Chapter Nine

"I JUST go a call from Mrs. Richards," Karen scolded "she says that Jonathan said that you got upset with him and threw him into a wall in his room."

"Have you SEEN Jonathan Karen?" Sarah asked "do you really think someone MY size could throw him, anywhere?"

"Then how do you explain the hole in their wall?" she asked.

"Look," Sarah said "Jonathan wanted to screw me alright? And he tried, but I pushed him off and left. Maybe he was mad or something and beat a hole in his wall."

"He wanted to what!?" Karen asked.

"Yeah," Sarah said "he wanted to rape me. But I really think those tae kwon do classes paid off, you know."

"Are you alright?" Karen asked, looking her over. Sarah yelped when Karen touched the burses on her thigh. Karen was deeply upset and gave Mrs. Richards a call, Sarah was sure that Jonathan wouldn't bother her ever again. He wasn't at school the next day either.

"Where's Jonathan?" Sarah asked her friend Kala.

"You haven't heard?" Kala asked, eyes getting wide "he's in rehab."

"Really?" Sarah asked, getting a little nervous "for what?"

"Well rumor has it that," she got quiet for a moment "that he'd gone off the deep end. He keeps talking about some owl that keeps stalking him and little goblins that keep him awake all night."

"Strange," Sarah said but she was really worried. Jareth would drive the boy insane if she didn't talk to him. But then, that's one of the reasons he was doing it. So he could get her to talk to him again. Sarah rushed home right after school and went to her room.

"Jareth," she called and he appeared on her bed, reading a book.

"Humm?" he asked not looking up "what is it?"

"You have to stop tormenting Jonathan," she said and he's eyes shot up.

"Why?" he asked "I see no reason why he shouldn't suffer."

"Because that's sad," she said "and it's wrong. You know he won't mess with me ever again, so please, just leave him alone."

"No," Jareth said coldly "he tired to hurt you, he will be punished."

"I'm asking you nicely," she started but he cut her off.

"And I'm declining nicely," he said quickly "so if you don't mind, I'll be leaving."

"Show some compassion," she called at him as he faded and he stopped.

"Come again?" he asked, walking closer to her.

"Show some compassion," she repeated.

"I don't know the meaning of the word," he snapped.

"I think you do," she said.

"Even if I was to leave him alone," Jareth said "I'd be doing it for you. And you know my policy. I do something for you and I need something in return."

"What do you want then?" she asked. Jareth froze, he didn't think she'd be so willing to make him a deal. But then she did trust him now.

"Just," he took her hand and placed a crystal in it "don't forget me." With that, he faded away. Forget him? Why would she forget him? HOW could she forget him? He was possibly the only guy she was ever going to think about. Sarah sighed, why had she wanted to come home?? Why did she leave him... again?

"Honey?" Karen asked coming into Sarah's room. Sarah hid the crystal under her pillow and gave a weary smile. Karen sat down next to Sarah on the bed and smiled. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm alright," Sarah lied.

"Are you sure?" Karen asked.

"Yeah," she lied again "aren't I always?"

"That's the thing Sarah," Karen protested "you're always alright. Nothing ever bothers you. Ever since you were fifteen..."

"Karen," Sarah said "please, don't bring it up."

"What happened to you that night?" Karen asked "we left and you were so immature and angry. We came home and you became the world's more perfect human being."

"I just learned a lot that night," Sarah said, eyeing Karen worriedly.

"You are a virgin aren't you?" Karen asked.

"KAREN," Sarah shouted and Karen smiled.

"Just checking," she said "but you changed so drastically. Why?"

"You really want to know?" Sarah asked.

"Yes," she nodded.

"I wished Toby away to the goblin king and he made me solve the Labyrinth to keep him from turning Toby into a goblin. I only had thirteen hours and he even upped the stakes and on the way I met Hoggle and Sir. Didymus and Ludo. And we fought goblins and I finally go there and had to face him and he ended up giving me a peach," she took a breath "but it was drugged and I was in this ballroom with him. And in there he told me he loved me. But I remembered Toby so I smashed the bubble and fell on a junk lady and forgot everything. Then I told him he had no power over me and I saved Toby."

"Uh huh," Karen said "maybe you should lay down."

"I'm just kidding," Sarah lied "no, I just realized that life isn't fair and not to take things for granted."

"Well that's a smart thing to do," Karen said leaving the room "could you watch Toby tonight?"

"Sure," Sarah sighed and got up, leaving the room.