Title: Prelude
Authors: Leiko and Perry

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"Ria, wait up!" There was a collective sigh behind her as the lanky figure ran to catch up with her, the group of girls that seemed to gather every morning to enviously watch her walk to school with him. It was like high school all over again. Feigning out of breath, Dane drooped over her shoulder, dragging a school bag on the ground behind him. Dark hair was always tousled, looking like he'd just gotten out of bed. Actually, chances were good he had. He wore a black tshirt, not tight, but tight enough on a slim chest and waist, not tucked into dark grey pants. "Geez... were you trying to get to school without me?"

"Perpetually, it is my goal in life to make it all of the way to school without you." Ria replied cheerfully, smiling up at the tousled young man, her long brown hair falling in a straight curtain down her back.

"Bah. Ria, you'll be the death of me yet," he tried to pout, but in doing so couldn't still pretend to be out of breath. Ah well, one facade for another perhaps? With an aggrieved sigh, he lugged his backpack up off the ground, slinging it over one shoulder.

"I rather doubt that. I imagine that you'll probably meet your end in some much more tragic fashion. That way all of the girls can discuss how romantic it was for years to come." Ria smiled mischevously up at her friend.

"Hmm.." he arched an eyebrow, stroking his chin as though he had a beard. Actually, he didn't even have stubble, even toward the end of the day. He looked as though he was seriously considering just the possibility of how to die in a proper fashion.

"And of course, you'll have to compose the appropriate soundtrack as well!" Ria teased, pulling a small flute seemingly out of nowhere and proceeding to play a comical tune.

Leaning down, Dane scooped up a daisy from the flowerbed they were walking beside, though if she was to look back none of the plants looked all that disturbed. They were nearly to the school, and he leaned over, looking his most dramatic. Then he grinned, putting the flower up the end of her flute, plugging the sound effectively. "My audience awaits." A wink and he walked off in his naturally graceful way, only to be greeted by a trio of girls that was ALWAYS there in the mornings, like clockwork.

Rolling her eyes at the trio of girls, Ria plucked the flower out of the end of her flute, tucking it behind one ear. With a little sigh she turned and headed off across the quad to her first class.

It was odd how long they'd known one another. She'd been told that she'd known him when they were both little, but he had to move to another part of the country. She'd known his father, who looked remarkably like Dane, with distinguished grey in his hair and a few wrinkles. But after his father had passed on, Dane had moved back, just after she'd started high school. Since then, he'd become something of a staple in her life.

It was really odd, she considered, pausing near the large fountain in front of the Music Building. If she actually ever made it to campus without Dain meeting up with her, she's know that something was wrong.

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It wasn't all that much later that he came waltzing into the second class of the day for the both of them. He of course set his homework into the notebook at the front of the class as always, it was effortless for him to pass just about any class.

"Hey munchkin." He plunked into his seat directly behind Ria, ruffling her hair as he did so, unsmoothing her otherwise perfect hair.

"Bonjour, mon ami." Ria replied equably, unconsciously smoothing her hair back into place.

"I think I might try out for the spring musical," he said. It was almost uncharacteristic, talking about something like that. Generally he just did whatever it was he wanted to, hell or high water. "I think you should try too." His eyes flicked over to her, suprisingly intense for a moment, normally placid blue depths moving within.

"Oh? Why is that? I don't even know what they're planning." Ria asked, surprised. Normally people suggested that she play in the orchestra or as musical accompanyment, not as a stage performer.

"I heard a rumor about Phantom of the Opera. Kinda a big script for them. So I thought I'd grace the stage and help them out." He grinned, the same person he always was once again, leaning on one hand.

"Phantom huh? And just what parts did you have in mind for the two of us?"

"The lead of course!" Dane leaned back in his chair now, both feet were propped up on the desk as he looked toward the ceiling. "You as Christine, and I could never be anything less than the Phantom himself."

"Yes of course," Ria rolled her eyes, "though I'm amazed that your ego would submit to performing from behind a mask! Besides," Ria moved to lean romantically over Dane, "How could you stand to lose me to another man?" she fluttered her eyes girlishly.

"Ah, but all the more tragic the handsome face now marred by such deformity." He laughed, fixing her with blue eyes for a moment. "So will you be coming to auditions with me or not?"

"Hrmm, I don't know," Ria sat back in her seat. "I've never really performed like that before. I've ALWAYS been in the orchestra."

"And your point is?” Dane paused, raising his eyebrows in emphasis. “Ria my dear, you are getting boring. Do something different for once. Besides, if you don't get the part you'll be in the orchestra anyway and you're none the worse." It was odd watching him actually pull out some logic, once again just proving the odd dynamic that he was.

Ria sighed, looking at the dark haired boy. "We'll see. I might do it if I find time to practice."

The boy grinned, as though this was acceptance of his offer, rather than reluctance. "Excellent. What are you doing after school today?"

"Does my answer really matter?" Ria gave him a resigned look.

"Of course it does. I has to do with whether you come peacefully or if I have to tie you up and throw you over my shoulder like a savage barbarian." He didn't seem too upset about either prospect. Actually, throwing her over his shoulder could turn out quite fun, and the grin playing at the edge of his mouth said so.

Ria smiled despite herself. "If you're going to make me do this, I think that you should have to buy me lunch first!" She glanced over her shoulder to see the professor walking into the classroom.

"Hmm, quite possible." Dane settled into his seat for the duration of class, toying with a bit ot Ria's hair as he half payed attention to the professor.