A/N: Submitted as a back-up piece for a-partofthenarrative's "13 Nights of Halloween" on Tumblr

"The service will begin in five minutes. Thank you for joining us!" The message flashed across the video being broadcast live on YouTube. Raoul wasn't sure exactly how or why he was actually watching a livestream of a church service. It had been at least 12 years since he thought about her. They really never associated at all in high school for all the obvious reasons: she was a freshman and he was a senior, he only gave her rides to school in the morning as a favor to her grandmother, and he was the popular crowd while she was with the band and choir geeks. But here he was, 12 years after their paths stopped crossing and life continued on.

The screen popped on to show Christine behind the old upright piano, playing passionately the songs to the prelude, then the first hymn, and then the offertory. "Wow, I forgot how good she was," Raoul found himself saying aloud to the empty room. He listened and watched intently. Then he watched adoringly as the little children ran up the steps and lined up to get ready to sing. A smile crossed his face as he watched Christine bring a small ukulele up to her chest and began strumming the strings. She led the little ones in such a sweet song that made him smile even more. And then he heard her voice leading the next phrase and then he suddenly remembered how much her voice soared during her sophomore year's musical. She was the lead role of Lucy in their school's production of Jekyll and Hyde. After watching that performance on opening night, Raoul had a different perspective to little Christine Daae.

He kept watching the online church service until the very end when the pastor made the announcement. "As a reminder, Friday night we'll be hosting a safe environment for the children to trick or treat. We will be providing hotdogs, chili, and all the fixings. Please come out, decorate your cars for trunk or treat and enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship. Make sure you shake someone's hand on the way out and we'll see you all Friday evening. God bless y'all."

And that was it. The service was over and Raoul found himself Googling the church's address. Should he really go? Would it be weird to just show up and say, "Oh hi Christine, do you remember me from high school? I drove you to school but we never really spoke." But he made up his mind: just go and see if she's there.

The week passed by slowly and finally Friday arrived. Raoul made his way to the little church tucked off in the woods from a busy road. As he pulled into the large parking lot, he chided himself only briefly for this stupid idea until he saw her by her vehicle, decorated like an open mouth - white teeth and a big red tongue taped and stuck to the open trunk, and giant googly eyes fixed to the top of her car. She was always so creative. He parked his car and began walking towards all the activity. As he drew closer, a sweet elderly gentleman approached him. "How are we tonight, young man? I'm Pastor Jim. Thanks for coming out tonight. I recognize a new face anywhere. Come on and join us."

"Nice to meet you, sir ."

"How'd you come to hear about us and our little family fun night this evening?"

"Oh um, I happened across your YouTube channel this past Sunday and watched your service."

"Well now, that is fantastic to hear! Let me introduce you to a few folks."

They walked around, making introductions until finally they arrived at Christine's car. "Now, Raoul, this young lady is our church's musician and leads the children's choir and all the special music. Christine, I'd like to introduce Raoul."

Christine turned and her mouth dropped open. "Raoul? Is that really you?"

"Happy Halloween, Christine - it's been a long time."