Pen a Pal (Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

"Where did you go?" Nadir asked trying to display nonchalance in his tone as he stood in the doorway of Erik's computer room. Really, he was quite curious and had been ever since Erik left the mansion two hours before. Now that he was back, Nadir wanted answers.

Erik was startled by the sudden question coming from behind him. He hadn't even heard Nadir approaching the room, which would have been very unusual under any other circumstance. Currently, however, his mind was preoccupied, and he didn't want to be disturbed. "What I do is not your concern," he said without turning to look at him.

Nadir was expecting an answer like that. "I only wish to know where you went. Why must it be a secret?"

Crossing his arms, Erik glared but still didn't turn around. "Nadir, I do not ask questions about your whereabouts, so I would appreciate it if you would refrain from interrogating me. Now, I am busy. Leave."

"Are you emailing Christine?"

Abruptly, Erik turned and looked Nadir in the eye. "How do you know her name?"

Nadir was always surprised by how easily Erik could forget some things.. or perhaps it was that he chose to forget them. "You told me her name on Saturday."

Erik frowned as the memory did resurface, but he decided to ignore it. He had had it with this intrusion on his life. "As I said before, what I do is not your concern. Good night," he said, enunciating the last two words so that Nadir would get the point.

He did get the point. It looks as though I will never know where he went tonight. "Good night," he whispered before turning and walking away.

Erik waited until he was sure Nadir had walked far away from the room before turning to face the computer once more. Really, he wasn't emailing Christine.. not just yet. Ever since he'd left the Macaroni Grill, all he could think about was their conversation.

Numerous thoughts and feelings were rolling through his mind and coursing through his veins. It seemed the grace and appeal he had previously displayed in front of her had vanished, for he felt like his old self again- insignificant and worthless. What happened to me back there? How.. strange, for lack of a better word. I go about my daily life feeling and looking like a disgrace, but I did that? How?

Not that it hadn't felt good... It had felt surreal. Erik had never experienced the joys of possessing good social skills, or so he had thought before this night. This night, a sort of powerful, suave, confident demeanor had taken full control over his body. And he had to admit that it had felt amazing. It felt amazing to know what he now knew. Christine liked being with me. She really did. She'd even said it.

He could visit the Macaroni Grill anytime he pleased now, as long as he knew her work schedule. He would ignore all other people and just focus on Christine. How wonderful.. She will think I am Noah, and we will sit together. We will talk. We will be friends.

All could not be well, though, not with Erik. 'Noah' was a fine alias to have for certain occasions, but when it came to Christine, there were two important names that he had to remember. 'Noah' could not take 'Erik's' place in her life. But what if 'he' already has? What if 'Noah' has made Christine forget all about Erik? What if she only wishes to associate with one of us, and that is 'Noah'? He shook his head and groaned. His thoughts were becoming too outlandish, even for him. 'Noah' and Erik are one and the same. We are not two separate entities. If Christine wishes to communicate with one of us, then she communicates with both of us.

He put his fingers on the keys to begin typing an email to Christine. He wanted to make this email a good one. It needed to live up to the excellence of 'Noah's' conversation with her, and he had an idea of how it could.