Twisted Every Way: A Haunting Love Triangle

Chapter 11: Another Day Dawning

(Steven's Point of View, Erik Destler)

I wake up to the sound of my coffee pot and what sounds like water boiling. Sitting up on the couch, I look at my watch and realize its 8:30AM. Looking into the kitchen, I see Julia standing over my stove, a frying pan cooking eggs on the burner. "Julia, you don't need to make me breakfast." She turns around and smiles at me. "It's the least I can do after you basically told Tim off last night" she says. I stand up, stretch, and join her. Pouring myself a cup of coffee, I kiss her on the cheek. She turns to face me and gasps. Knowing immediately what she's staring at, my face goes red, I turn away and fall to my knees. "This isn't how I wanted you to find out" I stammer. Putting my hand over the section of my cheek, I start singing the morning after scene from Phantom. "Stranger than you dreamt it, can you even dare to look. Or bear to think of me. This lonesome gargoyle who burns in hell but secretly years for heaven secretly, secretly. But Christine, fear can turn to love. You'll learn to see to find the man behind the monster. This repulsive carcass who seems a beast, but secretly dreams of beauty, secretly, secretly. Oh, Christine." I hear the stove go off and feel Julia on my right side, the bad side. She take my hand in hers and lowers it. I look her in her eyes and she smiles at me. "We all have our imperfections, but that doesn't mean I love you any less" she whispers, kissing the divot on my cheek. I let go of her hand and take her in my arms. Kissing her forehead, I whisper "Thank you, sweetheart." She helps me off the floor and hugs me. "Do you want to have breakfast and we can talk about it?" she asks. I nod and we each make a plate. Sitting at the table, she takes my hand in hers and says. "I don't judge anyone; so you can be perfectly honest with me." Taking a deep breath, I say "Ok, here goes."

(Julia's Point of View, Christine Daae)

I wake up to the sun in my eyes. Steven is still sound asleep so I slowly get up so I don't wake him. He looks so peaceful. Kissing him on the cheek, I head into the bathroom and freshen up. Glancing at my watch, I realize it's early, 7:45AM. Luckily that gives me a bit of time before I need to get home and shower. Walking back into the kitchen, I make a pot of coffee and decide to make breakfast for Steven and me. I open the fridge and remove the eggs and milk. Finding a bowl in the cabinet, I scramble the eggs and heat up a frying pan on the stove. My mind is racing about last night. Steven proved to me in a matter of seconds that he wouldn't let Tim hurt me, and for that I am forever grateful. The eggs start bubbling, so I use a spatula to make sure they don't burn. The coffee pot starts brewing coffee and I hear Steven sit up on the couch. "Julia, you don't need to make me breakfast" I hear him say. I turn around and smile. It's the least I can do after you basically told Tim off last night" I say. I hear him walk towards me, pour a cup of coffee and he kisses me on the cheek. I turn to face him, and notice a significant divot in his cheek. I probably shouldn't but I gasp out of shock. His face turns red as he turns away and falls to his knees. He covers his face with his hand and to my shock, he starts singing. "Stranger than you dreamt it, can you even dare to look. Or bear to think of me. This lonesome gargoyle who burns in hell but secretly years for heaven secretly, secretly. But Christine, fear can turn to love. You'll learn to see to find the man behind the monster. This repulsive carcass who seems a beast, but secretly dreams of beauty, secretly, secretly. Oh, Christine." I turn off the stove and cover the eggs. Crouching down, I take Steven's hand in mind and lower it off his face, exposing the divot on his face. It doesn't bother me, but I wish he had told me. He turns and looks at me and I smile. We all have our imperfections, but that doesn't mean I love you any less" I whisper. He lets go of my hand and takes me in his arms. Kissing my forehead, he whispers "Thank you, sweetheart." I help him off the floor and hug him. "Do you want to have breakfast and we can talk about it?" I ask. He nods and we each make a plate. Sitting at the table, I take his hand in mine and say "I don't judge anyone; so you can be perfectly honest with me." He takes a deep breath and says "Ok, here goes."