Chapter:

Addy sat down and looked around her room. Not bad after two hours of work. She had the entire house put together and had everything organized, except her uncles room, but he liked to do his things himself so he knew where they were.

Sighing she sat down at her desk and looked at the last three boxes that she had dreaded putting away.

Actually, they were three of eight boxes that she had dreaded touching.

Suddenly her energy felt drained and she didn’t know what to do. Looking over at the door that led to the rest of the attic that was not her room, she had the door open in seconds and the boxes stacked themselves and she watched as they slid themselves inside. Looking at the key that went to the door she watched as it flew to the lock and turned itself then dropped to the floor.

Afraid to touch it she kicked it under the door and let out the breath she did not realize she was holding.

She was done with that life. And she did not want it back.

Sure she would miss it. But why when all it gave her was headaches and the reason for them moving again.

She didn’t want to move again.

What was it? The eighth time in the past two years? But her uncle promised her this was going to be the last time.

Hey, at least she was still going to the same school, and even had moved in next door to Jonathon. That should’ve made things easier for her, but it didn’t. Because even though they were close, she knew that they both had secrets to keep, but to her, hers seemed more like her undoing. This was why she was giving her old life up.

Or was it because it was more likely that he would find her doing something that she did not want to him to see?

And it was even harder when she knew that his room was right across the way from hers. Though he assured her it would be fun. He would sneak across the oak tree that separated their house and they would be able to hang out all the time, with out the neighbor’s tongues wagging.

Would she ever escape from the pesky wagging tongues of neighbor’s? After eighty years she didn’t know.

Sighing she looked in the mirror and sighed again. Her vivid red hair shone from the evening light filtering in from the branches outside her window. Her greenish blue eyes were alive and full of life. And her body was everything a youth of seventeen year old didn’t want. Although she did have one feature that any of them would’ve killed for.

Tearing away from the mirror she heard ruckus downstairs and knew Jonathon was in the kitchen. Going downstairs her assumptions were correct. He was in the kitchen making himself at home making a sandwich. Smiling she crept behind him as quietly as she knew she could and put her hands over his eyes.

Gripping her wrist and turning to stare at her he smiled and said, “How in the hell can you do that?”

Laughing she shrugged and said, “Don’t know. How do you move so fast?” she asked.

“Touché” he said smiling at her.

Walking over to the barstools she sat down and watched as he made two sandwiches for her and him. Giving her the first one she picked it up and ate it. Looking up she was just in time to watch him take his first bite, he was grimacing.

Catching her gaze he looked at her smiled and said, “Watching me huh?”

Smiling she nodded and said, “Yes. Gotta problem?”

“Yes, don’t!” he said turning his back to her finishing his sandwich.

Shaking her head she finished hers as well and wondered again like the other ten thousand and eighty three times before (she had kept count) why he did not like people watching him eat.

When she was done she found that once again he had beaten her and was cleaning up. Sighing and cleaning up her crumbs she asked wiping the crumbs off her hands in the sink, “So what’s on the agenda today?”

He turned to look at her and his look seemed to say, ‘Did you really have to ask?’

“You know, we are going to audition for the fall production of,” he cleared his throat and got ready to do his Italian voice, “El Phantom de la Opera!”

Shaking her head again she looked down at the sink and said, “Why do I have to go? We both know because Carla likes you, she will have you be the phantom, and then her tone deaf self will be Christine, just so she can kiss you at the end!”

“Hey.” He said turning her around to look at him. “You will get a part! And if I had my way, I would much rather have you as Christine than Carla!”

She snorted and said degrading herself, “Yeah, like I could be much better!”

Lifting her chin up, he said, “Hey! You’re doing it again!”

Nodding she said looking away, “I know!”

He sighed and then said, “Come on, before we leave, give me your best Christine voice!”

Smiling she looked up at him and said, “So you can out stage me?”

Shaking his head he said, “No, so I can make you sound better.”

They both laughed and he said, “Now...Do the piece where...she’s in the dressing room and is asking for the Phantom’s forgiveness.”

Addy shook her head. Jonathon was the only guy she knew that actually took enjoyment from operas, classical music, chick movies, and who actually made her go to spas and what not. ‘Just to refresh yourself’ he always told her. Although sometimes he would go in with her and get the same treatments that she got.

He was a good friend. She was lucky to have met him when she moved here a little bit before halfway through the school year. He was the first one to introduce himself to her, and the first one to invite her to any “Norman” party.

And though he went through girlfriends like crazy, because they never stuck, he stuck with her and through some whispers she heard from some girls later on, that she was his longest friend that was girl!

She broke out of her thoughts when Jonathon broke out in his deep voice,

“In-solate-- boy this slave of fashion--

Bask--ing in your glory--

Ig-nor-ant fool- this brave young suitor--

Shar-ing in my- triumph--”

Taking a deep breath she sang Christine’s part;

“Angel— I hear you—

Speak— I listen—

Stay- by my side-- guide me—

Angel my soul was weak-- forgive me—

En—ter-- at last—master­—”

She looked over at Jonathon who took a deep breath and sang;

“Flat--tering child—you-- shall know me--

See- why in shadow-- I hide--

Look at your face-- in the mirror--

I am there-- in--side--”

“Angel-- of music--

Guide-- and guardian--

Grant to me your-- glory--

An--gel of music--

Hide no longer--

Come to me strange angel--”

Addy looked in time to see Jonathon close his eyes and really go for the part. Reaching his hand out he sang.

“I --am-- your-- angel

Come-- to me --angel --of music--

I-- am-- your --angel of music--

Come- to me --angel --of music--”

Taking his hand she felt his fingers wrap around hers. Her heart started beating wildly, almost catching her off guard, almost. Her cue coming she sang;

“In sleep he sang to me-- in dreams he came--

That voice which calls to me-- and speaks my name--

And do- I dream again--

For now-- I find--

The phantom-- of the opera is there--

Inside my mind--”

“Sing once-- again with me--

Our-- strange duet--

My—power-- over you--

Grows- stronger yet--”

Jonathon brought her hand up to his chest for this part and she could feel his cool hand even more and material across his chest as it rose and fell to the breaths he was using to sing.

“And though-- you’ll turn- form me--

To glance behind--

The phantom-- of the opera is there--

Inside your mind--”

“Those—who-- have seen your face--

Draw back in-- fear--

I am the mask you wear--”

“It’s me they hear--”

“Your spirit-- and my voice-- in one combine--

The phantom-- of the opera is there--

Inside my mind--”

Jonathon touched her face and she almost didn’t hear him when he sang;

“In all-- your fantasies--

You always knew--

That man and mystery--”

“Are both in you--” she sang out breathlessly.

‘Why is he affecting me so?’

“And in this labyrinth-- where night is blind--

The phantom-- of the opera is here-- (there--)

Inside my mind--”

“Sing-- my angel- of music--”

“He’s there-- the phantom of the opera --”

She stopped and looked up at Jonathon, who actually was standing very close to her. Blushing she looked down and said, “That was good.”

“No, excellent!” he said.

She nodded and said, “We better go.”

Heading for the door she grabbed her keys and phone and waited for him to walk out the door. He passed and smiled at her and she locked the door and took a shaky breath. When will the butterflies of being around him ever stop?