Chapter 1
"Jemma." Meg whisper shouted in my ear. I forced my eyes open to see my beautiful blonde cousin hovering above me.
"May I help you Meg?" I asked with a giggle and a slight smile.
Meg put a finger to her lips to hush me. "Shhh." she said to me. "I don't want to wake any of the other girls!" Meg smiled a bit and tugged on my arm.
"I'm coming I'm coming." I said. I slowly but surely got out of bed. I walked to a small burro and pulled out an egg shell white tutu and a lilac colored corset like shirt. One thing that me and Meg share is our favorite color. Lilac.
"Are you nuts Jem? It's really chilly outside. Put on your tights!" Meg whispered jokingly. She held up a pair of pure white tights.
"All right all right." I said. I slipped off my pink night gown and pulled on the tights first, then the shirt, and then my tutu. I grabbed an old brown brush and ran it through my messy brown hair. I set the brush down and then reached for my pink ballet shoes at the end of the cot. I put them on and then stood up.
"I'm all dressed and ready to go." I whispered to Meg. She nodded her head and tip toed passed all of the dancing girls. I followed right behind her.
We looked around to make sure that no one saw us or that no one was awake. When we were sure that the coast was clear, we walked down the winding stair case, trying our best not to make the wood creak under our foot steps.
When we reached the ground, we snuck passed all of the props and we found our way to the stage. "Are you sure you want to do this again? I mean, we do this every day and we have yet to see anything."
Meg just gives me an odd look. "What did I say Jemma? He will come one day. I just know it!" Meg sounded so confident so I just let out a sigh and followed my cousin.
We walked up many more steps before we were standing right in front of our destination. Box 5. Each and every day, Meg drags me up here in hopes of spying the Phantom of the Opera. She is so obsessed with this guy! I don't even know why.
I think that she is a little to crazed over him though. Before we started to come up here, I paid no attention to the rumors of the Opera Ghost. Now, now it is as if Meg has etched is name into my brain.
"Sit." Meg instructed of me. I sat in my normal seat. The one on the right. Meg likes to sit in the one on the left.
"So…how's life?" Meg asked me. I could tell that she was trying to start a conversation with me, but she wasn't doing a good job at it.
"You know, you really need to work on starting conversations because no offence, but you kind of stink at it." Meg let out a fake sigh.
"I know. My mind is more focused on dancing than things like 'starting a conversation." She had a point. Conversation starters aren't the most important thing in the world.
"And what about you missy? I know you better than you think I do. I know that you don't love dancing like I do." Meg knows me too well. "So what do you love to do?"
"Sing." I said to my friend. She just nodded her head. "Let me hear you sing then." Meg said. I was shocked. She wanted to hear ME sing. "Well you see I don't sing in front of people and I am nothing compared to Christine and-" I was cut off.
"Do you really think I care if you are better that Christine or net. You could be as bad as Carlotta and I wouldn't care. I'm you're friend and you're cousin. I don't judge you."
Meg's little speech warmed my heart and made me smile. "What do you want to hear?" I asked. I saw that Meg was happy that I decided to sing for her and that made me happy.
"Think of me." Meg said. "From Hannibal" Meg smiled every time she heard that song. Her nutmeg eyes would always light up when Christine sang it.
"All right. I will try my best." I said. I opened my mouth and words started to spill out of my mouth.
"Think of me
Think of me fondly, When we've said goodbye. Remember me
Once in a while Please promise me you'll try. When you find
That once again you long To take your heart back and be free If you ever find a moment, Spare a thought for me"
I finished up the song before I knew it. I didn't even realize it, but my eyes had shut while I was singing. When I opened my eyes, I saw that Meg's hands were clasped together and a smile had grown onto her face.
"So what did you think?" I asked sheepishly. "JEMMA!" Meg shouted. I jumped to her and put my hand over her mouth. Meg is a small girl, but she can be loud when she wants to be.
I moved my hands down to her shoulders so that she could speak. "It was simply beautiful. Like sweet honey pouring out of your mouth." I smiled a great big smile and I could feel a blush creep on to my cheeks.
"Thanks." is all I had time to say. I looked up at the chandelier and saw that someone had started to turn the lights on. Someone was here!
"Quick! Get down!" I whisper yelled at Meg. We ducked and started to run out of box 5. We bade it down the steps just in time. We rushed behind the stage so that when Madame Giry came in, we could just say that we decided to get up early and practice early. This way we would be ready for tonight's production of Hannibal.
As soon as we were back stage, we collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion. "We really need to start watching out time." I said. Meg nodded her head in agreement.
"I'm so nervous!" Meg exclaimed. I tilted my head in confusion. "The show Jem, the show! I heard from my mother that the someone special will be attending tonight's performance."
"Well do you know who it is?" I asked out of curiosity. Meg shook her head, causing her beautiful locks to bob up and down. "I wonder." I said. "We should probably go get changed into our costumes." I suggested.
We stood up, well rested and went up a flight of stairs and into a room with costumes. I quickly put mine on and was already about to go back down stairs, but Meg was not even holding her costume. She was caught up in a conversation with Christine. "Meet you down stairs!" I said. Meg waved me off and I ran back
down to the stage where I stood alone.
I looked up to box 5 and thoughts swarmed my brain. Will I ever see the Phantom? In a way I hope so. It would be really cool. I wonder if he is nice once you get to know him. Ugh! I held my hands to my head as if trying to stop the fluttering thoughts.
Luckily Madame Giry came in and my train of thought was lost. "Jemma? What are you doing here so early?" my aunt asked me.
"Just thought I would come down early and…you know, practice." I said. I am a great liar.
"Ah, I see. Are you practicing by gazing at box 5?" Madame Giry asked me. Ok so maybe I'm not a GREAT liar.
"Ah-" I had no words. "You are wondering about the Phantom aren't you?" I nodded my head.
"Well, we have no time for wondering right now. Right now we must rehearse. Come along now." I followed after Madame Giry as she walked away to meet a few other girls.
With everyone busy in the Opera House now, I just danced until my feet hurt. Every chance I got, I would lean over to talk to my other dancing friend Isabella, or Isa for short. She is really a beautiful girl who could get any guy if she wanted to. She is also a good singer, but I am the only one who knows that.
Unlike Meg and every other girl, she is not obsessed with the Phantom. She just focuses on her dancing. That is what I love about her. Most of the time I talk to Meg because Meg's cot is right next to mine. But we are still great friends.
As we continue to rehearse, time feels as if it is moving really fast. I really don't like dancing, and especially not in front of a crowd. The best thing about rehearsal today was that we got to meet the patron and the new managers. Oh, and Carlotta dropped out so Christine is the lead role! I'm so proud of her!
##########Show time#########
Ugh! 5 minutes until I'm on. I hope I do well!
#########After the show######
Well, I didn't fall! The lights were really bright though. But hey, it's over and I am not on stage. And better yet, Christine is with Roul hanging out in her dressing room catching up.
My plans for the night are just to get changed and- well I don't know yet. I kind of suck at planning. So I just took my time getting changed back into my clothes from this morning. When I was done changing, I walked back to the stage. People were still cleaning up so I just watched and waited since I had nothing better to do with my night.
When they were finally done and the room was clear, I looked up at box 5, then I looked around the vast room. No one was in sight. I walked up to box 5 and sat in my usual seat. I stared out into the emptiness and opened my mouth.
Before I knew it I was singing 'Think of me'. It was strange singing in such a great big room. When the song was over, I felt good inside. A warm fuzzy feeling was taking over my body and I realized it was tiredness. I don't want to get up though. The seat is oh so comfy.
Would it really kill anyone if I stayed a little while longer?
#########A few hours later########
I opened my eyes with the realization that I had fallen asleep. I picked up my things and stood up, ready to leave. While I stood gazing at the beautiful room, I heard the most scariest thing.
"Who are you?!" A voice boomed from some where. "And why are you still in my theater!?" The voice sounded close. "And more importantly, in my seat!"
I turned around and saw a black and white face. No, it can't be. Is it? It is. The Phantom of the Opera! I swear I had a heart attack at that moment.
I dropped my things and stared at him in awe. "WELL!?" he yelled again and this time I was very scared. So scared that I lost my balance. I felt my body tip over the side of the box and panic rushed through my mind.
"AHHHHH!" I let out a shrill scream as I fell off of the balcony. I thought that this would be my last day on earth. I was thinking the worse. Luckily I grabbed onto the side of the balcony . I have no upper body strength though, so I don't see what good holding on will do. And obviously the Phantom won't save me. He
probably wants me dead.
The thing my body decided to do at this moment was terrible. My fingers began to slip and I started to fall. I let my eyes shut so that I wouldn't have to see how I died. Then, the strangest thing happened. I heard a rustle and then I felt a warm hand on my arm.
It couldn't be. Was the Phantom saving me? I felt myself being hoisted up back onto the balcony . When I was back on my feet, I realized I was eye to…chin with the Phantom. I looked up and saw a mask covering the right side of a man's face.
I didn't have words. I couldn't speak. My knees felt weak. I was still trying to take this all in and my mind was racing at super speed. The last thing I remember was falling onto the ground and being picked up by this guy. I guess I fainted after that. Now, now I'm in what I think is the Phantom's lair.