I Can Be Your Hero!
By 18lzytwner
Chapter 1
Stephanie awoke with a start. Breathing heavily, sweat running down her face, she tried to shake the nightmare from her mind. This was the third time this week she had had the same nightmare. Looking at the clock she realized it was two a.m. She had to go to school later that morning but she was afraid to go to sleep. Finally, she made herself go to sleep. Stephanie had a big final and she had to do well on it.
The alarm went off at six a.m. Stephanie got out of bed and shut it off. Then she picked up the clothes she had laid out the night before and headed to the bathroom. Once she was dressed she looked at herself in the mirror. Stephanie had big bags under her eyes and something sticking out of her chin. Looking more closely she noticed that it was a zit. Oh great, she thought. She took care of it and then looked at her calendar. Only one more week and she would be heading to LazyTown, to visit her Uncle Milford, her friends, and Sportacus. She had missed him and couldn't wait to see him. She had last seen Sportacus two weeks ago when he came to visit her. Stephanie remembered him hugging her when she met him outside her house. She was so busy thinking about Sportacus she didn't notice what time it was.
Outside the bus was honking its horn. Stephanie ran downstairs grabbed an apple off the kitchen counter and shouted goodbye to her parents. She jumped onto the bus and quickly found a seat next to her best friend, Beth. She and Beth had been friends since kindergarten and now they were finishing their freshman year in high school. Beth saw that distracted look on Stephanie's face and snapped her fingers.
"Is anybody in there?" Beth asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm sorry Beth. I just lost track of time this morning." Stephanie said, offhandedly biting her apple.
"You've lost track of time three times this week." Beth looked at her with a questioningly. Stephanie shrugged her shoulders and bit her apple again.
"Is there something going on you're not telling me?" Beth prodded.
"I'm going to visit my Uncle in a week." Stephanie said.
"I know you are. You've gone every year since we were eight. But you're fourteen now. Do you really have to go?" Beth asked.
"Yes, I do. Besides you've been going to summer camp since we were eight. It's not like you were home either." Stephanie countered.
"My parents said since I'm going to be a sophomore next year I don't have to go to summer camp. I was hoping that we could do stuff together this summer." Beth explained.
"Well I can't get out of visiting my Uncle. Why don't you come with me? I could introduce you to my other friends. We would have so much fun. Please?" Stephanie begged her.
"I'll need to ask my parents. Sounds like it could be fun." Beth said.
"I'll make sure its ok with my Uncle and call you tonight." Stephanie promised. The bus arrived at school and the two headed for their final exam together.
Stephanie stared at the questions on the page. They didn't seem to make much sense to her. The teacher saw the confused look on her face and came over to her.
"Is everything all right, Stephanie?" He asked.
"Um, I guess so. Thanks for asking." She replied.
"Ok, as long as you're sure." The teacher told her. He left and Stephanie tried to focus. She realized she only had an hour and a half to finish. Good thing its multiple choice, she thought. Stephanie went back through every question. She answered most of them to the best of her ability and the rest she guessed. The bell rang signaling everyone to put their pencils down. The teacher told them that time was up and that they should pass up their answer sheets followed by the test packet. Stephanie passed her papers up and then once the papers were all collected the teacher told them they could leave.
Beth and Stephanie caught up once they got out of the exam. Beth said she thought it was easy, while Stephanie just made a face.
"Is everything ok? I saw the teacher come over to you and you hadn't even raised your hand." Beth sounded concerned.
"Oh yeah, I just was having a problem with some of the questions. I guess I must have made a funny face or something." Stephanie replied. They had now reached the front of the school and boarded the bus.
On the bus, the two talked about going to LazyTown together. Beth sounded excited and Stephanie was happy. Finally the bus pulled up in front of Beth's house and Beth promised to ask her parents about the trip as she got off. Stephanie spent the rest of the ride to her house staring out the window thinking about Sportacus. Then realizing it was her stop she hopped off the bus and went inside her house.
To Be Continued…