Sing Once More (A Phantom of the Opera Phan Fic)

Chapter 9

Reagan fell asleep in the corner of the costume room. Her dress surrounded her like a giant blanket. She was done with the Phantom; she didn't care if she ever saw him again.

The ever so soft squeak of the door made her stir slightly, but not enough to wake her fully.

"I think I see her..." A voice called softly.

"Are you certain?" Another voice called.

The small creak of the floorboards caused Reagan to raise her head slightly and look towards the door. Two shadowed figures moved towards her, one taller than the other. She blinked a few times to get everything into focus.

"Reagan...?" The shorter of the two figures called.

Reagan wiped her eyes, recognizing the voice almost instantly. "C-Chip...is that really you?" She whispered, staying in the corner.

"Oh my gosh it's you!" Chip bent down, wrapping his arms around her in a hug.

Reagan wrapped her arms around his neck and began to cry again. "Chip! Please take me home!" She sobbed, burring her face into his shoulder.

Chip looked back at Erik and motioned for him to come closer.

Erik stood his distance, his hood covering his face. "I'd rather not..." He whispered.

Reagan shot her head up, recognizing Erik's voice. A scowl presented itself on her face. "WHY ARE YOU HERE!? I THOUGHT YOU SAID I WAS A MISTAKE!?"

Erik frowned, turning his head away from Reagan and Chip.

"He didn't mean that, Reagan." Chip tried to reassure her.

Reagan pushed herself out of Chip's arms and stood up, stomping over to Erik and poking her finger into his rib cage. "I idolized you! I thought you were just the greatest thing in the world! I would have died to just meet you! But what did you do?! YOU CALLED ME A MISTAKE AND SHOVED ME AWAY!" She screamed at him, tears flowing down her cheeks in anger and sadness.

Chip briskly walked over to Reagan and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "Reagan, come on...we all say things we don't mean."

Reagan spun around and pushed Chip's hand off her shoulder. "NO! He meant it! I want him to apologize!" She quickly turned back to Erik and crossed her arms, waiting for her apology.

Erik just stood there, somewhat confused that this tiny, delicate little creature would scold him in such a way and then expect an apology. He looked at Chip, and Chip looked back at him with a worried expression. 

"I'm not going to apologize..." Erik finally said after a moment of deadly silence. 

"Excuse me?!" Reagan hissed, looking at Erik wide eyed. 

Erik shifted his weight a bit, trying to lessen the fire that came from Reagan's glare. "I said...I'm not going to apologize. I don't think you deserve an apology. Perhaps I was a bit rash, but you were, correction are, a bit of a pest. I didn't ask to get sucked into this whole time warp thing." He replied with a bit of hesitance in his tone. 

Reagan stared at him, throwing daggers from her eyes. "You are the MOST selfish, low life, no good, UGLY jerk, I have EVER MET!!" She screamed and pushed past him, darting out of the costume room before she could begin to cry again.

Chip gave Erik a dirty glare and pointed his finger at him. "You really are a jerk..." He pushed past him and darted after Reagan. "Reagan! Hey, wait up girl!"

Reagan pushed past the chorus girls and the trunks. Her vision was blurred by her tears. She rushed blindly through the people. Finally, she made it to the box seats. Shoving aside the curtain and darting inside, she took a seat not caring where she was. She brought her knees to her chest and sobbed.

She felt shoved aside and forgotten. Thoughts of her father rushed through her mind. He had been a senseless drunk; and once her mother left, Reagan's father had resorted to beating her in fits of drunk depression. She remembered the bruises and scars. The screams of pain that no one could hear but her. The moments spent alone without love and care. It was hard...

Sobs racked her body as the thoughts played over and over in her mind. Erik had pushed her aside. She had put him on a pedestal, and then he came along and broke it completely. Reagan had put her trust in him, and he had shattered it all.

Chip followed the soft sobs that rang down the box seat hall. He popped his head through the curtain and frowned as he say Reagan crying into her knees.

He quietly walked in, bending down in front of her and looking at her sadly. "Reagan...hey,  what's up doc?" He asked softly.

Reagan lifted her head slowly, her tear stained cheeks saying it all. "Even your corny jokes can't cheer me up now, Chip..." She whimpered.

Chip frowned and wiped her cheeks softly with the back of his hand. "I'm sorry...I know you put a lot of trust and heart into him and he just threw it away."

Reagan nodded slowly, tears welling up in her eyes again.

"He's a hurting heart, Reagan. You just have to understand that he's not really a people person, and that he doesn't want to fall into a trap again." Chip said, standing slightly and scooting Reagan over a bit while he sat with her in the chair.

Reagan sat on his lap and laid her head on his chest. "I thought...maybe he'd be different...from the past. You know...?" She whispered.

Chip nodded, wrapping his hands around her. "I know..."

"Chip...?" Reagan said softly.

"Huh?" Chip looked down at her, his eyes full of compassion.

Reagan looked up at him, curiosity in her own eyes. "Do you...like me?" She said almost in a whisper.

Chip's face went red and he avoided her eyes. "Um...I mean...well, you're...pretty..."

A small smile pursed Reagan's lips. "Well, ever since like eight grade you've picked on me or sent me a valentine, and I just wanted to know..."

"Oh...ha...um, well, I mean..you're...you're pretty..." Chip stuttered, getting uncomfortable. He had liked Reagan, for quite some time honestly. But he never thought she had liked him, not in that way at least. 

Reagan giggled softly and sat up a little, placing a small kiss on Chip's cheek. "Well, I think you're very handsome..."

Chip's face turned brighter red if it were even possible. "Ha...t-thanks...and you're..."

"Pretty." Reagan interrupted him, smiling softly. "You've already said that twice."

* * *

Erik stood in the costume room, a wave of massive depression flooding over him. She had called him ugly...ugly! Why was he such a jerk? Why couldn't he just act like a normal human? Oh, that was right; he wasn't normal...he'd never be normal in his own eyes.

His fists curled and his breathing hitched. He turned to the wall and gave it a quick and powerful punch. A sickening crack came from the blow; whether it was his hand or the split beam was unknown.

His eyes could have rightfully been glowing red. "I will show you who I really am..." He growled, walking briskly from the costume room.

The war had just begun.