Twisted Every Way

Chapter Three

"M-Meg calm down! I didn't audition, it was a mistake! The Maestro heard my voice, and he loved it. It was all accidental." I looked at Meg and I felt my eyebrows raise and my breath rush out of my chest. "I never... I never thought I had a chance..."

"Well you certainly did get it, since you are the understudy for La Carlotta!"

I was startled out of my trance and shook my head. "See, that's the thing, Meg, it's just an understudy. There's no way I will be able to truly sing if I am only the understudy. Maybe, if I tried I could get a few small roles but for now, I am simply below the greatest talent in the Opera."

I tried to not allow myself to get depressed, I was still allowed to sing in the chorus with the other sopranos, but it wasn't a role. I was just another singer in a thrall of others. My father would have been disappointed. I tried to remember that the chorus was a step in the right direction though, and for that he would be proud.

"Christine, La Carlotta sounds like a big cow yelling for food! I am so surprised that she has lasted this long! She just sings loudly! It's horrible." Meg gestured around her and stated loudly, "The only way she is still Prima Donna, is because her breasts hang out of her dress when she sings!"

I stared at my friend in horror and shushed her.

"Meg! Be quiet! Someone will hear you!" She rolled her eyes and I grabbed her hands, hoping to make her understand. "Meg, I am actually relieved that I am not Prima Donna. I am not ready and I honestly have no interest in being in the limelight." I shivered and shook my head. "You should have seen me when I noticed the maestro listening! It was horrible." I sighed and looked away. "But it does seem ridiculous that they only come for pretty faces and not for the joy of the music."

Meg turned her head to get my attention. "Christine, you are just the person to bring the love of music back to the Opera." Meg grinned at me, "It also helps that you do have a pretty face."

"Meg!" I playfully smacked her shoulder and she laughed, grabbing my arm.

"Come, we must dance out our achievements!"

I shook my head and laughed as she grabbed my hands and we danced together, jumping around without a care.

Feeling Meg's hand grip mine while dancing with me, made me feel so free and alive. It was in that moment, I learned the essence of true friendship and how much I loved Meg Giry.

Friends who hold your hand through the tough times and watch your soul twirl during the best, are the ones you should spend your life time dancing with. The revelation was exhilarating.

We finally stopped, looked at everyone staring at us and laughed some more. It was one of the greatest moments of my life.

Meg grabbed my arm and ran back towards the house.

"You never told me how you 'accidentally' auditioned in the first place!"

I giggled to myself and we slowed our pace and I leaned in closer to her. Calming my heart rate down, I huffed and started to tell her.

"Well, if you must know, your mother told me that I could work that night after the auditions as a clean up and costume girl, to earn a bit of money and make a name for myself. I was so grateful! And my first night at the Opera, I thought I was alone, and while sweeping the stage, I just... I just started singing, Meg." I felt her watching me as I explained to her the rest of the story. We finally made it closer to the house when I finished with, "Then the strangest thing happened, Meg. When I mentioned my name, I heard a small echo." I gazed out to the crowd as I replayed that small echo over and over again in my head. Praying it wasn't my imagination. "It was so soft and so light that I almost felt as if I had imagined it, and when I looked around no one was there! It was as if.... As if it was my Angel finally speaking to me, and I felt... whole again." I shook my head and sighed softly, finally looking back at her. "Oh Meg, I have no words to describe it. My Angel was there with me and he said my name! As if he heard me the entire time and he was proud!"