Chapter 3: Find the Map & Draw a Straight Line

The next day at work Sarah did everything she could to avoid the Internet. The temptation was something she easily avoided for the first few hours because she had actual work to distract her, but rather than go out to lunch, she brought a turkey sandwich to tide her over.

The only problem with Sarah bringing her own lunch to work was that she sat at her desk to get more stuff done rather than hang out with her co-workers in the staff kitchen. She spent five minutes reading two sentences over and over, feeling as if her laptop was screaming for her attention.

It's just as simple Google search, Sarah.

No harm will come from it.

You probably won't even find anything about him or his shop.

Sarah, it's the Internet age, you know you will find something about him and his shop.

Giving into temptation, Sarah typed "NYC" and "apothecary" in the Google search button. Scrolling through various sites that were useless, she unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

There. The temptation is gone.

Then she decided to add "Jareth" into the search and immediately was met with a site for Apothecary King.

"Crap." Sarah said to herself.

Nervously, she clicked on the link and saw an organized and beautifully designed website. There were pictures of the storefront, and Sarah was a little surprised to learn that his shop wasn't far from where she and Jack lived. In fact, it was close to a Starbucks she frequented. The more she looked at the photos, the more she realized that she passed by the business more than she initially thought. Scrolling through the products offered, she deliberately avoided the section that focused on the owner.

Sarah was particularly interested in the custom made perfume oils. Some of the scents were basic and almost expected: lavender, sandalwood, and musk for starters. Sarah wished she could smell the custom blends that were offered, but knew that the longer she stayed on the website, the more trouble she would get herself into.

Pushing herself away from the laptop, Sarah tried to collect herself. She was tempted just to shut the computer down and move on from there, but the "About" button taunted her like a child waving around a piece of candy.

Sarah Davies never described herself as impulsive, but she clicked the mouse that took her to the About section of the website. There was a photo of Jareth King in what looked like his "herb with an h" garden. He wasn't even looking at the camera, but was meticulous in his detail to whatever it was he was trying to grow. Sarah tried not to stare at the photo as her heartbeat picked up again. Everything she felt that moment she first saw him came tumbling down on her. Hoping for a distraction, she read the biography.

Taking his passion for natural ingredients and homeopathic solutions, Jareth King opened up Apothecary King two years ago. Hailing from London, Jareth has a degree in Botany from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. With an astute knowledge of plant science combined with his business acumen, King's perfume oils have been featured in such magazines as Harper's Bazaar, New York Magazine, and Brooklyn Magazine.

The biography said so little, and while Sarah hoped that it would turn her away from whatever it was she was feeling, it only made her more curious.

No. She would not go by his shop.

No. She would stay as far away from it and him as possible.

No. She would find another Starbucks to frequent.

No. She could care less about Jareth King.

No. No. No. No. No.

Even though every cell in her body seemed to want to steer her towards him.

Four days later Sarah gave in to the temptation and passed in front of the apothecary. She tried not to peer inside of the windows, but she failed miserably. A quick peek was all she took, and she was thankful when she saw Jareth King helping a customer with something. Good, he didn't notice her, and that was how it was going to be. There was another person working there, and Sarah brushed it aside as a shop assistant.

Still, she felt like a magnet that was drawn to the elusive owner.

Two days later, yet again, Sarah found herself in the neighborhood of Apothecary King. Telling herself that she just wanted a cup of coffee, Sarah approached the store front and couldn't help but look. Telling herself that she was just going to take a quick peek in the window, Sarah turned her head to the right and looked in. Her two seconds of looking turned into six, seven, and eight before Jareth looked right at her. As soon as Sarah realized she was busted, she ran away, thankful that she was wearing flats. She knew that she would have to find a new Starbucks to frequent.

Sarah would never know that Jareth exited his business, desperately looking for her.

Days later, Sarah was at home typing out an e-mail to a colleague when Jack walked into their home.

"Sarah!" Jack spoke, excitement in his voice.

"Hey you." Sarah said before Jack kissed her.

"Maximillian had a chat with yours truly and Penelope Lancaster today about our work on the Jules case."

"And?"

"If all goes well, we may become full partners at the firm."

"Partners as in, your last name will follow his on the business cards?" Sarah asked, beaming with joy.

"Yes!"

"That's wonderful!"

"Well," Jack started as he walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, "I don't want to get too excited about it. Everything hinges on the Jules case, and I'm not even 100% sure that I even want to become a partner. I work enough hours already, but that will only increase if I get the partnership. Although, I heard that some of the bonuses top out at five figures." Jack said, loosing his tie.

"Just wait and see how the Jules case goes. Just because you're offered a partnership doesn't mean you have to take it."

"You're right. Although, I did bring home some work. I'm going to get cracking on it." Jack said before kissing Sarah.

"That makes two of us." Sarah added before returning to her e-mail draft.

Sure, she was excited about this wonderful opportunity for her boyfriend, but in the back of her mind she couldn't get the image of Jareth King seeing her through his window out of her mind.

The following week Sarah waited patiently outside of the Museum of Modern Art. Jack was twenty minutes late, and if there was anything he was known for, it was punctuality. He wasn't picking up his phone. He didn't respond to a text she sent him earlier that afternoon. Sarah was beginning to worry that something happened to him.

Months ago he purchased two tickets to an exhibit on Jackson Pollock hosted by the museum. Jack didn't appreciate art the way Sarah did, but he knew that she would love such a gesture.

It wasn't just Jack's tardiness that threw her off, but the strange encounter she had on the subway. Trying to push it out of her head, she couldn't shake the altogether randomness of it.

Sarah stared at the entry doors, waiting for her exit to the MoMa when she noticed a woman sitting across from her, staring. At first Sarah tried to ignore the woman, but it was beginning to creep her out. The woman was appeared to be in her 30s, give or take a few years, but Sarah was beginning to worry that the stranger would follow her out of the subway car.

"I'm sorry that I'm staring. It's just that you look just like a girl I went to high school went." The woman said.

"Oh, well, I'm sure I would have recognized you had we gone to school together." Sarah said, somewhat relieved.

"Oh no, I'm sorry. She's dead. She died about 30 years ago, and you look just like her. It's so creepy."

How exactly does one respond to such a thing?

"What was her name?" Sarah asked.

"Sarah Williams."

Sarah's mouth dropped. She didn't want to tell the woman that they shared a first name.

"How did your friend die?"

"She wasn't my friend. She was a few years younger than me, but we weren't friends or anything. It was weird. She wasn't sick or anything. It was so sudden. There were rumors that she killed herself, and to be honest, she was a bit of a loner, but I never believed that suicide stuff."

"I'm sorry, where are you from?" Sarah asked, genuinely curious.

"I live here now, but I grew up in Haverstraw. It's about 45 minutes from here. Sarah did too."

Sarah didn't know what to think, but she had a sudden image of a gray sky flash before her.

"I don't know what to say." Sarah responded. Was there really a proper response to such a thing?

"I'm sorry if I freaked you out. It's just so weird."

"Well, doesn't everyone have a twin?" Sarah tried to jokingly ask.

The woman still appeared to be a bit creeped out. Never before was Sarah so thankful that the upcoming stop was hers.

Shaking out the conversation she had no less than thirty minutes before, Sarah grew more and more antsy as she waited for Jack.

Hoping that something wasn't wrong, Sarah pulled out her phone to call Maximillian & Associates to see if they could help her get in touch with Jack. Just as he she was about to dial the number, her phone rang.

"Thank goodness." Sarah whispered as she saw Jack's image appear on her phone.

"Hey, where are you?" Sarah asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.

"I'm so sorry, but I won't be able to go to the exhibit. Something came up with the Jules case, and I'm still at the office. I don't know when I'm going to be able to get out of here. Maybe we can go another night?"

"Jack, the exhibit tickets are for tonight, and it has been sold out for weeks now."

"Then go. I know how much you've been looking forward to this. Don't skip out on it because of me."

"Okay, but could you let me know next time when you suspect something like this will happen? It's a bit aggravating having to find out this news at the last minute." Sarah asked, trying still to keep her tone even.

"I'm so sorry Sarah. It just happened. I promise I won't be so inconsiderate the next time around."

"Thanks." Sarah said, not knowing what else she could say.

"I love you." Jack said.

"I love you too." Sarah added before ending the call.

Not wanting to waste what could be her one opportunity to see the exhibit, Sarah grabbed the two tickets out of her purse and walked towards the entrance. Deciding that someone could benefit from Jack's loss, Sarah brought her extra ticket to the front desk in case someone needed a ticket after getting hers scanned.

A while later, Sarah was lost in the world of Pollock. Taking her time to process every piece of art work, Sarah thought she was alone until she heard a familiar voice,

"I prefer Lavender Mist to some of the work produced in the 1930s."

Sarah turned to see Jareth King looking at the same painting she was focused on, The Flame.

For a few seconds, Sarah didn't know what to say. She stared some more before deciding to direct her vision back towards the painting.

"What do you think?" Jareth asked.

"I think I agree with you." Sarah said.

"I wish I could say I have a firm appreciation for his work, but I'm more of a Gauguin fan."

"I'm afraid I'm not as well versed as you are with Gauguin. All I know is what I learned in a mandatory art history class I had to take in college."

"He's a genius. At least, I always thought he was."

The two silently moved towards the next painting in the exhibit. The two shared their thoughts and observations about the paintings, but the ease of their communication is what comforted Sarah. She knew she would never be able to have such discussions with Jack given his lack of interest in such things.

"I guess Penelope is in the same conundrum as Jack right now." Sarah said as they moved into the next room.

"Yes, but she wouldn't have come to a thing like this. Art isn't really her thing." Jareth responded blankly. "I had been trying to score a ticket to this exhibit for months now, and I just happened to be in the neighborhood and thought I'd check to see if one was available. I guess the eight time trying was the charm."

"Oh." Sarah said, realizing he must have gotten Jack's ticket. She didn't want to think about the coincidence, but instead asked, "Is she excited about the potential job offer?"

"Excited is an understatement. We haven't seen each other in four days, and I really don't like Facetiming people."

Sarah immediately sensed the tension in the relationship, but chose not to press him on it. It really wasn't any of her business. The two continued to view the various Pollock paintings, noting what they appreciated and didn't. Sarah didn't feel the nervousness she felt the night they met, but there was still that familiar tug in her belly that she tried to ignore.

After they exited the museum, Jareth offered to buy Sarah a coffee. At first she was hesitant, but she convinced herself that it would be rude to turn down such an offer. He revealed that his British mother fell in love with his American father while he was stationed in the United Kingdom.

Being in a military family helped with his education, and after the divorce of his parents, he decided to give New York City a try in order to remain close to his father. He was rather close to his mother, and she completely supported his goal of trying to find success in America. If all went according to plan, he would pursue the same path in Reading one day.

"So what of you? You didn't seem like you were overjoyed with your particular career path." Jareth said.

"I do love it, but I feel like it's safe, if that makes sense." Sarah answered.

"Safe?"

"I'm guaranteed something because I'm good at what I do. I always wanted to start my own literary magazine, but it would take a lot of funding and time that I just don't have right now."

"What type of literary works would you focus on?"

"Anything. Everything. It's hard enough trying to crack into the literary world. You need an agent, and that doesn't even guarantee that your work will be published. Plus, I always thought it rather unfair that writers who don't really possess a vocabulary higher than a seventh grader can get a six figure deal when an immensely talented college student can't even get his or her foot in the door because poetry isn't a big sell. At least with a literary magazine, writers like that have a chance."

"You lit up when you spoke about that magazine ideas of yours."

Sarah looked down, trying not to focus on the way Jareth King was looking at her.

"Do you have a name for this magazine?"

"I float back and forth between ideas, but I'm a bit attached to the word 'opia'."

"How it is significant to you?"

"I wouldn't say it's significant. I just like the way the word sounds, and I like what it means."

"Tell me." Jareth said, smiling.

"It's the intensity one feels when he or she looks into someone's eyes." Sarah began, looking directly into Jareth's. "It's a bit invasive to a point where one is left vulnerable. I like the way the word sounds, and I think there's an intense beauty that sometimes comes from being willing to be vulnerable to someone, especially in a city like this one. Some see vulnerability as a sign of weakness, but I think that when we truly reveal ourselves to others."

And there it was again. That feeling that this wasn't the second time they met. There was something there, but neither could put a finger on it. The two were experiencing their own version of opia.

"Why did you run away?" Jareth softly asked, his stare intense.

Sarah immediately felt embarrassed as she gripped her cup a little tighter.

"Well, I um…" She could have lied, but she knew that it wouldn't do anyone any good. "I guess I was just embarrassed that I got busted."

"It wasn't the first time I saw you there. My healer noticed you too. You could have come in, you know. I would have given you a discount." Jareth said, smiling.

Sarah shook her head, realizing how childish she was.

"Healer?" Sarah questioned.

"Ah, nice pivot there! I refer to him as a healer because I'd like to believe that's what we're doing in a weird way. It sounds better than 'shop assistant'."

"It's so embarrassing."

"So why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you run away?" Jareth asked. He was now serious.

"I don't know."

"For some strange reason I think you do."

Should she tell him the truth? Could she reveal that he invaded her thoughts day in and day out? She didn't want to compare him to a virus that had taken over, but it felt like an infestation she never wanted, but couldn't bear to be without.

"I can't." Sarah whispered, as if the recognition of her actions would ruin everything in her life.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so serious about it. I wasn't creeped out or anything if that's what you're worried about. I just thought… I can't explain it really."

Sarah remained quiet as she allowed Jareth to continue speaking.

"Forgive me for being so forward, but ever since that night we met, I've had this strange feeling come over me. It's like I know you, but I never met you before then. I would have remembered you if we had known one another." Jareth said, trying to assure himself of everything he just spoke.

Sarah felt her hands go cold as she listened to him. Trying to brush it aside with humor to lighten up the seriousness of the situation, she offered, "Maybe we knew each other in a past life."

Sarah laughed a bit, but then she immediately went back to the conversation she had earlier on the subway. Jareth didn't seem to appreciate her attempt at a joke.

"I'm drawn to you and I don't know why." Jareth added, staring at the table top in front of him.

Sarah had to leave. The same suffocating feeling that she had when she first met him was coming back.

"I have to go." Sarah said.

"I'm sorry if I upset you." Jareth said.

"No, it's not that. I just have to go." Sarah didn't even bother to grab her coffee. She knew it was rude, but she walked out of the coffee shop. She could feel her chin trembling as she tried to hold in the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.

Heading towards the closest subway, Sarah wanted to be as far away from Jareth King as possible, but would it ever be possible? It would never be, and deep down she knew it. She didn't even know why she was reacting the way she was.

Staring at herself in the glass of the subway car, she remembered the name the woman offered her earlier in the evening. It wasn't until she walked into an empty apartment that she allowed her tears to escape. She still didn't know why she felt the way she did. Jack was perfect for her, but along came another man, who was in a committed relationship, that made her feel things. They hardly knew each other, and that confused Sarah even more. This was stupid. It was just some random, stupid whatever it was would fade away with time.

It had to. She would make sure of it.