Chapter Seven
TIME UP
The clock began the chime and Sam felt her knees go weak. It felt as if a thousand pound weight had been put on her shoulders. She leaned against the wall to support herself, trying to keep from falling to the stone floor. Aimlessly, Sam tried to hold tears back but all was in vain, she'd lost her muse. Better yet, she'd lost her best friend AND the only person that cared about her.
"You lose," Jareth's words dripped with venom. That girl, she was so careless all the way up until the end when she realized that she needed Conner. Jareth glanced over at the grief-stricken muse, who he'd summoned and felt a pang of compassion. He was so loyal to the girl, even after she thoughtlessly wished him away. He cared for her, and Jareth knew, was a dangerous thing. But Jareth couldn't just send her home, it'd break Conner's heart. And she HAD come close, she had gotten to the castle but she'd simply said the wrong words. But the girl doesn't deserve him! Jareth screamed at himself. She didn't appreciate her muse at all! But Conner wanted her, kind soul he was and Jareth sighed to himself. If the girl didn't deserve him, he'd just have the change that wouldn't he? "Ready to go home now?"
"Please," she pleaded between sobs "don't t-turn him into a g-g-goblin." She mentally hit herself for stuttering, but she was beginning to break down and not care anymore.
"Why?" Jareth asked blankly "would you be willing to take his place then?" Sam's eyes widened and she looked towards Conner who seemed to be overly fascinated with his shoes. He wouldn't even look up at her, she could tell he was angry. He had every right to be angry, she knew, she'd done something unforgivable to him.
"Yes," she whispered and Conner's eyes shot up.
"WHAT!" he asked walking towards her "thirteen hours ago you couldn't STAND me, and now, now your going to loose all those brain cells of yours so you can trade places with me!" Sam laughed through tears and nodded. Conner looked at Jareth pleadingly, hadn't she learned enough? Sure, he was still angry with her, but tormenting her could come later. He would too, nothing mean, but he'd probably annoy the hell out of her. He smiled at the thought.
"The three of you shall stay here in the castle," Jareth ordered "until I decide your worthy of returning home." The girl smiled a little, at least she wasn't losing her muse. "AND," he added just to spite the girl "you Sam, you belong to Conner as long as you're here. You will do as he orders you, understand? If you don't I will gladly extend your servitude to him." She looked up, "extend it by thousands and thousands of years." She gulped and nodded quickly, she knew Conner wouldn't ever hurt her or anything, but that was a long time to be stuck being a slave, towards someone as annoying as Conner anyways.
"What about Sarah?" she asked.
"What of her?" he asked.
"Your not gonna… hurt her or-" she started but he cut her off.
"I'd appreciate it if she stayed out of my way as much as possible," he growled "Conner will show you your room. I will attend to Sarah for the time." Quietly he added "expect to hear yelling…" Jareth simply faded away to gods know where and Conner waved Sam to follow. They walked for a long time, but Conner didn't say anything.
"I'm mad at you," he growled after a while and Sam bit her lip. "Why did you even come? You don't want me around, remember?" He glanced back at her and watched as she tried to fight back tears.
"I-" she paused and took a deep breath "I was wrong, very very wrong."
"How so?" he asked and they stopped in front of a door. He turned around and looked at her. "I mean," he shrugged "you don't need me around, right? You have Mike. Let HIM be your new muse." Conner went inside the room and slammed the door in her face. She blinked a few times, she felt as if she was in Conner's shoes. When they where home, she was always yelling at him, telling him he was stupid and that she didn't need him around. She'd slammed doors in his face so many times that she couldn't even remember how many times she'd done it. She sat against the wall besides the door.
"But I do need you," she whimpered and laid her head on her knees that she'd pushed up against her chest. "Mike's just a boyfriend, he'll leave me eventually. But you… you've always been there for me. I guess I didn't treat you as well as I should have, I took you for granted." She wiped tears away again and heard the door open. Conner looked out, tears in his eyes and that same smug grin on his face. She looked up, her eyes reddened with tears and he knelt next to her. He took her into the firmest embrace she'd ever experienced, but it was also the gentlest. She didn't pull away this time, she didn't scream, Sam just wrapped her arms around him and buried her face on his shoulder.
"Shhh," he hushed her trying to calm her down.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me," she begged. Tears grew heavier now and being held by Conner seemed to fulfill some sort of need. "I'm sorry," she kept saying and he hushed her.
"Its alright," he breathed "it's ok. Don't cry Sammy, don't cry." She hated it when he called her Sammy and she laughed though her tears.
"Don't call me that," she laughed and he pulled away giving her a teasing look.
"I'll only forgive you if I can call you Sammy," he teased. An annoyed smirk came over her face and she sighed.
"Fine," she muttered and he hugged her again. Conner wish this had happened a long time ago, he could get used to owning Sam, er, Sammy. He promised himself that he wouldn't be mean though, only annoying.
"Come on," he breathed and helped her up. Leading her into the room he sat her down on the bed, almost like a child. He sat across from her, crossing his legs and leaned over. Slowly, he wiped the remaining tears from her face. "Aw Sam," he whispered "don't feel bad, I know you didn't mean to."
"Its not just me wishing you away," she choked back a sob "I haven't appreciated you at all. I've ignored you and been mean to you. You have every right to-"
"No," he shook his head "I don't want to be assigned to someone else Sam. I want you." She didn't say anything for a long time. She lifted her head and gave an amused grin.
"Your such a pain Conner," she smiled and he laughed.
"You know you love it," he teased and she rolled her eyes. "You need me." She didn't say anything, she just looked at him, annoyed. "Don't you?" She fumed, couldn't he torture her later? Why'd he have and ask her something like that? Hadn't she already said she needed him? Why'd she have to say it again. Because you've lacked to say it so many times before, an annoyed voice growled.
"Yeah," she whispered. He sighed and laid on his side and seemed to think for a moment.
"I'm still mad though," he muttered.
Author's note: Cute? Sweet? Yeah well, I got inspired with me being sad the other day and Conner being there for me. Damn him. Anyways, hope you liked. Took me a while so, TA DA! Let me say something, ok? You ALL know I've been sad lately since my mother, and I mean, I don't wanna get sappy or anything but you guys really helped me. - Conner too. Actually, Conner was a HUGE help, since my mother and step-dad was yellin' the other night. He just curled up on my bed with me and we talked till they finally shut up. So I'm only gonna say this ONE TIME. I love my muse, and I wouldn't trade him for anything. I know a lot of you guys like him and want him for your own… but he's probably the only person that's ever been this close to me in my life (well duh, muses can get into your mind! But you understand what I mean). And I'd die if I lost him, or if he ran away from me or anything - Now with that said :pokes Conner: your so annoying.
Conner:sighs good naturedly: See what I put up with:grins: I just love her, she's such a pain. I love a lot of you guys too but, no one can take her place. It is my belief (I'm not saying its true, I won't let myself read her mind to be sure) but I believe she gets jealous sometimes when other muses grab my attention. - But I've always been a lousy judge of character.
Hippie99:smirks: Hitting Jareth seems like something I would do… I don't know why. I get fed up easily I suppose. I suppose Conner told me, (he's always sneaking into my mind). And yes, Conner's favorite word. :sighs: I really gotta make him lay off all that TV
NuPreacher: Conner: that's not funny, you… :sighs and looks at authoress for help:
Perhaps a deal:looks at Conner:
Conner: Like?
Give em' a wish.
Conner:glares:
Well it's better than doing a bunch of dumb stuff forever. Just one wish, regular rules (can't wish for more wishes), and do it willingly.
Conner: Fine. Make a wish NP.
LadyAniviel: YAY! Jareth got hit (I'd hit him too). You and the kissing:giggles: well, it IS near V-day so… yeah.
Acantha Mardivey: I'm a little better now, hun. I'll be fine.
Conner: hey, I tried ALL morning and did a darn good job of it. :ahem: So I expect, you know… maybe not you wigging out about it. - Anyways, she's fine, I'm ok, you got your Will back, everything works out good.
ItsACrystalNothingMore: No, I shall not let Conner profess his anything. - And you are NOT tipsy love:giggles: ok, maybe a little.
Conner: Can't I just say it?
No
Conner: PLEASE :give puppy dog eyes:
:sighs: ok fine.
Conner: nah, I don't wanna now… HEY! She blew me a kiss :blows one back:
Divine Dark Angel: Conner:catches before you fall to the floor: your veeery welcome my dearest. -
Conner! Stop hitting on her- Actually, I think I'll be doing those few things this upcoming V-day. :sighs: oh well. And uh, I think Devon got adopted, better check my page.
Theshadowcat: she made it, and I bet you hate what happened. Yeah but your ONE story rocks. I like mucho! I got three that are… kinda ok. - Hellboy:laughs: oh how fun, can't wait to see that one.
Queen of the Damend- thank you. And if you wanna muse (if I haven't given you one yet) check my page and see who's left. We got some new ones.
