Ch 5

Since he had let the conversation about her fantasies drop, she decided to let the fact that he spied on her go as well and concentrate on the main issue, which in her mind was, how could she still want him so much that just a small daydream brought him here? She didn't understand that, since many of her fantasies were longer and, well, more explicit.

Then she felt Julie grab her arm. Sarah looked at her, and Julie wiggled her eyebrows as if to say "Look at the hotties we picked up!" It was then that Sarah registered the fact that Jareth had been with someone, someone who was currently flirting outrageously with Julie.

"Who is that?" she asked Jareth, hoping to avoid talking about the real issue for a moment.

Jareth glanced at his friend, and for a second Sarah could have sworn she saw genuine warmth in his eyes. "That is Bayron. He has been my friend since we were children."

Sarah was a little surprised. From what she remembered of the Labyrinth, it didn't seem like Jareth had friends. Just loud, noisy goblins. She wondered why Jareth had brought a friend with him, but decided not to pursue that thought just yet.

"Oh." Sarah looked at Julie, who had headed to the dance floor with Bayron. Well, I guess she's not so interested in leaving now.

Sarah almost ordered another drink, but she decided against it. Her head was already slightly fuzzy. How much rum did they put in that thing?

She turned her thoughts to Jareth, who was still looking at her, waiting for her to explain why she brought him here. She didn't know what to say. She was beginning to feel the shock of suddenly seeing the Goblin King. It had almost seemed natural at first, the way they fell into their conversation. But now, she realized just how absurd it was that they were here, in this place, talking. It was all of a sudden too much for her. She felt like she had to get out of there before she suffocated.

She jumped out of her seat and ran for the door, desperately needing some fresh air. She pushed through the crowd waiting to be let in and leaned against the side of the building. Her legs were shaking, and they felt like jelly. She slid down until she was sitting on the ground.

Jareth had followed her outside, and now he sat down next to her. She braced herself for a sarcastic remark, but none came. She glanced over at him and saw nothing but concern in his eyes.

He was concerned about her? How could he be? She had spent the last ten years hoping he forgave her, but in her heart knowing he could do nothing but despise her. How could he not? She had defeated him and left him. Could her heart have been wrong this whole time? She didn't know, this was all too much to handle. The one man she had longed to see, yet never expected to see again, was right here in front of her. She tried to get a hold of herself and concentrate on what was going on.

She sighed and looked up at Jareth. "I'm sorry. I just had to get out of there for a second, it was just too much. I mean, you're here and I never thought you'd be here again, and I can't understand how I brought you here, and God, I'm so sorry I'm babbling, I just don't know what to say, part of me wants you just to go away but part of me is so glad you're here, and-" she stopped before she embarrassed herself again.

Jareth felt his heart lift a little. She was glad he was here? He was glad that she was glad. He tried not to let her see that though. This was the first time they saw each other in ten years, he couldn't let her see how much she still meant to him after all this time. That would make him seem weak, and the Goblin Kingshould beanything but weak.

Sarah was looking up at him with her beautiful green eyes, she looked almost tearful. God, she wasn't going to cry, was she? He never knew how to handle a crying female.

"It's okay, Sarah," he said. "We don't have to talk now, I don't want you to get upset."

Sarah looked surprised. "Thank you. I'm usually better at keeping my composure, seeing you was just such a shock. I'm sorry I'm not handling this better." She gave him a small smile.

Jareth was slightly shocked. What happened to theimmature Sarah Williams he had known? She would never smile so demurely at him. In fact, he had been fairly certain she had hated him. He would never let her know it, but he was also somewhat affected by their meeting. He had had no idea how Sarah would react to seeing him again, even if she had been the one to call him. The Sarah he remembered thought him to be her adversary, and he was slightly surprised that she wasn't yelling at him.

Sarah could read the surprise in his face, and she guessed correctly what he was surprised about. "What, Jareth, I'm not allowed to act like an adult? I'm not a teenager anymore. The last time I saw you, I was young and immature. I know how to handle myself better now, and I also realize that I have no reason to be angry with you. All those years ago, you were just doing what I asked. You weren't the villain I thought you were. Don't think I didn't realize that."

She stopped herself from pouring out her heart to him. There was so much she wanted him to know, but not in this setting. It was just too strange.

Jareth was, once again, shocked by what she had said. It was almost hard for him to believe that she hadn't been the immature child she had seemed to be. If anything, she had been more mature than he gave her credit for, if she had actually understood what he was offering her, and turned it down to save her brother. Did she mean to tell him that she didn't despise him? That she didn't think him an evil person for simply doing what she asked? He unknowingly agreed with Sarah; there was a lot for both of them to take in, and it didn't feel right talking about it here.

He looked over at her, only to see her looking at him. Her face was inches away from his. He could almost feel her breath on his lips. Slowly her mouth came closer to his.