Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera or any of its characters. I do own my story line and the characters created to go with it. Enjoy!!!

1. Altos Don't Get Leads

The sun rose above a red horizon lighting the roof of the Paris Opera House. This day would mark the opening night of La Boehm, starring soprano Veronique DuBois. Madame Giry was exceptionally nervous whether the Phantom would approve of this new soprano after the leave of his beloved Christine only a few months ago. Things had been awfully quiet concerning the Phantom and the cast was able to rehearse the opera diligently within those few months to try and regain popularity in order to keep the opera house running.

A young girl, about the age of nineteen awoke from her bed within the opera house to the rising sun. She looked out her window at this new day and smiled knowing tonight would be opening night. She hoped with all her might the Phantom would not destroy this performance and ruin the Opera house for good. This would be their last chance to mend the ruined by he Phantom of the last performance—the performance with Christine in his own Don Juan.

"Get up! Get up!" Madame Giry screamed from outside her door. The girl, Genevieve, sprang instantly from her bed.

"I am awake, Madame!" She answered back.

Genevieve was orphaned when she was about 12 years of age, after both her parents tragically died in a fire. Alone, with no relatives, Genevieve learned to fend for herself on the busy and dangerous Parisian streets. It wasn't until one cold winter night when she was around the age of 14, that she was rescued. Madame Giry, who had found the unfortunate girl curled up in a ball on the front steps of the opera house, desperately trying to remain warm, was so moved with pity that she took the girl in.

At the age of 19, now fully nourished back to life, Genevieve had performed in every single production at the opera house since her rescue. Her childhood dreams of being the prima donna of the opera, however, would never come true. She had a beautiful singing voice, a natural gift given to her by her mother, but she could never lead in an opera, for her voice was anything but soprano. Her voice, characterized by rich notes and depth, was that of an alto. For years, she craved to sing soprano. She would lock herself in the room with the piano and work on her range for hours upon hours, trying to reach those desperately high notes which would classify her as a prima donna soprano. Alas, her highest note only reached to be a high C, which, most would say she would be a soprano, but in the opera, a high C would only classify you as a mezzo.

Genevieve would say that she now loved being an alto. Not singing the melodies tuned her musical ear ever so slightly that she could sight-read any harmony give to her while rehearsing for any opera. She even began to develop perfect pitch.

In her lonesome hours, Genevieve would compose short songs, writing the notes down on left over manuscript paper. Sometimes, she would remain awake in to the late hours of the night, working on pieces inspired by incidents in the theatre. Her most recent song was a song about the Phantom of the Opera and his passion for Christine. She found that entire experience amazing and unforgettable and felt that it deserved to be written about—in song, the way the Phantom probably would have liked it.

Genevieve made her way through the halls to back stage where she was assisted into her make up and costume for the beginning of Act 1.

The cast and crew were all in a bustle getting ready for this evening's performance.

"You better give the performance of your life," Madame Giry said to Veronique, "The Phantom will undoubtedly be watching."

"Aye Madame! Would you expect me to give anything less?!" Veronique exclaimed, almost offended by Madame's remark. Veronique shoved herself past Madame and Genevieve in a huff, trying to find her costume lady.

"Oh, Veronique, don't feel too much pressure about tonight—I'm sure the Phantom is going to love your performance." Genevieve said, trying to make Veronique feel better. Rather than accept this complement from this simple and genuine girl, Veronique explodes.

"Listen to me, you…you…you little pariah," She snapped, "I don't care whatever that 'Phantom' thinks about me or this performance. I'm the star here in this opera house—not you. So if you ever come near me again, I'll have you kicked out of this house—you don't even belong her." She turned to leave, then paused and turned back.

"And one more thing," she added, "altos don't get leads." She walked away in a huff leaving the helpless Genevieve stunned, not knowing what to say or how to react.