Yaaaaay 'tis Chapter Eight. Eight is my favorite number. This chapter is going to be a bit fluffy between Erik and Lucy, but not romantic fluff. (The fluff in this story is more comedic [like Fluff Night at camp, where we all dive for the one knife in the bin o' fluff. {MMMMnnnn fluffer-nutter wraps with banana, nothing is better.}])

9/8/11-Oh, I also redid chapter one. I was told by a fellow writer and critique (you know who you are) that I forgot to describe my leads. So, If you actually want to know what the characters look like, retrace your steps.

Chapter Eight

Where is she? The Phantom paced at the bottom of the spiraling stairwell, awaiting Lucy's arrival. It was going on 11 o'clock and there was no sign of her. He was starting to become a cross between very worried and very agitated, but mostly the latter. He knew this was a bad idea in the first place. He prepared to go when he heard the quick offbeat thuds of feet and cane running as fast as they could. Lucy would have knocked both of them over if the Phantom had not been there to catch her.

"Where were you?" The Phantom exclaimed, giving Lucy a burning leer, as he roughly grabbed her arm.

"Excuse me, but you have no idea what I had to go through to just get through the mirror." Lucy pulled her arm out of his grasp and grabbed his hand instead. He stiffed at her touch, but slowly relaxed. "Danielle, being the snitch she is, enlightened Annabelle and Charlie yesterday about my 'disappearance' and 'return' last night in near perfect detail. Thank Heavens that she didn't see your face or she, being a scardy cat, would most likely screamed and awakened up half of the opera house. Anyway, when I was alone in my room, sliding the mirror open, Annabelle and Charlie walked in. They started nagging me saying that I shouldn't go and it is dangerous, etcetera, etcetera. I was stuck there for a good 20 to 30 minutes." Lucy described the events quickly so not to bore either The Phantom or herself.

They walked a few minutes in silence, taking in the sights. The halls were dark and damp. It took Lucy some time to realize they were going away from " The Common Space". God it is such a horribly catchy name. Curse you, Danny!

"Excuse me, Monsieur."

"Hmmn"

"I believe we are going the wrong way." Lucy stared into his deep green eyes as he chuckled back.

"We are going to my home. The student comes to the teacher. What, what is it, Lucy?" He noticed the look on Lucy's face and realized it was because they had reached the lake. "Take my hand." She obeyed as he led her to the hidden boat and helped her in.

"Wait, was this here all this time?" Her head cocked and she raised one eyebrow as he started to row across.

"Well, I have had no need of it recently since…well actually, the night before the…uh…incident, which started 'this'." The Phantom made theatrical gesticulations referring to the two outcasts on the lake.

"So, you mean to tell me that, instead of wading through the ice-cold lake with god knows what in it, I could have taken the BOAT!"

"Was it really that well hidden?" The Phantom mumbled to himself, not thinking Lucy could hear him.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Lucy launched back, able to hear him.

"Well with THOSE senses, Little Miss Bold, I thought you would have found it."

"Is that an insult?"

"No my dear," The Phantom docked the boat on the other shore and helped Lucy out. He made her face him and stare deep into his eyes as he cupped her little head in his hands, "That is a compliment."

"Let me hear your range again. Sing me the Middle C Scale." The Phantom was seated at his organ with Lucy beside him, her bad leg bent and placed on the bench.

"Can you please tell me what is so interesting about my range, when you, obviously, are not challenging it?"
"You know, I have never met anyone, let alone a young, crip-I mean disabled girl, speak so forward towards me." Lucy jokingly stuck her hand out and greeted, "Well Bonjour, my name is Lucy. What is yours?" He grabbed her hand and replied, "Erik."