LazyTown: Rotten Sister.

Running

Stephanie heard a knock on the door and she opened it to see Sportacus holding Jenny in his arms, "You found her. Is she okay?"
"I think so, she has some scratches from running so fast, she must have stepped on some thorns along the way." Sportacus didn't notice her wounds until he finally carried her away, her legs and feet looked like they were kissed by a whip. Stephanie gasped as she seen the scratches and bruises on her feet. "She must run a lot to have such scars."
"I think, when she is frightened or upset, she runs away from it. Both literally and emotionally. She must be hiding something incredibly terrible for her to run the way she does."
"You didn't find out what was bothering her?" Stephanie asked.
"No. I asked her and it was as if she went into some sort of trance. She doesn't want to confess it...whatever it is."
"Stephanie is Sportacus here-" Milford walked into the room to see Jenny laid upon the red couch sleeping soundly. "Who is this?"
"This is Robbie's sister, Jenny. She's hurt really bad and she needs our help." Stephanie said brushing Jenny's long brunette hair away from her alabaster face. "Its okay Jenny, everything is going to be fine."
"Mayor, do you think I could stay here and keep an eye on her. I don't think I should leave her." Sportacus' heart swelled in concern as he looked down at her cut feet. He couldn't leave her if he tried.
"Oh! Yes by all means stay." Milford said. "I'll run some hot water and fetch some bandages." Milford went pawing through the house for his first aid kit. "I'll help you Sportacus. I'll stay up with you."
"Okay. Can we move her to your bed? I think it would be easier."
"Yeah. That would be better for her."
Stephanie and Sportacus brought her to the bed and laid her down gently. Sportacus and Stephanie took turns watching over her that night and they bound her feet with bandages to help them heal. Jenny slept all through the night but Sportacus, unlike Stephanie who nodded off now and then, stayed awake. He didn't want to miss her waking up, he wanted to ask more questions about this pitch black secret she just couldn't let go of.
When the morning came Jenny arose from her sleep with pain swelling in her feet, she gasped in pain Jenny looked up to see Sportacus changing the bandages on her feet. "I was just trying to replace the bandages." he stood and sat next to her on the bed.
"Where am I?" Jenny said as she sat up from the bed and observed her unfamiliar surroundings.
"You're in the Mayor's house. You fell asleep last night in the field. I didn't want to leave you there all alone."
"Oh, I'm used to sleeping outside, you could've left me there if you wanted to. I wouldn't have minded." Jenny said meeting his ice blue eyes.
"I didn't want to. I would've minded." Sportacus gave her a smile and looked down for a moment, "I'm surprised you still have feeling in your feet, they were in bad shape."
"The feet of a drifter. Its normal."
"Haven't you heard of shoes?" he joked. Jenny smiled and shook her head, "I have no patience for them. Every time I am offered a pair on the road, they eventually end up being left some where else. My feet are as free as my spirit."
"Doesn't it hurt though when you step on rocks and thorns?"
"Yeah but, its not all bad. Surely you don't wear your shoes all the time....do you?"
Sportacus looked at her convincingly, "I even sleep with them on."
Jenny started laughing hysterically, "Are you serious? You have never taken off your shoes? You have to do it sometime-oh my goodness! You have never been shoeless!" Jenny couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was so alien to her.
"I like my boots. They are comfortable."
"You should do it sometime, just take them off and run through an open field. Its like flying. Its so relaxing."
"I'll tell you what, you get some shoes and I'll run with you in the field. But we have to wait until your feet heal. Do you want to try and walk?" Sportacus helped Jenny onto her feet and she struggled to gain her balance. "There. How do they feel?"
"They feel good. Its like they're brand new. They still hurt a little but I think I can walk...Thanks Sportacus."
"It wasn't just me. Stephanie and the Mayor helped as well. You are welcome." Jenny's eyes stared up at him, their lips were tantalizingly close and as if charged with electricity. "Robbie is probably worried about me...I must go."
"Can you make it?" Sportacus said inching a tad closer.
"Yes, I can. Thank you again." Jenny gave him a smile and departed and Sportacus was still entranced by the moment they shared. Milford came down the hallway and noticed Sportacus was still in the house, "Sportacus! You stayed here all night?" He asked in concern.
"Yes, I'm just about to leave, Jenny just left..." Sportacus was reminded of his next mission. "Mayor, do you have a census for every event recorded in Lazy Town?"
"Of course. What do you need it for?" Mayor asked leading him out of Stephanie's room and into the living room. "I'm on my way to the office right now. I can let you take a look."