After The Opera Burned || Phantom Of The Opera

Chapter 10 - Rejection

A/N: Bonus points to the first person who guesses the Easter Egg I threw in this chapter! Winner gets a shout out on my next chapter! Thanks for all the reads, votes, and comments! Hint:  It's not the obvious one.

WARNING: This may cause triggers for those who have experienced unwanted sexual advances. Please be advised that this is ONLY in this chapter.

Two months had passed since Erik had first heard Meg perform at the inn. He hesitantly agreed to teach Meg as he had Christine but only when it was early in the morning and no one was by the piano, and to his surprise they got along quite well after some time. At first Meg was shy as she had been before but now, after many days of practice, Meg was more herself and even joking with Erik. Their partnership grew, as did their performances with Erik's playing mesmerizing the crowd while Meg's voice held their interests and emotions. They had played various songs from various operas and occasionally requests that would please the audience even more. Many suitors came to ask for Meg's hand from various backgrounds, families, and riches but she had turned them all down. She wasn't exactly courting Jean but he sparked an interest in her that no one had before, well except for Erik. As well as Erik, he had various newspapers and, what he found odd, fans of his playing come and ask him questions. People were more intrigued about his mask but not because of what lay underneath, but because of his actual playing. It was an innocent two months but sadly, all beginnings must come to an end.

On this particular evening, Meg and Erik had just finished their show as the last of the audience finally left the inn, either returning to their homes or the rooms that had been rented for the event. Mme. DuMonde was excited for her find in the Girys and couldn't have been any happier with her newfound wealth. Charles liked the shows but he was out of the inn a lot, disappearing into the busy crowds of the now busy street, more so then his mother would like. Erik would see Charles from time to time but hardly had a conversation. It was as if when Erik came back to the hotel they were staying at and Erik cut him out, Charles cut him out too.

"Oh Erik!" Meg squealed softly, turning around to face him. Erik had been preoccupied in his thoughts to notice they were now alone in the bar, having now been closed since the show was over. No point keeping it open if DuMonde didn't feel like it.

"Hmm." Erik mumbled, not really a question or a statement. He wasn't sure what that was.

"Erik, we have found a new happiness. We are stars in this inn and people come from all over just to see us perform, us!" Meg exclaimed, twirling in her lilac dress that she chose to wear tonight. It was a very light fabric but a soft lilac with lace trimmings, which went well with Meg's blonde ringlets and blue eyes.

"Is this what will always make you happy?" Erik asked, trying to hid a bit of annoyance in his voice. The inn had always been temporary and in fact, he had been here far too long. It was time to leave and soon, before the police caught on to the man in the mask.

"Well...." Meg sighed, stopping her twirl to look at Erik, a smirk slowly rising on her face, "Not always."

Erik could sense she was hinting to something, something Erik should be guessing right off the bat but he honestly had no clue. He tilted his head to the side, as if begging her to continue.

She did, "I have been rather enjoying your company."

Meg had looked down and he could have sworn a soft pink caressed her fragile cheeks as she mentioned this. Wasn't she courting Jean? Why was there a blush to her face? What was she embarrassed about?

Erik didn't speak a word, waiting to see if she had more to say.

"Can I ask you a question?" she asked softly, still not facing him as if she were playing a game. Her hand rested gently on an abandoned chair, the room growing darker and colder as more time progressed. Erik watched her body language for a moment, eying her physique and mannerisms as if he were to be quizzed later on it.