Chapter 13: I Can't Explain The Things That I'm Feeling
The last bell rang, and the students snapped up their binders and books, dumping everything into their abused book bags. They poured out of the classrooms, hoping the beat the rush and creating it all at once. Sarah took her time gathering her things since she really didn't have a fully packed and planned afternoon. After the crowd thinned, Sarah stepped out and stopped at her locker, dumping a couple of textbooks and retrieving yet some more for the weekend's homework.
Canaret met her there. "Hey Sarah." The Gothic blond had dark black eye shadow on her lids, which made her look odd to Sarah, but she wisely held her tongue. Canaret waggled her eyebrows suggestively. "So, how's wonderjock?"
Sarah rolled her eyes and smiled haplessly. "He has a name, you know."
Canaret giggled. "Yes, but naming him makes him so much more real, and I'm still having difficulties realizing that Sarah Williams," she posed dramatically as Sarah looked exasperated,"-dreamer extraordinaire, she of the Powerful Words, is dating wonderjock." She grinned wickedly. "So what's going on? Details, details!"
They walked down the hallway, weaving around the last stragglers. As the exited the building, Sarah glanced up at the hazy blue sky, her eyes going distant. "There isn't much to tell, Canaret."
"What? No kisses, no hugs, no squishy sloppy sounds that I should try my best not to envision but I will anyway?" Canaret's lips quirked upwards as she teased.
Sarah came back down to earth and gazed at her friend. "Well, no."
Canaret paused in her tracks. "Nothing?"
"Perfect gentleman." Sarah continued walking down the pavement, idly kicking a pebble out of her way. Canaret sped up and fell into step beside Sarah, her clunky black boots a stark contrast to Sarah's light treads.
"No way." Canaret asked hopefully,"Holding hands?" Sarah shook her head. "Well, shit, girl!" she exclaimed. "I thought they were the fast moving ones! I've gotten further in three days-"
"I don't want to hear about the Jake incident," Sarah halted Canaret with a firm hand.
"Okay, okay," she agreed humbly. A few seconds of blissful silence passed. "Are you two really dating?"
Sarah sighed and turned to face her friend. "Yes. As a matter of fact, we're going to a movie this weekend."
"Oohhh..." Canaret gave a smug smile. "Chick flick?"
"No."
"Something sexy, like The Secretary?"
Sarah gave her friend an odd look. "Um, no. This is our first date, you'll recall..."
"Well, a little hint and push can't hurt," she mused.
She probably didn't want to know what images flitted about in Canaret's mind. "...Um, thanks, but no."
Canaret shrugged. "Suit yourself. See if you can get around to holding his hand. Or maybe..." She smiled seductively. "Kiss kiss," she whispered, leaning close to Sarah's face. Then she snapped her teeth at Sarah.
Sarah leaned back, not at all offended. "Canaret, you're a strange child."
"Oh, maybe. But you're far weirder."
"Touche." Sarah grinned. "But seriously, I don't know what to do around Christian. Every time I think I can be calm around him, my heart starts going thud thud thud and it becomes so difficult to be relaxed."
Canaret hummed. Then she asked absently,"What would you do if he tried to kiss you?" She glanced at her friend sneakily.
Sarah flushed. "I don't know..." Judging from what little past experience I've had with the Goblin King, probably freeze? "I'd probably either lean away or freeze." Yes, that's what she did. She'd frozen, afraid to move, afraid to break that simple flash of mundane magic, that complete syncronization of heart and time. Too late, too late, she was always too late.
"You probably would," Canaret agreed with a long-suffering sigh. Then she grinned. "Well, if he does try anything, do let me know." She glanced at Sarah, and was caught by the lost look on her beautiful face.
The question formed, wriggling into existence, and crawled out her mouth. "What if he seems like he'll kiss me, and I want him to and don't want him to, and he doesn't?" Sarah asked wistfully, eyes staring off in the distance.
Canaret considered her friend carefully, feeling the ancient weight of sorrow settle in the air. "Sarah," she asked slowly,"when did this happen?"
Sarah snapped to attention and blinked. "Um, never mind." She smiled and looked away.
Canaret stopped and grabbed Sarah's arm firmly, trying to meet her eyes. "Wait, wait, wait," she said frustratedly. Her eyes filled with concern. "Sarah, what happened? This isn't about Christian, is it?"
Sarah turned and laughed weakly. "What makes you think it's not about Christian?"
"Because whenever it's about Christian you giggle and prance like a silly ninny. This goes," she paused, searching for the right word,"-deeper."
The words chilled Sarah and she shook Canaret's hands off. "This is not deeper." She swallowed and took a deep breath. "This is just...older," she declared resolutely.
"Is that what you tell yourself?" Canaret asked softly, skeptical. Sarah didn't respond. Finally, Canaret let it go. "Fine," she said softly. "I won't ask any more." She cast a sidelong look at her friend.
Sarah shook her head, clearing the air, and beamed at Canaret. "So, yeah, we're going to watch the Ring."
Tactfully, she followed the change in subject. "So you can justifiably attach yourself to his arm?" Canaret raised an eyebrow. "That should get you somewhere."
"Well, it was the only viable choice." Sarah crinkled her nose. "I mean, he wanted to watch Jackass."
A pause followed.
"Well," Canaret said finally,"I think that speaks for itself."
"Oh, shut up."
They parted ways shortly thereafter and Sarah walked into her house.
"Welcome home, Sarah," Karen called out.
"Hi there." Sarah glanced around the kitchen. "Hey, where's Toby?"
"Oh, he's in the living room with his Matchbox cars."
"Okay, thanks." She ignored the surprised look Karen gave her, thinking somewhat sourly that Karen could be nicer about the fact that Sarah was nicer. Her frown softened into a smile as she walked into the living room. "Hey, Toby." She dumped her bag on the carpet and crouched down.
"Sarah," Toby greeted. He held up a car and offered it to her. She accepted it graciously, smiling at his grand air. Toby picked up a car in each hand and started weaving them through the air like airplanes, humming and singing incoherently.
Sarah watched him play, very amused as she tried to make sense of his nonsensical babble.
That is, until she heard,"Dance, magic, dance!" Sarah paused and tilted her head at Toby. Where had that come from?
Now the two cars were facing off, and it looked like a big battle would occur. Sarah asked curiously,"Why are they fighting?"
Toby looked at his sister, exasperation on his chubby face. "Go'lin King took away something special. Have to get it back."
Sarah froze. Just how much did Toby remember? Carefully, she coaxed,"Goblin King? Who's that?"
This time Toby simply looked at his sister as though she were being incredibly stupid. He didn't bother to answer as he turned back to his midair battle.
Sarah crouched there for a few minutes, feeling her heart pound. Finally, she said quietly,"You remember the magic man, don't you, Toby?"
Toby continued playing. "Sarah was on the ceiling." He looked confused but accepted the truth of it. "Lots of stairs in the white room. And Go'lin King danced with. He wanted to keep me."
Sarah shook her head as she stood up. "No, Toby," she said softly,"It wasn't you he wanted to keep." She picked up her bag and fled up the stairs to her room.
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A/N: *peeks out from behind curtain* Well, I must say I'm ashamed that I've been so lax in writing. Which is why today y'all get not one but two chappies. And I'm ticked off at my roomie, so punching at the keys give me an outlet. ^_^