Everyone noticed the change in Allegra. Her cheerful demeanor had wilted slightly, and she no longer asked if everyone was doing okay. The director only noticed that her playing was better, now that she was spending countless hours practicing after rehearsal.

The new lead cellist, Nya, fit in amazingly. She had just graduated from a prestigious music school, and the other members of the orchestra talked about her like a superstar when she wasn't around.

During the trio rehearsals they became great friends.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Nya asked while they were eating lunch together.

"Wrong? Nothing's wrong," Allegra fake-smiled at her.

"Come on. I'm not stupid."

Allegra thought about the last few days for a moment. Meg was still watching her suffering from afar. Allegra's parents were gone, back to their home. She hadn't bothered to tell them what had happened with Meg, only that Erik was gone, and she would be safe.

"It's nothing, really... Well, there was this guy.."

"Ohh, I understand. Hey, you can vent about it to me. I can't really offer any advice though. Never really dated anyone."

"What? But you're so pretty!" It was true. Nya coffee color skin was flawless, and her black hair spiraled down in perfect curls.

"Meh. Music nerds can be real snobby sometimes. This one guy actually took his viola out on a date. Said they were 'bonding.'"

Allegra laughed. "Wow. Now I see why.. Well, I met this one guy, and although I hardly knew him, I let myself fall in love with him. Now he's gone, and I feel so sad and stupid at the same time."

Nya stared at her macaroon for a couple seconds. "Well, if you really loved him, then you shouldn't feel bad. Some people don't get to feel that feeling for even a minute. You should cherish it, you know?"

Allegra stared at her coffee for a couple seconds, unsure of herself. Then she smiled at Nya. "You're right." She felt better about her situation. "Thanks."

"No problem. Hey, only one more day 'till the concert! It's going to be so much fun. I'm surprised the director even let us have the rest of the day off."

"What are you going to do with your time?" Allegra asked.

"Family stuff. My sister misses me a lot."

"Nice. I better be off then."

"What are you going to do?"

"Family stuff, only my grandfather instead."

Nya smiled. "I hope you have fun. And if you ever need a friend, just call me."

Allegra nodded, and they parted ways.

She got in a taxi and told him where her grandfather was at.

Staring out the window, it gave her time to think. Which isn't always the best in a moment of sadness. The last week or so had more drama in it then her entire four years in high school. During all the action and drama she had felt like she had another purpose in life other than whacking away at a wooden instrument. Now that the action and drama was gone, Erik gone, everything felt numb in comparison.

Take the trees that were passing by. Allegra noted how they were technically trees, as they had been her whole life, but instead of magnificent evergreens, they looked like scraggly sticks passing by.

That's why she was going to see her grandfather. Maybe he could help her.

Allegra told the man she would be only ten minutes, then stepped out of the car.

A short trip uphill took her to his gravestone, simple and grey. She knelt beside it, wondering what to say.

"I know I haven't visited in a long time. Using your violin makes me feel close to you though, although I never knew you when you were alive. It's just.. someone I really cared about died. I hope he's in Heaven, so if he is then I hope you can look after him."

"I guess I just felt like I would feel better if I came here," she continued. "To know someone's looking after me. I wouldn't feel so alone. Thank you."

Allegra stood up, brushed the dirt off her jeans, and made her way back down. Her vision was slightly clouded by tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't notice the rock until her foot caught hold of it and she started to stumble forward, head first.

Something, or rather someone, steadied her.

Allegra took a few steps back, stunned.

"Erik?! Grandpa?!"

The ghost cursed, then muttered, "Stupid reflexes."

"Erik," Allegra whispered, smiling. "Can you show yourself?"

"Well there's no point hiding now, is there?" He materialized himself, standing five feet away from Allegra.

"How? What?"

Erik sighed. "Meg thought she would be smart, sending me to Hell. Well, what the voodoo guy really did was release me from the opera house. He broke my spiritual chains essentially."

"So now you can go anywhere?" He nodded. "... Have you been following me?"

"Uh.. Possibly.." Erik looked away, running his fingers through his hair. "Don't worry, I'm not a creep. I even slept outside."

"Ghosts can sleep?"

"Well, I don't have an endless supply of energy. It takes a lot of work protecting you."

Allegra was about to say something, then stopped, just looking at him with a big smile on her face.

"Stop looking at me like that. You look too happy." Erik couldn't help but smirk though.

She closed the distance between them and hugged him tight, completely overjoyed to see him again.

Allegra then stepped back and wiped away the few tears that had escaped. "Come on, let's go back to Paris and figure this out. Oh, and make yourself invisible again. I don't want the taxi driver to have a heart attack."

"Wouldn't want that," Erik muttered, walking beside her, invisible again. Although she couldn't see him, he smiled for the first time in a long time.