Sandy sat alone at her coffee table in her tree house. The quietness made the ticking of her wall clock almost oppressive. Her tea mug was stained at the rim with a peach colored kiss print from her lipstick. Her tea had gone completely cold while she was in waiting.

It was an hour before Spongebob was getting out of his job at the Krusty Krab, after which they were arranged to meet at her tree house. She had told him that they were going on a date that evening, to which he had cheerfully and eagerly accepted. She needed to see him immediately. She had a lot to tell him that she perhaps should have told earlier.

One week ago, she had gotten a letter in the mail notifying her that the company funding her underwater research and her tree dome was on the verge of bankruptcy. The late CEO had passed on the title of the highest management to a senior manager with long expertise at a branch in Austin, Texas – but everybody was aware at it was the late CEO manager's son who took over his late father's legacy. The new CEO was naïve and had barely started learning his father's trade when he claimed his power, and under his idealistic policies of cutting ties with all allies whose economic policies he deemed too capitalistic and inhumane the company's stocks had devalued gradually over two weeks before a climatic crash. When the new CEO had been finally voted off from his throne of power after an unnecessarily long and formal process that was truly impractical for such an emergency scenario, the damages to the company were already beyond repair.

The letter notified her that in a week from the expected delivery date of the letter – on short notice – she was expected to leave her tree dome. The land property of her tree house had been sold to a popular supermarket chain enterprise. What financial compensation the company was able to repay her was much less than she expected, and would likely sustain her underwater living expenses for only a month before she would go completely broke. She needed to find another job, and her opportunities were strictly limited underwater due to her dependency on her diving suit and dry-land air – not to mention, the cost for her to live underwater was exponentially high. Without the funds from her former company, she could not possibly sustain the cost of staying in Bikini Bottom.

One week ago, after she had read the letter over for the tenth time and realized that it was not a nightmare, she had cried until her tears ran completely dry. She had been collapsed on her bed, wishing desperately for the escapism of sleep to overpower her and take her away from the pain of wakefulness. After two hours of trembling and turning, she crawled under her bed and tried to fall asleep there. When that failed, she went to the kitchen and curled up on the cold linoleum tiles, hoping for the coldness to numb her mind and to eventually feel nothing at all.

How she wished that she was a fish, or crab, or sponge, or starfish. How she wished that her physical limitations did not have to force her to leave Bikini Bottom.

The next morning, she did not tell Spongebob and the rest of her underwater friends and acquaintances about the letter. She was afraid of the truth. She wanted to try to enjoy every last moment in Bikini Bottom as if she did not have to move away. But her sensible, strong side prevailed in pushing her to go up to dry land in search of a new job and a new place to live. She told Spongebob that she was going on a trip to see some distant squirrel relatives, and had gone to the San Francisco Bay Area for five days of the next week.

Upon arrival, she slept on trees at in small city parks at night and spent her days familiarizing herself with the statistics and regions of California. The tightly-packed neighborhoods, stampedes of human beings and traffic during rush hours, and diversity of humans were completely unlike what she had experienced in Texas. At some point in San Francisco, she had even gotten stuck in a large parade of rainbow flags and humans that wore similar rainbow-colored resembles while displaying public affection with their same-sex partners. In the small grocery store-lined streets of Chinatown, she had fought with some pigeons for a piece of fried Chinese long doughnut.

She had tried talking with the local squirrels to ask them about potential opportunities, but the majority of the squirrels she met appeared to live almost vagrant-like lifestyles. They were mostly highly educated, many having acquired an education in the liberal arts, but lived lavishly without the need for employment. They interacted closely with the human species – which interacted with the squirrels closely and provided the local squirrels with more food than they really needed. Those educated "vagrant" squirrels lived off of the human species, spending their days browsing art museums, browsing the internet off of free wifi at coffee shops, smoking recreational marijuana, and throwing parties with other squirrels in the city.

During her conversations with the local squirrels, Sandy had told them about the bankruptcy of her company back in Texas and the end of her research career in marine biology. The other squirrels expressed condolence at this and were amazed that she had lived by herself underwater. In their opinion, traveling under the sea was for resort vacations and honeymoons – though the majority of them would rather invest in traveling to Shanghai or Paris instead.

Sandy could not picture herself living off of humankind and spending every day in leisure. After three days had gone by fruitlessly, Sandy was beginning to question whether she should abandon the idea of starting a new career in California. Maybe she should go back to Texas and live with her parents while figuring out what to do with her life… but, that would be so far from the sea, so far from Spongebob.

Spongebob.

Since she received the letter of her former company's bankruptcy, she had been mentally blocking all thoughts of him in order to get done what she needed to get done, in order to still normally function. All the memories with him, of him – of his high-pitched laugh, of running through jelly fish fields, of karate practice… She had been so used to his constant presence in her life, of him always being there for her, that she may have taken it for granted.

On the fourth day of her job-seeking trip to San Francisco, Sandy climbed up to a water fountain in order to bathe her tired body. As the icy water hit her fur, she realized just how much water, sea water, the ocean… meant to her. She realized that she loved Spongebob. The water emerging from the water fountain was so fresh, so foreign, so cold, so unlike the waters of Bikini Bottom that she had walked side-by-side with Spongebob throughout.

She continued to bathe herself while crying, her tears becoming one with the icy stream of fountain water that drenched her whole body. She felt a part of her leaking away into the drainage away from her. How would she ever feel whole again without Spongebob?

When she opened her eyes, she saw another squirrel on the opposite end of the fountain staring at her. He stared at her and did not look away when they made eye contact, and Sandy became conscious of her soaked-through light purple dress which clung to her body. Sandy's immediately reaction was to consider sending a flying kick over and knocking him off of the fountain for observing her bathe, but identified no threat nor perverseness in his glance. She turned off the water stream of the fountain and walked towards him.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

The male squirrel was taller than her and clad in loose khaki shorts and an unbuttoned red and blue plaid shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his forearms were well-muscled. The fur on his head was slicked back with gel, and his eyes were dark and piercing.

"I haven't seen you around," the male squirrel extended his front paw, and Sandy shook it cautiously. "My name is Tim, Tim Chen. What's yours?"

"Sandy," she replied swiftly. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I can tell from your accent that you're not a local in San Francisco." Tim smiled. "Neither am I, I just recently relocated to here from Beijing three months ago. It was difficult adjusting at first, but San Francisco is like a diverse melting pot of everything. I don't even plan on improvising my own accent. So what brought you to San Francisco, Sandy?"

Sandy looked down from Tim's dark eyes and realized that he was still holding onto her front paw, and she gently removed her hand. "Well, it's a long story… I don't know if you want to listen to it all."

"No, tell me." Tim smiled. "I want to know your story. In the meantime, let's not keep standing high up on this fountain. Let's talk about it over some coffee."

"I… I don't drink coffee." Sandy replied.

"They have decaffeinated Italian cream soda too. The apple crumb cake is my personal favorite." Tim began to climb off of the water fountain, and Sandy hesitantly followed him. "You're a guest to this city; please give me the honor of treating you as a welcome. There are many bars and bistros for squirrels like us all over the city, but since it's densely human-populated, it's hard to figure out their locations as a guest. When I first arrived, I did not know about all those places and ended up fighting with some pigeons in Chinatown over a dumpling. It was such an embarrassment!"

Sandy chuckled. "I had an experience just like that earlier."

"Well, as long as you know me, that's the last of such experiences you'll be having." Tim had slid to the bottom of the fountain, and outstretched his arms to catch Sandy. Sandy hesitated, and then slid down into his arms. He caught her in his firm arms and held her in the air for just a moment, staring into her eyes, before setting her down. Sandy felt a hint of blush rising to her cheeks.

He took her by the paw again and guided her through the heavy traffic and a group of chain-smoking humans by a smoke shop, and then helped her up the pipelines in an empty alleyway until they had reached the rooftop of a human hotel. The rooftop was densely populated with squirrels pushing by each other, and buildings appropriate to Sandy's scale filled up the horizon. Apartment buildings lined up the tops of restaurants and clothing boutiques. It was like the humans' San Francisco, on her own scale.

"Wow." Sandy drew a breath. She had not experienced this type of city life in Bikini Bottoms, nor in Texas. "It's so busy."

"Indeed. My exact thoughts when I first arrived as well. This is where all of us interact. The squirrels that tend to hang out in the parks are practically vagrants that refuse to work and leech off of humankind. Let's find ourselves a seat, and then you are going to tell me how you came to here."

They found an empty table on the outside of Tim's favorite café right as another couple stood up to leave. Tim went inside and came back with their beverages, and Sandy told him of her work in Bikini Bottoms and then her company's bankruptcy. She held her posture and did not cry while telling her story – she was not ready to show weakness in front of this new acquaintance, not yet.

Nor was she ready to tell him about Spongebob. That was one topic she could not possibly talk about without showing weakness: Spongebob.

"Wow. That is quite a story. I'm sorry, I don't quite know of what to say." Tim placed down his black coffee and reached across the table to hold her hand in his again. "I actually came to California in search of another job opportunity as well, when my trade company in Beijing went similarly bankrupt. It's quite unfortunate how these circumstances beyond our control occur and change our whole directions in life… But you know, I was very much tormented at first. I drank and chain smoked, not knowing what to do. I was an absolute wreck and completely unlike the man I am today. But then I found a great employment opportunity here, I've made so many great friends, and the company bankruptcy that seemed like a curse at the moment turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I'm so happy I came to San Francisco."

"What job do you do?" Sandy pondered.

"It's complicated to describe, but it's got endless benefits – health insurance, company parties, excellent pay, paid vacations, you name it. We're very selective with our employees, trust me, but you seem like just the kind of person we need." Tim smiled. "If you're interested, I'll bring you there tomorrow for an interview."

"I have to leave back to Bikini Bottom early tomorrow morning." Sandy replied. "I will come back after I get everything from my home packed and ready for storage… Would you show me then?"

"Oh yes, my absolute honor!" Tim continued to smile as he finished his coffee.

"Will you give me the address of the company you work at?"

"Ah… about that, it's very difficult to locate from the address." Tim put down his coffee, pulled out a name card from the breast pocket of his plaid shirt, and slid it across the table. "Our new branch in San Francisco is relatively new, and it would be a lot easier if I just show you there for an interview. Why don't I give you my own contact information instead, and I meet you when you are back to San Francisco? Let me give you this also–" he reached into his pocket again and unfolded a contract. "If you're interested in joining, please sign this and mail it to me. I know that this seems very sudden, but it's a competitive position, and it would be great to have your commitment."

"Oh… ok, that sounds cool." Sandy smiled for the first time since she surfaced from the ocean to California. Signing a contract ahead of time did not feel completely secure, but she had been underwater for so long that she had no idea if the times have changed on land. Plus, it was the first job offering she received, and maybe the last. "I'll consider it."

Tim stood up. "It's getting late; shall you allow me to show you around the nightlife here? Since you are leaving tomorrow morning, I want to give you a great lasting memory of San Francisco that will make you definitely look forward to coming back – and by that, coming here permanently and making this place your new home. I'm new too and I'll accompany you, ok?"

"Ok." Sandy could only nod as she also stood up. Tears were starting to brim from her eyes. She felt so lonely all of a sudden without Spongebob, though it's been only four days since she last practiced karate with him, smiling and pretending that nothing was going wrong. She wanted to see Spongebob so badly; though she knew it would make her feel even lonelier – knowing that she cannot stay with him any longer.

"What's wrong, beautiful?" Tim took her by the shoulders. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Sandy shook her head; tears were streaking down her face now. She did not fight as Tim pulled her closer and put his hands comfortingly on her back. Tim gently stroked her head.

"Shall we go get some drinks, Sandy? I know it's tough. You'll make it. I believe in you."

And so they went, and the next few hours and ten shots of Bacardi went by in a blur. Sandy did not realize how intoxicated she was until she stood up from the bar seat and the ground suddenly flew towards her. She felt Tim catch her in his arms and guide her outside. The whole outside was a complete blur of empty faces, of bright neon lights, of smoke-filled city air. There was no Spongebob.

Where was Spongebob? She walked in a daze holding onto the hand that guided her. Then she did not remember anything anymore.

Sandy woke up with her head in tremendous pain, and was immediately thankful for the curtains that shielded her sensitive eyes from the morning sun. She closed her eyes, trying to remember the last time she ever got a hangover. She turned around with her eyes shut, trying sleep off her piercing headache, when she heard the sound of a glass being placed on the bed stand.

She opened her eyes. There was a full glass of water in front of her, and attached to that glass of water was a paw leading up to Tim's face. Tim was wearing nothing but plaid boxers, and smiled down at her in the hotel bed. "Come on, drink some water. You need hydration after last night."

Sandy looked to the side of the bed and saw her light purple dress strewn on the floor, under her black lace lingerie. She was naked under the hotel's feather comforters. Then suddenly, memories of the night before pieced together in her mind. She had slept with Tim, after just meeting him for one day. Tim had brought her stumbling into a hotel and booked a room for her. In the elevator, she – not Tim – had made the first move, and had pushed Tim into the wall next to the elevator door, almost accidentally pressing the emergency stop button, locking her lips with his. He had carried her bridal style to her room and set her down on the bed, and then she had sat up and pulled her short purple dress over her head before lying back down. Tim had not resisted her temptation.

She had seduced Tim while drunk.

It was not Spongebob.

Sandy had accepted his glass of water, staring blankly ahead.

"Remember to contact me once you're back in San Francisco." Tim smiled again as he begun to put on his khakis. "We still need to get you to that job interview."

That was how her trip to San Francisco ended. Tim had seen her off to the bus stop, she picked up her scuba diving suit from storage, and then she had continued to stare blankly ahead for the whole ride back to her tree house.

Upon arriving at her tree house, Sandy stepped immediately into the shower. She scrubbed at her body with her lemongrass scented soap until her fur felt raw. What was she doing? Why was she hiding all of her suffering from Spongebob and seeking condolence in the arms of Tim? She needed to tell Spongebob what was going on. Spongebob was always there for her, and would definitely be there for her now. Surely he would save her. She did not know how, but she believed in him. She needed to see him in person.

Her last hope was on Spongebob. He was the only thing holding her back from escaping the insecurity of unemployment, from escaping the hardship of trying to survive underwater unfunded.

So she had made plans for a date with him the next day.

But the next day, as she sat waiting with her lipstick-stained mug of cold tea, Spongebob called her from work and told her that he was cancelling on her. Squidward had collapsed, the sponge said, and he needed to take his co-worker and friend home.

Sandy hung up. Why is it that she cannot bare to tell him the news over the phone? She did not understand herself.

As she sat in her empty tree house sipping her now completely cold tea, her peach lipstick having smudged off completely, she realized that she had lost to Squidward. All her years with Spongebob, the development of her clandestine adoration for him, the last several heart-wrenching days post having received the letter with regard to her former company's bankruptcy. All her time and tears have cultivated into a singular, anti-climatic phone call: of Spongebob choosing to prioritize Squidward over her.

Sandy started to laugh. She laughed so hard that she slapped the coffee table, sending her mug to the ground and shattering into several pieces. A few of the shards grazed her legs. How naïve of her to have dramatized her friendship with Spongebob so much in her head! To even irrationally fantasize over Spongebob as her knight in shining armor, who was somehow capable of saving her from the perils of reality itself – as if any part of that was even possible! How completely unfair was it of her to feel jealousy for Spongebob's devotion to his friend – when she herself had given her body to Tim!

Her head felt like it was about to bust open. She needed someone to hand her a cold glass of water. But she was alone in her tree house, and nobody was there to do so.

She needed to get away from her shame, her failure to be his top priority, her irrational jealousy of Squidward – yes, it wasn't his fault that he had collapsed – but she might have left her rationality somewhere in San Francisco, and cannot assess the situation rationally. She had to go back to San Francisco to find the rationality she had lost and shove it back into her head. She had to go back to Tim. She had to prove to herself that her one night with him meant something, and thus prove to herself that she was not in love with Spongebob.

Her emotions and frantic thoughts were exploding everywhere like her mug that had fallen to the ground, but then Sandy's rationality kicked in again. She swept up the broken pieces of the mug, signed Tim's contract, put on her scuba suit for the second-to-last time to mail out Tim's contract, and then called the moving services.

Goodbye Spongebob.