Complicated Chapter 17: Complicated, a labyrinth fanfic

A/N: Finally, a chapter that is more than just 4 pages long!! So, this is a big chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 17: Complicated

Sarah had planned on being very careful to go out as little as possible while Aboveground. She didn't want to run into anyone from her last visit that wasn't family.

She believed in her heart that it was Tyler who made everything bitter between Jareth and herself. Not on purpose, of course. Tyler wasn't capable of that, but maybe he affected her in some way that made Jareth different to her.

She wasn't sure, but she left the house as little as possible and whenever she and Toby did go out, she was always observant of her surroundings and who was in them.

Toby had warned her to be careful. He knew that she was avoiding Tyler (she had told him that she just didn't want to go back out with him and she knew that telling him that would hurt his feelings) and so he told her that Tyler had been coming to the house about once a month to check if Sarah was home or if she had called or something.

Toby, personally, thought that Tyler's actions were a bit stalker-ish, but luckily for Sarah, she was never around anyway and Tyler had already come last week, a few days before she had come back, to see if she was around.

But, of course, some higher power was against her.

Irene, who had always predicted that Sarah and Tyler would be together, had called him and told him that Sarah was home for Toby's birthday. Sarah didn't know about it until she heard the doorbell ring and Irene just happened to be busy upstairs.

Sarah laughed at the joke Toby had just told her (Q: Why do blondes have "TGIF" on their shoes? A: Toes go in first) as she walked to the door. The laughter ended when she saw who was at the door.

There he stood in all his glory. Tight jeans, tight T-shirt, and, although his hair was the same length as last time, it was combed back and flowing. He looked gorgeous. Definitely a man that any woman would kill to have … except for Sarah. Unfortunately for her, this man wanted her but she only had eyes for one man, and that man wasn't him.

"Sarah. Irene told me you were here."

Sarah looked behind her and saw Irene peeking and raised her eyebrow. Irene ran back up the stairs. "Oh really?"

"Yeah." He ran a hand through his hair. "I hope that's okay."

Sarah was clearly irritated, but she knew that she couldn't take it all out on him. Tyler wouldn't understand why she was angry with him. She wasn't even angry with him. She just didn't want to be around such a wonderful guy when she knew that she used to have one already, usually waiting for her back home. Now she wasn't so sure about the man back at the Labyrinth and Tyler was reminding her of that uncertainty.

Tyler noticed that Sarah had spaced off and smiled, knowing that Sarah was always in some other world, and waved his hand in front of her face.

Sarah shook her head and she was back on Earth with Tyler … regrettably.

He smiled a charming smile that had no effect whatsoever on Sarah and leaned against the doorframe. Sarah took a step back.

"So, the last time you were here, we didn't get much of a chance to talk. And I was thinking that maybe we could go out again. I mean, I know I'm kinda late. You're leaving on Sunday, but hey, today is Thursday so maybe we can go out tomorrow."

Sarah took a deep breath. She had known that this was coming, but still, she had hoped that she didn't have to turn him down. Tyler was such a great guy, but Sarah knew that only one man would ever be able to fully satisfy her and make her happy.

"Tyler, look, there's someone else. I'm in love with a great man, one back home, and …"

Tyler looked somewhat disappointed, but he hid it pretty good. "Oh really? Lucky guy. But c'mon Sarah. It doesn't have to be a date or romantic at all. I just want to spend time with you. I miss you. I mean, after I moved away, I didn't see you for about ten years and then when I finally see you again, you have to leave for France the day after."

Sarah sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I just don't know Tyler. I …"

Tyler grabbed one of Sarah's hands and said, "Please, Sarah. I just want to spend time with my best friend."

Sarah felt terrible knowing that even that wasn't true anymore. Sorta. Sarah had considered Jareth her best friend for the past ten years, and even now she knew she could trust him with her life.

It was this guilt that drove her to say "Okay Tyler. Fine. I'll go do something with you tomorrow."

Tyler couldn't believe it! "R-really? Okay. Then, tomorrow. Dinner at six?"

Sarah forced a smile, "Sure."

Tyler's grin never left his face. "Ok then. I'll pick you up here at six then."

Tyler hugged the woman who he considered his best friend, and waved to Toby who he had just noticed standing in the background. Looking back to Sarah he said "Six. Ok. Bye Sarah."

"Bye Tyler." Sarah watched as Tyler got back into his car and drove away. She turned around and walked back into the house. She looked at Toby who shook his head and said, "Nice rejection, Sis."

Sarah sighed heavily and said, "Yeah I know. But I just couldn't say no. He was so sweet."

"But he's no Jareth?" Toby asked.

"No. He's no Jareth." Sarah said quietly. "But maybe getting out will be helpful."

"I hope so" Toby muttered as he returned to the living room with his sister.

Sarah heard him, but pretended that she didn't. She sent up a silent prayer to any higher power that was listening, Please, let this actually help. In any way! Let this bring me closer to Jareth and find out what's been going on with him.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Once again, Sarah was fighting with herself. There was no longer a Team Tyler to butt heads with Team Jareth, but now she wasn't so sure if she should even be going out. Toby had told her that it was okay if she went out with Tyler. He made plans with his friend Sean that night. In fact, Sean showed up at the house just as Sarah and Tyler were leaving.

The night was warm and Tyler was wearing a button-up white shirt with short sleeves and a pair of nice jeans with some regular tennis shoes. His hair was pushed back like it always was and some of it hung in front of his face when he tilted his head the right way.

Sarah was wearing a nice blouse with a floral design and nice solid-colored pants that matched the pink flowers on her blouse. She kept her hair down and let it fall behind her ears.

This time, he took her to an actual restaurant. It still wasn't fancy, but hey, at least it wasn't a cheap café that didn't have food that could be considered dinner.

They sat down and talked for awhile. Mainly just memories of the past. Then, the conversation turned to Jareth, much to Sarah's dismay. That's when the song on the restaurant radio changed.

Uh huh, life's like this
Uh huh, uh huh, that's the way it is
Cause life's like this
Uh huh, uh huh that's the way it is

"So, there's another guy?" Tyler asked.

Chill out whatcha yelling' for?
Lay back it's all been done before
And if you could only let it be
you will see

"Yeah, yeah there is. Or was. I'm not so sure." Sarah admitted.

I like you the way you are
When we're drivin' in your car
and you're talking to me one on one
but you've become

"Really? I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?" Tyler said honestly. He wanted Sarah for his own, but if she had another man, he wanted her to be happy. Obviously, she wasn't right now.

Somebody else round everyone else
You're watching your back like you can't relax
You're tryin' to be cool you look like a fool to me
Tell me

However, Sarah hadn't heard a word he said. She had turned her attention to the words of the song. It wasn't familiar to her at all, but that didn't matter. Just like when she realized she loved Jareth, something was trying to make itself known.

Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else gets me frustrated
Life's like this you
And you fall and you crawl and you break
and you take what you get and you turn it into honestyand
promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it
no no no

A frustrated Tyler sighed and leaned back. He was being very passive about this. He always had been. Even on their last outing, he had been almost completely silent and allowed her to space off all the time. Jareth never … Jareth would never act passively. He would never act anything like Tyler unless he was prompted to. Unless

…. Sarah suddenly remembered. That night, when she had gone out with Tyler, she had seen a white barn owl. She had also felt guilty, as if she was being watched. She was!

You come over unannounced
dressed up like you're somethin' elsewhere
you are and where it's at you see
you're making me
laugh out when you strike your pose
take off all your preppy clothes
you know you're not fooling anyone
when you've become

Somebody else round everyone else
Watching your back, like you can't relax
Trying to be cool you look like a fool to me
Tell me

Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else gets me frustrated
Life's like this you
and You fall and you crawl and you break
and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty
promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it
no no no

That was it!! Jareth had been there that night! He had seen her! He had seen her with … Tyler. Then, he had acted ……. Just like him!

Chill out whatcha yelling for?
Lay back, it's all been done before
And if you could only let it be
You will see

Somebody else round everyone else
You're watching your back, like you can't relax
You're trying to be cool, you look like a fool to me
Tell me

That was why he was acting so strangely. He had seen her with Tyler and somehow thought that he was going to lose her! He thought that by being like Tyler, he'd be able to win her back!

But wait?! Did that mean what she thought it meant?

"He loves me" she whispered.

"What?" Tyler leaned forward. "What was that Sarah?"

Sarah stood up and started to run off. "Sarah, Sarah wait!" Tyler looked confused. "I don't understand."

"I'm sorry Tyler! I - I wish I could explain, but I have to go now! I know what happened to us now!"

And that was the last that Tyler ever saw Sarah. Her back as she ran out of the restaurant, after the man she had chosen.

Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're acting like your somebody else gets me frustrated
Life's like this youYou fall and you crawl and you break
and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty

Sarah reached her family's house and ran inside, ignoring her father and Irene as she ran past them. Toby poked his head out of his room and, seeing Sarah in such a hurry, ran into his sister's room.

"Sarah! Sarah, what's going on?" Toby cried out.

Sarah turned around and hugged her little brother. "I've figured it out Tobe! I know why Jareth is acting strangely! He saw me with Tyler and changed himself, thinking that's what I wanted. I have to go to him!"

Toby looked his sister in the eye and smirked. "Then what are you waiting for?! Get outta here! Go get your man!" Sarah hugged her little brother again and grasped her crystal in her hands.

Then throwing it up into the air, she held her breath, letting it out only when she found herself back home.

It was time to find Jareth and finally set things straight.

Promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it
no no no

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

The goblins were confused.

Months ago, their king was completely normal. He danced and sang with them. He played pranks on Miss Sarah. He watched her with something gleaming in his eyes. What that something was they weren't exactly sure. It was completely beyond their comprehension, but it was there nonetheless.

Then, he came home in a foul mood and was different the next morning. He no longer danced and sang and he completely avoided Miss Sarah. Whenever he looked at her, he had only longing in his eyes.

Then, he left them for two months, only to ignore everybody with his return.

And now, here he was acting completely normal! He was playing with them and singing almost every hour of the day. But Miss Sarah wasn't around to see it and that made the goblins somewhat sad.

However, that was all forgotten when their beloved Goblin King started a new game or began taking song requests.

It was Friday night and King Jareth was singing the "Doo Wah Diddy" song that was requested by Limram, one of the goblins.

It was complete bliss for the goblins again. Their king was back and he was happy! But how long would it last? They didn't know for sure, but they were happy enough to sit back and relax or join their king and play and frolic.

The song ended and somebody shouted out, "Put that baby spell on me!!" Everyone paused and stared at the King who had stopped moving. He didn't look happy. He strode up to Shab, the unfortunate goblin who was responsible for the outburst, and got right up in his face.

Shab gulped and Jareth grinned mischievously. Grabbing the goblin and bringing him even closer to his face, the King said

"You remind me of the babe" … and the song had begun.

A/N: Whatd'ya think? I'm pretty happy with it. Next chapter, Jareth and Sarah finally talk to each other!! Finally, right?! So, I thought it over and I think we only have another few chapters left. Definitely less than five. Kinda scary, huh?

Anyway, thank you everyone who reviewed and I hope more people review this time. I'll have to thank everyone in the last chapter.

So, please tell me what you think!!

P.S. Sorry for any mistakes. It's like 3:30 in the morning and I am SO tired and was too lazy to check. XP Oh! And the song is "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne. This was the inspiration for this story (lol hence the name of the fic itself).