Chapter NINE

The sound of a suitcase slamming shut echoed loudly through the empty wooden house leaving the residing squirrel to shutter at the erie feeling. A soft and shaky sigh

passed chapped lips and outlines under tired eyes were the only clue left on a blank face as to what had taken place the night before. Sandy winced, she told herself she

wouldn't breakdown but dammit it was just so hard, how else would you expect the love-retarted squirrel to handle this. The small mammal let herself fall to her knees with a

soft thud and she enveloped her face in folded arms. Half closed eyes gave a hint to what was hidden behind the well worn mask that now resided on her female face, and

yet anyone who looked upon this miserable creature would only be able to feel the sad aura she emitted. Her brain was painfully empty yet so full of many thoughts at

once. Memories of the horrid event teased and tortured her, never relenting even when the innocent white flag was rasied.

Sandy closed her eyes willing tears to stay behind the barracades she had set. She needed to get away. Enough said. The dishevled mammal could not bear the

thought of remaining in this cursed town she had come to call home and it was all because of that flea-ridden bitch of a raccoon. When Sandy had arrived back at the

large glass dome no trace of the night critter was left ... not even a hair, well not that she had bothered looking for hairs. She scraped her nails across the plastic suitcase

and bitterly though Good for she didn't know if she could control herself if confronted with the grey and black flirt.

The heart-broken mammal took a deep breath and stood tall, it was time to be strong ... no matter how much it hurt. The plan was to get away and leave Bikini Bottom ,

no not permanetly but just for a little while. Mabey a few weeks, or months ... just long enough for her to build up walls. Walls that would defend her from any of the

emotional pain, walls that would protect her when the time came to meet her unrequited love face to face again. But, the question was how long would it take of careful

architechture to be able to get that far?

She shook her head a tightley gripped the metal handly to her suitcase as if she could draw some sort of new-found confidence from it. The time had come to complete

phase one of her carefully placed plan: leave town without being noticed. Alright that didn't sound so tough ... right? Then why did her feet refuse to move from

the spot they were rooted?

"Come on you stupid squirrel..!" Sandy quietly chidded herself,"toughen up you gutless whimp and move the heck outta here!!"

Apparently self pep-talks worked quiet well when your an emotionally-challanged squirrel for her feet moved, although quite robotically, toward the door. Sandy took her

sweet time closing said door behind her and leaned back against it. A sickly sweet sigh was the only noise left to be heard in the once livley tree-dome.

Take a good look Sandy she thought in a sad whisper, Cus you won't be seeing this place for a long time....

A sad smile graced her lips and she wiggled the boot of her airsuit in the soft grass. Emotions started to well up and the only willpower she had left was starting to

disolve. Sandy bit down hard on her lip coaxing it not to quiver and her brow furrowed. NO she couldn't do this, not now when all she had to do was make it out the door

and onto a bus! She ground her teeth and set her feet into motion , across a soft grassy floor that held so many memories of happy afternoons filled with karate chops,

and tea-time talks. Oh god how she couldn't wait to be away and to forget, and the thought of forgeting seemed to motivate the overly emotional squirrel for she picked up

the pace and clamped her hand down on the ship-like wheel of a door handle. This was it, no turning back all she had to do was turn and go. willpower and self confidence

flooded through her viens taking over every inch of her brown body.

It seemed to slow that the handle turned and through an air filled helment was the face of an empowered squirrel. She was ready to complete phase one and she would

do it even if her emotions tore her up inside and dragged her down into a deep dark abyss. She twisted the handle pulled open the door AND.........there he stood the

object of her miserable affections with fist raised as if he was just about to knock. A look of determination on his soft face even if it was hard to decipher behind a fierce

blush that colored his cheeks. And there they went Sandys will-power , self control and any other emotion that mattered in her plan, out the door and into the deep blue

never to be seen or heard from again. Obviously phase one was easier said than done.

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

Sandy stared in harsh disbelief, he wasn't there she was just imagining things ... she had to be. Her plans, the walls, oh god the walls that didnt even have a proper

skeloton yet. Everything was ruined and it was all his fault! A sudden burst of anger and hatred wracked through her body surprised her. How dare he come here after her

humiliation last night. Did he just want to rub the embarasment in her face and say 'Sorry but I don't care for you the same way, I cannot return your feelings.' Well damn

him, damn him to hell. Her cheeks heated and eyes narrowed with mouth open ready to cus him out and tell him to git. She will NOT loose this fight! But, of course she

hadn't counted on him speaking first.

"Sandy I .... I think we need to_" but his sentence stopped short and his eyes widened.

Sandy was quick to use the opprotunity of his hesitation against him, "Get OUTTA here Sponge-bob!" she spat, "Your not welcome!"

Apparently though he hadn't heard her because his eyes were still glued to the bulky sticker-covered suitcase that still resided in her clenched fist. "S-Sandy w-why do you have a suitcase?!?"

The emotional now turned agressive squirrel clacked her teeth together and hissed,"None of ur gosh darn bussines now move aside your in my way!!!"

She thrusted past him and towards the last door of her home. Oh she was so close and yet so far if only she could reach the iron door quicker, push past that last

boundary that enclosed her in. Spongebobs hand shot out to stop her but she was quicker than him and smacked it away with her suitcase. Sandy didn't bother to look at

him for she knew if she did it would hurt to much. His expression was probly one of pain, sorrow, and disbelief. She knew is she looked at the misery on his face , where

such an expresion NEVER belonged ,any last bit of self control would wither away into nothing-ness and she would break down right there and then.

She sniffed and blinked back tears as she jogged away from what was once her loving home. The salty liquid flowed from her eyes fogging her vision and her helmet.

Why? Why did it have to be this hard? Sandy felt all the feelings she had bottled up poor down and out of its cage as she sobbed loudly. Gone where the hopes and

dreams she had for the future ... heck she would probly be fired for this. But, she supposed that would be all for the better because it would make sure she never saw that

sweet yellow face again. She violently shook her head and willed her mind to be blank , she didn't want to think she didn't even want to feel. After she left everything would

be better she could indulge herself in work and never think about the dambn emotion of love ever again. Sandy figured her heart was too broken to even come close to

feeling something of that kind and she realized her heart would never be satisfied unless she had the soft squishy did that old saying go though ... 'The heart

wants what the heart can't have'? That sounded about right and she almost chuckled at the cruel irony of it all.

"SANDY!!!!" a high pitched shriek shattered her thought process.

The squirrel stopped dead and her whole body froze, just like a deer in headlights. The soft pounding of feet behind her alerted her to the danger so why couldn't she

move? Sandy had to get away but by the time she regained control it was to late a soft yellow hand was placed on her should and she shied away from it. Her eyes were

wide and her breathing was laboured, her chest pounded with the sound of her heart beating faster and faster. Yet she couldn't bring herself to turn and look at him.

"sandy..." he whispered, "SANDY LOOK AT ME!!"

She winced at the power in his voiced and instinctivley turned to face him with wide eyes. Sandy had never heard him sound so, so demanding. A thud was heard as the

suitcase hit the ocean floor and Sandy nearly toppled over backwards at the look on spongebobs face. It was twisted in anger but his lips quivered and tears spilled

delicatley over his eyeslids.

"...why?" he breathed.

"w-what?" she quivered silently under her bulky air-suit.

His head was bent down and she couldn't see his eyes though she could see the glint of the tears which still slided down his face. How many times had she seen him

cry? Oh why did it hurt more this time to watch the pain .... pain that ... she caused. Realization struck her like lightning and she swallowed back a scream of despair. This

was not the plan. She wasn't supposed to hurt anybody she was just supposed to leave and slowly be forgotten.

Silence. Cold harsh silence filled between them and it was suffocating her. Sandy had to stop the silence before she went mad and without thinking she choked out, "SPIT IT OUT SPONGEBOB!"

His head whipped up and he screamed in a torn voice, "WHY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE ME?!?!?" his fists were shaking and his teeth were clamped together.

A wide-eyed Sandy just stared. His words had shocked her to the core .... what did he mean 'leave him'. She frowned and her jaw dropped midway, her vision fogged over

as her brain that was now nothing but mush tried to comprehend what he just said.

"S-Spongebob I don't understand what are you_?" but she was cut of by a voice so sad even the coldest of bastards hearts would mealt if the heard it.

"Don't you understand Sandy?"his voice was suddenly small and his face was red. Ocean blue eyes were clouded over,"When you t-told me last night t-t... that you love me you never gave me a ch-chance to respond......"

The confused squirrel flushed a brilliant red and her jaw twitched. The sponge was in a no better state for his body was shaking and from neck (?) up he blushed. It was

taking everything in the poor little guy to even speak let alone look Sandy staright in the eye and take steps toward her. Her heart beat thrumed wildly in her throat as he

advanced and all she could do was stumble back in mass confusion.

Cold clamy hands grasped her helment ... the one thing that seperated them, "Sandy I... I love you to..." he said so softly and filled with emotion that his voice appeared thick and heavy.

Sandy died right there and then her heart stopped beating for a whole two seconds. Not even a hair on her body moved and the lack of reaction from her seemed very displeasing to the sponge that had just poored his heart out to her.

"Take a deep breath sandy...." he whispered. Blue eyes pierced her brown ones and her brow furrowed in confusion.

'Take a deep breath'? what did he....,"Wh-what are you talking about spongebo_" but a lack of air kept her from finsishing the sentence as his lips locked with hers in a searing kiss. The helmet was tossed away and forgotten as the air inside exploded out in a large shape shifting bubble that wasted no time in getting to the surface.

Sandys mind reeled and her knees buckled, how she managed to stay standing was a complete mystery to her. The squirrel flushed and remained unresponsive until

she felt something wet and deliscously warm poke her lip. Her whole body pulsed at the feeling of his tounge and she clawed at his back looking for a vice like grip as she

ravenously ate away at his lips. Chesnut eyes rolled back into her head in pure please and soft yellow hands pulled her face in even closer to his.

Oh how she wanted this moment to last but soon the lack of air caught her attention and she pushed the yellow sponge away so she could grip her throat. Panicked eyes

looked at guilty blue ones. Sandys arms flailed and she made a mad dash for the treedome with a sponge following right on her tail. Damn her lungs and the need for air.

************( One month later)************

A brown squirrel sat wrapped in a nice warm blanket on a cushioned couch. She stared at the envelope in her hands and a frown poisoned her lovley features. A sigh

passed slightly bruised lips as she reluctantly but slowly pulled open the seal and tok out its contents. She had not been expecting to get a letter and expecialy not from the

same person who had caused her much grief only a month ago, but she supposed she should atleast take a look at what the culprit had to say. It was only fair right? She

unfolded pink paper that was filled with many words and started at the top where he name was written in perfect cursive writing.

Dear Sandy,

I have been spending a long time thinking about what I should say to you hun' for you did not deserve the treatment I bestowed upon you during my visit last

month. I suppose you don't really want to hear anything from me.....heck you'd probly be happy if you never saw high tai or hair from me again but I felt it was my duty

to explain a few things and more importantly say that I am eternally sorry.

I had not realized that you loved the little spongey fellow so I did what I naturally do. And that was to flirt and had fun. I would never have done that if I had

known because I would never want to hurt one of my dear friends. I know I may tease and critisize you but in all honesty I am truly jelouse of you. I know your probly

laughing right now thinking 'Ya right!' but its the truth I am envious of your ability to just be yourself and do what you want. Your so smart and caring and not to mention

strong. I just -sighs- I hope that you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me some day and if you don't well thats okay to. Fell free to kick-drop me to the next

ocean over if I am ever stupid enough to visit again -chuckles- .

Goodbye Sandy and many wishes of luck to you and your sponge I hope everything is alright between you and that I didn't ruin your chances!

Sincerely,

Luna Koon

A huge smile played across Sandy's lips and a hearty giggle bounced around the room. This letter was possibly the highlight of her week and she hugged it to her

chest thinking about how lucky she was. Even though in her heart she was honestly still made at the mischivous racoon she was able to summon up the ability to forgive

her ..... though she didn't think she pass up on the offer to drop kick her from here to the next ocean. She laughed and folded the letter carefuly before placing it back in

the torn envolope. This would be something she would tresure for it would help her remeber the night that had led to the happiest days of her life. A happy sigh hung in the

air and she looked up at the cieling. life was good and she kinda owed it to Luna. She laughed at the irony of it all, a month ago she would have blamed luna for the

downfall in her life but now she was the source of her upbringing. Ah irony was fun wasn't it?

"Sandy?" spoke a voice from another room , "What are you laughing at?"

The squirrel smiled and looked in the direction of her boyfriends voice, "Oh nothing Spongebob I just read something very interesting."

"Oh okay.." he responded seeming a bit confused,"well are you coming to bed or not?"

"Yup I'll be right there spongey" a feeling of total bliss pulsed through her body casing her to shiver.

Life was good and if she had the ability to go back in time she wouldn't change a thing and with that thought in mind she hurried off to the bed room that she and her

sponge shared many a nights ready to dream sweetly of the future.

THE FREAKING END

A/N: finally I thought I would never sum up the willpower to finish this things -drops dead from exahstion- you have no clue how hard the was for me seeing I

have no liking of the pairing spandy any longer and I have to say I actually pretty proud of this cus I think its pretty good for running on empty feelings and willpower

alone I just had to sit here and think 'Its for the readers its for the readers'

And I have to say I WILL be VERY sad if I get no reviews for this piece of shit -sighs- sorry for my bad attitude but I really need a nap =( so please R+R