The Phantom's Melody (The Phantom of the Opera)

20. Drunken Escapades

I almost stumbled into the wall as I descended down the long, winding staircase that led to the Phantom's lair, trying my very hardest not to tumble over the edge into the darkness below.

So many stairs...Jesus, didn't he have a better way to get down here?

Well, if he did I guess he didn't feel the need to tell me. I'd make sure to bring it up when I saw him. That is if I managed to find him without cracking my skull open first.

I shook my pestering thoughts aside, using the cobblestone that made up the walls as somewhat of a railing. I tried to remember where he had all his traps laid out, but my mind was blanking on the location of most of them.

Don't worry. He saved you once, he'll do it again.

Maybe, but I didn't feel like putting my complete trust in that thought. We didn't exactly leave things on the best note. I frowned as I thought about our argument.

"Insolent girl, my ass..." I muttered as I side stepped a pressure plate.

How could I love a man like that? He was arrogant, rude, and Paris' number one asshole. Why would I ever fall in love with someone like him? Though despite my anger towards him, I didn't have anyone else to talk to. And I wouldn't admit it out loud, but the lessons he had been giving me were actually pretty helpful. I sang whenever I had the spare time to do so and I even secured a better role in a production. No wonder Christine had such a beautiful voice after training with him for so many years. But after our fight, I would be surprised if he actually took me back as his student. Though maybe he would if I asked nicely. He was really sweet company once you worked past the icy and grumpy exterior. I also found it very funny whenever he would get worked up over his music.

I giggled to myself as I thought of him hunched over his organ with his music sheets spread out in front of him. I was too busy smiling over the memory that I didn't realize how close I was getting to the edge. With a twirl of my dress, my foot went off the edge and my eyes widened as a yelp escaped my throat before a hand suddenly shot out and grabbed me. Pulling me in away from the edge, I turned to face the scowling man standing in front of me.

For some reason me almost plummeting to my death wasn't very amusing to him. However, I couldn't help but laugh as I looked up at his face. "Why thank you, Opera Boy," I purred, my hand resting softly on his chest as I met his gaze with a playful look in my eyes. I knew he hated the nickname I had given him, which was why I loved using it so much.

The Phantom scowled, his green eyes blazing with what I could only assume was anger. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked as calmly as he could, which as it turns out wasn't very calm at all.

I blinked, confused as to why he was so mad. "I came to finish my lesson," I said simply, pretending our argument never happened. I also didn't want to think about my real reason for coming down here.

No, I definitely didn't love him!

He narrowed his eyes slightly. "First of all, you seemed to make it very clear that you didn't want me as a teacher anymore. Secondly, it would be very hard to hold a lesson with you if you're dead. Wouldn't you agree?"

I considered that for a moment. "I'm pretty sure I never said that, but yes. I agree. Being dead would complicate matters." I nodded in agreement.

He pressed his lips together into a fine line before taking a deep breath. "It's almost midnight, why would we continue your lesson at this hour?" He asked before regarding me for a second. "Not to mention you're drunk it seems," he muttered.

"I don't know. You're always lurking in the dark, so why not?" I shrugged before I registered his comment and quickly grew an offended expression. "I'm most certainly not drunk!" I said defensively, but my words came out slurred.