Jareth: Mai Love

Disclaimer: Labyrinth is not mine. Jareth is not mine. (Though I wish he was.) Sarah is not mine. I own only some shampoo and an imagination.

Two years ago, he lost his love…

One year ago, he was very much alone…

Now he's found someone new. Someone who has heard of him and who knows his last love…

Chapter One

Mai barely glanced at Peter as he drove her home. She was mad at him for coming late again. And this time, it was raining and she was wearing a white shirt. He thought it was funny. Now, he was sorry.

"Come on Mai," Peter pleaded, glancing at her. "I said I was sorry."

"I know you did." Mai muttered, looking out the window.

"Can you at least forgive me?"

"No." Mai snapped. "Not this time. Not ever. Now shut up and focus on driving."

Peter looked back at the road and Mai sighed. Maybe I should go easier on him, she thought. It's not his fault that he's such an idiot. Now, being a jerk is his fault.

He stopped the car outside a large house that radiated wealth and feigned happiness. "See you at school, Mai." Peter muttered, looking over at her.

Mai grabbed her backpack from the backseat of his pick up truck. "Whatever Peter." she mumbled, slamming the car door behind her. She didn't look back when she heard him drive off. She unlocked the door and entered her house.

"Becky? (her mom) Alex? (her dad)" she called, heading into the kitchen. "Are you home?" A note caught her eye. "Guess not." She grabbed the note off the fridge.

Mai,

Your dad and I have gone to one of those exclusive all nighter parties, so we won't be back until tomorrow. Sorry that you couldn't come, but you have school. There're leftovers in the fridge for dinner or you could order out. Don't stay up too late.

Love Mom

"Sure you love me." Mai muttered, throwing the note in the trash. "That's why you two always leave me alone in the house. Oh well."

She grabbed a diet coke and headed upstairs. She peeked into the extra room and frowned at the crib her parents kept there. They wanted another baby. A boy like they had wanted Mai to be. She didn't want a sibling, but that didn't matter to them. She closed the door and walked into her room, locking her door behind her.

"Now where was I?" she asked herself, sitting at her vanity/desk. She was looking down at the book Sarah had written and given her. "Ah yes, the masquerade with Jareth."

Jareth heard his name echo through his castle. Someone was speaking of him. Only Sarah knew of him. He pulled out a crystal and stared into its depths. An image of Sarah sleeping hung there.

"So if it wasn't you, then who?" he asked, making the crystal vanish with a flick of the wrist.

It was a girl, so it couldn't be Hoggle, Ludo, or Sir Didymus. Nor could it be any of his female goblin minions because the voice was too sweet. Who was it?

"Time to see who exactly is calling my name."

He vanished from his castle and appeared outside a bedroom window. He saw a beautiful young woman lying on her bed. Her dark brown hair framed her face. His owl eyes traveled down her curved body. His heart actually skipped a beat. Then she looked out the window and saw him. She closed the book she had been reading and walked over to the window. He flapped his wings when she opened the window.

"Why aren't you a handsome owl," she crooned, looking at him with coco colored eyes. "Come here. I won't hurt you."

He fluttered closer to her and hooted. She stroked him gently. "You're such a sweet bird."' she whispered. "I don't see how Sarah could hate your kind because you're all so sweet. Unless…are you Jareth?"

She knows, Jareth thought.

"Guess not." she muttered, sounding disappointed. "You can come in out of the rain if you want to, Mr. Owl. I could use the company."

Jareth flew into the room and perched on the back of her chair. She walked over to her desk and pulled a sketch book out. She immediately sat down and started drawing something in it. She started singing 'As the World Falls Down' as she drew.

Jareth sat motionless as she sang. No mortal had heard that song except for Sarah. Yet, this girl knew every word, every pause. His heart skipped another beat.

When the song was over, the girl blushed and stood up. "I'll never be as good as Jareth." she muttered, looking at the book on her bed, then back at her sketch book. Jareth hooted and flew over to her. "It's true." she whispered. "Sarah told me that when she was there that he sounded like a real rock star. God, I would give anything to hear him sing once."

Inwardly, Jareth smiled. This girl knew Sarah. She could be used to get back at Sarah for all of his pain.

"Oh well. Shower time." she muttered, grabbing some things before leaving the room.

Jareth flew out of her room and vanished.

Mai was finding it impossible to go to sleep. Jareth's song kept playing in her head. The storm had gotten worse, so the thunder kept her up too. She threw back the covers and sat up. She straightened on of her spaghetti straps before getting up and walking over to her window. She rested her forehead against the cool glass and listened to the rain.

Live without your sunlight…

Mai raised her eyes and saw the same white barn owl. He was watching her. Lightning flashed and he vanished. Okay. That was weird, she thought, backing away slowly. Owls don't just vanish like that.

Her windows suddenly burst open and she froze. Jareth stood on her windowsill, wearing black tights, a white 1700s shirt, black riding boots, black gloves, and a black jacket thing. Mai stared at him in amazement.

"Hello Mai dear." Jareth said, smiling wickedly at her.

"What-what do you want Jareth?" Mai asked, shivering from the cold.

"Must we talk about what 'I' want?" Jareth asked her, making the windows close. "What about what 'you' want?"

Mai backed away from him and sat on her bed. "You don't even know me, so how could you care about what I want?"

"I know you've longed to hear me sing."

"And what do you want in return?"

"I want Sarah to pay for what she did to me." Jareth stated, moving so that he was crouching in front of her.

"No. I won't help you hurt her." Mai said, crossing her arms protectively over her chest. "She's my friend."

"Mai, think of what I could give you." Jareth murmured, holding a crystal. "You could have everything your heart desired."

"But that would mean losing my friend because of you." Mai pointed out. "No. I won't help you."

"Mai-"

"Don't defy me." Mai finished for him. "Save that for someone who really cares."

"You're more stubborn than I thought." Jareth whispered, looking at her with piercing eyes.

"And you're more evil than I thought." Mai shot back. And cuter, she thought. "So we're tired."

"Far from it girl." Jareth snapped, standing up. "I will see you tomorrow. If you're not too tired."

Mai glared at him, but her face softened it, so the effect was ruined. Jareth smirked before vanishing.

"Sarah pick up the damn phone." Mai pleaded into her phone an hour later. "I know it's late, but please pick up."

"Mai, do you have any idea of how late it is?" Sarah yawned.

"I don't care." Mai snapped. "You've got to listen to me."

"I'm listening."

"I was visited about an hour ago by Jareth."

"What?"

"Jareth. Visited. Me." Mai repeated slowly.

"Are you sure that you weren't just dreaming?" Sarah questioned.

"I promise I wasn't." Mai muttered, looking out at the storm. "He said that he was coming back tomorrow."

"Maybe I'll come over and make him leave you alone. That is, if Peter doesn't want to drive you home."

"He's not going to drive me ever again." Mai stated. "Not after he made fun of my wet white shirt."

"He's not that bad."

"No he's worse. Now, I'm going to let you get some sleep." Mai said. "See you tomorrow Sarah."

"Yeah. Sure. Bye." Sarah yawned.

Mai hung up and stared out at the storm. She was so confused right now.

I'm sorry if any character is out of character. This is my first fanfic.