Chapter 18: Facing Fears...

"Her mascara was smeared; her eyes covered in tears. Her red ribbon had no reason to sparkle anymore..."

Author's Note: I told you it wasn't going to be a long wait for the next chapter! Two chapters in one day! Wow wee....I could even do three at this rate....

Disclaimer: I do not own Hamtaro or any of the other characters. So there! =P

A red ribbon sparkled as the white hamster stood at the front of Hamtaro's owner's home. She frowned a bit, and took several deep breaths. Was she really going to go through this?

She gulped and nodded.

This time, she wasn't going to walk away. She took a couple steps forward, over to the back of the house where Brandy was. She frowned a bit more. She had completely forgotten about that evil dog. He'd nearly tear her to pieces if she got caught by him.

She sneaked passed his dog cage, to hear almost silent snoring. He was still sleeping...what a relief! She headed a bit forward, trying to figure out how to get in. That was until a familiar voice addressed her.

"What are you doing here?" it asked. "I thought you hated me."

The white hamster quickly turned around to the source of the sound. An orange and white hamster stood right next to her, wearing a frown on his face.

"Hate you?" she asked, a bit surprised he had made that accusation. "I don't hate you...where did you ever get that idea?"

The hamster frowned a bit more. "You don't have to lie, Bijou. I heard you the other day."

And then it snapped. He had heard her outburst. Her eyes widen. "I-I didn't mean it, Hamtaro. I don't really hate you...I-I..." her eyes teared up. "I just don't know!"

"Don't know?" he asked, his voice sounding dull and emotionless...as usual. "Well, maybe you should start knowing."

"Stop it!" she hissed, wiping away more tears. "You're always like this! You don't even care at all! Nothing matters to you...you're just selfish. You're just mean! You're just cruel...you're right, Hamtaro! I do hate you!!" The white hamster couldn't stand anymore of this. She quickly ran off, in tears, leaving the orange and white hamster alone.

He stood frozen, just watching her. Her words stuck to his head like they had been stapled; attached; only in the most painful way. Was he really...cruel? Was he really...mean? What had happened? His face grew a bit pale, as he continued to stare out into the distance in the direction the white hamster had went.

Bijou ran into the Clubhouse, shutting the door behind her. Her mascara was smeared; her eyes were covered in tears. Her red ribbon had no reason to sparkle anymore.

The other Ham-Hams' eyes widen. "Like what happened!?" exclaimed a concerned orange and "tiger striped" hamster, walking over to her friend.

Bijou swallowed hard. Everyone had seen her; everyone had some clue. She slowly walked over to the table, as a big-eared hamster offered her a tissue. "Here," he said, in a gentle voice. "Now wipe your tears and tell us why you're crying in the first place."

The white hamster did as she was told, wiping her tears at first, and then fixing her eye make-up. As the others kept a close eye on her she heaved a couple of sighs. She didn't want to tell.

But she had too. This would be easier then before, wouldn't it?

"I-I..." the white hamster stuttered on the words. "I went to talk to Hamtaro..."

Immediately, the males were pulled away from the conversation. This was a girl thing...

The two female hamsters leaned in closer to their friend, a bit eager to know more.

"And he said that I said I hated him..." Bijou frowned a bit more. "I told him I never said that and then he said he heard me when I did and I didn't mean it and then he acted like he didn't care so I got mad and I yelled at him and I said I hated him again!!" she panted a bit after finishing her long run-on sentence.

The girls' eyes widen. "You hate Hamtaro?" the one with the red scarf asked. "I thought you were head over heels for him..."

"That was BEFORE they like broke up," the other one explained, it being pretty obvious.

"Oh...well...Bijou," the hamster with the red scarf looked between Bijou and then back to the orange 'tiger striped' hamster. "You deserve better." She finished.

"Yeah!" the other one said in agreement. "Hamtaro's a jerk!"

"Do I agree more than ever," another 'tiger striped' hamster walked over to the three girls with a big smirk on his face. "Bijou, baby, you deserve someone better...like me..."

"Stan!" the first 'tiger striped' hamster exclaimed. "Like stay out of this, okay!?"

"Why should I?" Stan asked, narrowing his eyes. "And since when are you da boss of me, Sandy? Bijou here is hurt. Can't I help cheer her up?"

"You like don't understand Stan!" his twin exclaimed. "You aren't a girl so like get out!"

"That's no way to treat your brother..."

"That's no way to treat your sister and her friends..."

"Weirdo!"

"Idiot!"

The two siblings were at it again.

"Some things never change," the hamster with the scarf commented, twirling the ends of the red silk around her paw.

The white hamster nodded in agreement.

"Loser!"

"Loser yourself, Stan!"

"STOP IT YOU TWO!" exclaimed the big-eared hamster, trying his best to bring peace between the two.

"You like stay out of this, Maxy!" Sandy frowned. "I wanna settle this like once and for all!"

"No way am I going to let you do that, Sandra." Maxwell crossed his arms.

"LISTEN TO ME YOU PERVERT!" exclaimed Sandy, enraged. "DON'T YOU EVER LIKE CALL ME THAT! AND DON'T YOU EVER LIKE GET INVOLVED WITH ME AND MY BROTHER'S AGRURMENTS! IT LIKE TOTALLY DOESN'T INVOLVE YOU! SO DO ME A FAVOR AND GET OUT OF MY LIFE!!" she panted at the end of her outburst, watching the speechless big-eared hamster react to it.

"Sandy I had no clue-"

"Just go Maxwell..." she replied, still panting.

The big-eared hamster frowned and walked out of the Clubhouse, as a single tear fell down his cheek. "If that's what you really want Sandy..." he whispered. "If you really love someone...you let them go..."

Sandy just watched speechless as well. Stan frowned a bit, suddenly feeling very guilty. This was all his fault...

Bijou's eyes remained widen. Sandy and Maxwell's relationship had come so close to breaking apart before...but this was it. It was really the end...wasn't it?

Silence covered the Clubhouse, as the door closed. It was a couple of minutes before anyone spoke a word.

"So," Sandy said, a bit discomforted with the silence. "Where were we?" she asked looking around, as the others stared at her. It was going to be a long day...

Bijou frowned a bit. "We were-"

She was interrupted.

"Sandy," Stan said, with a slight frown. "We need to talk..." he took his sister's paw and dragged her out of the Clubhouse. Before he left, he looked over at Bijou with a small smirk on his face. "Don't feel guilty, baby." He said to her, flirting as usual. "As soon as I finish talking to this ham gal, I'll go some place special with you...think of it as our own little date..."

Final Notes: Well Bijou faced Hamtaro didn't she? But only to be hurt even more... Love stinks doesn't it? -laughs a bit- No, they'll probaby get together in the end. Love'll find a way. And besides, life's ironic...much like this story. Who knows what will happen next....or when I'll update it....