The trip to the prom was exciting and fun. Five teens in total squeeled and laughed in the back of the limosine. Sarah and her friend Lizzy were gushing over each other's dresses.
"Sarah, red is so your color. You should wear it more often!"
"Oh thank you Lizzy, you look amazing too!"
Lizzy had chosen a full skirt turquoise dress that complimented the girl's fair complexion and red hair.
"I had better! I spent all my babysitting money on this dress. I hope Bryan Moore notices it..." Lizzy blushed.
"He would be blind not to! But you know how boys are!"
"Speaking of boys, I bet John is going to ask you to dance." Lizzy teased.
"Gaw, no! Lizzy I am not into him, give it up will ya?"
"Geeze, Sar, give the boy a chance, he's kinda cute."
"He's just not my type."
LIzzy rolled her blue eyes, "Is any guy at school your type?"
Before Sarah could retort the limo slowed to a stop.
They had finally arrived at the hotel in which their prom was being held.
The vehicle door was opened up from the outside and doormen helped the passengers out. Sarah was the last out of the limo. She took a white gloved hand as it presented it's aid to help her out.
"Thank you." Sarah said automatically while paying attention to her skirts while exiting the vehicle.
A familiar accented male voice replied, "My pleasure Miss."
Sarah's head snapped up and her breath hitched in her throat as she caught the gaze of a distinctive set of blue eyes. Although they didn't completely match they smiled at her.
"Sarah come on!" She heard Lizzy call.
Forcing herself to look away Sarah turned towards her her friend, "Coming."
Sarah halted for a moment and looked behind her, but no one was there.
Sarah shook her head in disbelief. Am I seeing things? It's my lack of sleep and all of this excitement, that's it. There's no way he could be here!
While dismissing the possibility of a mythical being being at her prom was absurd, she followed her group towards the Grande Ballroom.
It was a beautiful and stately room with several crystal chandeliers and a parquet floor for dancing. The crowd of young adults were already into the full swing of revelry. Everyone looked great. The girls were dressed in a rainbow of colors and glittered in the flashing light of a disco ball that hung from the ceiling. The boys were looking tailored and crisp in their tuxedos. Some had matching accessories the same color of their date's dress. As a DJ played all of the popular songs that year, Lizzy and Sarah danced the night away to their favorite songs. They would only refresh themselves during the slow songs and gave way the dance floor to slow dancing couples. Lizzy's wish came true and had begun to gain the attention from her crush, Bryan Moore. He danced a few fast songs with the girls, but when the DJ announced the last slow song of the night, Bryan asked Lizzy to dance. Sarah knew that was a cue to slip away from the dance floor. She was on her way to the punch bowl when she caught the eye of John, the guy from Math class. He began to make his way towards her. Sarah was not interested in the boy, and feared that he liked her more than she liked him. Sarah quickly looked around for an escape route. She spied a potted palm next to a set of double doors and quickly hid herself behind it. She hoped that John had lost sight of her. To her dismay she did not act fast enough and he had spotted her among the foliage. The boy was on his way to her when he got stopped by one of his buddies and began to chat with him. Noticing her opportunity she hastily slinked out of one of the doors. The doors led her to an outside terrace. The fragrant spring air stimulated her senses. She didn't realize how stuffy the ballroom had been with all of those people and their elevated body heat.
The girl sighed in relief and let the tension slip from her shoulders.
That was close, I didn't want to dance with him. I hope he didn't see me, maybe if I wait a few minutes and go back in then everyone will be getting ready to leave. I need to meet up with Lizzy and the others.
A breeze picked up and became stronger into a light wind. Leaves and debris skittered across the stonework of the terrace. Sarah heard what she thought was the flapping of wings. It was an ominous sound that would make her jump at random times. The only light being cast was that of a full moon and it made the shadows seem even darker. Sarah then realized she was not alone. She could not see him, nor hear him, but she knew he was there. Her heart began to race. She turned to try the handle on the door, it didn't budge. It was locked from the inside, how was she going to get in and how was she going to get away from him? Sarah looked for an escape route and spied and set of stairs leading to the hotel grounds. She started for the steps and was halfway there when he stepped from the shadows to block her path.
"Hello Sarah." He grinned cocking his head to the side. "Already leaving so soon?"
Sarah stopped in her tacks and her breath caught in her throat. She took in the sight of him in the bright moonlight. He was garbed in a familiar suit coat, tight breeches and his signature high boots. The moonlight luminated his hair giving him a false angelic aura. Sarah knew that he was far from angelic.
"It was you earlier! What do you want?" Sarah's voice waivered in suspicion.
The Goblin King's grin grew into a toothy smile.
"Come now, Sarah, is that how you greet old friends?"
Sarah's hackles immediately raised, "Friends? Really? You think we are friends?"
Jareth chuckled, "Now there's the fiery Sarah that I know."
Annoyance welled up in the girl, she didn't have time for this. The dance was about over and she needed to go around to the front of the hotel and find her friends.
She exasperated a sigh and began to make her way around the annoying Goblin King.
Jareth parried her hasty exit and quickly stepped in her path again, halting the girl.
Oh, my God, what is with this guy? "May I please get by, the dance is over and I need to get to the front of the hotel."
"Tut, tut, Sarah, the music is still playing."
"Well it's practically over, it's the last song of the night."
"I will let you pass if..."
"Yes?"
"...if you let me dance with you during the final song."
Sarah looked around her as if there were any interloper spying on her and the Goblin King.
"Oh, dear Sarah, do you fear that your grace should fall that if you are actually seen dancing with me?"
That struck a nerve, she was not afraid of the Goblin King. Jareth saw the flash of defiance in the girl's green eyes.
Sticking her chin out and meeting his gaze squarely in the eye, " Fine! Let's dance!"
Jareth smiled broadly with triumph and presented a gloved hand in a half bow. "Shall we?"
Sarah took his hand and immediately Jareth snaked his other hand around her thin waist drawing her in closer. He was just as close as they were in her dreams. Unlike her dreams she could feel his body heat and his personal scent filled their close proximity. His smell was most unique, like honey and the forest after it rained. She personally thought she could breathe it in all night. She could feel herself beginning to calm a little.
Jareth took the initiative and gently began to lead Sarah with the tempo of the faint song on the other side of the locked door. He lead her into a slow waltz around the terrace. The sound of crickets and other nocturnal creatures began to harmonize along with the song that they were dancing to. The young woman immediately recognized the melody.
Cocking a suspicious eyebrow, "You are doing that aren't you?"
He smirked back at the girl, "I might have a hand in it..."
"Just like having a hand in what I have been dreaming lately?"
"What have you been dreaming lately Precious?"
A flame of anger flicked up inside Sarah. That arrogant jerk knows exactly what I am talking about!
Her eyes narrowed, "You know what I mean!"
The Goblin King gave his signature toothy smile and mischievousness glinted in his strange eyes.
"How could you? Those are my private dreams!"
"My dear, I don't go where I am not invited."
"What are you talking about? I didn't invite you into my dreams nor here!"
"Do you not recall that you made a wish?"
"Huh? What...", then it dawned on the girl, she did make a wish in careless haste.
"But... I ...I was just angry and didn't mean it. "
"I have only complied with the wishes and the desires of the victor, it is your prize for beating the Labyrinth."
"Do what? You mean all this time you could have granted all of my wishes?"
"Within my capabilities, I have limited powers within this plane."
"But you were in my dreams, how is that?"
"Dreams transcend this plane and overlap into another, one in which I have domain."
Sarah's head swam with the new information and was trying to comprehend the concept.
Jareth mused to himself how adorable the girl was when she was deep in thought. He chuckled.
The sound brought Sarah's attention back to the Goblin King.
Cocking his head to one side, "Curious though, was it really dancing that you wished for?"
Sarah looked up into his strange eyes and realized something. Her breath hitched in her throat. She then noticed that the song was over and that they were still embraced in the dancing position. Immediately she terminated their contact," I must go."
She skirted around Jareth quickly to the stairs.
"Sarah...wait..", she heard him call after her.
She hurried down the stairs and started at a full run towards the front of the hotel. She had to get away. She needed to find her friends. She just wanted to go home!