Lost and Lonely

6

As I made my way down the corridor, I lifted my dress so it wouldn't drag on the floor. Genevieve showed me the way to the ballroom. I noticed a line of people in fancy drags and dresses walking into a room. I returned the corner going back. Genevieve stopped me.

"Nervous?" She asked me. I nodded furiously.

"Yeah. I'm the only mortal here!" I said, fanning myself with my hands.

"Well don't sweat your makeup off!" Genevieve said. "You'll feel a lot safer with Jareth."

"That she will," Jareth said appearing. I looked at him, in awe. He wore a fancy white shirt and a glittering gold long sleeved lobster tail jacket with a curved extended collar. He wore white tight and gold boots. His makeup was as fancy as ever and he seemed to glow.

"You look amazing." I said.

"As do you." Jareth said with a smile as he approached me. "Just beautiful," He said. "Don't be nervous. Of course they will try to provoke you and will tease you, seeing how, obnoxious they can be, just ignore it all."

"I'll try." I said, rubbing my hands back and forth nervously. Jareth grabbed them and held them tight. Then put my arm through his and held my hand there. We walked into the ballroom. I looked around. It was glorious. Everything was shining and elaborately decorated. Women wore fancy gowns and men fancy coats and things. Everyone was chatting and dancing.

"King Jareth!" I heard someone exclaim. A very portly man and a very thin woman came walking over. He was a stubby man, with a rounded pig like nose, he wore a maroon lobster tails coat and pants, with green loafers and a green undershirt. His date, or wife, I presumed, was wearing a maroon dress with a green headpiece and veil.

"Ah Lord Prubescent! " Jareth said, with fake happiness. I could tell. "So nice to see you here."

"Yes same to you." Lord Prubescent said as he eyed me. His wife smiled, flashing pointed teeth like Jareth's.

"And uh," The lord added, "Who is this tiny creature?" He added with a snotty tone.

"This, Is Miss Aleixa," Jareth said, controlling his temper. "Aleixa this is Lord and Lady Pubescent."

"Ah yes I had heard." Lord said. "Your mortal pet."

"Pet?" I asked. Jareth just took in a deep breathe and flashed a fake smile.

"No, she isn't my pet." Jareth said. "She's just…special." I blushed at that word.

"Oh well I think she is quite adorable." The Lady said, pulling out a fan. "Mind if I pull her aside for conversation?" Jareth shook his head.

"No. Much to many people to greet." He said, quickly pulling away.

"It was nice to meet you!" I said as Jareth dragged me away.

"God those two are impeccable to be with." He said, tightening his grip on me.

"They seemed….um.."I tried to think of a word.

"Annoying? Snotty?" Jareth filled in the blank.

"I guess." Another couple came walking up. Couple after couple I realized that they all refired to me as Jareth's mortal pet. All the men would cringe at me while the ladies would adore me and think I was some fluffy puppy or something.

"A real mortal child!" One exclaimed

"Oh isn't she darling?" Said another.

"I've always wanted a mortal girl." Another whined. I just smiled and nodded at everything, instead of debating or anything. Jareth just faked grins and conversation as the men would ask how he deals with me. At one point we were sitting at a larger table with at least twenty other couples. The women had to sit on one side, across from their date. I, of course, was across from Jareth, who was getting more annoyed by the minute. The ladies sitting next to me were Lady Prubescent and Lady Manson. They were crooning over me.

"I say she is just a precious little dear don't you agree?" Lady P asked Lady M.

"Oh I agree with that. Mortals are so funny. How old are you dear?" Lady M asked.

"fourteen." I said. They both immediately smiled and giggled.

"Just a baby!" Lady M exclaimed.

"No not in mortal years!" Lady P said. "In mortal years she is a young woman."

"Young Woman? Well I must say she behaves like one. Not speaking until told when near authority." Lady M said, fanning herself.

"My dear," Lady P said, "Do you enjoy music?"

"Yes." I said. "most girls my age do." They both giggled.

"Do you sing?" Lady M asked, excitedly.

"Pardon?" I asked, nervously glancing at Jareth, who was grinning his way through a conversation as he glanced at me.

"Sing for us!" Lady P said. Other Ladies started saying the same. I just sat there, frozen in fear.

"I..I um don't know if I can sing that well." I said.

"How predictable," I heard Lord P say. "Mortals are always so hesitant to follow order."

"I don't know why you don't dispose of the thing." Lord M said to Jareth, who was rubbing his temples.

"Oh hush!" Lady M said to her husband. She looked at me, smiling. "Will you sing?"

"I…uhh..Well I-"

"Just answer." Another Lady said.

"Calm down," another said, "It's called 'putting pressure' on her."

"We just want to hear a song." yet another lady said. I sat in my chair, getting more uncomfortable each second.

"Fine." I said, as they all squealed with delight at it. "What song?" I asked, rubbing my forehead.

"Do you know, Come Little Children by Edgar Allen Poe?" Lady M asked. I nodded. "Oh good! I love that poem when people sing it." I took a deep breathe as I got ready.

"Come little children, I'll take thee away, Into a land, of enchantment. Come little children, the time's come to play. Here in my garden of Shadows. Follow sweet children, I'll show thee the way, through all the pain and the sorrow. Weep not poor children, for life is this way, murdering beauty and passion. Hush now dear children, it must be this way. To weary of life and deception. Rest now my children, for soon we'll wake. Into the calm and the quiet. Come little children I'll take thee away into a land of enchantment. Come little children, the times come to play, here in my garden, of shadows."

"ooooooh! Delightful! Oh I love this little child!" Suddenly squealed Lady P as she squished me in a hug. Lady M squealed.

"Oh what a doll!" She cried hugging me too. All the ladies began chatting again and touching me. I looked at Jareth, who was staring at me along with the other men, and mouthed, 'you owe me big-time'. He nodded, and cleared his throat.

"Well, Ladies and Lords I think it's time for the King and Queens waltz so go dance and enjoy the rest of the evening." Jareth announced. All at once, the ladies got with their husbands and ran onto the dance floor. He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders.

"Oh my friggin god." I said, putting my head on the table. "If I get pinched, poked, or whatever they were doing to me again, I'm gonna flip."

"I honestly hate having to host these parties." Jareth said.

"I can see why." I said, looking up. "How come all fae's can't be like you?" Jareth smirked.

"See? And you hated me at first." He said, holding my hand. "Come." I stood up and walked onto the dance floor with him. We started to waltz like we had in the room earlier. Only this time I didn't trip. We glided and almost floated over the dance floor. I down at the floor for a split second before Jareth took his hand from my waist and moved my face back up to look at him. He then put it back on my waist and we continued. I looked into his eyes and stared. I could see my reflection in them and wondered, 'so if he see's me as this, does he ever wonder how I see him?' The music started to slow down and he pulled me closer to him. I put my head on his chest as we swayed. When we had finished, I looked up to see that we were no longer part of the great mass of dancing. Everyone had spread into a circle and watched us apparently. Jareth took my hand, kissing it, before leading me over to the door. We thanked everyone for coming and the second everyone was gone, Jareth sat down in a nearby chair.

"Tired?" I asked, walking over. He looked at me.

"Yes and No." He said.

"How so?"

"Yes, tired of those people. No I'm not physically tired." he said, rubbing his temples. He then looked at me. "I didn't know you sing."

"I don't." I said. "So that's why it was. Ughhh." I said, sticking out my tongue like I was gagging.

"It wasn't bad. It's was good for someone who doesn't sing." Jareth said.

"Ehhhh." I said, sitting in another chair. I kicked off my heels and laid back.

"Sorry about those two…nitwits." Jareth said.

"Oh I've dealt with worse." I said, groaning.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. My mom." I said, suddenly remember why I was here. "That's why I was in the woods."

"I don't get it." Jareth said.

"My mom has never really liked me, same with the rest of my family. They always teased me and hurt me. She had locked me out of the house so I ran into the woods and wished for a way out. I guess, I wasn't expecting to actually find a way to someplace like this and get a way from it all." I started tearing up a bit. "I just hated the way I was treated there and then I came here and how I've changed in the past five days. I bet they don't even miss me."

"Oh Love," Jareth said, pulling his chair closer to mine, "You're here with me now. There's no need to look back on the terrible memories. Your never going back to that awful place again."

"I know it's just," I couldn't think. "It's just that I feel so, out of place here. But happy. I was always out of place at home but it wasn't the same. I was always looking for a way out and now I just can't think straight because all my emotions are mixed up and I just feel like no one even cares that I'm gone except probably a few good friends and I miss them and I-." I gave up and started crying. Jareth took his thumb, wiping my tears.

"Shhh shh," He said, whispering, "Now don't cry over someone who wouldn't cry over you. And I understand that you miss your friends but you're here now and we can't change that." I nodded and took a deep breathe.

"It's so weird. I'd never cry at home. Since I've gotten here, I've actually cried for the first time in a long time." I said. "I guess I'm just letting it all out finally."

"It's good to let it out." Jareth said, stroking my face. "Don't ever hold it inside."

"I guess your right." I said, taking an even bigger breathe than before. I opened my eyes and looked at him.

"Well, "He said, pulling out a crystal, "Seems we're all alone now." I nodded.

"Yeah." I said. Jareth juggled his crystal back and forth. I sat back in the chair and stared at the empty ballroom. It was hard to believe that it had just been filled with obnoxious fae's. I looked over in the mirror at myself. I admired the dress for a second, and looked away. Something just didn't feel right.

"Quiet all of a sudden aren't we?" Jareth said , breaking the silence. I smirked.

"Just a little quiet." I said.

"Well, I think you should go to your room and rest, seeing that your still sick" He said, snapping. I was in my nightgown, laying under the covers. Jareth came over, kissing my forehead and then leaving.

That morning, during breakfast, I was in the dinging room before Jareth was.

"This is a first." I said, smirking in a way. "Probably still getting dressed." I sat down at the table and began playing with my fork and spoon. I hummed and tapped them on the table like drumsticks. I felt someone tap my shoulder and I turned around. I was surprised to see no one there.

"Boo!" I fell out of the chair as someone popped up in front of me. I looked back up and grinned as wide as I possibly could.

"Erin! Oh my goblins! You're here!" I said, tackling my friend. She was my crazy and insane friend.

"Aleixa!" Erin squeezed me. "Where's the party at? Ha haaaa!" I held onto her longer just as Jareth walked in.

"Sweet little reunion isn't it?" He asked smiling at me.

"Did you bring her here?" I asked.

"She wished herself here." Jareth said.

"I've always wanted to come here and bug people!" Erin said. "Plus, I missed you. After seeing the news story and-"

"!" I yelled. "News Story?"

"Yeaaaaaaah" Erin said. She suddenly turned to Jareth, who was juggling. "Use your crystal powers to show her the forbidden truth of-"

"I get it.," Jareth said, throwing a crystal at the wall. A sudden image of a news lady came up.

"Good Morning, I'm Jennifer Lanely for Channel Five and have we got a story for you. Earlier this morning, a young girl, Aleixa Greene, ran from her house and into the woods. Where she disappeared." Suddenly my mom showed up.

"We don't know why she would run away?" My mom said, pretending to cry. I could tell. "She was just so troubled. So so troubled. Oh I'm sorry," She said turning away.

"Following footprints, we can see that they end up disappearing in front of this log after circling a huge rectangular mark left in the snow. There's no doubt that something was here and so was Aleixa." The crystal shrunk, rolling back to Jareth.

"Those…were….all…lies." I said through gritted teeth. I hit the table. "All of them!"

"Not the disappearing part." Erin said, grabbing my arm.

"No not the disappearing part….actually Yeah the disappearing part!" I said, hitting the table again. "I didn't disappear! I walked through a door…" I said, getting quieter.

"But your mom," Erin added, rolling her eyes. I groaned.

"Her." I sat down and buried my face in my arms. "She's such a…oh my god words can't describe how mad I am right now." I muffled through my arms. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up at Jareth.

"Remember what I said last night." he said. "Don't-"

"Yeah yeah I know that I'm not sad I'm-"

"Furious? Angry? Feeling like burning down your mom's house?" Erin added in for me.

"Any of those would do." I said, suddenly grinning, "Especially the burning."

"Don't go putting Ideas in her head!" Jareth barked at Erin, putting his hands over my ears. "She'd do it too."

"I know." Erin said, skipping around the room. Jareth rubbed his forehead.

"Never again," He said, "Never again are you having friends over for a day."

"What?" I asked, suddenly. "A day?"

"Of course a day!" Jareth said. "She wished that she could see you one more time cause she missed you. She can't stay forever without being a goblin." I looked over at the carefree and happy Erin skipping around in circles and singing 'The Payoff'. Looking back at Him, I pointed two fingers to myself.

"Ahem!" I said. "What about thiiiiiiis? Thiiiiiiiis isn't a goblin. Thiiiiiis is a human." I rapidly jabbed my chest. Jareth grabbed my jabbing hand.

"Again, Like I have said before, Your special." He said, frowning.

"Again with that word!" I yelled. "First hoggle, then you, then Genevieve I think, now you again!"

"And what's wrong with it?" Jareth asked. He crossed his arms.

"It's just….It…I just don't…" I put my head back in my arms. "I dunno."

"Hey Aleixa!" Erin suddenly yelled. "We should definatly go running through the labyrinth! Like crazy people!" Jareth laughed.

"Ohh no!" He said. "The last time I left her alone in the labyrinth she almost died, breaking her leg and then-" he stopped. He completely zoned out, looking down at the floor. I turned red, immediately remembering everything.

"Erin," I said, "I'll have my friend Genevieve take us." I got up and tried to walk away. Jareth grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "Ow!" I said. "That hurts!"

"Your not going," He said, "And if you try to she goes back early." He pointed at Erin.

"It's not going to happen again." I said.

"It could." he glared at me. I wanted to look away, but was sick of being told what to do.

"But it won't." I said, controlling the anger my mother had already put in me.

"And how do you know?"

"I just do."

"You don't." Jareth snapped. He pulled harder on my arm. "You don't know what could happen to you in there and if Genevieve can't help you and then if your hurt and alone and dying what are you going to do?" He tugged continuously.

"Call your name?" I said, kind of assuming that's what he'd say.

"And if I don't come?" He said, voice rising.

"Why wouldn't you?" I asked.

"Busy? Perhaps I'm off doing something important." He said, with sudden anger. "Then what are you to do? Just die?"

"I thought you'd come even if you were doing something," I said with sudden realization that he had come a little late when the Brute attacked me.

"And what if I come and it's too late?" He asked. "What if there's no helping you? What am I to do? Just sit there and watch you die? As if the leg breaking, the poisoning, and the crying wasn't enough for me to handle, you dying?" I looked at him. He was breathing heavier and looking a bit concerned and depressed.

"I..I-" I stuttered trying to say something. I looked away, my eyes darting back and forth. Erin was now standing, watching us quarrel.

"You don't know," Jareth said, pulling me closer again, "How heartbreaking that would be. For me to watch." He started to control his breathing and looked back at me. I couldn't stop looking at him.

"Are you saying…" I started, but trailed off. He just nodded, knowing what I was thinking.

"I don't want to lose you." Jareth said, looking sadder each second. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and wanted to cry.

"I think she's going to cry." I heard Erin whisper. "I've never seen her cry. Ever."

"I've actually been crying a lot lately." I said, struggling to keep them back. "A little too much." I added the last part with a small, uncertain laugh. Jareth sighed.

"I'm guessing mostly because of me." He said, groaning almost. I shook my head frantically.

"No. Not entirely. The first time I cried was before I came here. Then when I was in the oubliette. Then last night. And…almost now." I said, breathing heavily.

"Just don't go into the Labyrinth, unless your with me." Jareth said, as he loosened his grip on my arm. I nodded my head, still breathing. I was trying not to cry again. He pulled me into his chest and stroked my hair. "Good."

"Maybe she's emotional because she's on her period." Erin said suddenly. Jareth shot his head up looking at her and I did the same.

"Erin!" I yelled, throwing my hands up.

"Period?" Jareth asked. Obviously, I had some explaining to do.

THANKS TO WHOEVER READ THIS R&R PLEASE!

DISCLAIMER: JARETH BELONGS TO JIM HENSON

ALEIXA GENEVIEVE AND THE SNOTTY FAE'S BELONG TO ME

COME LITTLE CHILDREN BELONGS TO EDGAR ALLEN POE