Explanations
Her face fell as he said it.
"Sure you do."
She meant it. She really meant it. What could she do to convince him?
"Jareth please," she begged, the anger completely gone once more. "Listen to me." His head raised as a sign for her to continue, his arms still across his chest.
"I'm not replacing you," she started. "Or at least, I didn't mean to." His eyebrows rose once again, but she decided to be honest. "When I got back from the Labyrinth, you and it were all I could think of. After awhile I missed it-you so much it hurt" She looked away as she continued, her brow furrowing. "I saw how much David looked like you and-well what was I supposed to do?" She said looking back at him, "You weren't, you didn't come back."
"All you had to do was call," he sneered, "don't try to blame this on me."
"I tried. You didn't answer. I called you so often when I first got back, my friends were convinced I had an imaginary friend following me around the house. And I'm not blaming this on you. Look, honestly, he reminded me of you, so I had to look in to it. But the more I saw of him, it felt, like, the more I saw of you."
She saw that it angered him, but she continued on.
"It started off innocently enough. You know, a favorite singer or actor or whatever. But the more I needed you, the more I needed him." Jareth was almost visibly shaking, yet stayed surprisingly calm.
"And just what, Sarah, did you need of me?" he said through clenched teeth, a faint, forced smile appearing. "Another wish granted? Another sibling taken away?"
"No!" she shouted. She was hurt, but he did have a point, that was why she'd called him last time. "No, I only wanted you. To see you again...talk to you..." her voice trailed off and her eyes subconsciously went to his lips. He tilted his head to the side, the smirk back in place, and she realized what she was doing and continued her explanation.
"It became an obsession. When I needed to see you, I'd watch him. When I had to talk to you, to hear your voice, I'd listen to him." She remembered imaging the songs being sung to her, as Jareth had sung to her years ago. "I'm sorry," she choked, "but you were so far away."
Jareths eyes burned, but he schooled his emotions so well, Sarah couldn't tell what was behind them. She thought she ought to run, assuming the emotion was anger, and she finally realized that his anger had made the Escher Room dissolve a while ago. But she decided against it, that she had to tell him everything, and leave it up to him to decide if one of them should go.
"I'll admit, I almost did convince myself that he was you." Jareth took an angry step back, eyes flashing an I knew it! look. "But each time I did I screamed at myself for it! I didn't, I don't want anyone but you. Surely if you saw me rehearsing, you must have seen other places I've been. Did you ever see me on a date with anyone? No. I couldn't bring myself to do it, thinking that maybe, one day you'd come back. No matter how similar, I don't want anyone but you." She took a step toward him, and waited for his reaction.
He was angry that she felt that, but impressed by her honesty. He had decided not to interupt her, but it was taking all the will power he had from hitting something, or more to the point, her. He made himself ignore the tears in her eyes.
"No! No, I only wanted you. To see you again...talk to you..." he noticed her eyes glazed slightly as she looked at him. He smirked. He knew the effect Fae had on humans. He let her daydream for a moment before shaking his head, and she blinked rapidly trying to clear her vision. She started again.
"It became an obsession," he almost winced. She could have used a different word. "-hear your voice, I'd listen to him."
The small smirk faded away, and he could tell by her choked voice she wanted to stop. But he wanted to know exactly what was going on in her mind.
"I'm sorry. But you were so far away." Jareth knew how to control his features. Only his eyes showed the truth and emotion, and they were burning. He saw her glance in the direction that the door had been, and knew she was afraid, and assuming he was mad at her. He was, but with himself too.
He'd often thought of returning to the Aboveworld to get her. Offer her her dreams and himself once more, but always talked himself out of it. Afraid to be rejected again, he guessed. Now he screamed at himself for never seeing her, for never coming sooner. He had stayed away, and maybe for to long. Had he really thought she wouldn't move on? He'd waited to long so long, had he really thought she wouldn't move on? Especially since she had never really shown any feelings toward him other than the dance. But, it seemed that maybe....she hadn't moved on....maybe....
No, he thought, I should've come sooner.
"I'll admit, I almost convinced myself he was you." As he took a step back, his face read I knew it! Sarah thought it meant that he had guessed she mistook David for him. What he really thought was I knew it, I waited to long. She wanted Bowie now. She had to.
"But each time I did I screamed at myself for it!"
You did now?
"I didn't, I don't want anyone but you. Surely if you saw me rehearsing, you must have seen other places I've been. Did you ever see me on a date with anyone?" He froze at the question. He couldn't recall one, but that didn't mean th-
"NO. I couldn't bring myself to do it, thinking that maybe, one day you'd come back." His heart couldn't decide whether it wanted to sink or fly. "No matter how similar, I don't want anyone but you."
She took a step forward as he thought. His features were unreadable as he casually leaned against her dressing rooms wall. He believed her this time, for sure. No doubt clouded his vision, she had explained everything perfectly and was surprising detailing. Much more than he would have been in her position. He admired that, giving a small smile.
Sarah took the smile as a smirk, and gave a small, almost hiccupy noise. He realized she thought he was still angry, and the Fae in him couldn't resist the chance to tease. He straightened up to tower over her.
"Do you think I believe that?"
"You should, so, yes." she said in a whispered voice. Pain was clear on her face. Hadn't she said enough? What more did he want? What was she supposed to do?
"Then, my dear, you're right ." He gave a wide smile and opened his arms. She stood still for a moment, not believing at first, then jumped into him.
"Sarah, why didn't you say that in the first place?" He smirked as she gave him a mock glare.
"Don't, even, go there. I like life, I don't want to waste it."
"Waste it? How?"
"By being stuck in prison for killing you,." They both laughed, but he quickly cut her off. It's hard to laugh while someone's kissing you.
"Sarah we're starting--ooOO." Someone had walked into the dressing room. They both looked over, mouths still together until Sarah realized who it was and jumped from Jareths side to stand in between the two, hoping that somehow Jareth wouldn't be seen.
"H-hi David," she said a little to cheerfully. "W-what brings you here?" She felt Jareth tense slightly and grabed his hand, giving him a warning squeeze.
He smirked at her as she blushed. "Rehearsal, Sarah." His eyes went to Jareth, widening as he took in his outfit.
"Ok, I'll be there in ten minutes. See you later."
"Who's-"
"See you later." she said through clenched teeth. He took the hint and quickly left, only pausing to look at Jareth a last time. Odd. He thought. He's dressed up as the Goblin King. They better not be replacing me.
She turned back to Jareth, a weak smile on her face.
"How funny he showed up then, huh?" she said through an obviously forced laugh.
"Hehe...I did NOT see that coming."
