Chapter Eight: My Date with Warrick
Gildan's Note: Next chapter is up! Hope you guys like it!
"And where did you say you were taking me?" Sarah asked Warrick, who had blindfolded her.
It was later in the evening; Sarah had spent the day thinking about Jareth and lazing around with her friends. Warrick laughed, "You'll see."
After a few more steps he removed the blindfold, and Sarah was faced with the most beautiful part of the garden yet. A small, comfortably decorated gazebo, it featured a quaint table with candles and silver trays.
"Dinner a la Warrick. Well…a la Didymus. He'll never admit it but he is quite the chef. I however can't cook to save my kingdom." Warrick led her into the gazebo, Sarah was struck dumb by the beauty of the whole scene.
"I never knew a gazebo could look so beautiful." She was mesmerized, and to think! King Warrick had done this for her!
"I wanted to spend a more secluded evening with you Sarah, I hope you don't mind." They sat at opposite ends of the square table.
"Not at all!" Sarah exclaimed, sitting on the lush cushions of the wrap around seat.
"Now let's see what Didymus prepared for us shall we?" Warrick removed his lid and Sarah did the same, inside were delicious looking salads with a pasta dish on the side. "You do like this food don't you?"
"Of course! And it looks incredible."
They dug into their food, and Sarah noted how mannerly Warrick was (again! He really was sweet).
"So Sarah, how is life back home? And why did you wish to come back here?"The king asked with sincere interest.
She sighed, "Kind of crappy…well, good as far as comfort goes, I've always had a comfortable life, but…things were supposed to change, get better. I felt so caged in I guess, and disappointed – all I knew that could be better than…" she laughed to herself.
"What?" asked Warrick.
She shook her head, "I made the wish because I couldn't go to the beach, I thought 'The place from my dreams is better than the shore', and so I wished to come here. To have the greatest adventure ever! Maybe I was overreacting that my trip was cancelled. But…I just got so tired of my stepmother."
"Trust me, I understand."
"Typical fairytale stepmother for you?"
He laughed, "Pretty much."
"Warrick…can I ask you something?" Sarah asked, nervously poking the remaining lettuce with a fork.
"Of course, anything."
"Do you know why I woke up here? And not at Jareth's?" she looked up into his warm, brown eyes, feeling a sense of comfort from them. What was real?
He sighed, "No, I don't. But maybe it was meant to happen that way."
They sat in a silence for a moment.
"Come on," Warrick said, getting up, "Let's dance."
"Dance? Uhhh I don't know."
"Come on Sarah! Live a little." He took her by the hands and placed an arm around her waist. "Your other hand goes on my shoulder."
"I-I know." She said, feeling sure of herself – although she didn't know why.
"You ballroom dance?"
"N-no…I just, I know somehow. Seen it somewhere."
"Oh, of course, silly me. It's not that complex a thing to understand is it? Sorry."
She laughed, "Don't worry, and no, I guess not." But why did it feel so familiar to her?
They slowly danced in the gazebo space, but after a moment Sarah furrowed her brow.
"What's the matter?" Warrick asked, concerned he might be doing something wrong.
"I don't know…I just…after I made the wish I was taking a nap, what if I wake up? What if this is all a dream? What if it's all fake?" She looked at Warrick with sudden tears in her eyes.
He brushed a stray tear from her cheek, "My dear…" he began, and leaning in he kissed her, and not on the hand like Jareth had last night, but on the lips. He broke from her, and Sarah looked up at him with surprised eyes. "Does that seem fake to you?" he smiled calmly. "I assure you, this is very much real."
"Wait," Sarah said, "I'm not entirely convinced." And she leaned up to kiss him again. Sarah felt guilty inside, guilty and confused. But Warrick's embrace was so warm, so kind and assuring. And she did not pull away until much later.
When the night was over Sarah was sitting in her bed, she felt sick to her stomach. She just made out with Warrick! When she and Jareth had just practically confessed feelings for each other the previous night! She felt so guilty and dirty, but mostly confused. Always always confused. What if Jareth knew? He must – he was probably keeping tabs on her, watching her through a crystal. She didn't even want to try to apologize; she had kissed Warrick willingly after all! It would mean nothing. Did she even want to apologize? Were she and Jareth even together? No…but then why did she feel so torn? Why wasn't this easy? If Warrick really is so nice, why isn't she running off with him and leaving Jareth behind?
Simple, because Jareth was the one from so many years ago. It was him, not Warrick. And before she could think again about the subject, Jareth appeared, sitting once again on her windowsill.