Pulse (Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction)

Chapter 6- The Right Setting

Chapter 6- The Right Setting

Christine's POV

My first thought?- Oh, my gosh! It's Erik Destler!

My second thought?- What the heck is he doing here? And all alone?

I really thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest, and I could only hope he wasn't going to witness it happening.

Minutes were passing, I was sure of it. But, I couldn't stop staring. I was speechless.

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Erik's POV

Had it been any other person, I would have walked away. Immediately. But, it was Christine Daae, the one and only competitor I had thought about outside of auditions.

Many thoughts were running through my mind, but the one that stood out was actually a memory from her first audition. Back then, I had thought with utmost conviction that she and I could have a wonderful conversation were we in the right setting.

Well?... Was this the right setting? I truly did not know. I wanted it to be, though. I wanted it to be the right time to talk to her. And, truth be told, I usually got what I wanted.

Also, I didn't want her to think I was a speechless idiot, although I knew not why I cared. I never cared. Strangely, though, it was different with her. Why was that?

-- 

Erik was the first to speak, which Christine was grateful for.

"Good evening, Ms. Daae," he greeted smoothly.

Christine's shock came to an end. Well, no, it was really just beginning. He's actually talking? And being civil? He, who the media portrays as the most uncivil man on the planet, is talking to me? Realizing she was still gawking, Christine forced herself to blink. Now, she wasn't staring any longer... Still, though, she didn't know what to say. He chuckled lightly, and both the sound of it and the look in his eyes caused her to blush unwillingly. "Hi, Mr. Destler," she finally softly said, a blush still permeating her cheeks.

"Please, call me Erik," he corrected with a pleasant smile. "And forgive me. I didn't mean to embarrass you."

That he even knew she was embarrassed caused her blush to deepen. They were standing in a hallway, just the two of them, and she was acting like a child. Pull yourself together! her mind shouted. Swallowing, Christine obeyed and attempted to display a smooth tone, like his. "Well then, please call me Christine." She smiled, though it wasn't nearly as comfortable as his.

Erik chuckled again unintentionally. This was the most he'd laughed and smiled in quite some time, actually, but he was going to disregard that just like he was going to disregard his whole strange behavior. She was funny, after all. Anyone would laugh. "Well then, all right Christine."

His saying her name made her feel special. Very special. It also calmed her nerves. She was finding that, beneath his cold exterior, his presence was really quite soothing. It was odd. Odder still was the current situation.

The moment might have been odd, but Erik refused to acknowledge it. Later, he would be able to think about everything. For now, they only had a limited amount of time to talk. Who knew how much time had already passed... "You take voice lessons, I take it," he began, jumping right into it.

Christine blinked, unprepared for his words, but then shook her head. "No, I don't. Well, I mean, I used to.. But, that was a while back."

Surprise quickly took hold of him, but he took a soft breath to calm himself so that she wouldn't notice. "What made you stop taking lessons?" It was mind boggling to think that her voice could be even better were she being trained.