Distractions (Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Christine got out of the car. She was happy to be home. It would be the first visit with her father since the beginning of the semester.

When she entered the foyer, he was waiting with a smile on his face. "Dad, how are you?"

Charles walked forward and hugged his daughter. "I'm doing well now that you're here. How are you doing?" He was eager to hear about college. Christine hadn't called him in a few days, most likely due to her busy schedule, so he wanted to know how things were going.

Christine laughed not really knowing where to begin. Do I start by telling him about the stress of classes? Or the stress of voice lessons with Dr. Gratsia? Or about my social life? Or... my angel? No, she couldn't tell him about Erik. That was a secret she was bound and determined to keep hidden from everyone.. except Phantom, of course.

"I'm doing well," she began. "College is really busy, but it's pretty fun. Not the school work, but other things like singing and friends are good." She put some of her stuff down hugged him again. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to call you or come home more. Thank goodness this is a weekend that isn't too busy."

"Yes, thank goodness," Charles agreed. They sat in the family room and he turned off the TV so that they could talk. "I've missed you," he couldn't help but say.

"I've missed you, too." Christine really did feel bad for the lack of contact. "So, what's been going on around here?" She looked around finding that nothing had changed, which made her miss being there all the more.

"Nothing really, I suppose." He shrugged with a smile.

Christine felt like there was something he wasn't telling her, but she'd leave it alone for now. "Well, I'm here to take care of you this weekend, so relax and I'll fix you something to eat." She got up to go into the kitchen.

"Christine, this is your weekend to relax. You don't need to cater to me." He stood and followed her. "I should be fixing you something to eat. Actually, I'm very sorry for not preparing something ahead of time. I should have thought of that..."

It sounded like he felt really bad for it, almost too much so. "Dad, you should know that doesn't matter to me. I'm just glad to be here and see you. And you know I love to cook, so really, just sit down and talk to me while I fix something." She grinned reassuringly but faltered when she saw the strangest thing. She could see tears in her father's eyes. "Are you ok?" she asked with surprise and concern.

He laughed trying to cover up his emotion. "Yes, yes, I'm fine. I'm just really glad to see you, that's all." Abruptly changing subjects, he gave her a once-over and frowned. "Have you lost weight? You look thinner."

Christine shook her head, although it was a lie. "No way," she told him. "I've been eating so much cafeteria food that I'm pretty sure I've gained weight." Perhaps that was too much of a stretch, but luckily he didn't discuss it further.

Charles sat at the table and made some small talk while Christine prepared pasta and salad. They discussed classes, friends, and singing, but Christine refrained from talking about the current most important part of her life- her angel.

Really, she'd spent the past two weeks getting accustomed to Erik's teaching. He'd been training her every night and it was hard work. Her father was right, she really had lost weight due to working so hard. When she wasn't practicing, she was worried and skittish around everyone. Christine was just so afraid of disappointing her angel, and it was beginning to get in the way of the rest of her life.

But pleasing Erik was important. Nothing else mattered.

Her odd behavior wasn't going unnoticed, either. Meg was constantly trying to confront the situation, but all she ever got in answer to her questions was something like, 'Oh, you know how stressful school is.'