Chapter Nine

"Sarah," Toby said shaking me awake "I'm hungwy."

"Toby?" I asked, feeling very groggy "didn't Karen feed you?"

"Momma didn't make breakfast," he wined "she said you could do it."

"Oh alright," I mumbled and sat up. Toby grinned an almost toothless smile and clapped his hands together. I got up and looked at the clock, it was ten. I made Toby some cereal and set him up in front of the TV.

I took a shower, put on my make-up, and blow dried my hair. I made my bed and laid on my stomach, taking out a pen and the journal. I wrote the daily events and put it away. Then, a knock at the door. I went down stairs and Austin stood there.

"Hey Sarah," he said coming in "don't you look lovely." I raised an eyebrow, this didn't sound very much like Austin to me.

"Thanks Austin," I said, feeling a little worried "what do you want?"

"I've come for my date," he said.

"I never agreed to a date," I snapped, wanting to yell but Toby was just in the living room.

"Well you will," he said "or I'll have to tell your mother about you sneaking out last night." I gulped. Had he seen Jareth? I had hoped not, but he didn't seem like he did so I sighed and gave him an odd look.

"I didn't sneak out," I said.

"Sure you did," he exclaimed "I saw you."

"Austin," I said patting him on the shoulder "are you alright? Maybe you fell asleep or something, because I was asleep all night."

"Don't lie to me Sarah," he said "I know I saw you. You went over to May's."

"Did I?" I asked cocking my head and he nodded slowly. "Well I'd like to see you prove it," I said "because you can't prove what didn't happen." He gave a sly smile and chuckled.

"Who'd you get the flowers and the box from?" he asked.

"You had better stop spying on me Austin Becker," I yelled. Calm down I told myself you're letting him get to you. Do what you do best and be stubborn. I had tried being stubborn, it didn't work. Maybe if I went along, and acted completely different from him, he'd hate me.

"I'm not spying," he said "I'm looking out for your best interests." As much as I didn't want to do this, I took a deep breath and gave a smile.

"Well thank you," I said kindly "that's SO sweet of you. Let me just go upstairs and get my coat and I'll be right down." I dashed up the stairs and put on the jacket that Jareth had sent me. I needed SOMETHING of his with me, or I'd go insane.

I took a deep breath and got Toby his jacket and took him too, since I couldn't just leave him in the house all alone.

"Ready?" Austin asked and I nodded. "Why is he coming?"

"Because I can't leave Toby all alone," I mumbled "he's only five."

"I guess if you HAVE too," he muttered and we walked outside.

"Lookie," Toby cried happily "an owl! An owl!" I looked up and sure enough, Jareth sat on his perch and looked very confused, even for an owl. Jareth flew down a few feet away from us, clicking his talons on the cement impatiently.

"That's the ugliest owl I've ever seen," Austin muttered and Toby ran towards Jareth. Toby squatted down and looked at Jareth.

"Hi birdie," Toby giggled "you're a funny bird. Sarah," he said turning around to look at me "how come she's so big?"

"It's a he," I said walking behind Austin "and it's a bird of prey so it doesn't eat seeds or bread like the ducks at the pond Toby."

"Yeah," Austin agreed "they eat little kids." He laughed as Toby scrambled away from Jareth, who still seemed confused.

"No they don't Tobs," I whispered picking him up "owls are very special creatures."

"Like the one from the Labyrinth!?" Toby asked a little two loudly and I giggled nervously "and Hoggle and the Goblin King!?"

"The what?" Austin said examining Jareth a good three feet away.

"It's a story," I said.

"Nu-uh," Toby said going back over to Jareth "you wished me there."

"That's just a silly fairytale," Austin mumbled and I took this as a chance to annoy him.

"That's right Toby," I said "I wished you away to the Labyrinth. And the Goblin King told me that if I didn't get to his castle in thirteen hours that he'd keep you forever and turn you into a goblin babe."

"Tell the story!" Toby exclaimed "the owl wants to hear the story!"

"I really doubt that Tobs," I said kneeling down next to him.

"No he told me!" Toby said "the owl wants to here the story!"

"I'm sure the owl wants to rip your little chubby face off," Austin mumbled and I turned red with anger.

"So I started through the Labyrinth," I said quietly "once the very small gatekeeper had shown me in. The outer wall of the Labyrinth just kept going and going, there were no turns or corners or anything..."

I finished the story and Toby smiled while Austin was blue in the face from saying that it made no logical sense.

"It makes lots of sense," Toby exclaimed and got closer to Jareth. "Some things you just have to believe in." And with that, Toby reached out and touched 'the owl'.

"Oh God Toby," Austin mumbled "don't touch that thing! Who knows what it's eaten. What if it bit your hand off?"

"But it wouldn't" I said.

"I'd like to see YOU touch it," he said "miss. Believer. You have your head in the clouds, looking for something that's not real. You're so caught up in playing make-believe that you can't see when something good comes along. You're looking so hard for you're happily ever after, Sarah that you're not going to settle for someone that can offer you a good life and being provided for."

They all looked at me, Toby, Austin, and Jareth wondering what I would do. I could see the response Austin wanted; he wanted me to admit how wrong I was and settle for him. Toby wanted me to be the dreamer I had always been. The one that would wait for my prince, no matter how long. And Jareth, he just looked at me blankly, wanting me to do whatever I wanted to. Whatever my heart led me to believe he would cope with.

"Austin," I said "sometimes you just can't take things for granted. I agree with you on that. But everything else, you are wrong." Toby smiled and turned back to Jareth, still amazed that the creature hadn't 'eaten' him yet.

"You're so blind Sarah," he said stiffly.

"No," I said "you think EVERYTHING in the whole freaking world needs to be explained. It MUST be proven, or you MUST be able to see it. And I'd say, you can't see the wind but it's proved to be there. I'd say you can't prove happiness exists but it's some sort of hormone. But I'll tell you, you can't scientifically prove love."

Toby jumped up and down and clapped. His big sister had come through again, with her talk of believing in things you can't see and not taking anything for granted.

"It's a hormone," he said "just like feeling sad or angry."

"No," I said getting more into this as I went on "that's lust. Lust and love are two different things."

"Then there is no such thing as love," Austin said firmly "it's the same as lust."

"No," I yelled "it's different. Lust is when you just see someone and you're attracted to them but how they look. And you want to just sleep around. But once something happens, their gone."

"Yeah," he said "like I said."

"Idiot," I said "that's not love. Love is caring about someone's emotions. It's not just wanting to be with them and wanting to possibly having sex with them. It's all the bad stuff too. All the crying and augments and fears you both have. It's-"I paused "it's not always getting what you want, but making sure that who you love does or try you're very hardest that they DO get what they want. It's not always winning, sometimes one of you have to take the fall for the other to win once and a while. It's about caring if they had a bad day and remembering their birthday. Love is feeling so strongly for someone that you'd do anything for them. So no Austin, it's different than lust."

Everyone was quiet for a moment and Toby giggled.

"The owl says your right Sarah," Toby giggled.

"Your stupid Sarah," Austin stated blankly "your opinions on love, you're dreaming, I thought you were more logical than that."

"Once again Austin," I said taking Toby by the hand "you're a realist, and Toby and I, well we're fantasists, idealists, and dreamers. So bye." And with that I took Toby home.

"Sarah," Toby giggled "the owl told me that you're pretty."

"Well the owl is looking a little out of his species isn't he?" I teased opening the door.

"I think he likes you," he said.

"He's an owl Toby," I said annoyed that he thought I'd go with an owl.

"No he's not," Toby said and smiled "it's the king. Like in the story."

"Oh really?" I asked picking him up and he giggled.

"Yeah," he said excitedly "and your gonna marry him."

"Tobs," I said looking at him "doesn't that bother you that he stole you?"

"He didn't steal me," he said "you wished me to him. But then you missed me, didn't you?"

"Yes," I said putting him down on the couch "very much. So, he's not scary to you?"

"Why would he be scary?" Toby asked.

"I don't know," I mumbled and Toby laughed.

"It's ok Sarah," he said patting my arm "I'll protect you from the goblins." I smiled, how many people were going to say that?

"Well I think it's time you took a nap," I said and he tried to run but I picked him up before he could escape.

"But I'm not tired," he wined "I don't want to go to sleep."

"Yes you are," I whispered and tucked him in "if you need anything I'll be in my room ok Tobs?'

"Yeah," he sighed and soon fell asleep.

"Am I crazy?" I asked myself looking up at the ceiling "or is my little brother making more sense than I am?" I was secretly afraid of Jareth. God knows why, I sure as hell didn't. It wasn't like a constant fear either, it was more like when he kissed me or touched me.

I sighed and drifted asleep for a moment, until a tapping came from my window. May stood outside and I waved her away. Wait.... why was she outside MY window? I got up and opened the window and she slid inside.

"Do you know that Austin Becker is staking out your house?" she asked and my mouth dropped.

"What?!" I asked.

"He's sitting in front of your door," she said "I couldn't get in without getting my arm chewed off."

"Oh God," I mumbled putting my hands over my eyes "what do I do now?"

"I suggest you get rid of him," she said annoyed "before Karen comes home." I went down the stairs two at a time and opened the door. There he was, sitting directly in front of my door and I sighed.

"Austin," I said firmly "what must I do to get you to leave?!"

"I want you to be my girlfriend Sarah," he said "and I'm not leaving until you say yes." I couldn't take any of it, not anymore. I dashed past him and he followed me, down the steps, down the sidewalk and half way down the street.

"I swear if you don't leave me alone in two seconds," I said holding up a fist "I'll knock you into next week."

"But I love you," he said desperately. May stopped in her tracks and looked up at the tree. Jareth looked as if he was about to kill the boy. I signaled to May to keep Jareth calm and let me do it. It was my life; I could handle it... sort of.

"No you don't" I said "you see a pretty face and some boobs that's all. There's nothing in common here. Nada!"

"No," he said "I know, you're my soul mate." Now Jareth couldn't take it and flew down from the tree. I gulped. He (thankfully still as an owl) sat between Austin and me.

"Stay," I said pointing at the owl "stay there." I was afraid that Jareth would show himself to Austin, and that would just cause more problems for me. His eyes burned with annoyance and I said nicer "please," I said "stay here."

I took Austin and walked about a foot away from Jareth.

"Austin," I said "you must understand that you're warped and twisted idea of a soul mate isn't going to cut it."

"Look," he said "I went back home and looked it up on the computer. You MUST be my soul mate, because I care about you."

"You care about your mom and she's not your soul mate," I said sarcastically and May laughed. "The point is," I said "if I was your soul mate, I would have to actually like you back."

"Is it another guy?" Austin asked and I sighed, he must be a moron.

"Er," I waited a moment "if that would make you leave me alone."

"Sarah," he said "I just want you to be mine."

"I don't belong to anyone!" I yelled "it's MY choice to pick who I want to be with. I can understand if you're desperate but, I don't like you Austin. And why do you constantly think about you? What about me? Ever consider that maybe you stalking me, waiting outside my house and bashing my beliefs is hurting me?!"

"Because," he said "I look out for me."

"Then you can get lost," I said "because I'm not looking for someone that's just going to care about themselves. I need someone that's going to care about me and my feelings." I froze for a second. Jareth had said that to me the other day. I shook my head slightly, trying to snap myself out of it for the moment and went on to yell.

"But," he said "you're my-"

"NO I'M NOT!' I said one last time "its lust, that's all you have you horny little fruit cake! Leave me alone, I don't like you!"

"Well I don't see how you're going to stop me," he said slyly and that was it. I punched him in the nose and walked off. May looked at him, now on the ground and Jareth flew above me.

"I'll watch Toby for a while," May called after me "I'll explain to your step mom if she comes home!" I walked, and walked, and walked for the longest time and then sat down under a tree. I pulled my knees up to my chest and put my head down on my knees and cried.

"Idiot," I mumbled "stupid, thick headed, dense moronic-"

"I hope your not talking about me," Jareth said sitting next to me.

"Thank you for not killing him," I mumbled and Jareth smiled.

"Kill?" he asked "now I wouldn't do that. Turning him into a frog, now that's a completely different story."

"As good as that sounds," I said "I think not."

"Just giving ideas," he said.

"What exactly have you been telling my brother?" I asked curiously.

"Can't trust a five year old can you?" he asked chuckling a little.

"No," I said "you really can't. But then, that's why I don't tell him anything. So what'd you tell him?"

"Nothing really," Jareth lied and I sighed, not feeling like dragging it out of him.

"Guess I should get home," I mumbled and Jareth gave a funny look. "What?"

"It's just you used some stuff while you were yelling," he said "that we said and/or talked about the other day."

"Yeah," I said "didn't realize it until after I said it."

"Well," he said standing up "I'll walk you back."

"Are you sure?" I asked and he nodded. So we both started off for home. It was warm out, around seventy five maybe. The sun was out and I was amazingly comfortable. Jareth kept looking at me so I kept acting as if the other side of the street was interesting. I wouldn't look at him, though I'd catch him looking at me out of the corner of my eye.

I turned and focused on my shadow that stretched out in front of me. Jareth's shadow reached for mine's hand and kept walking. I looked to my hand and back at the shadow, I wasn't even touching Jareth. We walked in some shade and when we came out again, my shadow and his were both normal. I looked up at him and he smiled.

"What?" he asked.

"How'd you do that?" I asked.

"Do what?" he teased "I didn't do anything."

"Alright," I said slowly "then I suppose you didn't notice then."

"Notice what?" he asked, still smiling.

"Nothing," I said and looked up at how the sun shone through the trees. We reached the house and May came out, screaming at Austin and holding Toby for dear life. "Oh lord," I mumbled and saw that Toby was crying with a black eye.

"Would you like help this time?" Jareth asked and I nodded worriedly.

"Sarah!" May called "Austin got inside and came after me. Toby jumped on him though but got hit in the face and-" She kept going on about at the very moment, he was going through my drawers and most likely reading my diary, if I had one.

Jareth, lucky me, was no longer outside. He came back out holding Austin by the back of his shirt. Austin kicked and screamed like mad, trying to kill whoever was holding him in mid-air.

"Sarah," Toby suddenly stopped crying "that's Jareth. What's he doin here?"

"Toby, how do you know Jareth?" I asked.

"He's the Goblin King silly," he giggled "member?"

"I know that," I said "how do you remember him?"

"Don't know," Toby said and shrugged "I just do."

"I don't suppose I'm allowed to dispose of him," Jareth muttered as Austin screamed at the top of his lungs.

"What are we going to do with him?" May asked and I thought.

"Sarah," Toby said looking at me with his now black eye "don't hurt him. He can't help it, he's just confused." With May asking random questions and Toby begging for Austin not to be hurt, and then Austin himself screaming I couldn't take it.

Then everything stopped. Everyone froze and I sat down. Once again, the world had stopped, but this time it hadn't been because of love. It had been because of Jareth.

"Thank you," I said and sat down on the sidewalk.

"Why of course," he said stepping out from his frozen state. "Seemed like you needed some quiet."

"Why has everything become so confusing?" I asked, not really expecting an answer.

"Take a wild guess," he mumbled and pointed at himself.

"You?" I asked.

"Not purposely," he said raising his hands "but from time to time I do tend to get a streak of bad luck." He laughed to show he was kidding. "No," he chuckled "bad things just tend to happen. You can't ever do anything about it, just deal with it until, well, until you can fix it or make it go away."

"I can't make Austin go away," I said.

"Then fix him," Jareth offered "like your mother, make him forget that he thinks he likes you."

"I take it there's no pill this time," I said.

"No," he chuckled "there's not. I can do it though."

"Thank you," I whispered and he smiled.

"It'll be alright," he said.

"You always say that," I mumbled "and it's weird that you do."

"Considering that with my luck, things are never ok?" he asked "yes I know. But, like I said, fix it or make it go away." With that, everything started again and with Jareth not there to hold Austin up, he fell to the ground with a thud. May and Toby both stopped and looked at Jareth and I on the sidewalk.

"How'd you do that?" May asked and I shook my head. Austin looked around, as if he didn't know what he was doing.

"Hey May, Sarah," he said "how come Toby has a black eye?"