A/N.. I really hope this chapter makes some sense. I was working on this at school and there were these two loudmouth girls yapping to each other right next to me so I couldn't fully concentrate. Talk about the giggle gang! I apologize if this doesn't make good sense and I will fix it.
Chapter IX.
Home Field Advantage?
Melanie stomped away muttering curses to herself, knocking props over and off of tables in a failed attempt to unleash her rage. Meanwhile, the others left on the stage had the opportunity to cheer and clamp Sophie on the back, every single one of them thought it was her doing; no one brought up the Opera Ghost. "We've been waiting for that forever"
"Can you show me how?"
"I'll pay huge francs to see that again!"
The cheering continued, some directed at Sophie, some just between a few girls, however one thing remained the same which was the look of sheer excitement in everybody's eyes. Until Jean showed up, ready to lecture the group in front of him. "Well ladies," he began sternly, "I hope whoever is responsible is very proud of herself. I just ran into Mme. Jensen backstage and she's in bad shape. She thinks everybody hates her." There were a few mutters of "She's right" among the group, but for the most part, they remained silent and gracefully accepted the lecture, knowing they had nothing to do with it. "Anyway, I expect the young lady or ladies in charge of this situation to make a full and sincere apology. If she leaves, the managers must choose a new leading lady and we get stressed out, overworked, uptight, and therefore get unbearable to work with. So it really is in your best interest to keep her here. Now go." The girls scrambled off in different directions, giving Sophie time to run up to the only place she could yell at Erik and not get caught. Well, the only place besides his house, but she didn't know how to get there... What was the next best thing? The roof.
Running up the stairs, for once without pausing to stop and rest, she made her way to the very top of the opera house. Wow, I can finally do it without stopping! Yay! I guess all these visits up here have paid off. But I'll be happy about it later… "Erik!" She yelled at the top of her lungs trying to get him to appear before her. When nobody did, she took a deep breath and tried again "ERIK GET OVER HERE THIS INSTANT. I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME."
"You know for a guest you're quite rude. You didn't need to yell, I'm right here. Yelling won't make me appear any faster, and all you'll be doing is destroying your voice."
"Blame it on the suckiness of the future, and yes I did need to yell; you didn't hear me, and you mean to tell me if I were getting mugged somewhere and started screaming, because I was screaming you won't hurry?"
"I had no feeling you were in any danger my dear; you just want to be mad at me for before."
Damn he's good.
"Erik look I'm not mad at you, truth is now that it's over, I find it quite funny. I would have done something different, but you do good work. Anyway, I hope you have a plan, I'm expected to apologize to Satan's Secretary over there since everyone thinks I was responsible. It's just a matter of time before word reaches the managers." Sophie said leaning over the balcony letting the scenery amaze her. She watched people walking below, in no hurry to get anywhere in particular. There was nobody pushing or shoving each other, no cars honking, and no homeless families in the street. She'd looked down below a hundred times and never failed to be amazed. Erik brought her out of her daydream and wrapped his cape around her. 'You let me worry about those oafs of managers. I'll not have you apologize to that…that… Well she's not a woman by any means, so that thing. You're not to apologize to that thing. Am I clear?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"No, not really."
"You always win at these things, don't you?"
"Always."
"You're sickenly good at this."
"I'm the best."
"What do I do now?"
"You go back to your room and enjoy your bit of free time before lessons tonight" he told her opening the door and pushing her back down the stairs. Now whether what happened next was a rare burst of nerve, or real honest feeling, she didn't know, but she kissed him. "Thanks Erik" she said before turning away to leave. He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her back to face him. "What was that?"
"Well that is what I like to call a kiss. You know, I laid one on you, smooched you, gave you a double lip lock. Now just relax and try to enjoy it. I didn't bite you did I?"
"Well…no"
"Good, then settle down and think about if you liked it or not. I'll see you later Erik. Bye"
She scampered out the door and that was it, it was over. It ended way too soon in Erik's opinion. Noo wait, come back. I wasn't expecting that. I'm better at it, really I am... I hope. Come back his mind screamed hoping his brainwaves would reach her.
As soon as she was out of sight, Sophie sat down pulling her knees up against her chest and laying her chin on them. "Wow" she whispered "what in the name of pinstripes is going on with me? 'Tania' wouldn't do anything like that, no Tania doesn't know if she even likes him… But 'Sophie', she really seems to." At a bang against the wall, Sophie's attention snapped up only to face off with Melanie. "I know you're responsible for what happened at rehearsals" she sneered "You just watch your back; I can have you arrested with one snap of my fingers"
"Oh yes, that's right, you have 'a lot of connections'. Save it for someone else sunshine"
"I shall enjoy watching you being dragged off to jail if you so much as try something like that again"
"Is one side of your hair longer than the other?"
Melanie huffed and stormed to the other side of the room, but not before turning around slowly, trying to look intimating. "You're move" she said quietly before walking out.
"My God, is everyone from the past as Looney as she is?" Sophie muttered, "And what was she talking about my move, it's her move." She concluded following the witch's lead and walking back to her room.
