MADDIE

I woke up the following Thursday with a start, when Deirdre burst into my room still in her nightclothes.

"Charles is here to audition for leading tenor!" She cried, her long blonde hair still messed from sleeping. I opened my eyes, irritated by being woken up on my one day a week off of early morning rehearsals.

"I know, Didi…" I mumbled, turning the other way and putting the pillow over my head. The next thing I knew, she had jumped on the bed and was beating me with the other pillow.

"Get up silly! We have to go watch, and why didn't you tell me?" She exclaimed and I sighed, sitting up and hitting her with the pillow.

"I didn't tell you because it's none of my business." I said, wiping the sleep from my eyes. She eyed me for a moment before smirking.

"You like him don't you?" That got my attention.

"Yes, I like him." I answered truthfully. He was a very nice man, why wouldn't I like him? Apparently she meant it the other way and started making kissing noises.

"You silly tart," I said, unable to hold back a laugh, "I like him. I don't want to bear his children for God's sake!" She looked at me suspiciously for a moment before hitting me with the pillow once more and flouncing out of the room giggling. I shook my head, wondering if I should go back to sleep, but I was already awake and I had to admit, I wanted to watch Charles audition. I'd never actually heard him sing in the couple weeks we had been practicing together. I got up from the bed and chose one of my six dresses to wear, smiling when I saw the pink satin gown I would be wearing on New Year's Eve. I pulled my curls back into a ribbon and washed my face quickly before heading out into the theater.

As I was looking for Didi I heard someone say,

"Mademoiselle Denton!" I turned to see Charles's father waving at me with a kind smile. I genuinely liked this man and waved back, moving to meet him in the first few rows.

"How are you Monsieur le Vicomte?" I said, shaking his hand and remembering the night he had thought I was his wife. He laughed.

"You can call me Raoul…or Monsieur de Chagny if you are more comfortable." He said, and gestured for me to sit beside him, which I did.

"Raoul…" I repeated and he nodded. I pointed to myself and said, "Maddie or Madeleine if you prefer." Again he nodded, looking over to where Charles and four other men were talking to the managers.

"It's nice to see so much support for Charles. He's really quite taken with you, you know." I felt my eyes widen as I looked at him.

"What do you mean, taken?" I asked, looking at Charles who waved at us. Raoul looked at me, smiling,

"I only mean that he has taken a liking to you. He really has a lot of faith in you Maddie. It's like you've given him a better reason to get up everyday." I stared at Charles's father like an idiot. Me? Charles woke up every day because of me? It didn't make any sense. Raoul laughed.

"My wife used to get that expression on her face when she was nervous or confused, God rest her soul." I smiled sadly at him.

"I'm so sorry you lost her." I replied and he attempted to smile.

"We always hoped for a daughter…" He said, looking at me in the saddest way, I felt a lump come into my throat. Before we could say anything else, M. Firmin announced that auditions would begin as the music director, M. Evans joined them.

Charles caught my eye and winked at me, to which I rolled my eyes at him. The first man, an older gentleman, stepped up and began to sing one of the songs Hannibal sang in the first act. He was very good but when it came to the part in the song with higher notes, his voice cracked. The next two were pretty much the same. Good, but when the high notes came, they couldn't quite reach them. The fourth man was actually very good. He hit most of the notes with ease and although his performance was a bit bland, he could have played the part nicely. Finally, Charles stepped up with his usual confident look on his face. He gave me one last look before beginning the song. I cannot even begin to explain the sound that came from him. It was as if time stood still and the earth and heavens all paused to listen to the voice that came from this man. I looked over at the Vicomte and he had such a look of pride on his face, I couldn't help but smile and pat his arm. Charles hit the highest note with such passion I could have died happily, having heard his voice.

When he had finished, I stole a glance at M. Firmin and M. Andre. Their mouths had dropped open and they were staring at the young man in shock. Charles simply stood calmly with a small proud smile on his handsome face and his hands behind his back. M. Firmin cleared his throat.

"Thank you gentlemen…if you would excuse us for half an hour, we will let you know." The two men made their way back into their office to discuss the auditions while Charles walked over to Raoul and I.

"How did I do?" He said with a half smile. I tried to remain aloof.

"Decent." I said, as if I didn't care at all and he grinned, elbowing me.

"I'll take that…" He said, looking at his father expectantly.

"Charles, I wish your mother could have been here." He said, quickly giving Charles a hug.

Charles slid an arm around my shoulders smoothly and I smoothly turned out of his hold, laughing and trying to hide my alarm as he laughed like I was joking. Raoul's words rang through my head. He's really quite taken with you, you know. I could not allow myself to feel that way for anyone. Especially the son of a viscount, who could have had any woman in the world, and would not think twice of a ballet rat. It could only end in heartbreak. I just didn't think I could commit myself to any type of romantic relationship because every time I thought of it, the memories of lying on the kitchen floor in the café as my childhood was ripped from me violently. Every time I thought of being with someone, Louis Dupont's face clouded my mind.

"Maddie? Madeleine?" Charles voice brought me back to the real world. I looked up to see he and Raoul staring at me.

"You alright?" Charles asked me and I nodded.

"Fine, fine…just tired is all." He patted my back supportively.

"Maybe we shouldn't practice today." He said, noticing the circles under my eyes.

"No," I shook my head, "It's fine…I'll be alright." He smiled, brushing a curl from my eye.

"I appreciate you dedication Maddie, but I want you to be healthy. Perhaps you could just come over for dinner tonight." He replied, looking to his father who nodded his approval.

"I'd like that but…" I started, but before I could finish, M. Andre, M. Evans and M. Firmin had come back into the room.

"Gentlemen, if you would please go back onstage." M. Andre, said carrying a folder filled with papers, obviously sheet music. M. Firmin stood to announce,

"We will be letting three of you go right now…" He took a slip of paper from M. Evans and read aloud,

"Randolph Kerrington, Jacques Champoux and Pedro Cruz we'd like to thank you for auditioning and we hope you will audition with us again in the future." They all looked a bit disappointed, but left quickly leaving Charles and the man who had sung just before him onstage. M. Evans now stood and, unthinking, I grabbed Raoul's arm nervously making him chuckle.

"Monsieur Dorgan, we would like to offer you a secondary role in Hannibal. Monsieur de Chagny, we are please to announce that you have won the role of leading tenor, and we will need you to sign a contract if you please.

Charles held in his excitement for he shook Monsieur Dorgan's hand. Raoul was beaming from ear to ear.

"They would have been so proud." He said, and I looked at him confused.

"Who would have?" I asked and he looked at me suddenly, startled as if I weren't supposed to hear.

"Charles's mother." He said, smiling.

"But…you said they would have been so proud." I replied and he brought his hand to his mouth.

"I did, didn't I? I must be getting old." He laughed, patting my hand. I smiled, but didn't really know what to think at the moment. I didn't have time to think since Charles came over and swept me up laughing.

"We did it, Maddie!" He cried happily and for the first time since I met him I looked at his face, really looked. I had to look away quickly though because I found myself feeling things that the other girls talked about when they discussed men.

"No, you did it Charles…" I said, quietly and as he set me down our cheeks brushed together and I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the warmth from his face. Panic fluttered through me. I looked from Charles to Raoul and back to Charles again. Oh God, I have to get away from him. Now.

"I'm sorry, I don't feel well…" I said, not being far from the truth and gave them an apologetic look as I fled back to my room.