
After an awkward silent pause, Alex said, "Um, Avril, there's been something I've been wanting to tell you ever since we were reunited."
I knew where he was going, and it might have been time to tell him that the Opera Ghost is real and is my boyfriend. "I…I—"
He was interrupted by Frank. "Okay, people, it's five o'clock, we have an hour and forty minutes until this little community theater will have the greatest honor any community theater anywhere could get. We are lucky. The audience should be here by six twenty or so. We want your costumes on by five fifty and makeup by six twenty. Patience is key, though. Be patient. Andrew Lloyd Webber is very excited for the performance and very excited to meet you all. We have to do our best. Finish your dinner quick and get your costumes. Meet me back here when you're done."
Alex and I were too busy eating as fast as we could for him to tell me what he wanted to say.
Erik wasn't in my dressing room at five fifteen when I got there. Before I could sit down, I heard Erik sing firmly, "Insolent boy, this slave of fashion basking in your glory. Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor, sharing in my triumph!"
"Haven't we done this before?" I said calmly. "I'm aware that he has a gross crush on me and if you don't know that I'll definitely reject him, you're stupid."
He sighed. "I'm just worried, I suppose."
"Don't be," I told him. "If he winds up confessing something, I'll reject him. And, again, you may not Punjab lasso him. Okay? And you don't need to hide in the mirror. You're my boyfriend, I like you better in person."
He walked through the big mirror. I said, "If you wanna sit in Box Five, you're kinda screwed because Andrew Fucking Lloyd Webber and Joel Shmaucher will be there."
"I will be paying Webber a visit," Erik said. "He knows me. I think he's the only person I've ghostwritten for whom I like at all. He did write all the other musicals he's written, but mine must be the most well-known."
"So you will be sitting in Box Five?"
"Probably. I'll be watching no matter what," he said with a smile. He gave me a brief kiss and disappeared.
I put on my costume and did my makeup myself. I had plenty of time to spare before I had to meet Frank, so I just sat around for a while until I heard my phone ring. I opened a text message from a familiar number. It said, "Abvpril, youre mom is commming too bring u home." My mom is not good with texting. But she sent me a text. I screamed at the sight until Emily rushed in. "Avril! What's wrong?!" she shrieked.
"She's out to get me," I cried. "She's coming for me."
"Who?" she said, kneeling by my seat.
I sniffled. "My mom. She wants to take me back and she'll stop at nothing to."
"What?!" Emily exclaimed. "Y-you can't leave, this isn't the only performance and we need you for it!"
"It's not just that," I said. I trusted my dear friend with a secret. "I have a boyfriend here."
"Is that why you and Alex are always together?" she chuckled.
"He wishes," I laughed. "No, it's…um, someone else."
"Does your grandma know?"
I shook my head. "She'll have to find out sometime. I love him…a lot."
"Does Alex know?"
"No," I replied. "He'll have to find out soon, too. Everyone will."
"Well," she said. "The show must go on. And maybe that boyfriend of yours will protect you."
I smiled. "That'd be cool."
"We should get going."