Chapter 60: A Fitting Punishment
After breaking the news to her family, Sarah then had the distinct pleasure of breaking it to her roommate that night. She and Jareth were sitting on the couch in her apartment, talking quietly and exchanging kisses, when Paris burst in, obviously the worse for drink.
"Hey, Sarah—WHOA!" she exclaimed, catching sight of Jareth. "You've actually got a guy here, in our apartment?"
Jareth raised an eyebrow. "And we were enjoying ourselves until just a moment ago. Be a good girl and head yourself back out again, why don't you?"
Paris' jaw dropped. "Asshole! Where do you get off talkin' to me like that?"
Jareth snapped his fingers, completely dismissing Paris. "Sarah, I've just had a wonderful idea."
"Oh?"
He turned to Paris. "Paris, tell me: what are you going to do for a roommate next year, with Sarah having graduated?"
Paris frowned. "I dunno. I haven't thought that far ahead."
Jareth's voice was dry. "Obviously."
"I guess I'll have to start looking for a new one. Why?" Her manner switched to flirtatious and she smiled at him. "Why do you ask, Jared? Are you offering?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Me? Oh, no. I'm going to be getting married in a few weeks. But I know someone who is going to be attending here next fall, and she is looking for a roommate as well. Something tells me the two of you would get along famously."
"You're getting married?"
He nodded, looking smug.
"Then what the hell are you doing sucking face with Sarah on the couch?" Paris demanded.
He smirked. "Sarah is who I'm marrying. Now, about the roommate…"
He got no further than that, as they had to stop and deal with Paris' shock and outrage at the thought that her boring, studious, and old roommate had landed the hottest guy she'd ever seen. Sarah said nothing, just sat back and let Jareth do the talking. He didn't let her down; he stepped into his Goblin King identity and gave Paris such a dressing-down that Sarah was sure the girl would remember for a long time to come!
"Now… about the roommate," he continued, back in hisJareth personality as if nothing had happened. "She'll be coming here from a rather protected home setting. She is going to need someone like you to teach her all about university life. She is quite young and impressionable, and naturally her well-being means a great deal to her mother—and to me as well."
Paris gave him an evil grin, obviously planning the corruption of the girl. Then she stopped and frowned. "Wait a minute--you've got a daughter?" Paris gaped. He didn't look that old!
He laughed. "Oh, no. She's not my daughter; she's the daughter of a friend of mine. I just happen to be her guardian at the moment."
Up until this point, Sarah hadn't any idea who he meant. She assumed there was someone else living under his protection, whom she hadn't met yet. She leaned over to him and asked, "Anyone I know?"
He smirked. "Terrillia."
All Sarah could think was that well, he was right about one thing: with Terrillia languishing in the Goblin King's dungeon, he certainly was her guardian!
A/N: So what do you all think? An appropriate punishment or what?