Chapter 5: Act Normal

" How in the world should I know? " Sarah noticed how close they were. Sitting up she pushed Jareth away, not being able to think with him so close to her. He walked away seeing that she needed her space and hoping to give them both time to calm down, he wasn't used to being spoken to in such a way, and he didn't like it. 'Why would the fates be so cruel, as to choose THIS girl for my Queen?' He thought to himself rubbing his temples.

Sarah thought for a moment. She had dreamed she was talking with the Labyrinth, but that had been no dream, it was real. She had really been talking to the Labyrinth, but then did that mean that everything Labyrinth had said was true? 'No, that can't be possible . . . , can it?' She looked at Jareth, and then herself, embarrassment and anger flared in her, she wasn't wearing anything but the STUPID 'I'm with stupid' T-shirt, that barely covered her upper thighs when she stood. Her skin turning a deep red as she tried to cover herself up. Jareth smirked at this.

" There really is no need to cover yourself now." A beat. " I've already seen everything." He saw her turn an even darker shade of red but missed her eye's flash again.

" What the hell are you doing here any way, Goblin King?" The last part of her question dripping with disdain. His anger flared. He walked backed over to the bed and stood towering over her. His voice and eyes cold and filled with fury.

" I, Sarah, as you just pointed out, am a King. And as such expect a certain amount of respect. " He pulled away his voice condescending and belittling. " You would do well to remember that, little girl." Sarah stood, not caring about her state of dress, with her face mere inches away from his. Her eyes glowing with anger and defiance.

" 'Little Girl' is it? Well tell me this Goblin King, how does it feel to know that this 'little girl' beat you at your own game? " Jareth' s eyes if at all possible, grew colder and more narrowed.

" Be careful, Sarah. I have . . . " She interrupted him.

" Have what? 'Have been generous till now but you can be cruel.' " She said throwing his words back at him. She saw the explosion behind his eyes, and the voice in her head 'You are sooo DEAD Sarah Williams', and still her mouth wouldn't listen and SHUT UP!! " Enlighten me, 'Cause I'm confused on what you think is generous. Was it coming into my room not once but twice without my permission, not knowing whether or not if I was dressed, with my parents, or if I even wanted to talk to you? In your world you are king Jareth, not in mine. In my world you have to give respect to get it and you have shown me little or none."

For what seemed like an eternity Sarah stood in front of the Goblin King eye locked. She could see the battle going on inside him. Part of him wanted to kill her for what she had said, while the other part was extremely impressed with her spirit. She just couldn't tell what part was winning. ' Why couldn't you just keep your big mouth shut, Sarah?' She asked herself, waiting for him to say or do anything.

Sarah couldn't have been more right. Jareth couldn't figure out what he wanted to do. A part of him wanted to make her beg for mercy, he had killed people for saying less. But another part was impressed with what she had said and done, 'Maybe the Fates had made the right decision after all'. She had behaved as a Queen should, true she lost her temper just a little too quickly, but her mind was quick and her words true.

For the first time in his abnormally long life, Jareth didn't know what he wanted to do next. He wasn't given much time to think about it. He caught the sound of someone walking towards the door and decided to take his leave, turning to Sarah he gave her a quick smirk. " We will discuss this later." He laughed at the look on her face as he faded away and added " I'll be watching."

Sarah stood completely stunned. 'Not only did that son of a bitch not answer my question, but now I have to worry if he's watching me while I change for school.' She thought growling in frustration. She looked around the room wondering if he was watching her right now, she yelled into thin air. " You had better not watch me while I change." Sarah jumped when she heard the knock at her door. She walked over and prayed to any god that would listen for it not to be who she already knew it was.

Opening her door, Sarah looked into the eyes of her very confused stepmother. Karen was about 5'6, short dirty blond hair, brown eyes, and the ability to make Sarah feel like she wasn't even there. Even now, Karen seemed to look right through her. Karen pushed her way into the room, she quickly examined the room, before her gaze settled on Sarah again. " Who were you yelling at?" She asked looking both upset and pleased.

" I wasn't talking to anyone. I was rehearsing one of my plays. " 'Nice one.' She thought. She could tell that Karen bought it. She nodded her head and started to walk past Sarah to leave the room, then stopped and turned around. " Oh Sarah, by the way, your father and I are going out tonight. You will watch Toby while we're gone." She turned to leave again but stopped when Sarah spoke.

" Sorry, Karen, I can't. I'm going out with my friends tonight." It wasn't really lying. Sarah had made plans, but not to see her friends, considering she didn't have any. She had planed to go to the park tonight and see if she could figure out a few things. Karen turned and looked at Sarah her eyes cold and angry. 'Great here it comes.' Sarah braced herself.

" Fine, you ungrateful child. You go out with your friends I'll just find a sitter for Toby," She gave Sarah a look that sent a shiver down her spine. " I was planning on paying you . . . but since your going out with your friends."

" Yeah oh well." Sarah wasn't going to fall for it. She had tried this a few times and each time she told Sarah that she should do it because she loves her family not because she wants the money. Karen looked upset that Sarah hadn't fallen for the bait, but let it rest, leaving Sarah to get ready for school.

Sarah looked at the clock 7:45. She was LATE!!! Deciding that she would shower later Sarah grabbed her favorite outfit and ran into the bathroom. Sarah brushed her teeth and decided to leave her hair down, but to bring a hair tie just in case she needed one, brushing it she moved to put on her clothes. Her favorite out fit consisted of a long sleeved red peasant shirt, with a square shape neckline and black henna looking embroidery. The skirt was just long enough to cover her shoes, but not long enough to get stepped on and the same blood red embroidery on the bottom. At fifteen makeup consisted of a little lip gloss which she kept in her backpack. Running back to her room she found the matching pair of shoes, they had a little bit of a heel but not enough of one to make it difficult to run. ' Oh my god I'm sooo late.' Finding her bag and making sure that all her homework and books were in it she left her room.

Downstairs was business as usual. Toby sat in his highchair throwing his breakfast all over himself and the room, Karen was washing dishes, and her father was reading the newspaper. Sarah kissed Toby on the forehead, the only place where he hadn't gotten his breakfast. " I'll see you later little brother." She said grabbing herself two pieces of toast and a slice of bacon before running out the door.

She ran just about the whole way to school, slowing when she was a block away. She looked around and was glad that she didn't see Amara and her gang waiting for her. But Sarah's glee was short lived, for when she turned the corner there they stood. Now in truth there was very little that scared Sarah, and in truth she wasn't afraid of Amara and her gang, but always seemed to get herself in more trouble when she tried to defend herself, so for right now all she did was take it.

Amara was 5 feet even her 'friends' about 3 inches taller than her. She had short boy cut red hair, that made it look as though her head was constantly on fire, reminding Sarah of a fire fairy. Her skin was pale like hers, but had the unfortunate curse of horrible acne. Her henchmen were all blond, all the same color of spun gold, all with skin that was heavily tanned. Their names were Tammy, Cindy, and Mindy. They all shared the same brown eyes, which made Sarah think they were so full of shit it oozed out their eyes. Amara saw Sarah before she could do anything to hide her self.

" Well if it isn't silent Sarah." Sarah cringed at the sound of her nickname. She had gotten the nickname because she didn't really have very many friends and kept to herself except in class. She looked at the three goons behind Amara and knew that she wouldn't be able to run for it today.

" Good morning Amara." She said her voice cold and filled with hatred.

" Oh Sarah, that's no way to talk to someone better than you." Sarah was in no mood to keep her mouth closed. She looked Amara in the face and decided that this had gone on long enough.

" What makes you think that you in anyway compare to me?" She could feel the change in the air. It matched her mood cold and electric. Jareth who was watching the whole scene from a near by tree, he could feel the change in the air and sense the magic floating around the young woman.

" Oooo listen girls. Silent Sarah has something to say." Amara pushed Sarah in the shoulder throwing Sarah off balance and sending her crashing to the ground. Jareth flinched on his branch, his eyes showing his displeasure. " What Sarah? Did you change your mind?" Amara moved her foot to kick Sarah and was shot back with a blast of invisible magic. The girl screamed as she flew back into her friends.

Jareth smiled. True it wasn't his doing but he was damned proud of Sarah. He looked from the now screaming pile of girls to his Sarah. The air had gone normal again, cool but refreshing and sweet. Sarah who not a moment ago had looked a force to be reckoned with, was now grabbing her bag from the ground as fast as she could and running to school. Fear and worry present in her eyes. Jareth would follow, he had to make sure she didn't do anything too dangerous or get into too much trouble.

Sarah reached the front doors to her school and finally breathed. 'Did I do that?' She asked herself. The voice of Labyrinth spoke in her head 'It was both you and myself.' Sarah face showed anger as she walked to her first class, normally she wouldn't have been happy to hear that her first class was a study hall but right now she ecstatic. She carefully made her way to her desk and sat down, opened her math text book and made it look as though she was studying while she spoke to Labyrinth.

'What do you mean both of us?' She asked her voice calmer then before.

'They were going to harm you and I couldn't let that happen. You are my Queen and I must protect you. So I used our magic to defend you.' There was a pause. 'Didn't you feel the air change around you? Didn't you feel what your magic can do?'

'I felt it all right and it scared me out of my wits.'

'You have no reason to fear your magic. It will do nothing that you wouldn't let it.'Labyrinth said her voice calm and soothing.

'How can you be so sure of that?' She took a deep breath and remembered what she wanted to do to Amara. 'I'm not even sure I didn't want to hurt her.' Sarah felt the tears fill her eyes but pushed them back.

'You have nothing to fear little one. I would never let you do something you would regret.' As she spoke, Sarah could feel a comforting force bubble within her. And knew what Labyrinth said to be true.

'Thank you Labyrinth. I don't know what I would do without you right now.' She felt Labyrinth glow with pride.

'It pleases me to see you happy, mistress.' Sarah rolled her eyes. And dodged a look from the teacher.

'Do you think you could stop with the mistress thing?' She asked sounding a little annoyed. She could hear the smile in Labyrinth's voice.

'What would you prefer I call you little one?' She asked.

'What's wrong with Sarah?' She asked somehow knowing what she was about to say.

'You are my Queen, my mistress I realize that you may be uncomfortable with the term, but I must show you the respect that you deserve. Sarah is too informal.'

'Well why not just keep calling me little one?' She didn't understand why 'little one' was okay when her name wasn't, but right now anything was better than mistress.

'Little one it is.' Labyrinth said happily.

Sarah spent the rest of her classes before lunch trying desperately to ignore the feeling that she was being watched. 'Yeah, Jareth said he would be watching but he could have been saying that just to get a rise out of me.' Sarah said to herself. She walked to the cafeteria not paying attention to the people around her. So she didn't see Amara and her posse until it was too late. They quickly shoved her into the girl's bathroom and blocked the door so she couldn't get out. 'Well isn't this just peachy.' Sarah thought to herself.

Amara and her three henchmen stocked toward Sarah. Amara right in front of her, while Tammy was on her right and Mindy on the left. And Cindy holding the lock on the door. Sarah felt a tickle on the back of her neck. 'Great I'm going to miss lunch by spending time with these four idiots.' She rolled her eyes and Amara started to talk.

" Sarah would you like to tell the class what the hell happened this morning?" Sarah raised an eyebrow and smiled.

" Actually I wouldn't." Jareth who was standing behind her couldn't help but smile. She could have so easily been Fae, such a quick mind his Sarah had. He turned in time to see Amara's scowl deepen.

" Sarah you must think your sooo smart. But I'm not in the mood for your games, I asked a question and I want an answer." She moved a little closer trying to intimidate her. And to everyone surprise including Jareth's Sarah started to laugh, it was a few moments before she could talk.

" First Amara I don't think I'm smart I know I am, don't get me wrong I am definitely not the smartest person in this school, but in this room I'd say I win hands down." She paused and backed up a little giving herself enough room to lean forward and whisper. " You know which ones are your hands right? Those are the ones that are so popular with the boys." Everyone in the room gasped, except for Jareth who was laughing so hard he thought he might cry, until that is he noticed that Sarah was now looking right at him. 'How is that possible? She shouldn't hear or see me?'

While everyone was contemplating what to do next Sarah saw her chance. Calling Labyrinth for help she pushed all three girls to the wall, unable to move anything but their mouths. All three girls were screaming with everything they had, Sarah motioned to Jareth for him to follow. She ran out of the bathroom to the empty classroom across the hall, after making sure Jareth had followed she moved to one of the storage closets in the room. The magic used to hold them wouldn't last long and once they were free they would come after her, so she quickly hid in it as she heard them come to the door.

" Is she in there Cindy?" Amara asked sounding really pissed. Cindy looked around she couldn't see anything.

" No." Using a little more magic with help from Labyrinth Sarah made it sound as though she was running down the hall. The next thing they heard was the door slamming and heels running away.

After making sure that they weren't coming back Sarah turned the light on in the closet. Not bothering to look around the room Sarah sat in a chair and started to rummage through her bag, a smile of triumph on her face when she pulled out a paper bag. It was then that she acknowledged Jareth. " Would you like one?" She asked taking out a package of hostess cupcakes. Jareth raised an eyebrow and the look in his eyes said that he didn't understand. " It's a small piece of cake. I was being polite and asking if you would care for some. Nothing more nothing less." She said opening the package and holding the cake out to him. Giving it a careful look Jareth decided it couldn't hurt anything. Taking a small bite out of hers Sarah smiled and made a small moaning sound. Jareth smiled at that making a note to hear that sound again.

" Would you care to tell me Sarah what just happened?" She looked at him and smiled.

" I offered you a cup cake and you took it." She smiled at her smart mouth, no one really liked it but she couldn't help it sometimes. Jareth smiled, surprising her.

" Very good Sarah I'll rephrase. Would you please tell me what happened in the bathroom and for that matter what happened before school today?"

Sarah sat for a few moments thinking. There was no way to get out of the question, he had made sure of that. And normally she wouldn't mind answering the question asked. But how much could she tell him? 'You can tell him everything.' Labyrinth answered.

'How can you be sure?' Sarah asked her minds voice showing fear.

'You have nothing to fear little one. He won't try anything, and if he does you have me. And I would never let anyone not even the Goblin King himself harm you.' Hearing Labyrinth say that Sarah looked at Jareth and decided to tell him.

" Well Amara and her friends don't like me very much. I'm a loner and quiet, that is until I'm provoked." She gave him a look saying you should know that.

" Very well, please continue."

" Well let's just say that you're not the only one who doesn't like my smart mouth. One day I said one smart thing to many and ended up defending my butt. When the adults came around, I was winning so the automatically decided that I was the one who started the fight." She looked at Jareth and shrugged. " I suppose on some level it was my fault. True they were egging me on, but I didn't have to rise to the challenge. Oh well, in the end I ended up having to spend a detention with them and my parents were called. I was made to promise that I wouldn't lay one hand on any other student again." She looked at him and smiled. " Apparently I'm dangerous. Who would have thought a sweet little thing like me?" She laughed a little but stopped when she heard Jareth. He gave a little belly chuckle. He stopped and asked her another question.

" And what did you do to earn such attentions?" He asked taking a small bite out of the cake that she had given him. He smiled at the taste. It was quite good. Sarah smiled at him.

" I would rather not say, if you don't mind. It's kind of embarrassing." Jareth gave her a look that made her wish she could disappear. " Amara has a boyfriend. He would be defined as the cutest boy in school. I have no interest in boys especially that one. But for whatever reason he seems to think that I like him. He's one of those, 'No means yes. And drop dead means, take me I'm yours.'" She thought that she should stop when she saw his face grow cold, but he told her to continue. " One day on my way home from school Tim asked if he could walk me home, I told him to leave me alone that I didn't want anything to do with him. Yet again he didn't believe me. In the end lets just say that I was caught in a less then flattering position," Jareth's eyes faired. Sarah smiled at him making a look of confusion appear on his face. " You didn't let me finish. The less then flattering position was my knee in his crouch." Jareth looked at her with awe. " He wouldn't listen to me, so I decided to use sign language. Amara seems to think that I was flirting with him just so that I could kick him in the balls." Sarah rolled her eyes.

" So this Amara, she attacks you because you beat up her lover?" Sarah smiled at the word lover but nodded. That was pretty much it. Sarah looked down at her watch and squealed causing Jareth to jump a little. " What the bloody hell is wrong?" He asked calming himself. He watched as Sarah scrambled to get her bag and leave the small room. In a whispering voice she answered him.

" Lunch is just about over, I'm sure that Amara and her's have given up on trying to find me. But if I don't get to my next class before they find me there won't be enough magic in either worlds so save me." Sarah looked back at Jareth who seemed to understand. " All I have to do is make it to class and act normal. They can't say anything to a teacher because none of them would believe them, but if they corner me . . . " Sarah made her way out of the empty classroom and down the hall, Jareth walking beside her. 'Act normal, piece of cake.'

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