He kept the shower short. There were several things he was going to have to see to in order to stay the thirteen days in the Above. As he used her shampoo he thanked his lucky stars that thus far his plan was working. Not that the proposal for courtship had necessarily been an incredible risk- her body was linked to his now. Last night had been the risk. Now to the present- he was going to need a place to stay, food arrangements, clothes, and most importantly a second set of eyes to keep around Sarah.
Stepping out of the shower and wrapping the towel about him self, he went out into the bedroom. He examined the room in the more revealing light of day. Perhaps just a small creature, someone who could hide easily in the bookshelf… "Meep, come to me!"
All most instantaneously a small creature drifted into the room. Perhaps drifted is describing the descent too politely- it more or less fell gracelessly out of the air onto the bed. Meep had attempted with no avail to beat her scrawny bat-like wings, but mundane air was so much heavier. At least the bed that broke her fall was soft. She shook her head, a little dazed, and looked up at her king. "Sire?" she asked.
There were times, the king mused, that Meep resembled more of an awkward, four legged beetle than a goblin. Especially now as she wiggled about on the comforter trying to right herself. Her talon like fingers gripped the material. Jareth waited for her to regain composure. "Meep," he began when she had finally managed to get to her knees. "I have need of your assistance. I am placing you with the mortal who lives here."
The little head snapped up, rustling the scrawny red hair that it bore. "Placing me?"
He began collecting his clothes. "Her name is Sarah Williams. Meep, you are to be my eyes and ears when I am not around her."
Beating her barely useful wings the little goblin managed to half fly, half tumble over the mattress to perch on the bed knob. Now she had a clear unobstructed view of her surroundings and of her king. The room was tidy enough. She sniffed the air. Though to be sure the place had experienced something mighty reckless recently... "What exactly are you wanting me to glean from this Sarah Williams?"
"Anything and everything." He paused pulling on his shirt. "Her favorite foods; vacation plans; whether she enjoys watching a comedy or a drama; bra size-,"
"Up or down; left or right," she interjected smiling. "I understand sire."
"Good." He grinned back. "Start going through her personal items immediately. The moment she walks through that door you make yourself invisible; she is not to see you. I will be in touch with you in a day or two." With a flick of his wrist he was gone.
…………
Thank the powers that he it is Friday, Sarah thought miserably to herself. And that a two week vacation awaits me.
She had been having one of those days. Her entire morning routine had been turned on its head and now she found herself struggling through the day. The time ticked by incredibly slow. Of course than there was also her complete lack of concentration. She was grateful most of the teachers had cut the classes short, merely reiterating projects to be completed over break. At her last class, biology, the teacher had simply posted a note on the door: "Remember to read all chapters in section twenty. Have a wonderful break!" She had just read the note when Penelope, her shoulder bag flopping, pony-tail half undone, came running.
She was breathless. "I thought I was running late!" she explained. "Professor Burton just loves to lock the door on late students."
"No worries," Sarah responded. She tapped the note. "Just a reminder to read all the chapters in section twenty."
"All of them? Ghads, what is this man's problem?" She adjusted her glasses, agitated. Penelope had the tiniest nub of a nose and no matter the frame her glasses were perpetually sliding. "He must think the students have no life outside of school, even if it is Spring Break."
Sarah nodded in agreement. "I know! Well at least we have two weeks. Any other major projects from other teachers?" she then asked as they left the door.
"A paper to finish for my mythology class, but I'm nearly half way done with that."
Together the two young women exited the building out into the fresh sun light. Sarah found herself scrutinizing every ledge and tree branch for any odd looking, out of place bird; anything that remotely resembled an owl.
"Sarah!" Fingers snapped in front of her face.
"Uh…Oh. Sorry."
Penelope repeated her question, "I asked if you wanted to come unwind at my mom's house for a bit? I'm just itching to be off campus!"
"Sure, yeah, sounds good. Sorry Penelope, I'm just a little distracted at the moment."
Her friend scoffed. "Like you were last night?"
"Yeah…well…never you mind. Let's get some Chinese take out on the way to your mom's. I'm starving!"
Penelope's mother was Senora Kayla Alura Valdez or more often than not merely Mrs. V to all of her acquaintances. She was a widow who kept a respectable boarding house for students less than a mile from the university's main gate. Her husband, Senor Valdez had died of cancer shortly after Penelope had blessed their lives. Mrs. V's philosophy was simple, "The Lord causes the rain to fall on both the just and the unjust. I have my hija to remind me of my husband." Knowing something of Sarah's past Mrs. V always tried to treat the young woman as one of her own. "Mi hija! Mi querida!" she greeted them when they arrived.
For a good hour the three women ate their take out and avoided any topic remotely school related. Sarah was still feeling overly distracted. When Penelope and her mother began to speak strictly in their native tongue, it hardly even registered in her ears. All she really wanted to do was return to her dorm room and see what possible mischief Jareth had left in his wake. And perhaps find out what sort of "courting" he had in mind. "Mi querida," said Mrs. V addressing Sarah. "I have something to give you before you go." She disappeared in to her private library. When she came out she carried a small charm on a silver chain. "A milagro for you to wear."
"Oh mama!" exclaimed Penelope, rolling her eyes.
"Shush mi hija!" her mother said softly. "I want nothing, but the best for my two children. A milagro near your heart wouldn't do you harm either; a little security hurts no one. Here Sarah."
"What is it, this milagro?" she asked accepting the gift.
"Nothing more than foolishness," said her friend. "Mama thinks that they offer protection, or help to guide an individual."
Mrs. V bore her daughter's indifference with a calm face. "So doubts the one who is taking a mythology class. They represent a prayer or the wish for a miracle, all depending on the shape or the person it is given to. I give you this one and pray that you learn how to think here," she poked the young woman's chest on her left side. "And not always up here." She then put her finger to her brow.
Sarah looked at the charm- it was a silver imprint of a heart. Hooking it around her neck, she wondered why Mrs. V was suddenly so concerned with her thought process. She said her thanks and then insisted she needed to return to the dorms.
After her friend was gone, Penelope openly scrutinized her mother. For a moment the two women just stared at one another. Finally Penelope could stand it no longer and demanded to know the reason for the milagro. The older one put her hand to her chest where she herself wore a collection of milagros. "Sarah is on the thresh hold of change," was all she would say.
…………
Her phone was ringing.
She was struggling not to drop her purse or backpack, as she fumbled with her dorm keys. Don't hang up, don't hang up, she chanted in her head only to then realize how ridiculous her thoughts were. Why would Jareth be using the phone? Despite her thoughts she still rushed in. Dropping everything on the bed (that was made up nonetheless), she reached for the phone on her desk. "Hello?" she asked a little breathlessly.
"My, my a little eager to hear my voice now?" asked a distinct male voice. "How are you Sarah?"
It was Jareth. Ghads, he was on her telephone! She covered the receiver with her hand and took a deep breath. Removing her hand she responded, "I'm doing just fine. You?"
"Excellent my dear," he responded calm and cool. "I trust your day has been going well?"
"Yes, it has been."
"Good." He sounded wonderfully genuine. "I am calling to see if you are free tonight. I should very much like to have dinner with you."
"Dinner?" Her mind frantically thought of every reason not to, everything from the fact she needed to do laundry to the fact that her stomach tightened most strangely at his proposal.
"Isn't eating food generally a common part of dating?" he asked when she hadn't responded.
"Well…yes, it is, and no, I'm…not busy tonight."
"Good. Then I will see you at seven." He began to rattle off the address. Frantically she found a scratch piece of paper and a pen. She repeated the information back to him, commenting that the address seemed near a collection of new condos. "It is indeed. And Sarah: do wear something very feminine."
