I was waiting behind the curtain, watching the audience slowly fill with people.  The first to arrive where someone's grandparents, along with a few popular kids who were there to see Lexie and Daniel.  Soon, I saw Bridget and Adam file in, chatting together, which made me smile a bit.  

But as the audience grew, my heart began to pound horribly.  Lexie was smirking and talking with Daniel and another actress, meanwhile I ran off the back of the stage and into the dressing room hallway.  As I began to hurry up the stairs, I felt like I was about to get sick.  

Then someone said, "Hadley?"

"Adam...I-I was just..."

He sat up where he was leaning on the stairs.  "I was waiting for you to come.  You can't possibly be nervous.  This is the perfect role for you."

A truer sentence had never been spoken.  Christine Daae was a shy, beautiful singer who was devoted to her deceased father, and dedicated herself to her music.  The only difference was that she was undeniably gorgeous, like Bridget, and, well, I was me.  

"I can't do this.  Everyone wants me to fail-"

He took my hands, his brown eyes gazing into mine.  "I don't want you to fail.  Bridget doesn't want you to fail, nor does Mack.  I've seen you sing and you're going to be spectacular.  You've just got to believe you can do it."  Biting my lip, I hugged him tight, and he did the same.  

"Thank you," I whispered.  

He was bending down a bit awkwardly to be level with me, but he said quietly, "You're going to be amazing.  And after the show, I want to ask you something important...with ice cream on the side.  However, you've got to perform first."  he let go of me and smiled.  "Hurry.  They need you."  

And so I did.  

While Lexie was performing as Annie, Daniel came up to me during a brief time where we weren't hauling set pieces.  I felt uncomfortable and immediately stepped back from him.  "Hadley, look...I'm sorry about that day in the rehearsal room.  Lexie wanted me to, and I wish that I had said no.  I saw how much it hurt and embarrassed you.  I'm sorry." 

"I'm not sure if I can forgive you, Daniel," I bit my lip, peering out at the audience.  

After a moment, he asked me if I was nervous.  Looking over at him, I nodded.  He smiled.  "You're fantastic.  You'll do well, Hadley."  Even though I didn't know what to think of the young singer, I found it nice that he apologized.  It was a brave thing to do.  

Daniel and I quietly rehearsed, which I could tell Lexie disapproved of.  He reminded me to concentrate on my tall vowels.  In truth, it didn't matter what I looked like, he explained, if my voice was powerful and confident, people would listen.  

I could barely hear a word that Daniel was saying to me when all of the lights in the theatre went dark, and a few people in the audience said 'Ooh!' or clapped.  All I could hear was my heart beating horribly loud.  

Then the music began, and Daniel took my hand and lead me out onto the stage.  As soon as my feet hit the ground where the audience could see, I was a different person.  No longer scared, but entranced.  Especially at what my mind concocted before me.  

Normally at such a time I would think of Adam, for he was person I felt most comfortable singing in front of, but instead the person I saw before me, hidden behind the mask, was my father.  I sang proudly, feeling the emotion with every word.  I followed him as he lead me across the stage; it was the strangest experience.  How could my mind be tricking me with such a intimate moment, yet I was singing for a hundred people?

"My angel of music!"

"He's there, the Phantom of the Opera!"

"Sing!"

When the high notes came, I was snapped out of my dream.  Biting my lip, I searched for Adam, though as soon as I found him, I found confidence once more and belted out the first high note.  I think I might have startled half of the people in the auditorium.  

Once more Daniel shouted, "Sing for me!" and the note tore through the air, making the audience completely silent for a few seconds.  But then they erupted in applause.  Daniel and I waited until they quieted down before he began to sing again.  He gave me a small smile as he began to sing, a silent Good job.

Before I knew it, we were finished and the lights went out as we hurried off the stage.  Without warning, Daniel hugged me and told me I did incredibly well.  I thanked him, and said he was fabulous.  

The curtain call went from the beginning characters to the end, so the Phantom and Christine were last.  The audience stood for us, which made me so very happy.  I looked at Adam and gave him a small wave before we took a bow.

 Mr. Andrews told us that it was a bit of a tradition that we go out into the lobby outside the auditorium and walk among the audience members, so we could see our families and get pictures with those who wanted them.  

Daniel and I walked out together, and it wasn't long before we were pulled in different directions.  Complete strangers came up to me and said I was the best Christine they had ever seen, and we shocked to know that I was only a freshman.  An old couple said that they were so happy to see such a complex part of a play was performed.  But eventually I had to step to the side for a few moments to take a breath.  Then someone said, "Excuse me, miss, but I'm looking for Hadley?"

I turned to see Mack, wearing a dark leather jacket and black jeans, with his hands behind his back.  "You came." I smiled.

"Why wouldn't I?  You were amazing.  You were the best out of everyone."

"Oh..." I sighed, hugging him, "thank you for coming."

He smiled.  "It was no problem.  All I had to do was get past the warden."  I let go of him, a puzzled expression on his face.  "I snuck out." he nodded to his black outfit.  "Dressing like this does help, you know.  But tomorrow I'll be out all night.  If you wanted to meet me somewhere I'd love it."  The next night was Halloween, and thankfully it fell on a Saturday.  

"I would but I'm going to be helping out with Bridget's party and passing out candy."  

He smirked.  "Maybe I could help with that."

Bridget would most likely be alright with it as long as we stuck around during the party and never went up into my room.  That was her rule when it came to boys, however she had no reason to enforce it until Mack came into my life.  

I smiled in response, but told him I had to go.  He kissed me quickly, and even though he had done that to me twice already, I never got used to it.  He said goodbye and then hurried towards the doors.  I hoped he wouldn't get in trouble because of me.  

Then another voice spoke up.  I seemed to be surrounded by voices.  "Hey, nice job tonight."  I turned to find Vera wheeling towards me.  Blushing, I said, "Did you see...?"

"No, I didn't see you totally lock lips with him," she smirked, "but who am I going to tell?"  Then she gave me a genuine smile.  "I don't think I ever really introduced myself to you.  I'm Vera, and I'm basically the joke you were at the beginning of the year now.  They can hate all they want, but I know they're just jealous they can't have their own pair of Hot Wheels."

I smiled.  She was quite funny.  But then I saw Adam and Bridget making their way towards us, and told her that it was nice to see her but I had to leave.  She left as soon as she saw my company.  

"Adam, oh my, I have so much to tell you!  I did it, but there was something that you should know..." My smile grew as he held out the red rose with a black ribbon tied around the stem.  He must have been paying attention when I told him about the book, for the rose was trademark Phantom.  "You sang wonderfully tonight, Hadley."  

"Thank you!" I hugged him.  After a few minutes, after I hugged Bridget and settled down, she left and Adam took me to Dairy Queen.  

"I was thinking, and Bridget is alright with this, that right after the party, so it would be late, you could come with me to Minneapolis.  We're doing an all ages show at First Avenue, and I wanted to take you with.  You'll see the band again."

After I swallowed my ice cream, I smiled.  "I'd love to.  Thank you."

Setting my cup down, I raised my eyebrows.  "So...your costume tomorrow.  What are you wearing?" 

"It's a surprise."

I pouted.  "You're no fun."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Adam and Bridget modeled their costumes for me.  He was the Phantom and she was Christine.  She wasn't wearing a mask, and therefore people could identify her as the hostess.  I couldn't help but smile at Adam when Bridget wasn't looking.  Though the Phantom and Adam had some similarities, like an undying love for music, my friend was too excited and happy to be such a tortured character.  

I had quickly packed everything for his concert, and it was waiting in my room, along with Adam's electric guitar.  He had been practicing with his band before the party and didn't have time to drop it off at his house.  

Guests started arriving about twenty minutes before the scheduled time, so I was on my toes.  I had to answer the door for trick-or-treaters and for the guests, and most of the guests were at least eight years older than I was, so a few of them looked at me strangely.  Bridget welcomed them all at the door.  She had Halloween and pop music playing on the speakers in the living room, which made the house boom with sound.  

Bridget stood with Adam, who calmly shook everyone's hand as they walked in.  I could tell he was nervous, but I was too busy taking people's coats and running them up to the spare room and offering those same people drinks.  

It was about nine when Mack arrived at the door.  By then I had refilled the punch bowl twice, fixed Adam's cape because it was falling off and given four different little boys with four different Spider-man costumes each a handful of candy.  

"You're here," I smiled, but quickly pulled him out of the way when another kid came to the door.  Another princess.  

He hadn't dressed up much, but he was in all black.  So I guess he could have dressed up like the night sky.  

"Why wouldn't I come?" Mack looked like he wanted to touch me, just do something, but with us being surrounded by people it wouldn't have worked out.  Suddenly, Bridget appeared at my side.  Smiling, she said, "Hi, Mack.  It's nice for you to come by.  But I have a rule.  Please stay on the first floor, otherwise...have fun!"  Then she left as quickly as she came, leaving me in a rather awkward position.  

About an hour later, Mack went to use the bathroom, and I ran off to find Adam.  He was leaning against the wall, staring down into his cup of punch.  He didn't look very happy, and the mask made him look a bit frightening.  "What's wrong?" I asked him.  

"Nothing.  I'm just a bit tired." he said quietly, but that meant he still had to shout a little bit over the music.  

"You're lying." 

"No, I'm not."

"Adam, please...tell me."  

Looking up at me, he nodded towards the living room, where Bridget and a bleach-blonde co-worker were relaxing.  He had his hand on hers, and seemed to absolutely love her in her Christine costume.  I felt my face instantly get red with anger.  She was completely blowing off Adam!

After a moment, I hugged him and said, "Hey, I'm sorry.  I could tell Mack that I have to go and we could go up to my room.  You could play me a song on your guitar."  Adam shook his head.  

"I've just got to get over it," he said.  

But about an hour later, something worse happened.  The power went out, and the music was dead.  Bridget was really upset.  She wanted to impress her colleagues and bosses, but now she didn't have the chance.  I ran over to Adam while people were starting to ask for their coats.  Many people wanted to leave.  

"Can you play something for us?  Please?  Your guitar is upstairs.  I can get it for you."  I pleaded with him, hoping that I could make him cave.  After a moment, he nodded, quickly and ran up the stairs with me, leaving poor Mack downstairs alone.  

Adam and I hurried into the living room, and I shouted for people's attention.  Mack helped.  "Hi," I said, once most of the guests were listening, "this is Adam.  Adam Young.  And he wants to play a song for you."  I started clapping so everyone else would.  He had to play louder than normal, for he didn't have an amplifier that would work without the power.

It's another bad dream,

Poison in my bloodstream,

I'm dying but I can't scream,

Will you show me the way?

If Mack hadn't recognized who Adam was by then, he did when he started singing.  He looked at me with a strange sort of admiration in his eyes, and then back up at Adam, as if he was embarrassed to be caught looking at me.  

The guests started to get entertained as Adam seemed to lose himself in his own song.  Bridget, who was trying to run down coats from the spare room upstairs, paused to listen to Owl City sing.  I wanted her to notice Adam and not notice anyone else, but she seemed to have wandering eyes, which angered me when I saw that Adam only had eyes for her.  

Even though it was a bit awkward at first, Mack and I started to dance in order to get the guests too.  And while Adam performed, I pulled out my phone to record him.  HootOwls would love to see this as a little Halloween gift if he posted it on Twitter.  

It's another werewolf,

All dressed up in sheep's wool,

Changing when the moon's full,

Will you show me the way?

Adam smiled at me a little bit, which made me smile too.  He performed for the sheer love of performing.  It was something he wasn't afraid to do.  

If the darkness falls and my angel calls,

In my despair, will you be there?

It was a good Halloween song, and I couldn't believe the luck we had for that.  Adam couldn't help but move around with the crowd, even though he tried his best to stay in a little section of the living room so he wouldn't be bumped or hit on accident.  

In my despair, will you be there, 

Tonight?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The little kids stopped showing up around nine, and more teenagers came out then.  I saw a few kids that I recognized, which was a bit awkward, but they hurried along quickly.  Adam played for about twenty minutes longer before we noticed the time.  We needed to start our ride to Minneapolis.  

"Mack," I tapped his shoulder.  "It was great of you to come, but I'm going on a bit of a trip with Adam."

He seemed disappointed.  "You have to go?"  I nodded.  "I've got to blow off this party.  We're leaving as soon as he can pack up his guitar, and drive quickly to his house so he could pick up his own things.  I kissed Mack's cheek quickly.  "Goodbye for now."  I hugged him, and after a moment, he slowly embraced me too.  "You're so special, Hadley." he whispered in my ear.  

I didn't know what he meant by that.