Chapter Five

Sarah's mouth dropped. She couldn't sing. She couldn't do anything really except play the piano. Jareth on the other hand was grinning like he'd won the lottery. Sarah looked at him.

"What'd you do?" she asked.

"I'm helping you make Naomi mad," he whispered "and remember she still thinks you're obedient."

"Well," Naomi gave a fake smile "I'll call out the names, and you clap for whoever you want to sing."

"Jareth," Sarah looked at him pleadingly at him "don't. I CAN'T sing."

"Sure you can," he smiled.

"Alright stop it," she said but she couldn't help but laugh "you're scaring me."

"I'll help you," he insisted "don't worry."

"Don't worry he says," she sighed "easy for you to say. You can sing."

"Aww how would you know," he asked listening to Naomi give the rules.

"I've heard you," Sarah said and he looked at her, perplexed "in the ballroom and outside the castle."

"Ah," he said turning back to Naomi talking.

"You don't think you sing well?" she asked.

"No," he said bluntly.

"Alright now I know you're insane," she sighed and he beamed.

"You really think I sing that well?" he asked.

"No," she rolled her eyes "I'm lying."

"Luther Clifton," Naomi shouted and about half the ballroom clapped.

"Me," she smiled and there was maybe about three people that clapped. Sarah looked at Jareth, annoyed.

"Sarah?" she asked and the crowd burst into cheering. Sarah blushed and looked from everyone to Jareth. Alright, she thought after this he can NEVER say anything about the stupid me solving the Labyrinth thing again. Jareth laughed and nodded, as he pushed her up to the stage.

"I don't know HOW you did it," Naomi grumbled holding the mike away from her mouth "but I KNOW you cheated."

"It was luck?" Sarah called after her and looked out into the crowd. How was she supposed to do this? She couldn't sing! Hadn't she told Jareth that? Music started to play and Sarah tried not to look like a deer in the headlights of an eighteen-wheeler. Suddenly, Sarah just started singing. She hadn't tried, she didn't bother but she just started to sing:

Out of sorrow entire worlds have been built
Out of longing great wonders have been willed
They're only little tears, darling, let them spill
And lay your head upon my shoulder
Outside my window the world has gone to war
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?

When she was done, practically the whole crowd was in tears and the rest were clapping like it was going to out style. Sarah went back to her spot and she looked at Jareth, who had the smuggest grin she'd ever seen. Music played again and Sarah needed some air. Her jaw hurt from smiling so much, but it wouldn't go away. She stood on the balcony and looked over Underground.

"I just keep coming back," she muttered.

"Is that not what you wanted?" Naomi grumbled.

"Not exactly no," Sarah said not bothering to turn around.

"I hope you can find a way home Sarah," Naomi snapped "you are no longer welcome in my home." Sarah had to try very hard not to shout 'thank god' over and over at the top of her lungs, but she managed. "So here are your things," she snapped and Sarah appeared in her normal clothes "and get lost." Naomi left and Sarah sat on the side of the balcony.

"How to get home," she mumbled "how to get home." She couldn't ask Naomi. She couldn't walk there. She needed magickal intervention. "If I'm 'magickal'," she thought aloud "then why can't I do it myself?" She concentrated, nothing. "I wish myself home," she said. Nothing. "Bibitty bobitty boo." She laughed at herself and then sighed. "I just keep running into obstacles."

"Well?" Jareth asked "you free?"

"Yeah," she sighed "thank you."

"Anytime," he smiled but then his expression changed "what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she lied and started getting ready to leave.

"So when is Naomi sending you back?" he asked.

"Most likely," she paused "never."

"What?" he asked.

"She's not sending me back," Sarah sighed.

"Then where are you going?" he asked "she surely won't let you stay with her now."

"Preferably somewhere were I won't get attacked by anything," she smiled "or eaten, or killed, or some strange mixture of the three."

"Come," he said taking her by the hand but she pulled away.

"Jareth," she reasoned "you've helped me much more than I expected you to. Thank you, but I won't intrude upon your life, or home. I can handle myself."

"Oh yeah," he said sarcastically "you handled yourself SO well in there."

"I did," she smiled "because..."

"Because I helped you," he smiled "you're not intruding."

"Jareth, I-" she started but he cut her off.

"Sarah," he growled and pulled her close to him "I want you to come." Her eyes hazed and her heart beat faster, a lump of pure joy came from the bottom of her stomach and rose up into the back of her throat, making a smile creep across her face.

"I take it I have no say in the matter," she said, trying to keep her racing heart under control.

"No," he grinned "not one bit at all."

"Well I won't stay long," she added.

"I'll figured out how to send you back," he promised "but until then, you are my guest."