Chapter Eight

"Slow down," May insisted "now, tell me what happened again?"

"May," I whispered quietly "the whole world stopped. Didn't you feel it?"

"Yeah I felt something odd today," she said "like I forgot to breathe for two minutes. But why would that happen?"

"That's what I need you to find out," I said looking around worriedly.

"What are you all paranoid for?" May asked looking around.

"I don't know if he's around," I mumbled and May laughed.

"Do you like him YET?" May asked and I blushed. "You DO don't you?!" she yelled in enthusiasm "OH MY GOD SARAH! You're going to have SUCH cute babies!"

"That's not funny!" I laughed and threw a pillow at her.

"Yes it is," she laughed "because you will. I mean, look at him, your boys will come out handsome and the girls will look all pretty like you."

"Like I said," I mumbled "not funny. I mean, even if I DID like him THAT way, which I don't, but if I DID what makes you think I'll be baring his offspring?"

"Three years Sarah," she said "in that time, you haven't liked ONE guy. Then, Jareth comes back into your life and, well, you fall for him in two days."

"I haven't-"I started but she shook her head.

"Sarah," she said quietly "the whole world stopped. The whole freaking universe! Once you admitted to yourself that you love him, well, it's kinda a big sign that you love him. I think he's figured that out, the rest of you, even to me is a mystery. I seriously can't understand WHY you won't give in. Your SO stubborn, Sarah. I mean, this is something we wished when we were little. And now you have the Goblin King, hanging off your every word, and you're going to ignore him?"

"I'm not ignoring him," I said "but I'm not going to jump into his arms and say take me."

"Really?" she asked, smirking a little "because I was sure that once upon a time, you told me that if the Goblin king ever fell in love with you that the first thing you'd do is-"

"SHUT UP!" I laughed and she had a fit of giggles. "I was young and didn't know nor believe in him," I said and she nodded. We had always wished he was real, but, well deep down we thought we knew that he wasn't.

"You DO love him though?" she asked and I paused. I knew I did. But I didn't want to admit it to anyone just yet. Maybe at a later date.

"May," I sighed and she held up her hands.

"I know," she said "to stubborn to admit you feel for the guy. I won't bring up that you're ignoring him again."

"I'm NOT ignoring him!" I said "for the last time, there is no way I could have ignored him when he kis-"I quickly stopped and blushed. Oops.

"He did what?!" she asked "you didn't tell me this?! Why the hell not? Sarah, you never told me that he kissed you."

"I didn't say that," I mumbled "I just-"

"You ALMOST said it," she pointed out. Then she looked at my annoyed look and stopped. "You should get going," she said "if Karen checks on you, you're going to be in HUGE trouble."

Walking down the street I saw something glide out of the corner of my eye. Damn owls. Damn Jareth. I didn't love him. I didn't, I didn't, I.... alright, maybe admit it just once more, I loved him. I held back all my thoughts about him. I tried not to think about his mismatched eyes. And that look, so stern but in a way, seemed amused.

"Screw it," I mumbled. I was tired of being stubborn for no reason. He loved me, I loved him, not a LOT to negotiate with. But I just would keep it from him, for now. Though I was sure he knew, I didn't want him bugging me about it.

I thought about him the whole way home, promising that I'd stop once I got to the house. Well I got there also, but I didn't stop thinking about why I loved him. Nope. In fact, I was SO into it that I didn't pay attention to climbing the drainpipe and slipped off.

Falling, the only thing in my mind was that it was going to hurt when I hit the ground. And what exactly I would say to Karen when I came inside with a broken leg. I closed my eyes and I stopped, landing comfortably in his arms.

"Good catch," he chuckled setting me back in my room.

"Oh," I said, a little surprised that Jareth had been there "how many times are you going to save me in one day?"

"I'm not sure," he said "depends how many times you need it I suppose. Next time, watch your footing."

"Wasn't my footing," I mumbled and then shut my mouth. WHY WAS I BLURTING OUT INFORMATION!

"Oh really?" he asked curiously "what would it be then?"

"Preoccupied," I said looking at the floor.

"Ah," he said smiling "I see. You've been thinking."

"Of course," I said "how could I not be with everything that's been going on?"

"There's something going on?" he asked, grinning.

"Well," I said looking around. Oh, how could I be so dumb!? I was being led into a trap! He was going to get me to either say it or deny it, and I couldn't tell him I didn't, I couldn't hurt him again. "May and I have been... planning some junk."

"Such as?" he asked, trying to catch me into a lie.

"Its nonya," I mumbled and he gave that annoyed look.

"Oh," he said, acting shocked "I save you a good four times today and you can't tell me?"

"It was only three," I mumbled and he chuckled "and that's not it, it's just, I can't."

"I can understand," he said "you're not ready."

"And once again," I mumbled "you need to stop reading my mind."

"It's not reading your mind that gives you away," he said "besides, I wouldn't read your mind, even if I wanted too."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because," he chuckled "people are so easy to figure out. You, well, you are not."

"I guess that can be classified as a complement," I said quietly and he laughed again.

"But anyways Sarah," he said "get to bed. And next time you sneak out, you had better call me and I'll let you down. Maybe then you won't NEED saving. And don't worry, I won't follow, I just want you to be safe."

"Thank you Jareth," I said quietly.

"Will you?" he asked.

"Possibly," I said.

"Well I'm not leaving until I get a promise," he said firmly "I will not let you be harmed."

"Alright," I mumbled "I promise. Cross my heart." With that, he turned back into an owl and flew back to the tree. I tried to sleep. I lay there, wide awake, wondering why he had wanted to protect me so much. I took out one of the crystals and waved it around. "Someone I know that's awake," I said and it showed a very annoyed looking owl. "Anyone else?" I asked desperately and it when blank.

So much for calling someone to talk. Soon, I fell asleep, but only to be awaked by Karen's wild yells.

"What?" I mumbled, still asleep.

"Why is your window open?" she asked angrily.

"Because I couldn't sleep and needed some air in my room," I lied and she didn't look satisfied.

"You do know we have a big nasty owl in our tree?" she asked "it could come flying into your room and attack you."

"That," I said pulling the covers back over my head "I very much doubt. Besides, it's a weird owl, it sleeps all night. And it's not nasty."

"Anything that eats mice has to be nasty," she spat.

"YOUR cat eats mice," I mumbled turning over.

"Donald is a cat," she said dignifiedly "he's MENT to eat mice. It's why we have him."

"That's why he's there," I said "in the tree. To eat the mice."

"There's mice in our tree?" she asked, actually believing that we had mice in our tree.

"Karen," I mumbled "I'm tired. No we have no mice in our tree. Go back to bed."

"It's six in the morning,"' she said "how can I?"

"Then do something!" I mumbled angrily "I'm sleeping."

"Well Austin is here asking for you," she said "what would you like me to tell him."

"I'll do it," I mumbled and walked down stairs.

"Sarah," Austin exclaimed "you're looking... interesting this morning. Perhaps you should have showered before coming down."

"Austin," I said practically pushing him out the door "go get yourself a life, and try SLEEPING in. What do you want from me at six in the god damn morning on a Saturday?"

"A date?" he asked pathetically.

"At six in the morning?" I asked and he nodded. "Alrighty then," I said a little confused "well, I'm sorry Austin but, I'm not much of a dater. Especially when it's early in the morning like this."

"Should I come back later then?" he asked and I sighed.

"Your not getting the hint here Austin," I said "neither I, nor any other non-anal retentive person is going on a date in the morning."

"Should I come back in the afternoon then?" he asked again, getting annoyed with not understanding.

"I kinda don't feel like going anywhere," I said.

"Then I can stay over here," he said cheerfully.

"Austin," I sighed "I tried to say it nicely, but your not getting it. I don't want you here."

"Wait a minute," he said raising an eyebrow "what are you trying to say."

"I'm trying to say go home Austin," I mumbled.

"So your saying...."

"That I don't like you," I said bluntly.

"And... this means..."

"Good-bye Austin," I said closing the door and walking back up to my room. The doorbell rang and I came back down. "Austin!" I screamed "go away!" and I slammed the door in his face. It rang again.

"For the last time," I said opening the door but Jareth stood there in normal clothes, well, sort of. His hair was tied back and he was wearing one of those FedEx uniforms. I screamed and the covered my mouth. "Can I help you?" I asked nervously.

"Well aren't you looking lovely this morning," he said beaming at me "and yes, I seem to have a delivery of flowers and a box."

'A box?" I said raising an eyebrow.

"A box," he said smiling and handed me a vase fill of roses and a box.

"Er," I said looking at it and setting the roses down on the table next to me "thank you."

"Would you please sign this?" he asked and I eyed it nervously and wrote my name. Handing back the pen there was an actual spark as we touched. "Hehe," he laughed nervously "static electricity." I quickly shut the door and rushed up to my room with my flowers and the box.

Karen was taking a bath and getting ready to go to work. I set the flowers on my dresser and sat on my bed. I was scared to open the box. It seemed innocent enough. Carefully, I opened it. In it, was a CD and a large book. The book, to my amazement, was actually a very large journal. I took the CD and put it in my CD player and pushed play.

Jareth's voice came blaring out of the speakers and I screamed and shut it off when I heard what song it was! The owl stood outside my window and hooted. I closed the blinds and he screeched. Then again. And again, each time louder than the last.

"Alright," I yelled and opened the window "geez, gotta freak out the whole street."

"Did you like it?" he asked "I thought I heard you scream."

"Just a little surprising," I said shortly and looked over to the bed, longingly. I was SO tired. I think Jareth understood and started to leave. "Thank you," I said sweetly and he smiled, kind of sadly. "No," I said "I really love it, I swear."

"You sure?" he asked.

"Why would I lie?" I asked.

"I don't know," he said "I have three good reasons that you-"

"Ok, ok," I said practically pushing him out my window "get going."

"Pushy," he chuckled "I like that." And with that he changed and flew away. My mouth dropped in shear shock that he had said that so... so seductively! I flipped out and called May.

"Why in God's name are you calling me at seven in the morning?" she asked angrily.

"Because," I said "Austin just woke me up."

"So what?" she asked "you like spreading the love?"

"And Jareth just gave me a box and some flowers," I mumbled.

"Oh really?" she said perking up "and what was in the box?"

"A CD and a journal," I mumbled.

"And what was on the CD?" she asked.

"Nothing," I lied.

"Whatever," she yelled in a joking voice and I laughed.

"He was singing," I mumbled.

"Oh my God!" she squealed "that is SO sweet!"

"I can't listen to it," I said shyly.

"Why?!" she asked "you don't like his singing."

"No," I said "I love it. It's just... I'm so embarrassed."

"Your embarrassed to hear your boyfriend sing?" she asked, surprised.

"He's NOT my boyfriend," I snapped.

"Flowers, presents and him singing for you?" she asked "sounds a lot like he's your boyfriend to me."

"May," I mumbled, annoyed "not funny."

"Alright, alright," she sighed "but I think he's trying to say something. Such as, DATE ME PLEASE!"

"Thanks for the wonderful help," I muttered and he laughed.

"Well that's what you get when you wake me up at seven in the morning," she said "so bye!" and with that she hung up. I yawned and fell back asleep.