CHAPTER DEUX
Sarah was sitting at her famous vanity, brushing her hair. And probably thinking too. Probably thinking about that time six years ago when she'd run the Labyrinth, actually. It's what she generally thought about when she sat at her famous vanity.
In the intervening years she had grown six years older, graduated from high school, and become a successful butcher. She owned her own shop and was looking to expand. She was, however, still living at home. Right now though she was sitting at her famous vanity, brushing her hair and probably thinking.
"Sarah! Hi, Sarah! Hi!"
Sarah closed her eyes and sighed, setting down the brush. She knew who she'd see when she opened them. Yup, there he was, waving madly.
"Cad-blame it Franklin!" she shouted at the fiery in her mirror.
"Will you marry me yet?"
"No."
"How about now?"
"No!"
"… Now?"
"Franklin, forget it. I'm never going to marry you."
"But Saaa-rah, you say that every day!"
"Maybe you should take a hint. And/or a hike."
"But I love you with an ardor as… big as… a… giant squid."
"Really." Sarah wasn't sure she could actually define the word 'ardor', but she was reasonably sure it wasn't something you could measure by size. All squidding aside. Sorry. She held her chin in her hands, pulling down on her face tiredly. "I'm sorry Franklin, but my heart belongs to another."
The Fiery - who's unlikely name happened to be Franklin D. Svelte – crossed his arms and glared at the mirror frame. "It's Jareth, isn't it."
Sarah held her head. They'd had this conversation before. Yesterday. "Nooooo, Franklin, it is not Jareth."
"Admit it. The whole of the Labyrinth is abuzz with talk of yours and Jareth's obsession with each other, sheesh."
Sarah sighed, yet again. Six years. Plus the trying to kill her and everyone around her thing. Not generally good feelings toward this guy, no. Why – no really, WHY - could nobody see it her way? Ever? Anyone she met? The whole world was against her!
There was a polite knock at the door. Franklin disappeared instantly and a quiet voice from outside said:
"Sarah? It's dinnertime. I made your favorite."
Sarah groaned and rolled her eyes. It was the voice of her overbearrrring underappreeeeciating generally eeeeevil stepmother.
"I'm busy, Karen!"
"It's… Anna."
"Whatev. I'm still busy."
"… Alright Sarah, I'll bring some up on a plate for you."
"How like a prison warden!"
Anna hung her head and took her leave, sadly trudging back down the stairs.
Toby, who had a habit of listening at keyholes and public addresses, poked his seven-year-old head into the room.
"Sarah. Why do you make sense one minute and act crazy the next?" Yeah, Toby was a pretty dang discerning seven-year-old.
"I'm a woman. Don't you judge me!"
--- MEANWHILE, IN THE LABYRINTH ---
"Aw, man." Jareth groaned, rubbing his temples. "I haven't been able to think of anything!" He and Pooktook were sitting across from each other on the floor of the previous-chapter room.
"I know." Pooktook said. "Maybe in the next chapter."
