By the time they were at the Cleaners scene, Ria had admitted to herself that Jareth was a little intriguing.  He seemed to love "the idiot," but she wasn't sure.  Sarah, for her part, seemed scared of Jareth.  Ria hoped that if she had been in Sarah's place, she would have had a little more courage.

Later, after Sarah ate the peach (which even Ria knew was a stupid thing to do), came a scene that confirmed Ria's suspicions about Jareth. The Goblin King and Sarah were dancing in a ballroom full of masqueraders, to music that was absolutely lovely.  Jareth looked very handsome in his ball clothes, and Sarah looked beautiful.  Ria found herself wishing that she was in Sarah's place.

She shook her head.  **What the heck is with you?** Ria thought.  **He's fiction, a fantasy.  Time for a reality check, girl.**  She turned to Donna, who was watching the movie with a faraway look in her eyes.  "Donna, I think it's time for me to head home."

Donna looked at Ria, very surprised.  "But it's so early.  We still have the rest of this movie and two more to see."

"You can't leave now," Shelly declared.  "You have to see the confrontation.  It's the best scene in the movie."

"Please stay, Ria," Lauren said.

Ria sighed.  "Alright, alright, I'll stay."

Jareth smiled triumphantly at the image in his crystal.  "Yes, Ria, do stay.  Stay and continue to fall for me."  He didn't know why it was so important for her to love him.  Jareth just knew that he had to have her.

When it was time for the confrontation scene, Ria found that she couldn't take her eyes off the Goblin King.  He looked so fine, yet so defeated in his gray outfit.  She couldn't believe that Sarah was turning him down.  **Sarah really is an idiot.**  Then came the line that Ria would never forget.

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave."

**"Love me?"  I guess he truly does love Sarah.  Why can't I ever meet a guy like him?**

When the movie ended, Lauren put in her tape.  Donna asked what she had brought.

Lauren grinned at them.  "'The Linguini Incident.'"

Everyone else groaned.  "That's all you ever want to see," Shelly complained.

"Next week, bring something different," Donna said.

"We're having it at my place next week," Lauren said, "so we can watch all my Bowie movies."

That announcement was followed by another collective groan.

"Ladies, I think I'll head on home," Ria said.  "My fun meter has peaked."

"Alright," Donna said.  "Oh, didn't you say you're going to the Humane Society tomorrow?  Need any company?"

Ria smiled.  "Yeah.  I want to adopt a kitten."

Jareth's eyes lit up as soon as he heard that.  **Hmm.  I think this may be my chance.  Time to get up close and personal with the fair Ria.**