Your Teacher (Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Dear Diary,

Today was the day of the competition. I was SO nervous.

Erik told me yesterday to go to my mom's dressing room at 8 AM. The competition was to start at 10 AM.

My parents drove me and went to sit in the auditorium while I warmed up. I hurriedly made my way to my mom's dressing room.

Erik was sitting on a couch, just as he said he would be. I decided not to question how exactly he got there. We warmed up. He played his violin, and I sang. We then sang through my 3 pieces once.

After that, he told me to sit down and relax. That was the last thing I could do, though. I was so nervous that I refused to take a seat. Eventually, though, he convinced me to.

We discussed the rules of the competition. He told me that each audition would be seven minutes. I'd go on stage and sing. Judges would be listening in the audience, but anyone who wanted to hear could be there, too. That made me even more nervous than before. It was one thing to sing for three judges, which was nerve racking enough, but it was quite another to be singing to many, many more people.

Erik reminded me that I'd be just fine. He told me to pretend like I was at his apartment in the music room. So, I began to put the thought of an everyday voice lesson in my mind. It was actually working, too.

Finally, it was time to head backstage. I left Erik with butterflies in my stomach. When I got there, other girls were sitting on the floor mentally preparing themselves, but not Carlotta. She was standing, leaning against the wall, with one leg crossed in front of the other waiting for something or someone.

It turns out, that someone was me, for she walked right to me as I sat down. "Hey Daae, aren't you a little late?"

That was the only thing I remember her saying to me. The rest, I just blocked out. She definitely didn't matter today. Only the competition mattered.

And so, one of the managers of the opera house came and divided us up. It turns out, I was number 27 out of the 75 girls.

So, the rest of us sat down while the first person went out to sing.

I waited, and waited, and waited. Luckily Carlotta decided not to speak to me. She was number 45.

Finally, or not finally, for it felt like seconds to my nervous body, it was my turn.

I went on stage slowly with a fake smile on my face. Erik and I had discussed that smiling was important. I handed the hired accompanist my music and went to the center of the stage. Then, I looked out at the audience. There were tons of people. It seemed that every family member and friend of each of the competitors was there!

But, most importantly, three judges sat in front of the rest of the audience. I gulped and looked down. When I looked up, the music would begin. Mentally preparing myself and pretending that this was just another lesson with Erik, I looked up.

I began to sing for Erik and Erik alone. Pleasing him was all that mattered. My full attention engulfed the words and emotion of what I was singing. No one else mattered except Erik and the music.

Seven minutes passed quickly. It seemed I'd only just begun singing when time was up. I smiled and left the stage.

I'd done it! I'd actually done it! I knew I was good out there. I felt it. When I walked backstage, girls were looking at me with shocked expressions. Even Carlotta couldn't speak. It felt so good!