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"And Christine..." Meg added, now feeling awkward at witnessing this lover's quarrel. "He DID lie, remember? Didn't you think he was an angel for a very long time? That's what you always told me. He just doesn't sound SAFE, Christine-- what sort of man lies to a little girl and lives god knows where in an opera house? Raoul's right-- who knows what he's capable of, even if he hasn't truly killed anyone yet?" She wrung her hands, nervous at her friend's reaction-- she knew Christine wouldn't be happy, but it had to be said.

Raoul saw the confusion in Christine's eyes and realized what a seesaw of emotions and thoughts she must be on, always unsure who to believe and what she wanted.

"Christine, sometimes even the people who love you can still hurt you," he said, speaking of Erik. He was sure that, to her naive mind, someone couldn't love you and lie to you at the same time.

Christine blushed slightly from what Meg had said, but she tried to brush off the feeling and try to defend herself and Erik.

"But....if you could just...." She began, but stopped. She was going to say "but if you could just meet him and know him better" but she decided not to. Raoul had met the Phantom and THAT didn't turn out well, and Meg was probably terrified. Again Christine's mind was confused, jumbled and flustered, she didn't know what to do or think anymore. Did Erik love her? Obserd thought...of course he did.....but Raoul did as well....and Meg was worried and Madame Giry probably was as well.....Where was the Madame at this point anyways?

Christine tried to change the subject.

"Meg, where is Madame Giry? I didn't see her much last night and I figured she might be with you."

~~~~~~

At about this point Madame Giry did enter back into the Opera Populaire. She had tried to visit a close friend of hers, but they had a spat and she figured it was best to come home. She walked up the main staircase, to the right, and headed back into her room. She took out her skeleton key and pressed it into the brass door handle, turned the key, opened the door and stepped inside. After closing and locking the door behind her, she took off her hat and cloak and laid them on the coat rack. She then laid her suitcases on her bed and laid down. She had had enough exitement for one day, and she didn't even know what was going on on the floor right above her room.

Meg sighed deeply. What was suddenly wrong with her best friend? They'd been like sisters for years and now... now Christine just stood there almost weeping, unable to finish her thoughts, as though she was keeping secrets-- they'd always told each other everything! Worst of all, she found herself angry at Christine, for much more than just disappearing for one night without a word... she couldn't put her finger on WHY she was so angry, though. It was all building up inside her and she had to let it out. "Maman should be back by now... she sent me a letter saying she'd be home early. But nevermind that! Look at what's happened now. Don't you know what you're doing to him, Christine? He LOVES you, he's rich, he's handsome, and you just run off and spend the night, an ENTIRE night, ALONE with another man! Don't you know what people will be saying about you? Not to mention the shame that Raoul will have to endure when people hear that his 'friend' spent the night out with someone-- who ISN'T HIM. Do you know what he did when he saw your room empty, with no sign of a struggle? He cried, Christine. He cried like a little girl. You made a grown man--A VICOMTE, at that-- cry. I hope you're very proud of yourself. And I hope you and your 'angel of music', or Phantom, or ERIK, or whatever it is, are very happy!" Meg was shaking, shocked at herself at having said such things to her best friend, but she was too angry to regret it. She glared at Christine for a moment before turning around and chasing after Raoul. "Monsieur! Wait!"

((sorry if this seems too ooc, but I think Meg has a little crush on Raoul-- not crazy in love with him, but enough so that she sympathizes with him much more than a scary phantom, or her best friend who keeps hurting raoul and acting weird. Raoul doesn't necessarily have to like her back, but I've just gotten the impression of Meg's little crush. "Oh christine, he's so handsome!" etc.))

Christine sighed deeply, looking at her friend and then to the Victome, trying hard not to cry, but the tears came. They slid down her cheeks in a storm. She didn't even have the strength to go back to her room. Her back was to her bedroom door, and she slid down it with the tears still streaming down her face. As she sat at the bottom of her doorway, she hid her face in her hands and cried. She felt neither proud or happy. Of COURSE she knew what people would say about her. What she didn't know is WHY her friends wouldn't even let her have a moment to collect her thoughts and explain herself. They forced themselves and their anger on her as if it were a storm. So she sat there crying, hurt, confused, and not knowing where to turn, not knowing who or what to believe anymore.

Meg was rambling, Raoul noted, and it was funny, somehow. "I understand your meaning, Mademoiselle." he said once she had stopped talking. "And you're right. About Christine that is; I'm sure she's confused. He was there for her when her father died and she felt alone, he taught her to sing, he gave her fame, and he tells her he loves her. And yet, if he loves her SO much, why hide it?" he realized that he was the one rambling now. "Even considering his gross features, if he is truly not "a terrible person", as your mother claims, then why press her into this fantasy world of his? He gave her everything, and yet by forcing her to come to him, he is only taking it all away, right?" "
And what exactly does she SEE in him?" He exclaimed. This was the one question that truly irked him. Why did he have to compete with a deformed corpse? "I love her, I know she loves me, she's told me so, I'm intelligent, (( xd )) I have money, a title, and I wouldn't try to keep her from the stage, just from THIS stage, so why do I have to fight HIM for her attention?"
He whirled around, grabbing Meg's hand, "YOU'RE a woman; please, Meg, shed some ligth on the situation!"

((hey, I'm sure even Raoul had smart moments. Of course, they're always short...))

Raoul realized that Meg had just said something embarrassing, and that it was important, but for the life of him he couldn't figure out what. All he got form that was Christine was stupid to like le fantome over himself, and he agreed. but she was as red as a tomato, and he was standing there like a fool, staring at her. So he said the first polite thing that popped into his mind.
"Thank you."
She was still staring at him, red as ever. He began to panic. He wished she'd stop staring at him with those big, innocent eyes, he was sure he'd be fine then. Suddenly he realized something: He was a Vicomte, and she was a dancer. the best way to get out of this without looking stupid -unless it was too late- was to play on that! He felt so smart. He pulled himself up and put on his best Vicomte face.
"Good-day, Mademoiselle Giry," He tried to say it calmly, but who knew if he succeeded. "If you would tell your mother that I will be here for this evening's performace, I would be most grateful." He finished and stood there. Right, leave! He turned around and walked away before she could see the blood rising to his face. He wondered if Christine had seen him look like an idiot. He hoped not.