Marie
You make me out to be soooo confident… I was not in the least. And you never told me about that scene with Erik sobbing! Jeez, you really don’t tell me everything do you? Anyway, hi to the reader again! And you thought you’d gotten rid of me… Anyway, yes, we do have a plot line other than accustoming the Phantom of the Opera to life in the 21st century. It’s a about to start so break out the popcorn and try not to cast too many nasty spells on Lisa.
I watched Lisa all but run from Michael's like an Olympic triathalete, my heart suddenly migrating to my throat. I may have appeared relatively relaxed during breakfast, but the task that lay ahead of me daunted me to no end. However, I had to be sure. I knew that he and Lisa had grown close over the past few weeks. But I also knew that he'd been centimeters away from kissing me during our walk that night.
I might not hear what I wanted to, but I needed to know. (It's sort of a Jekyll and Hyde thing, you know.)
"What's going on?" Erik asked, his voice permeating my thoughts.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" I asked in mild confusion, still engrossed.
"Lisa was nervous all morning and just left like the devil himself were on her tail. Now suddenly you're the silent one." he listed.
"Well... Lisa and I had a debate last night."
"A fight?"
"No, not a fight. We weren't angry with each other... just a disagreement."
"What about? Was Lisa trying to make you listen to the Beatles again?"
"No... it was about you."
"Excuzé-moi?"
"I think that you like her and she thinks that you like me. I decided to ask you and find out once and for all." My voice was far steadier than I felt.
"I see... you want to know which of you I wish to... court, as it were?" he repeated, staring at the sudden answer to all of the world's problems which apparently resided at the bottom of his teacup.
"Yeah," I nodded, following his example by searching for words in my Alphabits. Me. Mom. See. Let. Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious. (Just kidding, silly!)
"I don't want to hurt either of you, my friends are very important to me." he whispered slowly.
"Whichever of us you choose, the other will be happy for you." I shrugged, playing off my fears. I had little desire to play noble roommate.
"Well... um..." he looked exceedingly uncomfortable and I realized... he was reluctant to tell me. That could only mean one thing...
Break of the Noble Martyr, take one.
"It's Lisa... isn't
it?" I managed to say through the threat of tears. Don't cry! For Heaven's sake, don't cry!
He's gonna feel bad enough as it is!
Do not cry!
"Yes."
I nodded. Ah, the dreaded friend category once again. And I almost thought I'd escaped its confines. Oh, the irony... I was a writer of phan phic... I had worshipped this man since eighth grade... I finally get to meet him and what happens?
He falls in love with my roommate.
My bitter anger lasted for a full five seconds, withered by the sadness in Erik's eyes as he looked painfully down at the tabletop. "I've hurt you." he stated simply.
"Oh no." I lied quickly, placing a hand on his. "I'm fine. Lisa's great for you! I'm thrilled for the both of you. I mean it's about time for the both of you!"
I must have convinced him, for he rose from the both and thanked me, kissing my hand. I let him go with only a smile, knowing he had a class to teach. As I watched him go, my smile faded and I sarcastically congratulated myself on being the Queen of Bullshitting.
I was happy for them... that was no lie. But I'd had him first! And somehow... I'd lost him without knowing it.
Meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
Thank you, Alanis...