Chapter 6
(Halloween, A moment of Truth)
Author's Note: Thank you for everyone that submitted thier ideas for Ari's costume. I ultimately went with one I thought of as well as hazlgrnLizzy. Read on to find out the desicion!
It was just before 7p.m. when Diane heard the doorbell. She picked up the bowl of candy and walked to the door. She threw it open expecting trick or treaters. "Oh hi girl's." Diane said seeing her stepdaughters new friends.
"Hi Diane." Ari said cheerfully.
"No candy for us?" Lola pouted as Diane started to put the bowl of candy down. She laughed and offered the bowl to the group of girls. "How silly of me Lola." She told the red head. With a chuckle she added, "You and your sweet tooth." Lola shrugged and picked out a small Hershey chocolate bar.
"Is Sarah ready to go yet?" Brandy inquired.
"Let me get her." Diane offered.
"No need we can get her." Ari replied and the group of girls bounded up the stairs.
Diane couldn't help but smile. Sarah had gone from a depressed, barely existing, friendless teenager into a happy, busy teenager. She had been happy to need to pay for a babysitter the last time she and her husband had gone out because Sarah had been going out as well. Even when Sarah's mother had called and cancelled Christmas plans with the girl Sarah hadn't gotten upset. Her new friends were definitely good for her.
The girls reached Sarah's room and Jenna knocked twice. "Hope you're decent." she called out and threw open the door.
Sarah laughed. "What if I wasn't dressed?"
"We'd just pretend we were in the girl's locker room and tell you to hurry up." Brandy said with a shrug. Sarah laughed and nodded.
"See I told you the Cleopatra costume would look hot on you!" Lola said.
"Thanks," The dark haired girl replied and looked her friends' costumes over. Lola had dressed as a harem dancer, Jenna had dressed as a sexy cop, Brandy had dressed as a devil, and Ari had dressed as a pirate, in pants of course. Sarah smirked, "Pants?"
"Sarah, you know I don't do dresses." The blonde haired girl drawled. All four girls laughed.
"You ready?" Jenna asked.
"Yeah. I was just about to head downstairs to wait."
"Wait's over, it's party time!" Lola said and shook her hair.
The girls left Sarah's room and headed down the stairs. Diane nodded seeing her stepdaughter. "You look great but get out of here before your father sees you."
The girls laughed. "See ya." Diane smiled and watched the girls walk out of the house.
The girls went to the ever famous white Tahoe and climbed in. They were excited to get to the party and didn't notice little eyes were watching them.
"We follow." Whippley ordered. The other goblins smiled and giggled as they began to follow the white Tahoe.
Brandy drove down the street and making a left continued on her way. "Jason is going to need a bucket when he sees you." She commented looking back through the mirror at Sarah. Sarah blushed and all the girls laughed.
"Poor Sarah." Lola teased.
Sarah crossed her arms in mock pout. The girls laughed more and unable to help herself Sarah joined in.
It was still somewhat unbelievable to her how much her life had changed in such a short period of time. Sarah couldn't believe that she was on her way to one of the coolest parties held every year. People begged to go to this party! Sarah however hadn't expected an invite much less for Jason Peters to personally invite her to his party. Ari hadn't even been anywhere around.
"Holy Shit!" Jenna said seeing a ton of vehicles around Jason's house.
"Is that a line?" Sarah asked seeing a bunch of other teenagers standing in a line at a gate.
"Yeah they're all hoping to get in." Lola told her. "It happens at any party Jason holds. Just stick with us. We're on the list."
"There's a list?!" The dark haired girl said shocked.
Brandy laughed. "There is when a party is this big!" She honked her horn and as a couple people moved she pulled up along a curb. "Let's go!"
Ari got out and led the group of girls up to the gate passing by the many hopeful teenagers. She glanced back and, while Sarah was smiling, she saw a tinge on uncertainty in the girl's green eyes. "Come on Sar." She said and pulled her up beside her.
"Hey Ari, Sarah, ladies." Tom Haskins said immediately letting them in.
"Don't you have to check the list?" A girl hoping to get in said.
"Not for them," He replied. "Hey Sar, Jason told me to let you know he's over by the DJ."
"Guess we know where we're going." Brandy teased. Tom laughed and the girls entered the back yard.
Sarah had to fight the urge to let her mouth hang over. Jason didn't have just a back yard. He had a backyard with a large pool, a huge gazebo, a back deck and a big outside seating area around an outdoor fireplace.
"Wow. Don't you look good?" Sarah looked forward to see Jason openly admiring her in her costume.
"What are we chopped liver?" Jenna inquired.
"Never baby." Doug assured her.
"Come on." Jason said. Taking her hand he led Sarah over to the designated dance floor just as the first few notes of a slow song came over the speakers. Sarah looked at Ari who nodded at her to go.
"Hey Ari," Mark said walking up. "Nice…damn Ari, its Halloween, would it kill you to wear something a guy wouldn't?"
"It might." The blonde girl quipped and walked away.
Mark sighed as he watched the blonde teenager walk away with her friends following. "Face it Mark. Ari just isn't interested in you." Doug said. Mark glared at him and walked away.
"King won't like that." Widget said as Sarah and Jason began to dance. Jason held Sarah close like a girlfriend not just a simple friend.
"Need stop that." Noxy agreed. The other goblins nodded in agreement.
"I get lights!" Torch said.
"NO!" The goblins said in unison.
"Want lights out not burn down place!" Whippley told him.
"But…"
"No Torch you only allowed with water! Made fun time short at school!" Ricket complained. Torch made a face of disgruntlement but stayed where he was.
"I know," Digger exclaimed. "I dig a hole."
"You always dig hole." Ricket told him. The other goblins nodded in agreement.
"No dig, hole over dare. No music no dance."
"Ohhh." The Goblin's said realizing his intension.
"Yeah Digger. You dig hole, stop music." Widget agreed.
"Yeah,yeah,yeah." The other Goblins said encouragingly. Not needing anymore encouragement Digger began digging a hole and disappeared under the ground. The other goblins watched Lady Sarah and the human boy and waited.
"I'm glad you came." Jason told the dark haired girl.
"Me too." Sarah said smiling at him. "Thanks for inviting me."
Jason shrugged. "You deserved a chance. I shouldn't have listened to what everyone said and spoke with you myself."
"I'm sure I don't want to know." Sarah remarked.
"No, you don't." He agreed with a chuckle. "I am sorry Sarah. I'd like to make up for it if you'll let me." Jason leaned down and she knew he would kiss her.
Just before their lips just a loud bang and screeching sound was heard. The two teenagers looked over and were shocked to see the DJ's equipment was suddenly partially in the ground.
"What the…Come on." Jason took Sarah's hand and they walked over to see a large hole.
"You got gophers?" The DJ asked.
"Gophers aren't that big." Tom said.
Sarah looked around. Gophers weren't that big, but goblins were. The only question was, why would Goblins be here?
Doug looked over at the destroyed equipment. "Umm… I think that's it for the musi…whoa!" He said and dodged out of the way as a string of hanging lights fell and sparks went everywhere.
Several screams erupted as teens ran from the sparks and the fire that had suddenly started.
"Torch don't come next time." Whippley announced and glared at the returning goblin.
"Party over." Torch announced.
"Yeah it over." Digger agreed as the couch in the seating area caught fire. He looked at Whippley "Think king get mad?" More than one goblin wasn't sure.
"Don't know but we better go." Ricket announced and the goblins scampered off toward the white Tahoe.
The party was definitely over. Sarah and the girls waited with Jason, Doug, and Tom until the fire trucks arrived and then headed out.
"That's not a normal thing." Brandy said as the girls got into the Tahoe. "Just so you know." Sarah simply nodded.
"Well now what? The party was over too soon!" Jenna complained.
"Let's head to the park. There's a Halloween festival going on and there is supposed to be a haunted house." Lola suggested.
"Sounds good." Ari said. Looking at Sarah she said, "You up for it?"
"Let's go."
Brandy headed for the park. Once again little eyes watched and followed.
They arrived at the park and entered the festival. The teenagers found they were not the only ones from the party to decide to head that way. It almost appeared as if Jason's entire party had moved to the park.
"We better be careful." Brandy said. "It's Halloween and the goblins will be out." The girl's laughed except for Sarah. She knew how very true the basketball player's words were.
They went to a few different booths and through the haunted house. After a few more booths the girl's decided to go through the haunted house again.
"Come on Ari, Sarah." Jenna said.
"You go ahead," Ari told them. "Sarah and I are going to sit this one out."
"Suit yourself." Lola replied and the trio headed off.
"Come on." Ari said. Sarah didn't argue and Ari led her off away from everyone so they could speak privately. "What's going on Sarah? You seem really on edge ever since the fire at Jason's. Are you scared of fire or something?"
"No. It's nothing." Sarah assured her. The dark girl started to pick up her pace and Ari reached out and grabbed her arm.
"What's going on Sarah? You can trust me." Ari told her.
"You'd never believe me." Sarah said softly as she lowered her head.
Ari watched the girl and knew Sarah was afraid to admit what was bothering her. "Talk to me Sarah."
"You'll think I'm crazy." Sarah said slowly looking back up at her new blonde haired friend.
"Why don't you let me decide for myself whether or not I think you're crazy." Ari told her. "I mean I'm not exactly the typical girl. I might surprise you."
Sarah looked down. She liked Ari and her new friends and didn't want to lose them. Telling her the truth and about her time in the Labyrinth would make Ari walk away. She liked her new found place at school and didn't want to lose it.
"Trust in me Sarah." Ari told her. Sarah looked at her and couldn't hide her fear. "Just tell me Sar. I promise I won't let anything change between us."
"Ari.."
"Trust me. We're friends right?"
"I don't want to lose you Ari."
"You won't. Now trust me and tell me what this is all about."
Sarah looked at her blonde haired friend and knew she was being sincere. Ari had never been mean or cruel to her. She'd never not followed through with what she said. Taking a deep breath Sarah said, "Okay. But over there. I don't want anyone else knowing."
Ari nodded and the two walked over by a large tree where no one could sneak up on them. Scared and at times crying, Sarah told her about her mistake and her trip through the Labyrinth. Once finished, she lowered her head and waited for the inevitable.
"I should kick your ass!" Ari said bluntly.
"I told you, you wouldn't believe me," Sarah said and turned to walk away in defeat.
"No Sarah I should kick your ass for letting that bitch Delilah get away with treating you like she did," Ari informed her. Sarah looked at her stunned. "You went through a labyrinth and took on the Goblin King. You should've put Delilah, Teresa, and half the school in their places long ago!"
"You …believe me?" Sarah said in both shock and awe.
"Yes." Ari told her.
"But why?" Sarah asked. "I mean even I admit my story sounds crazy!"
Ari smiled and chuckled. "Yes well there are a few things you don't know about my family," The blonde haired teenage girl announced. Sarah looked at her questioningly. "You met my Aunt Evelyn right?"
"Yeah. She seems nice." Sarah replied.
"She's not really my Aunt Sarah. She's my grandmother." Ari informed the dark haired girl. She laughed as Sarah's mouth literally fell open. "I found out this past summer when I was going through some things of my mothers. She doesn't know I know. How could she be my grandmother and still look like she's in her mid 20's?" Ari asked.
"Are you saying she's not human?" Sarah inquired.
Ari shrugged. "I don't know Sar. I just know there are some family secrets I don't know. But let's keep this entire conversation between us okay?"
Sarah smiled. Looking into her new friends eyes she saw no change. Ari truly believed her. Sarah nodded she'd keep it secret.
"Let's catch up with the others now." Sarah nodded and the duo headed back toward the festivities.
Author's Note: Are you to find out Ari's reaction? It's coming up next chapter. Fair warning; expect some less than lady like words. Poor Torch just can't control himself can he? =o)
