Chapter 9

A/N This chapter is through Meg's POV so if it's rubbish, that's why. Thank you all for the beautiful reviews. 3

It had been a month since that night on the pier and I was walking up to Christine's hotel room. I knocked on the door and waited.

Nothing; so I knocked again and this time Christine opened the door with a big smile on my face.

"Oh Meg, This is a surprise." She said as I watched the happy, bright smile fade into a polite, pleasant one.

"Hello. Umm I was wondering if I could talk you. I just wanted to apologize for last month if that's okay."

"Oh, yes. Come in." She said moving away from the door to let me in.

I walked in slowly and could her laughter coming from what I could guess was the living room. I heard a voice talking and knew it at once. It was Erik. A frown crossed my face.

"You can go in if you want." Christine said. I looked over to the living room and back to Christine. The laughter stopped but, at the time, I didn't notice.

"Oh, no thank you. I would rather stay in here than face him."

"I already know you're here Meg." Said Erik's big booming voice from behind me.

I jumped and turned around to face him. I walked backwards and ran into a chair and knocking it over.

"I'll get it." Christine said.

"Erik, you frightened me." I said straightening up and putting my hand on my chest.

"What do you want Meg?" Erik asked me and I felt my tummy do backflips as he said my name.

"I've, um, come to say sorry."

"I don't need you to say sorry." He said turning around to walk away.

"You, you don't?" I asked running up to him and putting my hand on his shoulder.

"No, I don't." He said turning around fast enough to knock my hand off. "I need you to go home." And he kept walking.

"Erik!" Christine said as she saw my head drop.

"Hmm." He said.

"Give her a chance. Please?"
I looked from Erik to Christine and back again hoping he would see reason.

He thought for a moment before saying; "Oh, alright. I'm not happy about this." And he started to walk again before stopping short of the door. "And nor will Gustave."

We had sat in silence for most of the time before Christine's beautiful, ringing voice asked if anyone would like something else to drink.

I could see why everyone was in love with her. That boy in the ballet when we were 13, Raoul and Erik. She was tall, skinny, curly chocolate brown hair and such wonderful manners. Mother had always told me I was the best dancer but that didn't mean anything.

"Gustave, would you like some more juice?" Christine asked.

"No thank you." He said. I knew he didn't want to come any closer to me, and that made me feel awful.

"Gustave come sit down." She said.

"No thank you." He said again.

"I think I should go." I said putting my cup down and standing up.

"No one's complaining." Erik said.

"Erik." Christine said in a low voice.

"What?" He asked.

"Look, I didn't want to start a fight and I didn't want to scare Gustave so I'll go."

Gustave looked up.

"You're not scaring me." He said.

I looked over at him. "If you weren't you would come closer and talk to me."
"Leave him alone Meg." Erik said.

I heard Christine sigh as I got up and walked over to the door.
"I'll see myself out." And I got my coat and walked out. Thankfully I got out before anyone saw me crying.

When I got outside the building I saw a man in a black hat and sneaking about. He beckoned me over but I didn't go. I know what can happen to girls if they go off with strangers.

"Meg!" The man called and I recognized the voice. It was Raoul.

I walked over to him, wiping away my tears and he pulled me into the shadows.

"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I need a favor." He whispered.

"What do you want Raoul?" I asked. "I don't have any money if that's what it is."

"No, no. I don't want money. I want my child."
"You're child?" I said. "What child are you talking about?"

"Gustave. Who else?"

"Raoul Gustave isn't your child he's E-" He placed my hand over my mouth.

"Shh. No he's not. He is my child. Christine has only ever been with me."

"That's not true though." I said moving his hand from my mouth, He stunk of whisky, "And what has this got to do with me? The kid hates me. Have you been drinking?"

"I need you to get close to the family again." He said walking me along to the beach. He put his arm around me so it didn't seem unusual to people walking past. "Once you have, I need you to take the kid and no I haven't."
"Raoul, I really don't want to go back there, it was hard enough when I wanted to without having to do some stupid job for you. And yes you are."

"No I haven't now drop it." I hadn't noticed but there was a small house and, from the amount of bottles outside, it looked like Raoul had been staying here for the last month.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"This is where I live. Do you like it?"

"Not really." I said.

"Oh come now. It's not that bad. You can stay here with me if you like."
I looked at him with a shocked face. "Raoul, can you stop now. You're creeping me out."

"At least come in for a cup of tea." He said.

"I don't drink tea. I hate the stuff."
"Coffee?" He said.

"Alright." I said walking in the door. "If I do this, what do I get in return?" I asked putting my coat on the table near the door. "It's not like you can pay me or anything."
He walked over to me slowly with a slight stagger. He was defiantly drunk.

"Well, I can think of one thing." He said placing his hand under my chin and lifted my face his. He placed a kiss on my lips but just slightly missing. He then moved his lips down my neck resting on my collar bone.