Chapter Six

My Hero

"If you guys were going to… to… do THAT," Ady laughed "you could at least have put the closed sign up. What if someone walks in here? They would've seen you making out with your boyfriend over there and-"

"He's not my boyfriend," Sarah said for the fifth time "and we weren't making out either."

"No, but you liked it," Jareth pointed out and Sarah tossed a book across the room at him. He ducked and gave a teasing grin.

"I swear," Ady kept laughing "you both looked like-"

"Okay," Sarah growled "can we drop it please?" She'd turned fourteen different shades of red in the last five minutes and she wasn't looking forward to changing anymore colors.

"Okay," Ady smirked "I still say you should've put the closed sign up."

"I'll remember that," Sarah rolled her eyes. She had three more hours of work left and the LAST thing she wanted was for her best friend and Jareth to be teasing her the whole time. Ady and Jareth talked for a long time while Sarah helped a few customers that'd finally come in. They'd soon left and Sarah sat at the front, flipping through one of the books. Ady said good-bye and for them to come by eight o' clock and she'd drive them to La Luna. Sarah nodded and went back to her book. Jareth sat at the front desk and looked at her. She was obviously pissed off.

"I'm sorry," he said finally and she simply nodded. He grabbed the book from the table and closed it. "Would you pay attention when I'm apologizing?" She looked up at him, seeming angrier than before. "I'm sorry you're so damn secretive about everything," he snapped "I understand you've got a good reason to be scared of what the people around you think because a good portion of them are narrow-minded assholes." He paused a moment and frowned "but why do you worry what I think?" He shook his head. "Sarah I… I don't think you should have to be embarrassed about anything. Especially when it comes to me, I mean, of all people to worry about."

She looked down at the floor and he took her chin in his hand. She looked up and he shook his head at her.

"Don't you lower your eyes at me," he growled "I understand your only human and your not fearless and completely defiant and… everything. But you do NOT lower your eyes at ME. I'm your nemesis."

"You're my friend," she snapped and his eyes got bigger with interest. His jaw came slightly ajar and he didn't say anything for a long time. "Aren't you?"

"Your asking me?" he asked and she nodded. "Well," he paused "I thought so, I just thought you thought we were… we were still…"

"No," she shook her head "I don't hang out with enemies Jareth."

"You live with Blaine," he grumbled.

"Yeah well, I also lived with Karen," she snapped "but me and her don't have such a good relationship you know? But we settled everything already, haven't we? How are you my enemy with me talking with you and laughing with you and… and whatever the hell just happened before Ady came in. That's not an enemy thing. Hell some of that isn't even FRIEND things. " He laughed. "I'm serious, you can't do shit like that. I've got a 'boyfriend'… kinda. And if he'd ever find out that you… you of all people-"

"What do you mean me of all people?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Just," she shook her head "you being you is all. If he ever got word… like I don't have enough problems already."

"Get rid of him!" Jareth growled.

"I can't," Sarah took a deep breath "if I do he'll kill me, literally. Or close to it anyways. And you won't be in good shape either if he ever gets his hands on you."

"I appreciate the concern but," he vanished quickly and then back in front of her "I don't think he'll be catching me. And I wouldn't let him hurt you either, you know that."

"I can't come to you all the time Jareth," she breathed.

"Why?" he asked dryly.

"Jareth," she rolled her eyes "this is not the time to be sarcastic."

"I'm being serious!" he exclaimed.

"I can't run to you for all my problems," she said, not understanding why he didn't understand. "Its such a bother."

"What if I want you to bother?" he asked "what if I like helping you? What if I want to help you with anything and everything? What if I want to protect you? Huh?" She frowned, not understanding why he'd want to bother with her at all. "Why won't you let me help you Sarah?" She was quiet. "Tell me the truth," he insisted "why?" Truth was, she didn't want him to see her scared and helpless to Blaine, which WOULD happen if she let him help her. Eventually he'd see her, scared and crying on the floor, utterly helpless. And how humiliating was that? Jareth sensed her thoughts (though he wasn't supposed to) and gave a sad look. "I want to help you," he said "and if you'd let me you wouldn't be put in a situation were you'd be helpless."

"No," she shook her head.

"It'll happen anyways," he said "I told you already if he hits you one more time I'd… I'd…"

"I know," she was quiet for a long moment. He looked terribly upset and she put her hand on his shoulder. "I appreciate it," she admitted "its awfully valiant of you to want to help. But-"

"No," he put both of his hands on her shoulders "let me help. Please Sarah, let me help. If he touches you I'll blame myself, you know I will." She started to protest but he gave the worse pleading look she'd ever seen mustered.

"Bet your parents hated you around Christmas," she sighed.

"Please?" he gave a cheesy grin. "I'll never bother you again." She shook her head and sighed. "Sarah," he gave a very serious look "I will get down on this floor and beg. Don't make me."

"I'm sure its very sad but-" she started and he gave a very determined look and got on the floor. "Okay!" she pulled him back up "okay, geez, stop already." He gave her a very strict you-better-not-go-back-and-change-your-mind look. She sighed, gave a wiry grin and shook her head slightly. He smiled, glad with his work, but seemed not totally convinced she'd keep her word. She noticed his uneasiness and wrapped her arms around him neck in a firm embrace. "My hero," she smirked at him. He REALLY didn't need a fatter head, but, this one time she'd encourage him just a little. He WAS about to get on the floor and beg her to let him help her, something VERY un-Jareth like. He must have wanted to help her a lot… or maybe she was in deeper than she knew. When she pulled back he was a completely different color. He'd probably hold that 'my hero' comment against her for the rest of her life, but at that moment she didn't care. Just seeing him blush like he was was revenge enough. In fact…

"Didn't know you could change color like that," she teased. He gave a sad look and she sighed, he always spoiled her fun. "Aw," she smiled kindly at him "come on hero, I gotta lock up."

Author's note:

Conner:gives authoress a dangerous glare:

FOR THE LAST TIME! I have no love life and you know it! Not EVERYTHING I put in here is me, I've got to have SOME plot. I said the main problems are related to me, her mother, her boyfriend, and some other thing I've not written yet.

Conner: this bugs me

Aw, don't be bugged. Its nothing really, I'm just… I'm so stressed out right now its not even funny. That's why I love writing, it gets all the emotions out.

Conner: Still…

:hugs muse: I know. Thanks for caring, makes me feel better. And I don't wanna hear a bunch of 'oh I'm so sorry' 's from my readers either! I get enough of that when I talk to my friends. Okay?