Chapter 6

Sportacus had finally finished hauling up the last of the stuff. Dusting his hands off, he began obediently unpacking under Robbie's direction. Robbie ran a finger down the list, double checking everything.

"TV, check. Movie chest, check. Real PJs, check." Muttering to himself, Robbie was really only paying half a mind to his inventory; truth be told, he'd had Sportacus needlessly rearrange a few things just so he could enjoy the view.

"Is this good, Robbie?"

"Just a little more to the left," Robbie grinned as Sportacus turned his back again. This was too easy. Flipping to the other side of the list and counting down, he froze at the last entry. "Hey, Sportadork…where'd you put the purple-bound book I asked you to get?"

Sportacus pivoted on one heel, moving from one stack to another in the now-messy corner of the airship. "I…don't know. I remember getting it. Why would you hide a book up in an air vent anyways, Robbie?"

"N-never you mind!" he spluttered, craning his neck in a vain attempt to spot the tome. "Are you sure you d-didn't drop it on the way? It's really, really important."

"I don't think so, but you never know. Accidents do happen. Would it make you feel better if I went and checked?"

"YES!" Robbie all but shouted. "I mean, yes. It would make me feel much better."

"Alright." Striding back towards the hatchway, Sportacus was stopped before he'd even descended one rung.

"Wait! Wait!" Robbie called out just before the familiar blue hat ducked out of sight. "You remember what I told you, right? Whatever you do, don't look inside it. You promise?"

"Yes, but…Robbie, I don't understand. Is this book dangerous or something?"

"…you might say that, yeah."

Sportacus's eyes widened. "I'd better get going, then! Someone might open it by accident!" And with that he raced down the ladder, leaving Robbie behind to twist the covers and worry. I should have never asked him to bring it in the first place. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Stingy cruised along the streets back towards where the dirigible had last been seen. The small purple volume beside him seemed like it was burning a hole in the seat. Intently scanning the sky above him, he almost ran over Stephanie before she ducked out of the way with a surprised squeak. Calling back his apologies, he rounded a corner and found exactly who he was looking for.

Sportacus was pacing up and down the street, peering behind trees and under the mailbox, obviously searching for something. Stingy quietly got out of his car, clasping the book behind him. "Hey, Sportacus! What're you doing?"

The blue hero paused a moment, waving cheerfully. "Hi Stingy! Have you seen a small, purple book? I think I might have dropped it somewhere around here…"

Stingy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I might have…wait, let me think…" He revealed the small journal, holding it up for Sportacus to see. "Would it be this one? I found it earlier and picked it up because it looked like one of my books."

"I think that's it! Thank you, Stingy!" Sportacus started to playfully toss the book from hand to hand before he remembered Robbie's warning. He looked down at Stingy worriedly. "Oh, Stingy? You didn't happen to open the book, did you?"

"Yes, I did. I wish I hadn't."

"B-but…are you alright? Robbie told me that, no matter what, I shouldn't look in it. It sounds kinda dangerous."

Stingy gave Sportacus an odd look. "Wait, Robbie Rotten sent you looking for this?"

"Yes. He had me bring a bunch of his stuff up to the airship. The doctors said he shouldn't move around a lot, and he was getting pretty bored. Though, I'm not sure how doing anything while sitting isn't boring…"

Stingy just stared. "He's staying on my…I mean, your airship?" At Sportacus's nod, Stingy said, "I think you'd better look in that book. I didn't like it, but I think it might be important for you to see what-"

Sportacus clapped a hand on Stingy's shoulder, stopping him. "I appreciate the thought, but I can't look in it. I promised Robbie I wouldn't." Stingy started to protest again, but Sportacus couldn't be persuaded.

"I'm sure it'll be all right. Thanks again, Stingy!" With that, Sportacus vaulted over a wall and was gone.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Robbie waited for Sportacus to return. He has to find it before somebody else does! He has to! …but what if he looks in it? He promised he wouldn't, but he's such a kid sometimes. Dangle a "Don't Touch" sign in front of a kid and they just have to touch it. He stiffened at the sound of the air hatch opening. Moments later, Sportacus clambered up onto the floor, book in hand and I triumphant smile on his face. Robbie heaved a sigh of relief.

"Well, that's a lucky break. Where'd you find it?"

"I didn't, really. Stingy said he had found it earlier. He had even opened the book and looked through it, and he was ok! He said it wasn't really dangerous, but that I should look in it too, cause he thought it'd be important and…Robbie?"

Robbie had turned an alarming shade of white as he spoke, shrinking backwards when Sportacus crossed the room to find out what was wrong. Cold ice filled his spine. Oh gods, he knows! I have to do something!

"I don't know what you say in there, but it really wasn't what it probably seemed like. It wasn't. There's a lot of stuff about you, but, I mean…it isn't like that! And those drawings were accidents. Complete accidents. I mean, I was drawing someone else! It just happened to turn out looking like you! It's not that I like you or anything…cause I don't! And who are you to be looking at someone's private thoughts, anyways? I thought you'd promised not to, and then that stupid kid goes and tells you everything! It's not like I can help it or anything…"

"Robbie, what are you talking about? I never looked in the book. I promised."

Robbie turned shocked eyes up to meet his, speechless. "…oh." All coherent thoughts melted away into dread. All he could do was watch helplessly as Sportacus sat down beside him, a questioning look in his blue eyes. He couldn't tear his gaze away, feeling a bit like a mouse before a cat.

Sportacus stared back in silence for a moment, sensing Robbie's distress. Offering up what seemed to be the source of all the trouble, he set the slender journal in Robbie's unmoving hands, covering Robbie's hands with his. They stayed that say for a few silent moments before Sportacus rose, moving to the equipment rack and selecting a few things. Robbie continued to stare as the blue-clad man selected an apple from the larder panel and started to eat, oblivious.

"You're…not kicking me out, then?"

Sportacus smiled cheerfully back at Robbie. "Why would I do that?"

Robbie simply had no reply. There's no possible way that went completely over his head, stupid sports elf or no. There's just no way. He looked down finally, running finger over slightly worn purple leather. Maybe it isn't entirely a lost cause.

Stingy was quieter than normal that afternoon at Pixel's house, and the other kids noticed. He didn't argue Ziggy down for taking "his" controller. Neither did he make his usual good-humored complaints when Stephanie beat him 3 times in a row at Space Invader Z. When it was Pixel and Ziggy's turn at the controllers, Stephanie pulled Stingy aside.

"Stingy, are you ok? You're not getting sick, are you?"

"Nah, I'm just feeling…weird, is all."

"Weird? Did something happen?" Stephanie slid down to sit on the floor, patting the spot beside her for Stingy to take a seat.

In a hushed voice, Stingy told her about everything that had happened that morning. The little purple book, with its mind-scalding contents. The encounter with Sportacus. When he finished, Stephanie was left with a stunned expression on her face.

"Wait, hold on a minute. Robbie isn't in the hospital anymore?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you!" Stingy whispered. "Sportacus told me he's staying in the airship with him."

"But what if he tries something? I mean…he's Robbie Rotten, right? He's always trying to get rid of Sportacus…" She paused, considering this. "But that's so weird. You said his diary sounded like he had a crush or something."

Stingy nodded. "I told Sportacus he should probably read it, but he said he had promised not to, and then he went away before I could tell him. Do you think we should?"

"Talk to him, you mean? Yeah. He should know about this, and we should make sure nothing bad happens to him. Friends look out for each other."

With that, Stephanie stood and walked over to the couch where Ziggy and Pixel were still playing. "I gotta go do something, guys! I'll catch you later, ok?" She was already out the door before their goodbyes filled her ears.