Arighty then. Let's get this show on the road!
Enjoy!
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
Her eyes remain closed. She refuses to open them. Her ears turn deaf and she tries to mute out all of her senses. She feel his hands move up and down her body with feather-like strokes, making her insides tingle in satisfaction. She blindly replies as her reaction ignores her mental command. Swiftly, she rolls her long and thin fingers through the tresses in his hair as he travels his lips up to hers. She tries her very best to ignore the feeling. She tries to stifle her gasps and her murmurs of this sensation, but there is no hiding her reaction as he kisses her with such vigor tenderness.
She's dreaming. She knows it. So many dreams have gone by that she is now able to differentiate between reality and fantasy. She has become quite the lucid dreamer, now being able to decide what she does in these endless dreams herself. She refuses to admit that this is happening. She refuses to admit that she is here. She refuses to admit that he is here. Because he's not; She's not. This is just a figment of her sick and twisted imagination. So much so, that she even refuses to admit who she is with. She refuses what she desires most. She is positive that this is exactly what she doesn't want. She tries to pretend that it's not happening. She is trying to just wish it away.
'But it doesn't stop.
'No! This isn't happening. This isn't real.'
He doesn't leave.
'Stop. Go away!'
Nothing can break her. She can do this.
'I don't... I don't want... this-'
She slowly loses control. She is slowly losing the will to refuse.
She just... He...just...
She sees nothing. She hears nothing. But what lacks in sight and hearing, more than makes up with the touch. She is in complete ecstasy as his fingers caress her cheek and his lips tingle her neck. He is so soft and sweet with every touch, and she is completely limp with any kind of retort.
She can't control it.
She can't stop it.
She has no control.
Shit.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
Sarah grumbles in frustration, as the banner she tries to hang up at the entrance of the ballroom slips from her grasp, yet again. Looking down from the 6th step of the tall ladder, her nostrils flare as her anger exposes itself. This makes the 4th time this stupid thing has slipped from her hands and she is just done. She decides just to give up as she climbs off the ladder angrily cursing the banner under her breath. She decides to stay down take a break, wiping the sweat from her brow as she sits on the bottom step. She and the kids in the prom committee have been working on this hotel ballroom since school let out earlier today. Getting ready for Prom, is what the kids have been waiting for, and now they are busting their tails off to make it as perfect as possible for their "Masquerade". Tomorrow night is the big night, though, the size of this ordeal hardly stands in comparison to the rather large week that both she and Toby have already had.
In the last 7 days, Toby has been involved in a drug bust, thus having to juggle for his life at the "Medieval Fair", Sarah's car breaking down at the Medieval Fair, both Toby AND Sarah getting grounded for the car breaking down (and the secrets) at the Medieval Fair, Sarah being Toby's chauffeur for the remainder of the school year as punishment - and to top it all off, the school has a freaking fire!
Prom hasn't even happened yet, and Sarah is so ready to retire, it's not even funny.
Out of every single year that Sarah has been at this school, teacher or otherwise, never has this school been so ridiculously eventful. Why does it have to be this year, this month- this week- have to be so insane? Nothing is different other than the fact that this is the year that Toby is graduating, and-
Francesca.
Francesca and her Uncle Goblin King.
Sarah rolls her eyes at the silent thought. She harshly rubs her face with her hands in more silent grumbles. She does not want to think about him right now.
She can't believe that this is happening, like, she seriously can NOT comprehend that this is a thing. At all. Why? Why is he here? Why now? Why do this now? Why confirm her momentary lapse in judgement that consisted of a wacked out fantasy that she wished up for a couple of hours to get away from her little brothers stupid crying every five minutes, now? Why now?
He couldn't even be courteous enough to screw up her life at the beginning of the year, or in the blasted summertime where things were significantly less stressful, oh no. He had to wait until the absolute stupidest time of the year to appear out of thin air. Finals, graduation, mid-life crises, freaking... prom. She releases a deep sigh as she shakes her head at the thought.
She still can't believe that this is her reality, no matter how real the events may be. Her life was just fine before he showed up, not to mention, at the very least, normal!
Sarah can't wrap her head about what is going on. After all this time, after all that had happened, after all of the questions and the ranting of insanity during the times she would be home alone, not one time did any answers come to her. After all of the empty questions and empty dreams, now he decides to return? And he just happens to show up, with his nice who is coincidentally the same age as Toby, "studying" humans, or some shit, and just so happens to attend the same school that both Toby and Sarah attend, student and teacher? And this certain niece of his just so happens to have a little crush on Toby- the same Toby that had been mistakenly wished away to, said Goblin King, 17 years ago?
This doesn't add up-
On the contrary, it adds up perfectly.
That is what bothers Sarah.
Sarah is glad that it is Friday. She is so glad that prom is almost over- so glad that this whole year is coming to an end, soon. After all of these charades are over and done with, Mr. Kingsley and his lovely niece will finally be on their way and Toby will be off to college, and everything can finally turn back to normal...
"Sarah,"
Toby off to college?
"Sarah?"
Wasn't she just remembering him as a baby?
"Saaaarah..."
Where did all of this time go?
"Ground control to Major Sarah-" Sarah gets whacked in the head by a large stack of decorative vinyl stickers.
"Huh?" she ignores the blow to the head. She turns to see her friend Sheena standing in irritation as she leans in one one hip. Shaking her thoughts away, Sarah finally returns to the present. "Sorry- what?"
Sheena shoots her a confused look. "Well, I wanted to let you know that we finished sticking that large vinyl silhouette... shadow... thingy of the couple dancing to the main wall over there," she points behind her. "All we need to do is add these glittery hearts and mask vinyl's and then we can start- Sarah!"
"Wha?" Sarah whips her head back at Sheena with a sheepish look in her face, knowing she caught her not listening.
"Did you even hear what I just said?" she asks with a frown.
"Yeah..." Sarah dismissed. "Something about... glittery walls- or something-sounds good. Keep up the good work." she finishes as she stands up to try and leave.
"Oh, no you don't." Sheena manages to grab ahold of Sarah's arm before she can get too far.
"Let go-"
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what has got you acting like... this!" Sheena just pointed to all of Sarah.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean."
"Ugh," Sarah rips her arm away as she marches away from her friend.
Ever since all of this madness started, Sarah has been extremely careful at avoiding Sheena all week, and so far she had been successful at it. She doesn't do Medieval Fairs, which was wonderful in the case that had happened over the weekend, she always eats in the cafeteria, so Sarah just slipped off campus completely for her hourly lunches, and refusing nightly grading dates were a no-brainer, since Sarah just used the excuse that there are some family troubles after what happened with Toby and the drug bust. But Sheena isn't stupid. She knows that her friend has been avoiding her for the past week, for reasons unknown, and she is determined to find out why. Sheena knows that Sarah can't hide anything from her, and that is why she is avoiding her. What Sarah is hiding must be GOOD if she doesn't want Sheena knowing. So Sheena thought it would be best to catch Sarah in a place where she knew she couldn't escape:
At the hotel decorating for prom.
"Sarah," Sheena calls out. "You know you want to talk about it." she catches up with her friend.
"No, I'm pretty sure I don't," Sarah replies, exiting the grand ballroom to catch a drink at a water fountain.
"It's so easy, just let let it all out."
"Go away," Sarah says finishing her drink to sprint back to the room.
"It's just like ripping a band-aid,"
"We need to get back to work. I don't want to be stuck here all night with this crap."
"Hey hey," Sheena finally slows Sarah to a stop. "We have, like, 25 more hours until prom. I think you have earned the right to a little break."
"Really, Sheena. Now really isn't the best time-"
"No, I really think it is-"
"Sheena I don't-"
"Common," Sheena smiles as she pats her leg, much like a dog owner would to get their pets attention.
"Really?" Sarah asks with severe attitude.
"Common, who's my good girl?" Sheena uses a fake baby voice to further taunt her.
"Sheena!"
"Sarah!"
"You have officially been demoted to balloon duty." Sarah says marching in a humph back up her ladder. "So go all the way over there on the other side of the room and get to work!" she points with a stapler she picked up.
"I will leave as soon as you tell me what has you acting more crazy than usual."
"Go away."
"You know you're gonna tell me, sooner or later. So why not just get it over with and tell me, now?" Sheena says leaning on the ladder for balance.
"Didn't I just give you a job to do?"
Sheena looks around, "I'm doing a job right here. Being on a ladder without proper support is dangerous. I am helping make sure you don't fall and break your neck." Sheena thought for a moment. "Or, is that what you want to happen? I mean, I know you hate it, but I didn't know you hated it that much."
"Not half as much as I hate you, right now."
"Oh just get it off your chest already!"
'My mad and amazingly hot dreams turn out to be about of our students parents, who has also turned out to be a magical and ethereal being from another dimension that happened to steal my brother away from me as I wished him away 17 years ago, causing me to have a mental breakdown wondering if he actually existed after all of these years! Is that what you want to hear, Sheena?' - "Nothing. I'm fine." Sarah avoids the eye contact Sheena is trying to make. "You worry too much."
"Man, this must be some serious shit, if you have managed to keep it from me this long. I mean, you are actually starting to make me worry." she looks up the ladder. "You have been ignoring my phone calls, you've clearly avoiding me at work, and even used your brother as a lame excuse to not let me come and have our weekly grading date-" Sheena suddenly gasps. "Are you seeing someone else? - Are you cheating on me?!"
"Sheena," Sarah finally gets that dumb banner up. "Shut up," she couldn't hold a giggle at Sheena's antics.
"You ARE!"
"Would you be jealous if I did have other friends to spill my secrets and all around embarrassing moments to?" she asks as she sassily walks down the ladder.
"Is it Al? I'm gonna kill 'em. I was your friend first!" Sheena starts to sound serious.
"God, Sheena, get a hold of yourself," Sarah couldn't stop smiling.
"You're my friend. I don't share!" Sheena grabs and hugs Sarah's arm as soon as she gets her foot off the ladder. "Drop that bitch and return to me at once."
"Oh please," Sarah spats. "Since when does Al ever get into my problems? Like, really, who else, besides you, will take my dreams and shit?"
"I don't even take your dreams and shit." they both chuckle it out. "But really, sweetie, all joking aside," Sheena says, voice calm and sweet. She is turning into sweet Sheena.
"OH no. Nononono, do NOT give me sweet Sheena. You know I can't propel sweet Sheena!" Sarah tries to look away from her friend's sudden large and cute puppy dog eyes.
"It's okay, Sarah. I am here for you. Everything is going to be okay. Get this silly stuff off your noggin so you can feel better again." she says holding out a pinkie. "I'll keep it a secret." and she crosses her chest, "I'll even take it to the grave."
Sarah rolls her eyes with a harsh sigh. "Ugghhhh. Sheena." she shoves her face in her palms.
Sheena smiles as she pulls Sarah down to a couple of chairs. "Oooooh you're about to burst. I just know it!"
Sarah is just... about... to... tell... "I can't!" she shakes her head.
"How about I guess?"
"Oh Lord."
"Iiiiiiiiiis it about Toby?"
'Yes' "No,"
"Okaaay, how about... Your sex life?" Sheena snaps her fingers.
'Yes,' "Try again,"
"Your car- no finals- no graduation- no summer- no college- no prom-" Sheena pauses to see Sarah shaking her head,completely ashamed. "Prom? Wait... Is it really about the damn student prom?"
"What- NO!" for once, Sheena actually got it wrong.
"I thought that was a joke. Why are you freaking out about some kids dance? You don't care about it. You have always hated it. You don't even have a date for tomorrow night-"
Sarah freezes. 'Yes I do! Oh shit! I completely forgot!'
Sheena stops to see Sarah freeze.
Sarah looks into the distance with fright in her eyes. It clicks with Sheena instantly.
Sarah stands, waving her hands in refusal. "Wait- hold on..."
"You have a date for prom?' Sheena can barely contain her excitement.
"Sheena-"
"Dost mine ears deceive me? Do you, Sarah Williams have an actual date for the senior prom tomorrow night?!" Sheena slowly stands with her.
"Sheena-"
"I mean, it's 16 years late but really, who's keeping count-"
"Shut up!" Sarah shoves the stapler at Sheena's face to walk away.
"Ohhhhoho no, I don't think so-" Sheena grabs a hold of Sarah before she could escape. "No. I need details. You thought you could keep THIS, of all things, from me? Are you crazy?"
"Sheena I don't-"
"Spill!"
"There's nothing to tell!" Sarah pulls away from Sheena's grasp. "God, you're acting like a teenager."
"Ooooh. You like him?" Sheena continues to act silly.
"Ugh," Sarah grumbles sulking away.
Sheena's eyebrows rise exponentially. "Oooh, you like him a lot."
"No I don't." Sarah cuts her off.
"I just don't know why you were trying so hard to hide it from me."
"Just drop it, already!"
"Is he ugly?"
"No!" Sarah shouts at Sheena's audacity.
"So he's cute." Sheena grins like an idiot.
"I don't have time for this." Sarah says grabbing the vinyl stickers from Sheena's hands so she can get busy doing something- anything other than this!
"Oh he's really cute... Is he the guy that you've been dreaming about?" Sheena playfully nudges at her.
"Oh my God, Sheena!" Sarah's face turns as red as a fire hydrant.
Sheena gasps. "No way! That is so CUTE! What, do you doodle his name in your diary at home after school every day?"
Sarah goes down to a whisper. "Fuck you."
Sheena looks to her with the corner of her eye. "Oh God, do you?"
"NO!" Sarah shouts.
"What's his name? What does he do? Where's he from? Is he rich? I want to know everything!"
"Why is this such a big deal to you, anyway?"
"Why?" she crosses her arms. "I'm your best friend, for starters, and you haven't dated since college. Lord knows you can have some fun. It's about damn time, too."
"We are NOT doing anything." Sarah paused to look Sheena straight in the eye, and an index finger out. "We. Are not. Doing. Anything."
"Not Yet." Sheena elbows her. "This is a happy day! Did he agree to go out with you before or after you told him about the hot steamy dreams?"
"Oh, grow up,"
"And this is clearly making you nervous. He makes you nervous. And that just makes it fun for me."
"Okay. Done." Sarah says dropping everything as she starts to leave the hotel.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm leaving. Have fun finishing up-"
"At least just tell me how you met." Sheen runs after her.
'Oh, yeah. That's a logical story to tell you.'
"I'll tell you what," Sarah turns to Sheena. "If I tell you who he is, then you will, henceforth, take complete and total control of prom from here on out. You will be in complete charge of it and take it off my hands and I can leave and never come back."
"Oh, man. It's that good huh?"
"Do we have a deal?" Sarah holds out a hand for Sheena to shake.
"Deal- BUT you still have to come tomorrow." she doesn't even think twice. Sarah grumbles. "For Toby," Sheena is good at the guilt trips.
Sarah takes in a deep breath, shakes hands, and fidgets while looking around. She doesn't want any of the kids to catch wind of this atrocity. Finally bringing Sheena in for a whisper, Sarah starts to speak very, very quietly. "It's... Francesca's uncle."
Sheena's jaw completely drops to the floor as she slowly turns her head, eyes bulging from her sockets and heart thumping from her chest. "W-wha... How-"
"Bye," Sarah waves goodbye as she runs in a full sprint.
"WHAT? Y-you just can't leave it at that!"
"A deal's a deal. I said bye!" Sarah laughs with a tongue sticking out.
"You suck!" Sheena says shaking her head in a grin.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
It's a calm spring night as Sarah gently trudges out of her brothers borrowed car. With the push of a door handle, she tiredly walks into a hole-in-the-wall pub. Heading to the bar, she sets down her purse next to her and patiently waits for the bartender that waits on another customer down the line. She heavily exhales on this early evening, glad to be rid of that silly prom business. She gently shuts her eyes as she rolls the joints on her upper back in exhaustion after this ridiculous week. Rubbing the back of her neck, she has half a mind to schedule for a massage this weekend as the manager of the bar waltzes up to her.
"Rough week, dearie?" her friend asks with a pure Irish accent as he leans up against the bar.
She sleepily smiles. "You have no idea, Al."
"So, I'm guessing the usual?" he grins.
"That'd be great, thanks." she nods.
He starts to make her usual Rum and Coke. Simple and sweet. "You wanna talk about it?" he asks making it in a snap so she can hurry up and start drinking.
"I don't even want to recognize that this week has happened. As far as I know, after tomorrow night, this week was nothing more than some cracked out nightmare." she takes her first large sip. "I drink to forget." she adds with a grin.
"Don't we all," he says as he starts to wipe down the counter. "Sounds ridiculously dramatic, anyway. Who wants to deal with that, if they don't have to?"
"Smart man," Sarah finishes as she leans in lazily on her arm.
Al continues to clean until he recognizes that Sarah's usual parking spot is filled with another vehicle this time around, his eyes grow. "What the hell is that?" he asks pointing out the window with his damp rag. "Where is your cute little bug?"
Sarah turns around to see he is pointing at Toby's car. She turns back around with a sigh. "I told you, I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh my gosh, did you get rid of it? Are you that desperate for cash? Are things that bad right now?"
"Al,"
"Honey, you know you can always come to me and Jonathan for help,"
"I'm fine," she calms down her extremely gay friend. "That's Toby's car. Mine broke broke down last week, and the guy said it was going to cost way more to fix it than it was worth, so I am going to get a new one after the school year is over. Toby isn't too thrilled about it, either."
"What? How do you know it needs that kind of treatment? Why didn't you take it to Jonathan? He could have looked at it for free. And I bet he could have fixed it!"
"Last time I had car troubles, you said he didn't work on foreign cars, remember?"
"Well he could have tried!" Al scolds her. "I would much rather you go to someone you trusted so you don't get screwed over," he leans in on one hip. Then before he could help it, he grinned fiercely. "Though it wouldn't hurt for you get screwed by a couple of strangers, now and again, honey."
"Jesus, not you, too." she groans face-planting into the bar.
"Umm..." he quirks a brow, "something I should know?"
"You and Sheena both need to can it with all of that sexy business! I'm just fine. I am so sick and tired of people assuming that I need to get some! Do I look that unhappy? Do I look sick? Is my flesh rotting with the stench of "prude?" Why do you all keep going on about-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa- Sarah, calm the hell down." Al holds her hands down on the bar, "It was just a joke." he stands back away from her. "Tou-chy... It wouldn't kill ya to get some every once in awhile. It might even help you with whatever funk you're in."
"I'm nOT IN A F-" she calms herself down. "I'm not in a funk. I'm just fine." she says taking a rather large gulp of her drink.
"Mmhmm," he purses his lips together in attitude. "And women turn me on."
"Oh, please indulge me on how you, the gayest man I know, could help me, the straightest girl I know, get anything?" her sarcasm is clear.
"Are you really asking?" he rises and eyebrow.
"No," she looks away from him. "I don't need anything. I'm fine."
"The first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have a problem, Sarah. Now I'm sure I can find some straight guy... Somewhere..." he says as he starts to think.
"Hey, Al," one of his workers come up to him as he starts whispering something in his ear. Sarah looks away to give them some kind of privacy.
"Oh, great- I'll be back in a second Sar. There's something I have to take care of." he eyes her, up and down. "Maybe a few things I can take care of..." he strangely says as he starts to walk away.
"That's fine. I have to pee, anyhow," she says as she stands, purse at hand, and puts her drink behind the counter.
O.o
Exiting the strangely clean bar restroom, Sarah stands, with the door open, as she straightens her blouse and puts a compact she was holding in her purse,
"What do you think?" Sarah can hear Al talking to someone in the back of the kitchen, away from everyone.
"This is exquisite," -'What?' she thinks to herself as she slowly tiptoes forward, distinctly hearing a familiar voice. As she tiptoes in the hallway and around a cart of dirty glasses, she makes sure to stay hidden.
"Well, of course it is,"
"However did you manage to get a hold of this? I thought you weren't allowed to return home."
Sarah's eyes open wide. As she gets as close as she can. She knows that voice.
"Now now, I have my ways. But, if I told you, I'd have to kill you." she hears both Al and the other person chuckle at the comment.
"You little deviant. I ought to rat you out." the stranger chuckles.
"Then I wouldn't have anything decent to provide you with. So, you'd really be hurting yourself."
"You have a point. Rest assured, this will be used for something very special."
"You were cutting it a little close, Jareth." 'Jareth!' "A couple of others were making me some good offers, but I know you wouldn't disappoint." Al's voice sounds pleased.
"I'll be sure you are paid handsomely for this. You have my word,"
"You know how you can start? There is someone I want you to meet-"
"Alister, please. I grow tired of your trying to set me up with-"
"Oh, I do believe that you will be extremely intrigued with this one."
"As shocking as this may sound, I do not like the sound of that."
"Oh just you wait, now if you'll follow me-"
'Oh no!' she backs up, cursing herself for eavesdropping. 'Oh shit. I've gotta get awa-'
*CRASH*
Sarah forgets that there was a cart of dirty glasses behind her, and trips over it, falling over them and taking them down with her. Landing to the ground with a large thump, a huge noise of breaking glass follows shortly after, and a lot of pain ensues as every glass all fall on top of her. Her head hits hard on the concrete floor, causing her to black out for a few moments.
"What the hell is going on out here?" everyone rushes to the scene, including Al and his friend.
Sarah's eyes remain shut as she struggles to move under the mountain of glasses.
"Oh my God. Sarah, what the hell happened to you?" Al scrambles to her to help her up.
"Oh... oh Al, I'm so sorry-"
"Who the hell left this cart of glasses in the middle of the hallway?" Al shouts to the staff that has now surrounded the scene. "Sarah, please don't apologize. This isn't your fault."
"Al-"
"That's enough. Are you bleeding?" he looks around her arms and face.
"I'm fine," she says looking for a clear spot to place her hand to stand. She finally just uses the strength in her legs to get up. "I really- ooh-" she starts to lose her balance. "I don't feel good-" she starts to wither back to the ground.
"Sarah-" another voice says as she is caught before she could hit the ground. Looking up, she sees that she is caught by the friend that Sarah knows Al had been talking to. "Hello again, Ms. Willaiams." Jareth says, as she feels the grasp of his soft hand as he helps her stand.
It takes her a moment to gather her surroundings. "Mr. Kingsley," she winces as she stands. "It's always a pleasure." her weak voice couldn't decide if she were being sarcastic or not.
"It seems as though you have made it a habit falling every time we meet." he says refusing to let go of her hand. "You don't happen to be falling for me, do you?" he couldn't help his cat like grin.
She still struggles to maintain her balance. "It's a nasty habit. I'm trying to break myself of it." she manages a smile amidst the growing pain on her head.
"Keep this up and you will need a new head. We wouldn't want a knife touching that pretty little face of yours." he says as both he and Al start to carry her back to her original seat. Sarah stays silent, unable to speak with such an non-leveled head- because of the fall, of course.
"Oi, well, if this ain't a sight for sore eyes?" Al chirps in as he lets go of Sarah. "A little family reunion, eh?" Al says with a devilish grin. "Good, then maybe you'd prefer if he helps ya, while I get this trash of a bar dealt with," he says as he carefully makes his way around the mess to start yelling at his workers.
"So..." Sarah starts as she watches Al walk away in anger. "His name is Alister and he sells drugs?"
"Drugs?" Jareth grins. "I thought I sensed an eavesdropper,"
"I've been friends with this man for almost 10 years and not once has mentioned about any of this-" she replies as they continue to look at their friend flip out on everybody.
"There are reasons for that,"
"And what did you mean by him going home- God is he one of you, too?"
"Maybe you should speak to him about this," Jareth gently protests.
"He never misses a beat, does he?" she says as she feels him let go of her hand.
"Sadly, no," Jareth replies as they watch him flail about the back room, "but it sure is a site to watch him become angry with others, isn't it." they both chuckle as they slowly make their way back to the bar.
"Well, that was an adventure," Sarah says with a lighthearted smile as she rubs the back of her head.
"I swear this lot's gonna burn right along with their jobs." Al grumbles as he returns to the back of the bar. "Here's yer drink, sweetie. Are you sure, you're alright?"
"Al, do you ever notice that you become significantly more Irish with the more angry you get?" Sarah asks as she reaches for her drink.
"Whoa- honey you're bleeding! Oh shit!" Al suddenly bursts as he sees quite a large cut on the side of her right hand. "Let me get you something for that." he continues as he makes a break for the back room.
"Well, would you look at that," she says just looking at it, not fully feeling the pain of it yet. "I have a feeling that the pain is going to kick in any sec-OW!" she holds onto her arm to avoid touching the blood. "OW OW OW OW-" she starts to shake.
Jareth uses his quick thinking to see the used rag on the counter and hold it up to her hand to squeeze it shut. "Come, we need to get to the wash room."
"Ow-w-w-w-w" she starts to tremble in pain, trying to hold back the tears. Hearing her cries, he gently holds the wound high in the air as he hurries her back to towards the hall.
Getting to the first nearest bathroom, he leads her to the first faucet he sees so he can hold her hand under the cold water. She continues to quietly tremble as tears start to run down her face. Releasing pressure on her hand, he tries to gently rub up against her wound as he can faintly see something protruding from the inside.
"OW- what are you doing?" she shouts as she can feel the piercing pain from the inside.
"There is a piece of glass stuck in your wound." he says looking to her.
"Oh God, are you serious?!" she starts to freak out.
"Keeping your hand under the cold water is going to keep the cut clean but you need to get this piece out as soon as possible."
"Jareth, it hurts!" she starts to cry.
"You need to calm down, getting upset will only make it worse."
"I'm trying, but this really fucking hurts!"
Staying calm, he continues, "There is enough sticking out that I think I can pull it out, but-"
"Please- Jareth please pull it out!"
Hearing her cry, he doesn't say another word, just bends over to see the wound as closely as possible. Gently moving her hand away from the cold water, he angles the cut just right into the light so he can see. With absolute precision, he can see the tiny shard and pinches it in between two fingers."
"Shit-" Sarah manages to breathe under her breath. "Shiiiiiii-" she tries to stay still as she can feel the piece of glass move inside of her hand. She tries so hard to stay quiet as she sobs quiet tears, waiting for this hell to be over with.
After having it slip a couple of times from his grasp, he is finally able to get a firm hold of in and pulls it out as fast as he can, but careful not to damage any other skin tissue.
"GodDAMNIT!" the piece finally comes out as she slams the counter with her other fist in pain. After a few moments. She finally feels the pressure is gone, and he slips her hand back under the cold water as more blood flows.
"Here's the little culprit," Jareth says pulling it up to show Sarah.
She heavily exhales, thankful that the God-awful thing is finally out. There is a continuous thumping in her veins, but it's nothing she can't handle. She looks to the shard to see how big it is, expecting it to be a couple of inches long, when it was actually smaller than a penny. She manages out a forced laugh. "Are you kidding me?" she starts to laugh out of insanity. "That's it? It's so tiny. It's almost cute." she continues to smile.
"Now, that was an adventure." he says promptly throwing in the trash can behind them in the corner. "Now, all we need is a swift bandage, a wrap, and some alcohol."
"God, yes. I could really use a drink." Sarah sighs as she continues to let the water run on her hand.
"I was thinking of using it for the wound,"
"Oh," she sheepishly replies looking away in slight embarrassment.
He grins at her blush. "Well, we are in a bar," he points out, "and I'd be a terrible Fae, if I dare deny a lovely girl her pleasures." he finishes as he sees her trying to hide a regrettable grin. He says nothing else as he turns to leave.
Suddenly she shouts without a second thought. "Wait-"
He pauses to slowly turn back to her, brow quirked, interest peaked, "Yes?"
Her eyes grow in confusion wondering to herself where that had come from. "Um.." she falters. What does she say? "Thank you..." she looks away from his gaze completely surprised at herself. "Thank you... for..." she can't find words.
"You're welcome." his smile grows as he gently nods in reply. Nothing else is said as he leaves to find their friend.
O.o
"So you're name is Alester, you're some kind of otherworldly fae thing and you sell drugs?" Jareth snickers as he carefully starts to nurse her hand.
"Drugs? What the hell kinda shop you think I'm runnin' here, dearie?" Alister spats as he starts to pour a glass of red wine for Jareth. "And I don't know why you are drilling me with the 20 questions. I don't recall ever drillin' you about the time you threw your baby brotha' at his highness over 'ere."
"I was wondering when one of you were going to bring that up. Am I famous down there, or something."
"We can change the subject, anytime you'd like." Jareth continues to carefully wrap her hand with the most gentle hand. Sarah can't help but watch as he works.
"Oh, honey, you have no idea." Alister says with a drink of his own.
"I... don't think I wanna to know." she is more than happy to change the subject.
"Let's just say, regardless on how much I loathe my lovely niece, it is nice to get out of that world for a while." he continues to fix her hand as gently as possible.
Sarah cringes, be it the pain of her cut, or what he just said. "That bad, huh?"
"You don't know the half of it."
"I didn't know that there was so much tension between you and your niece. She seems sweet to me."
"That's because she is an angel around you. She is an angel around any human."
"I can vouge for that. She isn't the purest of heart, honey," Alister chimes in.
"And after what she has done, and after what I have done to her, I don't think it will be hard for anyone to see her true colors."
"I really want to be nosy and ask, but I'll spare you the humiliation of explanation."
Jareth nods in appreciation, "How exceedingly generous of you," he finally finishes her hand.
She can't help but enjoy the feeling of his hand just holding hers. "I learned from the best," she says in regards to her hand.
"Indeed," his smile grows. "And there you go," he says holding her hand, waiting for her to take it back. "It may take some time, but it will heal."
She can't hold her slight blush as she slowly retracts her hand back to her lap. "Thank you."
"Mmhmm," Alister comments as he witnesses what just happened before him. "And you two... aren't sleeping together, right?" They both look to him with shocked expressions. He can feel the heat from them both. "Just making sure. I want to keep up with all of what is going on over here."
"And I think that is my que to leave." Sarah says as she starts to stand.
"And what time should I pick you up?"
"You're not," she says as she turns to face him. "We are meeting there with our respective children, since Toby still isn't allowed to drive his car."
"How embarrasing," he muses.
"I know, poor kid." Sarah shrugs. "But I'm chaperoning anyway, and some of his friends will probably try to smuggle in some alcohol and he'll probably get drunk and be stupid and get into more trouble. So it's probably for the best that he doesn't have his car."
"He already sounds more mature than Francesca."
"Umm... Did I miss something?" Alister suddenly chimes in.
Sarah stands up straight, with head held high, ready for Alister's comments. "Were going to prom together."
Alister sits there, baffled. "You're right." he nods at her. I don't want to know what you've gone through this week."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
I would love to explain how hard this chapter was to write, but I, literally don't have the time to divulge in my life. I'm sorry if the ending is absolute rubbish, but that is the price I have for only having internet for 4 hours a day.
Anyhow. I hope you enjoyed this long, long, really long, chapter. More will come, soon enough.
Tell me what you think!
Next chapter, we will finally have our prom. Will something special happen? Watch and find out!
See you soon!
I.L.C