The Labyrinth Sequel

Chapter 16

"I suppose it really has been a long time," he looks down, "So much has changed while I was gone. You've grown up and moved on with your life. It's funny to think that I once was such an important part of your childhood."

"Jareth, that was a long time ago. A lot of things have changed since then. It seems the only thing that hasn't changed in all that time is you." 

He doesn't look up at me.

"Some part of me wished that maybe after all of this time you hadn't changed." He whispers.

"Just because I moved out of the house doesn't mean that everything in your life is over." 

"The Labyrinth, me, the whole Underground... did you really think that the story was going to continue?" He shakes his head, "Everything that happened because of you Sarah. You created us and if you leave then we will disappear."

"Stop messing with me Jareth, it isn't funny!" I cry.

"Do you think I am joking around with you Sarah!?" He grabs me by the shoulders and forces me to look at him, "I don't understand what happened but one day it was like I just didn't understand where I came from. I look into the past and there are memories but I don't remember doing them. The only thing I remembered certainly was when you called me."

"Where the hell is all of this coming from? All I said that that I wasn't living at home anymore!"

"It's not just about that... it's about you growing up. At first I didn't want to believe that it was you, but no one else called me since then. I thought that maybe it was your strong belief in me that lead to all of this..."

"Even if that is true, I have seen you and there is no way I could forget about you." I point out.

"It isn't just about forgetting, Sarah, it is about the need. As a child you needed me in your life and I came to be for you. Or... at least that is what I think happened... Once you stop needing me I will most likely fade away again." 

"But you don't know if that's true. It is just your theory." I say.

"Sarah, what am I to do?" He takes a step away to collect his thoughts, "It was a theory I thought of in my time trapped before you came back. Then when I saw you again... you were older, more mature, you understood More than ever what you wanted to be. You terrified and excited me all at the same time."

"That's flattering and all that but..."

"And you don't feel a single thing... I can see that in you. What you can't see is that it is tearing me apart. It feels like everything I am becoming is being ripped away again, like when you... did what you did last time." He isn't comfortable with the word 'defeat'.

I try taking the logical approach. "Look Jareth, everything you are feeling could just be confusion from turning back. You weren't yourself for a long time. Why don't you just go home and sort this out with yourself and give it some time. I'm sure you will find that this is all just in your head."

"And what if it is just inside my head? That doesn't change my feelings. It would still destroy me when you stop needing me. What am I supposed to do then?" He demands.

I sigh and turn my back to him again. "That is something you are going to have to figure out on your own. You are worried about me growing up, then maybe you should too. You can't keep living in your childish ways forever."

"And what will that gain me? You still aren't going to come back with me, that much I can see. So what is the point of changing when there is no need for it?"

"I think you wouldn't have told me all of this if you didn't think you were capable of changing. You would have given up right away and just stopped chasing after me after all of this and stuck to your Labyrinth. The fact that you are here and trying means you have already started changing."

"I am the King, I have to stand up for myself." He pouts.

"Well what do you want me to do?" I cry, not sure how I can help him.

He looks at me with sad eyes. "You could give me a chance."

"And how do you expect me to do that? I am not going back to the Underground again, I told you that. There isn't anything for me there." I tell him.

He steps up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, holding me in place. "I would like to ask you to give me a chance. We still have a couple of days. Let me be your boyfriend for that time and see if we can't make it work."

"And what if by some chance it does work? I don't want to go back to the Labyrinth." 

"Then we will see what will happened when we get to that point. Come on Sarah what is it that is holding you back from trying with me? Are you scared of me?" He teases.

"No, but I find it hard to think of you as a 'boyfriend'. The word just doesn't suit you." I giggle.

"Are you trying to change the subject?" He laughs and nuzzles my neck with his nose sending shivers up my spine, "Look at us Sarah, we are already together. Why do you bother trying to fight me when it is so obvious?"

I can't help but laugh at that. There is something about him that always makes me feel odd inside, ever since I was a child. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to give him a chance while he is here and while I am here, and if it doesn't work out then at least I will be going home where I will never have to see him again. The way I see you, there isn't very much that go wrong from giving it a try.

"Alright, fine then. But I am only here for another three days." I warn him.

"That is just enough time for the two of us to properly get to know each other." He laughs.

Before I can answer he spins me away from him dramatically, catching me at the last second. Laughing, he hops up into the branches of a tree, daring me to come after him. I just stand at the bottom staring up at him.

"I am not a child anymore, Jareth, I don't like climbing trees." I tell him.

He smiles down at me. "Well you are going to have to come up here if you want to spend some time with me. I think it's time you loosened up a bit my dear."

"Don't tell me to loosen up when you need to grow up." I yell up to him.

He is about to say something when the front door opens and Karen steps out with Toby in her arms. She takes one look at me and then notices Jareth still sitting up in the tree. Her eyes narrow.

"Who is this?" She demands.

"Oh, uh, Karen this is..."

"Jareth." He says hopping down from the tree to approach her.

I try to stand in his way, giving him one more chance to back out, but he moves around me and reaches his hand out to shake hers. Hesitantly she shakes his hand, her eyes never leaving his face.

"And who exactly are you?" She asks.

"I am simply a friend of Sarah's, visiting her while she is here for the week. There should be no problem with me visiting her now is there?" He smiles charmingly.

"Actually I do have a problem," She snarls, "Sarah has a lot of homework to do before she goes back and I can't have you distracting her."

"I assure you I will be a most accommodating distraction." He smiles.

Just then a car pulls in the driveway and I turn around slowly to see my dad getting out of the car. His eyes narrow when he sees Jareth. Even Jareth doesn't look so happy to see him walking over. 

Great, I think to myself, I'm sure this can't get any worse.