Sleepover

A/N: Ok, this one took me a little longer, even though it's just as short as the others, but hopefully you'll think it was worth the wait! Thanks to ALL my reviewers, your comments are much appreciated. Just so you know, the first part (in italics) is the end of the previous chapter. Enjoy!

"So. This Jareth guy…" Maybe I should've used a different name? Oh well, too late now. "…I want to know more." I braced myself, "Where did you-- How did you meet him? How long have you been going out? Why didn't you introduce us? Why didn't you even tell me? How o--"

I cut her off before she could ask his age. "Well, he's really shy, so that's why you haven't seen him before. We haven't been going out for very long - only a couple of weeks. As for where and how we met, well… it's complicated."

"Bullshit. People only say that when they don't want to tell anyone about something."

"Yeah, well this really is complicated… And it's also a long story," I said in a sincere voice. She stared at me stubbornly for a long moment.

"Try me."

"Fine," I muttered. A triumphant look spread across Anette's petit features.

Just then the phone rang, so I went into the hall to answer it. I turned to Anette, who was standing in the kitchen doorway, "It's your mum." I handed her the receiver.

"Mum? Hi. Yeah I'm fine. Yeah. What? But mum, you know I hate sleeping in an empty house! Yeah… Yeah, I guess so. Ok. Ok, I'll ask her. Bye." She hung up, and turned to me.

"Ask me what?"

"My mum had to extend her trip. She won't be back till tomorrow afternoon, and I hate--"

"Sleeping in an empty house, I know." I paused, just to tease her, then, "You can spend the night here if you want."

"Thanks, Sarah!" She hugged me and I laughed; the matter of explaining Jareth temporarily forgotten.

We went up to my room, "Whoa! It wasn't like this last time was it?" She asked, gazing around. "It was, but you've only been in here twice before, and during the latest of which, your top priority wasn't exactly looking round!"

My mind wandered back to that last time - a couple of nights before I wished Toby away. I remembered Anette sitting next to me on the bed, talking urgently, and then bursting into tears. That was when her parents spilt up suddenly.

She laughed, slightly bitterly, "True." She wandered around the perimeter of my room - from the door to my bed, glancing at the teddies on the wall, then past my dressing table to the window with the small bookcase below it.

She got back to me and, nudging me in the ribs, she nodded towards my dressing table, "Who's that, then?" She went back over and, gently picking up the 13 inch figurine, she commented, "Nice tights. Anyone I know?" She winked at me, and I grinned, mostly because she hadn't noticed the distinct resemblance to Jareth, but also simply at her comment.

"That's the Goblin King from a favourite book of mine - 'Labyrinth'."

"'Labyrinth'? I've heard of that. Is it good? I might read it."

With a secret smile, I replied, "Oh, it is. It's very good indeed."

A/N: Sorry, I know I didn't get to the matter of explaining Jareth, but I promise I will in the next chapter! Suggestions welcome as always! RandomRosa x