YAY new story! I have been pondering this idea for a while.

FULL SUMMARY- Christine thought her eighteenth birthday would be wonderful! But two weeks before her birthday and big party, her parents die, leaving her and her older sister alone. Christine's sister tries to cheer her up by not canceling the party. But it turns out that her sister told all of her friends not to come and she invited all of her friends. The only person Christine knows, her boyfriend, came only to break up with her. When a masked man finds her sobbing in the music room, will her eighteenth birthday finally be wonderful?

DISCLAIMER-I don't own anything Phantom or any of the songs which I will put in this story.

Please R&R

Love, Amita.

P.S-The song is "Not Pretty Enough" by Kasey Chambers. Song is the story of my life...

---

Christine and her older sister Sorelli sat in the living room channel surfing. It was late, and their parents weren't home yet.

"Should we call?" Christine asked for what seemed like the millionth time. Sorelli rolled her eyes and tossed a pillow at her. "Shut up already!" Christine sighed and brought her knees under her chin.

Sorelli laughed as the comedian on the TV said a dirty joke. Christine rolled her eyes. The phone rang and Sorelli grabbed it in hopes of her boyfriend calling.

"Hello? Who is this? What do you mean...?"

A long silence followed. "Sure...yeah...yes..alright...b-bye.." Christine felt shakey as she flicked the TV off. "What is it?"

"Mom and Dad..."

"Sor..what's going on?"

"They aren't coming home."

---

Charles and Nicole Daae' were a happy couple. They loved each other dearly during their college years after falling in love with each other onstage during a play. After they married, they found out they were going to have their first child. Sorelli was a pretty baby, with her mothers black hair and vacant hazel eyes. A few years later, Christine arrived. She was beautiful with her fathers curly hair and dark brown eyes. She was always shy, and would much rather stay inside with her parents then go play with the neighbor kids. Sorelli was the oppisite. She was always flirting with boys, even at a young age. She would play with their hearts then move on.

Christine loved music, while Sorelli loved clothes and parties. Their parents would encourage the girls to spend extra time together, so they would have a strong relationship. It was hard, and the sisters had somewhat a small relationship. As they grew, Sorelli grew much prettier. At school, boys would sit with her, send her notes, and ask her out. Christine was flirted with a few times, but she always declined.

Both girls had a fun life with their parents. But they had no idea that their lives would come to a screeching halt. I

---

Christine felt her insides churn as she sat beside her uncle at the funeral. He held her hand and Sorelli's hand. Christine couldn't cry. Why did they leave her? Especially now with her birthday so close. She fought back tears as people shook her hand and comforted her. She fought back tears at the reception. She fought back tears as she looked at pictures of her parents, Sorelli and herself. She had never thought they would die.

Turns out that they were walking out to the parking lot when a guy jumped them. He demanded for their money, and even when they gave him it, he shot them until they died. It was a normal night, they had gone out to dinner with friends, just as they always did every Friday night!

Once Christine was alone in her room, she pulled off her black heels and sat in her window seat. She rested her forehead onto the cool glass and let the tears fall. She had always been an emotional girl.

"I can't go on without you...I need you..." She sobbed, banging the window with her knocked on her door. "Chris?" The door opened.

Sorelli sat down on the bed. Christine turned to look at her. Her sister sat silently, her eyes studying Christine. "You look like dad...so much you know?" Christine closed her eyes. "Stop..." Sorelli sighed. "Sorry..."

"Hey...how about we still have your party?" Christine flinched. She did not want the party without her parents.

"Fine.." She agreed halfheartedly. Sorelli smiled and stood, leaving.

"Oh, Raoul is downstairs." Christine nodded and sighed, walking down the steps. "Hey Raoul." His arms wrapped around her. "Oh baby...I'm so sorry I wasn't here today...my dad had me and my brother working hard today..I couldn't get away.." She nodded.

"It's fine."

"No, no it's not.."

"Raoul..I should...get to bed." He kissed her lips softly, and rested his forehead against hers. "Alright..call me if you need anything at all...Chris..I love you." He kissed her again and reluctantly left. Christine sighed, going upstairs. Raoul was wonderful, the perfect boyfriend. He had come into her life, sweeping her off of her feet.

Chrisitne went into her parents old bedroom. Everything was the same. The bed was unmade, some shoes and clothes were laid out. Christines eyes watered and she left quickly.

---

It was not easy going to school and pretending nothing was wrong. Sorelli had lost her spunk, hardly talking at all. Christine, (who hardly talked as it was) stayed silent all the time.

Her heart was broken, noone could mend it.

Or was there someone who could?

---

Christine looked at her reflection in the mirror. A dark black shadow had crossed over her eyelids, dark mascara and eyeliner adorned her eyes. Her pale face was made paler with powder and her curly brown hair was back in a black ribbon. To top it off she wore a black dress with black heels. She hated that her sister had kept the party up. No one would come. Raoul probably wouldn't come.

The moon hung high outside. The stars twinkled. The music downstairs blared as a few voices were heard. She opened her door and started down the stairs. Once she reached the bottom, she did not recognize any of these people. Some were drinking from cups. It certainly was not soda! Christine gasped and kept looking around. None of these people were her friends! She finally found Sorelli.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Oh, none of your friends could come so I invited mine!" Her tipsy sister responded. Christine fumed. "What?" Sorelli laughed and nodded. "Yup yup! Hey Chris, want some? It's really..." A cute guy passed by. "Tastey.."

"No Sorelli!" She said above the music. "Suit yourself!" Sorelli chugged it then hooted with laughter. Her friend took her arm and they joined the dance circle. Christine felt all alone. She went outside, and sat on the porch steps. Someone sat next to her.

"Raoul!" She squealed, throwing her arms around him. He gently pulled her off. "Happy birthday Christine."

"Thanks." She leaned in to kiss him but he pushed her away.

"Raoul?"

"Chris..it's not working...I think we should break up." Her heart was pounded into tinier pieces. "What?" He nodded. "Yeah."

"Oh...okay..but..but I thought everything was going great.."

"No not really...I mean.." He looked around. "I can't have you as my girlfriend. What would my friends think?"

She felt even more crushed. She pulled off his ring and handed it to him. "No, I bought that for you."

"Yeah? Well I don't want it." She tossed it at him and then went to the door.

"I hope we can still be friends."

"No Raoul...we cannot."

---

Christine pushed past people and made her way upstairs. She went into her room, only to find that a bunch of couples were making out! She felt ready to puke as she slammed the door shut. She checked Sorellis room and found that she was making out as well! Christine went back downstairs, not even trying her parents room. She did not want to be scarred.

Christine pushed through the crowd again, going into the music room. She sat down at the piano and sighed. Everything flooded through her mind. Raoul dumping her, her parents dead, her ruined birthday. Slowly, she began to play. Her voice was bitter as she sang.

"Am I not pretty enough
Is my heart too broken
Do I cry too much
Am I too outspoken

Don't I make you laugh
Should I try it harder
Why do you see right through me

I live, I breathe, I let it rain on me
I sleep, I wake, I try hard not to break
I crave, I love, I've waited long enough
I try as hard as I can

Am I not pretty enough?
Is my heart too broken?
Do I cry too much?
Am I too outspoken?
Don't I make you laugh?
Should I try it harder?
Why do you see right through me?

I laugh, I feel, I make believe it's
real
I fall, I freeze, I pray down on my knees
I hope, I stand, I take it like a man
I try as hard as I can

Am I not pretty enough?
Is my heart too broken?
Do I cry too much?
Am I too outspoken?
Don't I make you laugh?
Should I try it harder?
Why do you see right through me?"

Her head snapped up as she felt someone's prescence in the room.A young man, who looked a few years older than her stood near the door. He had black slicked back hair, stunning blue-green eyes, and a handsome face. But what intrigued her most was the simple white mask which was placed on his right cheek.