"Stephanie!" Ziggy knocked on her window. "Do you really not want to play soccer with us? We'll invite Sportacus to make it even!"
Stephanie put her pillow over her head. "I don't feel like it right now."
Ziggy frowned. "Come on, Stephanie. We're all waiting on you!"
"It'll still be even if you don't invite Sportacus." She sat up and closed her curtains.
Ziggy shook his head and walked back to the field with the rest of his friends. "She won't come out..."
Trixie looked towards her house. "It might take a little effort sometimes, but she's never not come out before..."
Pixel frowned. "Yeah. It's like she's gotten sadder and sadder these past few months."
"But why?" Ziggy asked. "Is she homesick?"
"No way." Trixie crossed her arms. "She loves it here in LazyTown."
Stingy expressed concern as well. "Maybe, Sportacus could help? She seems to smile a little more when he's around."
Trixie nodded. "Yeah! B- but not a lot more... What if he isn't enough?"
Pixel shrugged. "It's worth a shot."
Trixie reached in her bag and grabbed a piece of paper and pen. She went over to the mailbox and wrote something down before putting it in the tube and sending it to Sportacus. The message was soon received and Sportacus did his usual flips to retrieve it.
He smiled. "I've got mail." He opened the tube and read the letter. "'Stephanie is feeling very sad and won't leave her room.'" He gasped. "Oh no. This isn't good at all."
Sportacus quickly ran to the pilot seat and headed straight to LazyTown. Like everyone else he's noticed she's gotten sadder too, but... He sees it a bit differently than everyone else. He believes there might be something seriously wrong. When he was right above them. He called for the ladder and quickly exited the ship. All the teens crowded him when he reached the ground.
"You have to help her, Sportacus." Trixie spoke first.
"I know, I know." He looked towards her house. "I'm going right over." When he started to walk the teenagers quickly followed. "Guys. I might need to talk to her alone."
They all looked at each other before nodding. Maybe a group of people isn't always the best thing to see when you're upset. Especially if you want to be alone. Sportacus went to the house and walked in. He greeted the mayor and continued on to her room. The door was closed , so he knocked. Not that he wouldn't have knocked even if it was open.
"Go away." She responded.
"Stephanie... It's me, Sportacus." He smiled slightly hoping that would change her mind.
There was a pause before she spoke again. "You go away, too..."
He frowned, a little hurt by that. "Please, Stephanie. Everyone is worried about you."
"I couldn't imagine why."
"Because we all love you." He tried to think of what might get her to open the door.
"You shouldn't." Her voice became low.
Sportacus gasped at her comment. "What? Why would you say that?"
"Cause it's the truth."
"Stephanie, I'm coming in." He held the door handle.
"Whatever..." She turned back slightly to see him walk in, before turning back towards the wall.
He closed the door before walking over and kneeling next to her bed. "Stephanie... What has you feeling this way?"
She tensed up despite his voice being warm and soft. "Nothing 'has me feeling this way'." She sighed. "I had a realization."
"That was?" He asked with genuine concern.
"How could could anyone love me..." she spoke just above a whisper.
He just stared at her in disbelief. "E- easily... The Mayor loves you... All of your friends do... I love you."
"Stop saying stuff just to make feel better." She pulled her cover up higher.
"Stephanie look at me." She didn't move. "Stephanie, please..."
She hesitated before turning over and facing him. They realized that they were both on the verge of tears.
"I'm being very sincere right now when I say, 'I love you'."
She stared at him and tried to keep from crying. She screwed her eyes shut, but nothing seemed to work. She began to sob softly as Sportacus quickly pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket. He gently patted the tears away. "I just can't believe you, Sportacus... I'm just so lazy..." She curled up. "And annoying, and an empty shell of what I once was. How could you love me if I can't..."
"You don't...?" He took the handkerchief and wiped his own eyes. He stood up and put it back in his pocket. "Have you eaten today?"
"No." She stared straight ahead.
It was nearly three. "That's not good. Come on, see if you can make it to the kitchen."
"I don't feel like moving." She huffed. "I'm not hungry anyway."
He sighed. "You still need to eat." He put his arms out. "I'll carry you."
Stephanie shrugged than removed her cover and sat up slowly. She was still in her pajamas, a clear sign that she hadn't moved all day. He carefully picked her up and walked to the kitchen. Mayor Meanswell had already returned to his office it seems. Sportacus gently sat her down in the chair at the table. Before he could even walk away from her, she put her head down.
He opened the refrigerator. "Would the Mayor mind if I use some food?" He looked back at Stephanie.
Her head was turned away from him as she shrugged. "Doesn't matter." She mumbled.
He frowned. "I'll just replace it..."
Stephanie turned to him when he took multiple items out of the fridge. He was mumbling dishes and ingredients to himself. She looked away when he started cooking. He cooked the food pretty quickly. It was kind of weird... The scent of breakfast filled the air. Stephanie raised an eyebrow. Isn't it nearly three? Maybe he's just doing it because it's her first time eating today. She turned back and saw him with a plate pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
She picked her head up and looked up at him. "You can make pancakes?"
"Um... Yes, I can. I just can't eat it." He sat it in front of her with a fork. "I can make a lot of things with sugar in it..."
She nodded. "I didn't expect that."
He turned back and poured a cup of water. "You should eat." He placed the cup of water on the table.
"Don't feel like it..." She stared at the food. It really did look good. "I appreciate the effort though."
"You have to, Stephanie." His expression was serious, but kind.
She looked at him then the food. She took the fork and began to eat slowly. He smiled slightly, for she was finally doing something. "Taste good..."
"Thank you." He sat in the chair closest to her. "You know, Stephanie... Even when you feel bad, you still need to take care of yourself."
"No point." She continued to eat, faster than before.
"Hmp..." He smiled. "How about... We go to the library! We're not that active there, but a little reading never hurts."
"Yeah. It's nice and quiet in there." She looked at him, slightly annoyed.
He frowned. She's a lot more mean too, it seems. Sportacus would never think that, though. It just hurt his feelings. "I'm sorry, Stephanie." He said with sigh.
After she finished her food he asked her to get dressed. And after he explained why she couldn't leave the house in her pajamas she trudged to her room. He rubbed his chin as he sat at the table. He didn't believe this was a simple sad spell. Mostly considering how it's lasted for months. And her feelings of worthlessness were off putting. And it made him rather sad to hear her speak that way. They were mostly headed to the library for him to do some research. He wanted to know what was really wrong. When she returned they left for the library. They passed the other kids playing soccer. Stephanie didn't respond when they tried to say hi. Sportacus assured them not to feel bad about her reaction. Or lack there of. When they entered the library, he left her at a table and she quickly fell asleep.
He shook his head as he walked through the library. "Doesn't seem like a good place to do flips." He whispered to himself.
As he walked through, he observed many of the books until he found himself and section labeled 'Human Behavior'. He skimmed all of the books he picked up until he found one that described Stephanie's recent behavior all too well. He takes the book and sits at the table with her. She seems to have something called 'depression'. He had never heard the word before. Suddenly her voice broke his concentration.
"Sportacus." She hadn't moved from her sleeping position.
He looked up from his reading and placed the book down, saving his page. "Yes, Stephanie?"
"How would you feel if..." She paused.
"If...?" He looked at her, a bit upset he couldn't see her face.
"If you... Never saw me again?" Her voice got lower with every word.
"I... I'd be devastated." He picked up the book he was reading and quickly changed the subject. "I found this book. I think I know what's wrong."
She looked up and glanced over the page he showed her. "Huh..."
"This page is talking about..." he began to talk quieter. Self harm..." He looked at her arms. "I don't think you've done that."
"I'm... Going home." She stood up and started to leave the library.
He didn't want hold her back, it's not like he's her guardian. "Oh... See you later, Stephanie."
Her hand slightly lifted up in a poor attempt to wave as she left the building. After she left Sportacus read a little more about this 'depression' thing. Seems to be quite uncommon in LazyTown. The book says it can sometimes go away on its own, but other times it can lead to death... By suicide.
He gently closed the book. "Stephanie wouldn't do that..."