Disclaimer: Same as the last chapter... and the chapter before that and so on.
Yay! So this chapter doesn1t hold much humor and I was sort of lost how on how to make this work, but after much thought and help from an secert helper ;), I have it! I hope you enjoy it! Review please.
Echo impatiently glanced at the doorway. At any moment Erik would appear and they would leave for tonight. She was torn in between feeling sick and excited. Maybe she could just stay here and let Erik go by himself? She shook that idea away quickly, she was no pansy, and being nervous and sick just wasn`t n her character… so then why was she suddenly feeling both at the moment. She glanced at her appearance with a sigh, but smirked a bit. She admitted she looked good, but for some strange reason she was happy that she didn't look like one of the turn head, stunning, model type, but instead she looked good in her own way. She wore a u- necked dark blue dress, that fell to the floor and dragged a little/. She sleeves hanged off her shoulders a bit with a black shawl covering her shoulders. She didn`t wear much jewelry except for a black beaded necklace she had found. As for her hair she managed to put her hair in a tamed yet curly bun on the top of her head, showing off her long pale neck and her bangs were pinned to the side away from her face. All in all she was satisfied that she looked well kept enough for the performance. Now she awaited Erik`s entrance. She rolled her eyes a bit, did it honestly take him longer than her to get ready? He was a male! If anything he should be done before her. She shook her head gathering up her skirts as she stomped out her room very irritated at the moment." I swear Erik if you have ditched me, I will take my butterfly knife too you! I did not get dressed up for nothing!"
" Just a minute woman!" Erik growled from his room. Echo huffed and tapped her foot rolling her eyes." Honestly Erik, I`m sure you look fine. It is rather hard for you not to look fine in my opinion… don`t let that little comment go to your head, you have a big enough ego as it is."
"My ego is all that I have! It`s what makes me the Phantom!" Erik snapped back as he finally emerged from his room, straightening his wig. Echo raised an eyebrow as she cleared her throat." Aren't you going to say anything other than whine?"
Erik finally looked up at her quickly only to satisfy her, but he stopped as he took in her appearance. His expression and thought were much like the first time he saw her dress properly. In other words, though nowadays he found her to be attractive, tonight he felt something else. Something that he had never experienced with Christine. With Christine he had always been the one in control, but tonight perhaps it was Echo who had the upper hand. Echo found his speechlessness and star amusing and a little unnerving, but didn`t let it show, instead she gave him a smirk and walked to him, snapping her fingers in his face." Oi, there is no time to stand there and stare like an idiot, we have an opera to go to."
"Yes, right… allow me to escort you?" Erik finally snapped out of his trance as he offered her his arm and recomposed himself. Echo took it, deciding not to come up with a snarky or witty response and allowed Erik to lead her on. They walked all the way to box five in comfortable silence and slipped into the box after the first scene was over. Like Erik has said, it was better to come late, so their presence could not be discovered. Erik helped Echo sit close to the shadows of the box, as he took his place next to her. Echo couldn`t help but to look around in some curiosity. Almost every seat was filled up with rich looking snobs. Just by looking at some of them, she could point out the more wealthy people. Her eyes landed on a box a bit away from theirs and she was forced not to let out a laugh. Instead an evil smile played on her lips as she stared or rather glared at her, but not really, enemies. The Fop and Christine. Could this night get any better? It took all of her self-control to not disappear from Erik`s side, with her butterfly knife and go attack the fop`s hair with it. She glanced at Erik who was staring intently at the stage watching he performance and sighed. She was here to watch the opera, not try to torture the fop and his wife. She shoved aside her violent, yet amusing thoughts and focused on the Opera, that was in French. To entertain herself she found herself talking to herself in her mind. Why can`t it be in English? Because I`m in France stupid! Yeah but still! It gives me a headache trying to understand what they say. Maybe I should have listened to Erik`s French lessons… oh well. But if I`m in France then why does everyone automatically no English? Does everyone? I don`t know everyone I`ve talked to so far can speak English. What is that a total of four people? So sue me if I don`t like people! Why did I decided to come to this opera again? Oh yes to watch Eve… I suppose the singing is okay. What the hell do I know, I couldn`t give a shit about Opera. Next time I`m staying home!
Echo glanced at Erik for a moment and couldn`t help to smile a little as she saw Erik smile as he watched the performance. Oh fine! I`ll admit it! I didn`t come just to see Eve. I may have come also because Erik asked me and the big guy is growing on me. I may have… alright I have feelings for him. My god what is this opera house doing to me?What is he doing to me? Curse the world for making me all mushy and feel crap, I don`t want to feel!... this whole talking to myself is tiring… yeah I`m done.
Echo forced herself to watch the performance and manage to deal with the French. Erik however had taken his attention away from the performance and now found himself observing Echo. It seemed she was watching the performance a little too hard. At this he smirked, he knew she hadn`t been paying attention to his French lessons. Usually he would be annoyed, but tonight he found it amusing and almost happy that she still didn`t understand French. It meant she still would have to stay with him until she fully understood this time period and French. Oh so now I want her to stay! Well it is certainly not my fault. Living life in solitude doesn`t seem so appealing as it once did… do I really long for company?
No you long for hers.
Erik rolled his eyes at the comment. Could he not think to himself, without his snarky, witty self adding side comments. As I was saying, before you so rudely interrupted, perhaps it is her presence I desire. She interests me in more ways than I originally thought she could. I believe the quote 'do not judge a book by its cove' is the perfect quote for this moment.
A lovely thought! Please ignore me and continue on with your well alleged thoughts!
Erik glared at… well rather himself or at least tired to because it was impossible to glare at yourself unless in front of a mirror so he settled on mentally glaring at himself, before shaking his head an also returning his attention to the Opera that was being played mildly well. There was still errors and things that could be fixed, but he supposed not all operas could be perfect.
Echo praised the good lord that this Opera was only a one act Opera, for if it was any longer she knew she would go mad. It wasn't that it wasn`t good, it just frustrated beyond belief that she didn`t understand the words. She only got that so far it was about a man falling for two woman, a princess and a pauper. Oddly fimilar too her, but this was like the steroid version… at least that`s what she liked to call it. How did this even become an Opera. She assumed that if they really wanted too the could waist time and make anything into a damn Opera. Finally one of the reasons she had even come, came to stage, Eve. Echo now gave Eve her full attention as she smiled. Eve had a dancing solo all to her self. Though Echo didn`t know anything about dancing, she figured all in all Eve was dancing amazingly graceful with all her steps, twists, and turns. Echo couldn`t help but to smile as she watched Eve dance. She really was brilliant! As Eves dance ended and people politely clapped Echo whispered to Erik." So am I right to assume she danced like she was the damn… I don`t know dancing queen?"
Erik raised an eyebrow at her use of words, but was amused nonetheless as he replied." Yes… as you put it she danced like a dancing queen. She had the grace like an angel."
"Good." Echo smiled happy for her friend. For the rest of the Opera Echo remained bored to tears and only smiled or actually paid attention when Eve was on stage dancing. She was half asleep when it ended, but only releazied that they had to go before the lights were brought up when Erik gently elbowed her. She sat up embarrassed and quickly ducked her head to hide the blushg on her faced as Erik led her into the nearest passage way. Erik glanced at Echo as he took her back down." Did you enjoy the opera?"
"Uh… yeah it was captivating." Echo lied badly. Erik chuckled shaking his head." You don`t have to lie, I observed that you seemed bored."
"Don`t laugh!... stupid French got me all confused. I mean really why does it have to be in French, why not English!" Echo grumbled put out. Erik smirked." You do realize you are in France."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know." Echo rolled her eyes once again as she looked forward. Erik gave her an amused look and fell into silence as they continued to go down in a slow walk. Echo glanced at Erik as she sighed." Erik we`ve been friends for a while now."
"Friends." Erik said not as a question but more as a statement. Echo tilted her head a bit as she curiously stared at him wondering if he`d say more. Erik thought out loud." I suppose in a way I can trust you."
"Well who else are you going to trust? The rats?" Echo mumbled quiet enough that it seemed Erik didn`t hear her as he continued thinking out loud."And you always seem to be there…"
"Not like I have anywhere else to go…"
"You`ve also seemed to accept who I am."
"Yep, you and all your insanity."
" We make quite an odd pair."
"The weirdest, messed up, damn pair out there!"
"Yes… I suppose we have been friends for some time, though I`d hardly call it a long time." Erik finally came to his conclusion of thoughts looking to Echo. Echo nodded in agreement." Right…can I ask you a question? You don`t have to answer it, but I`d still like to ask you it."
"Is it one of your ridiculous, confusing questions that you ask in attempt to get inside my mind?" Erik cautiously asked. Echo shook her head as she scoffed." Hell no, I only use those when I want to bug the living hell out of ya. Now shut up so I can ask you it!"
Erik rolled his eyes. She was charming and polite as ever, but he stayed silent motioning her to ask. Echo cleared her throat as she nervously bit her lip, trying to think of what she would be saying next."What I`m trying to ask you or er say is that we are friends. Check. Though we have a twisted relationship, but and I can`t believe I actually have the balls to say this or ask you this because believe me, I haven`t done anything like this before, but uh do you ever think about I don`t know you and me… us together?"
"But we are together; we live together, haunt together, and argue with eachother." Erik said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. Echo mentally did a face palm as she shook her head. He wasn`t getting the point and she frankly did want to go through the embarrassment of saying it again. She sighed and looked down."Never mind."
Erik frowned as he saw her expression. What had he said wrong? She asked if he thought about them together.. They were together what else could she mean? But right at that question Erik`s eyes widened as he stared at her with surprise. She hadn`t mean together like that, she had meant something else, something more serious. Was Echo asking him if he thought about them together as a couple?
Now is your chance. Tell her how you feel about her. Answer her question!
Silence! Erik silently snarled to his inner voice.
No need to get mad. I`m only trying to assist you in winning the fair maiden`s heart, but by all means stay silent and hurt the girl more with your lack of speech.
"You did not mean that kind of together did you?"
"Don`t beat yourself up about it. I said you didn`t have to answer… I don`t give a shit one way or the other." Echo shrugged not looking at him as she talked. Erik stopped walking as he gently took her arm." No I will give you, your answer. I am not good with explaining my feelings so excuse me if I may seem to blunt or frank."
"Like I always say being blunt is better than dancing around things." Echo muttered trying not to look as if she cared, but she failed to hide the curiosity in her eyes. Erik smiled only slightly as he sighed." May you wait for my answer until we reach home?"
"I guess so." Echo nodded, but inwardly groaned. She wanted to know his answer right now. It was very unsettling to have to wait and feel awkward because she just basically told Erik that she had been thinking of them as a couple and he wasn`t saying anything back. Echo sighed, maybe she just should have said nothing, besides wasn`t she technically losing the game right now? She shook her head and smirked, nope the game was to see which one of them would crack and end up telling the other person they loved them or kissing them. At least that`s how Echo thought it went. Echo pulled herself out of her thoughts as she noticed Erik had placed her in the gondola and they were headed towards the lair. She felt her heart jump a little as she impatiently waited for them to reach the shore.
It seemed to go forever, but soon enough they did reach the shore and soon enough Echo was out of the boat and waiting for Erik to answer her question. Erik took his time getting out of the boat and taking off his cape before turning towards her, his thoughts still a little disorganized, but he would answer her question in the simplest way possible. Erik slowly walked up to Echo, as he gently lifted her hand to his lips brushing his lips across her soft hand as he whispered so quietly that Echo almost didn`t catch it." Every single day."
Erik straightened` up and left Echo staring after him lost as he sat down at his organ and started to play. Echo couldn`t help but to stare at him still lost. For the first time it seemed he had literally left her speechless and flustered. Her heart pounded rapidly and her stomach full of butterflies. She had been caught off guard suddenly by an unexpected connection with Erik. She fled to her room to save herself from anymore utter embarrassment, but once in her room, she couldn`t help but to let a bright smile creep up on her lips. Maybe tonight had been worth it after all. Now that she knew Erik too thought about them being too together, it seemed that a new feeling had entered Echo. She felt the need to giggle and squeal like a little phan girl, but to save what little dignity she had left, she didn`t do it. Instead she hummed happily and whirled about her room, until something on her bed caught her eye. It was a single red rose, with black lace tied around it. Echo raised the delicate rose to her nose as she inhaled the scent and smiled even brighter. If she was being anything like herself she would have stormed out of the room and crushed the rose, while yelling at Erik that he was trying to do the same thing he did with Christine, but in this situation Echo was strangely happy and didn`t mind at all and for two simple reasons; Echo never ever had felt this way about anyone and No one had ever given Echo a rose.