"Christine, wait!" Josh ran after her and knocked on her door. She didn't answer, but he heard her small cries from outside.
"Christine, it's me, Josh. Could I come in?" He waited a minute, then he slowly turned the door knob and peaked inside. Christine was sitting on the small sofa crying. He went over and sat down beside her.
"What do you want?" She asked him.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay." He put a hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off.
"Don't touch me."
"I'm sorry, Christine. Why do you care about this freaky guy that haunts this place?"
"He isn't a freaky guy! He's a sweet, loving person."
"Christine, is this man this-this Erik?" She looked up at him and smiled. She loved Erik so much that even hearing his name made all her fears and sadness go away.
"Yeah, it is Erik." She replied softly.
"You're in love with some freak who terrorizes people? He's not even like a person! He's like a...a phantom for God's sake!"
"Get out! Leave me alone." She got up angrily and opened the door.
"Christine, you are making a huge mistake. Can't you see that I love you? We would be perfect for each other!" He walked over and shut the door.
"Leave me alone!" She screamed. He took her shoulders firmly and pressed his lips hard against her. She squirmed out of his firm grip and pushed him out the door.
She slammed it shut and locked it. She leaned against the wood door and began to cry once more...
Christine dreaded having to do the first performance. She didn't want to be near Josh. She refused to talk to him backstage. After what happened two days ago, it made her even more angry to look at him. Before the first scene, Christine peaked into the audience. She had written a letter to her father, asking him to come. She scanned the dozens of people but didn't see her father's face. She sighed and when she felt someone tap her on her shoulder, she nearly screamed. She turned around sharply to see a familiar masked face. Erik.
"Erik? What are you doing here? What if someone sees you?!" She whispered, pulling him to a corner hoping no one would see him.
"I wanted to wish you good luck! I haven't seen for such a long time..."
"I know, I missed you. But you know, rehearsals..." She looked into his deep blue eyes and smiled.
"Christine, I love you..." He kissed her softly on the lips, and she closed her eyes. The minute she opened them, he was gone. She looked around, making sure no one had seen her and Erik. She breathed a deep sigh of relief, but then she saw something that made her heart skip a beat. It was Josh, glaring at her. He had seen Erik.
