(AN: I'm alive! Exams are finished and I'm setting to right all the lost time on my stories. Several one-shots have been uploaded and I finally got around to updating my two-shot, all in all I'm feelin' good.
Thank you to all those who reviewed, favourite/followed this story it gave me the push to continue my studies so I could walk away feeling confident and start my writing again. To be honest I reckon I nailed the English Exam...Creative Writing, gotta love it!
Oh and to ME a guest- You're not quiet on the mark but you are close! But I'm sorry to say that what you've put into light won't be covered until a few more chapters. Thank you for picking up the subtle hints though XD
-all other thank you's will be covered at the end-
Sit back and enjoy my written desires.)
Sarah entered the school with a heavy heart. After all that had happened during the weekend she just couldn't shake the feeling that her life was pointlessly spent at the school. She dutifully walked to her locker and put away her bag. Her ears filled with the buzz of adolescent chatter and her mind drifted off as she grabbed the appropriate text books to place in her satchel.
She sighed as her neighbour slammed their faulty locker door to shut it. Her ears rang with the clang of the metal and cleared to hear the starting of a squabble some few metres back. Another day another bore she always thought. She turned away from her now locked compartment and made her way to her first lesson.
Tom waved her over cheerfully and she gratefully sat down. Her head was already starting to spin. She hadn't really payed attention to it before but the iron within the building was starting to affect her. She plastered a smile on her face and pulled out the poem they were working on. Tom did the same and glanced over her work before looking back to his. He slumped in his chair at his shorter additions to the assignment. Her smile turned somewhat pitiful as he looked back at her with hurt eyes.
"You could have at least tried to be average in your work and make me feel better!"
"You asked for help and I provided, you never added terms of condition such as lowering my standards." Tom's eyes narrowed as his face scrunched in disgust.
"You're evil, you know that, right?" Sarah nodded and turned her attention to the teacher walking through the door. His deep green eyes gleaming as he smiled to the students.
"Hello class, I'm afraid that our dear Mr Simms will not be joining as today due to complications. But let's not dawdle on the fact and continue on where he left off shall we?" The students just gave him blank looks before turning to their work. He nodded his head and sat at the desk to set up his notes. His head snapped up as something came to mind. "Oh, forgive me I forgot to introduce myself. How silly of me...well class, you can all call me Anonymous!"
Tom's brow scrunched as he raised a questioning hand. Anonymous nodded to him and was asked a very well placed question. "Why are we calling you Anonymous, Mr Anonymous?" The man simply smiled at him and touched his nose. Tom's confusion grew he turned to Sarah for an explanation and whispered, "I don't get it."
Sarah merely shrugged and pointedly looked to her textbook. Her ears pricked to focus on the movements of the supposed teacher. She had gotten to read a total of two sentences when she was interrupted by her study partner.
"Sweetie, I don't get it," he whined. She sighed.
"Ask the teacher for once. That is the whole point of them. To teach you, I'm the student I'm learning just like you."
"But you're better at it!"
"Makes no difference, ask the teacher for help," she retorted simply. He huffed and raised an arm for the attention of the substitute. Moments later the man in the brown suit came up to their desk.
"Yes? What is it you are in need of?" Tom faltered slightly but started his complaint of the assignment. Anonymous listened with polite attention and nodded when Tom had finished his complaint. He turned to Sarah and smiled grimly.
"I'm sorry for the unfortunate position your teacher as placed you in," he said with all seriousness, then his face broke out in a smile. "You look like you know what you're doing! Help the poor fellow out." And with that he strutted back to his seat and ignored all other student requests. Tom turned to her with a smug smile. Sarah groaned as her eyes went to the ceiling. Today was going to be long and tiresome.
Sarah stretched out on the grass of the school oval and let the shade cool her skin. She smoothed her red pleated skirt, sighed contently and closed her eyes. Here she could hear the birds argue and the people talk. This was her little place where she would just listen to the world and try to relax. Her musings were interrupted by the displacement of air and she opened her eyes to the sight of an owl coming up to her. She propped herself up on her elbows and waited for his arrival. Jareth landed besides her on silent wings. She stared down at him with raised eyebrows.
"What's wrong? I'm at school Jareth." He cocked his head to her but did nothing else. Sarah sighed and reached for her lunch. She took a bite of her sandwich and chewed in thought as the owl stayed by her side. "Is it really that obvious? I'm fine, really," she insisted. Jareth gave her a pointed look and moved closer. "What is it?"
He jumped up and settled himself on her stomach. Ruffling his feathers irritably he snatched a piece of meat from between her fingers and swallowed it in one go. Sarah just stared wide eyed at him as colour rose to her cheeks. She cleared her throat and put the rest of her sandwich down, turning her attention back to the owl on her middle she glared. "I thought owls had a delicate dietary balance. You can't eat ham, it'll make you sick." He gave her another pointed look with hooded eyes. "Right, magical king," she muttered.
Sarah huffed and brought her knees up as she collapsed back onto the greenery. Jareth shifted momentarily with her new position but stubbornly stayed in place. The two remained silent as time stretched and Sarah's breathing became relaxed. He stared down at her calm face and watched the rise and fall of her chest beneath the white dress shirt. Their privacy was interrupted by one blond teenager.
"Hey Sarah! Sunshine, wake it up!" Sarah glanced at him and sighed, she brought her arm to cover her eyes and ignore the figure looming over the both of them. "You know that you've got an owl sitting on you, right?"
"No Tom, he's a cat. Of course I bloody know there's an owl sitting on me!" Tom raised his brow but nodded and sat down next to her.
"Just checkin'. Hey babe, you want to come and hang out with the gang? I'm sure they wouldn't mind..."
"Tom, when have I ever gotten along with your friends?" He shrugged.
"They aren't that bad. Besides, I want you to talk it up with Amy. See if you can get her to soften to me a bit, that way if it doesn't work out I'll have you to blame," he grinned down at her.
"Fine," she sighed, "where do you want me?"
"Oh, I thought that if I couldn't bring you to the gang," he clapped his hands smugly, "then I'd bring the gang to you!" Moments later a group of teenagers emerged from the other side of the tree line and sat around Tom. Sarah removed her arm and propped herself on her elbows again. Jareth flapped his wings at her abrupt movement to steady himself.
"Sorry," she apologized but the smile on her face said otherwise. He clucked his beak at her to show his irritation and flapped his wings again. She laughed and petted his head. The look she got would have sent any goblin running. She laughed again.
"Sar-bear..."
"Oh God, that's the worst one yet!" She turned horrified eyes to the group.
"Sorry but I had to get you to stop torturing the wild life." Sarah hid a smile as Jareth swivelled is head to glare at him. Tom's eyes grew wide but he didn't move lest the owl attack him. "I take it the owl didn't like me saying something like that," he choked.
"Afraid not. He's such a sensitive thing," she sighed dramatically. "Come on, your majesty. Leave the poor little human alone." Jareth complied and removed himself from her stomach so that she could sit with her legs crossed. She started momentarily when she felt the weight of an owl settle itself on her shoulder. She glanced at him but looked back expectantly to Tom.
"Okay," he drew out. "Sarah this is the gang." He swept his hands out dramatically then turned back to her. "I figured since you didn't have any friends I would force you upon mine!"
"Thank you so very much for bringing that up," she grumbled. Tom ignored her and started introductions. He indicated to a girl with short straight hair the colour of ink, the expensive kind.
"This is Nakita, that over there is her twin brother Nathan." He pointed to a boy with similar features. His hair was equally as long but wavy. They shared the same warm brown eyes and the same angular features but that was all. Nakita was petite and rather tan whereas Nathan was paler and his shoulders broad. Sarah waved to the two and smiled shyly. Tom waved his hand to the redhead at his side. "The ever beautiful Amy," he cheered.
"Flattery isn't enough with you, my friend," she smirked. Her pale green eyes shining with humour as her lips curled. Tom grinned foolishly and moved onto the boys to his other side. Both had warm eyes and permanent smiles.
"These two fine fellows are Dick and Har-"
"You're not serious," Sarah interrupted. The grins on the group broadened. "Tom, Dick and Harry?" she asked incredulously. Tom smiled with a full set of teeth.
"You should have seen all the trouble we'd get into at kindergarten...our poor mothers haven't been able to separate us since."
"That is not something I'd be proud of," Sarah stated. Tom's smile somehow grew wider.
"Well it's a good thing you ain't me!" He looked around and stared at the small boy with curling blond hair. "Now, I know I know your name." he put a hand to his chin in mock thought. The group sniggered as the small boy crossed his arms and scowled.
"I'm getting rather sick of that joke," he grumbled.
"Now, now. Let me think," Tom held a hand up for silence. "Hmm, it's Ben-no wait. Bob, bobby, Bart! No that's not right...Bartleby maybe?" The boy started turning red while Tom continued to trip over the name. He began rolling his wrist as he mentally searched for the right one. "B...B, b,b..."
"Brandon!"
"That's the one!" Tom clicked his fingers triumphantly.
"How hard is it to remember?" Brandon grumbled. He turned to Sarah, "ignore the idiot he deliberately forgets my name." Sarah smiled knowingly and looked to the owl on her shoulder.
"Remind you of any one?" Jareth clucked his beak at her but nothing else. "Oh come on, you have to admit there are similarities."
"Why do you have an owl on your shoulder?" Nathan asked with genuine intrigue. "It looks real."
"He is real." Sarah grinned at Nathan. She was starting to like these people already. Jareth cocked his head to her and nibbled her cheek affectionately. Her eyes grew wide as another blush came to her face. Nathan smirked along with a few of the other members of the group.
"I think he likes you," Harry teased, his brown eyes gleaming with mischief. "Looks quite possessive already...I wonder what would happen if someone kissed you."
"Don't!" Sarah warned firmly. "I do not want to have to explain how a student got mewled by an owl during day light hours." Harry's grin grew wide and he lunged forward. Sarah yelped as she was knocked to the ground and found Harry bent over her.
"Harry, don't. She's pretty self-conscious about kisses," Tom warned, his usual playful tone gone. Jareth flung himself in between Sarah and the joking teen. His wings hunched and opened as he hissed menacingly. Harry back away immediately.
"Crap! Guard dog, she's got an owl for a guard dog!"
"You're the one who said he was possessive," she grumbled. She got off the ground and dusted herself off. Grabbing the remainder of her lunch she walked off towards the school. "Nice to meet you," she called over her shoulder. Tom stood from his position on the ground and smacked Harry in the back of the head.
"Ow," Harry's hand flew to his head, "what was that for?"
"You idiot! She's sensitive."
"Sensitive?!" he asked incredulously. Tom looked at him with serious eyes.
"I'm being serious, man. She's different. I think...I think she may be dying." Harry paled slightly.
"You're joking," her attempted. Tom shook his head grimly.
"That's why I wanted to introduce you guys to her. She's a sweet girl and all but she won't venture out and seek friendship. She's too afraid to."
"Crap. I need to apologize don't I?" The group gave him a stale look. "Yep, apologize. I'm going to apologize."
"Leave her alone, just let her simmer for a bit," Brandon cut in. He looked back to the retreating form of Sarah Williams. "She needs to be alone."
"Crap, I feel like crap!"
"Good!" Tom yelled. Amy put a hand to his shoulder to calm him. He smiled at her and sat back on the ground with her besides him. He turned to look at the owl that was still threatening Harry with rage filled eyes. "At least she has a friend who knows what she needs," he laughed half-heartedly. The owl looked at the group and then flew off to the general direction of his Sarah.
Jareth found her sitting alone with her back against a giant tree, the low branches hiding her from the view of the rest of the student body. She watched him land and gave him a welcoming smile. Before her eyes she watched him transform into the familiar figure of the Goblin King. His pale face was set in worry as he watched her silent resting. Gingerly he stepped closer. He hadn't finished his second footfall when she flung herself into his arms. The force knocked him back before he balanced himself and brought his arms about her.
"Sorry," she mumbled. Her face pressed against his chest as she pulled herself closer to him. Jareth sighed. With a new light shining in his eyes he smiled mischievously and took the advantage of her vulnerability. Sarah squeaked as he lifted her by the waist and brought his face down to nuzzle her neck. Her cheeks bloomed to a brilliant scarlet, she could swear she heard him purring. She didn't know what possessed her to do it but she did. She giggled.
They both froze at the sound, Jareth pulled back slowly and smiled smugly at the colour on her face while Sarah planted her feet on the ground with a horrified expression on her face.
"Well now, what was that my precious?"
"Nothing," she stammered.
"Oh?" he asked, the smile not leaving his face. "Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"Tra-la-la?" Sarah scowled and took her arms back to fold them across her chest. He smirked down at her and leaned over her against the tree. "Now, now let's not bring about a sour mood." She raised her brow but grinned unexpectedly. His smirk dropped.
"Would you rather be doing something else?" she asked convincingly. Jareth looked at her with disbelief as she leaned in with her smile. Then the bell rang to signal the end of the lunch break. He cursed under his breath when he saw her victorious smirk and walked away leaving her Goblin King to simmer.
The rest of the day had been uneventful, more classes and more empty seats beside her. She didn't even bother with replying when Harry tried calling out to her. She just wanted to go home where she could see her friends and escape to the land that welcomed her at any time she wished. The place that was home to all her friends, the creatures she loved and the only other person who had stayed with her through all her ordeals. On her way to the house the sky darkened and soon started to break apart with moister.
Sarah walked through the light rain with little thought about staying dry. The rain was always relaxing and her tired eyes were grateful for the excuse of drooping to keep water out. She shifted the backpack again. She crossed the street and made her way to the front porch. Wiping her shoes clean she opened the door and dumped her bag by the stairs. Karen came to greet her with a cautious look upon her face.
"Sarah, what's this?" she held up an envelope with a broken seal of blue wax.
Hoggle fidgeted with the plastic bracelet adorning his right wrist. His clear blue eyes shifted as his feet did also. He didn't like this situation, not one bit. He continued to focus his eyes on anything that moved, anything but the monarch seated before him.
"Higgle-"
"Hoggle," he corrected hesitantly, still unable to meet his gaze.
"Yes," Jareth draw out and sighed. "Must I threaten you? Just look at me!" Hoggle swallowed the lump in his throat and cautiously raised his head to look at his king. Jareth smiled menacingly. "Now then, you have issued an invitation to the Labyrinth's champion. I am quite intrigued as to how you obtained this invitation. Someone of your rank..." he trailed off.
"I's was given it, yer majesty...told ta give it ta Sarah..." Jareth's expression turned dark as the dwarf sank further in his spot. When he spoke again his voice was quiet but had a deadly edge to it.
"Given it by whom?" Hoggle looked to him pleadingly. He was sure that his king wouldn't like what he was going to say. "Hedgewort, who gave you the invite? Why did they want you to give it Sarah?"
"She said that you would be happy! Th-that you were goin' ta do it anyhow. She was doing you a favour, that's whats she said," Hoggle pleaded.
"Never mind that Sarah loves you foolish creatures I will dip you into that Bog Hogard. Tell me who has issued responsibility towards my Sarah."
"Your Sarah?!" Jareth's face turned cruel as a smirk spread across it.
"Yes, my Sarah. I am courting her after all."
"Courting?!" Hoggle's face froze in horror. His king leered at him as the knowledge sunk in.
"Courting, my dear fellow. You understand the term I'm sure, I am courting the Lady and Champion of the Labyrinth." Hoggle backed away with horror. The goblins surrounding him cackled at his discomfort and started teasing him. "Quiet!" The room was once again silent. Jareth smiled down at the dwarf once more, "Now then, who is it that you've worked with to betray me once again?" Hoggle swallowed the lump in his throat and brought the last sliver of courage he had to the forefront of his mind, thinking of Sarah and why he was doing it.
"The Labyrinth."
(AN: Ok, so what did you think? The idea of Jareth taunting Hoggle was just too fun to resist.
Oh and if you're slightly confused Sarah has both a backpack and a satchel. She uses the satchel during school to transport textbooks that are needed from class-to-class and then the bag is for bigger uses. It may seem like an awful lot of effort but it helps. I used to have a satchel...then it broke!
Again thank you to ME a guest, Sarah Rose 29, Byoken, BW4eva, Kaytori, notwritten, Jetredgirl, tonemara, Senshi at Heart, Aisling66, sheniyag, UniqueFantasier, Serena24 andPrincess of the Fae for reviewing and helping me with this story, you guys are the best!
I now know about PM-ing and how to use it!
Until next time, your ever faithful personal devil awaits.)
