Chapter 2- Stronger
Sarah stood outside Toby and Renee's school glancing at her watch every few moment. She had come to the conclusion that they were letting the kids out a lot later then they had when she had gone to school here. This wasn't necessarily true, Sarah was just being impatient. Sarah felt her phone buzz in her pocket.
It was a message from Molly. They had exchanged numbers following their last class.
"Hey, I was just wondering what you thought about Professor King? He seems cool but at the same time kind of strange…"
Sarah sighed. She still had absolutely no idea where she thought she knew the Professor from. She was going to have to go through her old things in the attic. Maybe it was a TV character?
"I don't really know… Like you said he's cool but strange at the same time. Do you recognise him from somewhere?"
With any luck Molly would know and that would assist Sarah in her search.
"What do you mean? A guy with hair like that I would remember. And you have to admit, he's pretty hot!"
Sarah felt an unfamiliar emotion flash through her. Jealousy. Why would she be jealous of Molly thinking the Professor was cute?
"I'll admit to nothing…"
The bell went off in the school. Sarah glanced at her watch. Finally.
"You like him? Sarah you have interesting taste in men."
Sarah rolled her eyes. She had never really been interested in relationships like that. She had ideas and half-plans to get married and have a family, but since she was 21 and had never been on a date with a guy she liked, her future was looking pretty dismal.
"I'm not answering that… I have to go."
Sarah put the phone back into her pocket and looked at the doors to the school. She had no idea what class Toby or Renee was in, nor did she know where those classes would be. Hopefully they would realise that she was outside.
"Sarah" She turned to the sound of her name being called and just caught Toby as he launched himself at her for a hug. Renee was behind him
"Hey Tobes, how was your day?" She asked putting him down.
"Good, I made a friend and we did some writing." He took her hand. Sarah smiled at him.
"Oh, I made a few friends too." And an enemy, she added thinking about Professor King.
"Nay, how was your day?" She asked her step-sister. Renee was very shy and was a bit intimidated by Sarah's age. Despite this, the girl still loved to play with Sarah.
"Good." She said as Sarah picked her up.
"Come on, let's go to the mall and I'll get you a book." Sarah said taking Toby's hand and leading them in the direction of her car.
This had become a bit of a tradition for them. Whenever they had a day together she would buy him a book from the mall and then they would read it. She would also buy a block of chocolate and they would share that. Although most of the time Toby ate a bit more than Sarah. Renee had also come along for a few of these excursions and she loved the books that Sarah chose to red to her.
"I love you Sarah." Toby said, giving her leg a hug.
"Love you too kid."
That night Sarah sat down to do her homework after enjoying a baked dinner. Her room had been re-designed and many of her childhood toys had been removed. They were now in the attic. She sat at her desk reading the Modern history textbook and answering the questions. However her mind kept turning back to Professor King.
Something about him screamed dangerous. But something also compelled her to reach out and connect with him. Something that was not going to happen, since she was certain that was illegal. But why was he like this to her. It wasn't having an effect on Molly, or from what she guessed anyone else in the class. Why her?
Sarah slammed her textbook shut. She couldn't concentrate on the questions. She let out a frustrated sigh. Thankfully tomorrow was Saturday, so she would be able to do a few things tomorrow.
She got changed into her pyjamas and climbed into bed. She felt watched. As if there was someone watching her do every little thing. She closed her eyes and prayed that sleep would come soon. Outside her window an owl hooted. It was far to close then they normally were. She turned her lamp on, deciding to shoo the bird away, except when she opened her window she found a barn owl. She paused.
Deciding that the owl wasn't really bothering her, she closed her window and went back to bed. This time sleep came easily. Possibly due to the melody the Owl was hooting.
OoOoOo
Sarah didn't bother with lunch on Tuesday, the next day she had Myths and Legends. She would only end up late again. Instead she nibbled on a muesli bar outside the classroom. She was reading Pride and prejudice one of her favourite books. Her phone suddenly started to ring.
"Hello…?" She replied after answering it.
"Is this Sarah Williams?" The lady on the other end said. She sounded professional.
"Yes it is. May I ask who I'm speaking to?" Sarah put her bookmark back into the book. It seemed as if she wasn't going to read anymore.
"This is Mrs. Ruckman, I'm calling you about your brother, Tobias." She replied in a calm voice.
"Is something the matter with him?" She stood up, from where she sat, outside the classroom.
"Tobias has been in a fight with another student. This behaviour is unusual in a child of his age. Your parents wrote you down as his emergency contact. Could you please come and collect him?" The principal of Toby's school says to her.
"Yes of course, may I ask what the fight was over?" Sarah asked.
"I'm not entirely sure, apparently one child was going to wish another to a 'Goblin King', but Tobias stopped him before the child could say anything." Mrs. Ruckman explained.
Sarah froze. The dream. The Goblin king was the person in her dream. That was who Professor King reminded her of. Jareth, the Goblin king. She suddenly wasn't angry at Toby for getting involved in the fight. He knew firsthand what saying those words did.
"I see, I'll be there to collect him as soon as I can." Sarah said before hanging up.
She opened the door to the classroom and walked in. The classroom appeared to be empty. She walked over to Professor King's desk. It was stacked with papers and books. All the usual things on a teacher's desk. There was nothing there to indicate who he reminded her of. She was contemplating writing him a note to tell him that she wouldn't be there, when she felt something brush behind her.
Turning around she found her professor standing behind her. Her heartbeat increased and she suddenly found it hard to breath. Sarah; that was a dream. Dreams aren't real! Her mind screamed at her.
"Professor King, may I speak to you for a moment?" She tightened the grip she had on her bag.
"Oh course Miss. Williams, what seems to be the problem?" He asked moving around her to sit at his desk. He put his feet up onto the desk, without moving the papers.
"Um, my brother requires some assistance and I'm going to miss your class in order to help him." She began twisting her ring around her finger. She had read somewhere that playing with jewellery was a sign of nervousness. Well right now she was beyond nervous.
"I see, you do realise that by doing this you will be required to make a catch-up lesson?" He had pulled a clear ball out of his desk draw and began to throw it between hands.
"Yes sir, May I go now?" She asked, turning herself so she could leave quicker.
"I guess. I'll speak to you later about that make-out lesson." He said closing his eyes.
"Make-out lesson?" She asked just trying to see if she had heard him right.
"I can teach you that too if you want Sarah." He said looking directly at her. He was smirking.
Sarah's face burned red. Shit, she had heard him properly. "The catch-up lesson will be enough." She said before walking the door.
"For now, Sarah for now." He said just as she closed the door.
Sarah shook her head. Should she tell someone about that conversation? She was certain that a teacher-student relationship was frowned upon and in most cases illegal no matter what age. But there was just something about him that pulled her to him. She had finally figured out who he reminded her of, but that hadn't ended the now stronger pull.
Why couldn't she just live a normally life. She had been doing that for so long and now she couldn't. It was all the books fault. If she had never read it she would have never called Jareth in the first place and he wouldn't be stalking her.
She froze. She had just admitted to herself that it had happened.
No, that was impossible!
She quickened her steps in order to get to the student parking. She just needed to collect Toby and then go through some of her old things. Then everything would be right again.
"Sarah, where are you going, class is that way?" Molly called to her as they passed each other.
"Family emergency." She cried back
She continued to walk to the car park.
Her head hurt and she could feel a headache forming. This was quickly becoming too much. Maybe she should swap classes? No, if he was who she thinks it is, he would just follow her.
Come on Sarah, if you defeated him once, you can defeat him again.
Sarah opened her door and got in. She took a deep breath. Even if it was the Goblin king, she had defeated him, he had no right to take her away. He had no power over her. Sarah smiled, despite the situation. There was nothing he could do to her. She was untouchable.