Disclaimer: I do not own PhofOp.

Concluding To Attempt

"I can't believe it." Christine declared in doubt. She shook her head. "I won't."

"I think you're being a little overdramatic about this." Raoul stated with an amused grin. "I thought you would be happy."

"Maybe after I wrap my head around this." She countered. She pressed her finger to her forehead for a moment then pointed at Raoul. "You're serious?"

"This is the third time I'm telling you and the answer is the same. Yes, I'm serious." Raoul confirmed, his lips twitching as if he was fighting back laughter.

"Can you blame me? I mean, why the sudden shift?" Christine put her hand down and rested it on her table. They were in their dorm's common area and Christine was sitting at one of the tables while Raoul took up the couch. He was behind her and she had to twist around in her seat to look at him.

Raoul shrugged. "I got to know him better."

Christine thought about for a moment, than scowled. "That's what Meg and I have been telling you to do all semester!"

"I didn't want to back then!" Raoul protested. He sat up on the couch, his weight on his elbows. "And you know what? Erik agreed with me! He said that my opinion made sense based off what I saw, so there!"

At the end, Raoul stuck his tongue at her and she instantly replied by doing the same. A second passed, Christine turned away with a sigh.

"I'm surprised, okay? I'm happy that you got over that and won't constantly glare at the mention of his name anymore."

Raoul chuckled and lied back down. He placed his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. "Yeah, I guess. It couldn't be that much a jump. You know I thought he was hot this whole time, but was a jerk. That parts gone."

"True." Christine agreed, placing her hands on the back of the chair and leaning on it. "He's your type. That much was obvious."

"And he's yours. " Raoul countered, gazing up at the ceiling. He gave her a side glance. "Want to go after him?"

"I'm not sure we should." Christine stated. Raoul turned his head, his eyes wide in surprise. She continued. "Not yet anyway. The semester is almost over, there's no point in starting something that's immediately going to be cut off. Plus he's your TA which I don't think looks good if others found out."

"Wait until next semester?" Raoul offered. Christine nodded. "Okay, I can go for that."

"This is going to be fun." Christine smiled. "We haven't tried to date another since…"

Abruptly Christine cut off and shivered, thinking back to their last relationship with a third. It hadn't ended well.

Raoul also shuddered on the couch. "I thought we weren't ever going to mention that again."

"Sorry." Christine apologized.

"It's cool." Raoul stated. "I think it will be fun too."

"There is a thing." Christine started than stopped.

Raoul turned his head to glance at her again. "What?"

"Meg told me something about Erik that's interesting. Personally, I don't see it as a problem and I told Meg that, but you probably don't know about it."

"Are you going to keep me in suspense or are you going to tell me?" Raoul questioned.

"Meg told me Erik was asexual." Christine informed him. He gave her a blank stare. "Yeah, I didn't know what it was either. Meg told me that it basically means that Erik isn't attracted to anything sexually."

"Never heard of it." Raoul stated with a frown. "How would—"

"I was getting to that." Christine interrupted. "Meg also told me that he was bi-romantic which means he's open to having a relationship with men and women. He just not into those things, he doesn't see people that way."

"How does he see them?" Raoul questioned with a curious squint.

Christine shrugged. "Meg mentioned something about art pieces. There are art forms you like, some you don't, but you never think about them that way. I don't know, I'm probably saying it wrong. Meg said to ask Erik if we want specifics."

"We'll probably have to, last thing I want is to scare him off because we do something too pushy." Raoul sighed.

"Yeah, but Meg also told me that if we're serious, we have to make things obvious for him." Christine reluctantly stated. "Apparently, he's oblivious to these things."

"Damn, that's going to make things more complicated, but I guess that makes things more interesting." Raoul declared. He sat up completely and swung his legs over the couch and his feet touched the carpet floor. He clapped his hands together. "Okay, Operation Get Erik to Date Us is a go!"

Christine laughed. "You mean, after winter break?"

"Oh right. You know what I mean." Raoul dropped his hands.

Christine nodded with a grin. "We haven't done an 'operation' since we were kids!"

"Adds to the fun doesn't it?" Raoul winked making Christine laugh again.

"Hey Erik." Christine called out upon spotting the older student in one of the food courts.

Erik blinked his golden eyes once as if coming out of his thoughts before turning to her. He gave her a small grin. "Hello Miss Daae."

"Getting lunch in between classes?" Raoul came up from behind Christine and stopped next to her.

Erik shrugged. "Yes, but I miscalculated my meal plan and have to pay for it."

"Whoa, what? No way are you doing that. Come on." Raoul declared and gestured for Erik to follow him.

Erik did with a confused frown but when it became clear what Raoul was going to do, he backed away. "Oh no, I could not ask for you to pay."

"Who's asking? I'm offering and you're going to accept." Raoul countered. He got back out of line to let other's move up.

"I cannot do that either." Erik protested.

"Look." Raoul held up his ID card between two fingers. "Me being a freshman and all, I bought a meal plan way too big for me and have plenty to go around before the semester ends. Christine, being the smart girl she is, didn't make the same mistake and I'm paying for her lunch too."

Erik appeared hesitate and Raoul continued.

"You would actually be doing me a favor because if I don't use up all this money, it'll just disappear into the college's pocket, and I don't want that to happen. Help me out?"

"I'll certainly help!"

Antoinette suddenly came out of nowhere and came behind Erik. She grinned as she threw her arm around his shoulder and leaned into him. "What's this about free food?"

Erik gave her a small scowl but didn't move away.

"I think the invitation was only opened to Erik." Nadir stated, coming up and stood on Erik's other side.

Antoinette slumped with a sigh. "Darn it. Got my hopes up for nothing."

"You have enough money to pay for yourself." Erik told him with a grin.

"Yes, but free food always taste better." Antoinette refuted.

"What do you think Raoul?" Christine asked him softly.

"I think I have an idea." Raoul answered then spoke louder to get the trio's attention. "How about this then. I'll pay for both of your lunches too, if Erik agrees to let me buy his."

Erik immediately opened his mouth to protest but Antoinette covered his mouth with her hand.

"That sounds lovely!" Antoinette grinned. She turned to Erik who was giving her a challenging look. "Let's not be too hasty. Come on Erik, it's a free lunch. You wouldn't want me and Nadir to go hungry do you?"

"Leave me out of it." Nadir remarked with a shake of his head.

Christine watched Antoinette and Erik do a staring contest, to see which of them would break first. She was impressed by Antoinette's ability to last long, Erik's stare was intense when he wasn't doing anything, and she could only imagine what it felt like to be under those eyes when he was trying to stare someone down. Then again, Antoinette was a childhood friend, she was probably long used to it.

Still, it was impressive.

What broke the staring contest was a sound breaking through. A stomach growling.

"Ah," Antoinette blinked and looked away as she placed her hand on her stomach.

Erik chuckled. "Okay fine, let us get you something to eat then."

He glanced up at Raoul. "If you are still offering?"

Raoul shrugged but had his easy-going smile. "Yep, come on."

"Promise me that you are not going to over study and make sure you get a full night's sleep." Erik demanded as he closed his book.

Raoul didn't say anything, Christine elbowed him in his side. That earned her a scowl from him but he turned to Erik. "Fine."

"That was not a promise." Erik stated and sat back in seat to wait.

Raoul waved his hand dismissingly. "Okay, I promise."

"To?" Erik had an amused smirk on his lips.

Raoul scoffed. "To not over study and to get a full night's sleep. There. Happy?"

"Ecstatic." Erik replied calmly and made to stand up.

"Got to do your own studying for finals?" Raoul questioned.

Erik shook his head. "No, I do not need to study, I'm going to the music hall to use their piano."

"Working on some new pieces?" Christine asked.

"You could say that." Erik grinned.

"Well, since this is the last time, we're going to see you until next semester, here." Raoul held out a piece of paper. "It has our numbers on it. Make sure you text us your number too."

"Alright." Erik agreed, taking the paper from Raoul's hand. Christine saw Raoul lift his fingers enough that they touched the bottom of Erik's hand. Raoul was the one that was usually the less subtle one, however, Erik didn't seem to notice the gesture. That was fine, they already agreed to not put their efforts in until next semester.

Erik looked down at the paper for a moment. "I will make sure to do that, I cannot wait to hear how you do on the final."

Raoul groaned. "I'm not going to want to talk about that!"

"If you do not tell me, I will assume that you did poorly." Erik smirked, putting the paper in his pocket. "And that would devastate me and my confidence in my ability to teach."

"You know what? Leave!" Raoul huffed.

Erik chuckled but waved goodbye at Christine before walking away.

"Why do we like him again?" Raoul asked her once Erik was out of sight.

"Because he's smart, kind, musical, and hot as hell." Christine deadpanned.

Raoul nodded seriously. "Oh right, that why. Musical is kind of more your thing, but I'll agree with the rest of them."

"He's also sarcastic but in a funny way and has a wicked sense of humor sometimes." Meg remarked, looking up from her own studying.

"Also true." Christine agreed.

Raoul licked his lips. "My kind of man."

"I can't believe all it took to convince you about Erik was one conversation." Meg rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to your friends, but Erik says one line, and you're his."

"Whoa, I wouldn't go that far yet." Raoul protested.

Christine placed her chin in her hand with a grin. "I wouldn't mind being his."

"About that…" Meg trailed off as she observed the two of them. "When exactly are you going to tell him about you guys being polyamorous and you want to date him?"

"Next semester." Christine answered, placing her hand back down and straightening. "It was too close to the end of this semester to start anything. We wanted the time that wouldn't be interrupted. Besides, this gives us more time to get to know more about him."

"Alright." Meg conceded. "But don't forget my warning."

Christine smiled. "We won't. I really think this is going to work out."

This chapter was literally based on the prompt 'if I don't use up all this money, it'll just disappear into the college's pocket, and I don't want that to happen.' Lol. Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, leave me a review if you did. Next chapter will be in Erik's POV. See ya next time and Happy Thanksgiving.