Chapter 5: Sandy

Sandy was sitting in her treedome. She had a book in her hands, and was trying to read. Her thoughts kept wandering back to Red... and Spongebob. Sandy sighed. She put the book down. She just couldn't concentrate. "Maybe a warm bath will help." she said. As Sandy went to the bathroom, she put on her bathrobe and got a bottle of bubble bath soap. She turned on the tap, making sure the temperature was just right. She put the bubble liquid into the running water. The tub was soon filled with bubbles. Sandy smiled. Bubble baths always helped. But then looking at the bubbles made her think. She began to think about Spongebob again. He loved heading out into the fields and blowing bubbles. He had become an expert at creating all kinds of shapes with them. Sandy giggled as she was thinking of her friend. But her smile didn't last. She tried to shake the feeling of sadness welling up in her. Sandy sighed as she stepped into the tub. The feeling of the warm soothing water seemed to make her feel better for the moment. She hunkered down into the bubbles.

After about a half-hour, Sandy was relaxing in her bed in her night gown. She tried to read her book again.

Her thoughts were still bothered by thoughts of Spongebob, and everything Red had said. Sandy put her book away and snuggled into her bed sheets. She sighed. "What if that Red fella was right?" she said. Sandy didn't like the thought. She couldn't stand the idea of not seeing her friend again. "I didn't know we'd all hurt Spongebob so much." Sandy said. "Why didn't I think of that.?" She gave out a big sigh. "And he said I was the smartest one in Bikini Bottom." Sandy sighed and rolled over. Warm tears were beginning to fill her eyes. She turned off her lamp and dozed off to sleep.

Her mind's eye saw visions of her walking along the streets of Bikini Bottom. The outside was still and quiet. It unnerved her. But the silence was broken when Sandy heard the sound of a stopping bus. She turned and saw a bus pull up to the stop over by her house. Curious, Sandy went over to the stop to see who would be coming off of the bus. She sat down on the bench. The hatch doors opened.

Sandy peered over to the bus doors. She watched as a familiar form appeared...Spongebob. Sandy smiled widely. "Spongebob!" she exclaimed with joy. Spongebob turned and saw her. He too, gave out a big smile. "Sandy!" said Spongebob.
Sandy leapt up and enveloped him in a hug. Spongebob too, wrapped his arms around her. "You're back!" Sandy yipped happily. Spongebob laughed. "Of course I'm back." he said. "I couldn't stay away from Bikini Bottom forever." Sandy laughed with him. "Spongebob, I'm so sorry." She said. "I shouldn't have treated you like I did. I guess I'm not as smart as you thought I was."
Spongebob laughed. "What's so funny?" Sandy asked. "Sandy, you are smart." Spongebob said. "But…" Sandy protested. Spongebob paused her. "You know Sandy," he said, "smart doesn't just mean knowing everything." Sandy smiled and giggled. "That is true." she said. "We all make mistakes." Spongebob added. "You forgive me?" Sandy asked. Spongebob smiled. "Of course I do." he said. "How could I not forgive you?" Sandy smiled.
He was right. Why wouldn't he? "Thanks Spongebob." she said. Spongebob smiled and embraced her. "You really are a true friend." Sandy added. True friend. Those two words echoed through her mind.

Sandy woke up and slowly opened her eyes. She yawned. She sat upright in bed and stretched. Sandy felt hopeful. She thought that maybe things wouldn't turn out so bad after all. Sandy got up and decided to fix herself a cup of tea. She went down to her kitchen and pulled out her teapot. She filled it with water and turned on the stove. She took out a pack of peanut tea. When water boiled, she took out a cup and filled it with water.
She took the tea bag and put it in the water. The sweet aroma of peanut oil filled her nostrils. Sandy smiled with content. Her thoughts soon turned to the fact that Spongebob was still gone, and no one knew where he was. She frowned. She took a sip of her peanut tea once it was ready. She felt bad. She still felt that she had let him down, and been a poor friend. And Spongebob was always a true friend to her. Even when he would get on her nerves.

Sandy felt tears return. She saw one drop into her tea. She wiped her eyes. "Maybe a walk would do me some good." Sandy thought. She finished her tea and changed out of her nightgown. She got into her bikini outfit, then into her air suit.
She adjusted the helmet before heading out. Like in her dream, the outside was still and quiet. Sandy walked down the street, hanging her head in sorrow. "What am I going to do?" she thought to herself. Sandy was so preoccupied with her thoughts, that she didn't notice the figure until she nigh on ran into him. "Oh I'm sorry." she said. "I didn't even see…" Sandy stopped. She saw that the figure she ran into was none other than Red. "You!" she shouted. "Yep, it's me." said Red. "You should be more careful little lady." "What are you doing here?!" Sandy shouted. "Taking a walk like you are." Red said. "No need to get your fur in a tizzy." "And why shouldn't I, you jerk." Sandy said angrily. "Calm down." said Red. "I mean no harm."
"Sure you don't." Sandy replied. "I'm already hurt enough."
"Aw, what's the matter?" Red asked. "Do not get cute with me." Sandy said. "I can see you're quite upset." he said. "It's Spongebob, am I right?" Sandy just huffed and crossed her arms. "I'll take that as a yes." he said.

Sandy growled. "What's it to you?" Red smiled. "And I'll take that to mean that my words have sunk in." he said. Sandy sighed. "Yeah." she said. Red smiled and put a fin on Sandy's shoulder. She slapped it. "Don't touch me!" "Ouch!" Red exclaimed. "I'm just trying to help."
"Yeah right." she said. "Like you care."Sandy gave Red a death glare. "Wanna bet?" he asked. "No thanks." said Sandy. "Fair enough." Red said. "But you'll see. I can tell you're feeling remorse." "Just leave me alone." Sandy said. "Listen to me." Red said. Sandy sighed. "What is it?" she asked. "I can tell you're broken up about this." he said. "And it pains me to see someone like this." "So why were you giving everyone a hard time huh?" Sandy asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Red asked. "Yeah, yeah." Sandy said. "We brought this upon ourselves. Don't rub it in."

"No." he said. "I just want you to realize how much you hurt someone you consider a friend." Sandy sighed. "And now it's hurting me." she said. Red nodded. "You're a smart squirrel." he said. Sandy huffed. She continued to walk. Red watched her. He smiled.
When Sandy was out of his sight, he sighed. "I'm just glad nothing bad happened to you when you figured it out." Red said to himself. Red drew his coat around himself and skulked off into the alley. Sandy continued walking. She tried to shake her feelings, but she couldn't. She turned and walked a beeline straight to her treedome. Sandy entered, and threw her air suit off. She collapsed on the tree, burying her face in her arms, and started to cry. "Oh Spongebob." Sandy cried, tears staining her fur. "Please come back."
Red was hiding behind a rock, watching her. Seeing Sandy so sad. He too, shed a few tears.