Hello again! Thanks for your positive reviews, they are much appreciated! ^.^ Keep 'em coming, and I'll keep posting. This chapter's a little slow, but I PROMISE the plot'll get thicker. R&R!!
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"…J…Jareth…"
"That's a weird name. I wonder if he goes to our school?" Bryan wondered aloud. But Sarah wasn't listening. Her mind was racing.
Him? HERE?! Never! He wouldn't…HE COULDN'T!!! She started to sway slightly, and balanced herself against the railing. Maybe it's just a coincidence…
"…Are you even listening to me?" Bryan asked, agitated.
"I'm sorry…I'm feeling a bit woozy right now…" The music had started up again in the back of her head as she stared after Jareth.
There's such a sad love, deep in your eyes…
I could have SWORN I saw love somewhere in those deep blue eyes…Sarah shuddered at the thought. The Goblin King had only wanted a toy; something to pass the time with. She was sure of this, as he had asked her to "fear me, love me, do as I say". She barely noticed Bryan pounding on her shoulder.
"Sarah? SARAH? CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" His worried gaze swept over her, breaking her from her trance.
She brushed him away, her eyes glued on Jareth's retreating form. "I can hear you just fine, lamebrain- OH!" Jareth had suddenly disappeared from view, seemingly into nowhere. She clamped her hand to her mouth. Now I KNOW it's him…Her feet seemed to move on their own as she walked swiftly to where he had disappeared. "Jareth? Where did you go?"
The Goblin King in disguise watched her from the school roof with a chuckle. "So she knows, does she? I didn't intend for her to find out so soon." He automatically reached out a hand toward her bewildered form. "Soon, Sarah…" Then he disappeared to someplace he could wait for human school to start.
Ignoring Bryan's chattering as best she could, Sarah hustled down the hall towards her first period class. "Goodbye, Bryan," she pressured as she practically shoved him out of the room. Rubbing her temples, she sank gratefully into her seat. The teacher gave her a questioning glance, but she just waved it away. As students flowed steadily into the classroom, she began to feel edgy. Something interesting, and probably unwanted, was about to happen.
"Class, we have a new student, though I have no idea why he's come so late in the year. This is…" Mr. Hirkinson consulted his list. "…Jareth! Say hello to Jareth, class."
Sarah groaned, but couldn't deflect her gaze from the blonde "student" standing in the front of the room. He shot her a cunning smirk.
"Let's find you a seat." The teacher looked around. Sarah remembered that the seat next to her was empty since Robert moved and quickly tried to stuff her backpack into it. Too late.
"Ah, Miss Williams! Thank you for volunteering. Jareth, have a seat next to Sarah over there."
What did I do to deserve this…Sarah berated herself. She let her head sink into her arms and tried to concentrate on the sketch of the teacher carved into her desk.
In front of the class, Mr. Hirkinson had begun his usual Language Arts drone. Sarah usually used this time as a study hall; this class was so easy you could pass it without attending school a day of your life. However, she couldn't get used to his hard eyes watching her back. She shifted uncomfortably, only to get a poke in her back.
"Hey, Sarah!" Lindsay hissed from the seat behind her. "Do you know that new guy? He's so hot!" When Sarah shook her head, Lindsay gave her a weird look. "Are you sure? I would've thought the guy was in LOVE with you from the way he's staring."
Sarah shot a look at Jareth, only to have him catch and hold her gaze. Her heart raced as he smiled at her. He turned back to his desk and scribbled something down on a piece of paper. It was then thrust into her hand with a prodding glance.
Before Sarah could open it, the teacher raised his voice. "Mr. Jareth, what do you think the Goblins in the Czech mythology created the Labyrinth for? You should know this already, as you are passing notes in your first day of class."
Jareth looked unshaken as he glared back at the teacher. "It was created so that when the Goblin King took the children to his castle, it would be near impossible for the mortals looking for them to find them. It worked perfectly until the mortal girl that he loved defeated the Labyrinth and drove the King into ruin…" His voice trailed off in reminiscence that only he and Sarah recognized.
Mr. Hirkenson gave him a wondering glance. "Very good…! How did you know this? Did they teach Czech mythology at your old school?"
"You could say that," Jareth said mysteriously. Sarah looked at him and saw that old gleam in his eyes. Suddenly her head started chiming with music, this time louder than ever. Her vision blurred, and her stomach turned flip-flops. She stood up, right in the middle of class, ran to the trash can and threw up. After that, everything went dark.
"Sarah…? Sarah, are you alright?"
"Daddy…?" She fought to open her eyes. This embrace was somewhat warmer and more caring than her father's, but who else could it be…?
"Come on, you can do it…"
Bleary objects started forming in her line of sight, and the person holding her grunted with satisfaction. But Sarah's stomach gave another heave, and her protector turned her over to let her cleanse her systems without getting it all over them.
When she was finished, he swept her up into his arms again and cuddled her close. "Everything is going to be alright," he murmured.
"Who…who are you?" She became vaguely aware that she was wearing a magnificent ball gown, just like when…
"JARETH!"
She woke up in the nurse's office, her blanket tossed haphazardly to the side. Mrs. White came running into the room.
"Sarah! What's wrong?" She felt Sarah's forehead and glanced at her worriedly. "Do you want me to send you home now? School ended three hours ago."
Sarah put her head down on her hand. "I guess so."
The nurse went to get her backpack out of her office. "A very nice young man brought you here. He stayed with you until school was over and I made him go home. He sat by your bed, held your hand, and whispered to you. It was so sweet!"
Bryan…? "Who was it, do you know?"
The woman shook her head. "Must have been a new student, for I have treated most of the boys at this school at one point or another. Little rascals, always getting themselves hurt in one way or another." A fond smile crept across her face. "I remember when you were here in your freshman year…"
"Ma'am," Sarah interrupted impatiently. "If you don't know his name, could you at least tell me what he looked like?"
If the nurse was upset by Sarah's interjection, she didn't show it. "He was a handsome one," she said a little dreamily. "Blonde hair and the most amazing blue eyes! You know, you hardly see such a deep blue color anymore. Usually there's a few flecks of green or brown in there somewhere…"
But Sarah wasn't listening anymore. She had just remembered the note that Jareth had passed her in first period. Slowly, she reached for her backpack. With a quick glance at the nurse, she gathered up her things and took off out the door, not even uttering a quick goodbye to the now rambling woman.
Once outside, she fished the little scrap of paper out of the pack. "I'm so sloppy," she muttered to herself. The paper was bent so badly it was almost illegible. Turning it this way and that, she couldn't make heads or tails of the smeared writing. She gave herself a mental slap and tossed it into the garbage. Go figure, she thought. Just when I thought I might be getting somewhere in this mess…
"Oh, but you CAN get somewhere."
Sarah spun around, though she already knew who would be standing there with a satisfied smirk. "Were you reading my thoughts?" She inquired with a forced voice.
Jareth laughed heartily. "No, of course not. You and I both know that's pure fantasy." He walked toward her, making his steps tantalizingly slow. "Don't we?"
"I…really don't know anymore," she whispered. All her instincts were telling her to run, run and get away from this man. But her feet were glued to the spot. Jareth seemed to have that power over her.
"It seems you have learned something since our last encounter." His voice was carefully lowered. "You know who I am now, I am sure of that."
She nodded. Her throat was now paralyzed as well.
"There's no need to be afraid, Sarah." He took another step forward.
"Why are you here?" She croaked. "I beat your Labyrinth! Leave me alone!"
"Oh, but I can't do that, little Sarah. You are the first one I have ever considered to be more than a mere mortal."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Sarah muttered. The fear was slowly slipping from her voice, though she still kept a cautious eye on the Goblin King.
"All in good time, Sarah. All in good time." Then, with a flick of his wrist, he was gone.
"DARN IT!" Sarah pounded her fists against the wall. "DARN YOU, JARETH!"
"Sarah…?" Lindsay stepped out of the door, her eyes wide with fear. "What just happened?"
Sarah jumped. Someone had seen Jareth disappear.
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Next Chapter: Someone has seen Jareth for what he really is! Sarah has to think fast to keep the biggest gossiper in the school from telling the world of the Goblin King's existence…somehow. Will she manage that AND Jareth's continuing attempts to win her hand?
