"Hey!" Josh called, watching as the clearly distraught girl burst through the main door. "We were just closing up."

Cathy gave a glance around the empty theater. "We?"

Josh went pale. "I didn't say 'we'."

"Um, yes, you did."

"I spoke wrong," he said sternly, his eyes narrowing. "How can I help you?"

Catherine looked down. She could feel tears forming in her eyes. "I..." she began as the tears ran down her cheeks. She shook her head. "I don't know."

"Oh my god," Josh panicked. "What do I do? Do you need food or something? I only have raisins. I don't eat raisins. I think they're evil but...that's not helping. You can sit in the sound booth if you want."

"Thanks," Catherine sniffed. "And, no raisins. They are evil."

"You know, there was once this war in Europe over some sheep," Josh said quickly, grasping at anything amusing as his immediate defense against sadness. "I mean, that's kinda funny. Well, not funny...I mean, people died. I'm not saying dying is funny. Though, some people do it in amusing ways. Had an uncle that died when he slipped on a banana."

A small marble came from above and hit him on the side of his cheek. "Really?" Josh shouted turning around in a fury. "Was that necessary?"

A shadowy figure dropped down from on stage and made it way down the stairs.

Catherine was tired of people. Especially whoever this dark figure was. She gave the shadow of a man a hard shove and he took a few steps backward. He didn't realize how strong she was.

"Stop throwing your freaking marbles at him!" Catherine exclaimed in an angry rage. She didn't know why she was still crying or why she was so angry, but she was and she was taking it out in this shadowy figure.

"Yeah!" Josh repeated, nervously hiding behind her. "Stop throwing your freaking marbles at me!"

"My apologies," Matthew explained, stepping into the light. "I thought he was bothering you."

"Don't be ridiculous," Catherine scoffed. "He's been trying to help me. No thanks to you."

Catherine didn't recognize the man in the shadows and glared at him with such intensity. "Cath," he laughed. "Cath, it's me."

"Christopher?" Catherine questioned in disbelief. "Christopher, what are you doing here?"

"God, I want to barf already," Josh snorted, pretending to gag. "And who's Christopher?"

Catherine laughed. "The jerk that hit you with the marble," she said, flashing Matt a flirtatious smile.

"And just like that," Josh sighed, shaking his head, "I get tossed to the curb like yesterday's paper."

"Shut up," Matt snarled before extending his hand to Cath with a shy smile.

Catherine took Matthew's hand, but turned back to Josh and said, "Thanks. I never did catch your name."

He gave a small salute. "Tech Assistant Number Five! Have a fun time, you crazy kids. I'll be at home watching Jeopardy and eating prunes with my cats." Josh flashed a toothy smile, grabbed his backpack, said adieu, and rushed out the front door before Cath could say another word.

"That's a rather long name," Catherine chuckled. "What's his brother's name? Hot Dog Vendor Number Two?"

"No," Matt said, his brow furrowed in confusion. "His name's Jack. Why do you ask?"

Catherine giggled. "Are you always this serious?"

"Seriously?" He teased.

Catherine laughed and gave Matthew a playful shove. "Where are you taking me?"

"Just follow me, alright?" He laughed, leading her to the main theater.

"You do realize that I'm giving you my mind blindly, right?"

Matthew laughed at the young girl. She was so beautiful. He wanted to tell her immediately of his affections for her, but he refrained.

"Why so silent, good Monsieur?" Catherine asked.

"I was worrying about my friend," Matt laughed. "You really do enjoy the show, don't you?"

"The Phantom of the Opera?" Catherine questioned. "I love it."

"I read the book first," Matthew smirked. "I have superior fan rights."

"You think that I haven't read the book a thousand times?" Catherine snorted. Her expression changed as she continued, "My mother used to read it to me when I was little, and since then, I've read it many times more."

"She must be a great woman," Matt smiled in adoration.

"Yes, she was," Catherine replied as tears threatened their presence.

Matt gave a severe frown at her distress and strengthened his hold on her hand. "You alright?"

"No," Cath sighed, "but I will be...eventually."

"If you ever wanna talk," Matt mumbled, "I'm here. I...I've lost people too."

"Thank you," Catherine smiled. "Was she the one?"

"What?" He asked in a distracted tone.

"Nothing. Forget it," she replied quickly. Her thoughts were turned to the buzzing phone in her pocket.

"My father," he explained, "he died nine years ago...your phone's buzzing an awful lot."

"It's just Caleb. He...asked me to marry him."

Matthew's face fell pale and then twisted up stiffly, contorting in a red pain. A red blush of irritation traveled up his neck like rash. "What did you say?"

"He's jealous," Catherine thought with a bit of pleasure. She repeated, "Caleb asked me to marry him."

"No," Matt said hoarsely, trying to show as little interest as possible. "What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything. I told him that I needed air and then I came here," Catherine explained.

"Oh," he muttered. He turned and looked at her with sharp eyes, pausing their ascent. "Why did you come here?" He asked with great interest, each word punctuated with great articulation.

Catherine thought for a moment. "I suppose...you."

"Me?" He laughed in flattered surprise.

Could it be? Was there hope here?

He couldn't let this happen, he couldn't get drawn in and attached again. Not with so much to lose. And yet, how his heart yearned, begged for these simple, stolen moments together. "Why?" He whispered, icy blue eyes searching her own for confirmation.

Catherine looked down. What she was about to admit was risky. It could change everything. "I think...I think I'm in love with you."