Author's note:

Onna= Japanese word for 'Woman'.

(Another) Disclaimer: And I don't own Phantom of the Opera! ...Well, legally. I own the DVD and soundtrack... If I DID though, Raoul would be in a hole somewhere, served only the bare essentials to live.. Damned fop.

Chapter 3: Threats and Accusations

I stared at my new co-star, unblinkingly. This couldn't be happening. This had to be a nightmare. A horrible nightmare where my worst fears came true. Like the cane, or the scary scene in the gym, or the fact that I had to share the stage with my worst enemy turned… whatever he was now. Co-worker, maybe? My head was spinning.

"Katelyn. Sweetie. Blink." Brooke was shaking me.

I finally focused on her anxious face before me. "Why?" I managed to spit out. This was my safe place, the only place I could be my self without having to worry about people like him judging me. Now, not only would he be invading my sacred space, but I'd have to work with him!

This was barring what had happened all day today, with his freaky mood swings and intensity.

"Come on, Kate.. We just gotta.. Bite the bullet and go on like we always do." Brooke was saying to me and I just nodded, not really taking in what she was saying. "You know you only have like three scenes with him, right? And lookit me, I actually have to kiss him!" she wailed in an attempt to make me feel better.

I smiled weakly at her, "Better you than me." I muttered faintly. Unfortunately, then my mind was swimming with images of Darren and I kissing and I shuddered visibly. I so did not need this mental image running rampant in my head.

Okay.. This was my chance to show stupid Jock Strap that he was on my turf now and I'd be damned if I let him screw us up now, freaky intensity or not!

I shakily got up from my seat and headed in a bee-line towards Darren, mustering up as much courage as I could with every step. "Listen up, Pike, cuz I'm only gonna say this once." I growled as I poked him on his rock hard chest, suddenly very aware of the 3 inches between our heights, at my 5 ft 7 and his 6 ft, "If you're not gonna take this seriously and give it your all, there's the door. We have no need for a slacker." I jerked my thumb at the doors, "If not, you're welcome to stay. Don't blow this, alright?" I warned firmly.

Much to my surprise, Darren clicked his heels together and saluted me smartly, causing his hair to bounce wildly, "Yes ma'am!" he cried with a teasing glint in his dark eyes and a smile quirking the corners of his lips, but they held none of the maliciousness from before, though the fire still remained.

I blinked at him. Maybe he was serious about being friends.. He had to have known about the casting change, so he just didn't want our bad blood to get between us on stage, that's all.. Right?

My head throbbed once again, trying to figure out the enigma that was Darren Pike. Perhaps I should just stop trying, since it only seemed to cause me bodily pain…

I simply nodded and gestured for him to go first up on to the stage. As he did, I caught him by the arm, causing him to turn. "You try anything funny with Brooke up there and you're history, got it?" I warned gruffly, all seriousness still.

"He knows I'll castrate him if he tries." Brooke stated with an evil grin on her pretty face as she followed Darren up the steps.

I mirrored her grin, "With a rusty spoon, right?" I asked waggling my eyebrows playfully at her. I saw Darren pale a little from out of the corner of my eye.

"Mmm. Tetanus." Dave muttered huskily behind me.

Dai and Miyuki came around my other side, and we all sighed. "Mmmmm. Tetanus." we all purred in stereo.

Darren smiled shakily at the 5 of us. "This is gonna be interesting.." he muttered dryly with a shake of his dark head. I couldn't help but grin at him, despite my better judgment. A ghost of a real smiled formed on Darren's own face.

When he was actually smiling, that kid was pretty damn gorgeous…

No. Bad. Bad bad bad. He was still an arrogant prick, no matter what he said. Or did.

I mentally shook my self. "Okay people, what scene are we going through today?" I asked, hands on my hips. "Should we go for a simpler scene to test drive the noob with?" I jabbed thumb up at Darren, who frowned at my nick-name for him. Hah. Serves him right for being all frustrating and confusing-like.

Dave took that as his cue to go find Leigh Sykes, his main partner for the play, since Dave was playing the role of Andre and Leigh was Firman, the two Opera Populaire managers. He sent a longing gaze at the oblivious Brooke as he left though.

Just as Miyuki saw this and sighed softly from her position at my side, her eyes un unreadable mixture of emotions. I patted her arm sympathetically.

"Why not Little Lotte and the Mirror Scene?" Brooke suggested flipping through her script, completely unaware at the emotional exchange that had just taken place, "It's not too hard and you don't have to be dancing all around the stage with your bum leg." she said nodding to me.

As if to further prove Brooke's point, another spasm of pain caused me to groan and rub my knee. "Didja have to remind me, Brooke?" I asked sarcastically, wincing.

Miyuki handed me my crutch and to my horror, helped me up the 6 steps to the stage.

To ashamed to even speak, I wordlessly thanked her and Dai as he scurried to get me a chair. I had to loose this cane, fast, or else I'd be too mortified to even come to school anymore if this kept up…

Darren cleared his throat, beginning the scene. His face morphed into that of a much kinder individual, as he lost his predatory glimmer and let a more relaxed expression slip into place, but no less arrogant than the original as he quirked his lips as he looked at the upstage Brooke, melting into character.

"Little Lotte, let her mind wander." he began playfully as he stepped forward, his hands clasped eloquently behind his back.

Brooke looked up in false surprise, her green eyes glimmering with joy in the spotlight.

Darren/Raoul continued: "Little Lotte thought, 'Am I fonder of dolls, or of goblins, or shoes..'"

Brooke/Christine cried out in joyful surprise: "Raoul!"

"Or of riddles or frocks." he laughed

"Those picnics in the attic."

Darren/ Raoul stopped in front of her, "Or of chocolates." his dark eyes glistening with long lost emotions.

Brooke/ Christine smiled sadly. "Father playing the violin."

"As we read to each other dark stories of the north."

Brooke/ Christine took a step forward, her eyes suddenly eager, " No, what I love best, Lotte said, is when I'm asleep in my bed," she whispered fervently, then sang the last line, "and the Angel of Music sings songs in my head!"

They both sang the last line together in perfect harmony: "And the Angel of Music sings songs in my head!"

Darren/ Raoul swept Brooke/Christine into a tight hug, "Oh, you sang like an angel tonight." he muttered quietly into her blond hair.

Brooke/ Christine smiled sadly once more as they pulled apart, "Father said, 'When I'm in heaven, child, I will send the Angel of Music to you.' Well, Father is dead, Raoul, and I have been visited by the Angel of Music." she stated quite seriously now.

Darren/ Raoul smiled patronizingly "Oh, no doubt of it. And now, we'll go to supper!" he announced joyously, with a touch of arrogance as he stepped away from the blond before him, making to leave the 'room'.

Brooke/ Christine shook her head firmly, "No, Raoul. The Angel of Music is very strict." she stated with a knowing nod to her self.

Darren/ Raoul let out a little bark of condescending laughter, "Well, I shan't keep you up late!" he teased as he continued to back away.

Brooke/ Christine stood up in alarm "Raoul, no!" she objected fiercely, but the boy was already near the steps, still smiling like an idiot.

"A minute, Little Lotte." he called as he went down the steps.

I piped up suddenly, "You missed a line, Pike." I stated coolly, tapping my own script.

Darren frowned and plucked his script from his back pocket. "Damn." he muttered as he re-read the line. "You must change. I'll order my carriage. Two minutes, Little Lotte."

I smiled sympathetically, "You did really well for your first reading though." I said before I could stop my self.

Back again was the cheeky self absorbed grin I knew.

Right, note to self, no stroking of the ego.

I watched as the dark haired boy was suddenly pounced upon by Daisuke and his sister, no doubt to take his measurements for his costumes. They dragged him a few feet away, yellow measuring tapes in hand.

I looked back at Brooke/ Christine, waving my hand trivially "Cue darkening lights and scary crescendo, blah de blah blah." I muttered dryly as I sucked in a breath to begin my first sung line:

"Insolent boy! This slave of fashion, basking in your glory!" I hissed/sung loudly, crouching in my chair, as about to pounce, "Ignorant fool! This brave young suitor, sharing in my triumph!" I hissed/ sung loudly, causing a few people to look in our direction, Darren included.

It was all that I could do not to start smirking my self as Brooke/ Christine looked around fearfully, as if she couldn't tell where my voice was coming from. "Angel, I hear you! Speak, I listen! Stay by my side, guide me!" she pleaded, still turning slowly. "Angel, my soul was weak, forgive me! Enter at last, Master!"

I grinned in pleasure, getting into character. "Flattering child you shall know me, see why in shadow I hide!" I sung, growing a bit louder this time, "Look at your face in the mirror, I am there inside!"

Without skipping a beat, Brooke Christine took a step towards me, singing "Angel of Music! Guide and guardian! Grant to me your glory! Angel of Music! Hide no longer! Come to me, strange angel…"

I hissed/ sang lowly in an evil tone: "I am your angel of music... Come to me, angel of music…"

Just then, Darren's voice could be heard from his position across the auditorium: "Who's is that voice? Who is that in there?! Christine! Christine!" he bellowed, reaching out towards us, as if to stop Christine, until Daisuke yanked his arm back down, probably muttering angrily.

I grinned, continuing on with my line: "I am your angel of music... Come to me, angel of music…"

Then as Brooke/ Christine grasped my hand, Mrs. Fisher appeared suddenly by my side, "Katelyn, a word, if I may." she pleaded anxiously.

"Uh. Sure, no problem." I said releasing Brooke's hand and standing.

We walked a few feet away on the stage, by the plush blood red curtain. "Is something the matter?" I asked confusedly as Mrs. Fisher chewed on her lip nervously.

"Well. It's about your new injury, Kate.." she trailed off, gesturing to the awkward angle my brace was bending my knee at.

Instantly, her nervousness clicked in my brain. "Oh, this! This won't be an issue by opening night!" I assured her, panic making my blood run cold. What if she didn't want to take that risk and gave my part away? I'd be devastated! I lived for this play, this club!

I clutched Mrs. Fisher's cold bony hands in my own "Please don't make me give up my part!" I begged shrilly before I could stop myself.

Confusion flashed in Mrs. Fisher's clear blue eyes. "Give up your part…? Goodness, no!" the blond woman gasped, removing her hands and placing them on the sides of my face, "No! How could you even think such a thing? This play was your idea, Kate! How could I ever ask you to give up your role as the Phantom? Oh, dear girl. I just wanted to know if you wanted Greg to re-do your choreography, so it's less demanding on your knee." she explained breathlessly.

I let out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding as a large sigh as I was pulled into a gentle hug by the wispy woman I'd come to love and respect.

Tears of sheer relief welled up in my eyes. "Oh. No, I don't think it'll be an issue," I said shaking my head, "'less he's suddenly making me do squats in the middle of Masquerade." I joked tearfully as we pulled away from each other.

"Well, now that that's settled." Mrs. Fisher muttered, just as teary eyed as I was. "Go knock 'em dead, dear." she encouraged me, giving me a gentle push towards my seat, "Oh, and Katelyn?" she called to me.

"Yeah?"

"Try to go easy on Pike, okay?" she asked semi seriously.

I grinned wickedly as I picked up my mask from my seat and put it to my face, "No promises."

Later on, around 5 or so in the evening, Dai, Miyuki and I made our way towards Dai's grey run down toyota through the nearly abandoned parking lot.

"So." I started, keeping my eyes glued to the slick ground in front of me.

"So?" Dai asked, looping his slender arm through my own.

"He did pretty well today." I said neutrally, knowing I didn't need to say who we were talking about. My nose began to burn in the early October chill.

"Yes." Dai agreed, nodding. "So are you gonna let me make your wedding gown, or will I have to beat permission outta you?" he asked suddenly, reaching in his pocket to grab his keys.

I stopped short, staring at my blunt friend. "Uh. What?" I asked flatly, placing my hand on my hip.

"Don't you 'what' me, Onna." Dai sassed back, a sly grin creeping its way on to his flawless face. "You know you two were making googlie eyes at each other all practice today." he continued quickly as he unlocked the trunk to put our bags back there.

I gawked at the petite effeminate Asian boy before me. "Are you mental?" I demanded. "I wasn't making googlie eyes at anyone, I was making sure that prick wasn't going to screw up all of our hard work!" I exclaimed, stabbing my finger in the auditorium's general direction, nearly throwing off my meager balance in the process.

Daisuke gave me a skeptical look as he took my backpack from me and place it in the back. "Uh huh, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Onna." he muttered dryly with a roll of his honey brown eyes.

I huffed as I opened the passenger side door, but Miyuki stopped me. "Nah ah. You're sitting in the back this time, Kay, with your leg propped up." she informed me, as she slid into my usual seat in front.

I blinked. "Uh.. Okay?" I said slowly as I climbed into the back, and propped up my knee on the pile of coats placed upon the back seat, after buckling my seat belt. "But I don't like him and he certainly doesn't like me. We've barely crossed the border of being civil towards each other, let alone being acquaintances…" I continued, staring out the window.

"You gotta admit it's pretty hot that a guy that good looking and good at sports can sing and act too, though." Daisuke said suddenly as the jeep shuddered to life.

"Mmhmm." Miyuki agreed passionately, her eyes glazing over slightly.

I flushed, "That's besides the point!" I objected feebly.

I swear I could sense the two of them rolling their eyes at me from the front of the car.

"So, what time are we rendezvousing tomorrow and everything?" I asked as we pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main highway. We were all going to the beach in Dave's mammoth suburban, so as to 'save gas'. That was a crock. We all knew that he just wanted to show off his new upholstery to Brooke.

"Around 11 or so, I think." Daisuke muttered darkly, "Though why so early, I have no idea.. Dave knows I need at least 10 hours of beauty sleep!" he whined dramatically as he hunched his shoulders and scowled over the steering wheel. My little gyoza was infamous for being an absolute terror in the morning.

"Oh, poor baby," I cooed from behind him, ruffling his immaculately spiked hair, knowing full well that it would drive him batty, "I'm sure Dave will bring you a Mocha Perk for compensation." I assured him as he idly swatted my hand away.

"He better, damned boke, getting me up before-" Dai started, but I cut him off.

"Before the crack of noon?" I supplied sweetly.

"Shyaddup…" he grumbled as both Miyuki and I giggled.

After our laughter died down, we all lapsed into a comfortable silence.

My gaze drifted to the window again, where a world of green, gold, and red passed swiftly before my eyes. I smiled softly to my self.

The constant rain and greenery didn't really bug me that much. I'd lived in Washington nearly my whole life, so the rain wasn't much of an issue. I got a little tired of all the wet though, since it rained nearly twice as much here as in Vancouver. Slippery wet floors and Kate don't mix well.

And I wasn't fond of the idea that it was going to grow a hell of a lot colder than this in a very short amount of time… I preferred to be warm, as opposed to wet and cold.

At that thought, I shrugged my sweater up a little higher on my shoulders and buried my neck deeper into my scarf as I shivered.

As bad as it may sound, I didn't really miss Vancouver all that much. Sure, the town was obscenely small, but there was that family buzz word: Community.

I got the feeling that even though I wasn't a native to this town, I had never grown up here or anything, that I was welcomed and appreciated here. Everybody knew everybody, and you could actually count on your neighbor to be there for you.

People actually cared here.

Back in Vancouver, no one would've looked twice at my knee. Just another face in the crowd got hurt, oh well, move on.

Here, I couldn't count how many people said they were sorry about my knee and hoped I would get better soon. You just didn't get that in a bigger town.

Sure, I had had friends back in Vancouver, but, I'd always gotten the sense that they didn't think of me as much as I thought of them. Like I didn't really belong anywhere in the three thousand something kids at Heritage.

That or I'd been quickly replaced once I had left, or forgotten.

Kelly Williamson, my former best friend flashed to mind, her sunshine colored hair and glistening hazel eyes. Along with Sasha Bates, with her mop of unruly black curls and soulful brown orbs.

Bitterness left a bad taste in my mouth as I frowned out the car window.

Their emails had been scarce to begin with, recalling the tales of the latest greatest party they had been to, or who was hooking up with whom, then they stopped all together a week or two ago, clearly carrying on just fine without me to be the stick in the mud who didn't care to drink or party.

Bitterness left a bad taste in my mouth as I frowned out the car window.

Here, I had real friends who cared about me as much as I did them.

"Got Phantom on the brain, babe?" Daisuke suddenly asked, glancing back at me in the rear-view-mirror.

"Huh?" I asked, confused.

"You were humming 'Learn to be lonely'." he said, his brow creasing in concern.

I laughed, "Was I? I didn't even notice!" I tried to laugh it off, but Daisuke's gaze pinned me.

"You okay?" Daisuke asked quietly, seeing right through my act.

I flashed him a watery smile, "Just thinking 'bout stuff, it's nothing." I muttered as we pulled into my drive way. "Thanks for the ride." I muttered as I undid my seatbelt and got out of the car. I retrieved my bag and cane as Miyuki rolled down her window, "Mata ne." I said thumping on the hood of the car as I walked up the drive.

I heard a disjointed chorus of "Mata ne!" as they pulled out of the driveway. I stayed on the porch till I couldn't see them anymore, then headed inside.

I opened the front door and glanced down at my wristwatch: 5:17 PM. Another 4 hours till mom would get home.

Suddenly, a skittering sound reached my ears and before I knew what was going on, a mass of 20 pound cat collided with my shin.

I simply stared as the black-grey mass of legs and fur disentangled it's self from my leg.

"Hey Zeekie-boy. Didja guys miss me?" I asked rhetorically as I bent slowly to pick up my huge klutzy cat.

"Mrrrrrrow." was my only answer as the other two feline members of our family greeted me in their own fashion.

Zeek was my baby boy, weighing in at 20-something pounds, with long charcoal colored fur. He wasn't fat, he was just that big of a cat. He ran from my thigh to my ankle without stretching his huge ham-hock legs or feathery tail. He was 'special', as my mom liked to put it. He wasn't very coordinated, like me. Plus he had other issues…

Next there was Rosa, the tiny terror, weighing only a mere 7 or 8 pounds. She was a tuxedo cat with white socks. What she lacked in weight, she more than made up for it in personality. She had small man syndrome, we were convinced. She was the most aggressive of all of our cats. She even bullied our dog, Koby! But she'd only go after us if she wasn't done being petted. (Which she always was.) She was lounging on the back of the couch, barely bothering to open her eyes to look at me.

Then there was our oldest member, Maxine, coming in second for weight in cats, at 15 or so pounds. What a complete sweetie. She was another tuxedo kitty, but with as much honey in her blood as their was vinegar in Rosa's. She was a serial snuggler who would climb under my covers if it got too cold, with a penchant for sleeping on arms. Max was standing in the hallway, waiting for me.

And last but not least, there was Koby. He was the thinner version of a black lab, but try telling that to his stomach. Koby was a dumb, lovable, coward. Even at 7 years old, he still acted as hyper as a puppy. He was barricaded in the family room by two wood panels, so I heard his whining from the entry hallway.

"Home sweet home." I muttered with a smile.

After feeding all of the pets and letting Koby out, I walked into the kitchen to make something for dinner for my self. Mom rarely got off before 8:30 these days, so dinner was often a solo activity for me.

I settled for some leftover soup and a salad. I ate in silence, then limped my way up the narrow flight of steps towards my room.

After heaving my self up those steps, my bed has never looked so inviting, but I had homework to do..

So I broke out the books and began the tedious work set out for me. Read the 5th chapter of our English book, respond to it. Piece of cake. Go through and do problems 10 through 35 on our math worksheet. Good as done.

Around 9 or so, I heard my mom's car beep from outside.

"Kate?" my mom called from downstairs. I rolled my eyes, who else would it be? It was just us and the pets.

"Up here." I called back, stretching.

"How was school, your knee doing okay?" she asked from the stair well.

"It was okay, my knee hurt a little, but it's doing much better." I assured her.

"The volleyball girls give you any trouble?" she asked gently.

I snorted, "Surprise, surprise, they didn't have time to. We had the PACER today." I informed her.

Mom must've moved on to the kitchen because she didn't answer.

I went to the stairs and told my mom about the beach trip from there.

She came to the bottom of the stairs, a frown gathering on her olivine colored face. "You sure that's a good idea?" she asked dubiously.

I nodded, "I'm not gonna go hiking or anything, mom. I'm gonna find a nice rock with a view and park my little butt right there." I told her with my most winsome smile.

She didn't look entirely convinced, but she let it slide, "Be sure to bring your thick coat and some leftover soup. You can take the rest and share it with everybody." she suggested as she sipped her decaf tea.

"So, who gave you a ride today?" my mom asked, her tone clearly trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, but there was a point behind this, I could feel it.

"Daisuke… Why?" I asked warily.

"Well, imagine how much easier it would be to get around town if you only got your license!" she suggested eagerly, pulling a driver's manual from out from under her arm.

I fought the urge to scowl at the hated booklet. "Nice try, mom. Little shaky on the delivery, though." I laughed forcedly.

I was practically having heart palpitations at the mere thought of being behind the wheel again.

I was terrified of driving, and had only driven a handful of times since I'd gotten my permit last summer… So now getting me to drive was my mom's new goal in life.

"Kate, I'm just trying to-"

"I know, mom. But can we talk about this maybe when I'm a little less damaged, perhaps?" I cut her off, gesturing to my injury.

My mom scowled at me, "Fine, Kate. You know everything, right?" she asked sarcastically with a flippant wave of her hand.

I ground my teeth in annoyance. "I didn't say that. I just want to worry about that when I have less on my plate." I growled, pinching the skin between my brows in a sign of irritation.

"Whatever, Kate." my mom snapped, going into the kitchen.

I fought the vast and immense urge to scream and rip out my hair. My mom could be so incredibly immature sometimes! It was maddening!

Seeing no other option than to concede and let her have her way, lest I have to endure another one of her week-long grudges, I gingerly came down the steps to the landing. "I'm not saying I'll never go driving, mom. But I'm not exactly in top form to do so, Yanno?" I asked with a weak smile, trying to pacify my mom's hair-trigger temper. The same one I had inherited from her.

"You promise that once you're better, you'll go driving with me?" she wheedled, using the age old, 'I'm-not-trying-to-twist-your-words-into-some-promise-that-you-never-concented-to' voice.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes…" I sighed in defeat.

My mom beamed, knowing she'd gotten her way. "Good! It'll be better this time, Kate, trust me." she reassured me, but it did no good. I suddenly felt ill.

With that, I went to take my shower and head to bed. Despite all my smiles and reassuring, walking around school all day with the cane and brace and the recent argument had really taken a lot out of me.

I think I was half asleep before my head even hit the pillow, completely unaware of what the day tomorrow would bring me.