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Paris reminded her of New York at night, with buildings lit up and cars filling the streets. There was one difference though...Paris was much more beautiful, much more romantic.
They walked down the streets in silence, each of them remembering the strange music. Elizabeth smiled at the melody; Lucky nodded at the placement of the chords; Nikolas' lips turned up appreciatively...But Emily was frowning. It could hardly be called a prank, for she knew that none of her friends could produce such a piece of music. Just that fact eliminated all of them. Except for Lucky. But Lucky being her closest friends ruled him out as well.
There was but one fact left to be considered. Someone was there that night when she spoke of her secret dream. But who would be there? And why would they write a piece of music for her?
''Emily.''
A voice interrupted her thoughts and when she turned around, she saw her friends standing next to an open door.
''This is your address, isn't it?''
She glanced up at the building and felt red creep into her cheeks.
''Désolé.'' She muttered. ''I'm sorry. I have other things on my mind tonight.''
They rode up to her floor and once inside, poured some of her favorite wine into glasses.
''I have to admit,'' Elizabeth began as she took a seat on the couch, ''that I understand why you moved here. Paris is extraordinary!'' She smiled as she glanced around. ''And this apartment...you haven't lost the Quartermaine taste for extravagant things.''
Emily laughed. ''No, not at all. That's one trait that I don't mind having.'' Glancing at her friends, her eyes locked with a pair of deep blue ones. ''Lucky?'' She questioned.
''You never told us why you left, Em.''
She turned away. ''Please, Lucky, I don't want to get into it now.''
''It's been ten years,'' he went on. ''Ten years since you left and you have never gone back. I never mentioned it, but Em, what was it that made you leave? Why can't you tell us?''
She stared past him towards the balcony, where the sheer drapes fell loosely to the floor. The mood had most definitely changed. Lowering her eyes, she set her wineglass on the coffee table and sat back in her chair.
''You want to know?'' Her gaze flicked to each person, and she nodded. "D'Accord. Okay. I'll tell you.''
The three watched her as she paused for several moments to collect her thoughts, each one wondering what was going through their friend's mind. Taking another sip of her wine, Emily's eyes rested on the balcony doors once again.
''When I was younger, ten, I think it was, my mom took me to see my first show in New York City. This was right before we found out that she was sick. This was right before I met the Quartermaine's. It seemed as if it were the last happy occasion.'' She sighed and crossed her legs, remembering the performance, remembering the lights, remembering the feeling.
''It's always been my dream-to sing, to dance. I remember in Arizona, mom let me enroll in a dance program at the local gym with my friends. They all quit, hating the practice, but I just adored it. I never knew that that was what I wanted to be until New York. I never realized how important it was to me.'' She stopped and shook her head. ''This is coming out all wrong, I know it is.'' And so she began again.
''Having my name on playbills and having people come to see me-that hardly means anything. When I'm onstage, I think of my mom, of that day in New York City. When Grandfather told me that I was going to start working for ELQ...I couldn't do it, I couldn't see myself behind a desk taking phone calls and handling deals. Do you really see me, Emily Bowen, working for a company with the Quartermaine's?
''I thought about it after I left the house and went over to your studio.'' She turned towards Nikolas. ''And I knew that I'd had enough of it. Enough of Port Charles, enough of the pressure...I wanted to live. And I'm doing that now; I'm fulfilling my dream. I'm happier than I have ever been. I'm living my life-Emily Bowen's, not Emily Quartermaine's.'' She smiled as she repeated sincerely, ''I'm so very happy.''
A hand reached out and grasped hers affectionately.
''Can you understand?'' She looked at Lucky.
''Of course we do, Em.'' Liz answered for him.
Emily smiled, but her eyes were locked on her long-time friend. Finally, a genuine smile appeared at his lips.
''I just needed to know, I needed to hear it from you.'' He grew quiet. ''I do miss you, Em."
She didn't turn away, but held his gaze.
The clock's large hand clicked over to the twelve as the bell chimed eleven times. Emily set down her glass and turned to her friends.
''Can you all come to rehearsal tomorrow? I'm sure Adam won't mind, and I'd love for you to get to know Simon.''
Elizabeth nodded. ''We have the picnic planned for the afternoon.''
Emily grinned excitedly. ''I know the perfect spot-it's beautiful there.''
The four stood and walked towards the door.
''Lucky...'' She stopped the man and grasped his hand warmly. ''I miss you too.''
His eyes sparkled as he smiled, and he gave her a hug. ''I'll see you tomorrow.'' He promised.
Grinning, Emily turned to her other friends. Nikolas, who hadn't said a word since they had arrived, glanced at the table beside the doorway.
''What's this?'' He asked, holding up a blank cassette.
As Emily caught sight of what he was holding, a frown replaced the smile on her face. ''It's the tape of the music that was playing the other night. I thought I asked Simon to take it with him.'' She added, more to herself. But Nikolas heard.
''Yeah, that's been troubling me.'' He muttered.
She turned around as the others stepped out into the hallway. ''What?'' She asked.
He held up the tape. ''Just the fact that-''
''What fact?'' She interrupted, her lips turning up in amusement.
Nikolas placed the tape gently in her hand and tried to suppress a smile of his own as he walked past.
''The fact that Simon was over.''
The morning rehearsal went by quickly. It went so well, in fact, that Adam gave the cast and crew the early hours of the afternoon for themselves.
Her friends had not come, for she had told them to enjoy the sites of Paris and that she would meet them at one o'clock-''exactly one o'clock'', she had warned with a smile. And so with them off touring Paris and the break from rehearsal, she had time to change into more comfortable clothes and walk along les rues with Simon.
''You're certain that it was the same music?'' Simon asked as they strolled down the sidewalk.
''Have you forgotten that sound?''
''Point taken.'' Simon chuckled. ''I'm sure it was only a mistake, Emily, a coincidence.''
Emily suppressed her amusement. ''Simon, you're always the rational one.'' She wasn't about to tell him of the night at Kelly's almost ten years ago, but she wasn't sure how to convince him without the story. ''You're right.'' She announced, making up her mind as Simon said goodbye at the hotel. ''It must have been a mistake.''
Simon laughed as the glass doors began to close, parting them.
''I'm always right!''
Smiling, Emily turned around and caught sight of a brochure of the museum in a stand along the wall. She shook her head and turned away.
''Coincidence,'' she muttered thoughtfully.
It was no coincidence that they were late-again. For they were trying to make it to the hotel on time, they truly were, but somewhere they had taken a wrong turn.
''This street doesn't seem familiar!'' Lucky called out behind his two friends.
''Why don't we ask someone?'' Elizabeth asked, looking at the hotel directions.
''Who knows the best French?''
They turned around to see Lucky with a young boy, flipping through the translation dictionary while saying the words...ever so slowly.
Nikolas and Elizabeth glanced at each other before hurrying over to drag Lucky away.
'' Où...est...l'hôtel... Hey!'' He let out an exclamation as the two turned him in the other direction. ''I was getting somewhere.''''In some other language.'' Elizabeth teased.
''You have great survival skills, Lucky,'' Nikolas added, ''but you'll get no where with your French.''
Lucky ignored his brother's comment and continued on with the two.
'' Monsieur, monsieur!''
They turned around, hearing a tiny voice cry out, to see the boy rushing towards them.
''The hotel,'' he said clearly in English, ''is ahead on your right.''
Lucky turned smugly to his friends. ''Well, well, well...''
She turned around when she heard familiar voices in the lobby. A smile played on the corners of her lips as she crossed her arms.
''Making it a habit, are we?''
''We got lost.'' Elizabeth admitted.
Emily nodded. ''Easy to do. Are you all ready?''
''Where are we headed?''
Emily winked. ''To the perfect spot.''
The gardens were the perfect place, and just as beautiful as she had promised. Her friends were in awe as they gazed about. Flowers grew along the walks and benches were filled with people enjoying the pleasant sunshine. Trees provided shade for those who picnicked, and near a small pond an elderly couple fed the ducks.
It was a picture-perfect afternoon; they couldn't have asked for a better day. They chose a spot away from the streets, under a full-grown tree. It was Heaven for her-it reminded her so much of back home. The food, the company, the conversation...She felt a strange sensation of homesickness, something that she had never experienced before.
The afternoon passed by quickly with their lighthearted conversation. It went by far to quickly for their liking. Leaving the gardens in a cheerful mood, they hurried back to the Opera House for rehearsal.
''Adam, I'm sorry that I'm late.'' She hurried out onto the stage where many from the cast were gathering around.
Adam looked up from the script.
''You're not the one who's late. We're still waiting on Ethan. I swear, if he weren't the best Raoul I've seen in years he would be gone for his tardiness.'' He caught sight of the others standing behind her.
''These are my friends from New York,'' she answered his unspoken question and quickly introduced them. ''They have to leave soon, so I asked them to come. I hope that it's all right if they watch the rehearsal.''
Adam's foul mood seemed to brighten at the thought of an audience.
''Not at all, go on and have a seat.'' He chuckled as he called out after them. ''Maybe an audience will have them working harder!''
A familiar voice rang out from backstage. As Adam turned around, he muttered loud enough for Emily to hear,
''But I doubt it will get Ethan here any sooner.''
As Adam crossed the stage, Emily heard a small voice behind her.
''Who are they?''
She was surprised to see Lynn, for she didn't recognize the quiet voice.
''Those are my friends from New York. They came to visit.''
''All the way to Paris?''
Emily laughed. ''It's been awhile, but I was shocked to see them too.''
As she looked closer at the teenager, she saw that the smile wasn't quite natural, her green eyes didn't quite hold the glint of excitement as it used to.
''Lynn, what's wrong?''
Lynn looked up at her older friend and hesitated. Noting this, Emily pulled her to a secluded spot backstage.
''What is it, what's going on?''
The girl's eyes darted towards the crowd on stage and back to Emily.
''I was here late last night because mom was finishing up a rehearsal with the dancers. Everyone left and mom was waiting for me outside. I had left my slippers in my dressing room and so I hurried back to get them. I needed them for class this morning. I was headed towards the door, just about to leave, when I heard-''
''Everyone on stage!'' Adam's voice interrupted the girl.
Lynn turned towards him, but Emily frantically grabbed hold of her shoulders.
''What did you hear, Lynn?'' She pursued, fear creeping into her eyes.
''It wasn't Madeline or Adam,'' she went on, ''because mom had locked everything up and Adam went home before the dancers even began to rehearse. I went to see who it was, so I went through the doors...I know that he didn't see me-''
''He?''
She nodded. ''I'm certain that it was a man. He was playing the piano and the music was so...haunting.''
Emily stared at her, frozen.
''I've never heard a piece like that before.'' She paused. ''The stage was barely lit, only one light over the piano was on.''
''Emily, Lynn!'' They heard Adam call once again.
''Who was he?'' Emily demanded.
''I don't know,'' Lynn told her with growing frustration, ''I couldn't see. His face was hidden in the shadows!''
Emily stared as Lynn danced with the other girls onstage. Her cue was in two minutes exactly. She should have been paying attention; she should have been waiting for it. But her mind was on what Lynn had just told her.
''Em.''
She jumped as a hand was placed gingerly on her shoulder to call her attention. Turning around, she stared into a pair of blue eyes.
''Ethan, I'm sorry.'' She whispered, not wanting to disturb the performance.
''No, I didn't mean to frighten you.'' He watched the scene from the side and nodded towards the teenager. ''She's going to get far, isn't she?''
Emily nodded as they watched Lynn. ''She's very talented.''
''It's the perfect role for her.''
Emily looked up and smiled. ''I've always thought so too.''
Suddenly, Ethan's face darkened.
''What's wrong?''
He nodded across the stage. ''I swear, Adam's going to fire me one of these days.''
''Don't you think he has a reason to?'' Emily smiled to let him know that she was teasing, but he only replied,
''It's not my fault that I'm late. Everything seems to keep happening. My script was missing yesterday, and two days ago I couldn't find the tape I had made of my parts. The woman in the apartment next door to me said that some guy had shown up with my tape. I could have sworn it was in my apartment, but she said that he had found it backstage somewhere. And then-last night when I go to listen to it, it turns out to be some classical crap.'' He frowned as he watched the scene on stage. Emily turned to him.
''A tape?'' She asked quietly.
Ethan nodded. ''Adam told me that it was an easy way to get the timing down. Wouldn't you know that when I'm actually doing something good for once, some guy fouls it up.''
''Ethan, what was on this tape?''
''I told you, some piano junk.'' He nodded as he saw Adam across the stage and gave Emily a gentle nudge. ''You're on.''
Emily turned toward the stage, her eyes wide as thoughts filled her mind.
As she walked out with the others and opened her mouth to speak, a loud noise from up above halted her performance.
The orchestra stopped playing as all heads turned towards the chandelier hanging above the empty seats in the audience.
''It's hooked up for the next scene.'' Lynn looked up at Emily. ''You know, when the chandelier falls.'' She turned her wide green eyes back to the flickering lights of the chandelier. ''It's supposed slide slowly to the stage-they have it hooked up to a pulley system. But it's not supposed to be now...''
A disturbing noise echoed throughout the grand building. Emily glanced upward to see the wires breaking as it fell a notch.
''Lucky, Nikolas, Liz-get out of there!'' She called to her friends.
Nikolas was grabbing Elizabeth's hand as she stared up at the lighting fixture in shock. As the wiring began to loosen, the chandelier halted from its fall once again.
''Everyone, get back!'' Adam called, hurrying out on stage. The performers and those in the orchestra scrambled to get out of their way, abandoning their scripts and instruments, just as the wiring tore loose and the chandelier fell to the ground.
Dancers screamed as the bulbs shattered just as it hit the floor of the Opera House. The lights sparked just before it grew dark over the empty seats.
''Is everyone safe?'' Adam's voice called out. The lights went on around them. Emily hurried downstage.
''Elizabeth? Lucky?''
''We're fine.'' Nikolas emerged from backstage with the others close behind. She turned around, relieved. ''We got out of there just in time.''
Lucky, hand in his pockets, walked up next to his friend and whistled. ''What a shock. That did some damage.'' He turned to her. ''Are you alright?''
She nodded. ''I have to speak with Adam.'' Turning around, she started through the crowd of people. As she passed by Lynn, she caught sight of the teen staring upward, her eyes wide.
Emily paused beside her and followed her gaze up to Box Five.
''No.'' Emily grew alarmed. ''No, Lynn, don't even think that.''
Lynn's gaze was fixed on the box. ''But it all adds up...'' She said softly.
''Lynn,'' Emily warned, ''don't say it, it's not true-''
''The Phantom.''
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General Hospital's Friendship Forever