Chapter 15. This is the LONGEST Labyrinth story that I have ever written. Who knew that I would have 15 chapters on this story?
Good grief.
Well, we're finally getting somewhere for all of you lovelorn owlets out there tonight.
Enjoy.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
Way out on the brink of night, far from the hustle and bustle of the night life and bright lights of the big city, there sits a pair of high school seniors upon the hood of a cheap red bug. Toby and Francesca lie atop a hill of a rural forest-like cliff looking out into the city that seems to be miles away. It took them about half an hour to get to this point, just far enough for the Chrysler building to shine among the millions of stars that can be seen in the sky. Francesca star gazes in wonder as Toby flaunts his practically useless knowledge of star charts and astrological signs. Their discussion ranges from silly compatibility fortunes, corny "greek god" jokes, singing the "Tables of Elements" song, and eventually ending up discussing a little bit of their past. Toby is extremely open about his past experiences and the goofy things that he did as a kid, but Francesca is more apt to be the kind listener. She did share some small cooky memories about her and her uncle, but that's about it.
They are currently sitting with many a giggle as Toby tells of a particular embarrassing story about his older sister and his potty training days. It doesn't take him long before he gets a snort out of her, he sitting with pride and a cheeky grin as she covers her mouth with a blush.
"Oh goodness!" Francesca blurts out.
"All over her prom dress." Toby's hands fling in the air for dramatic effect.
"You did not!" She can't stop laughing.
"Apparently I did... Not that I remember personally, but she likes to keep that one over my head. It's not my fault that she chose to change me after putting on her dress."
"That is just terrible." She says as she only continues to giggle.
"Hey, I was two years old, and one pain in the ass, according to Sarah."
"Well, it's your job to be a pain. You are her baby brother, after all." She can't contain her giggles.
"I must have been a cute baby-"
"Oh, you were the cutest baby!" she continues holding her stomach in laughter. "I remember it like it was yesterday-"
"That's the only reason why they would have kept me- wait... what?" Toby suddenly stops.
"Huh?" She, too slows in her giggles.
"You remember me as a... baby?" His smile lowers, laughter muted, brows furrowed in sudden confusion.
'Oh no...' "W-what?" she tries to keep giggling to hide her nervousness. "What do you mean?"
"That's what I asked," Toby blurts with a nervous chuckle of his own, "You said you remembered me as a baby."
"I-I did?" Her eyes grow. "Oh... I... Umm..." She falters. "Uhh...umm-" 'Oh, Gods what did I just do?'
"Wait... hold on," Toby, too stops in his tracks. "No..." He looks to her. She sees that he is starting to know. "Please don't tell me-"
"Tell you what? I-I- Umm..." What is she supposed to say?
"Oh man!" Toby slams his face to his palms. "Sarah showed you baby pictures of me already, didn't she?"
Francesca turns around to let go of a breath that she unknowingly held. Clenching her hands shut, she feels her heart skip a beat at the close call. Yes, she knows what he looked like as a child, but is Sarah never showed her any pictures.
Turning around she smiles an overzealous smile. "Guilty." She giggles once more. "She- umm... told me not to tell." She lightly leans against his shoulder.
"Not good at keeping secrets, huh?" Toby says shaking his head at this new and embarrassing information.
"Guilty again." She tries to shrug all of this off.
"Oh God!" Toby looks to be extremely ashamed. "I'm gonna kill her!"
"Oh, don't be so silly," Francesca finds his hand to hold. "you were and still are adorable. You can't blame her for bragging."
Toby sighs. "Yeah right," he lays back down on the hood and windshield to look up at the stars. "You know what I wish sometimes? I wish-"
"N-no!" Francesca shouts to stop him frantically holding her hands up.
"What? What's wrong?" Toby shoots back up again to come to her aid.
She freezes for a moment as she catches on to her own words. Vigorously blinking, she inhales deeply and just lays down herself, "You know, let's... not make any wishes, okay?"
"Why?" He shrugs. "There's nothing wrong with wishing on a shooting star, or something. Don't you think it's nice to think of something you wish you had sometimes?"
"Well..." Francesca staggers in her speech, "that's... a... sad way to look at things, don't you think?" She asks as he lays back down with her.
"I mean... It's not like it's a big deal-"
"But, why just sit there and wish for stuff when you already have so much?" She asks quizzically as she stares up at the stars herself.
Toby hears her words and sits with them for a moment.
"Think about it, Toby. You have a home, a wonderful family, you have a bed, food, water, you're getting into the school of your choice- as a human being, you have a lot to be grateful for. Wishing for other things that you wish you had makes it sound like you aren't happy. And it would... make me really sad knowing that you aren't happy with the wonderful things with your amazing life." She looks up to the sky at the millions of stars. "I think you have a wonderful life. Isn't that worth noticing if only for a single moment?"
Toby, taken aback by what she had suddenly said to him, saddens himself a bit as he does sit there for a moment, letting all of that sink in. He realizes that she has listed off everything that he should be grateful for, and his heart sinks a little, realizing that... he really hasn't been as thankful as he, maybe, should be. Deeply inhaling, he slowly turns his head to see Francesca with a warm smile as she also inhales, growing more comfortable in her little perch looking out into the brink of dusk.
"I... I never..." he struggles to say something, blushing with a little embarrassment. "I-"
"I do hope all your dreams come true, Toby." Francesca takes this moment to scoot closer to him, hugging him as she continues to look up at the sky. "I hope your dreams of helping people do come true. I hope you can soar as high as you can."
"You don't wish on a lot of shooting stars, do you?" He hums in the silence between them.
Her bright and glossy eyes open to see him. "All I know is, if I had the choice to wish on a star, I wouldn't need to," she intertwines her hand with his, "because, right now, in this moment," she pulls herself just a little closer to him, "I have everything I could ever need or want." She holds to him tightly as the song "When I'm Gone" By: 3 Doors Down drowns out the moment as it plays from his radio. She rests her head on his chest, never letting go of his hand.
"I never want to move from this spot." He simply says.
She stills herself as she hears his statement. Thankful that he didn't make that as a wish, she admits to herself that she never wants to leave either. The thought of leaving him causes her breath to catch in her throat, and she slightly shakes to the overwhelming realization that this is the last time that she will ever see him... For as long as he lived.
"Nor do I..." She whispers as she looks down, careful to avoid his eyes as a single tear shed from her eye.
No thoughts.
No wishes.
Just Toby, Francesca, the night wind, and the stars.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
There is a comfortable silence in the car between the Goblin King and the Labyrinth runner. The engine roars as it drives steadily on the road and the song "When I'm Gone" By: 3 Doors Down plays softly on the radio to keep the silence comfortable. Jareth's eyes wander through the streetlights and passing cars as Sarah's head lay gently on the glass of the passenger window. She admires the nightlife feel of this drive as they grow closer to her childhood home. She kindly asked that he take her there, deciding that it would be smart to meet Toby there after his night out with his new girlfriend. She can hardly wait to see the look on his face when he shows up there to see his sister ready to tear him a new one. 'Playfully, of course', says Sheena's voice as it taunts the back of Sarah's head.
"The music in your realm is interesting." Jareth suddenly starts as he hears the song being played on the popular station. "A lot of it is filled with unnecessary emotions full of angst and discern. May I ask why that is?"
This question slowly pulls Sarah from her trance of watching the streetlights whiz by, "The.. music?" She says as she hears a little of the song being played. She then smiles at the well known tune. "That is quite a popular genre. It mainly targets the teenage and young adult heart strings. Kids often feel angsty, lovelorn, and are full of discernment because they're still trying to figure out their bodies, what they like, and who they like. And because parents can't possibly know how that is, kids turn to music. Music trends to what kids like. Kids like this kind of stuff because it speaks to them. To be honest, I'm pretty sure this is one of Toby's favorite songs."
"So... they like feeling miserable?" Jareth asks in a more confused tone.
Sarah chuckles. "They don't have a choice in feeling, quote, "miserable". This music just makes their "misery" more bearable, because, puberty." She shrugs. "That is the best way I can describe it."
"I see." Jareth nods in understanding, "Knowing Francesca, if she were to live here whilst growing up, I fear she'd be prone to falling for the same spell all of these other sad teens have been cursed upon."
"I'm sorry to say, but I think she might already be there." Sarah quips. "Get ready for a boy-band fangirl, because that is definitely where I see Francesca in the next few years." Sarah chuckles as the thought of such a thing starts to tingle down Jareth's spine. "You know, assuming you could stand living here for that long, and-" she continues to linger at the thought revolving Francesca and Toby.
He doesn't mind her gentle chatter as she continues to quietly ramble in the background. He'd much prefer hearing her voice to that of a terrible sounding angsty tween song any day. Her voice sings like a melody in his ear, like a new bird chiming an airy and beautiful song. If he could, he'd sit and listen to her for hours. Hell, he'd do even more than that if he could. He wonders if he'd miss the sound her her voice once it is time for him to leave. He has no desire to leave. He cares not of the dirty and filthy creatures he has under his rule. He wouldn't mind if he were, somehow, exiled from his land and forced to remain here for the remainder of his days, thought that would be nothing more than a pipe dream. He'd love nothing more than to have the time to woo Sarah properly, instead of having to resort to invading her dreams at night and trying to force these emotions on her. All he needs is her consent. All he needs is for her to need him, and he'd have no problem coming and going whenever he pleases. But, as she has stated many times, she is independent and doesn't need anyone. She desires to be on her own, and doesn't seem to want to change that anytime soon. He cannot argue with that, no matter how much he would like to. He is bound by the power she holds over herself. He has no power over her. Oh, the things he would enjoy doing with her if he held such power.
But, alas he can do nothing.
And with the little time he has left in this realm, there is very little left that he can do. He is starting to get desperate, but her willpower and her strength keeps him at bay, and this only drives his desire to be with her more. It destroys him knowing that he can do absolutely nothing. He tries to ignore the distaste of such a thought as she continues to speak.
"Speaking of teen angst, it's official." Sarah starts.
"Pardon?" he comes back to the conversation.
"Our two love-ridden puppies, they're officially "dating"." she quotes in the air.
"That they are." He replies.
"And... how do you feel about that?" She asks as she slowly looks up to him.
He quirks an eyebrow. "What of your feelings?"
Sarah thinks on the question for a moment. "I asked you first."
He shrugs. "I am rather not surprised."
She waits for him to say something else, but nothing else is said. "...That's it?"
"That's it," he pauses, "though, I'm sure you have much to say about this." He would much rather listen to her speak.
Sure, she has a lot to say about it. She can talk for hours how Toby dating is really screwing with her perspective on life and how it has all lead up until now. She can go on and on about how Toby is growing up and all that does is grow the anxiety within her because this is, yet, another step in his life that he is taking that leads to adulthood and Sarah just can't deal with those emotions right now.
So, for now, she only shrugs. "It just didn't take long for them to act, did it?"
He hums in reply. "If you ask me, it took them way too long to come to this conclusion, considering how long they have felt this way towards one another."
"Yeah, well," Sarah continues to look outside, "Toby is a little bit of a coward. Poor thing probably doesn't even know what to do with himself, now that he is all alone with the girl."
Jareth looks to her with a questionable eye. "You don't think you may be underestimating Toby's abilities to function as a proper man would in his position?"
"No," Sarah scoffs.
"Are you certain of that?"
"Yes." She turns her eyes towards him with warning. "He has no clue what to do with a girl. He's too young to know."
"Are you absolutely sure about that?"
"Please, Jareth... I don't think I am quite ready to accept the fact that Toby is capable... of..." she motions her hands in obscure mannerisms, trying to convey her message.
"Sexual intercourse-"
"God, and with your niece!" Sarah easily becomes grossed out, "how are you able to say it without throwing up in your mouth?"
Jareth rises a brow at her comment. "From what I remember about that age, I-"
"You were, no doubt, somewhere in the middle of the 9th century trying to keep from dying of the plague, or something..." Sarah crosses her arms. "That's just a guess, though."
He grins at her retort, understanding that this may be a tough subject to swallow. "You would know more about your brother, than I, Ms. Williams." He appeases her, for what it's worth. "I'm sure he's just riddled with nerves."
"Wow, giving up so soon?" She smiles a snarky little smile. "You usually throw everything you can to win a discussion."
This time, he does not wish to fight her. "I would rather we have polite conversation for once, instead of sitting for hours on end, bickering like-"
"-an old married couple?" she finishes his thought, unable to hide a small grin. His smile matches hers as they both notice the change in music. "That would be a nice change in pace, wouldn't it?" a classic 80's ballad starts to play.
"Indeed."
Again, they sit in comfortable silence for a few more blocks before they reach the house. Sarah's heart drops at the sight the few blocks left before her street. It takes him no time to park in front of the house as she stares, almost in resentment through the window. The drive back didn't take nearly as long as she thought it would, and it saddens her a little. She feels unsettled as she slowly unbuckles her seat belt, kind of not wanting to. Feeling the engine turn off, that is the final indication that the night is coming to an end and this makes her heart sink even more. She refuses to look in Jareth's direction as she admits to herself that she isn't quite ready for the night to end, just yet.
She doesn't really know what to say, or how to say it. The car is quiet as the air starts to tense up. She slowly inhales preparing to say something- anything, but as she takes in her breath, he opens up his door and gets out of the car. Watching him with a quizzical eye, she watches as he walks around the front of his car and eventually to her door to open it like a perfect gentleman would. She grins, amused by how hard he is trying.
The door opens and his hand is ready to take hers. "Your home awaits." His voice is gentle and quiet for this evening air. "Would a lady kindly indulge a gentleman's desire to walk her to her door?"
She can't help but smile in appreciation. This is a rare thing to see, he being kind and gentleman-like...
'What am I thinking? He has been nothing but a gentleman since the moment we have become reacquainted.' - "You may." She says, voice as quiet as his as she accepts his hand, able to feel the warmth of it.
As he pulls her out, she gains balance as she gently leans into him. Looking into her house, she observes that the porch light shines in the distance. "You sure you'd like to walk me up?"
"It would be an honor." He smoothly replies. "Are you frightened of something?"
"You will just be bombarded by my step-mother." She lets out a light chuckle, causing him to grin. "And no one is ever ready to meet my step-mother." They make their way up to the door.
"I think a proper meet and greet with your parents is long overdue." He says in a playfully serious tone. "We have known one another for some time now. And with my extensive background with Toby-"
"I think you're underestimating me when I say that no-one is ever prepared when they meet Karen." She looks over in the direction of the garage to see that none of her parents cars are in the driveway, "...Maybe..." she lingers as she curls her brow in confusion, "if they're even here."
The closer they get to the door, Sarah sees that there is a note taped to it. Skipping up to the top of the porch, she peels off the note and reads it aloud:
~Sarah,~
We had to take an emergency trip back to the Lakes for an emergency business transaction. We will probably be gone for the weekend. Go ahead and use my car for the weekend. It's in the garage. You don't have to stay here all weekend, but please keep an eye on your brother. Love you.
~Love: Mom and Dad.~
~P.S. Sarah, we are having dinner with this mysterious man of yours, next weekend. Don't try to fight me on this. It's happening.~
"O-kay then," Sarah shakes her head at her step-mother's tenacity at the subject of meeting Jareth.
"And who, might I ask, is this mysterious man of yours?" Jareth crosses his arms as he leans up against the porch stairway.
Sarah rolls her eyes as she turns to him, folding the piece of paper together, trying to keep from a smile. "Shut up."
"So they do know of me." His grin never leaves.
"Much to my dismay." She leans against the opposite railing.
"Ouch." He clenches his chest.
"Toby brought you up to get back at me for embarrassing him." She shakes her head remembering the argument. "You may not know this about Toby, but he likes to push my buttons." she says factually as she looks blankly into the street.
"You don't say,"
"I know, shocking isn't it?"
"So, I am an embarrassment to you?" he nods. "I understand-"
"Oh, stop it," she smacks her leg as her face turns red. "Sheena wasn't... exactly wrong when she said that I don't... really... mingle," Sarah moans at the fact that she is saying this, "with respective humans of the male species very often." she sighs.
"Dating?"
"Yeah." she takes this moment to pull everything out of her hair to finally let it down. "So, when Karen finds out that there may one more male chaperone attending this silly little dance than expected, she goes ballistic and hears wedding bells." she shows her distaste for this subject as she runs her fingers through her hair letting it fall and flow around her face.
Jareth watches this as he listens to her, observing how her strands gently bounce with the fall, caressing her jawline and hugging her features. The moonlight and the porch light accentuates the gloss in her eyes, and the gentle shadow of her lips parting. Her hair lands on her shoulders in the most beautiful fashion as it relaxes from its nightly up-do. He is entranced by such a stunning sight.
Gently tucking some of her hair behind her ears she looks to him, she realizes that there had been a bit of a pause in conversation. "Jareth?"
He quickly snaps back to reality. "I imagine that could be stressful," is all he says.
She slowly nods in her response. "Yeah," she tilts her head, "are you alright?" She looks to him with a more concerning eye.
"Pardon?" He asks as if he didn't quite hear her.
"You're just..." she struggles to find the right words, "you've been acting a little off,"
"Off?" he quips a brow.
"Yeah..." she narrows her eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Peachy." he quips a brow and a knowing smile.
"Mmhm," she isn't falling for it.
"Since you are the expert on the topic of me, what do you think should I be doing right about now?"
Her eyes bulge at the unexpected question. "Wha-"
"Indulge me." He adds.
"I...uh-"she shrugs. "I... Don't know. Just... a little more... forward, perhaps? More playful, daunting with your clever retorts and your skill to be able to think of what I say before I say it to further frustrate me, at the same time, challenge me into more conductive reasoning within my thought process. You would usually parade around me in that Kingly way you do, say something off colored and lecherous, while at the same time, trying to not flirt in that... way you like to, not, flirt- you know, be you... I don't know."
"Surprising, isn't it? Am I not allowed to be sincere?" He asks as he stands away from the pole. "Genuine?" He slowly starts to advance her, "Kind?" He comes closer. "Mature?" And closer. "Isn't it natural and normal to want to take in the moment and admire my surroundings and all of the lovely things within them." he inches closer to her.
She comes to the realization that the distance between them is becoming scarce. She tries to remain calm, "I... um-" she falters in her speech with the closer he becomes to her. "I thought you said you were anything but normal." She manages to make a quick comeback.
He stops in his tracks, smiling at her comment. "Do I make you nervous?"
Her lashes violently flutter, as does her heart. "No." She fakes her courage.
"I think you're lying." He slowly inches towards her again.
"I-"
"Does your heart flutter when I draw myself closer to you?" He does, indeed, draw closer.
"I..."
"Does this unnatural sensation somehow feel... natural to you?" His voice lowers with the closer her gets.
"Y-you..." she doesn't have much of a voice to stop him.
Closer and closer he strides before meeting her feet with his. He lowers his gaze to meet hers as a bewildering silence falls between them. She looks to him, her hindsight watching him closely as she watches every move he makes. He further closes whatever space that is left between them.
"I'll wager your stepmother would give her left arm to see this through your window." His grin falls as his face gets closer to hers. "Kiss me."
"Wait a minute," the gears start working in her head, "there is something going on." She slowly grins as she realizes that she has figured something out.
"You don't do this a lot, do you?" he asks referring to the moment he was just trying to make.
"You're changing the subject again, Jareth." She says, suddenly realizing that she is able to back up a little while she crosses her arms.
"I don't-"
"You have been acting strange all night." she cuts him off. His eyes grow in surprise. "And I know that there is a reason why."
"Sarah-"
"Stop stalling, Jareth."
"Sarah."
"What is it that has you acting like this?"
"If you-"
"Why not just tell me what's wrong?"
"Stop talking."
She suddenly turns mute, subconsciously listening to his polite command. Tired of waiting for her, he can't take it anymore, and takes no time pulling her chin up to his, lays a hand upon her cheek and he finally lays a kiss upon her lips.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
Yeah, Sarah. Shut up.
Finally.
God.