Chapter 2: New job, new story

"Well, I realised writing and drawing were my life, so after my acting career kind of failed, I carried on, I just let it flow through my fingertips." She brushed her fingers delicately over the drawing of his royal highness, tracing the outline of his cheekbone. They had been talking the past half an hour about her new life, their positions not changing. He still leant against her vanity and she still sat upright on the bed, but it was comfortable. Two old friends chatting happily. Her drawing him had become a regular thing, ever since she discovered she could draw and he was the first model she ever had so he was more than happy to oblige her whilst she drew him.

It'd been so long, but he was still so familiar, fresh in her mind, as if he was always there.

When she had done she smiled and flipped the paper of for him to criticise. She expected him to ruffle his wild hair and make a comment about how he didn't really look that unkempt and then persist to try to snatch the paper away from her, ending up in a game of rough and tumble, which lead her mind into all sorts of dirty places, but she managed to steer clear and keep her smile firmly on her face, without blushing.

"It's...beautiful. Very well done." Was all he said, not being overly gushing about it, but she could tell he was genuine by the rare warm smile he gifted her with.

"I told you, I draw what I see." Sarah smiled back, flattered at his honesty. Many times, he had snuck into her college room, thinking she'd been asleep and gazed at the drawings she had left on her desk. She almost giggled at the memory of him gasping out loud of a drawing of him in a dress, only for her to wake up and have a giggling fit at how she had caught him out. He hadn't spoken to her for a full month after that and when he was in owl form, would flutter his feathers, squawk loudly and fly away in a huff.

"It's beautiful. Almost as beautiful as the woman drawing it. Why do you never do self-portraits?" He asked, smiling teasingly again and twitched a mischievous eyebrow, knowing she wasn't in anyway vain like him.

"Flattery will get you no where goblin king." She placed the paper back on her table and folded her arms across her body, watching him with a big smile on his face.

"It worked in the ballroom. Such a lovely little...dreamer." He tilted his head, letting his bangs sway slightly, glistening in the late evening sun.

"Ah yes, but remember who failed with, 'Love me, Fear me, Do as I say..."She trailed off as his face dropped. He frowned before he cast his glance downwards, his fringe covering his features so she wouldn't see his heart.

"Sarah." He sighed, almost quiet enough for her not to her, but she did and she bit her lip at the pain in his voice.

"Oh Jareth, I'm..."Again she was lost for words and attempted to brush his hair away, only to have his hand grab her wrist and push it away as he stepped forward.

"Did you ever consider my proposal?" Jareth snapped, not harshly, but all frivolous flirting and what not had let his demeanour and he became the goblin king Sarah had grown to know; and secretly love.

"Jareth," She meant it to be a mere statement of his name, but the fact she whispered it almost inaudibly due to nerves, made her stop what she was going to say and instead tried desperately to moisten her now dry throat.

He leant in further and gazed solely into her eyes, knowing he'd faze her. It worked. The blood visibly drained from her face and she held her breath, scared she'd whimper in fear and his intense gaze.

"I see I still have the power to leave you speechless." He replied, slightly Cocky, but still retaining his seriousness. His words stung her a little, making her remember how cold he could be at times when he didn't get what he wanted. She frowned unhappily, allowing her glare to bore into him.

"More like dumbfounded Goblin king. I was 15 and still a child!" She told him coldly, not wanting him to control her emotions the way he could with a twist of his words.

"But you're not any more Sarah Dearest," he leant in as if to plant a kiss on her cheek, but instead drew in a breath and sniffed her, "Definitely not the little girl any more."

"Easy goblin king, this 'not little little girl', learned a bit of grown-up fighting and can easily kick your royal behind." She stepped away from him, swivelling to claim her wrist from him and turned herself to look at him with folded arms. She inwardly cheered at having changed the subject.

"All grown up and yet you're the one who is talking to a king who lives in a kingdom, well outside you're realm." He drawled in his beautiful accent, making her want to jump him then and there. Of course, she would never let him know that.

"I don't think I can easily ignore you." She sniggered, loving their little arguments she always provoked.

"I would expected you to merely forget us like the other challengers. Just name us as a childhood delusion or dream that happened one night." His circling of her didn't make her feel uncomfortable, she just knew it was his excuse to eye her up and not intimidate her. He looked in front of her

"I could never forget you, your one of my old friends." She disguised her blush by turning to the side and not looking into his beautifully enchanting eyes any more.

"Well, what about your other friends?" Jareth smirked and pointed towards her vanity. As she glanced at it, she instantly recognised her first friend.

"HOGGLE!" She squealed happily and turned to find the dwarf sitting on her old bed like that night so many years ago. She ran to him and leapt, tackling him into a hug, not noticing Jareth stiffen at her affection she shared with her friend. Soon she was reminiscing with her old friends, both taking in turns to talk to Jareth and Hoggle, sometimes having to act as mediator between the two when an argument began.