Ella took a deep shuddering breath and tried to get herself under control." It wasn't Erik's fault," she told herself. "He didn't mean to bring up those memories. He didn't know."

A dark shadow fell over her. "Ella?"

Looking up, she saw Erik standing above her. "What do you want?" she asked, wiping her eyes.

"I didn't mean to upset you."

"Who said I'm upset?"

"I'm guessing since that you ran out and you've been crying for the past hour, you're upset," he replied as he knelt next to her, his voice soft. "But someone's hurt you and I need to know who."

"It doesn't matter," she said with a shake of her head.

"Obviously it does."

She studied his face and saw in his eyes a similar pain, but it didn't surprise her. After all, it takes one to know one. "Who hurt you?" she asked.

As expected, he remained closed off from her. He grew rigid and pulled away. "That has nothing to do with this."

"Doesn't it?" she asked with exasperation. "Do you really expect me to pour out my heart and soul by telling you everything without question? Because it doesn't work like that. I don't go around sharing my life story with every random person that steps into my life. And that includes you."

Suddenly she needed space. Ella stood up, pushed him aside, and began heading for the dorms. "Ella…" Erik began but his voice faded away.

His tone made her want to turn around, throw herself in his arms, and confess everything. Instead she focused all her willpower to get her feet to continue moving forward. "Just leave me alone." Her voice broke with the emotion that threatened to spill out of her at any moment. "Please." Instead of waiting for a response, she took off and ran back upstairs.

"Are you alright?" Meg asked when Ella walked into the dormitories.

"I'm fine," she lied. "Why do you ask?"

"You look awfully upset."

She shrugged. "It's been a long day," she explained, offering Meg a faint smile.

"Amen to that!" her friend replied.

Erik stared in the direction she had gone long after Ella left. When she had been before him, he could tell that she was on the verge of tears. Part of him, well actually most of him, had wanted to pull her close and…and….NO! He already decided he wasn't going to do that. But if that was the case, why was it so irritatingly hard to just let her walk away?

Perhaps it was her innocence that intrigued him. After all, it was now blatantly obvious she had a horrible past, and yet she went around acting like there was no evil in the world. Ella knew what he was, knew what he had done, but she was one of the few who could be bothered to treat him like a human being.

And then of course, he just had to go and frighten her away. He didn't mean to, but whoever had dared to lay a hand on her needed to pay. Erik wondered who it was since she wouldn't tell him. Then he wondered if it wasn't that she wouldn't tell him, maybe she couldn't. It was possible that whatever had happened was too much for her to cope with bringing up.

"Oh my goodness I'll be so glad when we're finally done with this show!" Meg cried. "I hate the music, I hate the costumes, and I hate the routine."

Ella couldn't help but smile. "Is there anything you do like?"

"I like the fact that we have someone who can sing as the lead this time," she replied. "The last time we did this show, La Carlotta, was the star. Trust me; that was unbearable. You are so lucky that you came after she left."

"I'm sure that's a slight exaggeration. If she were the lead soprano for as long as she was, she had to have some talent."

"I never exaggerate!" Meg protested. "Okay, well maybe a little, but I am not exaggerating about that. You ask anyone who was here; they'll tell you she was awful." Suddenly Meg nudged her. "Look, here comes you friend."

True enough, Archer strode up to the dancers. "Hello Ella. Miss Giry," he acknowledged with a nod. "Ella, I was wondering if I might accompany you to dinner again this evening."

"I…I…uh," Ella stammered.

"She'd love to!" Meg interjected.

"Excellent!" he exclaimed. "How about I pick you up at the main staircase at seven o'clock?"

"Well, actually…" Ella started, but Meg replied with "Sounds perfect!" at the same time.

"Perfect. I'll see you tonight!"

The second he was out of view, Ella turned to her friend. "Meg why did you do that?" she hissed. "You know I'm not interested in him!"

"You didn't seem to have had such a horrid time with him the other night did you?" Meg countered. "You've seemed down in the dumps for a few days now, and a little fun might cheer you up. Besides, it's just dinner. It's not like he asked you to a ball. Although I'm still betting on him taking you to the masquerade."

"Meg, I appreciate the effort, I really do, but I don't need you mingling in my love life," Ella said with a sigh. "Last time I felt like a bumbling idiot because I couldn't talk half the time. Luckily he seemed to do it all for me."

"You were just nervous because it was a first date. This time will be better."

"Look, if that's not a good enough excuse for you, what about Jacqueline? She's got her eye on him and she already hates me!"

"She's left you alone for nearly a week now."

"Trust me, I don't think that's the last I've heard from her."

Meg just laughed. "Now you're just paranoid."

The pair walked into Ella's dressing room. Ella's breath caught when she saw the snow white rose lying on the vanity. "Aw look," Meg said. "He left you a rose. Isn't that sweet! Now you have to go with him!"

Ella picked up the unmarked cream envelope that was under the flower's stem. "I don't think Archer left it," she murmured.

"Who else would? Is that a note? Who's it from?"

"It's unsigned," Ella replied, still staring at the message.

"Ooh, a secret admirer? Man, you aren't lucky. You're just catching everyone's attention. Maybe I should start getting dating advice from you," Meg teased. "Now get dressed, you have a date to get ready for."

Ella folded up the stationary, the two words making her want to seek out Erik. I'm sorry it said. Nothing more. Nothing less. Yet it was all it needed to say.

A couple hours later, she found herself fighting with Meg. "C'mon Ella, it's no big deal. It's just dinner. Humor me. It wouldn't kill you to have a little fun. If you aren't careful, you may enjoy yourself."

"Alright, alright, alright I'll go!" she cried.

"Good luck on your date!"

With a sigh, she made her way downstairs towards the main staircase. She thought she heard a set of footsteps behind her, but ignored them. It was still early enough, it was probably a maid or another of the cleaning staff. As she started down a staircase that would take her to the entryway, Ella suddenly felt a pair of hands against her back.

"Archer?" Meg cried, surprised to see him. "What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be going to dinner with Ella."

"I can't find her," He explained. "I thought perhaps she was still up here getting ready. Have you seen her?"

She shook her head. "She left nearly fifteen minutes ago. But she can't be very far. How about I help you look for her?" As Meg led him away, she wondered where Ella disappeared to. Okay, maybe she wasn't so excited about this date, but it seemed odd that she would just not show up. Especially after agreeing to go.

Erik looked in Ella's dressing room, wondering how she reacted to his note. He could see the flower still lying on her vanity, the letter next to it. So she read it, and hadn't destroyed it. That had to be a good sign right? But where was she now?

"Good luck on your date!" he heard Meg Giry shout.

A date? She must be with the patron again, Erik thought venomously. He turned on his heel and stormed off. He had been through this before and had zero intentions of doing so again.

As he headed back down to his home, he heard a single scream pierce the night. That made it twice in once week something had happened without his knowledge. With a swish of his cape, Erik spun around and dashed to investigate. Whatever just happened wasn't good.