The Music of the Night

Chapter 12

Ellie came to Pinewood Studios with a surge of self-confidence the next day. 

She wasn't going to let anyone bring her down, no matter what anybody said. 

At 10:30, she began her work on the "Masquerade" outfit, and she finished it by 3:55. 

She liked it even more than the white gown, and that was saying something. 

Ellie set the gloves and heels on the right of the mannequin, where the outfit was straightened and ready to go.

She carefully set it up by her window to not only indicate that she had completed another outfit, but that she had done a better job than Charlotte ever could have. 

What do you think about that? Ellie thought with a triumphant smirk.

A few minutes later, her phone pinged with a message, and she looked to see who it was. 

Joel had texted her and said to "come to the sound stage for a special performance of 'Masquerade'" that was going to have everybody there. 

She groaned loudly. 

Bad idea, a voice said. If everybody's there, then Gerard and Charlotte are there.

Ellie contemplated her choices, thinking hard of what was the best route, which was obviously not showing up. 

But a little fragment of her heart said that she should go, even if it was for just a brief moment.

With a large sigh, she gave into her heart and headed to the sound stage, but she was going to be extra careful that nobody saw her while she was there. 

Just stay in the back and you'll be fine.

Ellie took a deep breath when she got to the double doors, and then, she opened them, not making a lot of noise. 

Hundreds of staff members and cast were filling the room once again, and she slid her way to a corner way in the back so that she wouldn't be acknowledged by someone.

After 5 minutes of trying to stay calm, Joel called out to everyone from the stage and quieted them down. 

"Alright, lads," he smiled, spreading out his arms wide. "You ready to see some magic here?"

A chorus of "yes" emerged from everybody, all except Ellie. 

Don't make a sound.

When the noise died down again, Emmy, her co-star Patrick Wilson, and the ensemble cast gathered on the stage and began to perform "Masquerade". 

Ellie's heart wrenched at the thought of seeing Gerard when it got to his singing part, and she harshly bit her lip.

Keep it together, she told herself. Don't let him get to you.

Suddenly, Ellie saw movement out of the corner of her eye, and when she turned to see who it was, her shoulders tensed. 

Charlotte was standing right next to her with her arms folded behind her back, and her hair was up in a tight bun.

She looked like she was some sort of general in the military, and Ellie rolled her eyes. 

Oh, please.

Seeming not to notice Ellie, Charlotte stared straight ahead, watching the performance. 

She wasn't even focusing on the song as she slowly side-stepped away from her. 

But, of course, she noticed her and said, "Oh hey, Ellie. What're you doing here? Shouldn't you be mopping up the floors somewhere else?"

She clenched her jaw and ignored Charlotte, trying to focus on the song instead. 

She, however, had other plans. 

"I noticed that you were absent yesterday. Is anything the matter?"

"None of your business, Ms. Banks," Ellie responded through gritted teeth, not looking at her.

"Did it have something to do with Gerard?" Charlotte pressed. 

Her composure faltered slightly, but she said nothing.

She then heard her gasp loudly and exclaim, "Oh my God. It did! You're in love with him, aren't you?"

Ellie shook her head and said firmly, "No. I'm not."

"Denial," Charlotte said in a sing-song voice. "That's always the first sign."

She finally looked at her and shot out, "What would you know? I doubt anyone could ever love someone as vile as you."

Charlotte's expression changed then, and Ellie was a bit terrified at the anger blazing in her eyes, but she held her ground. 

"He'd prefer me over anyone who appears like this," she gestured at Ellie with disgust. "You're so ugly I can barely look at you."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to give in. 

Ellie would not let Charlotte win.

She noticed her vulnerability, smirked wickedly, and asked, "Did he reject you, Ellie? Is that what this is about?"

Charlotte's face was inches from hers, and Ellie stared her down as hard as she could without crumbling. 

Her green eyes were triumphant, as if she could already tell that Ellie was going to lose. 

But right before she fell apart, a curse and a blessing fell on her at the same time: "What is going on here?"

(To be continued)