Ptwista: Hey, everybody! I'm back! With a new chapter, so look out!
Chapter 2: The Plan
It was about 5:00 p.m. and Numbuhs 1, 3, 4, and 5 were in Numbuh 1's room to discuss the mystery of Numbuh 2's tiredness. Numbuh 2 had been constantly showing signs that he hadn't been sleeping well, if at all, at night. His most recent display of insomnia was the last straw as far as Numbuh 1 was concerned. He had heard Numbuh 2's broken record response for the final time.
"Mate's been completely zonked for, like, ever!" said Numbuh 4
"What are we gonna do about Numbuh 2, Numbuh 1?" asked Numbuh 3.
"I don't know, Numbuh 3. But if this continues it could begin affecting his performance on missions." Numbuh 1 paced for a minute then said,
"I think for now, the best thing to do is to keep him under constant surveillance. Anything suspicious comes up and we'll have got him."
"What do you think he's keeping from us anyway?" asked Numbuh 5.
"Who knows? But if it wasn't important, he would've spilled by now."
"What'chu talkin' bout, Nigel?" asked Numbuh 5.
"Well, Numbuh 2 and secrets don't exactly go together. I should know. After I told Numbuh 2 one of my secrets in 2nd grade it was all over the school by lunch.
"Oh, yeah! I remember! You were seven years old and you were still wetting the bed every night!" said Numbuh 4 and everyone laughed hysterically except Numbuh 1, who just turned red in embarrassment and anger.
When Numbuh 5 calmed down a little she said with a laugh,
"Aw, shut up already, hee-hee."
Then she spoke more seriously. "Numbuh 1, don't you think Numbuh 2 will be a little suspicious if he notices us all followin' him?"
The red faded from Nigel's face and he said, "Exactly, which is what this will be used for." He walked over to his podium and pushed a button that reveled the graphics for what looked like a house fly.
"Behold, the kids next door S.P.I.F.L.I. (pronounced with long I's)!
Then a female computer voice was heard explaining the acronym.
"Kids next door, S.P.I.F.L.I.—
Scouting
Pest's
Inquiries
Find
Linkable
Information"
"This little doodad will find out exactly what Numbuh 2's been up to, without raising his suspicions. Just plant it in his room and we're good to go."
"Cool!" said Numbuh 3.
"But who's putting it in there?" asked Numbuh 4.
"I will. I'm going to find out just how "fine" he is," said Numbuh 1 using quotation fingers. "Dismissed!"
Numbuhs 3 and 4 left the room, but Numbuh 5 stayed behind.
"Numbuh 1, are you sure? I think Numbuh 2 might already be a little tense around you, especially, after breakfast this morning," said Numbuh 5.
"True," Numbuh 1 said in a slightly down voice.
Realizing he was slightly upset, she put a hand on his shoulder and said gently, "Look, maybe I should do it."
"No," Numbuh 1 shook his head, "Numbuh 2's my best friend. If something really is wrong, he may need my help. He'd help any of us."
"Well...," Numbuh 5 thought for a minute. "A'ight, but just be careful."
"Abigail...," He saw a real troubled look in her eyes and said with a chuckle, "Save the worrying for Numbuh 2." She didn't look convinced.
"Really, don't worry about me," said Numbuh 1 and he sealed it with a smile. Abby smiled back and he headed out of the room. Unknown to Nigel her face melted back into a worried frown.
Later that night everyone had gone to bed early, except for Numbuh 1. He was in his pajamas already but he also had a sleeping bag and pillow underarm. He was planning on finding out what was keeping Numbuh 2 up so late or at least make sure he would get a good rest. And if Numbuh 2 was planning on staying up long after Numbuh 1 fell asleep tonight...He reached into his chest pocket and pulled out the S.P.I.F.L.I. which looked very much like and was the size of an actual fly. It was barely visible in his fingers not only because of it's smallness but also because it was a little hard for Numbuh 1 to keep still. Real or not, he still hated flies. He shuddered slightly as he looked at how realistic it looked but he kept reminding himself...
"It's not real. It's not real. It's not real!" He squealed the last one.
He walked down the stairs and soon came to Numbuh 2's door.
"Numbuh 2, are you in there?" he asked through his knocking.
Numbuh 2 opened the door and Numbuh 1 saw he was in his pajamas already, complete with his nightcap.
"He gave a yawn and said, "Hey, Numbuh 1. What's up?"
Numbuh 1 knew he shouldn't sound suspicious so he said in an overly nice voice, "Hey, Numbuh 2! Nothing really. But you know what? At breakfast I did realize something." He swaggered past Numbuh 2 into the room, uninvited and continued.
"We haven't had a sleep-over since we've been in the kids next door." He spread his sleeping bag onto the floor beneath Numbuh 2's bed. "So I thought, 'Hey! Why not bunk with Hoagie tonight, just like old times?'" He looked back at Numbuh 2 who had a questionable look on his face.
"Well, I don't know. I mean if you told me earlier, than maybe but..."
Numbuh 1 thought fast. "I—I could help you get a good sleep tonight, and—"
"Nah, I don't think so," Numbuh 2 cut him off and stepped to his ladder.
"Oh, come on, just for tonight? For old time's sake," he gave him an "innocent" smile.
Numbuh 2 arched an eyebrow but said "Well, okay," and he headed up his ladder to bed. Numbuh 1 realized the S.P.I.F.L.I and it faintly buzzed as he watched it disappear onto the wall over Numbuh 2's bed. He put down his pillow and knelt down to fluff it.
"But, Numbuh 1...," said Numbuh 2 half way up the ladder, "next time you wanna sleepover, let me know! We can do it at my house!"
"Will do!" Numbuh 1 shouted back to him. He climbed to the top of his ladder and into bed and yelled, "'Night, Numbuh 1!"
"Good night, Numbuh 2!" Numbuh 1 yelled back.
The lights went off and after quite awhile of silence, Numbuh 1 heard loud snoring. After being very assured Numbuh 2 was asleep, Numbuh 1 took out his communicator and turned on a screen that showed the S.P.I.F.L.I.'s view of Numbuh 2.
"Excellent," said Numbuh 1 with a soft satisfying laugh. "Stay online, S.P.I.F.L.I." He put the communicator away and slid into his sleeping bag. He lied with his face toward the ceiling and took his sunglasses off. Even though he wasn't planning on going to sleep to soon, he knew one thing for sure—if Numbuh 2 did have something to hide, Numbuh 1 was sure he'd find out tonight.
Ptwista: Will Numbuh 1, solve the mystery behind Numbuh 2's tiredness? Or is Numbuh 2 better at keeping his own secrets? Read and review, please! 'Cause like I said in the last chapter—hits to review ratio is annoying!