Chapter 17
Secrets
Erik crossed his arms and tried not to smile. He could have fun with this. "No Sophie, no 'never mind', who's Danny? A lover boy?" he asked making kissy noises batting his eyes at her.
"It's not important Erik, just relax. It was only a dream."
"I'm sure it was, now who is he?"
" No one Erik, it doesn't matter. He's not real." Sophie exclaimed, exhasporated.
"Was he terrible to you? You know with me being the Phantom, I could just well you know… kill him."
"No, that's not necessary. You see, I don't even know him. It's just somebody that's cute. That's all."
"Ah watching from afar I see."
Sophie groaned. Erik would never get this was a character from a movie. Hell, he wouldn't even know what a movie is.
"You could say that, now shut up." Sophie laughed smacking him in the arm.
"Mean!"
"Oh poo, you used to do much worse."
"Yes. Now my dear, would you like to continue with your precious lover boy, or stay with me in the very dungeons of my despair." Erik asked in a tone that basically told Sophie there was no choice. She was going with him regardless of if she liked it or not.
"I'll stay
As Erik led her to his lair, Sophie thought about how she would tell him. Since he shared something deep, dark, and personal with her from his past, she only thought it was fair to do the same. She bit her lip and picked at the imaginary nail polish wondering if they had taken a secret passage; she could have sworn she saw the boot mark she made during a previous fight . It's funny how when you're dreading something, it comes upon you entirely too soon. Suddenly, they were approaching the lake and Sophie trotted behind Erik into the boat and made way for home.
"You've been meaning to say something to me ever since we left. What is it?"
"Hmm? Oh nothing."
" 'Nothing' does not work with me mon ange. You do too, I can see it."
Sophie plopped down on the floor and Ayesha strutted up demanding attention. Sophie obliged meanwhile wondering how Erik possibly knew everything "I've got nothing important to say Erik, don't worry about it."
"You know my dear, it is not very wise to lie to the great and powerful phantom."
"Oh else what? You'll Punjab me? Ah you don't scare me slick, I'll pay attention to your warning though."
"So, let's have at it."
"Ok Erik, ok you win. But once again, you don't play fair."
Erik chuckled, "Why do you think I always win?"
"Now let's see, where to begin. I figure now it's my turn to share personal things with you since you did the same to me. So don't laugh, don't poke fun, and save questions until the end."
"Deal."
"Alright, well you already know that Sophie is just a creation of yours. My name is Tania. Tania Adrianne Richards. I'm originally from New York, but moved to Arizona when I was 12. Well, actually it was my parent's thing. I had nothing to do with it. Um, I have an older brother Trevor who's a real pain in the as- um rear end but I love him anyway. Anyway, I'll get right to the "personal" part I was talking about, I'm sure that would be much more intresting for you anyway."
Sophie put her head down and lifted it up again, pushing stray hair out of her face. Ayesha immediately picked her head up and gave out a look, silently demanding to know why the attention had ceased.
"Alright, alright you silly cat, I'll continue." she whispered softly. She put her head down normally and found Erik staring at her.
" You know it's creepy being stared at." Sophie announced, absent minded-ly petting the ball of fur in her lap.
"I'm going to let that one go," he said scooting over and sitting next to her. If she by any chance had a breakdown, he would now be close enough to stop it. "You were saying my lady?"
"I had an older sister I never met. Her name was Dayna. She died the year before I was born."
"What happened?"
"Drowned. She drowned in the backyard pool. My parents were out for the day and left her in care of a babysitter, she got outside and fell into the pool." Sophie explained looking at her feet. "She lingered in the hospital for 8 days before my parents came to the conclusion that nothing was going to get any better, and she died.. I always begged to hear the story, I found it hard to believe that I at one point had a sister. I always got the same version again and again, and nobody ever answered my questions. I even found an article about her in the paper and thought about contacting the doctor. My mom gave her Christmas cards every year as if she was still with us, and when I was 12 I asked if I could read them. My mom said I wasn't old enough. So the next Christmas when my parents were out, I ripped open all the envelopes and I read the cards. I got the feeling my mom couldn't wait to die and go be with my sister. Like my brother and I weren't good enough and couldn't please her. From that time on, I only thought I was here because she was dead. A "replacement" so to speak."
Erik wrapped his arms around her and hugged her as tight as he possibly could. "Mon ange I'm sure that's not tru-"
"Anyway, my mom got her wish. Last year she passed away. Drunk driver."
"Drunk Driver?"
"Wow. Um, you've had too much wine, then go off and try to control a horse. Only it's not a horse. The jerk was driving a big truck, about the size of an elephant."
Erik's eyes jumped back into his head as he tried to think of something to say. "And your father?"
"Ran off, he's here somewhere. When I was a teenager, we came here to Paris on vacation. When it was time to go home, my dad told us to go on ahead and he'd catch up in a few days. Well, he never came back. When he didn't want to come home with his family, well that should have been my first clue, huh. But I was too naive and too stupid to figure it out."
"You were a child, children cannot be expected to figure such things out. It is not in their nature."
"I wish to God I did figure it out Erik, it would have saved me a lot of pain in the long run. I sat up every chance I could waiting for him and wishing for him. Maybe if I knew what was going on, I wouldn't have bothered."
Erik pondered this laying his chin on top of her head. It's true he thought reaching a final conclusion. She's right. What good does wishing do when no one hears you..
"Besides Erik," Sophie's soft voice broke him out of thought. "You already know the most personal thing about me."
"What is that?"
"My weight."
"Aw let it go mon ange, what is it you say? Chill out?"
"My own words coming back to bite me in the butt, and Erik?"
"Yes?"
"I am well aware of where your arms are right now, but can you please loosen up a little? It's hard to breathe."
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