Thank you to those of you who have persevered!

I hope you enjoy the new chapter,

Tari

24

Sarah tried to keep out of Adam's way as much as possible, because the bleeding ego made him even more rough with his dance partners. Not many of them left his arms happy, though there were a few giggling mini-skirted Jenny-hating twits so flattered by his attention, that they were utterly oblivious to the fact that he jerked them around and pressed them close just to feel powerful.

By now, Sarah truly felt sorry for Jenny, who had come back from the restroom and sat by herself in a dark corner. The couple of girls who had approached her, overly-solicitous and secretly curious about the "hot new teacher" and what it was like to dance with him, went away disappointed. Jenny refused to talk to them.

She felt used. Maybe for the first time ever. She didn't enjoy it. She had given in to Adam's pushing and pulling before, but she had never experienced such a level of control, such utter helplessness. With Adam, it had been obvious. He was stronger than her, of course, but Jenny knew what he was all about, and she knew that she could always retaliate if he pushed her too far. In fact, she had really enjoyed doing just that, when he tried to force her into dancing with him a few minutes ago.

With Terrence, however, there didn't seem to be any kind of limit. She had lost herself to the rumba, and to his lead.

There was no freakin' "self-expression", or whatever he said the leader helps the follower do! There was no self to express, even! - she thought vehemently.

There was no time, no ground, there was just the music and his presence, filling her with an external force that kept her moving and breathing. Now that it was gone she felt relief, but also a kind of emptiness. After experiencing something so strong, after feeling her entire world shrink to those stretching seconds between the steps, what else was there for her?

Was this like the Stockholm Syndrome she had read about in psych class? - she wondered.

Was she bound to him now? She would not refuse him if he wanted to use her to demonstrate something again. She would come when called. She would do as he said. She would dream about it every night, because ordinary life seemed empty now.

Jenny saw Sarah coming across the room towards her and attempted to compose her thoughts. Sarah's face showed concern, which surprised her. Most of the other girls were jealous of her and had come over pretending to be concerned but really looking for juicy gossip. She couldn't stand the sight of them, but Sarah was somehow different. Jenny found she was relieved when Sarah came slowly over and sat next her silently. It was comforting, somehow.

"You alright?" Sarah asked, trying to keep her voice low. Jenny looked shaken and pale, and strangely quiet.

"Yeah." she replied. "Just a little overwhelmed, you know? Like my world went upside-down for a bit and it hasn't put itself right yet..."

Sarah just stared at her. That turn of phrase was a little too familiar, and Sarah suddenly felt very raw around the edges. She looked up through her lashes, scanning the dance floor, and found that the teacher had been looking in their direction again.

"I know the feeling," she muttered, watching the lights of the disco ball glance off his face, so strange and yet somehow familiar at the same time.

Jenny shrugged as if saying I seriously doubt it, but didn't argue.

Sarah felt her memories wrap their tendrils around her again, and felt the call of their voices, their soft but insistent pull. But this time, she did not feel like resisting. She let herself gaze at him, let herself feel drawn. It felt like something molten in her stomach was spreading through her with slow warmth. She let herself wonder what it would be like to be near him. To feel his warmth and his breath just a few inches away from her own. Would she like it?

The warmth that was now spreading down her body told her that she probably would. Her mind was numb and distant, and her breath uneven. Slowly, she let herself think about him, about his body and his voice, about how he would approach her and look down into her eyes. About how he would stand so close to her, that she would feel the heat from his body and catch his scent. What would it be like?

There would be no contact, not yet. The silence between them would pulse with the promise of something frighteningly desirable - something not yet known, but already guessed at and half-imagined, like a shape in the dark.

Imperceptibly, the figure in Sarah's imagination acquired a hauntingly familiar set of mismatched eyes and a feathery cascade of pale-blond hair. And, strangely, that made the heat stab more strongly at her center, and her breath quicken.

Suddenly, she was aware that Jenny had sat up attentively. The lights had come back on, and Sarah noticed with a start, that one of her hands had stolen its way up the side of her neck. And she felt very warm. She blushed at herself, abruptly realizing the direction of her own thoughts.

How can I even look at him now? she panicked, thoroughly embarrassed. I'm so glad he's looking away – imagine if he'd noticed me touching my neck like that! I'd never be able to face him again!

Jareth had more than noticed. This evening was, truly, becoming unendurable. He had been the one to turn the lights on, unable to stand Sarah's thoughts any longer. His disguise was slipping, and it was becoming too hard to keep it in place. For a moment, he even thought that Sarah had seen through it, as she gazed at him. But her reaction had not altered - she had not started or looked away in fear like he thought she would. For a suspended few seconds, she had seen him, and her body's response was absolutely unequivocal. Had she realized it? Jareth wasn't sure she had processed what was happening. But his disguise wouldn't hold if this kept up, so he had to end the dance now, or he had to leave it – and as he had no intention of leaving Sarah alone with Adam, he decided that it was time to call it a night.

He let the dancers finish up and step off the floor, taking their seats on the side of the room. He had no choice. Desire coursed through him, white-hot and unbearable. His mind was full of Sarah, of her thoughts and of the emotions she had allowed herself to feel. He could scare believe it. Even now, he tried to suppress his own hope, afraid that he had simply imagined it all. He couldn't face the crowd of kids immediately, and he lurked in the shadows, trying to regain his composure.

Finally, he stepped out onto the floor.

"Alright, I think that that's it for today. I hope you enjoyed the lesson and the dance..." he said smoothly. "I will be available for private or group lessons if you are interested," he added, thinking of ways to snare more time with Sarah.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Sarah that came forward. She sat still, too petrified of him to move. Jenny, too, didn't come running to beg for lessons.

Such a pity... But the rest of the girls were already lining up. Smoothly shifting tactics, Jareth turned to the old teacher:

"Are there any couples preparing for the upcoming competition?" he asked innocently. "If there are several, I would be willing to give them priority and hold a free group class."

Sarah was on pins and needles at this point. She saw Jenny give the girls bathroom a long, calculating look. But it was too far, and there was no way they'd make it without attracting the attention of the entire room. Jenny seemed to have come to the same conclusion, and sighed, resigned.

Meanwhile the old teacher was getting excited.

"Did you hear that?" He asked the class. "This is an great opportunity, and you'd better take it, or I'll kick you ass! Who have we got now? Lauren and Jake, Samantha and Brett, Adam and Sarah and Jenny and Mike are our competing couples this year. Have I forgotten anyone? Alright! These lucky four will get a lesson for free! The rest of you, if you don't get a slot - come again next weekend! We'll have another lesson for you right here. Good night and see you in class!"

"Lovely..." Jareth purred. "Couples, please see me before you leave, and we'll work out a time for our lesson."

Sarah was beyond panic now, too much to even glare balefully at Adam, who was striding over to claim her as his dance partner.

Jenny stood up disdainfully and stalked off in search of Mike, brushing roughly past Adam.

Sarah let herself be dragged off, feeling the butterflies dance through her body, retracing the path of the strange, unnerving warmth as, step, by unwilling step, she came closer to the smirking stranger..