Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the show Hamtaro. I do not own the state of New York or any cities, providences, streets, etc. in/near it either. Hell, I don't own any land except for my room, which has everyone else's crap in it. I only own Candace. Annik was used from the book Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood, but I adapted her. Lakin...well, she's not very important! XD

Author's Note: Hah! I did it right this time! All of my AN's and whatnot are intact! XD

Chapter One: One Year Later

Maxwell felt a cold, wet sensation along with the unpleasant sting of Stan's snowball's blast as it hit the back of his head, falling down into his hood.

"Hey!"

"C'mon, Max!"

"Well, you asked for it..." Maxwell growled as he bunched up some snow and compressed it into a sphere. He moved his arm back, preparing to fire and threw with all his might. Stan began running from it, towards the hill. His bootlace came undone and he tripped, rolling down the miniature mountain.

Sandy, from her spot on a nearby bench, screamed. She wobbled along with Maxwell as he ran to the top of the hill and looked down to see where Stan landed.

-.-.-.

Stan stood up, brushed the glittery snow off of himself, and readjusted his hat. He turned around to walk back up the hill. That's when he saw her.

She was sketching on canvas with a small piece of charcoal. Stan stared in wonder with each neat stroke she made until the drawing was done. The ham took out a paintbrush and palette from her bag, which lay frozen on the ground next to her. Taking out a few paints, she globed the hues onto the palette she grasped. Her paw began to fly across the canvas, coloring what used to be colorless, making it a work of art. But, her talent didn't change Stan's opinion about the girl. In his eyes, she was still The Heartbreaker formerly known as Candace Fox.

-.-.-.

Candace began packing up. One by one, she put the paint tubes back. She washed the palette off with snow. The paintbrush was neatly lined up with the others and she folded up her stand. Taking her painting cautiously, she tried not to smudge it. She began to stride off towards the hill, finally noticing that she wasn't the only one by the lake.

Candace froze, dropping her bag and nearly breaking her painting when she saw him. Stan remained still, as he had for the past twenty or so minutes. All was quiet. All was silent. All was awkward, and silent, and strange. That's when Candace pointed to Stan's foot and said

"Your lace is undone." They left it at that and walked away.

-.-.-.

Sandy ran up to her brother.

"Oh my gosh, Stan! I was worried sick. Are you okay? Did you get hurt? where were y- Stanley...?"

As they embraced, Sandy noticed Stan's eyes had the same broken look to them as they did the day after her and Maxwell's wedding. Stan was staring back at his sister and noticed her shed tears had begun forming tiny icicles on her whiskers. Stan noticed this at the same time Sandy noticed his unshed ones were forming icicles around his heart.

"Oh Stan..." Sandy sighed, already guessing what had happened.

-.-.-.

Stan returned to Central Park the next day in hopes of finding Candace there. He didn't know why; maybe because he needed to see her again, to confirm that yesterday had really taken place. Or maybe because he vainly wanted to be with her. Whatever it was, he wouldn't rest until he lay his eyes upon her once more.

He found her, but she was not alone. She and many others sat; easels, canvases, and charcoals at paw. It was a class, Stan inferred, because there was a woman walking around commenting on the supposed students' work. She had Candace's painting and walked over to her.

"Oh. Hey, Annik."

"Hello, Candace. Here's your project.", Annik said, handing her the painting.

Candace flipped it over to see her grade. She beamed up at Annik.

"Thank you."

"You earned it yourself." The instructor walked away to another student.

-.-.-.

"What did you get?"

"Well, I don't like to brag, Lakin..." Candace smirked at her friend, who turned the picture over.

"You bitch!",Lakin yelled, pretend-mad and playfully slapped Candace as she laughed. "An A? Annik only gave me a C plus! What makes you so spe-"

Candace was looking away, towards something. She froze a few yards from Lakin, who then noticed Stan.

"Who's that?" Lakin smiled towards him.

"Stan," Candace muttered through gritted teeth, not moving her lips because Stan stared back at her.

"You mean Stan Stan, Stan-your FWB- Stan?"

"Stan Williams- as in Stan, the bride's brother."

"Oooh...Same thing! Is it not?"

"No. It is not."

"Well, hey. Since you never hooked up with him, do you think I'd have a chance?"

"Lakin..." Candace groaned, slapping her paw to her forehead.

They approached him moments later. Stan walked closer.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"You go to art school?"

"A few classes."

"Cool. Who's your friend?"

"Lakin."

"Hey...!" Lakin said. She was the only one in the conversation who didn't sound robotic.

"Hi. I guess I'll go now. See ya."

"Bye-Q."

"See ya, cutie." Stan left. "He SO digs me!" Candace sweat dropped.

-.-.-.

It pained Candace to see him and remember the times when everything was okay, when they could tell each other anything and everything and spoof each other all the time. The times when they could have fun and be childish while still having a very strong and mature bond. She truly missed that.

What if she had openly returned Stan's feeling? Would they have still had as much fun?

It would certainly be better than this bitter silence, she decided.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Hey, all! I couldn't sleep, so I decided to put up the first chapter of the sequel. Hope it's as good as the first so far. (yawn) Anyone ready for school? I know I'm not, but it starts tomorrow, so what am I gonna do? Thanks for reading, review if you want to.(Even if I weren't so tired, I still wouldn't boss you guys around.)

Note to Elric24: Hurry up with that story, would ya! (She's the only one I'll be bossing. haha.)