Her Innocence || Phantom of the Opera

Chapter Twenty-Six

Meg POV:

I was walking through the hallway, coming back from the bathroom, when I saw Christine go into my room followed shortly by Erik. Confused, and a little curious, I snuck to the door. Thankfully, they hadn't shut it all the way, and I could see into the room through the small gap. I leaned my head closer to see what I could make out of their conversation.

Poor Christine was crying quietly, and Erik slowly stood by her, not sure what to do. I knew my best friend didn't want to leave, nor did I want her to, but Raoul certainly needed to go. I wasn't completely angry at him any longer, however, I was still irritated that he had ran away and got a drink to avoid being scolded for his ungentlemanly behavior. He was a complete coward!

My heart fluttered as Christine suddenly grabbed Erik around the waist and hugged him tightly. He didn't react, which surprised me a little, but then Christine reached to his face and kissed him. Instantly, he kissed her back. I closed my eyes, unsure of what I should do. I could go warn Mother or Raoul, but that would put a wall between mine and Christine's close friendship.

"You've forgotten what I am."

I peaked my eyes open again, realising that they had stopped. What he was? Erik wasn't anything but a genius and musician. Why was he so hard on himself? Yes, I knew about his deformity when I went to rescue him after Christine had left him for Raoul, but that shouldn't determine how everyone thinks of him. I froze in my thoughts, realising that I had started defending him.

"No, Erik," I perked my eyes up to Christine who began talking, "I remember who you were, who you are. You are my angel; my Angel of Music."

Yeah, and he pretended to be your dead father, I wanted to point out.

"For that, I will always love you."

Something sparked in my chest as she said the last sentence. She loved him? After all that he had threatened her with, after everything he had done to her, she actually loved him?

Suddenly, I became furious. How dare she play with his heart like that, especially now that she was leaving forever. She had already killed Erik once, now she was determined to do it again?! It took all my wit to hold me back from storming into the room.

Christine went on to explain why she had to go, and I felt myself grow a little calmer. She had Raoul--the fancy, rich boy who could give her everything--why wasn't that enough? I bit my lip as their conversation nearly ended and Christine moved to leave. Satisfied, I slowly backed away but then froze in my tracks as Erik pulled Christine back and threw his lips on hers.

I grew clammy with anger again. Erik, like most men, didn't realize that there was always another person who could show love.

CHRISTINE IS TAKEN, I wished to shout at the man. There was absolutely no hope for him with her...she had chosen looks and money over talent and affection. No matter how much they wished they could rewind the past, they simply couldn't.

I realized in this moment what emotion had begun to boil within me: Jealousy. Not caring to try and thwart the notion any longer, I came to a hopeless conclusion--

I was undoubtedly in love with the Phantom of the Opera.