Between Mirrors and Roses (A Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction) ✓

11: Notes and Confrontations

Christine

A few days later, Meg caught up with me after rehearsals. Her ballet practice tutu bounced as she pranced down the hall; a ribbon tied back her hair and brought out the blue in her eyes. In sharp contrast to the delicate ensemble, Meg's demeanor was determined. "Christine!" she called. "I haven't talked to you in ages! Why are you always so quick to leave?"

"You have ballet rehearsals in the afternoons," I said. "But most days I'm through before lunch."

"Well," she said matter-of-factly. "You could wait for me to get out—or leave and then come back."

She had a point. I should have been a better friend. "You're right, Meg," I told her. "I'm sorry. Could we do something together soon?"

Meg's eyes twinkled, and a huge smile broke over her face. "I have the afternoon off, so we could spend the rest of the day together. We could go the market again! Or somewhere else, if you want."

We jumped to the side of the hall at the same time to let a few men carrying a set piece pass by. Traffic in the corridor parted then resumed its flow in their wake.

As much as I loved Meg's company, I was getting bored of shopping trips. "Are there any bookstores nearby?" I asked.

"I think I heard that a new one opened up just a few blocks from here. Would you like to give it a try?"

"Sure."

She beamed. "Let me change, and then I'll meet you out front. Reading isn't much my thing, but shopping is; I know I'll be able to find something you love!"

Her euphoria was catching. And the promise of a bookstore nearly had me giggling in anticipation. "All right!" I said. "I'll see you in a bit."

She skipped away gracefully, the tulle of her skirt swaying with the movement of her slender hips.

I asked one of the friendlier stagehands, passing by with an armload of paper, if I could borrow a piece. He obliged, and I scribbled a note to Erik, telling him that I was going out for the rest of the day and would have to postpone our singing lesson. Then I folded it up and walked briskly to the little chapel, leaving it on a bench. I was confident by now that practically no one else used the chapel, so my note had little chance of being discovered.

Then I went to find Meg, looking forward to an afternoon spent in her cheerful company.

...

Raoul was pleased with himself. He had chosen to follow Christine again today, and to his delight, his efforts paid off. Christine retreated to the tiny, forgotten chapel as before, but this time she left again almost instantly. Raoul stole into the chapel as soon as she was gone. There, sitting innocently on one of the benches, was a note.

He opened it with trembling fingers, hoping that it would contain some clues as to her mysterious behavior—maybe the name of a secret lover. But there was no name, only an explanation of where she had gone and an apology that she would miss her day's lesson.

He crumpled the paper up in his fist. Who was this secret tutor of hers? And how on earth did the two of them come and go without being caught by Raoul?

Realizing that Christine's enigmatic companion might be arriving soon, expecting to meet her, Raoul hunted for places to hide. There were none in the bare room, so he fled outside and hid by the entrance.

No one came.

Frustrated beyond belief, Raoul stalked off in the direction of the exit. He had better things to do with his time than stare at motionless doors for hours.