Rosenbaum smiled a little there. "And what did he say?"

"Nothing," Melanie replied.

"That doesn’t sound very in character."

She laughed at this. "Well, no. Not at all. But by that time I was up and moving, so I guess he didn’t bother. I was weepy and Didymus was trying so hard to comfort me, and Hoggle didn’t know what to do, and Jareth…he lapsed into this wretched, moody silence that was just awful."

"Why?"

"Because I’d insulted him, I think. He was making me feel guilty. I didn’t like it at all. It was one of those moments where I just wished he go away and stop inflicting himself on me."

"But couldn’t you send him away?"

"I was afraid if I did he wouldn’t come back."

"I see."

Melanie bristled. "No, you don’t. And I wish you wouldn’t say you do."

Rosenbaum leaned forward. "Alright. But let me tell you what I think of that, first."

"Okay." She sat back in the chair, exactly opposite to his posture, frowning, fingers drumming on the arms.

"You had just lost Brian. You felt dependent on Jareth, quite simply. You felt you had no one else to turn to. Brian, though he was unsupportive of you, offered you one piece of comfort, one token of stability in your otherwise unstable world."

Her frown deepened. "Okay, you see, whatever."

"Would you like to continue? It seems this was an important night for you."

"Totally…"

*****

I didn’t, by the way, have to walk home.

A car drove past me, and several had, thinking nothing of me, most likely, because I was, after all, a mostly grown person on a quiet, well-lit suburban street, alone or not. But this one stopped ahead of me. I paused. Even on a quiet, well-lit suburban street, you can get the willies. No, especially on a quiet, well-lit suburban street.

And then David Barnes got out.

"Melanie!" he called. "What are you doing out here?"

"Um…" I wiped away my tears and looked around. I was alone suddenly. And that made me feel better. I know that sounds weird, but I reasoned that Jareth wouldn’t have left me if I’d been in danger. "I sort of…have to walk…home…because…"

"Brian."

I looked at David, surprised.

"Listen, I know it’s none of my business. Sorry." He reached back and rubbed his neck, his short blonde hair. "You want a ride home?"

I nodded.

He got around the car and opened his passenger door for me, and I saw him leaning inside, clearing out the seat. He blushed under the dome light as he looked up at me. "I know, it’s filthy. Sorry."

"I don’t mind."

"Are you okay?" he asked, standing up.

"I’m fine."

"Don’t take this the wrong way, Melanie. Really. But you don’t look fine."

I sighed, and he put his hands up. "Okay, okay, sorry, I’m sorry, nevermind. Just relax. Have a seat. I won’t say another word, I promise."

So I sat down, and he shut the door gently, and went around to his side.

He got in and started his car, and drove me home, following my directions, driving slowly and carefully. He was really thoughtful. He asked me to put on my seatbelt, for pity’s sake.

I sat beside him, listening to his silence, the sounds of the car…and I felt better. Tons better. He was just comfortable. I liked being around him.

And I really was sorry when we got to my house. He pulled up into the driveway and there was the splash of lights on the brick and then we were stopped. "Well," I said, "this is it."

"Okay," he said.

"Okay." I started to get out.

"Melanie?" He put his hand on my shoulder.

"What?" I turned to look at him.

He looked back, mouth open as if he were about to say something, and then he stopped. "Nothing."

"Yeah, okay, whatever." I walked into the house.

Jareth was in my bedroom when I got there, looking out my blinds as David’s car pulled away. Hoggle and Didy were sitting on my bed, playing Scrabble.

"Nice young chap," Jareth noted.

I walked over to the window and looked down on David’s car driving away down my street. "Yeah. Yeah he is."

"So Brian…"

"Is gone."

"He might call."

"Doubtful."

Jareth gave me silent agreement.

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