Nothing Left
By: CreativeImagination
Chapter Eight
I'll Be There For You
Sarah got dressed and grabbed an apple. It was her favorite kind, the yellow ones and she tossed it in her bag with an orange juice and a package of crackers.
"What's with all the food?" Karen asked and Sarah shrugged.
"Just hungry," she said and was rewarded with an annoyed glance. "Karen, I don't care what you say, I'm EATING." Karen rolled her eyes and headed out the door with a sigh. "Jareth!"
"You don't have to yell you know," he said simply appearing beside her. He looked very normal, jeans, t-shirt, his hair pulled back. "Like what you see?" Sarah noticed she was gawking at him and coughed.
"Sorry," she muttered "you just look a lot… different."
"Ah," Jareth smirked. She looked as if she was about to jump on top of him and kiss him to death, but he wasn't about to bring that up, not right then at least. She seemed stressed enough without him teasing her. They walked in silence for a while and Jareth looked at her intently. "What's wrong?" She shrugged and he stopped. "Sarah there's something."
"Have you SEEN my fiancé?" she asked "of COURSE there's something wrong." Jareth laughed.
"Well how would you go about fixing this then?" he asked.
"There's no way," she muttered "Nick would either have to just GIVE my father the money, no catch whatsoever so someone else would." She paused. "Or I could say no and have my family disown me."
"They'd do that?" he asked.
"Karen takes those business parties very seriously," she said dryly.
"Humans are very strange," he sighed.
"WE'RE strange?" she asked "have you LOOKED in the mirror once in your lifetime? Have you seen what you wear?"
"Yep," he smirked.
"I don't understand you," she sighed.
"That's the idea," he said simply as they reached the park "and you won't understand, until I want you to." She gave him a dry look. "That's how I am."
"I've noticed," she smiled.
"Why do you like this place?" he asked "there's trash and people and… just… junk."
"Where else am I to go?" she asked.
"Well-" he started but was cut off by a very loud yell.
"SARAH!" Nick screamed from the car.
"By the gods," Sarah grumbled and Jareth smiled at her.
"On a scale from one to ten," he started.
"Twenty-four," she muttered. He nodded and they vanished. Sarah realized she was in Jareth's throne room. "I didn't say to come here!"
"I know," he said simply, letting his foot dangle over the side of his throne "but I thought you might need a vacation."
"I can't stay here," she said.
"I know," he said again "I said vacation, not that you were moving. Now," he gave her a sly smile "do you or do you not want to go to the park?" Slowly she nodded. "Alright then," he said simply and they we're outside Jareth's castle. "Technically its not a park, more like a garden but, I think it'll do."
"Could you start warning me before doing that," she asked "I think I'm getting teleport-sickness." Jareth laughed.
"Oh fine," he smirked "if we must we can walk from here."
"Thank you," she said simply and he smiled. They walked around a bit, Jareth showing her what was what and such. Soon they stopped and sat under a very large willow tree. It's vines were so numerous and long that you couldn't see under the tree, so it was like a tent. "Wow." Jareth stretched out on the grass and started to doze, Sarah tossed the package crackers at him.
"Hey," he said and noticed she'd given him food "oh." He looked at it for a moment "what is this?"
"Crackers," she shrugged "but if you don't want them I'll probably hide them in my room for later when Karen's starving me."
"Why is she doing that?" he asked.
"She thinks I'm fat," Sarah shrugged and Jareth laughed. He laughed, and laughed and finally he gained enough self-control to speak.
"She's crazy," he smirked "your anything but fat. If anything your too thin."
"This coming from you is a bad thing," Sarah sighed biting into an apple. Jareth didn't say anything but watched her for a moment and she paused, noticing that… she wasn't holding an apple anymore. "I wish you'd stop doing that," she muttered spitting the peach into her hand.
"Why?" he asked.
"You know why," she muttered tossing it aside.
"No," he shook his head "from my stand point you enjoyed yourself in the ballroom upon breaking the bubble." She rolled her eyes. "I'm thinking that your afraid."
"Afraid?" she repeated.
"Yes," he nodded "afraid. Afraid of what you might feel."
"Can we change the subject please?" she growled.
"No," he said firmly and sat up "because I think your scared that you might actually have feelings for me. That you may actually lo-"
"Stop," she trying to get him to shut up "wait a second-"
"No," he was smirking now "your afraid that you might love me." She didn't say anything and he nodded. "Aren't you?"
"No," though she didn't know if it was a lie or not.
"No?" his eyes were growing dangerous "are you sure? Absolutely positive that there are NO romantic feelings between you and I?"
"Well-" she paused.
"Because if your afraid that you love me Sarah," he almost laughed.
"Jareth," she snapped and he got quiet "as much fun as this is, tormenting me and all, I think I have enough romance problems of my own right now. And even if I DID by some off chance love you, I don't think it would matter, since I'm getting married in less than three weeks."
"It does matter," he snapped "it's better to know rather than never to know. To actually have the knowledge that someone cared for me, even though I cannot be with them. It matters to ME."
"Love is such a strong word," she muttered.
"It is," he nodded "but at the least tell me, are we friends?" She paused and looked at him blankly. Were they friends?
"Yes," she nodded.
"Alright," he nodded "do you think we're more than friends?" She paused and didn't say anything.
"I don't know," she admitted and he nodded. It was better than a no. "Can I ask you something?" He nodded. "What do you think love is?"
"Why?" he asked.
"Because," she sighed "I seem to have an odd idea of it since everyone else thinks its another word of lust."
"That's so stupid," he laughed "do humans know nothing?"
"Excuse me," she snapped "I don't think that." He smiled at her, his eyes gleamed in a way she'd never seen before.
"I know," he said kindly "I know you don't think like them. You believe that love is caring about someone to the point you'd die for them, beyond that even." Sarah smiled a little. "Love isn't lust Sarah. Lust can be part of love, you can be physically attracted to someone, but love is when you care about there heart too. You love them for everything they are." She didn't say anything.
"I don't love Nick," she muttered "hell, I don't even like Nick."
"Not many people seem to," Jareth smirked laying back.
"He doesn't love me either…" she paused "he just likes my appearance. If I wanted to do something, if I wanted to go to collage he wouldn't let me."
"Do you?" he asked and she nodded.
"A lot," she said.
"Maybe the idea of letting you go will just," he made a fluttery gesture with his hands "creep into his mind." Sarah paused a moment, at first not understanding what he meant. When she realized, she was dumbstruck.
"Why would you do that?" she asked.
"To make you happy," he said simply and she felt an odd tingly feeling in her chest. Almost like fear but, it wasn't. She was quiet for a long time and finally spoke.
"Jareth," she paused a moment, trying to catch her breath "really, thank you so much." He paused and looked at her. "It means a lot to me, especially when not a lot of people are out ot help me. Thank you."
"You get so excited over such little things," he said simply "things I do that aren't even any effort. It's nothing, really-"
"I know," she said "but it's a lot to me." He lowered his eyes and nodded.
"As you wish," he said simply.
"What would you wish for?" she asked after a while "if you could have anything at all?" He paused a moment, not really saying anything, he seemed to think.
"Its silly," he smirked.
"No, no," she laughed "tell me."
"No," he shook his head.
"Come on," she teased.
"A kiss and a back rub," he said and seemed to flush. She laughed, really hard too because, she'd never seen Jareth blush before. "It's not funny."
"No," she laughed "its not. Your expression was funny." She stopped laughing. "You mean out of everything that's all you want?"
"I can do anything," he said "I can do anything but MAKE people want my company or care for me, things around those lines. And so both of those things involve being cared for." Sarah felt herself smile again, she lowered her head and shook it, chuckling still. "It's not funny!"
"Why isn't that funny?" she asked.
"Because not having anyone care about you isn't funny," he almost snapped at her. Sarah stopped laughing and looked at him. He was being serious, he didn't have anyone to care for him… at all. No one to hug, no one to hold… nothing. Not even in the basis of friendship. Sarah had always had Toby, she could hug him, even though it wasn't in the romantic sense. Jareth didn't have anyone, no friends, no family, no lover, nada. Jareth was sitting against the tree, knees brought to his chest, looking at her sadly. No one to love him, no WONDER he was so touchy all the damn time.
"Come here," she said.
"Sarah I don't think-" he started.
"Would you PLEASE come here?" she asked and he moved over some. Sarah got up and moved behind him.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"What does it look like?" she muttered "take your shirt off." He looked at her, first confused and then with a brash smile.
"Sarah?" he asked and she rolled her eyes.
"Would you please not make this a painful experience for me?" she teased and he just looked at her. "Take it off." She smirked at how it came out of her mouth and Jareth even laughed, she hadn't meant it to sound that way but she supposed if it made Jareth feel any better she'd deal with it. He took off his shirt and set it aside.
"You don't have to," he said "I was just saying, I mean-"
"I want to," she said without thinking and quickly shut her mouth. I want to? she thought to herself nice word choice there Sarah. She placed her hands on his back and started with his shoulders. Jareth paused a moment, he didn't move. WHAT WAS SHE DOING? Her hands moved across his shoulders and neck, releasing eons of stress and tension. Her hands crept into his muscles, even deeper it seemed, moving across in the most natural way. He was rendered helpless, it felt so good that he didn't wish it to ever stop. And for it to be Sarah, the one touching him, the one that was gracing him with this brief taste of bliss made it even better. Her hands moved, down his shoulders, into his back, farther… lower back. She touched his side and he yelped. He actually yelped and Sarah broke out into laughter.
"That tickled," he snapped and poked her in the side and she let out a light scream. He smiled at her and moved back. She started again, noting to herself to be gentle and not poke him in the side again. She soon realized, she was enjoying it as much as he was. She was filling some sort of need by touching him, by being with him. In fact… she couldn't remember when she'd been so happy last. Just by being near him she felt… she couldn't describe it. It was like she wanted to curl up in his arms right then and never move and she'd be content. She paused a moment, over come by sadness. She did love him… terrible part was, she loved him and would never be able to hold him or kiss him or… or anything with him, because she was getting married. Jareth seemed to notice her sadness too and he turned to face her.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice just above a whisper. She shook her head but he gave a sly smile and lifted her head with his hand. "Don't lie to me," he said kindly "what is it?" What was she going to say? If she said she loved him, right then she knew they'd both do something they'd regret. Or he'd keep her there, and her family would be poor. But this want to be with him, it was sickening. It was like starving, this need that just ate away at you. She was embarrassed too, because she knew that if he found out she cared so deeply for him he'd rub it in A LOT.
"Nothing," she lied and he gave a slight frown but nodded. He understood, she didn't wish to speak of it. He couldn't blame her really, it would've spoiled such a nice evening. But still… he worried about her. He wanted to hold her so badly at that moment, but she would probably push away for scream. Besides… she was getting married. He hated that. He was ready to get down, right there and beg her to stay. Offer to take her whole family too, so she wouldn't have to worry about them. But she didn't love him… but why had she been overcome with sadness so suddenly. It was one of those, eating away at your heart, sadnesses. He knew. Perhaps it was because she had to marry Nick. That's a pretty good reason to be upset. They both sat there, wishing the other would say something, say anything applying to the other so they could blurt out how they felt. But Sarah was held back by her obligation to help her family and Jareth was held back by fear. Neither of them said anything and Sarah took a deep breath.
"Would you come to my wedding?" she asked "for moral support, I mean." He almost laughed but his face was solemn and he didn't say anything.
"Truthfully," he said "I don't think I could watch it." Sadly she nodded. "But if you really want me to, I will go."
"I don't want to put you though it," she said quietly "its bad enough I do." They both grinned a little.
"If you can bear through it," he said "so will I." He smiled at her. "Besides," he smirked "I want to be there to see Karen's face when a goblin pops out of the cake." Sarah laughed.
"I'd like to see that," she smiled. Her smile faded though and Jareth knew why. The wedding night he would not be there to comfort her, no one would and she would have to face it alone. Just the thought of having to sleep with someone, to give them your virginity, someone you didn't even love was sickening. Tears formed in Sarah's eyes, they were warm and shaky. Jareth didn't hesitate to pull Sarah into an embrace. His chin rested upon her head, while Sarah was curled up against his chest, crying quietly.
"Shhh," he hushed her "it'll be ok. You've always been the strong one."
"But I don't WANT to be," she said quietly "I want to be able to breakdown. I'm so tired of having to face everything alone because I'm Sarah, I'm the strong one, I'm the brave one. No I'm not. I'm scared…" Jareth felt hot tears against his flesh and he stroked her hair and hushed her again. But what else could he do?
"I'll be there for you," he murmured and he felt her arms grasp around him "remember? I told you that before. Don't forget it." She nodded. "You don't have to face it alone. I'm here…" She let out a shaky breath and found herself back in her room, his shirt over her shoulders and her alone. She smiled a bit, just a tiny bit in the corners of the mouth, but it was enough to get her though the rest of the day.
Author's note: Aw Conner, your such a softy romantic. No wonder I love you so much. :grins:
Conner: I know -
:whispers: Conner's birthday is tomorrow! Don't forget!
