Chapter Eleven: Stan, You Have A Choice

To all my dear and adoring reviewers, I, for the hundredth time, would like to thank all of you for sending your reviews. Those of you that I have mentioned as my favorite reviewers, thank you especially. Oh and, I don't own any Hamtaro related things, except Andre, Josie, and Kiran, (Don't any of you try to use them), I just write about Hamtaro, so don't file a lawsuit against me. Well, enough of the notes. Let's get on with Chapter Eleven.

**********The Parlor**********

"What did that mean? How could Andre know?" Stan asked himself. "Maybe, just maybe, he was bluffing. He never really accepted to believe that Hamtaro and Bijou were engaged." Stan had been questioning himself all day. He had a slight, an ever so subtle feeling, that Boss had something to do with this, but he crushed that possibility. "Nah, Boss would never do a thing like that."

"Boss would never do a thing like what?" asked Sandy as she walked into the room.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about this game we're playing with Josie and Andre's mind. Do you think Boss is happy with this...act?" Stan curiously asked. This last question brought Sandy back to what she and Pashmina had been discussing earlier. Here they thought that there was a supernatural being interfering with Hamtaro and Bijou, but could it have been a person as close to them as Boss?

"Judging by what happened yesterday, I don't think Boss loves the idea." Sandy reminded.

"Yeah, but.... Anyway, would Boss try to expose Hamtaro and Bijou, I mean, would he try to break up this arrangement?" Stan asked.

"It would be to his disadvantage. If he does expose Hamtaro and Bijou, then Bijou will have to marry Andre. I think he's smart enough to know that." Sandy explained.

'Good' Stan thought. 'Sandy's right, Boss would never do a thing like that.'

"Well, Josie sent me here. She said it's your turn to hang up the laundered clothes outside. They're in the washing machine." Sandy said as she went off into the kitchen to prepare lunch with Bijou.

"Kay, sis." and Stan went off into the washing room.

**********The Washing Room**********

No Ham really minded working in the washing room. First of all, the washing machine was an amazement to them. As soon as you were finished putting all the dirty clothes in, it magically started to work by itself. They didn't have a dryer, good thing because then all the Hams would be obsessed with it. Second of all, the washing room had an air vent that led straight to the Grand Foyer, but only Stan knew about it. It was his little secret.

"Let's see what dirt is flying around today." Stan said as he entered the tiny room. "Hmmm" he said as he played with the flaps of the vent like you would adjust the dial on the radio. "Darn it, there's nothing good on today." stated a disappointed Stan. "Hey, what's this?" he asked as he was about to stop playing and get to drying. He heard Andre's voice. "Is Andre talking to himself again?" Stan joked to himself, but then he heard another voice.

**********The Grand Foyer***********

"This isn't good." Boss repeated to Andre. "They are actually going to get married if we don't put an end to this."

**********The Washing Room**********

"Oh no." Stan's worst fears were confirmed. "He wouldn't."

**********The Grand Foyer***********

"I know, I know. But what can we do about it? I recommend we just sit here and watch as the savage gets tangled in his web of lies." Andre explained.

"You're right, Andre. Hamtaro got himself into this mess, then he should get himself out of it." Boss agreed.

**********The Washing Room**********

"He couldn't." Stan managed to choke out.

**********The Grand Foyer***********

"Now, if the savage doesn't get himself out of this mess then we..." Andre started.

"Then we will just have to take action." Boss finished.

**********The Washing Room**********

"He shouldn't." Stan sputtered.

**********The Grand Foyer***********

"Do you have a plan?" Andre asked.

"I've been working on one since the day that Hamtaro lied about his love life." Boss answered.

**********The Washing Room**********

"He did." and with that, Stan dropped the laundry basket he was holding, and raced upstairs to the Grand Foyer.

**********The Grand Foyer**********

"Andre, I don't know if we-" Boss started to explain.

"Are you starting to doubt what we're doing? Need I remind that you we're in this together? If I go down, you go down with me." Andre clarified.

"I know, it's just that what we're doing is-"

"Betrayal." Stan answered from his post at the door. He had heard the whole thing. He was fuming. "Boss! How could you? Bijou and Hamtaro trusted us Hams to keep this secret, and you told the one Ham that at all costs was never supposed to know?"

"Now, now, Stan. Zon't blame poor Boss here. I tricked him into telling me. But you know, you liked or shall I say still like Bijou too, don't you?" Andre asked.

"But I like every girl, and every girl likes me." Stan explained. Then he realized this wasn't the best time to be smooth. "But I'd never betray my best friends. Maybe Andre did trick you, Boss, but after what I heard, you're as much of a part of this as he is. Wait until Hamtaro and Bijou find out about this." Stan said racing to get out of the room.

"But Stan-" Boss tried to explain, but Andre interrupted.

"That wouldn't be the wisest thing. Remember my advantageous position in all of this. I can kill three birds with one stone. With one movement of my mouth, I can reveal this whole scheme, expose Hamtaro for the feroce that he is, and break Boss's heart by getting Bijou."

"I thought we were in this together!" Boss screamed.

"Oh, Boss, but we were. We were going to be partners in ruining this plan, but I am her legal fiancee, meaning that if we do expose Hamtaro and Bijou, I get the girl. So Stan, what's it gonna be? You have a choice. You could either tell Hamtaro and Bijou about me and Boss's secret rendezvous and make matters worse, or you could keep quiet and help me get the girl."

"I'll never help you." Stan nobly said.

"That's what your friend said. Go ahead, I don't need your help anyway. But do remember, Stan, that with one simple sentence, I can ruin and collapse this whole brotherhood of loving Hams."

Stan had no choice but to keep quiet. Andre had thought this plan through very thoroughly. "I'll keep quiet, but if I suspect anything going on between you two, then I'm going straight to Hamtaro and Bijou." Said Stan through clenched teeth.

"If you do that, I'm going straight to Josie." Andre declared. "Stan, you might know about this plan, but from how I see it, there's nothing you can do but helplessly sit and watch."

"Boss, how could you?" Stan asked once again, this time with pleading eyes.

"I'm sorry, Stan." Boss mumbled while trying not to look at Stan.

"It's Hamtaro and Bijou you should say sorry to." Stan averred in a disgusted voice as he walked out of the room.

"What did I do?!" Boss asked to no one in particular.

Meanwhile.......

**********The Kitchen**********

"Okay, how about we all suddenly get sick the day before the wedding?" Hamtaro suggested. He, Bijou, and Sandy were thinking of plans to get out of the wedding.

"It iz good, but I think that if all of us Hams get sick, muzzer and Andre will definitely get suspicious." Bijou said. "But I like your idea of getting sick. How about this, only you and me get some sort of food poisoning a few days before the wedding, and we have a severe case so we must stay in bed?"

"That could work." Hamtaro and Sandy said in unison.

"Merci, but we wouldn't be in this mess if someone hadn't said that we were fiancées." Bijou said in a playful yet serious voice.

"No, we would instead be working on plans for your wedding to Andre." Hamtaro pointed out. "I did you a favor." he almost bragged. Bijou playfully threw a dishtowel at him.

"You silly, silly boy. Sometimes I don't know when to hate you or to hug you."

"It's just that I'm so lovable." This time Hamtaro bragged. This was the first time that Hamtaro and Bijou could actually have a friendly conversation without the hassle of being fiancées hanging over their heads. Sandy was using this to her full advantage.

"I think you two made cute fiancées." said Sandy.

Hamtaro and Bijou said nothing. Instead, a blanket of red crept upon their faces.

"Anyway" said Bijou, "We are supposed to be making salad, not talking about this charade."

"Ok" Hamtaro and Sandy agreed.

Sandy had a plan.

**********The Corridors**********

It was late at night, around one o' clock. It was so dark, you could only just make out the silhouettes of two figures creeping among the halls.

"Remind me what this is for." one of the figures demanded.

"You'll see. Now, be quiet, Pashmina. Do you want anybody to hear us?"

"I guess not, Sandy. But do we have to do this at night? I'm tired!" Pashmina whined "Plus, I left Penelope all alone."

"Relax, this will only take a few minutes of your precious sleep, but it'll be worth it."

**********Maxwell And Cappy's Room**********

"You see," Sandy started to explain "Boys talk in their sleep. You can ask them anything."

"And?" a very grumpy Pashmina asked. "So, what's the big deal?"

"You can ask them anything, Pashmina, they'll answer truthfully, let me demonstrate." She crept up to Maxwell's bed, and asked him "What's the one thing you treasure most in this world, Maxy?"

"Book" he mumbled. Then Sandy grabbed his ears.

"What's the one thing you treasure most in this world, Maxy?!" she asked once more, trying not to yell, in a more audible whisper.

"Sandy, Sandy, Sandy!" the poor thing exclaimed while fidgeting like he was having some sort of nightmare. Though Maxwell did not wake up.

"Good. See Pashmina, they answer truthfully."

"Or forcefully." Pashmina whispered to herself, trying not to giggle.

**********Stan And Jingle's Room**********

"Stan" Sandy whispered to her sibling. "Who do you like?"

"Bijou...Pashmina....Hannah's kind of cute....that little brown hamster down the lane....." Sandy shut the door.

"There are a few exceptions," Sandy said "Stan, for example, likes every girl."

"Ask Jingle! Ask Jingle!" Pashmina exclaimed.

"No" Sandy said, "We have to get on with our business."

"But please!"

"Keep your voice down, and no. Ask him another night."

"But you got to ask Maxwell, and Stan."

"We'll ask him after we ask Hamtaro." Sandy explained.

"We're gonna ask Hamtaro who he likes?" Pashmina asked.

"No, Pashmina, we're gonna ask the toilet who he likes." said Sandy sarcastically. "Of course we're gonna ask Hamtaro who he likes!"

"But I told you it was obvious that Hamtaro likes Bijou." Pashmina said lowering her voice at Bijou's name.

"But we need proof." Sandy said as she took out a tape recorder.

"Where'd you get that." Pashmina asked.

"Junk drawer." Sandy said.

"You can't even use one!"

"How hard can it be? Hilary does it all the time. You press a button, and the voice records."

"But there are four buttons on that thing, and I think they're written in French." Pashmina said looking at the little gadget.

"We'll use context clues. It's not rocket science."

"Shouldn't we test it first?"

"No time, Pashmina. We have to get down to business, now follow me."

**********Hamtaro's Room**********

They tiptoed in. Ever so furtively, they approached his bedside.

"Sandy, I don't think we should be doing this."

"Quiet! I need complete concentration."

"But Sandy-"

"Quiet!" she whispered. "Now then" she said holding down the button that she thought said record. But instead, the tape holder popped open. "Whoops, I guess that's the pop-out-tape button." Pashmina fell over anime-style.

"Sandy-" Pashmina said while pointing to Hamtaro's bed.

"Quiet! Let me figure this doohickey out!"

"But Sandy-"

"Shush! Pashmina how many times do I have to tell you?"

"But Sandy-"

"Stop 'but Sandying me'! I have to get this contraption figured out without any distractions!" she snapped. Pashmina turned around.

"I tried to warn you...." she said.

"Whatever, anyway, what button is record?" Sandy asked herself.

"I think it's the red one." Hamtaro said.

"Oh, thanks, Hamtaro.....Hamtaro?" it appeared that Hamtaro was fully awake, listening to their conversation with his arms patiently folded across his chest as he leaned against the dark walls of his rooms.

"The one and only." said Hamtaro pleasantly.

"Fancy seeing you here." Sandy said while a huge sweat drop formed behind her head.

"Yeah, well I do sleep in my bedroom, but you don't, so what are you doing here?" Hamtaro asked.

"Ummm, we were just ummm...... it's all Pashmina's fault!" Sandy lied.

"What! It is not. Hamtaro, I'll tell you exactly what Sandy is doing here."

"I don't need an explanation. I heard your little talk with Maxwell. Say, Sandy, I didn't know all boys talk in their sleep."

"Well, we were just trying to record you boys while you were snoring, weren't we Pashmina?"

"Whatever you say, Sandy."

"We'll be leaving now, because obviously, you don't snore. Well, tootles." Sandy blurted out as she grabbed Pashmina's arm and ran out of the room.

"Ok" said Hamtaro as he sat down on his bed "So they were trying to figure out who I like, eh? Well they'll never figure it out, at least not from me....I'm thirsty!" Hamtaro suddenly declared as he went out of his room and down stairs to the kitchen.

**********Right Outside Bijou's Room**********

As Hamtaro walked up to Bijou's door, he started wondering. "I wonder if girls talk in their sleep." He skulked into her room, and watched her. She was beautiful. "God, she's like that even when she sleeps!" he thought to himself. "Hey Bijou, who do you like?"

Bijou didn't answer. Instead she slept silently, breathing ever so softly. "I guess it doesn't work for girls." he thought to himself. He shrugged, and walked out of the room.

The second he was out of hearing distance, Bijou, who was still asleep, whispered "The silly boy."

********************

Please R/R, and I'll update soon! ^.^

Tootles,

Celestial Night