Ahoy, Haily here!!! This is a new story and with a couple you'd never expect!!!! So c'mon!! Just read!!! You'll like!! R+R

We Meet by a Song

            Maxwell set down his book.  This one was the best yet, he was sure of it.  And the humans were coming out with a movie for it.  Now, Maxwell wasn't usually interested in movies, but when you read a good book and out came a movie, it was a must.  Just like the Harry Potter books, he thought. 

            Looking at the clock on the bookstore wall, Maxwell realized it was time to head to the Clubhouse.  He neatly spread out the woodchips in his cage and straightened his Ham-sized bed and then pushed open the cage door.  He scampered down the steps and out the door. 

           He couldn't stop thinking about the book, though, so he took it out from under his arm and flipped through the pages.  He landed on a page with some song lyrics on it.

            "I wonder how it sounds to a real tune," he mused aloud and cleared his throat.  He wasn't much of a singer, but why not?

If only, if only

The woodpecker sighs

The bark of the tree

Were as soft as the skies

While the wolf waits below

Hungry and lonely

He cries to the moo-on

If only, if only.

            Smiling, Maxwell sang the tune once more.  It was nice to sing, he realized.  It let out emotions.

            "That was a beautiful song," said a voice behind him.

            "Ah!  Who's there?" asked Maxwell, a bit jittery.  Had someone been listening to him sing?

            "It's just me, Maxwell, just Pashmina," said Pashmina, coming out from behind.

            "Oh, Pashmina!  I didn't see you!" Maxwell exclaimed.

            Blushing a raspberry red, Pashmina bowed her head.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to eavesdrop; it's just that your voice-it's so good.  And I like that song.  It's sad and reminds me of the time I moved away from Penelope."

            Maxwell smiled broader.  "You really think so?" he asked eagerly.

            "Yes.  Will you sing it one more time?  Wishie?" asked Pashmina, her eyes growing large.

            "O-okay," stuttered Maxwell and began to sing.  As he got deeper into the song, he began to sing louder and fuller and didn't feel uncomfortable around Pashmina.  He could even hear her singing.

If only, if only

The woodpecker sighs

The bark of the tree

Were as soft as the skies

While the wolf waits below

Hungry and lonely

He cries to the moo-on

If only, if only.

            "I smoochie that song, Maxwell!" Pashmina exclaimed.  "It makes me feel-well-warm inside."

            Maxwell flushed.  "Yes, I know what you mean.  It's a very comforting song.  And I heard you singing, Pashmina, you have a wonderful voice as well."

            Pashmina blushed deeper.  "Thanks, Maxwell!  Guess we should head to the Clubhouse, Penelope is probably looking for me!"

            The two headed to the Clubhouse together talking about things they've seen and the books Maxwell had read.

            "That song was from the book 'Holes,'" he told her.

            Pashmina laughed.  "Holes? Give that book to Boss, he'll love it!"

            Maxwell chuckled.  "Yes, yes.  But he won't understand it."

            Pashmina nodded and smiled.  Maxwell was fun when he wasn't reading.  He was also very sweet.  Sandy was so lucky!

            Maxwell gazed at Pashmina.  She was kind and quite sweet, but Dexter and Howdy already loved her, not to mention Stan.   Shaking his head, Maxwell remembered how he was in love with Sandy. 

            Before entering the Clubhouse, Pashmina spoke up.  "Uh, well, Maxwell.  Could I borrow one of your books?  Maybe that Holes book?" she asked timidly.

            Maxwell couldn't help but grin.  Pashmina didn't know how to read, but he might as well.  "Well, I suppose."  He took out the book from under his arm and handed it to Pashmina, who opened it and looked at the glossy pages.

            "Thanks, Maxwell

            "Oh, you're welcome!" he replied and followed after her.

            "Like, Pashmina! Where have you, like, been?" asked Sandy, twirling her ribbon.

            "Sorry, I got caught up talking to-" she paused.  Should she tell Sandy?  "Just talking to someone.  You know, Maxwell is really nice!  He lent me this book!"  She held up the book and the girls inspected it. 

            "Hol-Hol-Holess?" asked Bijou, tightening her blue ribbons.

            "Yeah, I've been learning how to read from June and I kind of taught myself!" Pashmina replied.

            "Wow!  Like, Maxwell never lent his books to anyone!  You must be, like, really good friends!" Sandy said, but she was nervous.  Did Pashmina like Maxwell?  Nah! she thought.  It couldn't be!

            Pashmina thought, looking out into the dazzling blue sky, about the book.  She excused herself from the girl group and sat down at the couch.  She opened the book.

            "Th-there is n-no l-l-lake at c-camp G-g-green Lake," she began, stuttering uncontrollably. 

            Getting up from his seat, Maxwell trotted over to Pashmina.  "Did you get to the part when he-" he stopped suddenly and looked over.  Pashmina sat there in tears.  He looked at the clock and realized Pashmina had been on the first page for an hour.  She threw down the book and buried her face in her arms.

            "Oh!  Don't-don't cry Pashmina!" Maxwell exclaimed.  He picked up his book, not every stopping to check it, and sat down on the couch beside her.

            "Need help?" he asked nervously.

            Pashmina looked up, eyes glistening.  "I-I'm a failure, Maxwell!" she exclaimed and burst into tears.

           Sandy, who was busy talking, didn't notice Pashmina.  She got up, saying goodbye to Maxwell and giving him a kiss, and walked out.

            "Now, now, don't worry!  It took me a long time how to read, as well," soothed Maxwell.  "I can help."

            The two spent three hours working on the next fifteen pages.  "Tomorrow, I'll help you again," Maxwell said and Pashmina nodded.

            "Thanks, Maxwell," she said sweetly and smiled.

            As Pashmina left, Maxwell began to think about Pashmina.  How kind she was, and caring, not to mention quite pretty.  He thought about her and smiled.  It was then he realized how much he adored her.

            And then he thought of Sandy.

            He thought of her ribbon and her beautiful eyes and he gave himself a broader smile.  He followed Pashmina out of the Clubhouse and back to his bookstore.

            The next few days, Pashmina learned how to read.  By the third day, Pashmina had gotten to chapter 5!  Not only that, but Maxwell was having doubting feelings.  Did he really love Sandy?

            By the seventh day, Maxwell knew.  He didn't love Sandy.  He loved Pashmina.  He sighed and Pashmina looked up.

            "Yes, sensei Maxwell?" she asked.

            Maxwell smiled.  "Uh, well, it's just…" he couldn't.

            Pashmina smiled.  "Yes…?"

            Maxwell pulled her closer.  "Pashmina-I love you!" he exclaimed.

            Pashmina looked at him, wide eyed.  "I-I love you too Maxwell!"

            He kissed her.  And at that time, Sandy came in.

            "MAXWELL!" she shouted angrily and her eyes welled up with tears.

            Maxwell looked up.  "I'm sorry, Sandy," he said calmly.  "But, I don't love you.  I'm sorry."

            Sandy shuddered.  She was mad at Pashmina and Maxwell.  She couldn't believe it.

            "Why-why?" she sobbed.

            Maxwell stood up.  "I've sorry, but I just don't!"

            Sandy ran out.  "I hate you both!" she screamed.

            Pashmina looked dazed but Maxwell whispered in her ear.  "Don't worry; she'll have to get over it!"

            Sandy sat by a tree, sobbing.  "I just can't believe it!  I thought he loved me!!!"

            There was a hand on her shoulder.  "Twirling, whirling, round we go.  Twirling fast and twirling slow.  See the colors, skip and blow.  Twirling round we go."

            Sandy's sobs quieted and she sighed.  She knew it was Stan.  Perhaps he had seen the whole thing, too.

            She turned around-and to her surprise, saw Dexter!!!

            "De-Dexter?" she asked hesitantly.

            "I know.  I saw.  I knew."

            "You mean, you don't love Pashmina?"

            "Not as much as I love you."

            Sandy turned her head.  "You mean, you knew Maxwell loved Pashmina?  You

knew Pashmina loved Maxwell?"
            "Yes.  I knew Maxwell always had his eye on her, he just never knew it.  And I know I seem the quiet type, but I admire your sporty ways," Dexter replied.        

            Sandy looked up and smiled. 

            "I love you, Sandy," he whispered.

            Sandy reached out and kissed Dexter.  "Thank you," she said quietly.

            "No, thank you."

            Pashmina and Maxwell watched from the bushes.  "I knew it!" Maxwell exclaimed.

            That afternoon, Sandy traveled to Maxwell's.  In the afternoon sun, her fur glittered like golden raindrops and the wind swept everything off the ground.

            Maxwell looked up as Sandy rapped on the window.  "Yes?  Come in, Sandy-chan."
            Crawling through the window, Sandy sighed.  "Maxwell, I'm, like, so sorry.  I guess I, like, didn't love you either.  I, like, love Dexter."

            Maxwell chuckled.  "I always knew you had a soft spot for him," he said, smiling.

            Sandy looked up.  "You wanna, like, be friends?" she asked.

            Maxwell nodded.  "Friends forever."

            Dexter crawled up to Pashmina's window.  He looked up at the pale blue sky, watching the clouds float by like rocks on water. 

            Knocking, Dexter peered in through the window.

            "C'mon in."
            He crawled onto Pashmina's desk where her cage sat.

            "Hello, Pashmina," he said.

            "Hi Dexter!"

            Dexter drummed his fingers on his palm.  "You knew I loved Sandy.  I knew you loved Maxwell.  Thank you for finally realizing it."

            Pashmina grinned.  "I opened a door."

            She crawled out of her cage and stood across from Dexter.

            "You think Howdy will take it hard?" she asked.

            "No, he's in love with someone else."

            "Who?"

            Dexter grinned.  "Oh, someone you'd never expect."

            Pashmina gasped.  "Penelope?"

            He burst out laughing.  "No, of course not!!"

            "Bijou!!!!!" (Is that true, maybe, maybe notJ)

            Dexter grinned.  "Maybe…"

            Shaking her head, Pashmina laughed.  "Whatever.  Anyway, you still wanna be friends?"

            He grinned.  "That's all I wanted to be, Pashmina, that's all."

            Pashmina hugged him.  "Okay, then!  Now, how 'bout finding out who Howdy likes?  But first, a double date," she suggested.

            Dexter smiled.  "Sounds good!"

            A wind rustled a rose bush and sent two roses flying, one of the windowsill of Pashmina, and the other on the windowsill of Maxwell.

            The rose still remains there.

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, you like it? I'll be making a sequel!!!!!!! I promise, a new chapter of "My Crush" is coming, I just can post it!!!!! AHHH!!! Anyway, who does Howdy love? Oh and CALLING ALL H+B FANS!!! Or fan, actually.  Who is the H? Hamtaro-Howdy…Howtaro? JK! Who was that girl who wanted H+B? Hmm…anyway, tell me if you like odd couples, we can make a fic!

Ciao, Haily

Milkes: Yo! Try out for the Ham-chat contest!! We won't write a story for you, but if you win, we'll do something special or something.