"What did I tell you about more than six shots? You're the damn King of all these people, and you're sitting here drinking away. No wonder nobody looks up to you. You're a drunk and a disappointment. What happened in the last few years that made you this way?" Garbsnap asked me. I just rolled my eyes and pointed down at my shot glass, which was empty for the 8th time tonight. Garbsnap is the goblin bartender for a little hole in the wall called The Fairy Hidaway. Usually lowlifes and thieves come here. Nobody would say anything about me coming here. Hence why I, Jareth the Goblin King, didn't really care what Garbsnap had to say to me tonight. Everybody thinks I'm a drunk because of Sarah. But they're wrong. I just enjoy a good drink. It runs in the family. I haven't thought much about Sarah, and it's been eight years since I she had 'beaten me and the Labyrinth'. What I don't care about is her. Why should I care about her? She doesn't care about me. Nor should she. I shouldn't be anything close to on her mind ever. As far as she knows, this is all a distant dream she had from when she was a child. Which is good. I made it like that on purpose. She isn't supposed to remember me. And quite honestly, I should forget about her. But that can be tough.
"Toby, you're an hour late!" I heard Karen yell at Toby as he entered the house. I just chuckled as I waited for him to come in the living room. I heard him stomping on the
stairs. So he must be going to get his stuff. Karen walked in shaking her head. "Sometimes that boy reminds me of you Sarah. I feel like you had a big influence on him growing
up." She grumbled. I just chuckled again. "Ah Sarah, you're home." My father greeted me as he also came into the living room. "Remember dad, I have my own place now. This
isn't my home." I just rolled my eyes with a smile. Sometimes I missed living here. But usually I'm glad I moved out. It was becoming too toxic. Karen and I always fought, my
dad pretended I didn't exist, and Toby was becoming a 'problem child'. With me moved out, everyone gets along just fine. And that's okay with me. I like having a place to call
my own. It's perfect with only one person living there. There's barely any dishes, and not much of a mess. And it's tiny, which I love. It's nice and quiet, there's no yelling, and I
make my own rules. Which, yeah, it shouldn't be a big deal, but it is. But there are always downsides. I feel like I should be 19, not 24. It's weird taking care of myself.
Toby came bounding down the stairs, and running into the living room. "Hiya sis! You ready for tonight?" Toby asked excitedly. Tonight was Toby's half way birthday. Exactly six
months before his actual birthday. He's going to be turning nine. But he acted so grown already. I just couldn't believe he was only eight. It's crazy to me sometimes. Toby is my
favorite person. We try to do as much as possible together. And for about four years, we have been counting his half way birthday. It's my birthday present to him. It gives me
time to spend with him, and so Karen and dad could have him on his actual birthday. "I sure am buddy! What do you want to do tonight?" I asked. He just sat there and looked
as if he was pondering and then got a big smile on his face. "Laser tag!" I just shook my head. I knew that's what he wanted to do. He went once during summer, and now it's
like it's all he could think about. Something about running around being able to 'shoot' other people with little 'lasers' are very exciting for some people. I would much rather sit
in a coffee shop and enjoy a good book. Like, I'm the type of girl who is quiet and reserved, yet can be a total jokester. I love a good laugh just like I love books. I don't really
have friends, except for Mark and Ally. Ally is my roommate. And Mark is the love interest in this 'book' if it were one. We're just friends for now, but I hope that will be changing
soon. Nobody quite understands me like these two. It's like I'm kind of the weird kid to most people, but not to them. They mean the world to me, besides Toby, dad, and Karen.
I grabbed Toby's bag as he ran towards my car. I gave a hug to dad, and waved at Karen. "He will be home around four tomorrow." I reminded them. They liked to forget a lot of
things, and I had to remind them constantly on everything. They just smiled and said that they knew, and they told us to have fun. I almost ran to the car, excited to have
Toby overnight. I knew brothers and sisters were supposed to despise each other, but I absolutely love him. I don't know where I would be without him. And quite frankly, I
didn't want to know. We decided to go get dinner first, and at his favorite place: Golden Corral. He loved it just because he could eat a plate of food, some dessert, then some
more food, then ice cream. He could never get enough ice cream. He would choose it over almost anything. The boy had a serious sweet tooth for the stuff. "Sarah, do other
people celebrate their half birthday?" Toby turned to me during his dessert plate. I just shook my head no. "But, that's what helps make you unique. It's like having your own
little holiday, just for yourself. Nobody else shares it but you." I explained. I didn't want him to feel like he was alone. But I also didn't want to lie to him. It's good to teach a
child honesty than let him believe lies are okay. He understood, and smiled at the fact that he had his own little 'holiday' for himself, and went straight back to his bread
pudding. "Sarah, I'm full. I don't want to eat too much, because I don't want to be slow during laser tagging." Still couldn't get his mind off of it. "Alright, let's go. I was done and
waiting on you anyway." I said as I took one last sip of my drink. He stood up before I could, and was already heading towards the exit. He had gotten so far ahead, that I could
no longer see him through the fresh wave of people. As I began to look around for Toby, I swear I saw a flash of mix matched eyes. I don't ever remember seeing these eyes, or
why they came to me just now. But there they were, and they were accompanied by a blinding migraine, lasting no longer than when it started. I didn't understand, and
confusion set in for at least seven seconds before I remembered that I needed to find Toby. I quickly went through all the people, trying to get outside as soon as possible.
Looking around for any sign of him to be near. And then I saw him, in the front seat of my car. Bent over as if he was in pain. I rushed to the driver's seat, and got in. "Hey
kiddo, you okay?" Trying to sound calm as I asked him. He sat up quickly, as if nothing was wrong, and flashed me a smile. "I'm fine" he assured me as he smiled again. I just
smiled back to show him that I heard him. "Are you sure you're still up for laser tag? Wouldn't you rather have a movie night?" I asked. He looked at me, and asked if we could
go back to my house instead. "I would like to do the laser tagging some other time please". He let me know. I just shook my head yes. I started the car, and pulled out of the
parking space, on my way back to the apartment. "So Toby, I was thinking about moving to New York City. I want to go to parsons, and learn about becoming a fashion
designer. How's that sound?" I glanced at him as we started going down the street. He was just staring at me in a little disbelief, as if he didn't know what I meant. I started
explaining to him that I was trying to get into a college that was the best in the best for teaching me everything I need to know about designing clothing. That my end game is
to live in Paris. And someday, I'll have to move away. I won't always be around. I guess, that this isn't very easy to say to an eight year old. But, I have to tell him sooner or
later. If I do make it into this college, I need him to understand why I won't be around very much anymore. And I hope that he isn't going to be upset about it. "Anyway, when
you're a little older, I can bring you to New York. You would love it, I promise." He just kept looking at me. So I finally pull into the parking lot of my apartment, and turn the car
off. "Alright, are you gonna keep staring or can we go inside for ice cream?" That got his eyes to light up, and he jumped right out of the car. We raced to my cookie cutter wood
door, and I unlocked it. To find mark sitting on the couch. Naked. After quickly covering Toby's eyes and dragging him to my bedroom, I briskly walked out and just stood there.
"Mark, what are you doing?" I just asked. I didn't know what else to say. When I finally looked at his face, he was beet red and he had a pillow over his 'naughty parts'. "I just..
I just thought I would surprise you. Ya know, to have some fun? I forgot it was Toby's half birthday. I am so sorry, I'm gonna leave now. I will see you later." He was able to
stammer out. I just let him go with a kiss goodbye. Then I set the ice cream out to soften, and told Toby that he could come out. "Who was that? Do you like him?" Toby asked
me. I just looked at him. "Toby, that was Mark, and, you'll meet him under better circumstances. Don't you worry." I told him. I didn't even care if it answered his questions.
"Anyway, let's get started on some video games! How about Mariokart?" I shifted the conversation to one of his favorite things. He ran straight over to the Wii and starting to
set it up. I grabbed two bowls of his favorite ice cream, moose tracks. Then I walked back to him and gave him his bowl and sat down. I grabbed my controller, and made him be
player 2, as always. "Listen, I'm sorry that we can't go laser tagging. I know that you really wanted to go. I promise we will go some other time. I'll make sure of it." He just
slightly shook his head, too mesmerized in the game. We were playing rainbow road, the one I always beat him at. No matter what. But for now, I took a good long look at him.
At my little brother. He is such a sweet boy and he knows how to act. He is growing up to be such a gentleman and I can't believe it. And he is so mature! It's hard meeting kids
who are so mature that are his age. People always look over kids his age, because when you look at an eight year old, you see "Oh, cute kid. At that annoying age though." Not,
"Wow! He's pretty mature for his age let me go talk to him." I love my little Toby, and I'm glad he's here with me. I don't know what I'm going to do when I move to New York.
I'll have to come home as much as possible. I won't be able to handle not seeing him all the time. He's slowly becoming my best friend, and I'm not ready to lose him yet. I am
just not ready. I really love him.
As I slowly rose out of bed, I looked up out of my sky window, and saw the rain pouring straight towards me. Unable to actually touch me, it skittered down the slope of my window, and washed away out of my sight. I arose to look around my room, and saw the grey stone. It's boring. Everything about it just has this touch of bland. You don't want to dwell on it on it for too long before you find yourself becoming boring. Not just bored, you yourself becoming boring. You are no longer a 'fun' person after spending so long in my bedroom. I just need to change the way it looks.
The feng shui is all off center here, it's just not right. It's keeping me from my happiness. It's keeping all the negative vibes and blocking all the wonderful vibes. Those negative vibes were set in place when she decided to decline me. And now I have six months before the labyrinth, and I, die. And anybody who knows me knows that I don't want to die. So, I have to win her over. I have to make her remember me as I make her fall in love. Which is not as easy as Beauty and the Beast makes it look. I'm just not sure how I'm going to make this happen. But, I have a feeling. As anybody knows… I, Jareth the Goblin King, always seem to get what I want. But the question is, will I be able to get what I need? Will I be able to get my Sarah?