Authors note. Sarah and Jareth belong to Jim Hanson and the Production team at Lucas films. All other characters belong to me. I am not a writer so don't harp on run on sentences and fragments the point is across and thats all that counts. and HEY I'm not dead. Maybe I'll actually finish this story.
For Sarah, the rest of the weekend passed by without much event. Sunday she worked her way through the stack of homework that accumulated over the week. That night Michelle joined Sarah and Ruby for dinner. The modest dining table was set for three, wine glasses included.
"So how was your night, Michelle?" Sarah asked suggestively waggling her eyebrows at her friend. Michelle almost spit out her wine. Ruby giggled and set her fork down, curious as to where this conversation was going.
"Michelle met a hobo while we were at that party. I'm pretty sure she didn't go home alone."
"I didn't. But nothing happened. We stayed at the party for a couple hours, he got smashed, and I dragged him home with me. He passed out on my bathroom floor. He was very attractive when we met. Not so attractive the next morning, I will tell you that much," Michelle laughed at her folly.
"At least you didn't do anything that you'd've regretted in the morning," Ruby added, picking up her fork and sticking a mushroom in her mouth.
"I know you were probably in the library all night last night, Ruby, but Sarah met a guy too."
Ruby looked at Michelle, and then turned to face Sarah. "You met someone and didn't tell me?"
Sarah glared across the table at Michelle. Michelle returned an innocent look.
"And they had met before," Michelle added. The jibe was deliberate. She was trying to get the heat off of herself and it was working swimmingly.
Accusatory faces were made in Sarah's direction. She put her hands up in defense. "He and I met a long time ago. There was nothing between us and there is nothing there now. He just wanted to make sure I got home safe."
"Uh-huh," was the response from the other two girls.
"Honestly, nothing happened. He walked me to the building and by the time I turned around after unlocking the door he was gone." She was not about to tell them that he was the goblin king and he stole her baby brother because she was selfish. She couldn't believe that it happened herself. Getting someone else to believe it is another thing entirely.
Ruby was kind enough to change the subject. "When do you think Professor Fraud will have her baby? She looks like she is about to pop."
"I don't know. It could be any day now I imagine. I wonder who they will replace her with," Sarah replied taking a bite of the mushroom fettuccini.
"Hopefully not Professor Erikkison. I had him for Theatre 101 when I was a freshman. He was terrible: monotonous and not at all pleasant to look at. It wasn't even worth going to class most of the time," Michelle said.
"Maybe it'll be someone new?" Sarah replied.
"Are there any new professors in the theatre department, Sarah? You're there all the time. You might have seen someone new," Ruby asked.
"I think they're finally moving someone into Professor Schriber's office now that he's retired. I haven't had a chance to check it out though."
"Maybe it'll be a guy. I need more male professors in the theatre department. There is too much estrogen," They all laughed at that.
Conversation turned to the usual talk of boys, homework and plans for the weekend, even though the week hadn't yet started. After dinner they retreated to the comfy oversized couches of the living room for a chick flick. After the movie Ruby went to her room to study for her calculus test Tuesday, leaving Michelle and Sarah in the living room.
"So is there anything I should know about this character?" inquired Michelle sipping on her third glass of wine.
"Not really. I don't know much about him myself," Sarah replied, sprawling out ungracefully across the now empty seat next to her.
"And?" Michelle urged her on.
"He's kind of an asshole that thinks the whole world revolves around him. If he doesn't get what he wants he freaks out and changes the rules to whatever serves him best. But he's also beautiful. He's entrancing and engaging and all those other words that escape me."
A branch scratches against the sliding glass door. An owl hoots in the distance.
"Was that an owl?" Michelle asked, walking across the living room to the window.
"I didn't think we had owls around here," Sarah replied, joining her friend at the window. They both stared out into the darkness.
"Maybe we've had a bit too much to drink?" Michelle offered in explanation.
Sarah shrugged, "Maybe."
They gazed into the darkness for a few more minutes, neither saying anything. Michelle sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
"I should probably head out. I still need to finish my essay for lit class," Michelle stated, ending the silence. Sarah raised her eyebrow.
"Okay, I need to start my essay for lit class that's due tomorrow," Michelle corrected with a laugh.
"That's more like it," the girls walked through the kitchen to the front door, setting their wine glasses in the sink on the way. Michelle lived a couple doors down in the same building. She didn't have to go far. "Have fun with that essay," Sarah said opening the door.
"Fun is the word for it," Michelle quipped stepping out into the hall. I'll see you in before psych class?"
"Of course. Good luck writing." Sarah gave a little wave as Michelle walked down the hall. She shut the door and bolted it turning into the kitchen.
She put the kettle on and walked back over to the door wall. The moon shined brightly overhead, illuminating the courtyard behind the building. The huge maple was bare, jagged branches cutting through the sky. Just off the railing to the balcony, a white feather was caught on a twig. The kettle whistled bringing Sarah back to Earth and the white feather flew off into the night. Sarah padded over to the kitchen and poured the hot water into her mug adding a tea bag to steep. She sighed, staring into the cup as the tendrils of tea floated out of the bag, creating a mosaic in the pool of water.
She fished the bag out of the cup and placed it in the little cup on the counter she used for temporary housing of used teabags until she took them to the trash. She sipped her tea. She left her cup on the counter and went upstairs to her room. Ruby's door was closed and the light off. She has an early morning. Sarah got into her green pajamas smiling as she did so; remembering the comment from last night.
"Jareth, I don't know what you are doing here, but it can't be good," she voiced aloud to herself before getting into bed and settling in for the night.