AN:
Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth or this college...just Jareth :P
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He's BaaAAaack!
(Part I)
The teacher droned on at the head of the class, but I stared out the window remembering that day...so long ago it seemed. It was a few years now, I guess. I was never quite sure if I should try and forget the experience or if I should remember, so I could learn from my young mistakes. I was away at college now, away from home where every time I looked at Toby I remembered what I did to the poor boy. Of course, he did't remember, but I did. My lips pursed as I thought, I shouldn't feel guilty. I was not the one who kidnapped him and tried to make him into a stinking goblin!
I shook my head free of the thoughts and turned to look back towards the door as I heard the door opening. Someone was a bit late, eh? I chuckled to myself, but my breath stopped in my throat when I saw who it was walking through the door. I ducked my head low behind the person in front of me. What was he doing here? After all this time?? How dare he???
The teacher stopped and turned to look at him, "Yes, sir?"
"I had a schedule change and am in this class now," Jareth stood there looking slightly punk in black leather pants, heavy black boots, and a form fitting black shirt. I would have laughed if it wouldn't have given me away. His hair was the same as always, wild and soft looking. Bad Sarah, no admire his looks! He looked at the woman intensely, "I believe someone told you I was coming. You are also my advisor, I was told."
The lovely middle-aged woman's face changed as if turning into a totally different person. She suddenly smiled. I really did not like this, I did not like this one bit. I think he just bewitched the teacher! "Ah, yes. You must be Jareth Kobold, the new international student at our school. I was told you came from a fairly small country in Europe. What is the name of your country?"
Jareth's mismatched eyes had been roaming over the class, no doubt searching for lil ole me. "It's called Unter Graunt." He looked back at her and put that intense, bewitching look in his eyes again. I bit my lip to keep from letting the groan out at his obvious puns. Kobold was the German word for goblin and Unter Graunt, you have got to be incredibly dense not to get that one. His next words froze me in place. "Where is Sarah Williams? I was told she was in this class, too, and we are old friends. She could help me get around in this foreign country."
The teacher nodded. "If Sarah knows you then she should be the one to show you around. She's right over there." Her hand swung in my direction and I toppled out of the seat onto the floor. Owie to me...I rubbed my rear end and started gathering my notebook, pen, and purse that were dumped on the floor with me. I should make a break for it now. I turned after getting all my things, preparing for my flight when I see a pair of heavy, black leather boots stop in front of me. Oh me, oh my...
"May I help you up from down there?" he purred down at me with a chuckle. My eyes traveled up the boots, up the black leather pants that hugged him deliciously, up the muscled torso, and up to his smirking face. He extended a hand down to me.
I brushed my hair from my face and stared at him in a mixture of horror, fear, fascination, and shock. I got to my feet shakily and moved back from him. Everyone in the small class was watching us, they were more interested with the display than with the US History lesson. I backed away from him and headed for the door.
He spared a glance towards the teacher once more. "I think I will take her to the nurse and make sure she didn't hurt herself from that fall she just took." The teacher nodded in agreement dazedly. Yup, he definitely bewitched her or something.
I fleed from the room and took off in a mad run down the hall way of the building's first floor. I had to get away, he had come back to exact his revenge. I was sure of it. I got outside and round the corner to go behind the building and there he was. I gave a shriek of terror and surprise before he took me by the arm.
"Surprised to see me, Sarah?" he said with amusement.
================
I glared at up at him with my best shooting daggers look. Wouldn't that be awesome if I could really do that with my eyes? Jareth-ka-bobs, anyone?? My hands went to my hips and my chin lifted indignantly. "Why are you here? The college crowd doesn't seem your scene." I motioned to his punk clothes. "But at least you got *SOME* fashion sense since I last saw you. Or should I say, defeated you."
His lips tightened in a frown of disapproval and I almost laughed. Point for me, woohoo. He tried to stare me down and when that didn't work. "Well, to exact my revenge, of course. What else do us big bad wolfs do?"
"Well, really, I don't remember the bad wolf coming back to exact his revenge on the three little pigs," I smiled unnervingly up at him. "I think he died of an asthma attack after blowing at a brick wall like an idiot. And was that your way of calling me a pig?"
"I don't know...do you consider yourself my pig?"
I looked at him dryly. "That was sooooo lame, let me tell you." I turned and started to head back towards the parking lot. "You know, I think I am going to switch schools. Yeah. You can have this college, get your god damned degree in fashion of all things. Just go ahead, see if I care."
Oooo, that guy really fried my bacon. He came back to exact his revenge, by what...embarrassing me in front of a few kids at my school and mesmerizing the teacher?? I felt a hand on my shoulder and I screamed while nearly jumping out of my skin. Good job, Sarah.
"Where are you going, Sarah?" Jareth asked from behind me and moved into view.
I pasted a smile on and grinned absurdly. "I'm going to see my BOYFRIEND."
"You have no boyfriend. You know I can see everything you do through my crystal orbs and I know you don't have a boyfriend."
I growled. Couldn't I just have one good moment here, one? "Well then I am going to find one!"
"I don't think you'll find one immediately. And even then, I will make doubly sure you don't."
"Is that your revenge? That if you can't have me, no one will? Well don't worry, you don't have to try to accomplish that...no guy wants me anyways."
"Now you are lieing to yourself, Sarah. You are beautiful, you have gotten even more beautiful since you came to the Underground. I am sure a lowly Goblin King," he said with a smirk and for once I didn't feel like punching him. Sucker for a compliment, who me? "isn't the only one who thinks that."
"How is flattering the hell out of me exacting your revenge?" I demanded to hide that breathlessness I had felt coming on. Never let the enemy see you swoon. I think that was right...so sue me if it wasn't.
"Would you rather me be throwing you into the bog? Having you chained up in some oubliette?"
"Not really...would there be a bunch of cute guys in the oubliette with me?"
"Maybe," he paused and I knew he was cooking up something. "I would put 10 dashing guys in there that all looked exactly like...me."
"I think I'll pass." I smiled widely. "Now, if that is all the revenge business you have at the moment, I think I am going to continue on my way. Should give you some time to think of something utterly horrible and nasty." I waved and started off across the lawn to where my car was parked. And may I point out that it was a BEAUTIFUL baby blue Ford mustang.
Jareth suddenly was in front of me again. I blinked up at him. His voice lowered. "I did not come back for you, just to have you run off."
I quoted to him. "Well ain't thems the brakes." He obviously wasn't amused by that and I sighed. "Look, for one, I can't stand out here in the open having a heated discussion with you; especially about the past without someone hearing us and thinking we are nuts. Secondly, I have a life...it may not be the best of lives...but I am not going to drop everything just cause you dropped by and embarrassed me in front of my US History class."
"Then Sarah, I shall become a part of that life," he smirked, but this one seemed a bit touched in darkness. "As I said up there, I am going to be joining this prestigious college and get myself an education," he looked at me pointedly. "Right by your side."
"Oh, great revenge, really it is." I stormed off towards my car and this time he didn't stop me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was in gym class the next day, actually it was volleyball. I went up for a spike and lost my footing. Why do they make gym floors so slippery? Is it just me or does it just scream liability?? I was preparing myself for the fall when I was suddenly in warm, strong arms held against a firm expanse of chest. My eyes turned upwards above that chest and I was looking up into mismatched eyes above a large smile.
I extracted myself from his clutches. "Thanks." Part of me wanted to purposefully trip and see if he'd hold me again. Bad hormones, bad! Sarah good girl, Sarah not fling herself at beguiling Goblin King.
"See, I can come in handy at times," Jareth purred with a smirk. "Now what would have happened if I hadn't been here exacting my revenge?"
"I wouldn't have landed on my ass yesterday?" I said dryly and rotated since it was what the others had done, and was waiting for me to do instead of chit-chatting with the new boy.
After gym, I drove to my apartment for a quick shower before heading back for theatre. I wondered if Jareth was going to try and weasel his way into this class, too. I couldn't see that guy acting, he smirked too damn much to pretend to be anyone else! I grumbled to myself while thinking of those awful smirks and got dressed. I pulled on jeans, white keds, and a white blouse before dashing back to school.
I sat beside a friend of mine I had made who was also a theatre major. Her name was Jana and she was in many ways my opposite. She was Nordic in appearance if that gave you some clue, except she wasn't classically tall like most were. She was barely over five feet tall with long blonde hair and big blue eyes. We were talking about the auditions today for the new play when Jareth dropped into the seat beside me.
Jana looked over at him. "Are you that international student from Europe? The country was some funny name I had never heard of."
"Unter Graunt," He looked past me to my friend. "I am Jareth Kobold, an old friend of our dear Sarah." He gave my shoulders a squeeze and I nearly puked on his new punk attire. Today he was in the same black leather pants and boots, but with a sleeveless black shirt that was taught over his chest. Okay, who was dressing this man?
"I'm Jana Schmitt," she giggled. "Your name is Jareth Goblin? That is a very interesting name."
Woohoo, someone finally got the pun. And, of course, it was going to be a friend of mine. Can I pick them or what? I looked at Jana. "Yeah, weird name for a weird man. And Goblin sure does fit him, for that is what he is." I smiled widely and am hiddenly jabbed by the man on my left.
"I thought you two were friends," Jana's eyes got big.
"Oh, we are," I missed the look that had went with that comment, which was a bad thing because next thing I know he takes my chin in his other hand to turn my face towards him so he can lay a big, deep kiss on me.
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. What the hell did he do that for? I am so not getting this man. Making out in the middle of class is revenge? It will be if we get kicked out for it. I pressed my hands against his chest and pried his lips away from mine. I looked over to see Jana had slipped away, she was now chatting with some other girls. Probably spreading the news that me and Jareth were an item. He was going to pay dearly. First child ever, signed in blood, dearly.
"What the hell was that for?" I hissed.
"Cause I felt like it, I didn't get one before," he smirked that damnable smirk again. He should be a frickin clown if he liked smirking so much.
"Well ya know why?? Huh?? Ya stole my brother!!" I waved a finger under his nose. "And I know what you're doing, yeah I do. Jana is over there spreading the news about me and you. Everyone will think we're a couple, and isn't that what you want??"
Jareth just sat there smiling and shrugged.
"You are so dead, goblin man." I seethed and slumped in the seat.
========================
It was supper time and I decided to eat up at the cafeteria tonight. A free meal, who can put their nose up at that? Well, it really isn't FREE since you pre-pay for it as part of your tuition, but at the time you are eating this school meal you don't have to have money on you. Actually, the cafeteria food was very good. Tonight I hardly noticed, though. I was swirling around my fettuccini alfredo and doing a mixture of pouting and fuming.
None of my usual friends were sitting by me tonight. I think they were still wondering about my odd behavior lately and somehow they knew it had something to do with this new student, they just didn't know what was up between us. But, they had gotten a big tip-off, or so they thought, in theatre class! I was also sure my closer friends, like Jana, who we told everything to each other, were mad that I had kept HIM a secret. As much as I loathed to say it, I was even surer some of them were just jealous. Well they were welcome to him.
A tray was set down next to mine and I didn't have to look up to know who was settling himself into the chair next to mine. I picked up my glass of coke and took a sip, ignoring him...or at least trying to. He leaned in close beside me and I tensed. Ignore him, Sarah! Think of puppies...kittens...goats...pigs...horses...cows...
"Sarah...you having fun yet?" he purred in my ear.
I swatted at him. "Get your own farm."
"What?? My dear Sarah, is my presence driving you batty?" I could practically hear the smirk there. Yeah, if I could hear a smirk he must be driving me batty. "Why don't we end this all right now and go back to my castle."
I turned and looked at him. "Fine. Go back to your castle." Bad idea, his face was right there. Close enough that our breath mingled between our mouths. I was staring into his mismatched eyes, oddly beautiful.
"I meant *WE* go back to my castle, Sarah," Jareth said slowly, as if the move had affected him, too. Yeah right...nothing could unsettle the almighty Goblin King. Could it? "Just say yes and all these games can end."
"And if I say when monkeys fly out of my butt?" I lifted eyebrows at him and gave him my own brand of smirk.
He frowned and finally pulled back enough that I am not in danger of going cross-eyed from looking at him. "That can be arranged, but I am not in the habit of causing you serious harm."
"Do you mean emotional or physical? Cause one of those would be a BIG lie..."
"Sarah," he said my name with a sigh. Only with him could that still sound sexy. Please someone shoot me now. Put me out of my misery. "If I did there is no way to tell you how deeply sorry I am." He held up a hand between them. "Maybe we should call a truce for the time being?"
I looked at his hand and then frowned up at him. "I thought you wanted to exact your revenge on me..."
"I do, and then I calm down," he chuckled. He then leaned in close again to say. "But I would much rather spend my time close to you. And in its own way, wouldn't forcing myself into your life as your friend...or more...be an odd sort of revenge, after all that happened?"
Well, I hated to admit it, but he had a point. Except for the "or more", there was no way in hell of that part ever coming true, and I believed in faerie stories of goblins and evil, sexy kings. "Okay, truce...but I swear, if you're hiding something up your sleeve..."
"Oh come on, would I deceive you?" he purred.
"Uh, yeah." I looked at him dryly.
"Well that's in the past, though I recall being painfully truthful with you the whole time." He smirked, keeping his face eerily close still. "Think, Sarah, did I really lie to you?"
Damn him. "No." I said a bit breathlessly, despite myself.
"Good, now that we have that all out of the way...there is something I have to tell you, but not here of course. Finish eating and we can go talk." His face had turned serious as he looked into my eyes.
"Wha-" I glanced at my food. "I'm done with all that. Just tell me what this is about."
"Not here." He stood and pulled me up beside him.
"I guess we can go to my apartment...that is, if I can trust you to behave." I followed him to the door, eager to find out what the sudden seriousness was all about.
"We did call a truce, didn't we?" He grabbed my hand as we walked outside. He already knew which car was mine and headed for the blue mustang. "What else do I have to do in your Aboveground custom to gain your trust?"
"Nothing, I'll...trust you," I shook my head, never had I thought I would utter those words to him. Or be letting him into my car so I could drive him to my apartment. Smart move, Sarah.
======================
I turned on the lights as I walked into my apartment, feeling a bit nervous about letting HIM into my private sanctum. I waved a hand towards the couch and headed down the hall, doing one of those checks everyone does of their home when they receive an unexpected guest. You know, the one to make sure no dirty underwear is on the floor or that the toilet seat is down.
When I was satisfied it was all in order I turned to walk back towards the living room. I came up short as Jareth had been following me and I nearly ran into his delightful chest. He placed his hands on my upper arms to steady me. All I could do was stare at him openly and feel my heart beating its way out of my chest. Does anyone smell deer meat?
"I'm sorry, Sarah," he looked down at me with that odd seriousness again.
"That's okay," I took a deep breath, then stepped past him towards the living room. "I just want to know what you were so serious about at supper. You piqued my interest and now you have to tell me everything."
I sat down on the couch and did my best to compose myself as he followed me into the room. "Everything..." I heard him murmur thoughtfully with an emotion that was hard to read in his voice. He snapped out of whatever it was and motioned to himself. "May I change first? These clothes were only so I could look somewhat like a college student."
"I guess...the bathroom is down the ha-"
Before I could finish he had used magic to change his clothes right in front of me. I blinked as the punk clothes melted into tight gray breeches, soft leather boots, and the open white shirt. I had always thought that this outfit made him look like a demented pirate. I smiled at this.
"Something wrong with my attire?" He quirked a brow at me.
"No, you look fabulous El Capitan," I gave him a mock salute that only confused him further.
He waved it away, though, and dropped into a crouching position in front of me. I watched him and his eyes met mine intently. "Sarah...as much as I did enjoy having a good laugh at your expense as some sort of revenge for you making quite a fool of me, also...it was not the real reason I came here."
"Jareth...you are really starting to worry me." I frowned at him.
"You should be," he took my hand and ran his thumb over my knuckles gently. I was too much on pins and needles at his cryptic remarks to care about this, though. "I believe it is always best to start at the beginning. Quite awhile ago, maybe even before you were born...I used to allow every sort of creature imaginable into my Labyrinth. That included a few vampires, werewolves, and the like...as you can imagine they started to feed on the other creatures, though. I let it slide, but then they turned on my goblins. I finally cast them out and only allowed passage to the sorts of creatures you met while you were there."
"I am sorry to interrupt...but why the history lesson? I agree that this was a horrible thing, but what does this have to do with me?" I looked at him with head tilted to the side.
"All these creatures...they had a leader, a very powerful vampire named Kolteq. He of course did not like my actions against his people. He has been waging a silent war on and off with me since then." Jareth's eyes dropped to my smaller hand laying within his much larger, stronger one. "It was peaceful during your visit, but shortly after he learned of the incident and started planning to use it to his advantage." His eyes came back up to gaze into mine with much intensity. "I should have come sooner, but my wounded pride prevented it. I am only lucky he and his minions haven't tried something already."
"You think he's gonna come after me to get to you?" I searched his face, and I already knew the answer. He may be a trickster, but he wasn't a liar. For once, though, I wished he was. "So...what now?"
Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth or this college...just Jareth :P
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He's BaaAAaack!
(Part I)
The teacher droned on at the head of the class, but I stared out the window remembering that day...so long ago it seemed. It was a few years now, I guess. I was never quite sure if I should try and forget the experience or if I should remember, so I could learn from my young mistakes. I was away at college now, away from home where every time I looked at Toby I remembered what I did to the poor boy. Of course, he did't remember, but I did. My lips pursed as I thought, I shouldn't feel guilty. I was not the one who kidnapped him and tried to make him into a stinking goblin!
I shook my head free of the thoughts and turned to look back towards the door as I heard the door opening. Someone was a bit late, eh? I chuckled to myself, but my breath stopped in my throat when I saw who it was walking through the door. I ducked my head low behind the person in front of me. What was he doing here? After all this time?? How dare he???
The teacher stopped and turned to look at him, "Yes, sir?"
"I had a schedule change and am in this class now," Jareth stood there looking slightly punk in black leather pants, heavy black boots, and a form fitting black shirt. I would have laughed if it wouldn't have given me away. His hair was the same as always, wild and soft looking. Bad Sarah, no admire his looks! He looked at the woman intensely, "I believe someone told you I was coming. You are also my advisor, I was told."
The lovely middle-aged woman's face changed as if turning into a totally different person. She suddenly smiled. I really did not like this, I did not like this one bit. I think he just bewitched the teacher! "Ah, yes. You must be Jareth Kobold, the new international student at our school. I was told you came from a fairly small country in Europe. What is the name of your country?"
Jareth's mismatched eyes had been roaming over the class, no doubt searching for lil ole me. "It's called Unter Graunt." He looked back at her and put that intense, bewitching look in his eyes again. I bit my lip to keep from letting the groan out at his obvious puns. Kobold was the German word for goblin and Unter Graunt, you have got to be incredibly dense not to get that one. His next words froze me in place. "Where is Sarah Williams? I was told she was in this class, too, and we are old friends. She could help me get around in this foreign country."
The teacher nodded. "If Sarah knows you then she should be the one to show you around. She's right over there." Her hand swung in my direction and I toppled out of the seat onto the floor. Owie to me...I rubbed my rear end and started gathering my notebook, pen, and purse that were dumped on the floor with me. I should make a break for it now. I turned after getting all my things, preparing for my flight when I see a pair of heavy, black leather boots stop in front of me. Oh me, oh my...
"May I help you up from down there?" he purred down at me with a chuckle. My eyes traveled up the boots, up the black leather pants that hugged him deliciously, up the muscled torso, and up to his smirking face. He extended a hand down to me.
I brushed my hair from my face and stared at him in a mixture of horror, fear, fascination, and shock. I got to my feet shakily and moved back from him. Everyone in the small class was watching us, they were more interested with the display than with the US History lesson. I backed away from him and headed for the door.
He spared a glance towards the teacher once more. "I think I will take her to the nurse and make sure she didn't hurt herself from that fall she just took." The teacher nodded in agreement dazedly. Yup, he definitely bewitched her or something.
I fleed from the room and took off in a mad run down the hall way of the building's first floor. I had to get away, he had come back to exact his revenge. I was sure of it. I got outside and round the corner to go behind the building and there he was. I gave a shriek of terror and surprise before he took me by the arm.
"Surprised to see me, Sarah?" he said with amusement.
================
I glared at up at him with my best shooting daggers look. Wouldn't that be awesome if I could really do that with my eyes? Jareth-ka-bobs, anyone?? My hands went to my hips and my chin lifted indignantly. "Why are you here? The college crowd doesn't seem your scene." I motioned to his punk clothes. "But at least you got *SOME* fashion sense since I last saw you. Or should I say, defeated you."
His lips tightened in a frown of disapproval and I almost laughed. Point for me, woohoo. He tried to stare me down and when that didn't work. "Well, to exact my revenge, of course. What else do us big bad wolfs do?"
"Well, really, I don't remember the bad wolf coming back to exact his revenge on the three little pigs," I smiled unnervingly up at him. "I think he died of an asthma attack after blowing at a brick wall like an idiot. And was that your way of calling me a pig?"
"I don't know...do you consider yourself my pig?"
I looked at him dryly. "That was sooooo lame, let me tell you." I turned and started to head back towards the parking lot. "You know, I think I am going to switch schools. Yeah. You can have this college, get your god damned degree in fashion of all things. Just go ahead, see if I care."
Oooo, that guy really fried my bacon. He came back to exact his revenge, by what...embarrassing me in front of a few kids at my school and mesmerizing the teacher?? I felt a hand on my shoulder and I screamed while nearly jumping out of my skin. Good job, Sarah.
"Where are you going, Sarah?" Jareth asked from behind me and moved into view.
I pasted a smile on and grinned absurdly. "I'm going to see my BOYFRIEND."
"You have no boyfriend. You know I can see everything you do through my crystal orbs and I know you don't have a boyfriend."
I growled. Couldn't I just have one good moment here, one? "Well then I am going to find one!"
"I don't think you'll find one immediately. And even then, I will make doubly sure you don't."
"Is that your revenge? That if you can't have me, no one will? Well don't worry, you don't have to try to accomplish that...no guy wants me anyways."
"Now you are lieing to yourself, Sarah. You are beautiful, you have gotten even more beautiful since you came to the Underground. I am sure a lowly Goblin King," he said with a smirk and for once I didn't feel like punching him. Sucker for a compliment, who me? "isn't the only one who thinks that."
"How is flattering the hell out of me exacting your revenge?" I demanded to hide that breathlessness I had felt coming on. Never let the enemy see you swoon. I think that was right...so sue me if it wasn't.
"Would you rather me be throwing you into the bog? Having you chained up in some oubliette?"
"Not really...would there be a bunch of cute guys in the oubliette with me?"
"Maybe," he paused and I knew he was cooking up something. "I would put 10 dashing guys in there that all looked exactly like...me."
"I think I'll pass." I smiled widely. "Now, if that is all the revenge business you have at the moment, I think I am going to continue on my way. Should give you some time to think of something utterly horrible and nasty." I waved and started off across the lawn to where my car was parked. And may I point out that it was a BEAUTIFUL baby blue Ford mustang.
Jareth suddenly was in front of me again. I blinked up at him. His voice lowered. "I did not come back for you, just to have you run off."
I quoted to him. "Well ain't thems the brakes." He obviously wasn't amused by that and I sighed. "Look, for one, I can't stand out here in the open having a heated discussion with you; especially about the past without someone hearing us and thinking we are nuts. Secondly, I have a life...it may not be the best of lives...but I am not going to drop everything just cause you dropped by and embarrassed me in front of my US History class."
"Then Sarah, I shall become a part of that life," he smirked, but this one seemed a bit touched in darkness. "As I said up there, I am going to be joining this prestigious college and get myself an education," he looked at me pointedly. "Right by your side."
"Oh, great revenge, really it is." I stormed off towards my car and this time he didn't stop me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was in gym class the next day, actually it was volleyball. I went up for a spike and lost my footing. Why do they make gym floors so slippery? Is it just me or does it just scream liability?? I was preparing myself for the fall when I was suddenly in warm, strong arms held against a firm expanse of chest. My eyes turned upwards above that chest and I was looking up into mismatched eyes above a large smile.
I extracted myself from his clutches. "Thanks." Part of me wanted to purposefully trip and see if he'd hold me again. Bad hormones, bad! Sarah good girl, Sarah not fling herself at beguiling Goblin King.
"See, I can come in handy at times," Jareth purred with a smirk. "Now what would have happened if I hadn't been here exacting my revenge?"
"I wouldn't have landed on my ass yesterday?" I said dryly and rotated since it was what the others had done, and was waiting for me to do instead of chit-chatting with the new boy.
After gym, I drove to my apartment for a quick shower before heading back for theatre. I wondered if Jareth was going to try and weasel his way into this class, too. I couldn't see that guy acting, he smirked too damn much to pretend to be anyone else! I grumbled to myself while thinking of those awful smirks and got dressed. I pulled on jeans, white keds, and a white blouse before dashing back to school.
I sat beside a friend of mine I had made who was also a theatre major. Her name was Jana and she was in many ways my opposite. She was Nordic in appearance if that gave you some clue, except she wasn't classically tall like most were. She was barely over five feet tall with long blonde hair and big blue eyes. We were talking about the auditions today for the new play when Jareth dropped into the seat beside me.
Jana looked over at him. "Are you that international student from Europe? The country was some funny name I had never heard of."
"Unter Graunt," He looked past me to my friend. "I am Jareth Kobold, an old friend of our dear Sarah." He gave my shoulders a squeeze and I nearly puked on his new punk attire. Today he was in the same black leather pants and boots, but with a sleeveless black shirt that was taught over his chest. Okay, who was dressing this man?
"I'm Jana Schmitt," she giggled. "Your name is Jareth Goblin? That is a very interesting name."
Woohoo, someone finally got the pun. And, of course, it was going to be a friend of mine. Can I pick them or what? I looked at Jana. "Yeah, weird name for a weird man. And Goblin sure does fit him, for that is what he is." I smiled widely and am hiddenly jabbed by the man on my left.
"I thought you two were friends," Jana's eyes got big.
"Oh, we are," I missed the look that had went with that comment, which was a bad thing because next thing I know he takes my chin in his other hand to turn my face towards him so he can lay a big, deep kiss on me.
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. What the hell did he do that for? I am so not getting this man. Making out in the middle of class is revenge? It will be if we get kicked out for it. I pressed my hands against his chest and pried his lips away from mine. I looked over to see Jana had slipped away, she was now chatting with some other girls. Probably spreading the news that me and Jareth were an item. He was going to pay dearly. First child ever, signed in blood, dearly.
"What the hell was that for?" I hissed.
"Cause I felt like it, I didn't get one before," he smirked that damnable smirk again. He should be a frickin clown if he liked smirking so much.
"Well ya know why?? Huh?? Ya stole my brother!!" I waved a finger under his nose. "And I know what you're doing, yeah I do. Jana is over there spreading the news about me and you. Everyone will think we're a couple, and isn't that what you want??"
Jareth just sat there smiling and shrugged.
"You are so dead, goblin man." I seethed and slumped in the seat.
========================
It was supper time and I decided to eat up at the cafeteria tonight. A free meal, who can put their nose up at that? Well, it really isn't FREE since you pre-pay for it as part of your tuition, but at the time you are eating this school meal you don't have to have money on you. Actually, the cafeteria food was very good. Tonight I hardly noticed, though. I was swirling around my fettuccini alfredo and doing a mixture of pouting and fuming.
None of my usual friends were sitting by me tonight. I think they were still wondering about my odd behavior lately and somehow they knew it had something to do with this new student, they just didn't know what was up between us. But, they had gotten a big tip-off, or so they thought, in theatre class! I was also sure my closer friends, like Jana, who we told everything to each other, were mad that I had kept HIM a secret. As much as I loathed to say it, I was even surer some of them were just jealous. Well they were welcome to him.
A tray was set down next to mine and I didn't have to look up to know who was settling himself into the chair next to mine. I picked up my glass of coke and took a sip, ignoring him...or at least trying to. He leaned in close beside me and I tensed. Ignore him, Sarah! Think of puppies...kittens...goats...pigs...horses...cows...
"Sarah...you having fun yet?" he purred in my ear.
I swatted at him. "Get your own farm."
"What?? My dear Sarah, is my presence driving you batty?" I could practically hear the smirk there. Yeah, if I could hear a smirk he must be driving me batty. "Why don't we end this all right now and go back to my castle."
I turned and looked at him. "Fine. Go back to your castle." Bad idea, his face was right there. Close enough that our breath mingled between our mouths. I was staring into his mismatched eyes, oddly beautiful.
"I meant *WE* go back to my castle, Sarah," Jareth said slowly, as if the move had affected him, too. Yeah right...nothing could unsettle the almighty Goblin King. Could it? "Just say yes and all these games can end."
"And if I say when monkeys fly out of my butt?" I lifted eyebrows at him and gave him my own brand of smirk.
He frowned and finally pulled back enough that I am not in danger of going cross-eyed from looking at him. "That can be arranged, but I am not in the habit of causing you serious harm."
"Do you mean emotional or physical? Cause one of those would be a BIG lie..."
"Sarah," he said my name with a sigh. Only with him could that still sound sexy. Please someone shoot me now. Put me out of my misery. "If I did there is no way to tell you how deeply sorry I am." He held up a hand between them. "Maybe we should call a truce for the time being?"
I looked at his hand and then frowned up at him. "I thought you wanted to exact your revenge on me..."
"I do, and then I calm down," he chuckled. He then leaned in close again to say. "But I would much rather spend my time close to you. And in its own way, wouldn't forcing myself into your life as your friend...or more...be an odd sort of revenge, after all that happened?"
Well, I hated to admit it, but he had a point. Except for the "or more", there was no way in hell of that part ever coming true, and I believed in faerie stories of goblins and evil, sexy kings. "Okay, truce...but I swear, if you're hiding something up your sleeve..."
"Oh come on, would I deceive you?" he purred.
"Uh, yeah." I looked at him dryly.
"Well that's in the past, though I recall being painfully truthful with you the whole time." He smirked, keeping his face eerily close still. "Think, Sarah, did I really lie to you?"
Damn him. "No." I said a bit breathlessly, despite myself.
"Good, now that we have that all out of the way...there is something I have to tell you, but not here of course. Finish eating and we can go talk." His face had turned serious as he looked into my eyes.
"Wha-" I glanced at my food. "I'm done with all that. Just tell me what this is about."
"Not here." He stood and pulled me up beside him.
"I guess we can go to my apartment...that is, if I can trust you to behave." I followed him to the door, eager to find out what the sudden seriousness was all about.
"We did call a truce, didn't we?" He grabbed my hand as we walked outside. He already knew which car was mine and headed for the blue mustang. "What else do I have to do in your Aboveground custom to gain your trust?"
"Nothing, I'll...trust you," I shook my head, never had I thought I would utter those words to him. Or be letting him into my car so I could drive him to my apartment. Smart move, Sarah.
======================
I turned on the lights as I walked into my apartment, feeling a bit nervous about letting HIM into my private sanctum. I waved a hand towards the couch and headed down the hall, doing one of those checks everyone does of their home when they receive an unexpected guest. You know, the one to make sure no dirty underwear is on the floor or that the toilet seat is down.
When I was satisfied it was all in order I turned to walk back towards the living room. I came up short as Jareth had been following me and I nearly ran into his delightful chest. He placed his hands on my upper arms to steady me. All I could do was stare at him openly and feel my heart beating its way out of my chest. Does anyone smell deer meat?
"I'm sorry, Sarah," he looked down at me with that odd seriousness again.
"That's okay," I took a deep breath, then stepped past him towards the living room. "I just want to know what you were so serious about at supper. You piqued my interest and now you have to tell me everything."
I sat down on the couch and did my best to compose myself as he followed me into the room. "Everything..." I heard him murmur thoughtfully with an emotion that was hard to read in his voice. He snapped out of whatever it was and motioned to himself. "May I change first? These clothes were only so I could look somewhat like a college student."
"I guess...the bathroom is down the ha-"
Before I could finish he had used magic to change his clothes right in front of me. I blinked as the punk clothes melted into tight gray breeches, soft leather boots, and the open white shirt. I had always thought that this outfit made him look like a demented pirate. I smiled at this.
"Something wrong with my attire?" He quirked a brow at me.
"No, you look fabulous El Capitan," I gave him a mock salute that only confused him further.
He waved it away, though, and dropped into a crouching position in front of me. I watched him and his eyes met mine intently. "Sarah...as much as I did enjoy having a good laugh at your expense as some sort of revenge for you making quite a fool of me, also...it was not the real reason I came here."
"Jareth...you are really starting to worry me." I frowned at him.
"You should be," he took my hand and ran his thumb over my knuckles gently. I was too much on pins and needles at his cryptic remarks to care about this, though. "I believe it is always best to start at the beginning. Quite awhile ago, maybe even before you were born...I used to allow every sort of creature imaginable into my Labyrinth. That included a few vampires, werewolves, and the like...as you can imagine they started to feed on the other creatures, though. I let it slide, but then they turned on my goblins. I finally cast them out and only allowed passage to the sorts of creatures you met while you were there."
"I am sorry to interrupt...but why the history lesson? I agree that this was a horrible thing, but what does this have to do with me?" I looked at him with head tilted to the side.
"All these creatures...they had a leader, a very powerful vampire named Kolteq. He of course did not like my actions against his people. He has been waging a silent war on and off with me since then." Jareth's eyes dropped to my smaller hand laying within his much larger, stronger one. "It was peaceful during your visit, but shortly after he learned of the incident and started planning to use it to his advantage." His eyes came back up to gaze into mine with much intensity. "I should have come sooner, but my wounded pride prevented it. I am only lucky he and his minions haven't tried something already."
"You think he's gonna come after me to get to you?" I searched his face, and I already knew the answer. He may be a trickster, but he wasn't a liar. For once, though, I wished he was. "So...what now?"