Madame Giry slowly put her hand over Carlotta's head.
The opera house was silent, except for two quiet claps that came from the back.
Carlotta quickly turned to Christine, her face was beet red, and twisted into the most unbecoming of scowls.
Carlotta let out a furious scream, as she ran from the stage.
Then Christine gave Madame Giry a look that clearly said there she goes again.
Madame Giry rolled her eyes as if to say, this is nothing she hasn't already done.
Then Madame Giry motioned to the audience, with her outstretched hand, telling her to claim her much deserved victory.
Christine once again stepped forward to a standing ovation, and she felt her heart soar.
She immediately thought of Erik and reminded herself to thank him, for all his help when she returned to him.
Then Christine heard a clap that was too loud even for a triumph, Christine stood up on her toes and locked eyes with Raoul.
Christine instantly wished she hadn't, because the look in his eyes was clearly one of a boy in love.
Erik noticed Raoul's look as well, and his eyes burned with a jealous heart,
How dare this boy try to steal the woman I love, and so soon after we had mended things between us.
Erik thought as each clap from Raoul became a knife in his heart.
Christine quickly gave her audience a quick curtsy and a smile,
Then Christine quickly made her way back to her dressing room.
Raoul's eyes followed Christine until she disappeared, then he quickly followed her.
Hello destiny
My how lovely you look today
I'm grateful that fate sent you my
way
I see how your eyes and smile
sparkle with an angelic light
Destiny come light my dark and lonely night
Hello destiny
My how love you look today
I am grateful that fate sent you my
way
who would have thought that a trinket
stolen by the sea
would bring my beloved destiny
to me
Hello destiny
My how lovely you look today
Oh sweet destiny say you
remember me
My beloved destiny say that things are still as
they seem
My beloved destiny
say that this isn't a dream
My beloved destiny return with me to the past
Because it is there that our love will last
My beloved destiny
tell me that you remember our time
by the sea
My beloved destiny
tell me you love me
Hello destiny
My how lovely you look today
Christine went into her dressing room and felt that she was alone.
"Erik are you here?" Christine asked, as she sat down at her vanity.
Christine waited a long moment but heard nothing.
Christine instantly began to worry, was he upset with her?
Christine slowly replayed the morning in her head, then she remembered Raoul's obnoxious clapping.
Of course, that's it Raoul must have offended him with his obnoxious clapping.
Erik must think that I have feelings for him, I wouldn't blame him for being angry.
Then Christine saw a red rose, with a black lace ribbon tied around the stem.
Christine had never been so happy to receive a rose from Erik, she now felt more certain that he would come to her tonight.
Christine sat at her vanity thinking about what she would say to Erik, when she heard a knock at her dressing room door.
"Come in." Christine said, thinking it was Meg, or Madame Giry coming to congratulate her. Christine's smile faded as the door opened, and Raoul walked into her dressing room.
"Hello, my dear play fellow." Raoul said, with a smile, as he presented Christine bouquet flowers.
"Raoul I didn't expect to see you here." Christine said, as she took the flowers.
"I told you that I would return, you danced beautifully today Christine." Raoul said, as he smiled at Christine.
"Thank you very much Raoul." Christine said, as she hoped that Erik was not there.
"However, I must say that this one move you did made me feel very worried."
"You mean my jump?" Christine asked as she looked at Raoul.
"Yes it was far too high, you could have been hurt." Raoul said, not bothering to hide the concern in his voice.
"Oh Raoul I'm a ballet dancer, and jumps are a key part of my routine.
I give you my word that I was in complete control, the entire time." Christine said, with a thin smile.
Then Christine and Raoul heard a knock at the door.
"I'll get it please excuse me for a minute Raoul." Christine said, as she walked to the door, and opened it.
"Begging your pardon Christine, but I have prepared a lunch of chicken breast; and broccoli for you, and the Vicomte with chocolate covered strawberries for dessert." Violet Christine's maid said, as she pushed a cart into the room.
"Thank you so much Violet, I don't know what I would do without you." Christine said, with a smile.
"You're too kind Christine and if I may say so, you danced spectacularly well.
It was lovely to see you put Carlotta in her place once again," Violet said with a smile as hugged Christine.
Then Violet left the room, leaving Christine alone with her guest.
"Christine, why did you do that?" Raoul asked with a note of disdain in his voice.
"Do what?" Christine asked, feeling annoyed at being scolded.
"Address her by her name it's uncivilized, to address the help by their names; it gives them the hope that they will one day rise above their station, and that would be cruel to them," Raoul said, as he gave Christine a patronizing look.
"I called her by her first name because she is my friend, and I respect her; this opera house wouldn't function if not for her, and neither would your mansion if not for the staff your father hired.
You would do well to remember that." Christine with a note of anger in her voice.
"Forgive me, Christine I didn't mean to offend you, but may I ask you one last question?" Raoul asked, as he ate his chicken breast.
"Very well." Christine said as she ate her broccoli.
"Was what your maid said true, did you challenge Carlotta?" Raoul said, as he looked Christine,
"Raoul I didn't challenge Carlotta, she challenged me, and I had to accept because if I didn't I would have; been taken seriously as a performer again, and I hate the way she treats people here." Christine said, as she squirmed under Raoul's gaze.
"Oh Christine I'm so sorry that you had to endure such an ordeal, you deserve so much better.
You deserve a stress-free life, a life full of privilege, and happiness." Raoul said, as he moved closer to Christine.
"Raoul I will admit that my life has been hard, and I had to struggle to get where I am; but I can honestly say I am a better, stronger person because of it.
I like my life, and I would never think of leaving it." Christine said, as she looked into Raoul's eyes. Raoul stared at Christine for a long moment thinking of what to say, then there was a knock at the door.
"Excuse me sir but a message has just come for you." Violet said, with a curtsy as she entered the room.
"Very well I will return soon, and we will finish this discussion then yes?" Raoul said, as he grabbed his hat and coat.
"Actually Raoul I have quite a lot of practicing to do, if I want to keep my position I must keep my voice in peak condition surely you understand." Christine said coolly, as she watched Raoul prepare to leave.
"Of course I understand that you will write to me when you have some free time; and that we may go out to supper again, goodbye Christine." Raoul said as he left the room.
Raoul stood in front of Christine's dressing door feeling quite rebuffed and wanted nothing more than to run back into her dressing room and profess his love for her .
He cared little for his current social duties but knew that his title demanded they be handled.
Raoul turned on his heel and disgruntled left the opera house, resolving to set an example that Christine could aspire to and too soon make her his wife
My sweetheart come with me
to the house by
the sea
where the sun shined
all day so
you and I
could play
your life here
is bleak
I know it's comfort
that you seek
My sweetheart come with me
to the house by
the sea
where the sun shined
all day so
you and I
could play
you can't
fight fate
there's no reason
to wait
My sweetheart come with me
to the house by sea
we will live in the past
where your father will always
be at house by
the sea
My sweetheart come with me
to the house by the sea
where the sun will
shine all day
and we can watch our children
play
My sweetheart come with me
to the house by
the sea
Christine watched the door close and breathed a sigh of relief,
Then Christine realized that she wasn't alone in the room.
"Violet is there something wrong?" Christine asked, as she saw the worried look on her maid's face. "Begging your pardon Christine, I didn't mean to disturb you and the Vicomte."
"You didn't disturb us Violet in all honesty, I wasn't in the mood to entertain the Vicomte; but aside from that, have you eaten lunch yet?" Christine "asked.
"No why?"
" Good then go find Madame Giry, and Meg I know they haven't eaten lunch yet either, and I thought it would be nice if the four of us had lunch together.'' Christine said, with a smile.
Later Christine had a nice lunch with her three friends.
Meg and Chelsey congratulated Christine again; while Madame Giry told Christine how proud she was of her and that she was turning into the woman she always thought she would be.
Later that evening Christine sat in her room reading, then she heard Erik's voice, coming from her mirror.
"I am here Christine, are you ready?" Erik asked as he looked in Christine's dressing room.
"Of course I am, I'm so happy to see you." Christine said, with a big smile as she quickly walked over to her mirror.
Erik watched Christine, smiled, and even though he was still mad at the boy for intruding he couldn't help but love her.
Then Erik opened the mirror and Christine took the hand that Erik offered her, and began the journey to his home.
Thank you, Erik for the rose you gave me, I'm so glad you approved of what I did "today. " Christine said as she followed Erik.
"Your welcome." Erik said as he kept walking.
The pair walked on in silence Erik knew that he was being rude, but he couldn't bear to look Christine; in the eye, and see that there was love for the boy in them.
Then Christine decided to break the silence.
"Erik I know you watched me perform today, and I know you saw the Vicomte was there too.
However, you must understand that I have no feelings for the Vicomte." Christine said, hoping that she could ease Erik's fears.
"He obviously has feelings for you, and they had to stem from somewhere Christine." Erik said, as he wished they could go back to silence.
"Erik I could tell you the story, and if it will make you feel better I will, but I think it will only make you feel worse." Christine said quickly.
"Christine I have been hurt many times before, I don't think this will be any more than those other times." Erik said, as he tried to keep his composure.
Christine took a deep breath as she dove back into back into the past, hoping that she didn't hurt Erik in the prosess.
"Very well my story begins, during the summer of my fourth year my Father, and I had spent the winter months in which I had turned six, we stayed with a rich elderly couple.
The wife doted on me because they had no children of their own,
When my birthday came they bought me the most adorable powder blue dress, and the loveliest red scarf I had ever seen.
Summer was coming, and my father decided that we should move to this town by the sea.
We paid for a ride in the back of a cart, of a man who takes his crops to the market.
We were riding along when a big gust of wind snatched my scarf from my lap.
I yelled for the driver to stop, and when he did I hoped out of the cart; and chased my scarf all the way to the edge of the road, which led to the sea.
My told Father told me to stop because the waves were too rough.
I sank to the road and began to cry, I was sure that I had lost my scarf forever.
Then I heard a voice from behind me.
"It's alright I'll go, and fetch your scarf out of the sea." Raoul said, as he ran into the sea.
He ran back to me with my scarf, and I hugged him to show my gratitude.
The rest of that day Raoul, and I played together Raoul would not allow us to be separated.
As the sun began to set, Raoul's father came to see why he had not returned home.
Raoul's governess explained what happened she thought Raoul's father would be furious; but Raoul's father was very happy that his son had made a friend.
Raoul's father invited my father, and I to stay in a cottage that was meant for the staff.
My Father agreed, and we spent the summer there.
Raoul would visit every day, and we would sit together in church while my father played the violin.
I developed a crush on Raoul, and he shared the same feelings for me.
He often spoke of how he one day made me a Vicomtesse; but in my heart, I wasn't sure if that was what I really wanted.
The summer came and went as seasons always do, and I was sad to say goodbye to Raoul.
However, Raoul acted like he was saying goodbye to the love of his life.
He is still holding on to that feeling, but I am older and wiser.
I know that I will never belong in Raoul's world, and I want more than the last name to define who I am; so now do you understand, there will never be feelings between Raoul and me.
"I understand Christine, and I'm glad you told me I have a surprise for you." Erik said, as he smiled at Christine.
"Really what is it?" Christine asked as her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"If I told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise." Erik said, as he led Christine to the gondola.
"Then can I have a hint?" Christine said, as she gave Erik a playful smile.
"No." Erik said, with a chuckle.
"Oh come on." Christine said with a pout, that Erik found adorable.
Then they reached the gondola.
"We are getting close to your surprise so close your eyes, and don't peek." Erik said, as he helped Christine get into the gondola.
Then the pair made their way to Erik's home in silence.
A few minutes Erik led Christine up the steps to his home, he told her to open her eyes.
Christine opened her eyes, and they widened the shock of what Erik did for her.
Rose petals covered the floor, making his home smell like a gigantic rose.
Erik led Christine over to his dinner table, and she saw that it was set; with all her favorite foods, and a bottle of champagne.
"Oh Erik this is so wonderful thank you so much, but you didn't have to do all of this." Christine said, as her cheeks turned, the sweetest shade of pink.
"Of course I did your triumph today was glorious, and it's time you start celebrating like the prima donna you are." Erik said, as he opened the bottle of champagne.
"Thank you Erik I think I could get used to this." Christine said with a smile, as she filled her glass with the champagne that spilled out of the bottle. Erik poured a glass for himself and raised his glass to Christine
"To well-deserved triumphs." Erik said with a smile.
"To great teachers." Christine said, with a smile.
Christine sipped her champagne and stole a glimpse of Erik when she thought he wasn't looking. Christine was sure she saw a light shade of pink, creep across part of his face that was visible to her. Christine found that she was pleased that her opinions had such an effect on him.
Christine wasn't quite sure of her feelings for him, she knew that when she was around him she felt happy, and she knew that there was no one else she'd rather be with.
The dinner was a sweet, and friendly one filled with polite conversation, and a laugh or two especially when it came to the chocolate covered strawberries they had for dessert.
After their lesson Christine said good night to Erik, to the swan bed to sleep; as she drifted off to sleep Christine's last thoughts were of Erik.