Here's Act III. Now we're really getting into the nitty-gritty here with more interactions between Nathanaël, Marinette, and Adrien during the show. I'll add some pieces from Marinette's viewpoint here if I can.

One guest review for chapter two actually said, and I quote, "maybe Adrien's emotions triggered some bad luck?" I'm not exactly sure what part of the chapter this was referring to. If it's about the chandelier falling down at the end, luck had nothing to do with it. If you've seen the show, then you're aware that the Phantom does, in fact, cause the chandelier to fall from the ceiling at the end of Act I.

For those of you who have seen a professional version as opposed to a high school production, you'll notice that the cemetery scene in this story has been changed. But let's get realistic here: would a school really mess around with pyrotechnics? That isn't safe!

And yes, this chapter has a scene in it that references sex, but that's why I rated this story as "T" just to be careful.

After the chandelier "fell and shattered," it was intermission. Adrien had retreated to the greenroom to blow off some steam. He was still upset for Marinette and Nathanaël kissing, even though he knew it was only an act. However, he had a suspicion that Nathanaël thoroughly enjoyed it while Marinette's feelings on the subject were ambiguous.

He slumped down against the door, was breathing heavily, and was just starting to calm down.

"Oh, man..." Adrien moaned, completely embarrassed. Plagg came out from hiding.

"What happened out there?" Plagg asked.

"Just seeing Nathanaël and Marinette together like that... It made me nauseous," Adrien complained. "And when they kissed... URGH, it killed me! I know it's only an act, but still..."

"It's not like you're running away with your emotions. In fact, under the circumstances, you're doing a great job and you're channeling it in a way that's making the show that much more enjoyable for the audience." Plagg said.

"Good point." Adrien said, before heaving a sigh.

He stood up and went over the costume rack. Adrien rummaged around a bit before finding the one he needed for his next appearance. He gave a nod and then started to go into the changing room to switch clothes.

With Marinette, she had beaten Adrien into the greenroom and was now in the girls' changing room. She was changing into the costume she would be wearing for the masquerade ball scene.

Sure, she was unhappy about kissing Nathanaël when she really wanted to smooch Adrien instead. On the other hand, she felt absolutely nothing during that kiss. She was certain that once she and Adrien shared their kiss on stage, she would be feeling very different. Marinette knew that if Adrien had been cast as Raoul, she would be much happier about it.

She also noticed that Adrien's performance was very realistic. Almost as if he was not acting at all.

'Adrien really seemed upset when he came out from hiding from the statue back there. I could swear he was really hurt instead of just acting.' Marinette thought.

Tikki had been hiding in Marinette's purse. While she could not watch the show, Tikki had seen enough during the rehearsals to know what was happening and when. So, she was aware that Marinette and Nathanaël had kissed.

"So~! You and Nathanaël kissed!" Tikki said, as she flew over to her charge. "But I doubt it was anything special, was it?"

"No... I didn't feel anything from it," Marinette said with a shrug. "If it were Adrien I had kissed, I know I would have felt something. Nathanaël's a good friend, but... I just don't feel that way about him."

"I'm sure that when you kiss Adrien near the end, you'll feel great!" Tikki said. "Just pour your love for him into it when the time comes!"

"Thanks, Tikki," Marinette said with a smile. "Sigh... Kissing Adrien... My dream is coming true! It may be a stage kiss, but I'm sure it will be blissful."

Tikki sweat dropped. She was fully aware of what happened during Dark Cupid, and she knew that Adrien was Cat Noir. Thus, unbeknownst to Marinette, she already had kissed Adrien. But Tikki was not willing to witness another one of Marinette's freak-outs by telling her the truth. Especially since she had to get back on stage soon.

However, Marinette herself was still wondering what on earth had gotten into Adrien. He had been acting more and more passionate in his performance since the whole show started and it was if some of the affection he was supposedly feeling in that moment was real. And when he confessed that he wanted to be Raoul instead of the Phantom in the greenroom earlier, the twosome nearly shared a kiss.

She was wondering... Did Adrien really have such inclinations towards her? As far as she knew, he would never even look in her direction for anything other than platonic reasons. She was stuck in the friend zone with Adrien. Unless either he or she did something otherwise, she always would be. But she was certain Adrien could never feel the same way about her. While she wanted to get out of the friend-zone, she knew that Adrien had the right to like whomever he wanted. It would be like she were to be the Phantom if she was disrespectful of that.

Tikki could tell something was on Marinette's mind, so she decided to say something to get her to refocus on the show.

"A-Anyway, break a leg during the rest of the performance." Tikki said with an anxious giggle. She then sat on the table in front of the mirror and watched as Marinette started getting ready for the next scene.

"Okay, get the mask, the necklace chain..." Marinette muttered as she made to prepare for Act II.

She put her thoughts about Adrien out of her mind to focus on the show. There was a time and a place for everything, after all.

Out on the stage, everyone was in a different kind of costume because the scene was a masquerade ball. There was a set of stairs in the center of the stage, and the top had a curtain that matched the background.

Marinette and Nathanaël were standing together, and they were both wearing costumes with masks. They were sharing a moment and a slight dance. Then Marinette stopped and gave Nathanaël a smile.

"'Think of it. Our secret engagement. Look - your future bride! Just think of it!'" Marinette sang, as she was fiddling with the chain around her neck, which held a ring.

"'But why is it secret? What have we to hide?'" Nathanaël sang in askance, confused. "'You promised me...'"

Marinette sang in response, "'You promised me...'"

Nathanaël leaned in to kiss her and she gently dodged him, trying to avoid getting caught by the guests. Marinette knew that in this scene, Christine was trying to avoid letting the Phantom know that she and Raoul were betrothed by keeping their overall romance on the down-low.

"'No Raoul, please don't, they'll see.'" Marinette sang, as she broke away and began anxiously looking amongst the partygoers. She was worried that a certain someone was going to show up and crash the function.

"'Well, let them see!'" Nathanaël sang, with a roll of his eyes and a slightly annoyed huff. "'It's an engagement, not a crime!'"

Marinette kept looking around and her face was a combination of worry and fear. She seemed distracted, too.

Nathanaël noticed her body language, so he gently turned Marinette around to face him, held Marinette's forearms and softly sang, "'Christine, what are you afraid of?'"

Marinette took a deep breath, then she and Nathanaël looked each other in the eyes before continuing their scene.

"'Let's not argue.'" The pair sang, as Nathanaël gently stroked her cheek with his hand. They then held each other's hands and they looked each other in the eyes.

"'Please pretend...'" Marinette sang, with Nathanaël finishing with, "'I can only hope...'"

"'I'll/You will understand in time...'" They sang together, looking at each other with affection and love.

The pair then went to join the ensemble for the rest of the song and dance routine. They were switching partners randomly, dancing to the music, all completely in sync with the ensemble.

Meanwhile, Adrien was elsewhere, waiting for his cue. Nino was with him, since his character was "murdered" in the previous act.

"You got this, man," Nino whispered, as he was helping Adrien get the rest of his costume together. "Okay, put the hat on... And there!"

"Thanks, Nino," Adrien said, in his costume for the scene. "I'll blow this performance out of the water."

"I'd better get back, too," Nino said. "It's almost your cue. Break a leg."

"Thank you," Adrien said, as he and Nino shared a fist bump. Nino then made himself scarce by running to the control room. "Time to give My Lady a scare... Hope she'll forgive me."

At the height of the number, the music changed. The curtains snapped open like a pair of double doors, showing Adrien. He was dressed like the Red Death from Edgar Allen Poe's story, and holding a large, bound book. At the sight of him, everyone screamed and scattered around the stage.

Nathanaël grabbed Marinette's hand, ran to the side of the stairs and partially hid her behind him. Marinette looked on in fear.

In tune to the music, Adrien stepped down the stairs, and everyone gave him fearful looks.

"'Why so silent, good Messieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good?'" Adrien sang, scanning the crowd, smirking underneath his mask.

He then took a brief bow before singing, "'Have you missed me, good Messieurs? I have written you an opera!'"

Adrien lifted the book to reveal the work, before singing, "'Here I bring the finished score. "Don Juan Triumphant!"'"

Adrien tossed the book over to Kim, who caught it with ease. Still, everyone was giving Adrien fearful looks and the music was still giving off scary vibes.

"'I advise you to comply. My instructions should be clear. Remember, there are worse things than a shattered chandelier.'" Adrien sang, gesturing to the ceiling and the chandelier again.

He and Marinette made eye contact. Adrien lifted his hand and made a "come here" motion with his finger. Marinette, acting like she was in a trance, walked over to Adrien.

Once she got close enough, Adrien saw the chain and ring around Marinette's neck. Just the sight of it made him bristle, and only because he did not give her that ring. Adrien then grabbed the chain and held it tightly.

"'Your chains are still mine! You belong to me!'" Adrien sang, ripping the chain off of Marinette's neck.

He took out a non-toxic smoke bomb and threw it on the ground, cuing everyone - including Marinette - to run, scared out of their minds. The stage lights were killed and a trap door underneath Adrien opened. He fell through the floor and landed on a large cushion.

Adrien took the mask off and looked at the ring and chain in his hand. He sighed quietly, only wishing that he would have given her the ring sometime in the future.

'Don't think about it, Adrien. This is only a prop for the show.' Adrien thought, shaking his head to snap himself out of his thoughts.

He saw a small staircase that led to an area backstage. Adrien made his way back upstairs to go into the greenroom and change his costume again. Once he got inside, Nino was there waiting for him.

"Nice work out there, dude," Nino said, having seen the whole thing from backstage. "The smoke bomb was a nice touch."

"That was your idea," Adrien said, as he and Nino shared a fist bump. "And it was a good call. It really added to the affects and it hid the trap door impeccably."

"Thanks," Nino said with a chuckle. "Your next scene is in the cemetery. I know it won't be as epic as a professional show, but..."

"Pyrotechnics are dangerous. As if the school would risk putting us in harm's way like that," Adrien said, as he took up his other costume. "Need to change out of this "Red Death" costume and get back into my other one."

Adrien went into the dressing room and shut the door. Nino shook his head with an amused chuckle. If he did not know any better, he would have compared his best friend to a jealous cat. Ironically, he was unaware of how accurate that analogy would have been.

On stage, Marinette and some of the other cast members, including Chloé and Ivan, were doing the scene where they were rehearsing for "Don Juan Triumphant."

While some of the cast members were arguing, out of nowhere, the piano started playing by itself. No one was touching the keys. As if under a spell, everyone, save for Marinette, stood up and they began singing.

"'Poor young maiden! For the thrill on your tongue of stolen sweets. You will have to pay the bill, tangled in the winding sheets!'" Everyone sang.

Marinette gave the body language that she was scared because everyone else was under a spell, minus her. She was the only one who seemed to find it strange that the piano was playing on its own without anyone in front of it. She panicked, her eyes were wide, and she started to breathe heavily.

As everyone left the stage, Marinette took up another cloak. The curtains closed and music began playing.

Marinette started to put her cloak on. All the while, she sang, "'In sleep, he sang to me... In dreams, he came. That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name...'"

After that, Marinette started to travel the stage a bit, trying to give the impression that she had left the opera house and was going elsewhere for the time being.

She then fell to her knees and mimicked crying. Adrien was off-stage in the wings, watching Marinette. While he wanted to go out there and hug Marinette, reassure her that everything would be okay, kiss her senseless, he knew that it was not a smart idea. To start with, he knew she was only acting. Second off, it would have been off-script to do that and it would confuse the audience. Third and finally - much to Adrien's chagrin - he knew that that was Nathanaël's job in the show.

However, he knew he had to get in position. The set was ready and Adrien knew he had to hide for his next cue.

Once the music changed and small "tinkling" noises were heard in the background, Marinette stood up and pretended to wipe tears from her face.

She sang, "'Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. Her father promised her that he would send the Angel of Music. Her father promised her. Her father promised her...'"

The curtains pulled away to reveal the set had changed to look like a graveyard. The smoke machines had been activated again and this time they were giving a foggy, misty look to the scene. One large, tall gravestone was labeled "Daaé," as in Christine's father.

Marinette turned around, looked at the grave with a solemn expression, and started to sing again.

"'You were once my one companion. You were all that mattered. You were once a friend and father. Then my world was shattered.'" Marinette sang, trying to have a sad tone to her voice.

"'Wishing you were somehow here again. Wishing you were somehow near. Sometimes it seemed, if I'd just dream, somehow you would be here.'" Marinette sang.

However, instead of thinking of a dearly-departed member of her family, she wished with all of her heart that she would have Adrien by her side, comforting her and kissing her with gusto and kindness.

"'Wishing I could hear your voice again, knowing that I never would. Dreaming of you won't help me to do, all that you dreamed that I could.'" Marinette sang, while trying to make it seem like she was crying. She turned back to the audience.

From his hiding spot, which was on top of the grave and behind one of the fixtures, Adrien kept listening to Marinette. He could feel the pain she was radiating in her song. On the other hand, he knew that it was Marinette's time to shine, so he decided to enjoy it.

"'Passing bells and sculpted angels, cold and monumental, seem for you the wrong companions,'" Marinette sang, as she rubbed her hand against the stone angel on set. "'You were warm and gentle.'"

The song itself reminded her of Adrien's warmth and kindness that he would demonstrate with every interaction they would have together. That included when they were in the greenroom earlier.

Adrien was still listening. Adrien was fully aware that Marinette was in character, singing about Christine's late father and how she needs to move on with her life. But still, he wished that Marinette was singing about him.

"'Too many years, fighting back tears. Why can't the past just die?'" Marinette sang, trying to will herself to shed tears and took another look at the grave. "'Wishing you were somehow here again... Knowing we must say goodbye. Try to forgive, teach me to live... Give me the strength to try!'"

Marinette then thought of all of her adventures as Ladybug. She remembered that even though she screwed up in her first adventure with Stoneheart, the city forgave her because she corrected her mistake and had not disappointed since.

Marinette steeled her features and then she sang, "'No more memories, no more silent tears. No more gazing across the wasted years.'"

She also thought of all the time she wasted pining over Adrien instead of trying to do something about her feelings for him. Sure, she had tried, but it would always blow up in her face somehow.

"'Help me say goodbye. Help me say goodbye.'" Marinette sang, leaving off on a high note.

Adrien smiled as the audience thundered with applause for Marinette's performance. He was moved to tears, too. But he refocused on his act because he was about to get his cue to go on.

Marinette was walking across the stage, trying to act like she was leaving the graveyard. Adrien came out from behind the cross on the top of the gravestone and started to sing.

"'Wandering child, so lost, so helpless. Yearning for my guidance.'" Adrien tenderly sang, getting Marinette's attention.

Startled, she looked around and sang, "'Angel or father? Friend or Phantom? Who is it there, staring?'"

"'Have you forgotten your Angel?'" Adrien sang, trying to add a hypnotic, enchanting tone to his voice.

"'Angel, oh, speak. What endless longings echo in this whisper?'" Marinette sang, and on cue, Nathanaël came on stage and started to watch everything go down.

He was supposed to be in the shadows, trying not to be seen by the Phantom and checking on Marinette.

Adrien saw Nathanaël out of his peripheral vision. He was annoyed that the redhead was interrupting them, but Adrien knew that it was planned and part of the show. However, Adrien begrudgingly commended Nathanaël on his timing on the inside.

"'Too long you've wandered in winter...'" Adrien sang, with Marinette still standing in one spot.

"'Once again she is his...'" Nathanaël sang, following Adrien's lead.

"'Far from my far-reaching gaze...'" Adrien once again sang, trying to "seduce" Marinette into coming to him.

"'Once again she returns...'" Nathanaël sang, looking between Marinette and Adrien.

"'Wildly, my mind beats against you...'" Marinette began, as she and Adrien were about to get into the next part.

"'You resist...'" Adrien began.

"'Yet your/the soul obeys!'" The pair sang together, in total harmony, with Nathanaël singing, "'To the arms of her...'"

"'Angel of Music! I/You denied you/me! Turning from true beauty!'" The pair sang, with Nathanaël singing, "'Angel, Angel or demon? Still, he calls her, luring her back from the grave!'"

Marinette turned around and faced Adrien, while he kept his eyes on her.

"'Angel of Music, do not shun me/my protector!'" Marinette and Adrien sang together, with Nathanaël singing, "'Angel, or dark seducer?'"

"'Come to your strange Angel!'" Marinette and Adrien sang, and Nathanaël finished with, "'Who are you, strange Angel?'"

"'I am your Angel of Music. Come to me, Angel of Music...'" Adrien sang, as he held out his hand. Marinette, pretending to be under hypnosis, slowly started to walk to Adrien.

"'Angel of darkness! Cease this torment!'" Nathanaël shouted in song, stepping forward and demanding Adrien to set Marinette free.

"'I am your Angel of Music. Come to me, Angel of Music...'" Adrien repeated, ignoring Nathanaël's demand.

"'Christine! Christine, listen to me!'" Nathanaël called out, stepping closer to Marinette. "'No matter what you may believe, this man - this thing - is not your father!'"

Marinette failed to respond, as Adrien kept repeating, "'I am your Angel of Music. Come to me, Angel of Music...'"

"'Let her go! For God's sake, let her go! CHRISTINE!'" Nathanaël shouted.

Marinette snapped out of her "daze" on cue, and then turned to Nathanaël. She said, "'Raoul?!'"

Nathanaël immediately dashed over to Marinette, they shared another kiss - much to Adrien's irritation - and then the redhead grabbed her hand. Marinette and Nathanaël then started to run offstage.

"'DON'T GO!'" Adrien shouted from his perch, as his peers ran into the wings. He balled a raised fist, grit his teeth, and growled. "'So be it! Now let there be war upon you both!'"

The stage lights went out once more, and the the stage curtains were closed.

Immediately after, Adrien hopped down from the set piece was waiting behind the closed curtains. The stagehands pushed a set piece that looked like a doorframe or closet of some sort onto the stage, and it had a curtain covering the door. A large, long dining table that had benches was pushed onto the stage, and many baskets of food were placed on top. None of it was real, minus a basket of fruit. Adrien ducked behind the curtain that covered the set's door, into the alcove.

Once he was in position, Adrien was listening to Nathanaël, Kim, Max, and other members of the cast talking. They were standing in front of the curtains, talking through the plan to catch the Phantom. Since he was hiding out of sight, but needed his voice to echo from different places inside the auditorium, he had been given a microphone headset and the sound booth was tasked with directing his vocal input to different speakers around the auditorium that made it sound like he was running around the opera house.

"'I'm here! The Phantom of the Opera!'" Adrien sang into the microphone, and it sounded like it was coming from the rafters. He repeated this a few times, each time the sound came from a different place inside.

When it sounded like his voice was coming from the balcony seat designated as Box Five for the show, the boy playing the soldier, who was waiting in the orchestra pit, lifted his prop gun and pretended to fire.

"'You idiot! You'll kill someone!'" Nathanael shouted down to the orchestra pit. "'I said only when the time comes!'"

"'But sir...'" The soldier began.

Adrien knew that it was his cue, so while the chandelier was rigged to flicker while Adrien was speaking, he once again started to speak.

"'No "buts." For once, Monsieur le Vicomte is right.'"Adrien said.

Everyone looked around, trying to pinpoint where his voice was coming from. Adrien silently ducked behind the curtain on the set while the ensemble and Rose came onto the stage.

"'Seal my fate tonight. I hate to have to cut the fun short, but the joke's wearing thin. Let the audience in. Let my opera begin!'" Adrien sang. Everyone else left the stage as the lights went out, and then the curtain opened up.

The ensemble, all in costume, were all gallivanting in the dining room.

"'Here the sire serves the dam. Here the master takes his meat! Hear the sacrificial lamb utter one despairing bleat!'" The ensemble sang.

Adrien had to cover his ears. Even with the cast's best three singers, the music was still pretty unbearable. Even Chloé's singing sounded more pleasant compared to it. Adrien knew this was part of the show, but either way, it was not something enjoyable in the least.

'Yeesh! What a cacophony. I can understand why no one in the show wanted to perform this opera.' Adrien thought, the sound grinding against his hears and causing his brain to throb for a little bit.

After the chorus sang their, Ivan and Rose came along, both in costume. Adrien moved aside so he could remain unseen for the moment. Ivan opened the curtain and he and Rose stepped out.

Once the curtain closed again, Adrien waited for Ivan to come back. This time, he and Ivan would switch places, with the latter giving the former his cloak. Ivan would put the prop noose around his neck and lie on the floor while Adrien put the cloak on and hide his face with the cowl.

Adrien waited for a bit while listening to Ivan and Passarino's actor sing with each other.

After a little bit, Ivan came back behind the curtain. He took off his cloak and handed it to Adrien, before whispering, "Showtime. Break a leg."

"Thanks," Adrien whispered back, handing Ivan the prop noose. "Nice work."

The two shared a silent high-five before the blonde started to put on the cloak.

"'No thoughts within her thoughts of joy. No dreams within her heart but dreams of love.'" Marinette sang, as she came out on stage, in her costume.

She walked around the stage a bit before going to the table and picking out an apple.

Meanwhile, Passarino's actor whispered to the door, "'Master...'"

"'Passarino - go away. For the trap is set and waits for its prey!'" Adrien sang.

The boy immediately ran offstage. Marinette sat down on the bench and started to eat the apple.

Adrien opened the curtain and stepped out. The cowl was down over his face, but he could still clearly see through it.

"'You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge,'" Adrien sang, as he slowly started to walk over to Marinette. "'In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent. Silent...'"

Marinette was looking at Adrien, pretending not to suspect anything. She was still sitting on the bench, fiddling with her apple. She stood up and began to travel the stage to the other side of the table, while Adrien took up an empty goblet and stood opposite to her.

'She really looks great in that dress. Her own work does her more than justice.' Adrien thought, as he stared at Marinette for a brief moment. However, he regained his bearings and got back to singing.

"'I have brought you that our passions may fuse and merge.'" Adrien sang aloud, as he started to walk over to Marinette.

He internally admitted that he had some passionate thoughts about him and Marinette together, and that included more than fully-engrossed kisses with each other. Adrien was about to let his mind wander, but he stopped himself and refocused his attention to the performance.

"'In your mind you have already succumbed to me. Dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me.'" Adrien sang, and as Marinette was about to bite into her apple, he snagged it and gently took it away.

He and Marinette held each other's gazes for a second. The pair kept their eyes on each other while maintaining the act.

"'And now you're here with me, no second thoughts. You've decided. Decided...'" Adrien sang, as he immediately got close to Marinette, and gave her the goblet. He had her "drink" from it.

He immediately started walking around her, like a cat stalking its prey. Marinette looked at him, following Adrien with her eyes.

"'Past the point of no return. No backward glances. Our games of make-believe are at an end.'" Adrien sang, still wearing the cowl.

"'Past all thought of "if" or "when,"'" Adrien sang, whileMarinette took another "drink" from the goblet. When she made to wipe her mouth with her hand, Adrien gently took her wrist. "'No use resisting. Abandon thought and let the dream descend.'"

As he and Marinette made a few synchronized steps together. Marinette, acting like she was freaked out a bit, made an underarm twirl and soon started spinning around while making her way to the other side of the table. She sashayed to the bench and then sat down.

"'What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door? What sweet seduction lies before us?'" Adrien sang and made his way over to Marinette. He got behind her and gently put his hand on hers.

"'Past the point of no return. The final threshold,'" Adrien said, as he slowly and gently rubbed his hands up Marinette's exposed arms. Unknown to him, while Marinette was acting aroused, it was actually a case of the fact that she really was. "'What warm, unspoken secrets shall we learn?'"

Marinette would have been grossed out, if it was not her crush doing it and if it were in real life rather than an act. Adrien moved to the other side of Marinette, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and rubbed her other arm from the shoulder down.

Adrien was tempted to take her hand and kiss it again as he sang, "'Beyond the point of no return?'"

Marinette stood up, and coquettishly sashayed away from the bench. She made a decent amount of distance before turning back to her costar.

She sang, "'You have brought me to the moment where words run dry. To that moment when speech disappears into silence. Silence...'"

Marinette began walking back to Adrien, trying to add some attractiveness to her movements. With a smile, she continued to sing.

"'I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why. In my mind I have already imagined our bodies entwining. Defenseless and silent.'" Marinette sang, while hugging her arms, as if aroused, and then continuing to the table.

Marinette herself had imagined such a moment with Adrien in the real world, but she knew there was a time and place for everything. Thus, she continued with her performance.

She looked at Adrien, and with a seductive grin on her lips, she sang, "'Now I'm here with you, no second thoughts. I've decided. Decided...'"

'Good Marinette, good,' Adrien thought. 'You're doing great.'

Marinette kept walking over to Adrien while singing, "'Past the point of no return. No going back now. Our passion-play has now at last begun.'"

She was soon behind Adrien, and then her hands were on his shoulders. He was tempted to take her hands, but he knew it was not the time yet. She sang, "'Past all thought of right or wrong. One final question. How long should we two wait before we're one?'"

As Marinette soon joined hands with Adrien, she made some movements with their arms, while singing, "'When will the blood begin to race? The sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames, at last, consume us?'"

Marinette soon touched the edge of the mask underneath the cowl. Staying in character, she froze in fear, and then she made to run for the wings. However, Adrien stood up and immediately grabbed her hands, turning her to him and forcing her to stop.

"'Past the point of no return. The final threshold.'" The duo sang.

Adrien failed to break character, while trying to force Marinette to come with him. She, on the other hand, was trying to escape from him. She had a look of fear in her face, maintaining the act.

"'The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn!'" The pair sang, while Marinette broke the hold Adrien had on her wrists, and backed up.

Marinette slowly approached Adrien, and then they continued with the song, "'We've passed the point of no return.'"

Marinette flipped the cowl back to reveal Adrien's face on the last note. Adrien stood still, before Marinette turned to run. Adrien turned around, but one of the actors playing a cop held his prop weapon up at him. Marinette had stopped running, acting like she was unsure of her reason for doing so.

Marinette turned back to Adrien, who still had his back to her. He took a deep breath, and then started to sing again.

"'Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me from my solitude.'" Adrien sang solemnly.

Marinette's eyes went wide for a second, surprised. Sure, she was maintaining character and she had heard Adrien sing those lines during rehearsal, but she was still shocked to hear such words from him, especially so sadly.

Adrien was hoping that the underlying message he was sending was getting through to Marinette. While he was still speaking the lines of the Phantom, deep down he was pleading for Marinette to return his feelings for her.

However, while gently removing the ring from his pinky finger, he sang, "'Say you want me with you here beside you...'"

Marinette watched in awe as Adrien walked over to her, singing, "'Anywhere you go, let me go too!'"

Marinette could tell what Adrien was truly trying to tell her. In his eyes, she could read desperation, love, hope, and so many other emotions at once. She understood what he wanted. While still in character, Marinette could tell that the love she was feeling from him was not the Phantom's affection for Christine, but Adrien's own feelings for her.

Adrien was thinking, 'Marinette, please stay with me! I love you. Even if you don't feel the same, I care for you so much!'

Marinette still kept her head clear to keep the show going.

Adrien took Marinette's left hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger before singing, "'Christine, that's all I ask of...'"

Marinette broke her hands away and gently took the mask off Adrien's face. His face still had his blond hair, but the part that had been covered by his mask had many pieces of stage makeup on him. It looked like part of his skull was exposed, and that side of his lip was made to look like it was permanently swollen and had a purplish tint to it. There were pieces on his face made to look like scabs, warts and scars of all varieties, including blood-red stretch marks from his eyes all the way down to his cheeks. Overall, it looked very grotesque, which was the whole point.

'Leave it to Juleka's makeup artistry to make ugly look just right.' Marinette and Adrien thought, in sync.

He screamed in horror, before covering Marinette with his cloak and running off the stage with her, having flown into a rage.

After that, the whole fiasco with Piangi being found dead went down, with Nathanaël being led by Juleka to find find Adrien and Marinette.

The curtains closed and the lights on the stage went out, minus the lights that were on the stage's apron. Adrien was dragging Marinette across the stage while tightly gripping her wrist. She was trying to break free and escape. Adrien hated being rough with her like this, but he knew that she was aware that he was only acting.

"'Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair! Down we plunge to the prison of my mind! Down that path into darkness, deep as hell!'" Adrien sang.

He then rounded on Marinette, grabbing both of her wrists into his own. She was looking into his green eyes with fear and terror in her own blue ones. He knew she was not being genuine about it, but it was still heartrending to see her so scared.

"'Why, you ask, was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place? Not for any mortal sin, but the wickedness of my abhorrent face!'" Adrien shouted in song.

Adrien, however, thought how this paralleled to his situation in real life. The ironic part was that while the Phantom had isolated himself for being ugly, Adrien was forced to be isolated by his father because the young blonde was actually very handsome and his father would not let him out of the gilded cage he was in.

"'Track down this murderer! He must be found!'" The ensemble sang from off-stage. Marinette and Adrien looked around, listening to the voices.

"'Hounded out by everyone! Met with hatred everywhere! No kind word from anyone, no compassion anywhere!'" Adrien sang, as he continued to force Marinette to go with him, while she struggled to break free. "'Christine, Christine... Why?! Why?!'"

The pair ran offstage. Marinette dashed into the greenroom because she had to change into the wedding dress for the next part while Nathanaël and Juleka were doing their next scene.

As Marinette took out the wedding dress, Tikki quickly came out from hiding. Marinette sighed before telling her kwami, "I felt like I could read genuine emotions in his eyes..."

"You can worry about what's going through Adrien's head later. You gotta get changed!" Tikki said.

Marinette shook her head and then she immediately made to change clothes.

About a minute or so later, the curtains opened up again. The scene had been reset to the Phantom's lair, including the gate. Adrien entered from the left wing of the stage, dragging Marinette with him. She had changed into the dress with Adrien holding on the veil. His mask was still off, as per the show.

Once they were center stage, Adrien roughly forced her in front of him. Marinette, scared and angry, turned to face him.

"'Have you gorged yourself, at last, in your lust for blood?!'" Marinette sang in anger. "'Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?!'"

Adrien let out an aggravated sigh and made movements and exhibited body language that made it seem like he was about to lash out, but managed to hold himself back and be gentle.

"'That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood has also denied me the joys of the flesh!'" Adrien sang, with anger and frustration in his tone.

Marinette turned away and squeezed her eyes shut, not being able to bear seeing Adrien so upset. Sure, it was only an act, but it was still frightening to see him this way.

"'This face - the infection which poisons our love!'" Adrien sang, enraged. However, he calmed down. Adrien was not fond of scaring Marinette like this, but he knew that it was not real.

He calmed down and his tone took on a sad note to it as he sang, "'This face which earned a mother's fear and loathing. A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing...'"

Marinette slowly turned back to look at Adrien, a sad look in her eyes. However, he gave her an angry expression before continuing on.

"'Pity comes too late! Turn around and face your fate!'" Adrien sang, as he forced the veil onto Marinette's head before roughly making her face him. He gestured to his face. "'An eternity of THIS before your eyes!'"

Marinette looked into Adrien's eyes, once again seeing the sadness, anger and desperation in them. Marinette could tell that there was more to what Adrien was singing than what he was letting on. She also noticed how the Phantom's situation was similar to Adrien's. Isolated for most of his life, amongst other commonalities. At that moment, Marinette realized that Adrien was genuinely in love with her. She could read it in his peridot orbs. Their faces were almost touching, and she could feel his breath on her lips.

Maintaining her senses, Marinette gently put a hand to Adrien's face and quietly sang, "'This haunted face holds no horror for me now. It's in your soul where the true distortion lies.'"

Adrien was tempted to break character and kiss her right then and there, but he heard footsteps.

He noticed Nathanaël out of his peripheral vision. The redhead was standing behind the gate, holding onto the grates. Adrien, annoyed, snagged Marinette's forearms.

'Damn it, Nathanaël! I know its part of the plot, but SHEESH, way to ruin the moment!' Adrien thought, completely aggravated.

"'Wait. I think, my dear, we have a guest!'" Adrien sang. Marinette looked and saw Nathanaël.

"'Raoul!'" Marinette shouted, running to the gate and grabbing the bars.

"'Sir, this is indeed an unparalleled delight!'" Adrien sang, his voice dripping with sarcasm and annoyance, as he made his way to the chair.

Nathanaël cringed and a shiver went up Marinette's spine. Just hearing that tone out of Adrien just made her want to retch.

"'I had rather hoped that you would come. And now my wish comes true. You have truly made my night!'" Adrien sang, his tone still sarcastic and vexed. He immediately sat in the chair, putting a fist to his cheek.

"'Free her! Do what you like, only free her! Have you no pity?!'" Nathanaël sang, pleadingly.

"'Your lover makes a passionate plea.'" Adrien sang to Marinette, rolling his eyes and scoffing underneath his breath.

"'Please Raoul, its useless!'" Marinette sang, telling Nathanaël to stop and give up.

"'I love her! Does that mean nothing?! I love her! Show some compassion.'" Nathanaël sang. It was totally from his heart.

Both Adrien and Marinette could not help but feel that Nathanaël was singing the truth about his feelings for Marinette. Adrien was annoyed, Marinette was flattered and embarrassed, but overall, Marinette knew that this was not the time and place to talk about it, especially since she was aware that Nathanaël was acting in that moment.

"'The world showed no compassion to me!'" Adrien hollered in song, standing up from the chair.

Everyone on the stage at the moment, even Adrien, knew this was a lie in the real world. Adrien had plenty of friends and he was shown plenty of compassion and kindness.

Maintaining the show, Nathanaël continued by singing, "'Christine, Christine! Let me see her!'"

"'Be my guest, sir.'" Adrien sang, before snapping his fingers. On cue, the gate went up. Once Nathanaël went under the gate, he ran to Marinette and the two shared a passionate embrace.

Once again, Adrien seeing them like that made him really annoyed. However, he failed to break character and continued with the performance.

"'Monsieur, I bid you welcome. Did you think that I would harm her?'" Adrien sang, as he went behind the chair, took up a prop noose, and then he started to come behind Nathanaël.

He hooked the end of the rope to a wire and hook that was controlled from the stage, and then he took the noose in hand again.

"'Why should I make her pay for the sins which are yours?!'" Adrien sang, smiling evilly while catching Nathanaël by the neck with the rope.

Marinette grew a horrified expression on her face while Nathanaël screamed and grabbed the rope with his hands. Adrien admitted that he hated doing this to Nathanaël, especially since he literally did nothing wrong. And scaring Marinette the way he was was also making him a little sad and angry at himself.

"'Order your fine horses now! Raise up the hand to the level of your eyes! Nothing can save you now - except, perhaps Christine...'" Adrien sang, as he went from sadistically laughing at Nathanaël's expense to turning a serious look on Marinette.

Marinette looked Adrien in the eyes, with a mixture of fear and horror.

"'Start a new life with me! Buy his freedom with your love! Refuse me and you send your lover to his death!'" Adrien sang, as the music became more deranged and filled with energy.

Marinette watched in fear as Adrien went to the piano, playing some notes while singing, "'This is the choice! This is the point of no return!'"

Marinette started to cry. It pained Adrien to hear her like this, but it was part of the show, thus he refrained from complaining.

"'The tears I might have shed for your dark fate grow cold and turn to tears of hate!'" Marinette sang, as she faced Adrien with anger in her face.

Adrien was getting more and more frustrated. He was losing his patience and he wanted to wrap the show up.

"'Christine, forgive me, please forgive me!'" Nathanaël sang, bringing Marinette back into focus. It was her cue. "'I did it all for you and all for nothing!'"

"'Farewell to my fallen idol and false friend! One by one, all my delusions shattered!'" Marinette sang as she took the veil off and threw it to the floor, her lines overlapping with Nathanaël's.

"'Too late for turning back, too late for prayers and useless pity!'" Adrien sang, his lines overlapping with Marinette and Nathanaël's as well.

He left the piano and approached Marinette. She was looking between the two boys in fear and indecision.

"'Say you love him and my life is over!'" Nathanaël sang while Adrien simultaneously crooned, "'All hope of cries for help. No point in fighting!'"

"'For either way you choose, he has to/you cannot win!'" The boys sang in union.

Adrien turned to Marinette while pointing at Nathanaël, and he sang, "'So do you end your days with me, or do you send him to his grave?!'"

"'Why make her lie to you to save me?!'" Nathanaël sang in askance, struggling to break free from the noose, while Adrien walked passed Marinette and picked up the veil.

"'Past the point of no return...'" Adrien sang, his lines overlapping with Marinette's as she sang, "'Angel of Music...'"

"'For pity's sake, Christine, say no!'" Nathanaël sang, while Marinette sang, "'Who deserves this?!'"

"'The final threshold!'" Adrien sang, while Nathanaël voiced, "'Don't throw your life away for my sake!'"

"'When will you see reason?!'" Marinette sang, as Adrien sang, "'His life is now the prize which you must earn!'"

As Adrien walked over to the chair, he kept his back to Marinette. The girl in question heard Nathanaël sing, "'I tried so hard to free you!'"

"'Angel of Music...'" Marinette voiced, as Adrien's lines overlapped, by singing, "'You've passed the point of no return!'"

Adrien kept his back to Marinette as she fell to her knees. She sang, "'You deceived me. I gave my mind blindly...'"

Hearing this, Adrien turned back to Marinette and shouted in song, "'You try my patience!'"

Marinette ducked and covered as a reaction. Adrien stepped back, staggering a bit, as he tried to keep himself in character. He absolutely hated scaring Marinette this way, and he hoped and prayed she would forgive him.

"'Make your choice.'" Adrien slowly stated. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

'Hurry it up, Marinette! I want my kiss already!' Adrien thought, resisting the urge to start tapping his foot in impatience.

Marinette was aware that Adrien was truly enamored with her, and while it brought her joy, she knew that she was in the middle of a show. Thus, she turned to him and started to sing.

"'Pitiful creature of darkness... What kind of life have you known?'" Marinette sang, as she slowly stood up and made her way over to Adrien. "'God give me courage to show you you are not alone.'"

At that moment, Marinette turned Adrien's face to hers, and then her dreams came true as she placed her lips onto his, kissing him full on the lips and closing her eyes. Adrien's eyes widened. His desire for Marinette's kiss was finally being fulfilled. While he was aware it was only acting, he was still so happy to finally have her lips on his own.

'Finally... I finally get to kiss you, Marinette!' Adrien thought, delighted.

He was tempted to hug her close, but he knew she still had to play her part. She broke the kiss for a second and gave Adrien a hug. Adrien acted shocked and his arms moved to go around her waist. However, Marinette stopped him by kissing him again. This time, Adrien melted with joy and hugged her back.

They broke their kiss and embrace as army drums played in the background. Adrien took this as his cue to continue. He slowly staggered over to the piano bench. While Marinette and Nathanaël watched, Adrien took up a prop dagger and then sluggishly made his way to the redhead.

Marinette looked scared, as if she were wondering if Adrien was going to stab Nathanaël. However, Adrien merely lifted the dagger and pretended to cut the rope. Like in rehearsal, the rope fell and Nathanaël was freed.

Marinette immediately ran over to Nathanaël, and the two shared a hug. In the background, the ensemble sang, "'Track down this murderer! He must be found!'"

"'Take her, forget me, forget all this...'" Adrien sang, while the mob in the background sang, "'Who is this monster? This murdering beast?'"

"'Hunt out this animal who runs to ground!'" The ensemble continued, as Adrien sang, "'Leave me alone, forget all you've seen... Go now, don't let them find you!'"

"'Revenge for Piangi, revenge for Buquet!'" The ensemble sang.

Adrien looked at the hugging teens and he insisted on singing once more, "'Take the boat. Swear to me to never tell the secret you know of the Angel in Hell!'"

As the ensemble continued to sing, Nathanaël made to run. Marinette looked at Adrien.

"'Go! Go now and leave me!'" The blonde sang, hollering, and Marinette and Nathanaël ran offstage to go to the boat. Adrien himself fell to his knees, breathing heavily.

While center stage, Adrien started to sob, and then as he was, quiet, sweet music started to play. As he turned to see the source, the monkey-shaped music box was revealed to be playing.

Still crying, he stood up and staggered over to the chair that had the music box sitting next to it. He sat on his knees again and quietly sang, "'Masquerade. Paper faces on parade. Masquerade. Hide your face so the world will never find you.'"

Adrien heard quiet footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Marinette, who had come back on the stage. Adrien slowly stood up and made his way over to the girl. She was holding out her hand, which held the ring that Adrien had gifted her with earlier.

Adrien took the ring into his hand before taking Marinette's into both of his. He sang, "'Christine, I love you.'"

Marinette knew full well that Adrien was not reciting his lines, but speaking the truth. She could tell that deep down, he was truly saying, "Marinette, I love you." The only thing was that he stayed in character and said "Christine" instead of her name. As much as Marinette was happy to know her love for the blonde was requited, it was not the time or place to feel so.

Marinette merely shook her head, turned around and left, not looking back. Adrien reached out, once again saying, "'I love you...'"

Marinette was soon off the stage and in the wings. Adrien once again fell to his knees. This time, he picked up the veil from the wedding dress and started crying into it. Once more, he sadly said, "'I love you.'"

Once again, he was not acting. Adrien was letting his true feelings seep into his performance. He was truly in love with Marinette, and all he wanted was for her to return his affections. But alas, he was left alone yet again.

"'Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime...'" Marinette sang.

She and Nathanaël were in the remote-controlled boat, with the latter rowing the boat, and the former was sitting at the bow once more. They were rowing the boat behind the gate.

"'Say the word and I will follow you.'" Nathanael sang, as he kept rowing, maintaining eye contact with Marinette.

"'Share each day with me, each night, each morning...'" Marinette sang, forcing herself not to look at Adrien.

Adrien sadly watched as they left. As they were soon off the stage, Adrien stood up once more and wiped the tears from his face.

"'You alone can make my song take flight! It's over now, the music of the night!'" He sang, and then he made his way over to the chair again.

He sat down, took a black sheet and covered himself with it. A small button was on one of the arms. He pressed it, and then the back of the chair dropped, save for the red fabric. Adrien went inside the small compartment to hide behind the red fabric. He did remember to leave the mask on the seat.

As the music kept playing, Adrien could tell Rose was taking the sheet off to reveal the mask on the seat, but no man was there. She picked it up and held it, and then the lights dimmed, save for where the mask was.

The audience roared in applause as the show wrapped up. The curtain call had begun to commence, with the ensemble taking their bows first. The people taking their bows were then Nino, Max, Kim, the actors for Reyer, other miscellaneous roles, and more. The next set of actors consisted of Ivan and Chloé, followed by Juleka and Rose. The cast parted ways for Nathanaël to come forward and take his bow, followed by Marinette, who got a standing ovation.

Last but not least, Adrien, completely in costume, including his mask, came on the stage to take his bow, and he also got a standing ovation, but his was bigger than Marinette's. He grew a big smile on his face, as he reveled in the happiness he gave the audience.

Once everyone took their bows, the curtains closed and everyone in the cast dispersed to go talk to their families and friends. Since Nathalie was the only one who showed up to see him perform, Adrien went back into the greenroom.

Adrien took off the Phantom mask and the silicone makeup that had all his deformities made up. Once he cleaned up his face, sighed in relief. He was exhausted from everything.

"I could hear everything from in here, kid," Plagg said, as he came out from hiding. "And judging by the applause, I say you did quite the bang-up job out there."

"Thanks, Plagg," Adrien said, as he sat in a chair. "I just hope I didn't scare Marinette too much."

"She knows you were only acting. I seriously doubt that's the case." Plagg said with a shrug.

There was a knock on the door. Plagg flew to hide, and then the door opened to reveal Marinette.

"Hey Marinette," Adrien said, blushing and rubbing the back of his neck. "Awesome work out there."

"Thank you," Marinette said. "But you stole the show."

"Thanks." Adrien said.

A thick silence filled the air. Neither teen was sure of what to or say. Marinette took it upon herself to break the silence and say something.

"What were you planning on saying to me earlier?" Marinette asked, referring to when the two of them were in the greenroom after their first scene in the Phantom's hideout in Act I.

Adrien blushed and fell silent for a second before saying, "I was jealous over Nathanaël playing Raoul. I wanted that part for myself, honestly. Because I... I..."

Adrien's blush only deepened as he realized what he was about to say. However, he steeled his nerves and stepped closer to Marinette. He took her hand in his own and decided to continue on.

"I like you, Marinette." Adrien said, still unable to look her in the eye.

"Well, I already knew that," Marinette said with a giggle. "I could tell that you were speaking your true feelings during the show."

Adrien's blush turned another two shades darker and he nearly face-palmed.

"At any rate, I feel the same. I've felt the same for a long time, but I just couldn't say anything," Marinette said, as she took Adrien's other hand into her own. "I just get so tongue-tied around you because I like you so much."

Adrien chuckled before telling her, "Could've fooled me on that stage."

Taking the chance, Adrien took his hand and lifted her chin up so he could get a better look at her face.

Marinette blushed, before leaning closer to Adrien. She rested her hands on his chest before saying, "Honestly, I wanted you to play Raoul as well."

Adrien once again chuckled before saying, "So, between Nathanaël and me, if the situation was real... Minus the Phantom being absolutely insane... Would you have chosen your Viscount or your Phantom?"

Marinette giggled and nuzzled her face in his chest before saying, "My Phantom, of course."

Adrien smiled again and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. Marinette smiled a bit before hugging him.

"'Say you'll share with me...'" Adrien began to sing, but Marinette placed a finger on his lips before saying, "I think we've had enough singing for today."

Adrien laughed in response and nodded in agreement.

"Maybe not a song, but maybe a kiss...?" Adrien chanced. Marinette smiled, a blush staining her cheeks.

"Yes." Marinette said. At that moment, Adrien dove in and kissed her.

Unbeknownst to the both of them, their kwamis had found one another and were hiding in Marinette's purse. They were giving their holders some privacy while wondering what to do next.

"Should we tell them?" Plagg asked.

"Nope," Tikki said. "At least, not now. I honestly want Marinette and Adrien to come clean to each other on their own. There's a fine line between helping and meddling."

"You're right," Plagg said. "Even though Adrien's been aware of the truth for a while..."

"WHAT?!" Tikki asked in a whisper.

Plagg started to nervously chuckle a bit before taking out some camembert from nowhere. He offered it to Tikki and asked, "Cheese?"

"No thanks," Tikki said, covering her nose. "I prefer cookies."

Meanwhile, while Adrien and Marinette were still kissing. Adrien hoped to one day tell Marinette the truth, but for the time being, he decided to live in the moment. Unlike in the show, he was the Phantom who got the girl.

'Oh Marinette... I love you.' Adrien thought, as he started to thread his fingers through her loose hair. Marinette hugged him by the neck as they continued to kiss.

Sitting on the chair in the greenroom, next to Marinette's purse, was the Phantom's mask. If one looked close enough, one could swear that the mask gained a life of its own and quirked a lip up.

And we're done! I had a fun time writing this story. Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite musicals. Now, it might be a while before I publish something else because classes have just started up again for me.