HEY GUYS! SO I REALIZED THAT I HADN'T UPDATED IN A WHILE! I HOPE YOU GUYS DON'T HATE ME! I STARTED SCHOOL AND THINGS HAVE BEEN REALLY CRAZY. ALSO, THIS CHAPTER IS HOPEFULLY REALLY REALLY LONG. SO ENJOY IT! COMMENT WHAT YOU THINK AND I WILL UPDATE QUICKER NEXT TIME SINCE THIS BOOK NEEDS TO BE FINISHED THIS MONTH! OH YEAH, AND A FACT ABOUT ME IS THAT I STARTED BALLET ON WEDNESDAY! THEY ASKED ME TO DO A SPLITS AND I FELL. FAIL! ANYWAYS, ENJOY!
"Perfect!" Meg chirped after placing the last of the white
flowers in my now curled hair. Meg held up a mirror so that I could
see the back of my head. My hair looked amazing!
"Do you like it?" I nodded my head, still looking in the mirror
at Meg's masterpiece.
"Hurry up ladies! The show begins in 10 minutes and we must get
in place!" Madame Giry popped her head into my room to give Meg and I
the heads up. Then she walked away.
"Ah! I can barely wait Jemma!" Meg jumped up and down and that
made me smile. "Oh man, I have to go tell mother something!" Meg
smiled wider, if that was even possible. "I will meet you near the
stair case Jemma!" She blew me a kiss, picked up her dress, and ran
out to find her mother.
I nodded to myself as Meg's slender figure ran out of my sight. I turned back to face the mirror and I could help but smile. For once I looked nice, like I would be able to fit in with the rest of the world.
Staring blankly ahead at my reflection, I thought back to the day that had changed me for life.
Ever since William had nearly had his way with me, I had changed. I have become a completely different person both inside and out. For one, I had stopped talking.
When William had threatened me, I thought that he wasn't all that serious. So the next day, I made my way to the stage where I knew that I could find Madame Giry. I had to tell her of the past night's events to clear my conscience. Before I could even make it to the stage though, William stepped out from behind a few props. It was almost as if he was waiting for me.
William leaned against one of the more sturdy props and flashed me an evil and yet handsome smirk. "Where do you think you're going Jemma?" William knowingly asked.
"N-nowhere." I replied. I begin to fiddle with my fingers as a sign of nervousness.
"Don't go running to Giry." My eyes widened. "I know you Jemma." William began to walk in circles around me. "Just as that Phantom knows every little detail about Christine, I know you. You are my Christine. Forever mine. Always in my control." William stopped walking and stood right in front of me. He caressed my cheek with one of his fingers. "You are my slave, and only I hold the key to your freedom."
I pushed his hand away from my face. At this point, I was fuming with rage. "Don't you dare start to talk about Christine…or the Phantom." I said through clenched teeth.
William's smirk returned. "Alright, I will leave that friend of yours out of our talk." I sighed. "But that Phantom. Even if I were to stop talking about him, his name will continue to spread around the Opera House, maybe even all of Paris! He is a beast Jemma."
I furrowed my brows together. "Shut up." I warningly said through my still clenched jaw.
Light flickered in William's eyes. He was enjoying this, playing with my mind. "Being the kind hearted girl you are Jemma, you probably believe that the Phantom is just a man shy of the world, right? Well you are wrong. That Phantom is a murderer and above all, he is manipulating." I raised an eye brow.
"What do you mean?" I asked. I was a tad bit curious now.
"That Phantom, only likes Christine for one reason."
"Which is?" The tension in my body was building up again.
"To have his way with her. He is a man, and all men have hormones. The Phantom though, is just to gosh damn ugly and repulsive to actually try and charm a lady. Hence why he wears a mask! He lets his voice to the controlling, and once he has Christine in his grasp, he is going to bed her. Just you wait Jemma!"
William had now gone WAY to far! "I said SHUT UP!" With that, I pounced on top of him, knocking the both of us to the ground. I began to claw at his face with my French tips.
"Get off of me you crazy girl!" He took hold of my upper arms and flipped me over so that he was pinning me to the ground. "You are nothing Jemma! Nothing!" He slapped me and stood up, holding his bloody, scratched up face.
I sat up and looked at William, his face bearing a menacing expression. "You Jemma, just crossed the line. I am done with you. Done! You are just as ugly as that Phantom and I don't even know why I wasted my time on you!" A few tears dripped down my cheek. "And now, I mean it. If you EVER say ANYTHING about last night, you will literally become my slave!"
From that moment on, I became very self cautious…and mute. I was to scared to speak, to scared that one day I would open my mouth and say the wrong thing. I just decided that it would be easier if I just didn't talk. My speechlessness had taken a toll on many people, but it also helped me discover my real friends. Meg, Christine and my aunt, Madame Giry, were really the only people that have actually stuck by my side for the past two months. Isa still spoke to me at practice, but it was never more than a few words.
When I hadn't spoken a word in a week, many people started to wonder as to why. Once two weeks had passed, my muteness had become a sort of sick game to the whole of the Opera House.
Many people would make bets on who could get me to speak first. Quite a few people tried, and I had only ever opened my mouth to one person who had begun to talk about the Phantom with me. I wanted to punch him or tell him that Erik was a wonderful person, but I was still scared to talk.
Speaking of the Phantom, it seemed as if Erik had fallen off of the face of the earth. I mean, I thought this the night of Faust, but now I am sure. No one has seen or heard from the Phantom. No notes, no wreckage, no nothing. Everyone seemed happier, even Carlotta if possible. Everyone seemed to be in a better mood. Everyone but me.
With Erik gone, I had been the subject of talk. I mean, I like the spotlight…when I'm on stage. Off of stage though, I was fine with the few friends that I had. I didn't want everyone coming up and talking to me. I have been keeping count, and a total of 83 people in the Opera Populaire had tried to get me to speak. 55 of them were men, and 28 were girls. Out of the 55 men, about 48 of them had been dared to ask me out. The other 7 were either in a relationship, or gay. Now that annoyed me.
I pushed a strand of lose hair behind my ear and forced upon a smile. I took one last look at my appearance, grabbed my cream colored mask, and walked out of my shabby room. I walked down some steps that led to a very grand hall. Keeping my eyes down, I headed towards the grand staircase.
I lifted my head now and walked down the hall. From the distance, I could see Meg, Madame Giry, Monsieurs Andre and Firmin, La Carlotta, Piangi, and two random women stood. The managers and looked impatient, the women looked flirtatious, Meg looked anxious, and Madame Giry looked the same as always. I slowed my steps as I looked behind the group of people probably waiting for me, and took everything in.
Confetti rained from somewhere, making the room shine. Each and every candle was lit and resting upon fancy candelabras. It was simply beautiful. With half of Paris, so it seemed, already dancing to the music and singing along to the song played each year. Fans were waving, dresses were spinning, men were taking hold of a lover. I had been here for many years, but this seemed to be the most magnificent masquerade of them all!
"Jemma!" Meg ran up to me. I guess that unknowingly I had completely stopped walking to take in the scene
Meg took hold of my left hand. "Put your mask on when we descend the staircase alright?" I nodded as Meg led me to greet everyone else. The elderly managers and the two women stared me up and down which made me want to just hide away, Carlotta and Piangi silently laughed at me and made crude remarks about me to each other. Madame Giry and Meg however, gave me light smiles. Madame Giry took Meg's place and held my hand. She gave Meg a look, and she backed up a bit. I knew that Madame Giry was going to say something to me, probably something private.
When Meg was far enough from both me and Madame Giry, she began to speak. "Listen Jemma, I know that you have decided to hold your words in, but tonight is a fun night." I smiled. "I remember that when you had your fist masquerade here, you were gay as could be. I know that you love masquerades, so all I ask of you is to at least try and have some fun. Just like the good old days."
I smiled at my aunt and hugged her, careful not to wrinkle either of our outfits. "Oh an Jemma?" I raised an eyebrow. "Since we are performing tonight, can you try and sing? If not, could you at least mouth the words?" I nodded my head. "Thank you darling." Madame Giry took my hand and led me back to our small group.
"We start down the steps right after this verse!" Meg squealed. She turner her head to look down at the crowd of hidden faces.
"Masquerade!
Seething shadows
Breathing lies.
Masquerade!
You can fool
Any friend who
Ever knew you!"
The crowd below us finished up the second to last verse before we were to descend into the dancing folks.
"Come on!" Meg toke a hold of my hand, and led me down the first few steps. Carlotta and her husband Piangi, led the way. To the right of Carlotta, walked Monsieur Firmin and his dancing tramp. To the left of Ubaldo Piangi, were Monsieur Andre and his girl. Directly behind Piangi, my dear cousin Meg. I walked on Meg's right. Usually I would want to be hidden, so naturally my lovely mask was held onto my head by a strand of chicken wire. On my right, walked my aunt, Madame Giry.
As requested, I opened my mouth, ready to sing. Then I realized that I was in public and opened my mouth simply to mouth the words.
We began our way down the first section of stairs leading to the grand foyer.
"Masquerade!
Leering satyrs,
Peering eyes.
Masquerade!
Run and hide -
But a face will
Still pursue you" That was our cue to begin singing, me lip sinking. We walked down the wide staircase.
"What a night!" Carlotta sang.
"What a crowd!" Ubaldo merrily sang.
"Makes you proud!"
Monsieur Andre sang, bearing a goofy smile.
"Makes you proud!
All the crème
De la crème!" I could have sworn that Monsieur Firmin's mustache did a weird bounce when he sang.
"Watching us, watching them!"
Even now, Carlotta's voice croaked.
"All our fears
Are in the past!" I mouthed the words, where as Madame Giry and Meg sang them for real.
"Three months!" Andre sang once again, a single line.
"Of relief!"
"Of delight!"
Piangi and Carlotta each sang a line.
"Of Elysian peace!"
The two elderly men sang.
"And we can breathe at last!"
Once again I pretended to sing my line with Meg and Madame Giry.
"No more notes!"
"No more ghost!"
Once again Carlotta sang, and then her loyal husband sang a line.
"Here's a health!"
I had to admit, I didn't know that Madame Giry could sing. She is actually quite good at singing and it seemed like she enjoyed to sing by the look on her face.
"Here's a toast
To a prosperous year
To our friends who are here"
The old managers sang together. To be honest, when I first saw them I thought that they were really weird.
"May the splendor never fade!" The semi cute couple sang together.
"What a blessed release!"
At this point, I am not sure why the two random women with the managers are here. They are just smiling and looking pretty.
Madame Giry waved her fan in front of her face singing, "And what a masquerade!" She led me and Meg down the last few steps and off to the side.
I tapped on Meg. "Yes Jemma?" She looked over at me. I pointed to the other side of the room where the drinks are. "Alright, be careful!" I smiled and walked off.
I headed towards the table with probably thousands of drinks. I looked around for something good to drink, but soon realized that it was all alcohol. I sighed and picked up a glass full of red wine. I took a sip and made a sour face. It was semi sweet, but it left a bitter aftertaste.
After downing my glass of wine, plus 4 more, I was beginning to feel a bit dizzy. I leaned against a wall, pulling my massive dress close to me so that people didn't step on it.
My eyes peered out of my mask, watching as people danced with either friends or lovers. One couple that I spotted dancing was Raoul and Christine. They were a cute couple.
"Excuse me miss?" I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around. William!
I just stared at the dashing young man. His white shirt hugged his chest, and the deep yellow vest just made his eyes shine. His black overcoat suited him well too, William had his hand in the pockets of his black pants.
"May I have this dance Jemma?" He asked. Still feeling as though I were his puppet even though I hadn't seen him in so long, I took hold of his now outstretched hand. He led me out to the center of the room, directly across from the marble steps.
William spun me out, and then back into his chest and arms. I stiffened up being so close to him. "Relax Jemma. I wont hurt you or do anything to you, I promise." With hesitation, I slowly began to relax.
"Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you!"
People around us sang well rehearsed song.
William took a few steps, leading us in dance. "I'm very sorry Jemma, about that night. I don't know what I was thinking. In fact, I don't think I was thinking." I looked up at William as we danced. His evergreen orb like eyes seemed to glow in the light of the many candles. His eyes seemed to tell the truth, but I still wasn't sure.
"Did you hear?" I cocked my head to the side. "It was a bet. I had to…get with you in 2 weeks, get your undergarments, and if I didn't, then I would have to kiss Madame Giry. Well, I kissed her." My eyes widened. William kissed my aunt?!
"So I did get what was coming, I kissed an old lady…then got slapped by an old lady." William chuckled and I couldn't help but smile as well. He was just so damn charming. Wait, he nearly raped me, I can't smile! As quickly as it'd came, I wiped my smile away.
"Aw come on Jemma;" William coed as we danced in circles, listening to the singing fellows. "Smile for me. You have a beautiful smile." He flicked my nose, and I giggled. Wait, I need to stop it! This boy almost had his way with me!
I pulled away from him and ran. I ran towards the staircase where I knew that I could get lost in the swarm of people. Something about William made my heart skip a beat. I knew that he had been the cause of many of my current mental issues, but there was just something about him! Something about him that made me still have…hope? Maybe I still had hope that he wouldn't truly ever hurt me or threaten me again. I don't really know, but I do know that when I looked into his eyes, every part of me yearned for him.
"Masquerade! Grinning yellows, Spinning reds!" People ran around me, making my head spin more than it already was due to the most wine I had ever had at once.
"Masquerade! Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you." The voices died down and the song ended earlier than it did in practice. At first I thought it was a side effect to drinking way to much wine, but the music changed as well. It became a much darker tune. Looking around, I saw disgust written all over many people's faces, but I thought it was a nice tune, a unique one.
The candles somehow dimmed and I began to panic on the inside. I looked around to try and find Christine, Meg, Madame Giry, anyone really. I saw no one that I knew though, and I was forced to just awkwardly stand alone.
Following everyone else's gaze towards the staircase, I nearly tripped over thin air. Erik.
The tempo played to the beat of each of his 5 steps down the staircase. Staring at him as if in a daze, a million and one thoughts ran through my head. Erik was back. Where had he been though, and what made him decided to actually show his face to the public for once?
"Why so silent, good monsieurs?" Erik sang in a menacing tone. "Did you think that I had left you for good?" Erik walked down a few more steps, staring out into the crowd.
"Have you missed me, good monsieurs?
I have written you an opera.
Here, I bring the finish score.
Don Juan Triumphant!"
Erik threw down a leather bound stack of papers, tied up with some black leather strings. Wait, Don Juan Triumphant? I'm not sure if it is just me or the wine, but I could have sworn that I saw that title before. Thinking harder, it came to me. When I was sick and helping him with a few lines of his song, I had seen the words 'Don Juan Triumphant' stained onto the top of the paper. My eyes widened even wider than they already were.
Erik held a sword in his leather coated hands, a skull resembling the handle of the sword.
"Fondest greetings to you all
A few instructions just before rehearsal starts."
Erik made his way towards the staircase banister where Ubaldo Piangi and Carlotta happened to be standing. "Carlotta must be taught to act! Not her normal trick of strutting 'round the stage!" Erik ruffled a few of the feathers on Carlotta's hat thing with his sword.
People all around me were gasping at the sight. All I could think though was 'joy to the world. Erik is back.' If someone were to take a trip inside of my mind at this very second in time, they would strap me in a straight jacket and send me someplace far away. I mean, the Phantom is a killer and I am glad that he is back! But hey, I am probably the only one to know that there is more to him than meets the eye.
Piangi stepped in front of his wife in a protecting manner, puffing out his chest which in all reality only made him look fatter than he already was. Erik outstretched his sword again and Piangi took a small step back. Poking the sword into the folds of Piangi's fatness, Erik sang, "Our Don Juan must loose some weight. It's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age!"
Erik turned from the couple to face the managers. Ubaldo was glaring right into Erik's soul, and the managers were 'protecting' their women. Erik pointed his sword directly at Monsieur Firmin. It was so close to his skin that I thought that Erik might cut him. "And my managers must learn that their place is in an office!" He then pointed the sword at the shaking Monsieur Andre. "Not the arts."
Erik slid his sword back into it's holster. He slowly turned from the cowering managers to face the people of the Opera House, all staring wide eyed with wonder and curiosity. I could have sworn that for just a millisecond, Erik laid his eyes on me, but as I said before, that might just be the wine's illusions.
"As for our star, Miss Christine Daae…"
I looked to my left and saw Christine standing alone. Raoul had abandon her, and she looked as though she were about to break down. Every eye in the Opera House fluttered between The Phantom, and Christine.
As if now speaking to everyone about Christine, Erik turned a bit. "No doubt she'll do her best. It's true, her voice is good.
She knows, though
Should she wish to excel
She has much still to learn." Erik's voice was like the sweetest of honey to my ears.
Turning back towards Christine, he raised his hands as if to ask a question. "If pride will let her return to me, her teacher…her teacher." Christine was awestruck, as was I. I cocked my head to the side and watched as Erik slowly strode closer to Christine.
When they were about a foot away from each other, Erik's eyes latched onto hers. I held my breath as his gaze followed downward. From what I could see, Erik seemed to be mad. His shoulders tensed up and he reached an arm out. "Your chains are still mine, you belong to me!" Erik bellowed. He yanked a chain from Christine's neck and grasped it tightly.
Running back up a few steps, Erik turned back to Christine. With a swish of his red cape and a cloud of smoke, Erik was gone. I looked at where he stood and saw that a trap door still lie open. Raoul was making his way for it, and I knew that now was as good a chance as any. I picked up my dress and with all of my speed, ran to the trap.
"Jemma!" I heard Christine shout as I disappeared deep into the tunnels of the opera House. As soon as I was in, Raoul was as well. Then, all light from the above world vanished.
"Get out of the way and hide." Raoul hissed at me. I was pretty sure that he knew that it was for a fact, I, Jemma since Christine had just shouted my name, but I was wearing a mask so he may just think that I was some random girl who fell into one of the Phantom's traps.
Not wanting to let him know that I wasn't scared of the Phantom, I nodded and ran behind one of the mirrors. Peeking out from my hiding place, I saw Raoul aimlessly swinging his sword in failed attempts of trying to kill Erik.
Erik seemed to be everywhere and yet somehow, nowhere. I knew that it was one of his many tricks and illusions. This one happened to involve many illusionistic mirrors.
I heard the sound of retreating footsteps along with another set. Who's? Well, all that matters is that Erik isn't trying to kill anyone.
I stood up and dusted my dress off. "Who are you?" A voice boomed. A gloved hand swiftly took hold of my neck and pushed me against the nearest wall, lifting me off of the ground. I was, for once, eye level with Erik.
I struggled to breath in his tight grip, but with out speaking a single word, I reached my left hand up and yanked my mask off. I dropped it to the ground and stared at Erik with wide pleading eyes. Tears threatened to spill due to my loss of air.
Erik's eyes softened and he gently set me down, holding me up by my shoulders so that I didn't fall. "Jemma?"
I nodded my head. I began to feel a bit dizzy due to the fact that my lack of breath had made my head spin. I was also beginning to feel as if floating on cloud 9 due to the wine I drank. I was a bit woozy due to that.
Erik let his grasp on me go and nervously wiped his hands on his red pants as if sweating, though he wore gloves and there were a slight breeze in this hall of mirrors. "Jemma, I'm so sorry, I didn't know that it was you. Are you alright?" Once again I nodded my head.
I looked directly into Erik's eyes. Gosh how I wished that he liked me. Wait, what? Did I really just think that? Do I really wish that Erik liked me as more than a friend? What? No! I covered my ears with my hands and shook my head. Erik loves Christine!
"Jemma?" Erik wordily asked. I looked back up to him and put my hands to my side again. Realizing that I probably looked foolish. "Jemma are you feeling all right? Is everything ok?" His last words were the trigger to an emotional spiral.
Everything was not all right. In fact, my life was opposite of 'all right'. I was nearly raped, I haven't spoken or even sung in over two months, and to top it off, the person of whom I loved, loved someone else! I thought it again!
I covered my mouth with my hands to stop myself from saying, well thinking, anything else about Erik. "Jemma!" Erik's voice brought me back to reality. I made eye contact with him again, and from what I could see of his face through the eye and mouth slits, he was highly confused.
"Talk to me Jemma." He rested a hand on my arm to give me reassurance that everything would be alright which made me smile a bit.
Alright, well, I can't stay mute for all of my life. And besides, William will never find out about my speaking to Erik. We are underground and all alone for crying out loud! Also, no one knows that I talk to Erik. Well, no one except Christine, and she doesn't know the details of our conversations.
Erik took a step back and I took in a deep breath. I opened my mouth to speak, but knew that I couldn't speak my first words in two months while LOOKING at someone. It made me to nervous. Instead, I randomly sat down and looked at the ground. I began to play with a few pebbles and completely forgot that I was about to talk!
"Speak!" Erik nearly yelled, but didn't.
I inhaled yet another breath through my nose, and then opened my mouth. "Wi-William…" I did it! I said my first words in what seemed to be forever! That was the first step to speaking the whole unpleasant story.
"William what?" I looked up at Erik. He obviously knew who William was considering he was the lead in 'Faust' and Erik watches all of the performances. Erik's hands were scrunched into fists.
"William…William tried to rape me." I said quietly, but just loud enough for Erik to hear me.
"He what?" He screamed.
"He um…he tried to rape me. He let me go though but then he slapped me." I looked down at the ground again and brought me knees to my chest, the dress covering the whole of my body.
I heard Erik walking around and I assumed that he was pacing since I didn't want to actually look up, scared that Erik might burst into tears at Erik's expression.
"Are you mad at me?" I decided to ask in nearly less than a whisper. I thought that he would be mad since I hadn't done anything to stop William.
The shuffling of feet stopped. "Mad? At you?" I nodded all though I wasn't sure that he could see my slight movement. "Jemma…" He said in a soothing tone.
All was silent for a few seconds as I buried my head deep into the folds of my dress. I felt a finger snake under my face and lift my chin up ever so carefully. Still though, I shut my eyes, not wanting to have to face Erik.
Erik moved his finger and so I left my head where it was instead of burying it again. "Jemma…" He cooed. I shook my head. "Jemma, can you open your eyes?" I once again shook my head. "Why not?"
"I'm scared." I simply stated.
"Scared of what? If my eyes weren't open and Erik hadn't been wearing a mask, I was sure that I would be able to see him raising an eyebrow at me.
I swallowed a lump in my throat. "I'm scared that if I open my eyes, every single tear drop that I have been holding in, will spill out." Well, that came out even more pathetic than it sounded in my head.
"Jemma…" Erik's voice held a pang of hurt, a touch of sadness, and a hint of anger.
Finally giving in, I opened my eyes. "Your not mad at me?" I asked. I was half expecting to see Erik crouching in front of me, fuming. Instead, I saw a rather surprisingly calm Erik.
"I am not mad at you, nor do I have a reason to be."
"But I could have stopped him, I could have-"
Erik cut me off mid sentence. "Just like I could have stopped him? Jemma, you are not at fault for what that man did to you. If anything, I am. I should have been aware of all things happening in my Opera House."
I let a tear spill down my cheek but I wiped it away. I looked deep into Erik's beautiful eyes as if trying to read his thoughts. "Erik?"
"Yes Jemma?"
"Can you promise me two things?" I asked pleadingly.
"Anything."
I forced upon a smile. "First, I want you to promise me that you wont blame your self for William's actions."
"But-"
"No 'buts' Erik, just promise me that.
Erik sighed. "I promise."
"Good, now I really need you to hold on to this promise."
Erik Nodded. "Alright."
"Promise me that you won't hurt William."
Erik stood up and looked down at me. "I cant promise that Jemma. Sorry but no."
"Erik…" I pleaded. "Please?"
"No! Do you not get that he nearly raped you? Does that not mean anything? That boy deserves to die Jemma, and you want to protect him!" The anger that I had been waiting for had appeared at last.
"No, I just don't want him to get hurt. Is that a crime? To care for someone's well being?" I stood up and looked at a raging Erik.
"So you care about the man who tried to have his way with you?" Erik took a step closer to me.
"He changed, he said sorry." I stepped in closer to Erik.
"People don't change." Once again, Erik stepped in closer to me.
"Then why do I still have hope that you will?" I shouted. I stepped another inch closer to Erik.
"What are you talking about?" This time, Erik didn't move.
"You say that people don't change and yet I still have hope that you will. If people don't change then why do I still have hope?"
"So you want me to change?" Erik boomed.
"No, I just want you to be able to share your past alright/" I yelled right back at him. I took another step towards him and looked up at him
"Share my past? With you?" Erik let out a laugh.
I placed my hands on my hips. "Yes." I said through clenched teeth.
"No offence Jemma, but I barely know you, and I'm not going to share my past with someone who I barely know." Erik looked down at me.
That was the last straw. "Oh, so you barely know me, and yet you have the time of day to learn every little detail about Christine? News flash Erik, she doesn't like you! Hell, she doesn't even want to be known to you and yet you trust her with showing her your secret lair? Get it through your thick skull Erik. She doesn't love you!" I quickly covered my mouth and took some steps back.
"I'm so sorry Erik, that was uncalled for." I looked at Erik with puppy dog eyes.
"Sh-she doesn't love me?" Erik asked. The sadness in his voice made my heart break.
I shook my head. "No."
Erik's expression changed. "Don't worry, she will. I will make her love me!" Erik glared at me, but not at me. I was just in front of him and so he was bound to look at me.
"Erik…" He shook his head.
"Its alright Jemma, you were just speaking the truth." Come to think of it, I had been speaking the truth an awful lot to Erik.
"I'm sorry." I looked down
As if forgetting all that had just happened, Erik spoke again, but in a different tone. "Jemma, may I have this dance?"
I looked up and what I saw surprised me. Erik was holding a hand out to me and bearing the slightest smile. "Wha-"
"A dance Jemma. May I have the pleasure of dancing with you on this fine evening?"
I grew a smile that matched Erik's and nodded. "You may." I took stepped forward and took hold of Erik's hand. He pulled me closer to him which made me smile even more. "What are you doing Erik?" I asked through a small giggle.
"What does it look like I am doing? Dancing with you Mademoiselle." Wow, he was being so…so formal.
"Yes, but why?" I looked up at him as we spun in small circles in the spacious room.
"Well I figured that with all that was said, that maybe I had chance with you. A chance to get to know you better since you are the only one who actually cares for me. So since I figured that I had a better chance at getting to know you better, I decided to take that chance."
I smiled at Erik's heart warming words and leaned my head against his rock solid chest. "Thank you for noticing me Erik."
SO DID YOU GUYS LIKE IT? i HOPE SO! iT TOOK ME ALMOST A MONTH TO WRITE! ANYWHO, MY QUESTION IS...DO YOU THINK THAT ERIK AND JEMMA'S RELATIONSHIP WILL CHANGE AT ALL? IF SO, HOW?