So I am using Leroux characters but I prefer Christine with brown hair and Meg with blonde hair. I also like Raoul with dirty blonde hair… and no moustache. I usually imagine Christine as Sierra Boggess with a mix of Harriet Jones. Meg is book Meg but with blonde hair. Raoul is Hadley Fraser. You are free to imagine whatever character however you like, though. I want you all to be able to enjoy the story. Just giving an insight on how I see them. Read and review!

Warmth!

She stood outside the theatre wearing a big, green coat. It was her fathers. It was helping to remind her that she was doing this for him.

She was doing this for him.

Taking a deep breath, she recalled her and Meg's conversation an hour ago.

"Meg. You know that whole donation thing the MET is doing?"

"Mercedes Edwards Theatre? Yeah."

"I… I think I'm gonna audition to be in one of the bands."

Meg looked amused. "This boring ice cream job not enough to fulfill your desires? Quench your thirst?"

"No! I just… well. I'm kind of doing it for my dad. He died a while ago but he loved music and… and I know he would of liked to watch me."

"I was just kidding, Chris. Go ahead. When is it?"

"In an hour."

"Oh, shit." Meg laughed and Christine felt her nerves tense up. "Don't worry, you'll be great! You know what? I might audition to be on the crew. Back in high school, I did the lights for Peter Pan."

Now it was an hour later, and the weight of the keyboard case was getting heavier and heavier. Ms. Valerius had a friend who said Christine could have it. Christine felt herself shaking as she walked in through the doors. A man with a grey beard greeted her and she nodded back. Her oversized coat now seemed too thin.

She walked into the room she was supposed to go in and was met with a wave of people. Some old, some young, some in chairs, other's standing. Some laughed really loud. Some kept to the corners and were quite. Some came with friends. Some came alone.

She went up to one of the tables and got an application.

DATE: 3-31-2017 FULL NAME: Christine Elaine Daae

AGE: 22 DOB: 10-28-1995

GENDER: Female

CHOICE OF INSTRUMENT: Keyboard

ANY EXPERIENCE: I played the piano at church sometimes.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME? Read or take walks.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL ARTISTS? The Sugarcubes are my favorite band but my favorite opera is Rigoletto.

AVE YOU EVER LOST SOMEONE DUE TO AN ILLNESS?

She crinkled her forehead at this question. Was it any of their business? Why was that even in there? It had nothing to do with the fact of being in a band. She marked that one "Parents." She ignored the chill she felt. As she finished it putting in her phone number and answering other tedious questions, she felt annoyed at her handwriting. She usually wrote in cursive and was very good at it, but this said to PLEASE PRINT. Her regular handwriting was not that good. She turned it in and got a number for her to wear.

#92

Nine was her favorite number so she took it upon herself as good luck. She stuck the sticker on her shirt and made a quick prayer.

A few hours passed and Christine's anxiety was swept away. She know was tired and ready to get this over with. She hadn't played with her phone because she felt it made her look rude. Plus she didn't want anyone thinking she was just another teen who never got off their phone. Instead she was a confident adult who came in today in honor of her father.

Yet, when her number was called, she practically squeaked. She made her way up to the stage, ignoring the hundreds of eyes watching her every movement. She was doing this for her father. She was doing this for her father.

"Miss.… Day?" a male voice called out.

"Daae." She kindly corrected with a smile even though in her head she shouted "I wrote down how to pronounce it on the paper, you asshole!"

"What are you here for today, Ms. Daae?" the male judge asked. He had dark skin and glasses.

"I… would like to join a band."

"And what part would you like to play?"

"The keyboard."

"Ah, yes. A lot of people don't think about it but the keyboard is essential to the band. The drums are the beat, the guitars are the rhythm, the voice is the puzzle complete, but who is the soul? The keyboard."

"Heh. Yeah." She clasped her hands together and gave a nervous smile.

At the lack of her enthusiasm, he waved his hand. "Show us what you can do."

She nodded and took out her keyboard, plugging it into the projector. After hitting a few notes to warm her fingers up, she began to play a simple song with an upbeat rhythm. When she finished, two people clapped.

"Thank you, Ms. Daae. We will call you if we'd like to see you again."

Feeling defeated, she packed up her stuff and left the stage. She began to make her way out the doors when she heard a familiar voice. "Christine!" It was getting closer. "Christine!"

She spun around only to be face to face with Raoul.

"Raoul! Hi."

He was out of breath. "Hey. I can't believe you're here. Hey," he held out his phone," You must have put in the wrong number. Every time I call, I'm met with a fax machine." She looked at his phone and saw that she messed up one number, putting a 7 instead of 1.

"Oh Raoul I am so sorry! I messed it up. Hold on."

"No problem. I just didn't want you to think I was a jerk or something."

"Oh. Yeah." She had gotten so close to deleting his number but lied to herself he was just busy. She relieved to find out it was her own ignorance and mentally remembered to yell at herself later.

"Was that you up there? Just now?"

"Playing the keyboard? Yeah."

"You sounded great! I've never heard you play before."

"Yeah well, I don't think I'm gonna get a call back."

"Why not?" he seemed confused.

"Because I wasn't that good, and there are people way better than me."

"No. I'll talk to them. You'll get in." She suddenly very violently remembered Raoul's father was in charge of the whole thing.

"No, Raoul. No."

"What? Why not?"

"Because it wouldn't be fair. I don't want to get in just because you told them to."

"No, I won't force them. I will just… persuade them. Nicely."

"Please. For me? I want to know I did this on my own."

He thought for a second. "Fine. But you have to let me take you out to lunch after giving me a fake number."

She smiled. "Alright. As long as you promise to call me later."

"It's a deal?"

"Deal."


"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave."

Nathaniel groaned, sweat beading on his forehead. "No. You need to listen to me. It could mean life or death!"

The man spoke into his headset. "Security needed at post 8."

"Oh, no. Don't call the security. Don't you care that hundreds of people's lives could be at stake?"

He didn't get an answer. The security guards on the other hand were very kind to say "Do not come back in this area or we will call the police."

"Go ahead! Call the cops! I already tried. See if they care!" Nathaniel spit as they kicked him out. Nadir met him on the sidewalk with a smug look.

"Well?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

"Alright. Finish your little tantrum. We've found something."

Nathaniel's eyes widened. "What?"

"You know the Savemart a few blocks down? All the water bottles were replaced and the letter V was carved into the floor."

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Did anyone drink any of it?"

"A few people bought some until a worker noticed the labels were changed."

"Now what do we do?"

"I suggest we still stay at this place but keep an eye out."

"Is that what he suggested?"

"Nathaniel-"

"Why doesn't he ever make direct contact with me? He treats me like an annoying child he's forced to be around."

Nadir cracked his knuckles. "Hell, I have no idea. But I follow what he says. He's really smart you know."

"It doesn't matter." He huffed. "What are we to do now?"

"Nothing."


"Yes! Yes! And then-" he bursted out laughing, unable to finish his sentence.

Christine finished it for him "Then she told us if we could be on time every day for a whole week, we'd get a prize." She giggled.

"I can't remember! Did we do it?"

"Nope. We were 20 minutes late Monday." That just made them laughed even harder. Christine's dad used to drive the both of them to school and they had always been late.

When they sobered up, Raoul took a long look at Christine, admiring the way her curly brown hair fell in front of her eyes. Before she could move it, he reached over and wiped it away.

"You know, I forgot how much I enjoyed spending time with you."

She blushed. "Yeah, me too. I'm really glad I get to see you again, though."

"Well we will just have to see each other again, won't we?"

"That is possible." It was three when she auditioned. It was six now, and it got dark earlier since the time change.

"Maybe Thursday night… at 8. At Casa Corona." It was a popular Mexican restaurant.

She took a sip of her drink. "Is that a date?" she teased.

"I guess it is." He jokingly replied until they both realized the extent of the meaning. Christine blushed and Raoul cleared his throat. "Well, I have overstayed my welcome. I have to get going."

"I'm sure Starbucks doesn't mind you staying a little longer."

"Yeah, but my dad will." He grabbed her hands as he sat up. "I really enjoyed spending time you. Really."

"Me too, Raoul."

He looked into her eyes for just for a moment, cherishing the time with her, then kissed her palm. The warm breeze accompanied the two and her curls flew through the air. "Are you sure you don't need a ride?"

"I'm sure." She smiled.

"Until next time." He smiled and she smiled back. He then turned away from her and left her, a feeling of something pooling in his stomach. He couldn't wait for it to be Thursday.

As he got in his car, his phone began to ring. It was Philip. "Hey. What's up?"

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Just about to drive home. Is something wrong?"

"Nah. But get this: today at auditions, there was this guy protesting about this, like, poison water or something. He wouldn't leave and we had to get the security involved, man."

"That's crazy, dude. But hey, speaking about auditions, do you, uh, remember a Christine Daae?"

"The girl we saw at Baskin Robins? Yeah, she auditioned."

"I'm gonna need you to do a favor for me."

"Depends. Does it help you get the girl?"

"Philip! It doesn't matter. It would make her happy and that's all that matters. But you can't tell her I did this."

"You haven't told me what it is yet."

"You need to give her a part in a band."

"What does she play, again?"

"The keyboard."

"Ah. Yeah. Okay. That can be arranged. Do you know what number she was?"

Raoul grinned. She had forgotten to take off her number and had worn it throughout the day. "92." It was the little things like that which made him miss her even more.

"Okay. It's done. But you better pay me back."

"How about letting you win at Mario Cart?"

"If you lose at Mario Cart, that will not be because you let me, it will be because I'm great at the game."

"Yeah. Tell that to my high score."

"Do you want me to do this for you or not?"

"Yes. Yes, please. I'm sorry. I need you-"

"Jeez, Raoul. I knew you liked the girl and missed her a lot but dang."

"Cut it out man. It would mean a lot if you did this."

"I'll do it. Not for the girl, but because she means that much to you. And for my Mario Cart high score."

"Thank you." They then finished up the conversation and Raoul hung up with a relieved grin. Losing his high score was worth it.

Definitely worth it.