Chapter 4

Sportacus easily caught Stephanie and stopped her from running. He could feel the confusion and pain surrounding her and wanted to wrap her up in his arms but he couldn't because they were out in public.

"Stephanie you can't focus on the bad things. Remember what we discussed earlier?" He asked. She only nodded.

"Come on, let's go to your Uncle's house where we can talk." The above average hero told her. The two walked along in silence until they reached the familiar address. Stephanie pulled out her keys and opened the door. Once inside Sportacus helped her take off her backpack and they walked into the living room. Taking a seat on the couch, Sportacus pulled the nineteen year old onto his lap. He wrapped his big muscular arms around her and held her close. Stephanie realized that this was the first time he was actually sitting still and it worried her.

"Why aren't you wiggling?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Because I'm worried about you." He replied. Stephanie sighed and wrapped her right hand around the back of his neck. Her head found his shoulder and she listened to his heartbeat. No matter how she was feeling he could always make her feel better.

"I'm afraid that I won't be able to forgive Robbie. I thought I would be able to but I just don't know anymore." The nineteen year old told him.

"It's not easy to forgive people." Sportacus said. That was something she didn't expect him to say. Moving her head from his shoulder she gave him a confused look.

"When I lost my parents, I sat at their murderer's trial with anger and animosity in my heart. Everyone loved my parents and here this man had gone and destroyed everything I held dear. I wanted to kill him. I wanted to make him see how it felt but then I remembered my father telling me that as a hero he had to have the will to forgive. I had to understand where both sides were coming from.

"When the man was convicted of my parents murder, he turned around and looked at his family. I could see the pain in his eyes. I lost my family and so did he. I would later visit him in prison and he didn't try to give excuses as to why my parents had to die, he just apologized. He told me that he hadn't meant to shoot them and he was sorry for the pain he'd caused. When I asked him why he did it, he said he needed the money to buy food for his family. At that moment I understood. If he didn't get food for them, they would starve. From that point on, I stayed in contact with him and his family. You remember when I went away last year for a few days?" He asked.

"Yes." Stephanie said.

"I went to his parole hearing. Because of my compassion and pleas, they released him. He had served his debt to society. Now he'll have to deal with what he's done when he meets his maker but I would have no right to bring them together sooner than necessary." The above average hero explained.

"I see. Why didn't you let me come with you? I would have been there to help you." She wondered.

"It was something I had to see through. I didn't want to drag you into it." He told her. Stephanie nodded and smiled.

"I'm always here for you as you are here for me. Don't leave out, I care too much about you to let you suffer alone." She said. At this Sportacus smiled and said,

"I care about you too and that's why, I know it'll be hard but give Robbie a chance. He might surprise you." The two brought their lips together and shared a kiss.

"Yuck!" Robbie shouted as he watched the scene unfold through his periscope.

"Those two are a couple now. That just gross but I can use this to my advantage. Sportacus would do anything for that pink cheerleader and I have just the right thing for him to do." The villain smirked as he went back to stirring the concoction he'd created.

"One little taste of this and he won't be able to resist anything I tell him to do." Robbie pulled his back his head and laughed maniacally.

To Be Continued…

Whew! Two chapters in one day. I'm exhausted. ;)