Chapter 4: Birthday

Jareth was in his throne room sitting there watching Sarah through his crystal ball. He watched her as she ate breakfast and get ready for school.

It was Sarah's sixteenth birthday, this Friday. Jareth had yet to get her something. Though he didn't know when he could give it to her Sarah was going to go out to eat with her family on Friday and didn't know when she would be back. I want to get her something special...something different.

He thought of what he got her for Christmas a few months ago. She was so happy and surprised by the gift. It was a stuff owl. He wanted her to have something that looked like him that she could sleep with and hold. During the weekdays, when he normally didn't visit her, she would hold the little stuff owl close.

Jareth would image that, that owl was him not just some play toy. But this was different. This is her birthday, her sweet sixteen.

Jareth was so surprised when Sarah said she wanted to be friends. His mind when to that night he pleaded with her, pleaded that he may come and visit the next night. And the next forever more. He was so afraid that she would say no, because she couldn't seem him as anything else but the villain she had made him to be. He was ready for the 'no' but when she looked up at him after some time thinking she said yes. He was overjoyed, though he didn't show it.

Jareth had been coming there every weekend. He wanted to come during the weekdays but she had school and he wanted her to sleep. She had so much homework this semester. She was taking some really hard classes. Jareth was proud that she was doing so well in them too. He would come in his owl form and watch over her protectively.

He heard a sharp ringing sound; it caused him to stop reliving his moments with Sarah and look into the crystal. From the table Sarah looked up at the phone. She got up to answer it.

"Hello?" there was a pause.

"Hey Amber!" another long pause.

"Thursday?"

"I think so. Why not wait till I get to school, silly?" followed by another pause

Sarah laughed, "Whatever, silly! See you in a bit." she hung up and walked back to the table.

Sarah shook her head laughing.

He was curious what was going to happen on Thursday. But then he stood up quickly from the throne "I got it!" The goblins eyed their king nervously as he ran out of the room to prepare Sarah's birthday present.

xoxoxo

Sarah was in her room studying for a huge test. Her parents and Toby were watching a movie downstairs so she couldn't concentrate. Her parents couldn't believe the change in her and didn't know where it came from. Sarah would shrug every time they asked her. She figured it was something to do with the Labyrinth. After solving it she got deeper in to her class work and she even made a few friends.

She looked up from her notes. I wonder what they have planned on Thursday. Amber is up to something and so it Britt.

Amber and Britt were her best friends. The three of them were inseparable. They called themselves The Three Lady-eteers, like The Three Musketeers, a book that the three of them became friends over. Though Britt and she liked Pride and Prejudice. Britt was her Jane Bennet as Sarah was her Elizabeth Bennet.

Sarah couldn't image life without their craziness. They had a lot in common. They were taking some of the same classes this semester. Sarah wanted to get all A's this year. Her parents thought she could, but more importantly so did Jareth. She signed.

I wonder what Jareth is doing right now?

She could image him at his own desk bent over reading some royal papers or treaties. Sarah wondered if he would have reading glasses on. It'll make him look dashingly smart! He would be so deeply involved in it and not notice a fat little goblin would wiggle in and start making a lot of noise. Jareth would lose his temper and threaten the poor goblin with the Bog of Eternal Stench. Jareth was probably wearing his white poet-shirt with those tight gray pants. Sarah giggled at the sight.

Yep that is what he would be doing, threating a misbehaving goblin with the Bog.

The image stayed in her head until she heard the phone ring.

Her dad had answered it. His voiced carried to her room

"Hello?"

"Who is this?"

Sarah thought it must be a telemarketer. We have been getting them a lot lately. But then she heard his voice again.

"Saturday? Like this Saturday?"

"Does she know?" Sarah was starting to wonder who it might be. It can't be for me? Daddy would have called me down by now if it was for me.

"Oh. Okay. It's fine with me."

"You're welcome."

"Good night to you too," she heard the phone hit the cradle.

That is weird. Sarah waited for her dad to say something to Karen but if he did she couldn't hear him from her room.

She needed to go back and concentrate on her studying. No more Jareth until homework done.

But...it is so much better than this!

Yes but finish this now and the sooner the weekend!

"Alright then, Sarah, there will be no more daydreaming about Jareth."

Sarah went back to studying. A little later an owl was sitting in the tree hidden from Sarah's view.

Still doing homework, my fair Sarah? You better finish that before weekend. Jareth was tired from dealing with the goblins today so he left to watch Sarah in person, not by crystal. He needed time alone form annoying little goblins.

Sarah gotten up from her desk and put her school stuff together. She left the room for some time but came back with wet hair and in pajamas.

She turned off her light. But before getting into bed she grabbed the little stuff owl that was sitting on her bean-bag in the corner. She had curled up with him earlier when she was reading Wuthering Heights for her Advance English class.

She squeezed the stuff owl kissed it on its forehead and said "Good night, Jareth! I can't wait to see you soon!"

Sarah curled up in her bed still holding the little stuff owl, unaware that an owl that looked exactly like the one she was holding was outside.

Jareth saw her and smiled to himself, wishing that that could have been him instead. Good night Sarah. I can't wait either!

He flew off into the night to his own bed.


Hope you enjoyed. I'm going to watch the Labyrinth right now. I couldn't believe that my best friend hadn't seen the movie...well needless to say we are fixing that! It'll be awhile before I can update, I'm about to start finals.

~Vi