Hey peeps. Sorry took so long. M computer was first being stupid and then I didn't feel like working on my fanfics and then I had other fanfics I wanted to do instead. Well, anyways…here it is. Oh, and in answer to what will happen. You guys all suck and I'm not gonna bring Jareth in. You guys have to continue waiting. Now I said I would have it long but my creative juices aren't so high today so it might not meet your standards. But I really don't care. Oh, and I have a new Laby story in my head. (Grins evilly) It came to me in this chapter actually. What is it about, you ask? Hmmm…
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Yippee.
Toby's eyes sprang open. Breathing heavily he took a calming breath before he sat up. Rubbing his eyes with his knuckles he yawned. It was probably close to four in the morning and still dark but Toby made it to the bathroom without too much stumbling. He did bother to shower yet for fear of waking his sister so he just changed clothes and packed his bag as quietly as possible. Tiptoeing out of the bathroom he grabbed Lancelot from his resting place on the couch and carried him over to his sister's bed. He set him down on the pillow looking and the mound under the covers that was his sister. Sneaking to the dresser a few feet away he opened up a wooden box and grinned. Inside was Sarah's stored away cash. Taking a few bills out he stuffed them in his pocket.
Walking to the kitchen for something to eat as breakfast and came to see that there was not one peach in Sarah's house. Nothing to even hint at the fact that peaches existed. Shrugging he grabbed an apple.
Whispering a goodbye to his sister Toby walked to the door. There was no way he was going to miss this concert. Sarah would surely understand this; she had been a kid once too. Besides, he would pay her back…eventually. And little did Tobias know that he would pay Sarah back…but not the money. Ah, the irony of it all. So, hand on doorknob Toby smirked as he opened the door…
…and came face-to-face with Sarah.
Sarah was scowling at him with her green eyes full of ire. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she was tapping one foot as she glared at her younger brother. "And just where were you off to little bro? Hmmm?"
Toby froze swallowing. "Eh, just going for a walk?" he offered lamely.
Sarah pursed her lips together. "Uh-huh." Quirking a brow she reached down and pulled out the money that was partly showing from his pocket. "I see," she said looking from the money to Toby. "Just a walk, dear little brother?"
Getting annoyed with his older sister quickly he glared back. "I was gonna pay you back," he muttered. "When are you going to stop treating me like a little baby?" he asked frustrated raking his fingers through his hair. "I'm not a child anymore! It's not fair!"
"You are my little brother, you will always be a baby to me," Sarah shot back, even though she was mentally wincing at his last words. Huffing she pushed her brother back into the house and closed the door behind them. Crossing her arms again she glared at her brother until he sat down on the couch. She walked over to her bed and threw back the covers revealing that the lump he had first thought was his sister as just a pile of pillows. "Such an easy trick and you fell for it." Muttering under her breath she put the money back in her box and shoved it in her drawer. "I expected more from you Toby. Lying, stealing…you're on your way to becoming a criminal!"
"Well, what's it to ya?"
"I'm your sister!"
"Exactly! You're my sister, not my mother! So stop treating me like you are! I'm not a baby anymore!"
"Well, when you stop acting like one I'll stop treating you like it! You need to grow up Toby!"
"All I wanted was to go to a concert with friends!"
"Our parents have already told you no, and then so did I. You have you answer! Now start acting like a mature young adult and not some childish baby! You're fifteen years old!"
"Stop acting like an old mother hen! You're only twenty-nine!"
Sarah stomped over to face him. "You are in my charge and what I say goes. Do you got that?" she hissed.
Toby scoffed standing up. "I'm going for a walk," he muttered heading to the door.
"Oh no you don't young man!" Sarah called after him.
"I have no money, it's not like I'm going to run away," he sighed. And with that he stormed out of the small apartment.
Sarah growled up to the sky. "God! Children can be so aggravating!" She fumed crossing her arms and pursing her lips together darting her gaze around the room. That was when she saw Lancelot. Seeing the old bear she calmed down slowly walking over to him. She saw pinned to his bow a note. It read:
Dear Sarah,
I know you must be angry with me but I had to do this. I promise to be home no later than 2 am and I promise I'll repay every penny I took from you. I'm a responsible young adult but I am also a kid, and kids need to have fun. You're my favorite sister (even though you are my ONLY sister) and I look up to you so much. I know that you will still be mad at me when I return but I hope that the time I'm gone gives you time to think about your childhood. You understand, don't ya? Well, I gotta go. I love ya big sis.
Love, Tobias
Sarah sighed sitting down on her bed and hugging the bear. She knew she had been hard on him. But she had been like him at his age and she didn't want to see him get hurt like she did or go through what she experienced. But she seriously doubted that he would find a babe to wish away and run through the Labyrinth. It was just plain improbable. Where would he find a child to wish away…and why would he wish it away? She had stopped telling him that story when he started to memorize it like she had. He had started to get addicted to it so she had to wean him off it. She still had that book somewhere…
Sarah stood up abruptly. NO! We would not entertain those thoughts. After her trio of friends had stopped coming she put those things aside. But she never forgot them. There were still there and she remembered perfectly the details of the world she left behind. The jingle Hoggle made when he walked, the soft fur and leathery feel of leather hands that belonged to Ludo, Didymus' shrill yet loved voice, the beautiful mismatched eyes of—Goddamn it! No! She wouldn't think about him. Wouldn't think about how he had plagued her mind since she was fifteen. She hated him, she told herself. He stole her baby brother…even if she had asked him. He made her go through hell and back…without getting a scratch. He humiliated her in the ballroom…when they danced together so smoothly it was like they were one body, one mind. He…alright he was gorgeous! She couldn't escape the matter. But even the most beautiful predator was still deadly. And he was the worst!
But pushing the thoughts of him aside (How do my thoughts keep ending up on him? She thought vexed) she thought again at Toby. She didn't agree with him but she had been a little hard on him. She just was constantly reminded of herself and she didn't want that for Toby. Looking up to the heavens she sighed. "Is this your idea of some sick joke?" Another sigh. "Or irony," she added under her breath looking back to her eye-level. "Maybe even both."
Toby wandered down the street with his hands in his pockets. He had lied about having money but he had only a few bucks that were his to begin with and he was feeling a little hungry so he headed towards a fast food joint. His stomach grumbled at him as he waited in line and he was temped to go walking through the drive-thru section. He did that once back home. He got yelled at. But he got his food so he didn't care. Paying for the food he sat down at a booth and began consuming his breakfast.
"So, did you hear about the party coming up?" a masculine voice said from the booth behind him.
"Yeah. I heard it's all the rage this year" another answered, this time female.
"I heard that C-4 was going to play," a different feminine voice added.
"Really? Awesome, I love those chicks!" the first girl said.
"Yeah, their hot!" the boy laughed.
"Dylan!" the girl scolded followed by a sound as if she had smacked his arm.
"I need napkins," the second girl stated. "Um, excuse me." Toby turned around to feel a tap on his shoulder. What he saw was a vision of loveliness. Eyes the color of sea foam looked into his grayish blue ones. The sea foam eyes sparkled as a soft smile graced the light pink lips on the owners pale face. Hair the color of the fire of sunset framed the face in graceful curls. Toby blinked as she pointed to the napkin dispenser. "Can I bum a few napkins?" she asked. "Ours is all out."
Toby blinked again before the words registered in his mind. Blushing slightly he grabbed the whole dispenser and handed it to her. "Uh, here you go."
"Thank you," she smiled. She continued smiling at Toby until she offered her hand. "Name's Kassidy with a 'K'. Kass for short."
Toby took the offered hand and shook it. "Tobias with a 'T'. Toby for short," he smiled lamely at his attempt of a joke.
Kassidy grinned. "Tobias, huh? I love that name." She looked back at her two friends. "These are Dylan and Tanginika; everyone calls her Tani or something like that for short though. We get too tired to call her by her full name. Ain't that right Tani?"
"Hey, you're not the one who has to write it all the time," Tani said. I get cramps just thinking about it!" she chuckled shaking her hand to 'quell the pain'.
Toby looked at the three of them. Kassidy looked Scottish with her hair and eyes; Dylan had shaggy brown hair that fell into his eyes hiding their chocolate golden color; and Tanginika was African-American, as the name suggested. The girls had on black eyeliner and were wearing black tank tops and black miniskirts with knee high combat boots. Dylan was wearing a black silk shirt and black pants with a kind f black boot as well. Toby had a passing thought that is he had only on black pants he would match. But he didn't. He had on his old blue jeans and black shirt and shoes. Toby ran a hand though his locks of curly strawberry blonde hair absently.
"Hey, Tobias, would you like to go to a party?" Dylan asked. "There'll be lots of hot chicks," he smirked. "But none as hot as you Tani!" he added hastily. Tobias got the picture that the two of them were an item. Dylan grinned innocently.
"Yeah, sure," Tanginika replied with a pout. "My boyfriend is checking out other girls."
"Oh, Taniki, not the face!" Dylan groaned. Tanginika just stuck her lower lip out further and bat her eyelashes as her eyes widened. She let out a little whimper. "Nika, don't do that!" he pleaded.
Kassidy rolled her eyes as the two of them continued on their antics. "So, how 'bout it Ace? Wanna go to the party?
"Um, sure," Toby shrugged. "I'll need to know when and where though."
Kassidy nodded and handed him a slip of paper from the bag next to her. "Address and directions right there," she said pointing to one corner of the page. "Reverse side is a map. Oh, here, let me get you my cell number. In case you get lost I mean," she added quickly. With a smile she pulled out a pen and wrote her number on an open space. "Just call me if you need any help finding the place…or anything."
Toby smiled back at her. "Thanks Kass."
"Sure thing Toby." They smiled at each other oblivious to the other two who were exchanging glances before making a gagging face.
"Yes, well," Dylan began getting up, "we gotta split. See ya later man."
Toby watched as the three of them left. Sighing he looked at the paper in his hands, or more importantly at the number scribbled on one edge. Grinning he finished up his breakfast and walked out.
A few hours later, approximately 7 o' Clock AM, Toby strolled back into the apartment.
"Toby! Where have you been?" Sarah exclaimed jumping up from the couch where she had previously been holding onto Lancelot. "You left three hours ago!"
"Chill sis, I got some breakfast an' then walked through the park." Toby walked over and plopped onto the couch yawning. "Didn't see any young girls practicing lines out of their favorite playbook though," he added with a smirk as he propped his feet on the coffee table in front of the couch. Sarah quickly swatted his feet down the look of apprehension still on her face. "What, afraid I was going to knock over a liquor store or somethin'?"
Sarah sighed. "Well, I guess not."
"'Guess not'? Gee sis, I love you too."
"You know that's not what I meant," she sighed in exasperation. "I just would like to know where you are at. This isn't some little town; this is New York City. There are all kinds of dangerous places and people here. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Alright, alright! Stop getting all Mother Hen on me will ya Sar?" He yawned again. "Hey, I'm gonna catch some Z's 'k?"
"Alright Toby. Go lay in my bed. I have an audition I have to get to; will you be alright until I come back?"
"Yeah, yeah. No wild crazy parties while you're gone, I get it. Now let your dear little brother sleep alright?"
Sarah smiled affectionately as Toby kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed. She picked up Lancelot and tucked him in with Toby caressing her little brother's cheek with the back of her fingers. "I love you Tobes. Goodnight." Sarah then grabbed her bag she had packed and headed out of the apartment. But she didn't leave after that. No, she stayed on the front porch leaning against the door. She feared for Toby, feared for what he might do. She didn't think he was a bad child…he was just too much like her, Goddamn it! He had even been using her old favorite phrase. As soon as he started saying 'it's a piece of cake' she would have to have a talk to him and how you should never say that. Of course, she would have to take out a few things from her experience…okay; she would really have to change her experience entirely.
Sarah had hoped that the magic he experienced during the time he spent with Him would have made him a respectable young man. But after he hit puberty he just started acting more like she did as a child…and as much as she hated to say it more like Him. He had always liked peaches (Eww, Sarah thought) and he had had a fascination with singing for a time (Sarah remembered Toby was once, okay still kinda is, addicted to David Bowie for some unknown reason) but after puberty hit he was acting more selfish, more spoiled, more arrogant, and just plain more of a brat. Sarah swore he acted like those goblins sometimes. She wondered if Jare-e-e-e-e, ahem, if HE had started to change him or something. But she knew she couldn't really blame Him. (Yes I can! Watch me! It's all your fault! See?) Moving on… Sighing, Sarah straightened her shoulders and walked to the street going to hail a cab because she really did have to get to this audition.
Toby, on the other hand, opened his eyes as soon as Sarah closed the door. Grinning he laid in bed for just a while longer in case Sarah should forget something and come bumbling in again. So after about five minutes of waiting Toby threw back the covers and got up. Sarah had been easy for him to trick a lot of times because she refused to think of him capable of lying or doing anything unruly. She knew he did but she always expected him to grow out of it, almost by overnight, but that was ridicules. What child has ever grown up over night? But he didn't care. So pulling his shoes back on he walked back to the fridge and grabbed the milk pouring himself a glass. It was then he noticed that a shovel was placed next to the door leaning against the wall. Weird, he thought quirking an eyebrow. Maybe Sarah had to bury a body, he chuckled mentally.
Smiling Toby plopped back on the couch grabbing the phone. Pulling the party invitation out of his pocket he looked down at the number. Grinning he punched the number in the phone listened to it ringing.
After only a few rings a giggling Kassidy answered. "He-hello?" she asked regaining her control. "Have you ever had your phone vibrate between your boobs?"
"Uh…no…" Toby furrowed his brows in puzzlement until he shook it off. "Hey, Kass, it's Toby."
"Oh, Tobias, hello!" she greeted enthusiastically. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. Hey, I was bored and just wondering…might it be possible if we got together to hang out?"
"Oh, I don't know. Me, Tani, and Dylan were gonna go see a movie; the three of us always go see a movie on Saturdays."
"Oh," Toby said disappointedly.
Another voice was muffled in the phone, apparently in the background, and the Kassidy spoke again. "Dylie-poo and Tans said you could join us though, if you want," she said happily.
"Oh, great! Um, so where should I meet you? I don't know this city well; I'm visiting my sister."
"Uh, we could come pick you up. Where do you live?"
And so Toby gave them the address and told them he would be waiting outside. After about ten minutes of waiting a silver mustang pulled up with Dylan driving, Tanginika in the passenger seat, and Kassidy on the passenger-side in the backseat waving for him to come on. So Toby hopped into the car behind Dylan and smiled over at Kassidy.
They went to see the movie but were kicked out in the middle because they were causing a disturbance (I.E. throwing popcorn and other things; stating the obvious, such as "look, a duck!" or "she's opening the door"; or sneezing/couching/hacking/choking/clearing throat/etc. loudly on purpose). So they went to the arcade a few blocks from the theater and played a few games before they headed to the mall. They stayed there for a few hours but really didn't do anything but hang out and harass the chicken boy. The chicken boy bawked at them and began pecking them until they left him alone. No one appreciated poor teenaged boys who could only get a job as a mascot for fast food joints at the Food Court. They discussed the up-coming party and that they would all meet at 6 o' Clock PM that night. The party was in three days and neither of them could wait. They then discussed the band that would playing there; Chicks-4, or popularly called "C-4". The band was made up of four girls, hence the name, with a Lead Singer/Guitarist, Bassist, Drummer, and Keyboard.
Finally, when he had been gone near to twelve hours, Toby walked through his sister's door.
"Toby! Where the hell were you?" Sarah exclaimed in both anger and relief. She had been worried when she arrived home to find him missing and the bed cold.
"I was hangin' with friends," he replied as if it were no big deal. "I got bored and didn't want to hang around all day."
"Toby, you are under my care and I will not put up with you leaving without telling me or trying to pull another stunt like this morning. It will not be tolerated, do I make myself clear?"
"Who died and made you Queen?" Toby scoffed.
"Our parents dropped you off in my charge, thus I'm the boss. I make the rules and you follow them. And I don't appreciate this backtalk mister!"
"Well, what ye gonna do, ground me?" he rolled his eyes and plopped on the sofa with one leg thrown lazily over the armrest.
Sarah growled and shoved his leg off. "It's an armrest, not a legrest!" she hissed, "and that's a good idea. You're grounded!"
"WHAT!" the boy exclaimed shooting out of his seat. "You can't do that!"
"Actually, yes I can! You are under my rule until your mother and father get back and so I have the power to ground you as I see fit!"
Toby glared at her. "I don't believe this!" he yelled. "I don't know why you were my favorite sister! I wish I was an only child! I hate you!" he screamed before storming to the bathroom. Before closing the door he yelled "You have no power over me!" and then he slammed the door locking it.
Sarah stood where she was a stricken look on her face. She couldn't believe Toby had said he hated her. The last part was ironic but hate? Tears forming in her eyes she tried not to cry. "Well, I hate you too!" she yelled. Grabbing the blanket and pillow that was Toby's bedding for the couch she threw it at the bathroom door. "Now make your bed and lie in it!" she screamed. Spinning around she stormed out of the house but she wasn't able to hold back the tears anymore and let out a sob before the door shut.
Toby glared at the door with arms crossed his own tears forming. His glare wavered though as she yelled back that she hated him, then she threw the bedding, and then she stormed out of the house. But Toby heard her cry. He felt awful for it too. Aw, man. Why was I so stupid? Why did I say something I knew would hurt her? Because I was angry. I didn't mean it, though. But what did Sarah always tell me when I was younger? 'What's said is said and what's done is done'. Oh Sarah, I'm so sorry. And he was, but he was still angry. He didn't think he deserved her nagging at him all the time. He was almost a grown man and he should be treated like it! So, opening up the door just enough to grab the bedding Toby continued his glaring and relocked the door once he was done. He didn't want to be out there with her so he decided he would camp out in the bathroom until morning. That would give them time to cool down. So Toby made his bed in the tub and fell asleep.
There! Another one bites the dust! Or was it rides a bus? Hmmm… Sorry, gotta love Weird al. Oh, and I forgot…No I am not pregnant! I'm too young to be pregnant! Although, with out world today it wouldn't be all that weird if I was… Anyways…it was my sister that was pregnant and she made me try pickles and whipped cream. It kinda grows on ya.