Chapter II
"Mother, Please, Leave Me Be!"

(A/N: I'm baaack! The title of this one is a variation of 'Mother Please, I'm Scared!" which is from the sequel, Love Never Dies. Now, before you go screaming at me, I actually like (not love; this stuff cannot compare to the original Phantom) the music, but I'm a little iffy on the plot. But hey, if ALW can make it work, I might end up liking it.
And, like Addie, the music from it keeps randomly running unbidden through my head...
I don't own Phantom. Ooh, and random Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child reference. Virtual brownines if you can spot it...)

Adeline made the trek back to her apartment trying not to hyperventilate.

It can't be. It just can't. It's just a story. Just a story that's making your Phangirl brain go haywire. You're jumping to conclusions that are backed by facts that don't exist.

But, the face! He was wearing stage makeup! To cover the disfiguration thing!

That doesn't mean anything. Plenty of perfectly respectable people have birth defects. Inconclusive data.

His name is Erik!

Once again, not decisive. I've knows tons of people named Erik. With and without the 'k'.

The way he spoke! He was French, and then with the whole uber-politeness thing!

Nowhere does it say that the Phantom is French. In the spinoffs I've read, yes. But not in the book or musical.

Well, his last name was Carriere! And that's-

From the Yeston/Kopit version, I KNOW!

Cheese and rice, girl. You don't have to get all snappy with me.

...

...

Cheese and rice?

Shut up.

(POV change{since the little squiggles no longer work})

Lurline Everard sat by her phone, waiting for the ring. When none came, she rolled her eyes and picked it up and dialed her daughter's number. It rang for a few seconds, then the obligatory click as Addie picked up her phone.

"Hello?" Addie's voice came over the line, slightly breathless.

Lurline chuckled. "What, hon? You so caught up makin' out with Brandon that you forget to call your lonely old mother?"

"MOM!"

Lurline smiled. "I know, I know. I've heard your excuses. 'We're just friends,' 'I don't feel that way about him,' 'Lyk, Ohemgee that would be totally puke-tacular.' "

"Okay, when have I ever said that?"

Lurline simply laughed again.

Addie groaned. "You just called to gossip about Brandon, didn't you?"

"For the most part, yeah. It also doesn't help that your Mamma cain't drive her old Oldsmobile no more."

"Yeah, 'cause you went and got your license suspended."

Lurline huffed. "It ain't my fault! Those damn pedestrians need to look where they're going!"

"Uh, Mom? The sign said 'WALK', and you nearly ran over that Times reporter. Smithback, I think."

"Well, last time I checked, press passes don't cover your ass while crossin' the street. An' anyway, I need a ride to Doc Copple, an' your gonna drive me, so there."

"...Alright then Mom. I'll seeya Monday."

"Okay, hon. And if Brandon gives you any trouble between here and there, tell him I'll wallop him good come next Saturday night. Did I mention I'm coming for dinner?"

Addie groaned. "Fine. And for the record," Addie took a deep breath. "BrandonandIareg oingouttonights oIdoubthe'llgivemeanytrou bleunlessIsayit 'sokayandbelieveyoumeitis." There was a click as she hung up.

Lurline put her phone back in it's cradle and chuckled.

(POV change)

Brandon walked up the steps to Addie's apartment, unconsciously smoothing his light brown hair. Approaching the door, he smoothed his tie. Christ, Brandon. Smooth much?

Addie opened the door, and earned a not-very-well-concealed gasp from Brendan.

She was wearing a dark red blouse and a black skirt that ended a couple inches above her knees. She had a pair of black flats on. (Brandon seemed to recall a conversation where she mentioned that when and if she ever wore heels, people would probably end up injured.) She hadn't done anything to her hair, so it fell down her back in it's usual ebony dissaray.

"Wow. Addie you look...Wow."

Addie smirked. "How eloquent. Now, come on." She grabbed his hand and marched out into the hallway, closing the door behind her. "You still haven't told me where we're goin' or what we're doin'."

(TIME change {similar to POV change, yet different})

"Oh my God, Brendan. I think that was the best dinner I've had in weeks." The couple wandered out of the restaurant.

Brendan laughed. "You certainly ate better than I've seen you lately. I don't know what's with you and that Special K stuff."

Adeline smiled. "Some things are better left unsaid." She hugged herself to his arm, trying to escape the cold night.

They continued on in silence for the next ten minutes, walking through the park (a 'long-cut' as Brendan put it). Winter just being over, there weren't many birds in Central Park. Especially at ten at night.

Eventually Adeline stopped and sat down on a bench. "Damn if it ain't cold tonight."

Brendan sat down beside her, still smiling vaguely. Adeline looked at him, an eyebrow raised. "What?"

"Huh? I mean, nothing."

" 'Nothing', huh? Yeah right. What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing of consequence."

Adeline rolled her eyes. "Okay, now you're just being an ass. Spit it out already."

"I did. I'm literally not thinking of anything. Complete empty bliss up here." He tapped the side of his head.

Adeline shoved him playfully, grin widening. "I think I know. You've got that druggee-waitin'-for-his-fix look."

"So what if I do? You're not going to, so where's the point?" Brendan replied, smiling down at her.

"Who said I wasn't? There's no one around, so why the Hell not?"

"Because you hate an audience. Even if it is just me."

Adeline laughed. "True."

"But you do have talent. It's a gift, Addie. You should go audition for something."

"Brandon, you're forgetting on crucial thing. I'm not trained."

"You'd have fooled me."

"Brandon, really-"

"Addie." He grabbed her shoulders and shook her lightly. "You have the most amazing voice I've ever heard. And I'd kind of like to hear it again."

She sighed. "Fine. I give in."

Alrighty, Ads. Song choice...Why the Hell does All I Ask of You keep popping up?

Little Girls. Oh God, he'd crack up if I sang that. Or anything from Oliver!, or Sound of Music, or Mary Poppins, or Oklahoma!, or The Music Man.

(...it's the music in your head. Have you followed where it lead? And been graced with the taste of the beauty underneath? Does it fill your every sense? Is it terribly intense? Tell me you need it too, need the beauty underneath...)

...the Hell? Er, anyway, it's probably going to have to be something from Phantom. Maybe even Wicked. But it can't be awkward like-

(...with a need too urgent to deny, and nothing mattered then except for you and I. Again and then again beneath a moonless sky...)

Urgh. Not again. What was I thinking about? Oh, yeah. Song choice. Hm. Think of Me might be good. Not very awkward, yet still very pretty. Yes, I think that'll work.

(...let hopes pass, let dreams pass, let them die. Without you, what are they for? I'll always feel no more than halfway real till I hear you sing once more...)

SEQUEL MUSIC BEGONE!

"Think of me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye. Remember me every so often, promise me you'll try. On that day, that not so distant day, when you are far away and free, if you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me. And though it's clear, though it was, always clear, that this was never meant to be, if you happen to remember, stop and think of me-"

"Wait. Those aren't the right lyrics."

Adeline sighed. "No, they're the stage lyrics. They're different than the movie and OLC versions."

"Oh. Yes. Carry on."

"Think of August when the trees were green, don't think about the way things might have been. Think of me, think of me waking, silent and resigned. Imagine me, trying too hard to put you from my mind. Think of me, please say you'll think of me, whatever else you choose. There will never be a day when I won't think of you . I'm not gonna sing Raoul's part, m'kay?"

"Go on."

"Flowers fade, the fruits of summer fade, they have their seasons so do we, but please promise me that sometimes you will think- Do I really have to do the bloody cadenza?"

Brandon smirked. "Yep."

"Gah. Fine." Adeline took a deep breath and squinted her eyes shut. ihatethispartireallyhatethis.

She did the cadenza in record time (her shower head would have been proud). "-OOOOooof me." She took a deep breath, trying to replenish her air supply. Brandon applauded, grinning like a maniac. Adeline rolled her eyes. "I gotta get home now. I'll seeya soon, okay?" She stood up to go, but felt his hand on her arm. "What?"

Brandon stood up and pulled her toward him. "You didn't think you were getting out that easily, did you?" he whispered in her ear, before finally kissing her softly, then more urgently.

Adeline's heart momentarily stopped beating. omgomghe'skissingmeomgomg...

Brandon drew back, lopsided grin lighting his features. "Now you can go home," he said, gesturing in the general direction of Adeline's apartment.

She curtsied mockingly. "By your leave, sire." With that, she walked off, humming.

She was too caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice the sound of another set of hands clapping, hidden from view.

(Another TIME change)

"...I'll be waiting in the wings, wound up tighter than a spring, as the house begins to dim. And I'll practice every line, hoping desperately to shine, shining only for him..."

Adeline walked through the dark alley singing to herself. Never mind those potential rapists. Tonight, she was untouchable.

"Hey, pretty lady! Nice voice ya got there!"

Adeline turned around, heart hammering in her chest. So much for Miss Fearless... "What do you want?" she called out in a faltering voice.

"Ha! Didja hear that, Timmy? 'What do we want'?" another voice said, seemingly out of nowhere.

The one apparently called Timmy laughed drunkenly, stepping out of the shadows. "Question bein' what don't we want?"

Adeline was shaking all over. "Leave me alone!" she cried, racing for the nearest door. She found it locked. She pounded on it, making her fist sore and with it's fair share of splinters. She glanced the 'FOR SALE' sign in the window of the building. "SHIT!"

"Hey, no need fer such language pretty lady! Voice like yer's ain't deservin' of it!" the second man said, slipping a largely muscled arm around her waist. "Whatchu say you an' me go-"

"NO!" Adeline yelled, slamming her elbow into the space between his collarbones. She spun around as he let her go, promptly tripping over a loose rock. Holy Christ! Now sure as HELL ain't the time for this!

There was a muffled thump. Adeline stood back up in a hurry, expecting to see that more drunks had arrived. Instead, a man stood with his back to her, facing Timmy.

"I suggest you follow the lady's advice. Leave. Now," he growled in a voice so low it was barely audible.

Timmy snickered. "Whatchu gonna do, mister? Glare me to death?"

The man let out a slightly feral growl and leapt upon Timmy, drawing a rope out of nowhere.

Adeline closed her eyes, wishing that this wasn't real. My God. No! It can't be! He's not real! It's just a book! Just a musical!

When she reopened her eyes, Timmy was lying on the ground, eyes wide and staring, the rope around his next. The other assailant was still rolling around, clutching his collarbone in shock. He was standing over Timmy, breath heaving.

Still slightly trembling, Adeline walked over to him. She set a hand on his shoulder. His head snapped around. Adeline gasped in shock. The mask. Oh my God, the MASK!

He's here, the Phantom of the Opera!

He noticed her shock and glared at her with icy blue eyes. "You're coming with me," he said quietly, grabbing her hand off of his shoulder and leading her away from the two men still lying on the ground, one dead.

(A/N: ZOMG suspense! And a slight Twilight ref. Love the books, hate the movie.
And yes, Addie's in denial about the Phantom thing.
HE KILLED TIMMY!
*cough* By the way, please leave reviews! I love reviews. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...)