Chapter Three

The Bet

I'm so tired of being here

Waking up in the Labyrinth wasn't the best thing Sarah could imagine that morning, but it was an even worse experience when she looked out her window. The Labyrinth looked as if it'd gone through a war of some sort.

"Lovely, isn't it?" Jareth asked sarcastically.

"What happened?" Sarah asked "the last time I was here it wasn't THIS bad."

"Exactly," Jareth said "the last time you were here."

"You still didn't answer my question," Sarah said turning around "what happened? Did you have a war?"

"Is it really that bad?" he asked looking outside and sighed "I suppose I've been looking at it like this for so long I don't remember what it used to look like."

"For the last time," she sighed "what happened?"

"What happened to what?" he asked, puzzled.

"The Labyrinth!" she exclaimed.

"What about the Labyrinth?" he asked.

"This is hopeless," she muttered under her breath. Then it dawned on her. "Yeah I know, ask the right question."

"I suppose you could say that it's just gone down hill after you left," he said leaving her side "I think, in some way, it's attached to you."

"Attached to me?" she repeated.

Suppressed by all of my childish fears

"The Labyrinth is alive you know," he said, almost amused "it is bound to me as I am bound to it. And it's taking a liking to you, as you must know since you've solved it."

"Are you saying," she said tilting her head "that the Labyrinth LET me win?"

"In a way," he mused "you see, if I am bound to it then I am part of the Labyrinth myself."

"So you let me win," she chuckled and turned back to the window "I don't believe that."

"And why not?" he asked.

"You have no reason for it," she explained "there is no logical reason why you'd let me win."

"And you must have realized by now that," Jareth stated "this place is not logical."

And if you have to leave...

"I have," she said "and, as you know, I'm not used to that. I mean, I don't belong here."

"You don't?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well no," she said turning around "I don't really fit."

"Ah," he said dryly "and I suppose that you fit back home."

"Well, no," she said "I mean yes, sometimes. Argh." She went over and sat on the bed. "Sometimes I belong there and sometimes," she paused "I don't. But then that's for everyone. No one ever finds a place where they fit perfectly."

"How would you know?" he asked.

"Because out of everyone I know," she explained "no one belongs where they are."

"Do you happen to know everyone in the worlds?" he asked.

"Worlds?" she asked "what's with the plural?"

"There's more than one world," Jareth informed "yours and mine and many others."

"Well of course I don't know everyone," she said, in an almost jesting voice "I don't even know half the people at my school."

"Alright then," he said "then how do you know that no one finds where they belong then?"

I wish that you would just leave

"Out of all the people I know," she grumbled.

"And that's not many," Jareth teased.

"Alright Mr. Optimist," she snapped "are YOU happy where you are? Are YOU happy with everything you have?"

"Of course not," he laughed.

"Then how can you say that some people find their true home then?" she asked, not understanding.

"Because," he explained "I've seen it."

"Whatever," she grumbled "just send me home."

Because your presence still lingers here

"You don't believe me?" he asked.

"Of course not!" she laughed "how can I? Your... you!"

"And?" he asked.

"How can I believe anything you say?" she asked.

"I don't know," he smirked "how can you?"

"Why are you being difficult?" she groaned "it's hard to talk to you when your being this way."

"Exactly," he chuckled.

And it won't leave me alone

"Like that," she exclaimed "don't be like that."

"Be like what?" he asked. Jareth didn't know why he was being difficult; he supposed it was just his nature to do so when he didn't know what to do. But then, it wasn't helping the situation any.

"Oh never mind," she sighed. There was a long pause.

"What would you like to know?" he asked, trying to be more considerate. Sarah thought a moment.

"Why did you save me?" she asked.

"Why did you want to die in the first place?" he asked back.

"Trade you answers," she suggested. He nodded. "You go."

"Ladies first," he insisted and she sighed.

"I-" she paused and finished quietly "I was alone."

"Alone," he repeated. He knew the word well. He'd thought it over and over many times before, but he hadn't expected Sarah to have the same feeling. "Why?"

"Why did I feel alone?" she asked "it's just, I kinda was. I didn't have any friends, and of course Karen and my dad didn't really understand me, so, yeah. Alone." Jareth took a long blink, trying to keep his emotions under control.

These wounds won't seem to heal

"I had to save you Sarah," he said finally.

"Whys that?" she asked.

"Because," he paused. He didn't want to be rejected again. He didn't want her to know and yet, at the same time, he did.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she whispered, trying to keep herself from crying.

"I DO want you to know it's just," he stopped again.

"I understand," she said and gave a reassuring smile.

This pain is just too real

"I wish you did," he muttered and then bit his lip. Sarah didn't look shocked at all though, perhaps she hadn't heard.

"Then explain it to me," she said.

"Sarah I can't," he sighed "don't you understand that I can't?"

"Because everyone knows," she smiled "men just aren't allowed to feel anything." His eyes shot up.

"I don't," he snapped.

"Of course not," she smiled "I never said YOU did."

There's just too much that time cannot erase

"And even if I did," he said trying to keep his image up "it wouldn't matter anyways. No one would believe that I, of all people have... emotions."

"Well their stupid," she said without thinking and he looked up in surprise again.

"Why do you say that?" he asked. Why was she saying any of this? She didn't believe he had emotions either! Or did she? Had she changed her mind again? So much like a woman, so fickle.

"Everyone has emotions," she explained.

"Well its easy to see that I have the negative ones," he said "anger, cruelty, hate, so on and so forth."

"Ah," she understood now "you think all anyone sees is your little Goblin King image."

"It's not an image," he snapped "it's what I am."

"All guys have an image," Sarah sighed "whether it's part of them or not is besides the point. All I'm saying is that you never show any emotion because the first thing people do it stereotype you as the malicious Goblin King."

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

"Your wrong," he said.

"Sure I am," she smiled. She patted him on the shoulder and sighed again "you worry to much."

"Ever think that maybe you worry to little?" he asked.

"Yes," she said "and then I think about Underground and I figure, if I can get through that damn Labyrinth of yours then I can get though just about anything. With you or it helping me or not." Jareth felt so silly, he wasn't even acting like himself. He didn't know what to act like, so he didn't say anything. Sarah noticed this and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said stiffly.

"Do you want to say something?" she asked. There was a long silence. "I promise," she whispered teasingly "I won't tell anyone you have emotions."

"That's not funny," he grumbled.

"Yes it is," she laughed.

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

"I don't bother you about missing this place," he shot back.

"You know," she sighed "reading peoples minds only gets you so far. But since you brought it up I'll admit it. Yes, I missed Underground. I missed all my friends and, well, the whole thing in general." She wasn't going to say that she missed him. She wasn't ready.

"Your leaving something out," he pointed out. He didn't know what it was, she was hiding it from him. It was driving him insane with curiosity.

"Well maybe I am," she said teasingly.

"What is it?" he asked, eyes looking at her in wonder.

"What is it that you so desperately want to say?" she asked.

And I've held your hand through all of these years

"Trade?" he asked but no one answered. They both sat there, in silence, secretly loving the other. Both wondering if the other would reject them. Hurt them. Laugh in their face. Sarah wondering if Jareth had feelings while Jareth wondering if Sarah would accept him.

"Got quiet," Sarah pointed out and Jareth laughed.

"Seems to me," Jareth said "that we both have something to say."

"And apparently," Sarah added "we're not ready to bring anything forth."

"Whys that?" Jareth asked.

"I think you're scared," she teased and he frowned.

"I don't get scared," he lied.

"Then you worry an awful lot Jareth," she sighed.

"Well your not much better," he snapped "your not saying anything either."

But you still have all of me

"I didn't just miss my friends," she said nervously and took a deep breath. Now or never. "I missed you, Jareth." Jareth stood there, eyes wide, jaw dropped, heart beating a million miles an hour and he couldn't say anything.

"Well," he said and then coughed. Sarah laughed a little, but looked worried, as if looking for approval.

"That was obviously not expected," she muttered.

"I wish," he paused and then started again "I wish you would have came to me when you were feeling alone Sarah." She smiled. He was having such a hard time trying to open up to her.

You used to captivate me

"You're confusing," she said and he breathed out a stuttering sigh. "And you're scared."

"I am NOT scared," he protested "I don't GET scared." Sarah stood up and walked over to him.

"No?" she asked "you look afraid. You sound afraid. You seem afraid. Usually that means you're afraid."

"Nothing is what it seems," he repeated.

By your resonating light

"True," she said "so then what am I?"

"I try not to figure you out," Jareth teased.

"Whys that?" she asked "am I not confusing enough?"

"No," he chuckled "you perplex me a great deal. I gave up trying to figure you out a long time ago. I just figured that if you wanted me to understand you that you'd tell me."

"It'd be nice to be understood," she admitted.

But now I'm bound by the life you left behind

Suddenly, it started raining. Jareth sighed.

"What's going on?" Sarah asked.

"Its raining," he smiled "for the first time in two years."

"Three years in four months," Sarah muttered under her breath and Jareth looked up.

"The 24th," he said and she nodded. They both looked down. How strange that they bothered to remember the date when Toby was wished away. "So you wouldn't mind being figured out?"

Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams

"I guess," she said, still embarrassed.

"I need a yes or no," he said.

"Why?"

"Because if I learn anything you didn't want me to learn," he teased "I don't need to get hit."

"Who said I was going to hit you?" she asked, smiling.

"Let's just say I don't trust you," he mocked.

"Fine," she said "go and see if you can figure me out. But I bet you that you can't."

Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me

"Believe me," he warned "you don't want to bet or play games with me. You'll lose."

"I didn't last time," she pointed out.

"You got lucky," he grinned.

"I just think you're a sore loser," she mocked.

"Fine," he laughed "you're on. You'll be sorry when I win."

"IF you win," she corrected "and why will I be sorry?"

"Because you made a bet," he said "unlike a game, when you win a bet, you get something."

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

"And what is it that you want?" she asked, mockingly.

"Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to," he warned with a grin.

"Oh you're SO scary," she rolled her eyes and then gave an anxious grin "tell me" Her expression changed to worried "or is it..."

"No!" he almost shouted "all in good fun. Nothing life changing or anything."

"Really?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" he asked "you WANT something big?"

"No, no," she laughed "it's just, unlike you."

"Speaking of," he said "you can't go an act like a different person. You still have to be yourself."

"No," she laughed "no rules."

"None?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you SURE?" There was a long pause.

"I'm going to HATE myself," she said "yes, I'm sure. But, we have a time period."

"How long?" he asked.

"Three days?" she asked "is that long enough for you."

"Let's make it thirteen hours," he said "for traditions sake."

"You really think you can pull it off?" she asked, amused with the situation.

And though you're still with me

"If not sooner," he smirked.

"Starting when?" she asked.

"Tomorrow?" he suggested. She paused. He'd get longer than thirteen hours that way. Unless she didn't go near him until the next day. But she didn't want to do that.

"Sure," she smiled. Meh, she'd give him a head start.

I've been alone all along