An:finally found time to write another chapter! (well actually i really didn't, but i took the time i had where i should have been working and used it to write instead heh..). didn't have time to really carefully check for grammar though, but if i had it would have taken even longer to put up. hate to admit that i may start rushing the story. Ive realized increasingly over the years how impatient i really am. if i seriously take too long on something it becomes harder for me to complete unless with a good amount of motivation. (sad trait for a writer, i know..). Ive also realized im starting to like fanfic writing less and writing actual stories more..well anyways this isn't my best b/c i kinda rushed but i hope you will still enjoy.

chapter 5

"Christine! Christine! Hello, wake UP!" Meg practically shouted in Christine's ear as she lay on a small twin bed.

Christine jolted out of her dreams . Her eyes opened slightly, squinting from light nearby. Groaning, she turned on her stomach and dug her head under her pillow. Meg sighed and went over to the end of Christine's bed and forcefully pulled the blankets off. Christine sighed in annoyance and sat up, hugging her pillow.

Meg smirked at Christine's irritated expression and unruly hair.

"Oh come on Christine, you know we have to be at class in an hour and I want to eat! Plus you do know what day it is don't you?" Meg said falling on Christine's bed to lie on her back and look up at Christine.

Christine couldn't recall at the moment having to remember what day it was, she was still trying to recover from the sudden wake up call Meg had given her.

" Its… Tuesday?" Christine said before yawning.

Meg rolled her eyes. "No dummy, The day we both have been anticipating since, oh I don't know, forever! The Chaney's are coming today and staying for like two weeks, remember?"

Christine's eyes widen as she recalled this. She hadn't realized today was that day.

" Oh wow, your right, I had forgotten! Is that really today.?" Christine asked and when Meg nodded with a sly grin, Christine threw the pillow at her and jumped off the bed. The two girls laughed, waking up some of the other girls inside the cabin. They quieted down then and quickly got dressed.

Christine and Meg walked out of the small cabin and headed down a small path woven around other cabins nearby. The camp was full of students bustling about, back and forth on the main path. Nearby cars drove through and Christine could see the morning mist blowing off from the lake nearby.

The summer sun began to make its way above the horizon. The two girls walked past the guest building, a sign standing out to all visitors.

Silver Lake Music and Fine Arts Camp

Christine couldn't help but smile, for she felt so fortunate to be able to come to the camp in her last year before she went off to collage.

" So I heard the Chaney's are staying at the state park campgrounds nearby. They're supposed to be seeing our performance next Friday and there are rumors their going to have a huge party afterwards and were all invited." Meg said enthusiastically.

" I didn't think we were allowed to go to the state campgrounds unless we had family there." Said Christine.

" Um, it's the Chaney's, Christine. They own, or rather the older son, owns this whole place. Do you really think the camp will argue with them? Give me a break. Besides, at least that means I'll get to see Billy and we'll be away from the camp and their stupid rules, do you understand where I'm going here Christine?"

" Yes, yes Meg, I get it." Christine rolled her eyes. Meg had been "seeing" Billy, a guitar junky and gifted singer since they had started at the camp. Unfortunately for her the camp had strict rules on in camp dating. Both boys and girls had a curfew and weren't allowed in each other boundaries at any of those times. As for any serious flings, making out was forbidden and kissing, even in a friendly way, was frowned upon.

The two girls made it to the dining hall where crowds of kids sat and hung around. Meg waved flirtingly at Billy nearby who nodded back. Christine looked around and saw a hoard of students gathered around a girl with fiery red hair and arrogant gaze. Charlotte Mackenzie. A foreign exchange student with a mouth as big as her head. Although everyone praised her for her big voice, Christine saw her for what she really was, a spoiled, conceited, brat.

Christine and Meg sat down beside a few other girls they hung with and ate quickly until a bell rang out and they were rushed off to their morning classes.

As the day dragged on, Christine had been through three courses, dance, music interpretation, and stage performance, until her break before her choir practice. Surprisingly, choir practice was her most dreaded class, because she had to deal with Charlotte's terrible ranting, while she tried to not only prove to others they couldn't sing, but unknowingly correcting the teacher as well.

Everyone knew that Charlotte received private lessons. Small talk amongst groups said she'd be the next big thing. But neither Christine nor Meg thought her voice was that good. Meg lightly joked that when she really got into a certain song she sounded like a dieing cow. Christine never said anything in response, but whether Charlotte was good or not, Christine truly hated her.

For some reason it was Christine Charlotte liked to point fun at the most. No one could really say why for sure, but either way it never helped Christine feel any better about her voice, no matter how much she remembered what her father use to say to her.

Your voice could go so far Christine. One day someone will come and really shape it for what it truly is and you'll fly higher than anyone has ever flied before. Christine's father told her many things like this when she was younger, right before his death.

The Choir group started making their way to the large stage, known as the "Shell", where they had begun to practice for the performance coming up next week. Christine parted with Meg who went off to Dance lessons.

" Alright ladies and gentlemen in your positions. We'll start with the basic scales and then will get right into the first song." The director announced. Christine was close to the middle right behind charlotte who stood out in front. They went through the scales as usual and began into the entry song for the performance.

The director, Mr. Bale, tried for the first time to get us through all the songs without stopping to correct mistakes to see where we were at so far.

" Well there's certainly improvement from last week," Said Mr. Bale. "But there still some tone inaccuracy through some of the parts. We'll work on it with the main choir, but lets get the soloists out so they can practice on their solos." Charlotte immediately walked out of the group, without even looking back, and made her way around the back where she was going to practice. Christine scowled at her indifference of the choir group. Just because she was doing a solo didn't make her any more important, Christine thought.

Practice continued on until, finally, they were dismissed for the evening. While Christine made her way out of the stage, she over heard a very crude, familiar voice.

" They shouldn't blame the whole choir on their tone inaccuracy. All the director would have to do was stand beside me and he could of heard the biggest mistake of them all right behind him. After all, its hard to keep a whole group in tone when you have a droning voice killing the whole performance." Charlotte stated quite loudly in her obnoxious French accent. She looked toward in Christine's direction and the group around her snickered quietly.

Christine hesitated for a moment while glancing her way. Once she knew that Charlotte was talking about her she immediately walked off angrier then she had ever been by Charlotte's words. Instead of going to the main building for dinner she went through the darkening woods back to her cabin. No one was on the paths and she began to run back, tears starting fall down her face.

Once she made it to her cabin, she ran inside and fell on to her bed sobbing. That cow! That spoiled, rotten cow, I hate her! I don't have a droning voice.. Christine thought angrily through rushing tears.

She laid there for a long while until she sat up and felt a crumpling sound under her pillow. She looked under it to find a note addressed to her. Sniffing she opened it with curiosity.

Go to the radio building.

Christine searched the note for any more writing, but found nothing. She wiped her eyes and tried to understand who would have sent her this, until she started to hear voices from outside. Without really thinking or caring anymore about it, she quickly made her way out of the cabin and into the night, toward the radio building.

While she walked, she wondered if it was Charlotte or one of her friends trying to trick her. If it was, she wasn't going to be fooled and she'd tell Charlotte off so bad she'd never say a damn thing to her again!

Being so upset by what had happened that day, Christine hadn't realized she had already made her way to the radio building which was a quarter of a mile away from the camp.

There were no outdoor or indoor lights on in the building, and Christine thought to turn back, thinking it was a mistake. She suddenly felt Goosebumps crawl up her arms as she felt very much alone in the darkness. She quickly made her way to the building and hoped that it wasn't locked.

The door swung open and she cautiously made her way in.

" Hello? Anyone here," Christine called. " I got this note and -"

Christine stopped as she saw a light on in one of the rooms. She slowly made her way into it to find a medium sized room with nothing but stacked chairs, a table and a long horizontal mirror on one side of a wall. She figured it must be a recording studio where they let people record Cds of personal performances to take home with them. They didn't use it however, until the end of the season. For now the room looked like it was only used for storage.

Christine looked around the place curiously. She even went to the long mirror and realized it was see through when she looked through it hard enough. She tried to see if anyone was on the other side, but it seemed too dark.

For a couple of minutes nothing happened and Christine thought to leave. She shrugged and began to make her way out of the room until a voice spoke out from seemingly no where making Christine jump.

"Christine," The voice said.

Christine looked around.

"yes?" She said a little shakily.

At first the voice said nothing and Christine waited. The voice then spoke out and told her that they were going to instruct her in private singing lessons.

" Did…did the camp instructors plan this?" Christine asked hesitantly. It all seemed a little odd.

" Yes," The voice said. " Now come back into the room so we can begin."

Christine didn't feel all too convinced, but something, whether it was the anger still lingering inside her from today, or the fear of being punished if she disobeyed, made her decide to stay. If it was a prank, it didn't feel like one. The instructor seemed very professional and very serious. Even a piano played out skillfully from somewhere unseen, to help her in her scales.

It was quite late until the lesson was over. Her instructor only had made her do scales, which she didn't understand why. When the voice said they were finished, Christine hesitated to leave.

Before Christine could ask anymore questions however, the voice spoke out first.

" Will continue again tomorrow at seven."

" Wait! Um...so is this really happening? I mean, your truly going to help me have a better voice?" Christine stammered a little. For some odd reason the voice made her very nervous. Perhaps because it sounded so intimidating in itself.

" Your voice is fine, Christine. But I am going to help shape it into what it truly can be."

When the voice said this, Christine's heart jolted so fast, it hurt. Could it be possible?

Someone will come and really shape it for what it truly is. Was this what her father was talking about?

It was than that Christine didn't feel anymore suspicious, but convinced. Whether the camp had planned this for her or not, she didn't feel any reason to discontinue or withdraw such an opportunity. She made her mind up then, that she would except the teachings from this mysterious person.

Christine finally went to leave, but stopped one last time.

" What's your name?" Christine asked innocently, not sure whether to be more formal. " I mean, what do I call you?" She directed the questions toward the mirror unintentionally.

The voice seemed to hesitate for a moment.

" Erik," The voice said softly. " You can call me Erik."