Hello again everyone! I'm glad that so many of you enjoyed my first phic, Phantom of the Auditorium. So here's the first chapter of my new story: A Memorie's Phantom.

"Yes," Christine told the young woman behind the counter. "Whip cream." She went back to the phone but turned quickly back saying, "Oh and if you have any cinnamon powder I'd greatly appreciate it."

She smiled and Christine did the same back before screaming into the phone, "What do you mean you can't go?"

"Don't start Christine," Raoul said exasperated.

"Don't 'Christine' me," she screeched.

Christine was completely oblivious to the stares she received around her as she continued to scream into her cell phone.

"Little Lotte-"

"Let's just say Little Lotte is out of the question," Christine said through gritted teeth.

"Look, Christine," Raoul said quickly. "I'm sorry that I can't go, I really am. But the merger was a little time ago and I really need to be here. Christine, look, I'll make it up to you. I will, but right now I got to go to a meeting-"

"Raoul de Changy," Christine said almost yelling. "I swear if you put me on hold I will break up with you!"

"Sorry, Christine."

She couldn't break up with him, not technically, because instead of him placing her on hold, he hung up on her.

Christine sighed, frustrated and shoved the phone into the purse.

"No good fop," she found herself saying.

"Here you go," the woman said handing her the Starbucks cup.

Christine smiled at her, determined that she wouldn't show how upset she was. "Thank you."

She sighed and made her way to the sugar. She placed as much sugar as she could. She was determined to stay awake that evening, she didn't have any sleep the night before because she was on the phone with Raoul fighting again.

Christine had grown tired of it she couldn't bear fighting with him.

I'll be there for all your auditions, he had said.

Yeah, sure, Christine thought, thinking about his empty promise. I'll be there, my ass.

Glancing at her watch she started leaving when she bumped into a brick wall.

Well, if brick walls were kind of fleshy

In doing so, she spilled her freshly brewed very hot coffee all over her brand new pink shirt.

She cursed a thousand times, regretting that she had bought the shirt in the first place. She could fell her nerves tingling on her stomach from the burn she got from the hot liquid.

Pink for her first audition, what was she thinking?

"I'm so sorry," the man she bumped into said. "I really am-"

But Christine didn't care. "Now what am I going to wear to the audition?" she thought out loud.

She took some napkins and pressed it against her very hot stomach.

"If you would come with me, I'd be happy to replace it. "

Christine plastered a smile, grateful for his kind offer. "That won't be necessary-"

All train of thought stopped at that precise moment. That was because she finally looked at him.

Well not all of him, actually, for he had sunglasses on. He was cleanly shaved with long black hair and with deeply tanned skin. He also had a black coat on him as if to hide his face. With the California heat, she wondered why he would wear it. Or why he would want to cover his face.

He was so handsome. He had a strong chin with outlined cheekbones. He had a built figure as if he worked out all the time.

It had been two years but she had never forgotten him.

"Erik?"

He smiled. "You recognize me too?"

Christine couldn't speak or move.

"Look about your shirt, let me replace it," he said to her.

Christine furrowed her eyebrows.

His voice was so familiar. It had to be him.

She was about to ask him what he meant when a girl younger than Christine came up to the man and asked the most bizarre thing in the world.

"Can I have your autograph?"

Christine looked at her confused.

A girl asking for Erik's autograph? What was even weirder was the fact that he smiled and signed the napkin she had in her hands.

Then she left with a spring in her step.

Christine blinked. What the hell was going on?

"Come, I insist, let me assist you."

Christine shook her head.

"At least let me buy you a coffee."

Christine looked down at her ruined shirt. "It's fine, really. I-I can just go back to my apartment and change." What was it about him that reminded her so much of Erik? Maybe she was going crazy.

He shook his head. "Please let me do something for you. I feel awful."

"No," Christine said smiling. "I can just get a cab.'

He took Christine's empty coffee cup and threw it in the trash. "Will you please let me drive you, at least?"

Christine bit her bottom lip. She really shouldn't but her curiosity was something she couldn't bear. She needed to know who this man was. "Okay, sure."