When she awoke in the morning, she was half surprised to find herself alone. She even checked behind the shower curtain and in the tiny closet, telling herself that she just wanted to look around a bit, she definitely wasn't looking for anything... Or anyone.
She's brushed out her hair and took her time applying makeup. It was just breakfast, but she wanted to look nice. Just in case.
Once downstairs she eagerly looked around the lobby on her way to the dining room. She ordered a huge plate of waffles with berries and various sauces to drizzle over them. She sat at a table with a wall behind her, so she could see in every direction. The dining room, like the rest of the lodge, had a strange fusion of high class and folksy decor that actually worked very well. Tall windows let in the bright sunlight, made even brighter by reflecting off of the snow on the ground. Any minute, she was certain, someone would be joining her for breakfast.
But then breakfast was finished, and even after staying at the table a while longer to drink a glass of juice so cold it made her teeth hurt, she was alone. She scrawled her room number on the bill and went outside.
The air was crisp and fresh as she leaned on the wooden railing of the deck, overlooking a portion of the lodge grounds. Snow covered the earth like a blanket, sparkling in the sunlight. People bundled in various coats and gloves went to and fro, some with ski gear and some with steaming cups of cocoa and coffee. Straining here eyes to look closely at the neon colored figures below, she searched and searched for a certain person who was nowhere to be found. She hung around on the deck for a while until she began to regret not bring a coat to put overtop her sweater, at which point she went back inside to sit in the lobby.
The velvet of the chair was fading and worn, but it was still cushiony and comfortable. From this seat she watched the comings and goings of the people in the lobby. The best part was the fact that everyone was so wrapped up in their own wintry vacation that no one even glanced her way - a very welcome change from what had felt like a million pairs of eyeballs fixed to her back in New York.
She sat there until her back felt stiff and her feet started to go numb. She looked at her watch. The day was getting on. Her mind wandered to the previous night. Surely, by now... But she hadn't seen anyone who even remotely looked like him. The words from childhood floated back to her now - "if you get lost, stay in one place so someone can find you".
She was lost, but no one was coming to find her. It would be up to her to find herself.
She heaved herself out of the chair with a cross between a grunt and sigh that she was really glad no one was paying enough attention to actually hear, and made her way outside to the shops across the street.
Walking down the sidewalk, surrounded by happy people hurrying by and birds in the air, she finally let herself realize he wasn't coming. That part of her life was over. And as bad as that hurt, it was just how it went. Feeling bad wouldn't make him come back.
"Goblin King," she sent out the thought, not sure how to finish it. "Wherever you are... I hope good things are happening for you. I hope you've found happiness, and love. You deserve it."
She felt a peace in heart, almost - she had faced her fear and gotten an answer. It was a sad answer, yes, but not entirely unexpected. She had known back when things were getting serious with Alex that it was very likely Jareth would step out of the whole situation - and it was only fair, wasn't it? No matter what he had said to the contrary in earlier times, you couldn't really expect him to hang around her and her boyfriend, could you?
As she pulled open the door of the ski shop, it was like pulling open the door to her new life. She couldn't just sit around and wait for boys - even if that boy also happened to be a King - she would go out and create her own life.
And currently, that life was about to spend the next month learning to ski.
She asked the shopkeeper to help her pick out everything she needed, from jackets to hats to socks to skis and ski accessories.
The shopkeeper seemed a little confused at first, Sarah asking "Is there anything else?" after seeing each item and asking to get it. Was this some sort of practical joke? Each recommendation was met with a nod of approval, or a request for a different color, but nothing was turned away. He rang them all up nervously, expecting at any moment to be laughed at, hidden cameras jumping out from behind displays, or for Sarah to simply run out the door cackling.
But she pulled out a credit card and swiped it in the machine, not even flinching when the total was read aloud.
"How about ski lessons? Can I set that up here?" she inquired.
Nothing soothes the soul like shopping, she thought as she hauled the numerous bags back to her room.
The lesson was set up for in the late afternoon. The shopkeeper was vague about who it would be with - she would simply have to show up to the small ski rental up on the small hill and one of the instructors would be there for her one hour private lesson. She had specifically wanted a private lesson, as the thought of falling as much as she knew she was going fall was too embarrassing to attempt in a group.
She packed away the bags in the corner of her room, pulling out the things she's need and cutting the tags off. After a quick lunch in the dining room, she gathered her gear and headed off to the hill.
The little building which was the ski instruction office smelled faintly of mildew, and the person behind the counter told Sarah she could wait on one of the benches outside and her instructor would meet her there.
She trudged back outside and settled herself on the bench. After a few minutes she decided to busy herself with putting her skis on. After she got them on and buckled just the way the shopkeeper had showed her, her instructor still wasn't there. She drummed her heavily gloved fingers on the bench.
Soon.
She looked at her watch, pushing back layered of clothing to see the mint green glow and digital numbers.
Soon, probably.
She watched the other students, some in groups, often falling, but more often sliding down the gentle slope and pushing their skis out to slow themselves down. Sarah hoped it wouldn't be too difficult to pick, especially considering how much she already spent on everything.
She heard the door of the office bang shut and the quiet crunch of boots on the snow.
A voice came from behind her.
"Are you ready for your skiing lesson, love?"
