Chapter 11 – It's time…for the date
(Beth – Singing, Erik – Singing, Both – Singing)
Beth looks at Leo in horror. What had they heard? The only way to know was to summon up the courage to ask and like the Gryffindor she was Leo spoke.
"What are you talking about? Do you know how rude it is to eavesdrop on people? How much did you hear?" Leo asked hands on hips looking very disapproving.
"I am The Phantom of the Opera; all I do is eavesdrop. Don't worry all I heard was something about a deal and then…you said my real name." Erik answered not in the least ashamed at Leo's stare.
"Well umm I was talking about someone else but thank you for revealing you name." Beth said looking very pleased with coming up with a lie, but Erik's face was full of disbelief, so Beth decided to yell "It was Nadir's fault I heard him call you that!"
"Nadir I told you to be careful when saying my name!" Erik yelled at Nadir who looked very confused at being accused.
"Beth don't you dare blame Nadir, but speaking of Nadir what are you doing here?" Leo yelled at Beth, before turning around towards Nadir.
"Miss…Leo I wanted to talk with you and Erik here wanted to accompany me so he could converse with Miss Bethan." Nadir pulled Leo aside and asked her "I wish to take you to a restaurant to talk and learn more about each other if you do not mind Leo."
"I would like that very much when shall we go?" Leo answered gently holding onto Nadir's hand.
"Now if you don't mind, but I will have to stop off at the lair first to gather my funds so you can get properly attired." Nadir said pulling her close.
"I am nearly ready so you can wait, and I will accompany you to the lair." Leo replied already walking away from him to screen to change. Once Leo was ready Nadir took her hand and they made their way to the lair, but not without yelling bye to Beth.
When they had arrived Nadir realised, he had not enough stored in his hiding place. Leo noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I do not have enough funds to take you out, do you mind waiting till I am able to?" Nadir replied with hope. He saw Leo thinking and the next thing he knew she was taking funds from Erik's pot and getting a piece of parchment to write on.
"I'm far too impatient to wait to dine with you. I am just leaving a note for Erik and Beth then we will leave." Leo said writing to Beth where she was going and an I.O.U for Erik while chuckling to herself. Leo walked back to Nadir and said, "Right I am ready let's go."
They made their way to the carriage that Nadir had prepared and soon they were off to the restaurant Perchiana, which specialises in Persian cuisine.
"Have you ever had Persian food Leo?" Asked Nadir.
"I do not think I have before so I shall rely on you Nadir to steer me in the right direction with the food." Leo shyly replied.
"This is the only restaurant that suited my taste buds I would be more than happy to guide you milady. Table for Khan please." Nadir replied guiding her in and then holding her seat once they had been seated.
The date was a new experience for Leo, not the actual date itself but the cuisine. So when Nadir was seated and Leo was nervously viewing her menu he quickly took her hand in his simply saying…
"Trust me I think I know what to get you" He calmly and reassuringly said to Leo. You could see the tension flow out of her and in that moment she felt alive. Nadir ordered Kotlets with herb salad for himself and a simple Persian noodle soup for Leo.
(AN: If you look on the BBC food recipes you can see both on there for more info on the dishes.)
The conversation started simple with questions on the favourite colour, moments and soon they were talking about family. After Leo finishing saying about her immediate family of 4, Nadir went quiet. Leo calmly took his hand and said, "What is the matter, whatever it is I will not judge you."
"Do you like the name Casper?" Nadir suddenly asked holding her hand tightly.
"Yes, it reminds me of a story I was told as a child. Did you know that it means King of Treasure in some cultures?" Leo replied holding his hand just as tightly.
"I did know that which is why I called my son that…I…you haven't meet him as he is still getting over an illness and is with the governess, I hired to teach him French." Nadir nervously replied.
Leo thought for a moment than taking liberties moved her chair next to Nadir pulling his hands in hers. "My brother has a child and I love looking after him, I have no doubt with you being his father that Casper is anything, but wonderful."
"Leo will you allow me to court you?" Nadir impulsively replied looking into her eyes.
"Let me think about it…yes I would love that." Leo replied teasing him and gently kissing him on the cheek. "Let's go for some ice cream." Leo said after they had finished eating pulling Nadir from his seat (don't worry Erik's money went to good use).
Whilst Nadir and Leo were on a date, Erik had invited Beth back to his lair to help her with singing lessons due to her new role in the Opera Wicked. (AN we know it's not actually an opera leave us alone). Erik and Beth practiced both the important solo parts of Defying gravity and I'm not that girl, when Beth mentioned she had trouble singing As long as your mine.
"So what are you having trouble with? Which part?" Erik asked looking at the score on his page.
"The part where Fiyero starts singing after me and getting the harmony sounding anything like it's meant to. I don't know what it is but whenever I am singing the words it somehow don't feel right."
"Very well let us start with your first problem. So from the chorus."
"And just for this momentAs long as you're mineI've lost all resistanceAnd crossed some borderlineAnd if it turns outIt's over too fastI'll make every last moment lastAs long as you're mine"
"Ok that so that sounded ok, but I know your problem, you are breathing in the wrong places here." He took her music score and placed a mark where she needs to breathe. Beth looked on the score realising where she went wrong. Beth repeated the chorus sounding much better. They carried onto the moment Beth had trouble harmonising.
...Somehow I've fallen
Under your spell
And somehow I'm feeling
It's up that I fell
Every moment
As long as you're mine
I'll wake up my body
And make up for lost time
Say there's no future
For us as a pair
And though I may know
I don't care
Just for this moment
As long as you're mine
Come be how you want to
And see how bright we shine
Borrow the moonlight
Until it is through
And know I'll be here
Holding you
As long as you're mine
They sang perfectly sounding like two people in love like Beth wanted their voices matching and harmonising perfectly. How she felt every moment she spent with him, but soon reality (so to speak) set in when Nadir and Leo interrupt with "well don't you look comfortable".
Breaking out of their stupor Erik began to question the feelings that were rising in him for Beth, but like you can guess he started to swim in denial saying that Beth is just his friend in his head. He loves Christine, that was to be his mantra for the next so many weeks.
Beth on the other hand saw the look on his face after Leo had interrupted and knew what he was thinking and planned in that moment to be like every clique movie and planned to let him be happy. She just wanted him to be happy so knowing that he did not love her decided to teach Erik how to woo a woman and help him get Christine back. She knew what she needed to do…
That on the other hand was not important to her at the moment though as soon as she realised Leo was in the room took her hand and pulled into another room while saying "So how was it? Was the date everything you wanted it to be?"
"Ahh it was wonderful…" The door shut leaving Erik and Nadir to stare after them knowing the next so many weeks would change their loves for better or worse…
AN: Hi, it's been a while since we have updated...we are very busy, yet far too lazy to make time to write and upload the story...
Thank you to all the kind messages and reviews that we have recieved so far. Hope you enjoy the new chapter.