Chapter 12

Jareth sat with Karren, Robert and Toby and watched as Sarah's name was called and she walked across the stage and received her diploma. She smiled as everyone cheered and gave a wave in their direction. She looked beautiful in her school colors of emerald green and gold. They now complimented her now long black and gold hair and glowing features. No doubt about it, she looked radiant and glowing. Jareth smiled, that is the woman who is going to be my wife. I am the luckiest man alive!

After all the students had received their diplomas and the ceremonies were over all of the students left their seats to join their families. Jareth couldn't help but notice that he was getting a lot of attention from the female students. His thoughts, however, were on finding Sarah and congratulating her. He looked for her among the sea of green and gold robes but could not find her amidst the other students. This started to worry Jareth, Where is she, I thought she would want to be with us right after. Her parents had noticed her absence as well.

"Jareth do you see her anywhere," Robert asked rather concerned.

"No Robert I don't but I'm sure she'll be around any minute. Probably just chatting with her friends." In fact he wasn't so sure. A few of the girls who had been eyeing him earlier were now together and giggling like mad. The obvious leader of the group broke away and approached him.

"You must not be from around here," she said mischievously.

"Hm and why is that," Jareth asked absent mindedly.

"Well because you are too good looking," the girl said as she pulled herself in close to him. "I think I would remember a guy as sexy as you if I had seen you before." She was now all over him.

"Madam I assure you," Jareth said slightly annoyed as he tried to push her off of him, "that there are plenty of guys around here for you to use." The girl chuckled.

"My do I love that accent of yours." She leaned in close to his face, mere inches from it. "I think we should get together." With that she kissed Jareth against his better wishes and desire. A loud coughing broke them apart. Sarah had just stepped out from behind a tree and she looked positively livid. Jareth immediately pushed the girl off of him. Karren and Robert looked returned just as Jareth opened his mouth to begin pleading.

"Sarah I…"

"Well hello Sarah," the girl interrupted him wiping her mouth on her sleeve. "I had no idea this charming man was with you." Sarah merely glared at the girl.

"Sarah please," Jareth tried again.

"No I'm sure you didn't Lynn," she said completely ignoring Jareth. "It's not your fault you can't help but throw yourself at every guy you see, so why don't you and your friends just hurry up and get the hell out of here before my better judgment kicks in and I decide to kick your ass." The girl glowered at Sarah.

"Well there is no reason to be so pissy about it shiesh!" With that she and her friends stormed away. Jareth looked at Sarah's face and the expression she was sporting was one of complete and shear anger. Oh my god is she mad, Jareth old boy you better fix this quick.

"Sarah I had absolutely nothing to do with this, she just kept pushing herself on me." He exchanged a fearful glance with Sarah's parents whom looked just as nervous as he did. Sarah said nothing and merely strode past Jareth and her parents in the general direction of the car. Karren walked up to Jareth and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Did she really come onto you Jareth?"

"Yes I swear I had nothing to do with it," Karren picked up on the pleading look in his eyes.

"Ok well I suggest you get that through to Sarah, if there is one thing she doesn't tolerate it's people violating her trust." Jareth sighed.

"This is going to be one long night."

***

Sarah rode back in the car with her parents. No one spoke and she was thankful for that. She couldn't believe it. She was livid, irate, and terribly hurt. How could he do something like that in front of everyone. And with the school slut too! I feel like such an idiot for thinking he cared about me. He probably just wanted me to be his queen and then every night he could go off with some floosy and enjoy himself. I just can't believe this. They all piled out of her dad's car and headed inside. Sarah tried to make it up the stairs but her stepmother caught her.

"Sarah honey I think…"

"Karren I just really do not want to talk about it!" She crossed the landing into her room and locked herself in her bathroom. She pulled off her cap and gown and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She saw the tears start falling and didn't really care if they stopped. There was a knock on the door.

"Sarah please," Jareth's voice pleaded, "can we just talk about this. Please darling come out and talk to me." Sarah chocked back a sob.

"Jareth just go away I do not wish to talk to you right now. Go away!"

"Frankly Sarah I don't give a damn! You are going to come out here and talk with me if I have to stand here all night." Sarah was furious. She threw open the door nearly knocking Jareth in the face.

"How dare you order me around, how dare you! You were the one making out with the school floosy in front of everyone not me!"

"Sarah how many times do I have to tell you that she came onto me and I had nothing to do with it. I'm terribly sorry if your feelings have been hurt but it was not my fault!" Jareth tried to take Sarah's arm but she jerked away from him.

"I can't even believe this. I tell you that I love you and that I have suffered for the last three years because of it and this is how you repay me. Is this what it would be like if we were married Jareth? You going away every night for…"

"Sarah how dare you accuse me of something like that," Jareth screamed. He was hurt now and losing his patients. "I had nothing to do with this and I am not that kind of person! I love you damn it, you! Why are you being like this?" He was pleading but his voice was raised and that was all it took.

"If this is how things are going to be Jareth than I don't want to be married to you. I don't want to be hurt any more especially by you. You are arrogant, self centered and I never want to see you again." Jareth glared at her.

"As you wish," and with a swirl of glitter he was gone. Sarah flung herself onto her bed and cried herself to sleep.

***

Sarah awoke the next morning and remembered instantly the events of the night before. Tears flew down her face only know the anger she had felt by being betrayed was filled with shear sorrow and panic at the decision she had made and the things she had said. Angry as she had been she knew she had mad a horrible mistake. This was not how she wanted things to be and she desperately wanted to fix it. She sat up and hugged her knees. Well Sarah you have to try.

"Jareth… Jareth please answer me." There was nothing but silence. Congrats Sarah, you have truly messed up and now he truly angry with you, hope you're happy! Sarah curled into a ball and cried.

***

Jareth was storming around the castle frightening the hell out of all of his subjects. Hoggle was so terrified he had already fled with Didymus and Ludo. He had never seen Jareth in such a mood before. Jareth kicked his desk chair.

"Ungrateful, childish, little… How could she assume something as horrible as that? That I would just automatically sleep around with all these women. How dare she flout my honor so and treat me in such a manor. Anyone lesser would have been severely punished!" Jareth heard Sarah's voice calling to him.

"Jareth…" Jareth merely scowled.

"Not this time precious I am not just going to bend to your every whim. I do have dignity!" he looked out his window at the state of his kingdom. With less than two days left it looked as good as dead. This infuriated Jareth even more. "Why do you care about her so much!"

"For the same reason you do Jareth."

"It was a rhetorical question!" Jareth fumed and stormed back inside his quarters.

***

"Karren I really just do not see why I should go to this dumb ball." Sarah was sitting in front of her mirror while her stepmother prepared her hair.

"Listen I know how upset you are about your fight with Jareth but I'm sure…"

"Karren he hasn't talked to me all day. I have no idea where he is or what he is thinking all I know is that I have messed up and he is very angry with me. I don't think he will forgive me this time." She sighed, "I said some pretty harsh things to him." Karren stopped brushing her hair and took Sarah's face in her hands.

"Sarah now you listen to me. He loves you. I saw it, we all did. He cares about you more than anything in the world. And I'm sure he doesn't want to lose you over something as ridiculous as this incident. Give him some time to cool off, both of you. Why if I had thought it was over every time your father and I had an argument well we wouldn't have lasted a year." Karren laughed and Sarah gave a tiny smile.

"Maybe you're right Karren. After all he doesn't have that long to be mad anyway."

"What do you mean Sarah?"

"Well Jareth said that we had to decide to be married by this Sunday. It was in the rules or something." This thought frightened Sarah deeply. What if he hasn't cooled off by then?

"Listen," Karren said as she picked back up on her brushing ritual, "I'm sure it will be worked out before the night's over." Something in Karren's tones seemed deeply suspicious to Sarah but she decided it better not to ask. "Besides I think a little distraction for you right now will do wonders!" Sarah could only hope she was right.

AUTHORS NOTE: Hello everyone I want to apologize for the extreme wait on this but I have been without a computer for going on six months now. There will be two more chapters after this and I also have another rather short story in the works. I hope you like it and sorry if the fight seems childish.