MADDIE

I woke up slowly, very slowly the morning after the ball, my head throbbing. As the room slowly came into focus, I realized I had no idea where I was or what had happened after the ball. I tried to pick up my head but it felt heavier. How much had I had to drink last night? I stared around the room, trying to place where I was when I saw the desk with all of the art pencils and sketch paper on it. I began to get out of the bed when an arm came over and draped over me. I froze in horror, almost afraid to turn around. I lifted the covers a bit and realized I was also nude. Oh my God. I turned my head slightly to see Charles sleeping there with a contented smile on his face. He looked so peaceful and adorable, so I did what first came to mind as I realized just what had gone on and I screamed bloody murder waking him up with a jolt.

"What the...?" He murmured as I bolted out of the bed, taking with me the bed sheet and draping it around my body.
"Charles!" I screamed, angry not only at him but at myself.
"What?" He asked, wiping his eyes, still not fully awake. When he noticed me standing in front of him in nothing but his bed sheet, the color drained from his face. I looked around the room in horror, seeing all of our clothes lying on the floor. I paced furiously nearly tripping over the sheet again and again. He rose from the bed and I averted my eyes at his nakedness as he pulled on his red trousers. As he began to walk toward me, to our horror, the door opened as Therese, Raoul and Madame Giry rushed in.

"We heard a scream, we..." Raoul began, trailing off when he saw me standing there with my hand on my cheek and Charles with his mouth open. Madame Giry's gaze bore into me and I wanted nothing more than to disappear under Charles's desk. Therese almost looked amused.
"Sir, I am going to prepare some coffee for the kids." She said, giving us one last look and suppressing a smile. Raoul was staring expectantly at Charles who looked like he was lost.
"Alright you two...get some clothes on and come downstairs. We'll talk about this later." Madame Giry raised her eyebrow at me before coughing and following Raoul out of the room. When they had gone, Charles handed me his bathrobe.
"Here, go change..." He said as I nodded and dropped the sheet, unthinking. He gaped at my naked body, I could feel the heat of his eyes on me like a single beam of the sun. I quickly pulled the silk robe around me and fled the room without giving him so much as a second glance.

Once in my room, I dropped to the floor behind the door and put my head in my hands. How stupid was I? I had hardly told Charles that I had feelings for him and the next thing I knew I was sleeping with him!
"Oh God, Oh God, Oh God..." I kept repeating to myself as I paced by my bed. There was a small knock at my door.
"Madeleine, may I come in?" Madame Giry. I closed my eyes, afraid of her wrath but sighed.
"Of course Madame Giry." I called and the door slowly opened as her cane entered before her.
"Are you alright dear?" She asked, sitting on my bed and motioning for me to follow suit, which I of course did. I always obeyed Madame Giry.
"Yes...I'm fine...just painfully embarrassed." I said, unable to meet her eyes.

She draped an arm across my shoulders.
"You remind me of my daughters. Christine was so shy and sweet and Meg of course was my little ball of mischief." She smiled at the thought. "She always kept us on our toes. I'm going to tell you something I told Christine once. We all have our moments. There's nothing you can do about them, they just happen...and you can't help how you feel about some people, but you always always have to follow your heart. Do you regret what you did?" She asked, touching my cheek. I looked down at the blue silk robe I had on, thinking. Did I truly regret it? Or would I do the same thing if I had the chance.
"Do you?" She asked again and I looked up at her, smiling a little.
"N-no...no I don't." I said, surprised to hear it.
"Do you love Charles, Madeleine?" She asked, softly but seriously. That, I couldn't answer.
"I don't know...I'm so confused and scared."

She saw my need to not think about it right now and nodded.
"Take your time dearest. Go on now...get dressed and come have some coffee." She kissed my cheek before coughing loudly. This one sounded a bit more violent.
"Madame Giry..." I said, worried but she waved me off.
"I'm fine. Just getting old is all." She smiled, smoothing her almost fully gray hair back. I wasn't convinced but I wasn't going to bother her about it. As she began to leave I suddenly was compelled to ask her a question.
"Madame Giry!" I cried and she turned, ever patient to look at me.
"Yes love?" She asked softly. I sighed.
"Did Christine listen? I mean, did she follow her heart?" Madame Giry got the strangest slight smile on her face.
"No...no she didn't." She closed the door softly behind her.

I picked out a blue dress with black trimmings and put it on before attempting to brush out my mass of tangled curls. Everyone always exclaimed. "Oh Maddie you have curly hair, it is so lovely and romantic..." They wouldn't think so if they had to deal with it on a daily basis. I had longed for long straight hair like Deirdre's. Once I looked halfway presentable I took a deep breath and walked down into the kitchen where Charles and Raoul were talking quietly.
"Just remember what I said...be careful Charles..." Raoul said, smiling when he saw me. Madame Giry had just left and Therese was keeping busy flitting about the kitchen.
"Madeleine..." Raoul said, his voice firm but soft. He motioned for me to sit between he and Charles. I couldn't even meet Charles's eye.
"Look...I'm sorry for everything..." I began, praying he didn't think less of me now. "But you don't have to worry because I am going back to the opera tonight."

Charles began to protest as did Raoul but I silenced them.
"No...this is not fair. I will not take advantage of you...and it is taking advantage...you can still see me Charles, but this relationship needs to slow down. Please...it's too much." I said. I bent to kiss Raoul on the cheek and fled upstairs to pack my bag to go home tonight before either of them could say another word. If we rushed into all this so soon, we would just end up taking each other for granted and it wouldn't even mean anything anymore. Then where would we be? With a sigh, I picked up my things and ran downstairs to ask Martin if he would drive me to the opera. I knew Charles would try to stop me again, so I snuck out the back door to beg him. He, being a good hearted person, of course agreed and helped me into the carriage.
"Thank you..." I said, offering him some coins when we stopped in front of the opera house. He shook his head.
"No dear...keep it. I am fine..." He said. I nodded and ran into to building to get away from the cold.

As soon as they noticed I was back, Bella and a few of the other ballerinas came flying out of there rooms.
"You're here! How was the Chagny's? Was it lovely? Are you engaged?" I felt bombarded by questions, so I simply ignored them and struggled into the nearest room, which was the old dressing room I avoided. I threw my things on the floor, but something caught my eye. A bright red rose on the vanity. I picked it up, realizing it must have been Charles since it had the same black ribbon. It couldn't be though, I had just left and he hadn't known at all.
"You're exhausting you know..." A breathless male voice said from the corner of the room. I whirled about to see Charles sitting there with his legs crossed.

"You...how did you...?" I began and he stood.
"About a minute after you'd left Therese noticed you getting into our carriage outside the window so I went out and grabbed our horse. I took a few shortcuts...Maddie...why? Why did you leave without so much as a goodbye?" I sighed, not wanting to talk about it and looked down at the dusty old vanity.
"Look...I just needed to go. After last night..."
"I'm sorry about that." He interjected. I nodded.
"Me too...I never wanted to...I didn't want..."
"I know." He said, rising to come to me.
"I'm scared Charles...it's too fast." I said, looking into the huge mirror.
"I won't hurt you Madeleine...what do I have to do to make you trust me?"

I threw my hands up, moving away from him.
"I do trust you Charles...it's just too fast. I wanted our first time to be special, meaningful...maybe after a long engagement. I can't even remember it!" I looked at him and he smiled.
"You thought about getting engaged and married?" He asked and I looked down.
"Forget I said anything..." I said as he advanced on me. I backed up against the mirror with my hands behind my back.
"No...you do care for me...more than you let on..." He said, still grinning like an idiot. I turned my head so he couldn't get to my lips.
"No..." I said as his lips descended but before we could kiss, I heard a small click and the glass to the mirror seemed to push back. I flew forward into his arms as we both turned our heads to see that the mirror had seemingly opened...