As the music began again, the ballerinas quickly restarted their routine, preparing for tomorrow night's performance. Erik couldn't help but smirk as he watched Ella twirl and leap across the stage. In the past few days, she had gotten visibly better at dancing. Not enough to be the best, not quite yet, but Ella was beginning to shine just a little more. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

After rehearsal finished, Ella hung back just like she had every day for the past week. Erik stayed hidden in the shadows, waiting to see what she was going to do. For a few minutes she waited in silence, her eyes scanning the theater, waiting for a sign. When she didn't receive one, she began humming a soft melody, growing louder and louder the more time passed. Eventually she sighed and walked away.

When Ella vanished from sight, Erik stepped out into the open and found himself staring in the direction she had gone. For now, he had been holding back to make sure that she was really serious about wanting his help. After spending the week unknowingly under his observation, Ella had earned a real lesson, Erik decided. With a swish of his cape, he made his way to her dressing room.

He could see Ella's shadow through her dressing screen, so he slipped out from behind the mirror, and moved quickly and silently as a ghost, placed a note on her vanity, and was able to disappear back into the secret passage before she emerged. She snatched up the note, her eyes dancing around the room, searching for his hiding spot. Erik smirked, knowing she would never suspect the glass mirror. Finally she shrugged and placed the note aside, but Erik swore he saw a small smile touch her lips for a brief moment, and he knew instantly that she would answer his call.

Ella was getting tired of waiting. She began to hum, hoping it was enough to call Erik to her because she was still too afraid to sing, but the theater around her remained silent. For a moment, she wondered if that meant there was still someone here, but eventually she admitted he wasn't coming.

"Erik where are you?" she wondered aloud. Their meeting had been a week ago. He had promised they'd be in touch, but the only contact they had since was that Ella had felt watched ever since, but honestly, that was nothing new.

She sighed and entered her dressing room. Feeling slightly dejected, she grabbed her dress and went behind the screen to change. As she was finishing, a slight creak sent her on high alert. It sounded almost like a footstep. Cautiously, Ella stepped out, wondering who was in here with her. To her surprise, it was completely empty. She rolled her eyes at her own jumpiness. This whole Phantom affair had her more paranoid than usual.

Ella reached for her hairbrush, but her hand froze midair when she spotted the cream-colored envelope lying next to it. She picked it up, turning it over, before looking around again. Erik truly was a phantom, able to get in and out, nearly undetectable, without leaving a trace. Giving up on looking for him when she knew she never would find him, Ella turned back to the note.

Same time, same place

E

Well that was blunt, she thought with a smile. For a moment, she wondered why he signed it E because according to the rumors, he always signed his notes O.G. and he always sealed them with a red wax skull. Then she realized that the note was vague enough that if anyone were to find it, no one would be able to guess its real meaning or who exactly E was. No one would ever suspect that it was talking about a singing lesson with the Phantom of the Opera.

The rest of the afternoon passed by in a blur. Ella couldn't help but try to picture what Erik had planned for her first lesson. After all, he said she was perfectly capable of singing. How could you teach someone to not be scared of performing? Because she wasn't really scared of performing, she was just absolutely terrified of the audience.

"Ella, are you okay?" Meg asked, bringing Ella out of her head again. "You've been so spaced off today, it's not like you. You're not getting sick again are you?"

"No I'm fine," she replied with a shake of her head. "My head's just not entirely in one spot today." Ella glanced at the clock: nearly seven. Erik would be waiting for her, which meant she needed to separate herself from her friend.

Luckily she didn't have to. The door to their room opened and Madame Giry walked in and Meg ran over to her mother for the two to discuss the upcoming performance. With both of them distracted, Ella quickly slipped out of the dorms and made her way down to the chapel.

When she reached the small stone room, she saw Erik studying to stained glass window intently. She took a deep breath to announce her arrival but he seemed to sense her presence. "I was starting to wonder if you got cold feet," he said without turning around.

"I'm sorry," Ella apologized. "I needed to get Meg to leave me alone long enough for me to sneak away."

He raised an eyebrow. "We aren't going to be interrupted are we?" Erik asked his meaning not lost on her.

She shook her head frantically. "I didn't tell anyone this was where I was going and the only person who ever follows me seems to be you." Ella looked up into his eyes. "But you'd been so quiet lately; I was beginning to think that you decided I wasn't worth it."

"I was just keeping track of your progress. I wanted to see how much you were capable of on your own."

"I…I don't understand," Ella stammered. "What progress?"

"Your dancing has improved." Her dancing? She had just been trying to attract Erik's attention because she thought he had abandoned her. "And you're beginning to stand up for yourself whenever Jacqueline torments you."

Ella sighed. "If you haven't noticed, she's beginning to torment me even more."

"Because you're her biggest competition," Erik explained. "I'm not the only one who's noticed your improvement. Although I knew if you really wanted my help, you were going to get better if I waited."

Ella couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance. It seemed like he knew what she was going to do three steps before she did! "Alright, since we're both here, what are we going to do first?"

"With the basics obviously."

"I thought you said I already knew how to sing!" Ella protested "If that's the case…"

Erik placed a gloved finger on her lips to silence her. "Who's teaching who?" he asked then pointed to the door. "If you don't like my methods then leave!"

"I'm sorry, I'll stay," Ella whispered.

"I thought so. But I'll not stand you questioning me. Understand?" Ella nodded. "Good."

For the next half hour, Erik talked her through several warm-ups before moving on to scales. At first, she could barely get a note out under his strict gaze, but with a little coaxing, he was able to get her to sing quietly.

Suddenly he reached out and gently lifted her chin. Ella instinctively stiffened, unsure of his intentions. "Stand straighter," was all he said. "It'll with help you breathe deeper and help you hold the notes better." She nodded, and then obeyed. When she finished, he stood silent for a moment. "It's a good start," he finally announced "You're finished for now.

Ella turned to go, but paused by the door. "Erik?" When he looked up at her, she offered him a small smile. "Thank you."

"I'll tell you when your next lesson is," he replied cooly.