I Belong to You (Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction)

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Christine walked towards the living room of her house looking around silently. It didn't really feel like her house anymore. It felt like 'her parents' house' that she was merely visiting. So strange, her mind kept saying. Everything just felt so strange, from being back in this house and not feeling like it was her own to loving Erik and wanting to do anything in her power to save him.

First, however, she had to talk to her parents. They deserved to know what was going on. After everything the two of them had been through during her absense, they deserved to know what was going through her head. It was going to be incredibly difficult to talk to them. They would never understand, not in a million years.

Her mind was reeling as she tried to think of what to say... There was also the whole 'what happens after this?' question, but she had to take things one step at a time.

First thing's first...

She entered the living room where her parents were sitting together on the couch. Neither of them were speaking, but they were sitting side by side holding each other with their eyes closed, probably basking in the fact that their daughter was back. Christine truly couldn't imagine what they must have gone through.

A second after she walked inside, her parents both opened their eyes and stood.

"Christine," her father nearly cried, obviously startled.

"Are you okay," her mother asked urgently.

"I'm fine," she reassured. She gestured towards the couch. "Sit back down. Really, I'm fine."

They did so hesitantly and proceeded to sit on the edge of the couch, their full attention on her.

"Do you want anything," Norah asked. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

She shook her head. "No, not right now." All she wanted was to explain things to them. "Can we.. talk?" The entire situation felt so awkward.

"Of course," John replied instantly.

"I want to talk about what happened," Christine began calmly. She had to choose her words carefully. "This isn't going to be easy, but you both need to know some things." They were listening to every word she said. "Well.. You heard what I told that lady at the station. I told her that Erik didn't kidnap me. I'm sure you guys were shocked to hear me say that."

Their eager, questioning expressions said it all.

"The day I left, everything was crazy. I woke up and went to school, as always, but my voice lesson that day was.. weird. It was all normal at first. We sang and all. But it was when I was writing my check to pay Erik that he did something beyond surprising. He asked me to marry him."

Christine saw her mother's face pale and her father's jaw tighten. "I wasn't prepared for a question like that. I pretty much ran out of his house, and I didn't intend to ever go back. I mean, I had a boyfriend. I'm in high school. He'd never expressed any sort of feelings that would suggest he wanted that. It was all wrong."

Of course Christine knew what had happened next, how Erik had drugged her and taken her against her will, but if any of this were to go her way at all, she needed to lie. Maybe she would go to hell for it, but there was no other way. "I went on my jog when I got here, as usual. And while I was jogging I had time to think. It was like his question made me question. I'd been seeing him one-on-one for voice lessons for a year. I wondered, how was it that I'd never questioned my feelings for him? Erik had taught me so much in that year. We had voice lessons, yes, but we also had time to talk and share things with one another.