A/N: I have nothing to say... Just read, review, and enjoy.

Chapter Thirteen:

Meeting the Girls

A few hours passed since Erik had left her in her room, and she had still not left. She had unpacked and and had just sat on her bed, trying to work up the courage to go talk to Mme. Giry. She knew the woman already knew her secret but everyone else didn't. She looked in the mirror, fingering her short hair. Her hair had always grown fast but it was still only a little bit past her jaw. She looked more like a woman now that she was wearing a dress and did not have a flat chest. She inhaled and walked to the door. She could do this. She opened the door and began walking down the hall towards Mme. Giry's room. She tried to ignore the people staring at her but couldn't help but notice and the whispers as she passed them. She let go of the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding when she reached the room and knocked. She heard a response and opened the door. She entered and shut the door gratefully behind her.

Mme. Giry looked her up and down. "You are very beautiful, you know Darcey," she said after her perusal. Darcey blushed and was grateful when she changed the subject. "The Phantom has given me some notes and has talked to me about your situation. What do you plan on doing?"

"Erik's been talking to you about me?"

She raised a brow at that. "He told you his name? Huh. Yes he has. He asked me for advice for your nightmares. He has also been keeping me informed about your health. I trust you are healthy?" Darcey nodded. "Good. You haven't answered my question. What are you going to do?"

"I think I better stay a stagehand. I want to join the orchestra but I can't until I know the violin better. Erik is going to teach me how to play and when I am ready, I could play in the orchestra if I can."

She nodded. "I will work it out with the managers. As long as you are good, everything will work out. Do you have your own violin?" Darcey shook her head. "I will find you one of your own."

Darcey hugged her in gratitude. "Thank you. It means a lot to me." She was going to get her own violin! She couldn't wait. She didn't care what it looked like as long as she had her own. She had begged her parents to get her one but had eventually given up asking. She was so excited. She was finally getting a violin and learning how to play.

"You're welcome. Why don't you go talk to the other girls. I'm sure they will have plenty of questions for you and I know my daughter, Meg, would love to have you as a friend. Her friend Christine Daae recently left and got married. Meanwhile I'll see what I can do about finding you a violin," she said, hugging her back. Darcey nodded and left to find the other girls.

Darcey wandered around, wondering where they would be. She found random people in the halls, most of which stared at her or whispered to each other. Finally she found a younger girl she thought she recognized as being one of the ballerinas. She approached the girl and tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me. Do you know where the ballerinas are?"

The girl looked at her funny but pointed to a door a few doors down the hall. "They're in the dressing room."

"Thank you," she said before continuing until she reached the door. She didn't know whether to knock or just enter but decided to knock. She heard the sounds of giggling and talking but at her knock, they fell silent. Soon the door was opened by a pretty blond girl. She blinked at Darcey before speaking.

"Can I help you?" she asked. Darcey realized it was Meg. She hadn't seen her this close before, so she hadn't recognized her at first.

"Mme. Giry wanted me to come meet all the girls. I'm Darcey Bois. Er... Actually I'm Darcey Dubois." She almost giggled at the expression on her face and the girls who had overheard.

"Darcey Bois? The stagehand?" Darcey nodded, grinning at their shocked faces. Meg grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room, shutting the door quickly. "Sit. Sit." After she was seated, they began asking questions. All at once.

"You're a girl?"

"Why did you pretend to be a boy?"

Darcey couldn't keep up with all the questions and was beginning to feel overwhelmed. Meg clapped her hands, effectively silencing the girls. "One at a time! We are going to scare her off." She turned to Darcey. "Why were you pretending to be a boy?"

She thought about what to say. She didn't want to tell her whole sob story to them. "I had been living on the streets before I came here and thought it would be best." The girls all nodded in understanding. Life was rough for a girl around their ages.

"Does anyone else have any other questions? One at a time now."

"Is it true that you were kidnapped by the Phantom?" a little, brown haired girl asked.

"Not exactly..." All the girls leaned in closer, sensing a story coming. "I happened to find one of his secret passageways. I decided to wander off on my own and was found by the Phantom. He held me captive but he was very kind. I mistakenly tried to escape and almost died." There was a collective gasp. "He rescued me and took care of me until I recovered and brought me back."

"Does he really have a mask?" an older girl with red hair asked. Darcey nodded. "Is his face really as bad as they say?"

Darcey shook her head. "No. I haven't seen him without his mask, but he really is quite handsome." Meg nudged her making her blush.

"Enough questions about the Phantom," Meg said. "I have a question. Are you still going to be a stagehand or what?"

"For now. I'm learning how to play the violin. Then I plan to join the orchestra." The girls started whispering in hushed tones, worried expressions on their faces. "What?"

"The stagehands are known to get drunk and rowdy. Especially Joseph Buquet. You better be careful Darcey," the red head said.

"She'll be fine. If she has survived this long, she'll be fine," Meg said putting an arm around her.

The girls continued to talk the rest of the day but Darcey didn't participate. She was too busy worrying whether she had made a mistake or not.