I grip Jeremy's hand as hard as I can as we exit the stage, biting my lips to fight back a smile. Relief fills me as soon as the spotlight no longer shines in my eyes. I can breathe again.

But hey- don't get me wrong. It has been exhilarating.

"Woah, OW!" Jeremy pries my hand off of his, "I'd prefer to not have a broken hand, thanks," he laughs.

"Ugh, sorry. My nerves have never been so- so jittery," I moan while scratching my head. We jog down to where I will get my wig changed for the countess scene and where I will take my bows.

Jeremy pats me on the back, "You're doing great, bud. Just have fun."

Yeah.. fun.. I'll remember that after all of my cues, notes, rhythms, lines, choreography, blocking... the list goes on and on.

"Made your song take wing..." Jeremy Stolle croons as his voice floats through the air, drawing my attention to the present.

Leone smiles at me as he approaches, taking care in removing the brown curls from my head, and instead replacing them with a gray beehive-looking thing. It's actually hideous... and heavy. Sarah, another dresser, removes my mint green cape. I squint beneath the bright lights attached to their heads. 

A stagehand comes up, "You guys have ten seconds," he whispers, and then mumbles something into his headset. It sounded like 'turn on their mics'.

"When he heard you sing.... Christine.." a hollow moan echoes through.

"Say, you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Say the word and I will follow you," Jeremy and I sing in unison, "Share each day with me, each night, each morning..."

As soon as the stagehand gives us the signal that our mics are off, I rush to my fellow Il Muto cast-mates as we line up on stage behind the blood-red curtain.

"- all that the Phantom asked of you!" the Phant- I mean Jeremy Stolle- belts to the heavens.

The Il Muto cast walks out, holding hands as the curtain folds back to let them through. I count in my head the number of beats, and then it's my turn to go out for a supposed 'curtain call'. 

Again, the audience claps along with the act. My smiles shines as I grab my cast-mate's hands and give them thankful glances. The large orchestra blares another rendition of the overture as we bow in unison. 

Suddenly, my cast mates step aside, and I take one final bow all by myself. Center stage, right where I am supposed to be for the tragedy that is about to happen. 

"Go!" Jeremy shouts as the chandelier flickers hauntingly. I glance up at it with a curious look, and then utter a very audible gasp when it starts to drop. The lights grow larger and brighter as they head straight for me and my cowering frame.

My eyes are wide and I am just about to utter an ear-piercing scream when I am knocked to the side by Raoul. I feel the heavy thud of the chandelier land beside me, and when relief fills every inch of my being I realize the fear was more heartfelt than necessary. 

Let's just say that scream would not have been acting.

The lights go out for the end of Act I and Jeremy Hays holds my hand comfortingly as we exit the stage. The friendly gesture eases my racing heart.

"Every Christine hates that part the first few times," he explains, probably hearing my labored breathing, "I mean, I don't know a single person who necessarily wants a ton of metal and framework heading straight at them."

I nod in agreement, " I felt like a deer in headlights."

He chuckles to himself, "You certainly looked like one. Luckily, I was there to play 'Superman' again, and save the day.." he roles his eyes sarcastically. 

"You're such a dork!" I laugh and hit him in the stomach.

For a moment he acts hurt, but then quickly turns offensive,"So this is what I get for saving your life?" he retorts, crossing his hands over his chest like a child.

Playfully rolling my eyes in riddance, I head over to my dressing room so that Leone can remove my wig and Edna can get me dressed in my Star Princess costume. All my life I have wanted to wear that sparkly and fluffy dress, and now I finally get to. 

I enter the dressing room and immediately find myself in Edna's embrace.

"Oh, my darling you are doing so wonderful," she compliments and lets me go.

The sudden affection allows me to relax a little more. This could be just another performance at my college or high school, with my mother greeting me after each performance; either with adoring comments that make my heart flush or helpful critiques that I make sure to work on the next chance I got. Edna makes this experience much more.. homey. There are no words to thank her for that.

"Thank you, Edna," I sigh and sit down in the vanity chair, "It's a lot of work."

"Nobody said it was going to be easy, dear."

I nod as a knock sounds at the door, "Come in!" I call.

Leone enters the room with Christine's dark brunette curls in hand, "I am here to save you from that atrocious dust-ball of a wig."

I giggle as he goes to work on seamlessly changing my hair from one style to the next. Then, he puts on the star princess tiara, and the feeling is enchanting. Never in a million years would I have ever thought I'd be wearing this daintily crafted crown.

"You don't even need this crown. Tonight, you are a true princess," he comments, kissing the top of my head, and leaves the room.

"How did I get so lucky?" I ask Edna in a rhetorical fashion. However, she offers an answer despite that.

Helping me up from my chair and unzipping me from the heavy purple countess dress, she begins her explanation, "It was bound to happen, that someone would realize you have a magnificent voice. Annaleigh you-"

"No, no no," I cut her off hurriedly, "I wasn't talking about this amazing opportunity that I was granted to be able to walk upon the stage as a darling diva. I am talking about the equally as amazing opportunity to work with such a high class of people. Like you, and Leon, and Julia, Kaley, and both Jeremys, and Norm, and- ugh. I have never been more grateful in my life."

She smiles warmly as I step out of the anchoring countess dress and right into the star princess costume. While it is still weighs quite a bit, it is a huge difference from the layers upon layers of fabric that was the previous gown.

"I can breathe again," I sigh as her delicate hands secure me into the dress.

Then, twirling about the room, I laugh jovially as the fluffy layers spill around me. It is like playing dress up with Barbie; and I am Barbie. Except I have way more exquisite clothes and gorgeous songs to deliver.

"I admire your youth, Annaleigh," Edna admits as she unzips my silver boots. I have to use Julia's boots since my feet are smaller than Kaley's, and someone else's Star Princess dress since Julia's is too small and Kely's is busy being redyed. I think it might be Samantha Hill's.

"I admire your wisdom," I respond while sticking my feet in the shiny boots.

"You'll get there someday," she rubs my shoulder, "Now, I have to go dress that tiny tiny girl who is playing Meg tonight. Do not let your nerves go to your head!" 

Smiling, I open the door for her in reassurance, "I won't!"

As she leaves, my smile leaves my face and I close the door quickly. Where's the script? I have to review my cues and lines for Act II. 

Running about the small dressing room, I find it laying on the vanity right in front of the mirror. My name scribbled in black sharpie atop the front page screams at me. 

ANNALEIGH GRIFFITH - CHRISTINE DAAE

Flipping open the thick paperback copy, I find the start of Act II....

---

I am halfway through the point of no return when someone knocks on my door.

"Come in!" I yell, my voice breaking.

In my peripheral vision I see Jeremy Stolle enter the room in his extravagant red death costume. Jeremy Hays follows close behind, holding  a cup of tea in an off-white ceramic mug. 

"Hey, why so distressed?" Jeremy Hays asks, and then continues to carefully sip the hot liquid.

Holly's voice is suddenly heard from above, announcing that there is five minutes of intermission left and all actors should report to the stage immediately. 

Panicked, I flip the script to the final lair scene, "I have so many cues and lines to memorize. Pitches, key changes, and lyrics on top of that.." my eyes scour the page hungrily.

Shaking his head, Jeremy Stolle rips the script from the vanity. "Annaleigh, you know all of this, so stop stressing over every detail. Even the best of the best have to ad-lib or improvise a bit. It brings the show to life."

Although the scolding is a bit annoying, I know it is for the best.

Rubbing the smooth skin between my eyebrows, I give Jeremy a groan in response, " I know you're right, I just hate to admit it."

He scoffs, "The Phantom is always right."

"Oh shut up," I roll my eyes, and stick my tongue out at him. He hastily returns the offense.

"Oh, are we four year olds now?" Jeremy Hays interrupts our quarrel, setting his now half-empty cup on the vanity.

"She started it," Jeremy Stolle mutters beneath his breath.

I squint my eyes at him, "You know, I might just ad-lib some very fitting choice words into tonight's performance..."

The two men laugh, "Yeah, what are they gonna do? Kick you off the stage?"

"Well they could always put you out there," I say to Jeremy Hays, "I would very much enjoy seeing you take on the role of Christine."

"Finally!" Jeremy Hays bursts out, making me jump back from him, "I've always wanted to wear that glamorous wedding gown. And I could finally give Christine the backbone she deserves," he announces, strutting through the dressing room dramatically, "She don't need no man." He snaps his fingers twice for emphasis.

Doubling over in laughter, Jeremy Stolle and I look at each other dubiously. I can't help but be thankful that these two can always help me relax and stay grounded.

"I- uh- I don't think any man wants to be a part of that," Jeremy Stolle cringes at the image of the other Jeremy in a dress, and holds his hands up in surrender, "I wanted an angel of music, not a bafoon in a wig. I'm out."

"Ooo shot down," I shake my head, "How do you feel about that Christine?"

Jeremy frowns, "I refuse to be treated this way any longer," then struts out of the dressing room. A moment of silence passes between us, and then we start cracking up again.

"What the hell just happened?" I ask Jeremy Stolle, an obvious smile on my lips.

Wiping a hysterical tear from his eye, Jeremy responds, "I think you just got replaced."