Checked for continuity, grammar, and spelling: May 3, 2011.

Chapter Twenty: Painful Reminders

Sammuel stood before his ex-girlfriend, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking down at her sullenly. "Hey, Wills."

Sarah resisted the urge to wince at his use of the nickname she had long since ceased to enjoy hearing spill off his tongue. She had been dreading any contact with Sammuel since the last time they spoke, not entirely certain how either of them would react. Their break-up had been a messy one, with Sammuel refusing to acknowledge the finality of it for weeks. After not speaking with him for a couple of months now, she had been under the impression he had, at last, been able to accept it. Regardless, she was not sure if she was ready to interact with him on any level, no matter how casual. She certainly had not wanted that first encounter after parting to take place while on a date with someone else. However, for all her misgivings, Sarah found herself feeling strangely calm. "Hi," she replied. "What are you doing here?" The inquiry was one of small talk, said without malice or bitterness, and as inconsequential as asking after the weather.

His answer set quiet warning bells ringing in the back of her mind. "I was on campus and I overheard some girls say you would be here for the afternoon. I wanted to come find you. I think we need to talk."

Sarah sighed heavily, pulling her knees up to her chin and wrapping her arms around her legs in an unconscious gesture of self-protection. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Not even unfinished business?" His tone was almost flat, almost successful in covering some underlying emotion. Though she could not identify precisely what that emotion was, it grated on her nerves.

"What unfinished business? I gave you all your stuff back. I made it clear that our relationship is over. What else is there?"

"Don't you think you at least owe me an explanation? Two and a half years, Wills, then you decide that's it and I'm supposed to just accept it?"

She did not quite know if she was truly up to having this conversation that had barely begun, but she did know that she dearly wished for it to be over. Trying to bank the embers waiting to ignite her temper, she steeled herself for the inevitable. "I have explained it, Sammuel. Numerous times, in fact. Why should I repeat it again? Why should you stand there and begin the same argument we've had over and over? There's nothing left to say. Let it go." She turned away from him, beginning to pack what was left of the picnic.

"That's it?" His pleading tone was on the verge of whining, threatening to push Sarah over the edge.

"What else do you want me to say, Sammuel? Hm? What have I been unclear about, exactly? What about this could you possibly not understand?" As her control over her temper ebbed away, Sarah punctuated each question by slamming various items into the basket. When he did not answer immediately, she rose abruptly and spun around to look straight into his eyes. "Well?" They stood there in silence for a full minute until Sammuel broke eye contact.

He took a step back and sighed. "Doesn't what we have mean anything to you? Isn't it worth trying to fix whatever you think went wrong?"

It cut Sarah deep to know that he still had to ask those questions. "I never meant to hurt you, you know. I know it sounds remarkably cliché, but it's true. I really cared about you once. But no matter what I told myself, how much I wanted to believe, how hard I tried, I finally realized it would never become what you wanted. That I could never truly give what you were always asking of me. There may have been a chance at the beginning, but our paths changed before that chance ever took root. And I didn't see it. I didn't want to see it. And that was my folly. But once I saw it, there was nothing you could have said or done to change my mind about what I needed to do. And nothing you could have said or done to change the fact that it is no longer there."

"But if it was there once-"

She cut him off. "Once, yes. But now... it's gone. It's over. Let it go, Sammuel. What we had was not terrible, you know. There were good memories. Happy memories. Please don't give me cause to regret them. To resent you."

He stood there staring at her, and she met him gaze for gaze. As quickly as it had come, her anger had faded to be replaced by the sorrow one feels when knowing the last thing ever intended has come to pass. She took a breath, not entirely certain what she planned to say, but he forestalled her when he spoke up.

"Oh, I see what this is, Sarah."

"You... you do?"

"Yes, of course. I'm not beyond being understanding. I completely get it now."

She looked at him, askance. The expression on his face made her wary for it was not one a person who just realized that the person he had been apparently pining after for months was definitely not going to return his affections. "You do?"

"Of course. It's obvious."

"It is?"

"I should have seen it before. I knew you couldn't possibly have really lost interest in me. You're just starting to get stressed about graduation." He looked remarkably pleased with himself for having figured it out.

Sarah blinked at him mutely. Slowly, Sammuel's words sank into her brain and she could feel her blood begin boiling anew. "What?"

"I know, you're surprised it took me this long to get it. I am too, actually. But that doesn't matter. Look Wills, I know this is your last semester and you've got your papers due soon and it's getting to be that time where you need to make decisions about your future, but trust me. Breaking contact with people who know how to best get you through all this is not a good idea."

"What?" She could not possibly be hearing him right.

"Just focus on writing your papers, getting this done. We'll slow things down a little, I can back off a bit for a couple more months and then we can take things to the next level." Sarah stood there in shock, shaking her head as he continued to ramble on, making plans for her life. She could not believe his audacity at continuing to argue this situation at all. But what was worse, what rendered her incapable to respond was the fact that he was completely patronizing her, disregarding every word she had said as well as ignoring her independence, something that she had worked extremely hard to obtain. It was not long before the buzzing in her ears drowned out his voice, but still she could do naught but stand there and stare.

Jareth deftly caught the ball once again when he felt Sarah's mood change abruptly from amusement to annoyance. Instantly deciding he had neglected her long enough, he signaled to the others. Feeling vaguely as though he had just been subject to some strange, ritualistic Mortal test, and wondering at the very back of his mind if he had passed, he waited for the others to join him.

As the five young men neared, they could not help notice that, while they were all showing minor signs of the fatigue common after an afternoon full of running around, Jareth was as collected and unruffled as when they had begun. Rex was about to make yet another comment regarding Jareth's professed lack of previous sport activity when Edmund spoke up.

"What's up?" he asked.

What's up... odd expression. Aloud, Jareth replied smoothly, "While I have enjoyed the induction into this world of football, I believe it is time I return to Sarah. She grows impatient, I think." And angry, he noted mentally with some concern.

"Yeah, you're probably right. We'll, uh, walk you back." They turned as a group to the opposite side of the field and could see in the distance that Sarah was not alone. "I wonder who she is talking to?" Edmond wondered aloud as they began walking.

"I cannot say." Jareth's eyes narrowed. Whoever it was, he had his back to them and, even with his enhanced and heightened eyesight, he could not identify the stranger. However, as Sarah's anger abruptly went away to be replaced by an odd wave of sadness and regret, he suddenly had a suspicion of whom it might be. "But whoever it is, he is upsetting her."

Herb looked at Jareth and back at the pair in the distance. "What makes you say that?"

"I can tell." His voice had hard and cold, his face impassive. He did not appear to change his stride, but the others found themselves speeding up to keep pace with him. The other three did not take much note of Jareth's change in demeanor, but Clark and Edmund exchanged a meaningful glance. It was as though he instantly went from being casual and moderately playful to a hunter with its enemy in sight. Once more, they were caught by the sheer power and charisma he was capable of exuding, combined with a strange wild undercurrent. Again, it was nearly feral, like a lone wolf with a hungry, angry gleam in its eyes.

Abruptly, Nathan cried out. "Hey! I think it's Sammuel!"

"Why that slimy little-" Edmund interrupted his own tirade with a sound of frustration. "I don't care what Agnes says," he muttered, "I'm calling him out." With that, Edmund began marching twice as fast as before. Jareth momentarily forgotten, the others sped up again in order to either hold back or back up their buddy as the need arose.

As they neared, they could hear the conversation being had. Though it was not so much a conversation as a lecture, with Sarah on the receiving end and looking as though she was about to have an apoplectic fit. Edmund had heard of her temper from Agnes, but none of them had ever been witness to it. She looked nearly ready to explode, and as they heard Sammuel's final words, they could understand why.

"Really, angel, all things considered, us breaking up right now isn't necessary since we'll just get back together again soon anyway. We both know this, after all. Trust me, I know what is best for you. So let's just drop the ridiculous charade, eh Wills?"

Abruptly, Sarah snapped out of her fury-induced daze. "My name," she spat, volume increasing with every word, "is Sarah. Sar-ah. Not Wills, or angel, or anything else. Sar-ah. You lost the right to refer to me by nicknames or endearments the moment you chose to treat me with such little respect. I have tried to be nice to you about this, Sammuel. I have explained until I was blue in the face and then some. Yet you continue to disregard every word I say! This whole time I've been feeling guilty for hurting you, but now I find myself seriously questioning whether it was your heart I bruised or merely your ego and your pride." Thin lipped, her jaw clenched so tightly it hurt, Sarah shook her head in disgust and disbelief at the whole scene and, in doing so, caught sight of the approaching group. Suddenly nodding, she looked back at Sammuel as she snatched up the picnic basket. "You know what? This is stupid. And pointless. I am leaving. Don't follow me any more. Don't bother me any more. Just leave. Me. Alone." With that, she walked past him toward the group, her head held high.

Before she had taken two steps, however, Sammuel grabbed her arm in an effort at holding her back. She turned around, looking from his hand to his face with incredulity. Before she could even open her mouth, he spoke, his frustration evident. "Hang on just a minute there. You're right; this is stupid. You are behaving like a spoiled child who isn't getting her way. Now you are going to listen to me until you understand!"

By this time, the others had reached a point where they could easily interfere. Edmund prepared to charge, no one intending to stop him. Unaware of the intentions of those behind her, Sarah managed to get her mouth open to tell him off again, though she was not entirely certain of what she would say. Yet none of them were given the chance to do anything.

"I suggest you rethink your intentions." Sammuel jumped and spun around. As he did not let go of Sarah's arm, instead gripping it tighter in his surprise, she was jerked forward slightly. Yanking her arm out of his grasp, she peered around him to look at the tree. The guys looked behind them, then at the tree, then at each other, and finally back at the tree once more.

Jareth leaned against it, his eyes narrowed. He stared at Sammuel, never wavering his gaze, never blinking. In return, Sammuel looked him up and down before asking, "Who are you?"

"Jareth." There was something about Jareth's tone that reminded those listening of one used when explaining to a five year old why he should not run while holding scissors, or perhaps not throw rocks at the neighbor's pit bull.

Apparently starting to feel vaguely uncomfortable, Sammuel grew even more cocky. "Right. Well, Jareth, I don't know who you think you are, but this really isn't any of your business."

"On the contrary, this is every bit my business."

"Oh really? And what makes you think that?"

"Sarah and I are, as you would say, seeing each other. In fact, we came here today together. And as long as we are together, she is under my protection. Her troubles are my troubles. And you, I believe, are most assuredly troubling her."

Sarah's eyebrows shot up at his comments. She was not sure if she appreciated his interference in such a personal matter, though there was something very sweet about his apparent intent to save the day. Not, she thought with indignation, that I need anyone to save the day, of course. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.

Oblivious to Sarah's current train of thought, Sammuel looked Jareth over once more. "Are you trying to tell me that you are her date or something?"

"No. I am telling you, full stop." Sammuel's self-satisfied grin at the initial answer quickly disappeared. Jareth considered him for a moment. "Out of sheer curiosity, who might you be?"

"I'm Sammuel. Sarah's boyfriend."

Jareth was about to respond, but whatever he intended to say was lost forever as Sarah began shouting once more.

"For the LAST time, Sammuel, you are NOT my boyfriend! I am NOT your girlfriend! We are no longer together! For that matter, as far as you and I are concerned, there is no more 'we'!" Sarah's temper rose another notch and, in a last effort to put an end to the scene and be able to walk away with whatever shreds of dignity she could gather, she threw her hands in the air and muttered through gritted teeth, "Argh. Why do I even bother?"

Edmund stepped forward to offer his opinion, all the while glaring at Sammuel. "Because you're far too willing to give people the benefit of the doubt."

Rolling her eyes, Sarah rubbed her temples with one hand. "It was a rhetorical question, Edmund," she snapped.

At the discovery of an outlet for venting his own frustration, Sammuel picked up on the presence of these new participants with gusto. "Oh, look. It's Eddie and his posse," he said with another sneer.

"Ha. Ha. Funny man, you. Why don't you just scram? Leave Sarah alone."

"What is this? Everybody Interfere In Sarah's Personal Life and Solve Her Problems For Her Day? Honestly," Sarah remarked to no one in particular, fairly certain no one was listening in any case. As she stood there shaking her head at the outrageousness of it all, however, she failed to notice Jareth's full attention was upon her once more, missing nothing.

He stood with his back against the tree, arms crossed in front of him. Edmund and Sammuel continued to argue with each other about Sarah. Clark stood at Edmund's shoulder, poised to intervene should things get out of hand. The other three clustered together, glaring at Sammuel and encouraging Edmund. Yet, Jareth paid them no heed. He scarcely acknowledged their presence deeming nothing as important at the woman standing before him, so close but still separated from him by an inconsequential Mortal argument.

For her part, Sarah watched helplessly as the scene unfolded in front of her. Though her anger at Sammuel had not yet abated, disbelief mingled closer as he and Edmund used this situation, used her as the catalyst for their own confrontation. The animosity had been building between the two of them for years, though she honestly had no idea why it began in the first place. She and Agnes had spent many an evening speculating over the cause, for Edmund was surprisingly secretive on this issue no matter how much Agnes begged, pleaded, or connived for an answer. Regardless of what the initial cause was, however, Sarah would have suspected neither Edmund nor Sammuel as being capable of putting such venom in their words. Especially since they were still arguing over which of them had more reason to leave.

Disbelief turned to dismay as she realized things were only going to get worse, and she was once again flooded with a sense of guilt. What she felt guilty of she could not pinpoint, but she could not prevent the feeling from threatening to overwhelm her.

Belatedly, Jareth became aware of what was going on before him in detail. Mentally cursing himself for not having the foresight to suspect the other young men would likely step in as well, especially considering how ready they were to take stock of himself without any logical reasoning, he racked his brain for a way to remove Sarah from what was becoming an increasingly painful experience. Unfortunately, the one course of action he was dearly tempted to follow was not one that would be considered acceptable on any count.

"Stop." She meant to shout once more, but as the words left her mouth found she no longer had the energy. A wave of exhaustion swept over her, and she knew she could take no more. She was beyond hurt, beyond guilt, beyond anger. There was no bitterness, no frustration. She was simply utterly and completely tired. "Just... stop."

Just then, it appeared the two were to come to blows. Sammuel's last comment pushed Edmund one step too far and he lunged. Prepared for this, Clark grabbed hold of Edmund before he made contact. Ever helpful, Rex and Herb went for Sammuel instead. Sarah's eyes widened in horror and she took a hesitant step forward, not sure what she would be able to do if she stepped in now.

Though not directed at him in the least, Jareth winced at the look in her eyes. "Enough." He made no pretense at shouting; he did not need to. But with that one word, all movement stilled, for the command was sharp, cold, hard, and brooked no argument. Rex and Herb immediately dropped Sammuel's arms and Edmund relaxed, though Clark did not yet let him go. Jareth ignored them all once more. "Sarah?" The contrast between the two spoken words expressed a world of difference. This one was soft, tender, as gentle a caress as the warm spring breeze that carries the scent of newly bloomed flowers, yet bearing the weight of the deepest, most heartfelt concern.

Sarah's eyes rose to meet Jareth's, and in that moment she knew comfort and safety. Nothing that happened had changed; no words that were said were erased. But she knew she would not have to face the memory alone. "Please, take me away."

He crossed the short space between them, still not acknowledging the others as they parted to let him through. He stopped directly before her. He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for a moment before stroking her jaw line to tilt her chin up a bit more. "Are you certain?" The words she had said fully granted him the right to take her wherever he wished and as she searched his eyes he knew she realized this. Though he had decided long before he ever came to her that he would not bring her back Underground without her explicit consent, it was not a matter they had yet discussed. Her response would carry more meaning than she could possibly understand yet, but he would wait for it.

At long last, she nodded, slowly. "I just," her voice was barely above a whisper, "I just want to go."

Jareth resisted the urge to sigh in relief, though he could not prevent a smile from tugging at the corners of his mouth. With his free hand, he gently removed the picnic basket from her tight grasp. Dropping the other, he reached behind to place it on the small of her back. "Then we shall go." As he exerted the briefest amount of pressure, she turned and, as they began walking away, Jareth dropped his arm to take her hand, lacing his fingers with hers.

The remaining six watched, in silence and in varying degrees of shock and surprise, as the couple disappeared around a clump of trees. As they vanished from sight, Sammuel began to understand that Sarah would never again be his. That, in truth, she never really was. And that, because of his own blindness and through his own actions, he likely lost any chance at salvaging her friendship. Without a word, he withdrew from the others and walked away as well, in the opposite direction.

Edmund caught the movement out of the corner of his eye, but turned away with a heavy sigh. "I am an ass," he muttered.

"Well," Clark replied as he finally let go to clasp his friend on the shoulder, "that's true. But in your defense we weren't much help. At least this guy of hers seems to have himself under control. Maybe what she needs is an older man." He shrugged.

Nathan looked at the two of them then exchanged bewildered glances with Herb and Rex. "Um, right. So are we gonna finish the game or what?"

Clark threw Nathan a blank look before glancing at his watch. "Nah. Shel and I have plans tonight. And you," he turned back to Edmund, "should probably go and tell that Agnes of yours what happened today before Sarah does."

Edmund winced. "Cripes. You're probably right, though she'll be pissed off at me either way, I'm sure. I'll catch you guys later." He jogged off to where he had dropped his things when they arrived before leaving the park as well.

"Aw, man. Why'd you ha- hey!" Nathan's complaint was cut short as Clark smacked him upside the head as he walked by. "What was that for, man?"

"For being an idiot. Pass it on to the other two."

Still rubbing his head, Nathan called after him. "Rematch? Next week?"

"Sure. Call me."

"Cool." He turned to the other two. "Think Edmund can get that Jareth guy's number from Sarah so he can join us?"

"Yeah, I-" Rex stopped mid-thought. "Hang on. It might depend on how mad Agnes is. We should probably wait a week or so just to make sure."

Nathan nodded. "Oh, good call."

Herb was nodding as well. "You know, speaking of that guy, Jareth... He might be a crystal-giving pansy, but he sure knows how to take charge of a situation. And catch a football."

The others agreed whole-heartedly, and they went back to their game.