The Music of the Night

Chapter 28

Ellie stepped out into the hall and checked to make sure that Gerard was still outside. 

He was leaning against the nearby wall, watching all the staff walking by. 

It seemed like only a few people were aware of who he was, but they didn't make much of a reaction to his presence.

She sighed in relief and walked over to him. 

He caught her movement out of the corner of his eye and glanced over. 

"Ellie," he said while rushing to her. "What happened? Is everything all right?"

"My dad is fine," Ellie smiled. "He's expected to make a full recovery."

"Oh, darling," Gerard breathed, pulling her into a hug. "That's great."

She let him hold her for a moment, but then, she separated from him and said, "He wants to meet you."

His eyebrows instantly shot up. 

"He's awake?"

"Yep."

"And he knows I'm here?"

"Yep."

Gerard brushed his hair back and started to look nervous. 

His hands were fussing with each other, and he paced a few times. 

Once he took a deep breath, he said, "Alright. Lead the way."

Ellie nodded and took his sweaty hand in hers. 

"They're going to love you, Gerard. I promise."

He smiled tightly, indicating that he was doubtful. 

She didn't blame the poor guy. 

With a silent prayer, she led him to the doorway and said aloud, "Mom, Dad, this is Gerard."

They both looked over at her, and their mouths dropped open in unison. 

Carol's eyes were as big as dinner plates, and Andrew's heart rate picked up quite a bit on the monitor. 

Oh, what have you done?  a voice chided in her head. You're literally going to kill your dad from shock.

Gerard gave a small smile and politely said, "Hello."

It was so quiet that you could practically hear a pin dropping from a mile away, and Ellie was starting to get worried. 

You're screwed.

Her mom was the first one to say something. 

"Ellie, what is Gerard Butler doing here?" she asked, emphasizing her words slowly.

She laughed nervously and stuttered out, "He's my, uh, he's my...boyfriend."

Their faces stretched out even longer than she thought possible, and Ellie wanted to curl up into a ball so she could hide from the beratement that she knew was coming her way. 

How could she have been so foolish to think that they would accept him as her boyfriend? 

She began to push Gerard out of the room in shame, but she was stopped when Andrew said, "Let him stay, Ellie."

She bit her lip and did as he wished. 

Ellie could literally feel her skin going white from the anxiety she was feeling in that moment, and she wanted to run so badly. 

Her dad stared at the two of them with an expression she could not decipher, and then, he asked, "Did you two meet during the production?"

She nodded.