I am not giving up on this story. This chapter is very short but I just wanted to get something up here. This story is my baby, seriously. I had written it once before five years ago (but not the way I had wanted and it ended up getting deleted due to the fact that the Official Phantom of the Opera website used to have FF Forums but then terminated it along with all of its stories) so I really want to get it right. I have decided that I will update this story leisurely as opposed to my other story(stories) I have/will post(ed) up.

If you took the time to read this (and still are reading) then I must thank you. Of all my Phantom ideas and plots; this one is my favorite and most personal. thank you.

CHAPTER 12: A Flame Brought to Fame

Christine's POV

All of the students were talented. As the auditions pressed on I started to ponder if the Opera Populaire could even begin to house more people in their dormitories. Food would also be a problem because the cafeteria here was so small. Lorenzo wouldn't have to worry about food though.

Over the past couple days I learned that Lorenzo had a subtle passion for food. He analyzed every meal we ate together in the city and cooked in Raoul's kitchen after insisting to the maids that he would prepare his own dinner in order to not make them work anymore they already had with all of Raoul's daily errands that never seemed to end. Lorenzo had made ravioli one night and made enough to serve more than two people.

"Italians really do specialize in food." I had said to him that night while he placed the ravioli in front of me.

"As do the French because everything I have ate here so far was exemplary."

I remembered taking the first bite of the ravioli he made. I never had tasted something so delicious.

"Lorenzo this is…amazing." I told him.

"You praise me too much." He stated.

Recalling upon this memory I laughed. I did praise Lorenzo a lot, but how could I not? He could compose music, draw, paint, cook, and not to mention the fact that he was so effortlessly captivating.

"When is this over?" a pained voice called from behind me.

"Shut up Cynthia," it was Sherri, Cynthia, and Priscilla sitting in the row behind me and Meg, "I think they're almost done. There's only one more left."

"Thank God." Cynthia replied.

Lorenzo stood up and was called center stage.

"Oh my…who is that?" Sherri gasped.

"His name is Lorenzo Trentacosta apparently." Priscilla answered.

"Well apparently he is breathtaking." Sherri's interest was nothing short of noticeable, and all of the sudden I felt irritated.

"Oh wow…he really is!" Cynthia exclaimed.

"I think you two always pick the most difficult of people." Priscilla stated.

"I don't have any idea what you mean." Sherri scoffed.

"Well you fancy the Phantom, and you Cynthia fancy the Vicom- OW! You stepped on my foot!" Priscilla wailed.

"You idiot- can't you see who's sitting in front of us?" Cynthia strained her voice to a harsh whisper…that really didn't constitute as a whisper.

What was happening now?

Raoul couldn't find his copy of Lorenzo's song and now he couldn't perform it? I couldn't help but feel angry with Raoul. He had signed Lorenzo up for today's session without first locating his composition. Even though I didn't know Lorenzo for more than several days I didn't want him to leave. He was the only person I could talk to without the pressure of my engagement, the prima donna status, and Erik. Erik! I was incredibly mad with him as well! He took Lorenzo's composition deliberately! I then realized…Erik was probably here. If that wasn't enough to drain the blood from my face then what I heard next had finished the job.

"I can sing." Lorenzo declared.

Arrangements were soon made for everyone to prepare to listen to Lorenzo sing. Madame Giry called upon Meg to go to the dressing room to fetch a box that contained some sheet music in it.

I noticed that Monsieur Leonce, one of the teachers of the Academy, had not spoken the entire time up until now with Lorenzo's introduction. Monsieur Leonce was the youngest of the teachers. He had brownish-auburn hair and a bit of scruff about his face but looked well kept.

When Meg returned with the sheet music Monsieur Leonce gave Lorenzo and Edwin Thornton, the tall American dancer and pianist with untidy blonde hair, five minutes to look over whatever sheet music that was given to them.

I was nervous for Lorenzo. The entire ensemble that was already employed by the Opera Populaire and seated in the audience chairs, me included, knew that learning a song in five minutes was impossible. To make the odds turn more against Lorenzo, there was only one copy of sheet music, and if Edwin Thornton couldn't remember the music or Lorenzo forgot the lyrics and was out of tune; the audition would be a disaster.

"What's the title of the song you're going to sing Lorenzo?" Monsieur Leonce asked.

"Music of the Night."

I couldn't breathe. How on earth did Madame Giry get her hands on that music? Lorenzo could not sing this song. I knew Erik was here watching. Where else would he be? I couldn't begin to imagine how Erik would react to Lorenzo singing a song that we shared together…and I never thought in my life I would ever hear this song again.

"Very well, you may begin."

Lorenzo walked towards the front of the stage and faced the audience. He looked past and beyond them…something I had done some months ago.

"Night time sharpens. Heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defenses…"

No.

Gasps from the audience and the stage sounded at the sweet and endangering sound of Lorenzo's voice. Lorenzo now held everyone's attention. As he continued to sing I felt tears escape my eyes. This was his music. Erik had wrote this song for me, and now everyone could hear it. Never did I think a voice could match up with Erik's but...Lorenzo was not an ordinary person.

"…Let your mind start a journey through a strange new world! Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before! Let your soul take you where you long…to be!"

His voice boomed through the entire amphitheater like thunder and struck everyone within it. Lorenzo's eyes were closed as his chest rose to perform the next verse.

"…Floating, falling, sweet intoxication. Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation…" his voice hissed in a way that made me feel…guilty.

"…Let the dream begin! Let your darker side give in to the power of the music that I write…the power of the music of the night!"

Everyone rose to their feet and started clapping and cheering.

"The song's not done yet!" I screeched.

When I realized what I had just said I looked around me to notice the people close enough to hear were staring at me. Meg gave me a questioning look.

"Are you okay Christine?"

"You alone can make my song take flight!" he effortlessly sang over the applauding and the entire room fell silent. "Help me make the music of the night."

He bowed his head down slightly but was then tackled by students that rushed towards him. Everyone was cheering again and the entire room was ecstatic.

Monsieur Leonce leapt over the staff's table and walked over towards Lorenzo, "It is my pleasure to announce to all of you that Monsieur Lorenzo Trentacosta will be attending the Fine Arts Academy this year!"

This conducted more cheering. No one had even gotten a direct affirmation that they could keep their slots in the program. Only Lorenzo was granted that luxury.

"I knew it! I knew I made a wise decision!" I was surprised to see Raoul right by Lorenzo's side in a state of excitement.

I noted the uncomfortable expression sprawled about Lorenzo's face. Lorenzo looked up into the audience and our eyes locked. He gave a small crooked smile and I returned one back.

"I should go." I said to Meg.

I went back to my room in the ballet dormitories and lay down upon my bed.

So many thoughts filled my head that it had begun to hurt.

There were three things I was absolutely certain about though;

Lorenzo was not an ordinary man.

Lorenzo was someone who would make things change drastically here.

Finally,

Lorenzo would stay,

And live in the Opera Populaire along with the rest of the students, Me, and the Phantom of the Opera.