Don't Let Go
Chapter Nine: Don't Let Go Of The Things You Believe In
Sarah stepped into her room and dropped her bag to the floor as she collapsed against the closed door. Vivid flashbacks played over and over in her head, and she giggled again. I can't believe I've come this far. She launched herself from the door and twirled giddily on her way to the bed. She dropped onto the soft comforter and stared at the ceiling, unable and unwilling to dash away the silly smile on her face.
And no, she wasn't about to start thinking how the hell she would face Christian tomorrow. Likely, they would both blush and be awkward. And there was the whole social aspect to take into account. This development was unlikely to be well-received from quite a few different corners of the high school social intricacies.
No, she wasn't going to think about that just yet. There was just this perfect moment and her. Sarah sank into the blissful sea of contentment and joy.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Sarah closed her eyes as the rare euphoria dissipated like so much mist. There really wasn't any way of running from your past, was there? Sighing, she sat up and gazed at the Goblin King warily. He stopped clapping, and smiled, his sultry presence perfuming the room like a nearly tangible scent. Her mouth went dry, and her mind went completely blank of words. What did one say to a first love forcibly shoved from place?
"Congratulations, Sarah," he said silkily, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the bookshelf, an air of carefully cultivated, yet casual, grace about him. His eyes twinkled with amusement. "You managed to get around that...incompetence of yours."
She stiffened and glared at him, struggling not to snap at him. The line she'd granted him should not be crossed; he knew it, she knew it. She cast about for something to say, not liking the cold satisfaction on his face as she fidgeted. Lacking anything inoffensive to say, she nodded curtly and acknowledged,"Goblin King."
He tilted his head back and laughed. "Sarah, Sarah," he murmured charmingly,"Still so formal. One begins to wonder if you've forgotten my name after all." He lifted his eyes to meet hers, and the air filled with unspoken questions and misthought answers. Her breathing quickened in time with her heart, and the old sorrow overwhelmed the newly budded joy.
They weren't kidding when they said that you could never forget your first love.
The air in the room became a gooey consistency of shame and regret. The Goblin King smiled softly and looked away. He spied her closet and strode over to it. He opened it and began going through her clothes. Sarah blinked and opened her mouth to object. Without bothering to look back at her the Goblin King asked arrogantly,"And just how do you intend to face his court?"
"Court?" Sarah repeated dumbly, confused. "What co-"
"His circle. His group of esteemed elite." He cast a peeved look over his shoulder at her. "Do you think one such as yourself can carve a place out with them by the mere virtue of your poetic turns of phrase?" He sneered.
Sarah flushed and averted her eyes to the carpet. "I didn't want to think about that just yet," she said quietly.
"You never want to think about anything," he tossed out carelessly, digging further into her closet. She paled, eyes widening with pain even as she wondered when he would stop being able to hurt her. "Sarah, don't you have anything that will impress that popinjay's peers?" asked the Goblin King with patronizing exasperation. He finally pulled out a pair of black jeans that had beaded designs done into the sides and eyed it critically. "Perhaps..." he murmured to himself, and resumed his search.
"Get your hands off that!" Sarah cried, and she ripped it from the Goblin King's hands.
He looked startled for a brief instant, then smiled mischievously. "Sarah, is that one of your private pleasures?" A crystal ball appeared in his hand, and he turned it over.
Sarah blinked and looked down with dread. All she was wearing was her bra and that pair of tightly fitted black pants. The pants showed off every curve she had on the lower half of her body to the highest effect. It took her two full seconds to realize her state of undress. She yelped and covered her chest. "Hey!" she shrieked, her eyes wide with horror, and she flushed as the Goblin King gave her an coolly appraising look.
"You've filled out," he commented idly, and turned back to her closet. "The pants are suitable. You merely need a matching top -Sarah, do you ever consider your purchases at all?" he asked with an air of annoyance, not paying any attention to the nearly nude female behind him.
Sarah stood there numbly, her mouth gaping open, hurt and offended and trying to deny both. She didn't want to evaluate why it bothered her that the Goblin King wasn't particularly affected by her state of undress. She also tried very, very hard to forget that she'd bought these pants soon after the Labyrinth in a fit of wistful fantasy about the Goblin King. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and noted with guilty pleasure that she had filled out; the pants looked fantastic. Crashing back to reality as she heard the opening and shutting of drawers, she turned back to the Goblin King. "Just what do you think you're doing?" she spluttered, her arms dropping to her sides, hands fisted and ready for battle.
He ignored her and yanked a flash of blue from the depths of her closet. He held the blue shirt up, raising a single eyebrow at the plunging v-neckline. He eyed Sarah questioningly, his lips quirked upwards in a seductive, considering smile, and she flushed. "Um, Karen got me that for my birthday," she muttered by way of explanation. She crossed her arms over her chest figuring if he wasn't going to make a deal of her body, neither would she.
"Because of course, you would never allow yourself to be seen in something that so accentuates your more feminine qualities," he said as he shook his head. He tsked and tossed his crystal ball up, and Sarah found herself in the shirt. She stared down in horror at the visible cleavage and the tightly fitted waistline. The Goblin King nodded with satisfaction. "That should be enough to impress those superficial fools." He yawned and leaned back, stretching with catlike grace.
"I can't wear this," Sarah stammered, and she shrank at the look he gave her. "I can't. This is unlike anything I've ever worn."
"Quite untrue." He didn't bother to explain, and Sarah preferred it that way. "That shirt is on the same level as the indecent pieces of cloth masquerading as clothes on your dear Christian's female friends, except it's more tactful, and makes it obvious you're more attractive than they could ever dream of." He gave her a critical once over, and nodded with satisfaction again. "Wear that tomorrow."
Sarah shook her head. "Not on your life, Goblin King."
He sighed and looked skywards as though for divine aid. "Sarah, you'll take my damn advice and wear the outfit." He held his hands out, indicating his own clothes, and he raised a single, conceited brow. "After all, I know what looks good." And he vanished.
Sarah stared at herself in the mirror. "I can't believe this is happening." She sighed and changed out of the clothes, throwing the Goblin King-approved outfit back into the closet. I'm not wearing that. No. I refuse.
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A/N: Hey y'all. Heh heh. And yes, I know misthought isn't a word. But no real words suited, and hey, Shakespeare and Carroll and a whole bunch of other people made up words to fill in the blanks in the English language, so why can't I? *sticks out tongue petulantly, then ducks behind curtain*