Distractions (Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

It was a sunny Sunday, but Christine couldn't go outside to enjoy the weather. She sat in a practice room reading through her pieces and studying for a music theory quiz. What a life, she thought while playing through the melody of a song by Schubert.

But she loved this life. She really did.

Except...

I wonder if I could go enjoy the sun for just a few minutes... I'm so pale... I could sit out there and study... I need to practice, though... Darn...

Erik watched from behind the practice room mirror. He watched as she twirled a curl of hair with her finger, he watched as she briefly studied for music theory, he watched as she quickly went over her songs, and he watched as she sat on the piano bench obviously thinking hard about something.

Then, he watched as she packed up and left the room. She was barely here for fifteen minutes.. He couldn't help but be disappointed.

Once outside, Christine decided there would be no regrets and lay on the fresh grass beside the music building.

Just as she was getting her music theory book back out to continue studying, her cell phone rang. The caller ID read that it was Raoul. She groaned and decided not to answer. But, at the same time, not answering would make her feel guilty.

At the last second, she answered. "Hello?"

"Hey there, stranger! How are you?"

She couldn't help but smile slightly at his happy, carefree tone. It was refreshing. "Sorry for being a stranger. I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm great! I couldn't let you stay a stranger forever, you know."

"I've been really busy lately."

"Yeah, that's what I figured." Without even asking about her life, he continued, "So, I was wondering.. Do you want to come to a party with me tonight?"

She'd just told him that she had been really busy lately, but he didn't inquire as to why? Christine frowned and immediately felt like saying 'no'. "When is the party?"

"Starts at 10."

That's when my voice lesson ends, so I could actually go... But.. "I'm sorry, Raoul, but I can't. I have other plans," she lied.

"Oh.." He sounded disappointed. "Well, that's ok. I'll call you back tomorrow. Maybe we can hang out then." His tone was confident, as if there was no way she'd say no.

"Yeah, maybe." She definitely wasn't going to commit to it, though.

"Ok, well, I'll talk to you later."

Christine closed her eyes not looking forward to 'later'. "Ok, yeah. Bye."

"Bye."

She closed her phone and lay staring up at the beautiful sky for several minutes. I wish Raoul could be more like Phantom. That'd be nice. But that obviously wasn't possible, so she sat up and began studying again.

9:00 pm came quickly that night. Christine walked to her usual practice room with apparent nerves. She hadn't eaten dinner over being so worried about her lesson. So much depended on her voice being acceptable for her angel.

If it was anything other than perfect, she was afraid he would leave her forever.

She sat at the piano bench and played through a little melody while waiting.

Erik turned the corner and made his way behind her mirror. "Good evening, Christine."

She stood a little shakily. "Hi, Angel."