Three months later…

The warm morning air of August greeted me as I stepped out of my house for the last time for the next years of my life. I had my purse in hand with everything that I would need, and my car was all packed, ready to make the drive to New York and begin the next chapter of my life.

Julliard.

It all seemed too surreal back in May when I stood upon the stage of the high school's auditorium, acknowledging my audience with my teacher beside me, a smile on his beautiful face as he watched me. Now that August had arrived, it had sunk in, especially at the goodbye party that my parents had held for me the night before. Everyone came to wish me well, even Drake, who left the same night of my party. Everyone came…except him. He was the one person that I had wish to have seen last night before my parents had went to bed, and all of my classmates left, and he didn't come. I hadn't seen him since the night of Graduation, and I missed him. I wished that I could have talked to him at least once more before this morning came. But I guess it wasn't meant to be. I opened the car door, tossing my purse inside and shutting the door again, looking up at the house one last time, reflecting on the memories that I had there, thinking of my sleeping parents who wanted to tell me goodbye one last time this morning. I didn't want that. As far as I was concerned, they had said their goodbyes long before Graduation and my party last night and they would be happier if I had just left without them knowing. I looked down at my wristwatch, seeing the time was 6:55am. Five more minutes before I had to leave. I looked down at my shoes, thinking if there was anything that I was forgetting. All of my clothes were in the car, as well as my radio, iPod, CDs, and any sheet music that I had in my room. I slowly raised my head, closing my eyes, breathing deeply. There was a breeze that quietly came through the air. As I breathed for the second time, my nose caught a scent of familiar cologne. I held my breath, bringing my head back to level, slowly opening my eyes and turning my head towards the back of my car.

There he was. He seemed different. He seemed more relaxed, like he had been somewhere and done some soul searching. He still dressed nicely, just as any teacher would, his hair slicked back and his skin showing just a slight hint of a possible tan. I moved my arms to my sides as he smiled at me, resisting the urge to run into his arms and hug him tightly before I left. I looked down and swallowed, seeing that I was wearing the same sundress that I had worn the last time we were together in his basement and all of our secrets were revealed. I looked back up at him and he was still smiling, but he didn't move close to me. Not yet. He wanted to take me in once more; how I looked, what I smelled like, and if I was happy. I finally smiled at him, walking slowly towards him as I placed my hand on the car, stopping just a few feet away from him.

"You look good," I said softly, tucking some hair behind my ear. He chuckled, watching me, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"Always the icebreaker," he replied, moving closer to me, slowly as if he were afraid to startle me. "I've been away."

"I've noticed. Where have you been?"

"Just a little bit of traveling, mainly in Europe and some tropical places for June and July. I just got back last night and I found out from Chrissy that you were leaving this morning."

"I was disappointed that I didn't see you last night. I…I'm sorry that I haven't called."

"Why should you be sorry? You told me that you didn't want to be in a relationship, and as I recall, you told Drake the same thing."

"I know. We can still talk, you know. You were my mentor, my teacher, and…my friend." I swallowed. I hated that word. We were more than friends, and I knew that, but I couldn't bring myself to say that we were more than that. He nodded, taking one last step towards me, placing his hand over mine.

"We'll talk. You'll have to let me know how you're doing in school, and if there's anything that I can help you with."

I nodded, slowly turning my hand up, our palms touching. I watched him as he closed his eyes, slowly closing his fingers of my hand, remember how soft my skin was against his. "Do you really think that we'll always find each other," I asked, looking at our hands, lifting them off of the car, holding his hand to mine.

"Yes. I believe that with all of my heart, Sophie. No matter what happens to us, no matter where we go, we will always find each other."

I smiled softly, looking up at him. He slowly opened his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes glistening down into mine. I let out a low sigh, now dreading this moment that we were sharing together. I knew that it was time for me to go, but I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye. I didn't want to say goodbye. Not yet.

Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around me, embracing me against him. I wrapped around him in return, hugging him tightly as I buried my head into his chest. I swallowed the lump in my throat that had suddenly formed, feeling tears forming in the back of my eyes as I squeezed them shut, fighting them back. I could tell by the tight hold he had on me that he didn't want to let me go. He wasn't ready to let me go, just as I wasn't ready to let go of him. We stayed close to one another for a few more moments, then he slowly pulled away, looking down at me again as he took my hand.

"You have come such a long way, Sophia," he said, reaching into his pocket with his other hand. "You have grown so much since we first met, and I hope that you continue to grow in your schooling at Julliard. I'm expecting to hear great things about you, and I know that you won't disappoint me."

I smiled softly, rubbing my eyes with my free hand before I looked at him. "I swear that I will never, ever disappoint you. I promise you," I said softly, placing my hand on his chest, directly over his heart, "that I will only sing for you, and always for you."

He smiled, lifting the hand that he was holding and kissing it softly. "I have a little parting gift for you. It's not much, but I thought that you might like to have it." He pulled the hand he had in his pocket out, slowly opening it.

I gasped quietly, putting both of my hands over my mouth as I gazed what was in his hand. It was a ring, but wasn't any ordinary ring. It was Christine Daae's ring. It looked the same as it did in my last dream when she gave it to the Phantom before she left the lair with Raoul. The gold band still shined, and the diamonds sparkled lightly in the morning sunlight. I felt faint as I stared at the ring, my gaze finally traveling up at him. He only smiled, slowly taking my left hand and placing it on my ring finger. It was a perfect fit. "I'm assuming that we're not engaged, right," I said, dumbfounded as I gazed at the ring.

He laughed softly. "No, we're not engaged. This has been a family heirloom for years, but I didn't realize why we had it until I began to have the dreams. I thought that it would only be right for you to have it since you're in her family."

"I love it, Erik. Thank you. Thank you so much." I wrapped my arms around him once more. He embraced me, rubbing my back softly.

"You better go. You have a long drive, and you're losing time."

"I know," I said, pulling away from him, moving towards the driver's door, my eyes still on him. I smiled at him.

Sophie…I love you…

"I love you too, Erik."

He smiled at me one last time before turning and walking away. I waited until he turned the corner on the sidewalk, then I got into my car, looking at the ring. I cried softly for a few moments before I started my car, wiping my eyes so I could see. I put the car in gear, and began to drive. I would always remember the present, as well as the past, and the times that we had shared.

And yet, somehow I knew that this wasn't the end of something that was unfinished.

This was only the beginning of something new.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN READING THIS PHAN-FICTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN I DIDN'T UPDATE IT IN A FEW YEARS. I AM HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS MY VERY FIRST COMPLETED WORK THAT I HAVE EVER WRITTEN, AND IT IS ALSO MY VERY FIRST COMPLETED PHAN-FICTION. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE SEQUEL TO 'VISIONS OF THE PAST' WHICH WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN THE LOVE NEVER DIES TIME FRAME AND HAVE SOME MODERN SCENES AS WELL. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR READING, AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW! ~ DP