Thank you so much for those who continue to review this story. You are the reason I continue writing. I apologize in advance for how all over the place this chapter is. Despite that, I hope you enjoy this chapter anyway, and please don't forget to leave your thoughts. And hold on tight...

Nothing But A Lie

Chapter 24

Considering how awful Christine's weekend had been, she was almost positive the week ahead could not even compare in awfulness. Sadly, she had been wrong about that.

Recounting the events of the week, Christine felt nothing but anxiety, irritation, confusion, and most of all, sadness.

First, it seemed like every single one of her professors were punishing her for having a three day weekend or something; piling on assignments and readings and practices, so much so that it was overwhelming and she had no idea where to start. And it had to be the week of her first vocal performance. Her stomach was constantly in knots, like she had a feeling something awful was going to happen—perhaps she would forget an important assignment or do terrible on her performance—and she couldn't seem to shake that feeling for even a moment.

All the schoolwork wasn't even close to the worst part, however. Erik had been especially unpleasant all week—awful, really—leaving her feelings hurt and confused. She had actually been looking forward to seeing him after the hell that was Labor Day weekend, but he had immediately squashed that excitement from the second their Tuesday lesson began. He was rude and snappy and impatient and demanded much too highly of her abilities, and he yelled a lot. That was new—he'd never actually yelled at her before.

She didn't even know why! Christine felt like her singing was better than ever thanks to all she'd learned with him since their first meeting, but in his eyes she could seem to do no right all of a sudden. Both lessons of the week ended with her leaving the practice room holding back tears, and she was nervous and unconfident that her performance would be any good.

Christine honestly had no idea that Erik could be that mean. It made her wonder why she'd even had any feelings for him in the first place. She knew next to nothing about him—just that he lived alone and had a dog and was much older than her, and of course there was the fact that he wore a mask. She didn't even know what his face looked like, or why he wore one. And he obviously only saw her as a talentless student who only served to annoy and frustrate him. She was honestly beginning to reconsider the strange feelings Erik seemed to stir in her, wondering if she should just brush them off and pretend like they hadn't ever existed.

As if that were even an easy thing to do. God, she was pathetic.

Sky, on the other hand, had been treating her like a princess most of the week. Still affected by what had happened to her, probably, and at first she had actually been somewhat touched by his effort. He hadn't demanded any sort of affection from her at all, had barely even touched her—even casually—and that was the thing that had shocked Christine the most. It had made her wonder if he really was going to change, for her…

Again: pathetic. That all changed very fast.

On Thursday afternoon when he'd picked her up after school, he had immediately made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat at her leftover tears from the final voice lesson before the showcase tomorrow.

"Why are you crying?" he'd demanded in annoyance. "Because of what that freak of a teacher was saying to you? Why do you even care what he thinks? It's so stupid; you're obviously good enough without his help. I have half a mind to make you switch to a different teacher…" And so on. Sky didn't stop the whole way home, outraged jealousy lacing every single word out of his mouth, not knowing just exactly what he was doing, what he was making her realize…

Christine could do no right in anyone's eyes, it seemed—especially not her own. How could she have been so blind, so outright idiotic, to think for even a second that Sky could ever change? Wasn't this exactly what she had learned in her conversation with Meg—that he would make her think things were going to get better, only to let his jealous tendencies ruin it all over again? And a few days of him being nice to her just made her forget all of that? Never again, she vowed, would she let Sky fool her. She knew just what he was, and she would make him see that. But how, without making him snap…?

The song playing low on the radio caught her ears, and she had to listen around Sky's ridiculous tirade. He hadn't changed the station from Broadway musical hits that whole week—having wanted to please her, most likely—and she recognized the song playing from a rather creepy, violent musical that she didn't enjoy very much. As she paid attention to the lyrics, however, an idea popped into her mind…an idea that just might possibly save her, or if it didn't work, ruin her…

Christine was suddenly very eager for tomorrow night to come, despite how discouraged she felt about her song (thanks to Erik). But she would not be singing the song she'd worked on all month. No, she would sing this song from this musical she disliked, and someone would have to understand what she was trying to tell them.

He had never despised himself more in his entire life.

Erik sat in his idle car, his hands clenched tightly over the steering wheel, staring inside the flower shop that was just minutes away from closing, deliberating.

Would it even make a difference if he went along with it? He never thought it would in the first place, let alone after him treating Christine so poorly this week. Erik had not meant to be so terrible, so short tempered and meticulous with her, but all he could think about during their lessons was how Christine had heard his music, truly caught a glimpse of the monster he really was inside, and how she could only hate and fear him now.

But Erik had been so stuck inside his cruel head that he did not even search for evidence in her for that. And obviously, since she had returned for their final lesson of the week, she couldn't be that afraid of him…

The performance was tomorrow night, and the original idea to surprise her with a gift seemed pointless. But what if Christine went to her student advisor and begged for a new voice teacher as soon as she could when the performance was over with? He would not blame her one bit, but he knew it would only torture him endlessly if he knew he had not at least tried.

And again, Erik decided he would do it. Of course he would. It was his one opportunity, and he could not pass it up. If Christine were disgusted and afraid, then it would only confirm what he had already assumed. But the one tiny, microscopic flicker of hope for otherwise was enough for him to swallow his pride and enter the nearly empty flower shop.

Jeez, Sky, he thought to himself, trying to shake off his emotion. Don't be such a sap.

Sky felt so ridiculously happy as he dressed in one of his nicer, navy—wanting to match with her—suits for Christine's performance, so much so that he almost wanted to cry. He could really be such a loser sometimes, but he couldn't help it, especially right now.

This, getting ready to support his girlfriend with something she was passionate about, something going on in her own life…this is exactly what he had wanted all along— to be equally important to each other. Sky was more than ecstatic to be here for her, knowing that she would more than likely do the same for him when the time came after tonight. Of course she would. She was such a good girl.

He was feeling very sentimental, and he wasn't sure exactly why besides the obvious reasons. Maybe it was because of all the progress they had made after the hellish last weekend, or because they had actually made it this far at all. His girlfriend had an important event tonight, and he would be there to support her. And then he would get to take her home afterward.

Mmm. He was especially looking forward to that part. Sky had been especially strong this week in holding back from her, but he knew he would be unable to resist even a little bit of something tonight. He deserved something, at least…

Christine was still getting ready in the bathroom, door shut, when Sky finished getting ready himself, and he waited patiently for her on the sofa, checking his watch every few moments. Growing impatient, he thought, women, lightly annoyed. They always did take so long to get ready.

Every single moment was more than worth it, however. For when Christine stepped out, fully dressed and made up for her performance, Sky nearly groaned out loud, rising quickly onto his feet.

He couldn't take his eyes off of her, and he had to bite the inside of his cheeks, inhale a sharp breath. She almost looked like a total different person, but not at all in a bad way. Christine had done her makeup in a way that made her look squinty and mature and mysterious, her lipstick a deep, dark red. She had done her hair in playful, tousled curls, and the strappy silver heels he had bought her added at least a few inches to her height. All combined with that dress…

Sky really had been trying his hardest, but Christine was all his, and after giving her space this week and being so, so good to her…he had to have her, just like this. Tonight. He would make it happen. It couldn't be too difficult; she had to have been warming up to him all this time. Besides, it was no secret that she sometimes desired him too. Right? Yes, otherwise she wouldn't have tried so hard to look like that. Damn.

He honestly could have cried and worshipped at her feet.

But Sky knew that was very un-sexy, so he settled for raking his hungry eyes up and down her multiple times, his lips eventually settling on an impressed, awed smirk.

"Baby girl," he said huskily, shaking his head in wonder as he strode toward her, needing to be close. "You look gorgeous." It felt like an awful understatement.

When he eagerly leaned down to kiss her, Christine stopped him with her manicured hand, annoyed. "Please, don't," she said impatiently. "You'll mess up my makeup."

Sky groaned dramatically. "You're torturing me, baby," he chuckled, trying to satisfy himself by running his hands up and down her soft, bare arms. God, he could hardly wait to get this thing over with. He already just wanted to bring her back here and ravage her. Gently, of course. She was a virgin, after all. He hoped he could control himself…

"Um…can we go now?" Christine asked, unsettled by the way he was staring at her and touching her. Her stomach was already tight with nerves, and Sky was only making it worse. She was suddenly too afraid to be alone with him a second longer.

After a moment, though, she noticed how his expression had darkened at her tone, and she tried to come up with an explanation before it got her in trouble. "I-I don't want to be late, and I need to run through my song one time before performing. Please?"

Pick your battles, Sky, a voice in his mind told him. He eventually nodded, taking her hand and pulling her much too excitedly out the door. The faster they leave, the faster they'll return.

And he couldn't wait.

It was quite the plus—Erik decided—that Christine was the only female performer for tonight's showcase, the other three being male. That meant she would be the only one occupying the girls' dressing room that evening, making it the perfect location to put the flowers. Erik had gotten to campus very early that morning and easily snuck into it without being seen. Making himself a near ghost was one of his 'special' talents that seemed to have stayed with him even after so long.

Erik had chosen violets. Originally he had planned an array of flowers with meaning such as camellias or tulips or roses, but the violets reminded him of her precious eyes, and on impulse he'd ordered two of the largest gift bouquets available—one for each of her eyes. He hoped she would understand. He did not write a card.

Christine had instructions from the day before to come straight to their practice room when she arrived for the performance, so that they could run through her song once more, and that is where he paced nervously at the moment. Erik almost wished he had told her to visit her dressing room first so that he could get her reaction sooner, but he was also glad for some time to stall. His stomach felt twisty and painfully hollow just imagining a less than ideal response from her. Fear. Disgust. Anger…

Erik's heart leaped at the sound of the door opening, and he turned to face her, his heart then seeming to stop altogether, almost doing a double take.

Christine looked…different…but not at all in a bad way—more so in a painful, torturous, maddening way. All he could do was stare like an incompetent idiot with his disgusting mouth agape.

He did not even realize she was speaking to him…quite urgently, actually.

"Did you hear me? Erik!?"

He cleared his throat, forcing himself to stop gawking and pay attention to what she was telling him. "Forgive me. What is it you said?" Christ, did she notice how his voice trembled? How pathetic he was.

"I said I'm changing my song."

His first instinct was the chuckle at her lame attempt at a joke, but then Erik watched in disbelief as Christine shoved some new sheet music at him, her face and tone dead serious.

Christine watched as he glanced over the song, his expression finally darkening. She crossed her arms and met his fiery gaze without fear when he glanced up at her again. "Well?" she said impatiently, "We don't have time to just stand here. Let's go over it at least once."

"Your acting skills have improved, I see," Erik hissed, stepping closer to her in hopes of intimidation. "For I know you are kidding."

"Do I look like I'm kidding, Erik?" she spat up at him. Even in her heels he towered over her. "I'm singing this song. Are you going to run through it with me, or not?"

He was shaking his head before she even finished asking. "You are singing the song we have been working on, Christine," he seethed harshly. "I am not going to let all of our work go to waste because you suddenly want to act like a child—"

Hurt by his cruelty and desperate for him to listen, she shouted at him, "I have to sing this song!"

To her satisfaction, he actually took a step back, startled by her outburst.

Her breathing heavy, she struggled not to cry, her eyes wide and glistening as she impaled him with her stare. "Please, Erik," she whispered. "If I don't sing that song, I'm not singing at all. Please…just help me. Okay? I need you to help me get this right. This is my only chance…"

Erik had never seen her look so desperate, so afraid, and it gentled him immediately. "Your only chance to what, Christine?" he murmured, worried and confused.

Christine swallowed her tears, taking a deep breath. "I just…I need to sing this song, Erik. I can't explain it. I just have to. I don't care if I sound awful and unprepared. I have to sing it. Okay? Please?"

She grasped the arm of his black blazer desperately, and he tried not to jump and failed. Erik was not used to touch, and from her…he feared he would pass out. Erik knew then that he would grant her whatever she wanted, no matter how much it pained him.

"Fine, fine," he muttered, desperately trying to mask the marvelous discomfort of her touch in his voice. "Calm yourself, child."

Christine sighed in relief, stepping away from him and running her hands down her sides in an attempt to soothe herself. The weight of Sky's ring felt heavier on her finger all of a sudden, and she wondered if he was listening to her at the moment. Most likely. She prayed with all of her might to anyone who would listen that he wouldn't get too suspicious and come looking for her demanding an explanation. She desperately needed him to hear her message through song. She needed everyone to hear it. Anyone. Someone had to save her tonight.

Something told her if they didn't, she would not survive.

They hadn't had enough time for her to actually sing through the entire song, but luckily they at least got to discuss how she would sing at what spots and in which tempo he would play throughout. She could tell that neither of them felt at all confident in the performance going well, but Christine didn't care. She had to do this. What else could she do?

Christine's stomach in knots, she and Erik waited in the wings of the performance hall as one of her classmates finished up Thinking Out Loud to the small audience, which she definitely would have rolled her eyes at if she weren't so anxious. She shuffled on her feet, her heels clicking on the hard stage floor with her movements, and Erik sighed.

"Desist, Christine," he whispered. "You cannot sing properly if you are not calm."

Christine nodded, taking a deep breath over the light applause that followed the boy's song. "Sorry," she breathed. "You're right."

"Now, are you positive you want to-"

"Yes," Christine hissed up at him. "I have to, Erik. Okay?"

"Alright, alright. Calm, Christine," he reminded.

She tried to obey, unclenching her teeth and relaxing her posture. But before she had another moment, she realized the Director of Music was already halfway through announcing her song and performance: "…accompanied by her vocal coach, Professor Erik Gabriel. Again, please welcome to the stage, Christine Daae."

Christine looked up at Erik one last time, her eyes silently pleading with his.

"Go," he instructed softly, patiently gesturing her forward with his hand. "I will be right behind you."

Nodding, she swallowed hard before striding to the brightly lit stage, taking her place behind the microphone. The lights made it difficult to see anything in front of her, and she felt grateful for that. If she saw any familiar faces—Sky's specifically—it would only make her more afraid. And already she suddenly felt like she couldn't do this anymore…

Erik's accompaniment began, the minor chords already sinking through her skin and haunting her, and though she opened her mouth to sing, Christine's throat closed up in terror, tears pricking her eyes. Please, no, she silently told her anxiety. Not now, not here, please…

And then, that persuasive, otherworldly loveliness of the voice entered her ears and swirled around her head: "Sing, dearest. It is only you and I. Sing for me."

Immediate calm washed through her, and just like that, everything else faded away, and she obeyed.