A.N. - Okay, so I didn't really like how chapter five was so I kinda tweaked it a little. Not much. Just a few lines between Vanessa and Jareth.
Been meaning to post this for awhile and want to apologize for all you faithful readers for the long absence. Between crap in my life and my stupid ancient computer, it was kinda hard to do. At least my computer is new and hopefully the other stuff will work itself out.
If all goes well, I should be updating this story again next week. Hopefully.
Chapter Six
Glancing at the clock on the wall, Sarah's eyes grew wide in surprise. "Oh, no! That can't be the time!"
If she didn't hurry she was going to be late for her shift at the restaurant. She couldn't leave without cleaning up though. That was one of the conditions the instructor imposed in order for her to use the art room after hours. He'd only agreed because he said she was the most promising art student he'd seen in a long time.
Grumbling to herself, she quickly cleaned the brushes and pallet. Wrinkling her nose as she washed her hands, she sighed. She hated the smell of turpentine and hasn't gotten used to the smell as many of the art had or Professor Delany. The man reeked of turpentine and Old Spice.
Shutting and locking all the windows she double-checked that everything was put away. Flipping shut the sketch pad she'd been using as a template for the oil painting. She grabbed her backpack trying to shove the sketchbook back into her bag. She was almost out the door, head down, searching for her keys, she didn't see him when he entered the classroom looking around intent and curious.
A pair of strong hands grabbed and steadied her so she wouldn't fall as they collided. Sarah's backpack on the other hand, fell from her grasp onto the floor spilling its contents. Bending down she darkly muttered, "That's just perfect."
At the same time he said, "Sorry, let me help."
Sarah was barely aware of him kneeling opposite her until he spoke. His voice was a cultured tenor with a British accent. It caused her to pause in the act of picking up her sketchpad. Her head snapped up, her greenish-gray gaze met golden-hazel behind silver rimmed glasses. His mussed dark blond hair just touching the collar of his open denim jacket. A dark smiley gray shirt was half tucked into faded worn jeans. His brown boots were scuffed and had seen a lot of abuse.
Quelling the mad laughter of relief and disappointment, Sarah didn't know why she believed that it might have been him. It had to have been because of the subject of the painting. It had been a landscape of that place. And it was probably also because of what day it was.
It was still on her mind and made her jumpy. Of course it couldn't have been him. It was impossible. Wasn't that what everyone kept telling her? Trying to make her believe? Yet, deep down in the depths of her whole being, she didn't want to believe it was impossible.
Frowning at her pale face with concern, he asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'm just peachy," she muttered back. She grabbed her notebook from him and crammed it into her overstuffed bag. He didn't seem to take offense as he helped her to stand. He held out his hand. "I'm Tristan, by the way."
"And I'm late." She ignored his proffered hand heading for the door again. Noticing that he wasn't following she stopped and turned around. Tristan had walked further into the room and stood at the easel she'd vacated, looking at the painting she'd been working on.
"I have to lock up."Nodding, Tristan took one last look at the painting. The details were so exquisite that he could swear that if he reached out to touch the plants he'd not feel the cloth of canvas or the wet paint. Instead, he was sure he'd feel the roughness of the bark from the trees under his fingers, the rope-like texture of the vines, and the soft velvet of the delicate flower petals.
"Hey. Hey, you. Tristan."
"Coming." Tearing his eyes away from the artwork and quickly joining Sarah at the door. She waited with an impatient and curious look. He shook his head as he glanced over at her while she locked the art room. He knew her to be the artist since the paint had yet not dried, she smelled slightly of turpentine, and there was paint smudges on her jeans.
The painting had such depth, detail, and feeling. It was as if she literally put her soul into it, breathing life into what would otherwise be a common piece. Her work awed him and Tristan wanted to see more of her work.
Letting out a frustrated breath, Sarah glared at her watch as if it were to blame for all her troubles. She had missed her bus and the next one wouldn't be along for a half hour it it were on time. Sarah was learning how to operate within the transit system since her car broke down and was in the shop. "Just perfect!"
"I could give you a lift, if you like?" At her look, he held up his hands in a mock gesture of warding off her look. "As an apology delaying you."
Sighing, Sarah looked at her watch than at Tristan again before nodding in defeat. She really didn't feel like sitting on a crowded bus with annoying loud teenagers who were trying to show how 'tough and cool' they were by how many swear words they could fit into one sentence. Nor did she want to listen to the mothers scolding their bratty misbehaving kids. Mass transit was not something she enjoyed.
Sarah knew she couldn't have been as bad as the teenagers were nowadays. Toby sure hadn't felt the need to screech and holler like the kids did. Well, not since he learned to talk anyway.
Following Tristan out of the campus to the student parking lot she took out her cell phone to call her boss and explain she was on her way. She hung up and blanched. She would definitely hear about it from Dafydd and Cammy later. Dafydd sooner than Cammy since they worked the same shift at the restaurant.
She looked over at Tristan who gave her a disarming lopsided smile. Stopping at a midnight blue mustang he unlocked the passenger door first and held it open for her. At her surprised look his smile faltered and his eyes showed confusion and doubt. "Are you not used to courtesy in this country?"
"Not really."
Tristan's expression cleared, smiling again. He waited until she was settled in, shut the door, and walked around the hood to the driver's side. She raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Pulling out of the parking lot he asked her which way to go. She gave him the directions to take the quickest route. The drive was silent except for the occasional direction given by Sarah.
"Here we are," Tristan said pulling up in the diner's parking lot.
"Thanks for the ride."
"No problem. I hope we run into each other again."
"Don't count on it," she muttered climbing out and shutting the door on his smile. Not sparing him another look she rushed into the diner stowing her bag and jacket and hastily clocked in. Donning her apron and hairnet she nodded to he boss and busied herself, suppressing a groan when she caught the look on Dafydd's face.
"You're late," was his greeting.
The two had known each other since junior high school but became friends in their junior year of high school. He looked upon her as a brother would a sister and it was chafing and annoying at times. Like now, when she was only ten or twelve minutes late he thinks the worst. Whereas Dafydd could be half an hour late and he'd just shrug it off expect everyone else to as well. He had the lamest excuses sometimes too.
"I got caught up in my painting and lost track of time."
"At least you're not sleep deprived," he said looking at her eyes critically. He ignored her irritated glare. "You did eat, didn't you?"
"Yes, mother."
Dafydd frowned at her, his chocolate brown eyes showing concern. "I can't help but worry about you. Someone has to do it for you since you don't worry about yourself at all. You get so caught up in wanting to finish your paintings that you stave and exhaust yourself."
Sarah felt mad laughter bubbling up inside her but suppressed it. "The deadline for the exhibition is in a few days."
"And it won't do you any good to collapse in the mean time." Dafydd flipped a steak he was grilling and as casually as he could asked, "Do you have your I.D.?"
"Why?"
"Feel like going clubbing after work?"
"What about Cammy? It wouldn't be fair to her."
"That's why she's coming with."
"Aren't you forgetting about Toby and Emma?"
"Well, if we disguise Toby and say he's a midget-" Dafydd grinned but sighed at Sarah's look. "I already talked to my folks. They said they'd be happy to watch the kids. Nate's excited too."
"That's just what I need. Your delinquent daredevil brother influencing Toby."
Dafydd snorted. "Nate's not that bad and Toby's not as innocent as you think."
"He's better than Nate."
"Undoubtedly. Toby uses charm and that innocent sweet smile of his to wrap people around his finger. Especially his big sister. Nate just annoys the hell outta people and pisses them off and you give into him just in hopes he'll go away."
Going back to his original question asked, "So, you coming?"
"I'll think about it."
"Fair enough."
0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Slow down!" Sarah repeated for perhaps the dozenth time. Her fingers were painfully clenched as she sat stiff and rigid in the passengers seat. "You just ran a stop sign!"
"Those are just there for decoration," Dafydd replied grinning. He loved to lead foot it and had more speeding tickets than anyone Sarah knew. It was a wonder that he even had a license let alone hadn't had it suspended. Sarah was sure Dafydd's father had regretted even buying him his first car as a graduation present.
"Dafydd!" Sarah nearly screamed as he gunned the gas pedal taking the yellow light as a challenge and running the red light.
He grinned. "Don't you know green means go, yellow is to speed up, and red is just a suggestion?"
'Men are so stupid!' she thought before angrily gritting out through clenched teeth, "Dafydd Jacob Donavan, you may have a death wish but I don't!"
He winced at her using his full name. "C'mon, Sarah."
"Either you slow down or I report your ass to the cops!"
Dafydd stared at her mouth agape. "You wouldn't-"
"Watch the road!" They nearly missed a car as Dafydd drifted over the line. The person angrily blared their horn flipping them off. Sarah flared at him, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Wouldn't I?"
Scowling, he slowed down knowing she was serious. He should know better by now. He saw her relax her deathgrip on his door handle. He swore she gripped it so hard he'd have permanent imprints of her fingers there.
'How could Cammy get into a car with Dafydd driving?' Sarah wondered. Her best friend had to be slightly crazy to voluntarily to be his passenger. 'Then again, that's probably why Cammy was so happy about buying that car.'
Cammie and Sarah had been friends from junior high and room mates when Cammie had been kicked out of her house. T he two had saved to get the car that was in the shop.
Sarah was very thankful when they reached the club and she couldn't' get out of the car fast enough. That was the last time she ever got into a car Dafydd was driving. He grinned at the relief that was evid3ent on her face. She glared and he laughed. Shutting the driver's door he said, "C'mon, we don't want to keep them waiting do we?"
Sarah halted mid-step. Exasperated, she said, "Them? Dafydd!"
He gave a sheepish guilty smile. "It's not my fault, really. Blame Cammie. It was her idea."
She let out a growl of annoyance. Her best friend was constantly trying to fix her up with someone. Cammie said she was tired of seeing her single and couldn't understand why none of Sarah's relationships lasted longer then two months. Sarah couldn't see how it was any of Cammie's business.
"Just don't let Cammie know I spilled, okay?" Dafydd didn't want to deal with an upset girlfriend. A girlfriend he'd been waiting for the right moment to propose to.
"I'm so sick of this. I've told her a thousand times, not to do this to me."
"Well," he said slowly smiling. "You could make this the thousand and one time. Or, I could always drive you home."
Sarah blanched at the thought. "I'd rather you didn't." She sighed in defeat. "Fine, but you'd better let her know this is the last time. And you're buying the drinks."
Sarah let him drag her inside where her senses were immediately assaulted by grunge rock, flashing colors from the dance floor, the smell of tobacco, sweat, and alcohol. They made their way through the crowd to their table where Cammie was already waiting.
If Dafydd hadn't already slipped and told her about the blind date, Cammie's smile gave it away. The petite red head was a terrible liar and couldn't really keep a secret like this. Her face was very expressive and told you exactly what she was thinking or feeling.
Giving her boyfriend a kiss as the duo sat down, Cammie said, "Finally! What took you?"
"Sarah freaked at the speed, so I had to slow down."
"Excuse me for not wanting to die in a crash that could have been avoided! You almost hit a car!"
"Only because you threaten to-ow!" Dafydd rubbed his arm and pouted at his girlfriend. "What'd I do?"
Cammie gave him a pointed look and Dafydd had the grace to look ashamed. "Sorry, I forgot."
Cammie glared at him, smacking him again. Sarah ignored them as she searched the crowd wondering which guy her friend thought would be the one to 'end her loneliness' as Cammie put it. Apparently Dafydd was thinking along the same lines because he asked without thinking, "So, where is this dude? Is he late? OW!"
The red head elbowed him and he muttered something about violent red heads and getting them all drinks. Cammie turned to Sarah pleading, "Just give him a chance before you shoot him down, okay?"
Giving a long suffering sigh, Sarah agreed. "Just please don't tell me it's Dan."
"What's wrong with Dan? He's a good guy; mostly." Cammie giggled and Sarah rolled her eyes. Sobering up, she looked at her best friend. "Don't worry. I know what type you like. Even though I think it's unhealthy."
"You're making less sense than usual."
"What have all your ex-boyfriends have in common besides you?"
"I'm sure you're going to tell me."
"Darn tootin! I"m not the only one who's noticed your selectiveness. Any guy with half a brain on campus has figured it out."
Cammie began to tick the traits off on her fingers. "You like your men slender but strong. Tall, blondish. They've either got to have blue, green, or a particular shade of hazel. Then there's your thing for accents."
Sarah grew uncomfortable as her friend named everything that she subconsciously sought in her potential boyfriends. Cammie gave her a sympathetic look. She grabbed her hand. "Seriously, Sarah. How long are you going to drag around his ghost? Don't you think its time you started dating guys who don't resemble him?"
Sarah looked away and was grateful when Dafydd came back setting their drinks on the scarred tabletop. "Where is this guy? Not very nice standing a lady up."
"Maybe he didn't come because he thought it was stupid too?" Sarah volunteered hopefully.
"Or maybe he got lost." Cammie frowned. "He is kinda new in town."
"How do you know this guy anyway?"
"Jealous?" Cammie grinned at Dafydd. Sarah excused herself and headed towards the bathrooms where the phones were located. Pulling out a quarter she inserted it and dialed the Donovan's number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Mrs. Donovan. It's Sarah. I was wondering if I could speak with Toby?"
"Of course. The boys were just getting ready for bed. I'll go get him."
Sarah waited as she listened to Dafydd's mother leave the telephone and some murmured voices. A few minutes later her brother's voice sounded in her ear. "Hi, Sarah."
"Hey, Tobe. Having fun?"
"Yeah! Nate's got the new Donkey Kong game!"
Sarah smiled as her brother excitedly told her all about the game. She heard the frown in his voice when he asked, "Are you on a date? Nate said you and Cammie and Dafydd were going out."
"Not really, we just came down to the club for a bit."
"Oh." Toby's voice perked up again until Sarah curiously asked, "Would it bother you if I started to date?"
Toby was quiet so long Sarah was going to reassure him that she wasn't serious but stopped. Her brother sighed then there was a defeated, "No. Not if it makes you happy."
"Toby-"
"I gotta go to bed."
"Alright. I love you, Tobe."
"Love you too."
"Night."
-Click- Sarah dazedly hung up and stood for a minute before sighing. She was tempted to call a taxi to take her home but knew she had to go to her friends. On the way back to her table she was jostled and crashed into someone. A pair of familiar hands steadied her.
"You do know I wasn't being literal when I said I'd like to run into you again."
Sarah looked up to see Tristan smiling lopsidedly at her. "Are you following me?"
"No, much as I'd like to. A friend brought me here to 'show me the sights'." He looked to the crowded dance floor. "H seems to have found more preferable company."
Sarah followed his gaze to a dark haired couple that were very close. Peering at her table where Dafydd and Cammy were lounging, she made up her mind. "Would you like to join me and my friends?"
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose."
Sarah wasn't sure, but she had the idea that if her blind date did show maybe he wouldn't sick around if he saw her with another guy. "Well, you could always wait for your friend, but it doesn't look like he'd be coming up for air any time soon."
Tristan smiled. "I much prefer your company anyway."
She led him to where Cammie was about to drag a reluctant Dafydd to the dance floor. She paused briefly upon seeing Sarah and Tristan, then winking at Sarah she continued to drag her boyfriend. Ignoring the look Sarah took her seat and sipped at her drink, Tristan sat opposite her.
"Do you go to college around here?"
"No, I'm just visiting. I don't know if I would want to live here, but decided to check out the campus' anyway. That's how we ended up meeting earlier today."
Sarah's eyes narrowed remembering Cammie saying her blind date was new to the area. Tristan had admitted he was only here because his friend brought him here.
"Do you know Cammie Murdock?"
"That name is not familiar."
"What's your friend's name?"
Tristan frowned puzzled. "Landon Willis, why do you ask?"
Sarah couldn't recall a Landon Willis so she told Tristan about
Cammie setting her up and that after what he said she suspected him
of being her blind date. Tristan took this all in stride and just
smiled replying with, "It was a spur of the moment thing to come
here, but I'm glad we did."
Holding out his hand he asked,
"Care to dance?"
'What the hell,' she thought. Taking his proffered hand she let him lead her to join her friends. When they stopped for a break, Cammie grinned at her, while Dafydd tried to remain indifferent, but Sarah saw that protective look he always wore around any guy that showed an interest in her. Tristan either didn't see it or pretended he hadn't as he nodded to them. Sarah made the introductions and rolled her eyes when Dafydd's grip was tighter than necessary.
"And of course you've already met Sarah," Cassie brightly beamed.
"Twice, and yet failed to get a name both times." Tristan smiled. "And it is such a fitting name."
Cammie grinned while kicking her boyfriend under the table when he frowned. She mouthed, 'Be nice.' He rolled his eyes. Yet by the end of the night he'd loosened up and even joked with Tristan, but Sarah wasn't sure if it was because he was warming up to him, or if he had too many to drink.
Dafydd fumbled for his car keys when the club was closing. He grumbled when Cammie took them stating firmly, "I'm driving."
He didn't argue knowing that he wasn't in any condition to drive. That and he knew better than to argue with her when she took that tone. Giving them a triumphant grin, Cammie jingled the keys happily. "Coming?"
"I could drive you home, if you'd like."
Sarah nodded considering Tristan had drunk the least amount of alcohol out of all of them. From the ride earlier she knew he was a safe driver. Cammie smiled shrugging and bounced toward Dafydd's car. Shaking her head, Sarah followed Tristan to his car.
"Do you mind a side trip?"
"No problem."
Sarah directed him to the Donovan's house where she picked up Toby. Thanking Dafydd's parents she shouldered the ninja turtle backpack and picked Toby up. He was fast asleep and refused to wake up. Tristan waited leaning against the passenger side of the car.
Seeing her arms full of little boy, he opened the car door for her. She buckled Toby safely in the back seat. Rejoining Tristan in the front she wondered at his kindness. He asked no questions and volunteered to carry Toby up to the house.
Inside, she took her brother while Tristan looked about the living area. A couch, coffee table with G.I. Joe's on it, a second hand entertainment center. A few shoe boxes full of video games and recorded tapes. A Super Nintendo and VCR were hooked up to the t.v. Above it was a painting obviously done by Sarah. In fact, all the painting he could see in the room were done by her. They all had the same quality that the one in the art classroom had. He tore his eyes away and spotted the framed photograph in the hallway.
Hearing the tinkle of a bell, he turned to see a white cat dart under a bookshelf that held photo albums and college text books. There were a few on art and photography as well. Bending down he saw a pair of shining eyes staring back at him. It didn't move or break contact. He felt himself smiling then stood hearing Sarah's footfalls.
"Thanks for tonight. And for Toby."
"It was my pleasure. Your brother's a cute kid. Looks a bit like his mum."
Sarah smiled sadly and nodded. She glanced at the photo in the hall that was taken just after Sarah had graduated high school.
"I hope to see you again, Sarah."
Sarah locked up behind him and hearing a 'meow' she bent down and picked up the cat. She petted him causing him to shut his mismatched eyes and purr. The right eye was blue whereas the left was green. He had told her cat's with mismatched eyes like that were considered lucky.
He had found the kitten and brought it home and laughing said they should name it Jareth. Sarah refused at first but gave up when Toby sided with him and used his big puppy eyes. Still, she hardly called the cat by name.
"What've you been up to while we were gone?"
The cat just purred and Sarah smiled, taking him to her room with her. She sat down at her vanity which she had always been loathed to part with. She smiled when the cat batted at the mirror then looked up at her. "Meow."
A.N.- I had a cat once that was completely white with one blue eye and one green eye. I forget who told me that cat's like that were lucky, but only if they were pure white. He wasn't so lucky. He died after getting ahold of a mouse that had eaten poison.
