Twisted Every Way: A Haunting Love Triangle

Chapter 7: It's Only the Beginning

(Steven's Point of View, Erik Destler)

Julia and I finish singing the theme and she hits that high E6 once again. I go into my organ sequence. "I have brought you to the seat of sweet music's throne. To this kingdom where all music pay homage to music, music. You have come here for one purpose and one alone. Since the moment I first heard you sing, I have needed you with me, to serve me, to sing for my music. My music." Before I can start Music of the Night, Cameron cuts me off. "Ok, everyone. I think that's enough for today. You all have been working incredibly hard and I think you deserve the rest of the night off. Andrew, do you have anything you want to add before we break for the day?" Andrew stands up and echoes Cameron. "Yes, you all did a great job today. We have a long way to go, but I am extremely optimistic. Just a reminder that we start promptly at 11:00AM, so please let's abide by that so we don't waste any time." I hear Tim scoff from across the room. Who is this guy and what is his deal? "Thank you, everyone for a great first day and we'll see you tomorrow" Andrew continues. "Let's just make sure all the chairs are put away before we leave." Everyone stands up and puts their chairs in a back closet. As soon as I put my chair away, I feel someone tap me on the shoulder. Expecting to see Julia, I am caught off guard by the sight of Tim when I turn around. "I just thought I should warn you. Julia is my girlfriend, so keep your hands off her and no one gets hurt" he threatens. Before I have a chance to respond, he walks away. What is up with him? I look around the room and see Julia waving at me. I walk over to her and she reaches her hand out to me and I put mine in hers. "We still on for 6:30?" she asks. "If you're still up for it" I reply, hoping she says yes. "Definitely! I have been looking forward to it. But I need the address. I just moved to New York a few weeks ago and I'm still learning my way around" she says, smiling.

(Julia's Point of View)

As soon as I hit the E6, my throat feels dry, so I'm grateful that I don't have to sing for a while. Steven goes into his sequence, his voice strong and flawlessly as usual. "I have brought you to the seat of sweet music's throne. To this kingdom where all music pay homage to music, music. You have come here for one purpose and one alone. Since the moment I first heard you sing, I have needed you with me, to serve me, to sing for my music. My music." To my dismay, before he can start Music of the Night, Cameron cuts him off. Maybe I'll ask him to sing it for me tonight. "Ok, everyone" Cameron announces "I think that's enough for today. You all have been working incredibly hard and I think you deserve the rest of the night off. Andrew, do you have anything you want to add before we break for the day?" Andrew stands up and echoes Cameron. "Yes, you all did a great job today. We have a long way to go, but I am extremely optimistic. Just a reminder that we start promptly at 11:00AM, so please let's abide by that so we don't waste any time." Tim scoffs under his breath. It's his fault we didn't start on time, so maybe he should listen to Andrew. "Thank you, everyone for a great first day and we'll see you tomorrow" Andrew continues. "Let's just make sure all the chairs are put away before we leave." Everyone stands up and puts their chairs in a back closet." I put my chair away and run to fill my water bottle backstage. When I return, I am surprised to see Tim talking to Steven. I wait for their conversation to end before waving Steven over. I reach my hand out to him and he puts his in mine. "We still on for 6:30?" I ask. "If you're still up for it" he replies. I smile and say "Definitely! I have been looking forward to it. But I need the address. I just moved to New York a few weeks ago and I'm still learning my way around."

(Tim's Point of View, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagney)

Julia was flawless as usual in her rendition of the Phantom's theme. And that E6 is enough to shatter glass. I try to drown out Steve singing the sequence, but his voice is so strong that it's difficult. "I have brought you to the seat of sweet music's throne. To this kingdom where all music pay homage to music, music. You have come here for one purpose and one alone. Since the moment I first heard you sing, I have needed you with me, to serve me, to sing for my music. My music." Thankfully, before he can get into his whiny version of Music of the Night Cameron cuts him off. "Ok, everyone. I think that's enough for today. You all have been working incredibly hard and I think you deserve the rest of the night off. Andrew, do you have anything you want to add before we break for the day?" Andrew stands up and echoes Cameron. "Yes, you all did a great job today. We have a long way to go, but I am extremely optimistic. Just a reminder that we start promptly at 11:00AM, so please let's abide by that so we don't waste any time." I scoff. Give me a break! This show wouldn't be what it is if it wasn't for Raoul. "Thank you, everyone for a great first day and we'll see you tomorrow" Andrew continues. "Let's just make sure all the chairs are put away before we leave." Everyone stands up and puts their chairs in a back closet. I don't waste a second. Leaving my chair behind for someone else to get, I march over to Steven and tap him on the shoulder. He turns around and is caught off guard. Perfect, he is vulnerable. I threaten him with the biggest ammunition I have "I just thought I should warn you. Julia is my girlfriend, so keep your hands off her and no one gets hurt." With that, I march away and go to fid Andrew. That Steven has nothing on me. I have known Julia since we were teenager and she will surely choose me over some low life she just met.

(Steven's Point of View, Erik Destler)

As soon as I finish clearing the chairs from the stage, I glance at my watch and realize that I only have an hour and a half before Julia is due at my studio. I hop on the subway, which thankfully gets me home in ten minutes. I quickly shower and change into jeans, a white dress shirt and blue sweater. I think I look pretty sharp, but Julia will be the judge of that. I clean up the piles of scores that are strewn all over the floor ad stick them in a cabinet. I pull out the Phantom score as well as the scores from my two other favorite shows; Finding Neverland and Les Misérables. I can't wait to her sing more Phantom. Plus, based on her range, I want to hear her sig my favorite song from Finding Neverland, All That Matters. I go into the kitchen and pull out my plethora of take out menus. Hopefully she'll like at least one of these places. But since she just moved to the city, she might not have had the chance to try any restaurants. Why am I suddenly so nervous? I didn't even have the chance to buy any drinks. I throw the dishes in the dishwasher and start it so that there can be some clean dishes to eat off of. Luckily, I just cleaned the rest of the studio last night so there's not much else to do. Just as I put the last dish away, the doorbell rings. Well, here goes nothing. I straighten up tall, fix my sweater and, taking a deep breath, open the door.

(Julia's Point of View, Christine Daae)

I help finish putting the chairs away and just as I am about to head home, Tim grabs me by the arm. Before I have a chance to react, he pulls me backstage and into a dressing room. "Tim, what are you doing? I have to be somewhere" I say, still caught off guard by what just happened. "Julia, I have been waiting to talk to you all day. Can I just get five minutes?" He takes my face in his hands and kisses me. I put my hands on his chest and push him away. "Tim, we haven't spoken to or see each other in almost 15 years" I say. "Do you seriously think we can just pick up where we left off, because I don't? Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go." Not waiting for him to react, I leave the Majestic and hail a cab. I arrive home with just enough time to shower, change and pick up a bottle of wine before heading to SoHo. I quickly shower and look in my closet for something decent to wear. I want to try and impress Steven, so I must look my best. After ten minutes, I finally decide on the most comfortable, yet presentable thing I can think of. It's a blue dress with a slight V-neck and cap sleeves. I slip into it and throw on a pair of nude flats. Pulling my hair back into a pony tail, I look at myself in the mirror and think 'Well, that's all I can do for now." I take my dad's wedding ring off its chain and slip it onto my right middle finger so I don't lose it. Grabbing my purse and white sweater, I walk to the liquor store down the street and grab a bottle of red wine before hailing another cab and heading to Steven's studio. I arrive at 6:20, so I take my time walking up to the door. Here we go, moment of truth. I approach the door, take a deep breath and ring the doorbell. I don't even know what I'm going to say, so when the door does open, all I can do is look up.

(Tim's Point of View, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagney)

I approach Mr. Lloyd Webber and he turns to face me. "Tim, I'm sorry that we didn't get to speak earlier. But I am quite late for an appointment, so can we make this fast?" he asks, clearly annoyed that I have delayed him once again. "I'm sorry, Andrew. But I just have one question" I say. "What is your policy o dating costars? I asked Cameron and he said to speak with you." I can tell I touched a nerve because Andrew's persona suddenly shifts. "You know my history with dating costars" he replies. "While my experience with that was almost 30 years ago, my views on it don't change. Keep the personal, personal, and the professional, professional. This being said, date whoever you want to outside of rehearsals, even if it is your costar. Just don't bring your relationship here." I reach my hand out ad he shakes it. "Thank you, I appreciate you clearing the air for me" I say. Phew, thank God. Not wasting another second, I march over to Julia, take her by the arm and pull her backstage into a dressing room. "Tim, what are you doing? I have to be somewhere" she says, clearly shaken. But that doesn't damper my mood in the slightest. "Julia, I have been waiting to talk to you all day" I reply. "Can I just get five minutes?" I take her face in my hands and kiss her. Suddenly, I feel her hands on my chest and without warning, she pushes me away. "Tim, we haven't spoken to or see each other in almost 15 years" she says. "Do you seriously think we can just pick up where we left off, because I don't? Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go." She leaves before I have a chance to react. Ok, now that's weird. I shake it off and head home. It's been a long day and I just want to rest. I throw on sweatpants and a tee shirt, pop some chicken in the oven, grab a beer and collapse on the couch.