The Date: Prologue

Sarah’s Private Blog: The Quiet Horizon

Friday night, March 10:

Most would enjoy this night as the end of the week comes and many are just exhausted of this week’s hardships and the nonsense they live at work every day. Of course, if I had a job that made me feel that way I would totally count myself as part of that crowd. Fortunately, it is not my case as I happen to very much enjoy my part-time job as a bookkeeper at the university’s library. Being the bookworm that I am, it seemed more productive to spend my free time arranging books, checking them in and out for students, and putting up new books on shelves, the typical librarian tasks. I like to spend Friday nights at home though; residing in the warmth and privacy of my home, watching old movies with my boyfriend, and enjoying the evening with him by my side. Of course, that also means endless times in some of the most beautiful places. One of the perks I love about dating a Goblin King. Yes, Jareth the Goblin King is my boyfriend.

We’ve been dating for six months already; since the time I called upon him after many years he started to frequent his visits and I’ve learned so much about him and his world. The book does not do him justice, his life has been so much more exciting than it appears; he’s told me what kinds of creatures he’s had to fight in order to keep his kingdom safe, how many times he’s been bothered with a marriage arrangement from the court that he keeps turning down (if he’s to stop them, he has to present me to the court as his official queen-to-be and that he’s courting me), all of the different realms around his and what kind of creatures live there as well, even some words in his language which I had been wanting to learn because I can’t seem to find the right book at the university library that has this kind of language (there is a newer version of it, but it doesn’t help much, many of the words are confused with something else, or it might be the way I say it).

I, on the other hand, have been so focused and interested in knowing everything about him and his world, it has completely slipped my mind the fact that I’ve told him a lot about myself as well, but not the constantly changing world I live in. As far as I’m concerned, besides talking to him about my friends and place of residence, I haven’t told him or rather showed him, exactly what I do at the university or what a university even is. I’m sure he would know that, I mean he has visited aboveground at some point, right? … Aw man, I’m not even sure about that myself, I better ask him about it….  

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EDIT:

Ok, on the one hand, I’m relieved to know that he has been aboveground countless times and knows what a university is (yes, I was mostly concerned about that). On the other hand, he also told me he hasn’t been aboveground (anywhere other than inside my apartment) since 2001. This also made me realize we haven’t been on a date aboveground at all since we started dating… I guess I never paid attention to it because of how dazzled I was about being Underground every time we would go on dates…. This needs to be fixed.

Monday afternoon, March 20:

So I’ve decided to invite Jareth a whole weekend aboveground. He did not seem very convinced right away, he thought about it for about two minutes and then he said “alright precious, let’s have fun.”

I was sort of expecting him counter-offering a date in the Underground, which I always enjoy, but it makes me happy that he wants to spend time with me in my world.

But now the hard part comes up: What could we do to during the whole weekend? I know Jareth would more than enjoy just spending time with me in my apartment, but I want to be able to have a normal, exciting, and fun date with him. I want to put as much effort as he does whenever I go to the Underground and have the oddest adventures for dates.

Wednesday morning, March 22:

Well, what do you know?

I was brainstorming for ideas for a fun date and seems the world was listening to me. I was going through my email when I saw an email from my cousin Evelyn. It was odd enough to have her send me emails, she would usually text me most of the time. Regardless, I opened the email and it read the following:

“Hello Sarah!

I hope you’re having fun in college! I miss you, thank you for visiting me in December, we should do that more often! But I understand distance and budget can be an issue.

Anyway, I know you are busy with school and work, but I really trust no one about asking what I’m about to ask you, and believe me when I tell you I considered closer relatives but I just can’t. I was wondering if you would be down to house-sit my place for the weekend. I know it’s kind of last minute, but I was invited to be a guest judge in the show Skin Wars last weekend and I’ve been gone since Sunday, but I won’t be back until next Monday. I had a really close and personal friend of mine house sit until today, so my house will be empty for the rest of my time gone. I am asking you because I trust you with my house and I do believe a weekend in San Fran would be a great way to spend your weekend. I’m really sorry for asking so abruptly but it all happened so fast. I really hope you accept, I promise I’ll make it up to you!

If you want, you can totally bring someone over with you, I will pay for both your tickets! If you would accept I will love you forever!

I hope to hear from you ASAP cousin, again sorry for the abruptness!

-Love,

Evelyn Murray”

Well, that was a long email, especially coming from my very casual cousin Evy (I call her like that because she likes it, and I find it funny). I was very surprised she considered me over any of her close family to house-sit her mansion. I was even more amazed at her timing. I am not going to lie if I said I am not hesitating to take up her offer. As tempting as it is, and also my perfect excuse to take Jareth to my favorite city in California, it is too much to ask to just drop everything and go. I have things to do up here in Utah: school, work, and I really don’t think it’s a good idea to just… it’s just that… Oh screw it, I can’t let such opportunity like this pass.

I can surely ask for a couple days off work and since I don’t have much to do during the weekend, I might as well… Oh crap! I better let Jareth know about this. But that aside, it’s going to be difficult to convince him to get on an airplane with me… oh boy, I better answer Evy first and then worry about the iron issue after.