Chapter 8: The Plan Begins

Meg collapsed on her bed, breathing heavily and trying to stop the tears from running down her eyes. I can't believe I just did that, she thought to herself. What was I thinking?! He could have killed me! She started sobbing quietly, at last giving into the emotions torturing her heart as she was talking to Erik. Somehow she knew that he wasn't going to kill her, but how could she know for sure? She had only been trapped under the burnt Opera House for a little less than a week.

"It does me no good to sit here and feel sorry for Erik," she said out loud bitterly, "he will never listen to me, and all it does is hurt me more."

She pounded her fist against the mattress, furious with Erik but also with herself for trying to interfere. "He never listens to me! He won't ever listen to me, because he thinks of himself as a monster!" She felt the tears sliding down her cheeks again and angrily wiped them away. I have to get a hold of myself! Acting like a spoiled child is NOT the way to get to Erik! She sniffed and straightened the messed-up cover on the mattress, smoothing out the wrinkles as she furrowed her brow in concentration. How can I reach Erik? Obviously not by crying for him, or begging him to see past the things he has done in his past, or how deformed his face is, or how Christine abandoned him when he needed her the most…. Wait a minute! That's it! Christine abandoned Erik when he was crying for her, and when he was practically begging her to say, even though he ordered her to leave him. A smirk slowly spread over her features, and she pushed back a strand of blonde hair away from her face and started planning it out in her mind… She would reach Erik, if it took every last breath she had ever had.

… … … … … … …

Erik paced the floor of his music room. Why had he let Meg try to console him?! He was losing his touch! He was the PHANTOM, not some homeless boy crying for his mommy! That insolent girl! He would teach her to interfere with his life! It was none of her business how he felt, or how he might still be hurting. He whipped around, ready to storm into the room that Meg was in, (he refused to call it Christine's but it certainly wasn't Meg's room either) and tell her just how he felt about her messing with his emotions and trying to 'help' him! He started towards the door, but paused when he heard something. His attentive ears picked up the sounds of crying.

Erik groaned and sat down, letting his head fall into his hands. Of course she was crying! You can't stare at a face as hideous as mine and not cry for hours afterwards! My own mother cried herself to sleep every night, crying out to God why she had to have a son so hideous!

Suddenly the noises coming from the direction of the room Meg was in stopped. Erik lifted his head and arched an eyebrow in puzzlement. He listened closely for any more movement or sobbing, but there was only the sound of the cover on the mattress being smoothed down. Probably cried herself to sleep, he thought bitterly.

He suddenly became very angry at himself. What are you doing you fool! You let her get to you! It's not going to be this way anymore! No, she's living in my house, and she's going to abide by MY rules! There will be no more one-sided heartfelt talks to each other! There will be no more shows of weakness! You have brought upon yourself a dangerous game, Madamoiselle Meg Giry! He scowled and quickly leapt up from where he was sitting. Then let the games begin, Madamoiselle, because the Phantom NEVER loses! I will not give in to your pity!

With a dramatic sweep of his cloak, even though no one was there, he stormed back to his music room.

… … … … … … …

The next morning, as Meg was tying back her hair with one of the ribbons that were meant for Christine, she thought about her plan. She lazily twirled the purple ribbon between her fingers, too busy scheming to seriously think about getting herself presentable.

When she realized her mind was totally over thinking the plan, she sighed and set the brush down.

First things first, she thought to herself, picking up the ribbon once again, I need to make myself presentable. It's not like I can exactly go out there looking like a rat has been making a nest of my hair. Quickly she gathered a few pieces of her hair from the front of her head, and twisted them, then tied them tight with the ribbon.

She turned to the closet. Now, what I choose to wear is going to have a big difference on how quickly I win this little game.

She thoughtfully fingered one of the expensive dresses, a beautiful cream-colored one. What would Erik's favorite color be? She smirked at the thought of Erik even having a favorite color, but one had to go to extreme measures when playing such a dangerous game.

All of a sudden, it came to her. Of course! She quickly reached past the cream- colored dress, a purple one after that, and then past a pretty emerald one. No, ignoring the beautiful colors and expensive trims and laces, she found the dress she had been searching for.

It was a beautiful dress. It was a black color, with silver trimmings on the collar, edge of the dress, and sleeves. On the bottom of the dress, the silver came up from the hem to form beautiful swirls. The bottom of the dress was full, and the waist snug but not too much. The neck line reached up to her collarbone, and the sleeves flared open at the end of her wrists. It was perfect.

… … … … … … …

Erik frowned, glancing at his watch yet another time. Where is she? He thought and sighed in frusturation, glaring at the door to the room Meg was still in. Breakfast had been served over half an hour ago, and still no sign of the young blonde ballerina. I wish she would come out already, he thought to himself. The door opened at last and he glared at the blonde ballerina walking out of the room, ready to give her a lecture about being prompt. As Meg came out and he saw her fully, he could only think of one thing, as he was speechless.

Be careful what you wish for, or it might come true.

AN: Oooooh! How exciting! Meg has something up her sleeve….. Hmmm. Anyways, I am so very sorry. I missed last week's update, and I feel horrible for it. However, to make it up to you, I'm going to update twice next week (hopefully anyway). Thanks for hanging in with me, and many thanks to everyone that reviewed the last chapter! I'm really glad you guys are enjoying this story. :) Oh, and if any of you want to see Meg's dress, PM me and I'll send you a picture of the closest one I could find! :D

Once again, I apologize for the late chapter. But don't let this affect you're reviews! I absolutely love every one of them! Please review this chapter. :)

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