Chapter 8: Three years

Sophomore, junior, and now senior year had passed for both Erik and Christine in their separate high schools. Erik never got to visit her, in fact, during his junior year, his parents had been pushing him so hard to get a job that they didn't allow him to speak to her anymore because she was a "distraction." They had sent sparse letters to each other and had brief conversations over text, but there was that unavoidable drifting apart that occurred when you have a relationship over seas, but not a day went by that those two didn't stop loving each other.

Christine never took another boyfriend and stayed in her foster home in Sweden until she was eighteen. She had applied to all sorts of colleges in America just to get back there, to get back to Erik. She had been working for a year to get her green card and be a legal citizen before she went off to college.

Erik hadn't been completely alone throughout school. Eventually he and Meg did become friends and he also became friends with another new kid, Nadir Khan, who was Middle Eastern and was really into health and fitness. They quickly became friends and Nadir was always looking out for Erik, especially around bullies like Raoul. Erik went through a deep depression after Christine had left, but his two best friends had helped him get through it. Meg and Nadir seemed to know something that he didn't, as if they were one step ahead of him and knew this secret. For some reason, they acted like they'd known each other from years past and maintained a strong connection with Erik that he couldn't explain.

Now that he was eighteen, Erik had grown incredibly tall, well over six feet. He was a very accomplished musician in their state and was getting a lot of attention from colleges. When senior year rolled around, he was offered a full ride to NYU for music, but his parents wouldn't allow it. They had told him that being a musician wasn't realistic and that he wasn't good enough. The only way they would allow him to go to NYU was if he went to their business school. He reluctantly agreed just to get away from them. His father owned an apartment downtown and allowed him to move in. Meg and Nadir followed him to New York and he let them live in the huge apartment with him. He didn't want to be without his friends. At this point, it had been well over six months since he had spoken to Christine, in any form of communication, so he threw himself into his work.

Erik hated his business classes and decided to major in music at the same time. He was insanely busy and barely even had time to sleep. Nadir and Meg started to do that same thing where they seemed to know something that he didn't. Erik had no idea, but Meg had contacted Christine and informed her of their going to college at NYU and how unhappy Erik was, but things were about to change.

Now a citizen of the United States, Christine was easily accepted into NYU because she was a minority and wanted to surprise Erik with her arrival. She too had grown up just as Erik had. She had lost all childish looks to her face, it was now angular and beautiful, as well, she maintained the soft, luscious curves of a woman.

When Christine came to New York, she wasn't nervous like she'd been on her first day of high school. In fact, for the first time in three years, things were starting to feel right again. She'd gone through quite the change in Sweden, one that only Meg and Nadir would understand. She eagerly moved into the dorms. She was rooming with Meg who showed her when and where Erik's first class of the day was and where he liked to go after school and work. Christine dressed up for the occasion, wearing a new red dress to spark up memories.

She decided to intrude upon a café he'd go to after all his work was done and he wanted to unwind. He was drinking a coffee with Nadir when she walked in with his back was to her.

Nadir smirked as he saw her come in, "Damn. Gorgeous beauty at twelve o'clock." Erik rolled his eyes.

"I told you Nadir, I'm not dating anyone. Not after Christine…" he sighed sadly.

Christine was right behind him and held her breath before saying quietly, "Hello, my Erik." Her accent was a little thicker after living in Sweden again for three years, but it was still her same angelic voice.

Erik froze and his back went rigid. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, hoping he wasn't dreaming. He turned around slowly. "Christine," he breathed her name in relief.

Erik looked very much the same to her, but far older. His face was chiseled and he must have been a good foot taller now. He wore all black still, but he was dressed nicely with slacks and a button up. His hair was slicked back and he looked to have a five o'clock shadow. He looked like a man now, but there was such childish joy in his eyes at seeing her again. He stood so quickly that he knocked over his chair and engulfed her in his arms. His body was hard and lean with strong muscles now. "God, tell me this isn't a drea..."

"I assure you it isn't and my, have you have grown up," Christine giggled against his chest. She was the most beautiful woman in the room with her hair as golden as the sun and her perfectly sculpted body. She grinned widely up at him and whispered, "Not such a scrawny dragon anymore, my handsome misfit." She sealed their three years away by bringing his face down to kiss her. He was shocked that she kissed him so soon after their meeting, but he welcomed it. He had missed her so much. Nadir cleared his throat.

"Get a room," he chuckled.

Christine pulled back to see who spoke and her eyes widened a bit. She breathed out, "Nadir Khan."

"Christine Daaé," he nodded and stood up to say hello to her.

"I'm sorry," Erik looked at them like they were crazy. "Do you two know one another?"

Nadir gave Christine a warning look and she played it off with a laugh. "Meg had mentioned him on the phone, but I didn't expect her to have tastes in a guy who is actually presentable." Her excuse wasn't far from the truth and she turned Erik's face back towards her. She distracted him by caressing his cheek. "Mm, so I do believe we get to be the school's misfits again now that I've been accepted into NYU and can make your life exciting again."

"You got in too?" He grinned and hugged her again. "So, where are you staying?"

"Meg and I shacked up and I'm staying in her dorm," she sighed happily. Finally, she felt complete now that Erik was back in her life and all was well with the world again.

"We need to catch up. Are you free?" He put on his blazer and threw his coffee cup away. He completely forgot about being there with Nadir.

"I am yours for the evening and for the rest of my life, but what of your friend? You can't just ditch him for me," she chuckled. Christine honestly knew that Nadir wouldn't mind at all since they did need to catch up.

Nadir stood up, "Don't mind me. You kids need to catch up. I'll catch you later." He smirked at Erik and winked at Christine. She gave him a knowing look and nodded subtly without Erik noticing.

When Nadir was gone, Christine looked back up at Erik. "I hear Central Park is a lovely place to walk and catch up," she stated eagerly. "Perhaps we could talk there in a more romantic setting."

"Yeah! Perfect!" He slung his laptop bag over his shoulder. "Do you want a coffee or anything before we go?"

"I'm okay," she chuckled. "I am extremely jet lagged, so I am more awake than you think." She took his hand and couldn't stop smiling. "I've waited a long time for this day."

"Me too." He grinned and they hopped on N train to Central Park. They walked and talked until it was starting to get dark out, not realizing how late it had gotten. They had talked about the friends they'd made, their career choices, how hard it'd been to be without each other, and most importantly: how they still loved each other very much.

"So," Christine trailed off and grinned mischievously at him. "Now that we are properly reacquainted, I don't think it's too inappropriate to ask… Your place or mine?"

"Do we have to be quiet at your place?" He chuckles.

"Hmm, you do have a point. Meg would be there," she smirked. "Your place it is then." He got them a taxi and they headed uptown. They stopped in the Upper West Side, right by the park, and they got out. They entered a very nice building with a doorman who greeted him by name. They took the elevator to the penthouse.

"Well," she breathed out, "this is very nice." That was the last thing she said before kissing him hard as the elevator went up. He eagerly kissed her back, pinning her against the wall. She worked to unbutton his shirt and the elevator dinged at his floor. She grabbed him by his tie and dragged him inside. Erik pulled her into his bedroom and he started throwing off his jacket and shirt. She stripped down, only keeping her promise ring on that she'd kept over all these years.

"I've waited three years for this day," she purred in his ear. He groaned and kissed her hard. He laid her down on the bed and moved over her. Christine wrapped her limbs around him and ran her hands down his smooth back. "I love you still, my Erik, now more than ever before," she whispered in his ear before meeting his lips again with hers.

"I love you too angel," he said in between kisses.

They made love for the first time in three years and proceeded to do so all night long until they were both too exhausted to move. Erik had a tired smile on his lips and mumbled, "This was worth the wait."

Christine, slick with sweat and cuddled right up against him whispered back longingly, "You have no idea."