All I Ask Of You

4 years Later 1850

Carlotta sang, causing my ears to ring as I danced behind her, trying to remain composed like the other dancers, but finding it more difficult to do so the more she sang, feeling the immense need to cringe at the sound.

At the end of the performance, the crowd clapped either because Carlotta's singing had truly been good or out of relief that it was over.

The curtains closed and I turned to look at Christine, who had been beside me seconds before but was now going through the crowd of performers as if she had somewhere important to be.

I watched her go for a moment, knowing better than to follow her when she did this, every time without a doubt Madame Giry would always stop me. I never knew where Christine ran off to all the time, she never told me anytime I asked, she was becoming more secretive.

I hated it, she was my best friend and it seemed I hardly spoke to her anymore, anytime we did I could see that she had something else on her mind, something that she was keeping from my knowledge.

What that was I didn't know, but I wish I did, that way I could have some understanding of what was going on.

I sighed as I followed the group of dancers back upstairs to the dormitories, everyone laughing and talking to one another in loud tones as we got out of our costumes.

"Could you help tighten my corset?" Meg asked me as she turned around, moving her honey-blonde hair over her shoulders so that I could see the back.

I grabbed the strings tightening it, hearing her let out a breath as I did.

I despised corsets they were complete torture, which was the latest fashion trend in France.

"Thank you, Celeste, now yellow or blue dress?" She told me as she held up two dresses in front of her.

I raised an eyebrow at her, smiling as I did.

"And just what is the occasion?"

"Well, if you must know I'm meeting up with a boy, now which one?" Meg said as she raised the dresses up.

I made a face as if I couldn't decide between the dresses.

"Hmmm....I don't know it depends, is he a playboy or not?" I teased her with a grin.

She shook her head at me, rolling her eyes but I could tell she was suppressing a smile.

"For your information, he is a complete gentleman, now are you going to help me decide on what to wear or not?"

"If he is what you say then the yellow one would be perfect."

"Perfect!" Meg exclaimed as she threw the dresses on the bed.

Once I was dressed I walked out of the room with a book in my hands, hoping to find a quiet place to read, away from the noises of the opera house.

I descended the stairs but suddenly froze at the bottom of them as I peered over the railing to see the white wall down below slowly open, Christine slipping out.

I stared, not believing what I saw, and rushed beside the staircase, heading quickly passed Christine who looked at me with a startled expression.

"Celeste, what are you doing?" She asked as I pressed my hand against the walls.

I turned to her sharply.

"The wall, how did it do that?"

"Do what?" Christine said, her eyebrows curved as if she were confused by my question but I knew she wasn't.

"Don't lie to me, I know you know!" I exclaimed in frustration.

She shook her head at me.

"Celeste, calm down, I'm not lying to you."

I breathed out sharply, sick and tired of her not being honest with me, of making me think I was crazy when I knew I wasn't, I know exactly what I saw.

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. Other times it had been a shadow on the wall when I knew no one else was there, seeing Christine talking to a shadow but it suddenly disappearinng as I got closer. The eerie feeling of someone watching me from the shadows during performances, rehearsals, or when I was by myself.

Each time I would confront Christine about it she would simply deny and blame it on the trick of a light or some other "logical" explanation.

I was tired of the lies, I just wanted the truth, but I knew today I wasn't going to get it, or perhaps ever.

"Whatever, but I know what I saw." I turned away from her, wanting to walk away but she grabbed my arm.

"Don't be upset with me, Celeste, please," She begged me.

I looked at her, seeing her brown eyes wide in a puppy dog stare.

I despised it when Christine did this always feeling guilty for being upset with her even though, in this case, I had every right to be, but I knew I couldn't be angry at her forever.

"Fine, I won't be, whatever you don't want me to know is your business, I suppose."

Christine smiled in relief.

"Thank you, Celeste, how about we go out to dinner as my way of apologizing?"

I nodded my head.

"Very well, does that mean you have money to pay?"

She laughed.

"Oui, I'll pay, now let's go before the evening rush starts."

I followed her towards the door, knowing that her apology meant nothing as something like this was bound to happen again and she would still deny me the truth.