Okay, my fourth fic! I did it because I was bored, okay?

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Disclaimer: I don't own Hamtaro or any of its characters!

Ribbons of Change

Sandy was briskly walking to school. She knew that she could have taken the bus, but she wanted to stay fit. Stan had complained that it was impossible for her to get fat no matter what since the young teenage human ham always would be outside, running or twirling her ribbon. Sandy thought that this was pathetic, but she kind of thought that Stan was right. After all, she was the one doing laps around the room when the teacher was out. Sandy was in all of the sports that you could think of. Basketball, softball, baseball, football, soccer, golf, bowling, swimming, hockey, ice skating, track and field, tennis, and even rugby were all that she did. She could manage doing this because of the different seasons. For instance, ice skating and hockey were in the winter while softball and baseball took place in the summer. But, her favorite was… rhythmic gymnastics. She loved the wave that her ribbon would make and it felt like she was finally free. It was only her, and she was free to dance and show off. Sandy loved to show off. It was part of the competition, like in football, Sandy could pull off the best "HA! I got this touchdown and you couldn't even stop me and no one ever will!" dance. She was the star in every sport. Star hockey and soccer goalie, best quarterback, tennis superstar, and the girl version of Michael Phelps in the butterfly. Nothing was in her way. Sandy was confident and felt that she was invincible.

Well, except one thing. And that was anything that had to with a brain and a pencil. The school tests were out today. In a student's first class, they would be taking the tests in each subject that would decide which classes they would get into high school. The ham-hams along with Sandy were going to Ham Ham High School, but Sandy felt like some of the smarter hams should get a better chance to go to a better, more smarter high school. Like Maxwell, she dreamily thought as she raced through the doors of junior high.

Sandy sprinted to find that she was the first one there. She glanced at the window and found that she beat the bus. Wow, I must have been running over here, she thought. Only the teacher, Mr. Spat, was there. He was biting into what looked like a rotten apple and Sandy gagged at the sight. Spat looked at Sandy to finally realize that she was in the room. Sandy sheepishly smiled and to her surprise, Spat smiled back. She felt like sinking down into the round at that smile. Spat got up from the table and walked towards a trembling Sandy.

"Well, Ms. Torahamu. It is a very big surprise to see you here this early." Spat smiled that Sandy thought was from the devil. She could feel her throat clog up and thought, Why did I have to get Spat as a homeroom teacher?

"Usually, you are quite late to class. Probably goofing off like pushing someone off a cliff, trying to catch attention from your fellow classmates," Spat said through gritted teeth. He was referring to the time when Sandy "accidently" pushed him off the fifty foot cliff on a field trip back in sixth grade. He was lucky that there was water at the bottom. Sandy had him as her first teacher ever since then and every day, Spat despised her more and more.

"Uh, should I be sorry that I'm early?" Sandy squeaked. Before Spat could answer, Maxwell walked calmly into the room. Sandy's throat wasn't clogged anymore, but she started to get that usual squeamish feeling in her stomach. Maxwell was organizing his pencils and placing his books in a perfectly neat pile.

"Ah, Mr. Noppo. You are finally back with that book that I requested. Give it here," Spat said as he held out his hand. Maxwell handed him a book and managed to smile as he did so. Sandy turned her head to the side to see the title read: Medieval Torture. Sandy couldn't help but crack a smile at the title. She knew that she was the target for Spat. As soon as Spat walked back to his desk, Sandy got into her own chair. She was right in front of Maxwell and she was happy that she was seated like this. That way, Maxwell couldn't see her the red that spread across her cheeks so quickly when he was near. Sandy got a swift peek at Maxwell and could see that he was wearing his usual light blue collar shirt and jeans. He had dark, brown eyes to go with the color of his hair that never had a strand out of place. Sandy turned back as Maxwell smiled at her. She thought about her own outfit. Red running shorts, red tennis shoes, red tank top, and a white jacket. Her eyes were a vivid emerald and her hair was the color of honey. All the time she put it in the ponytail, too lazy to ever try to tame it. She gagged at what she wore. It was the complete opposite of Maxwell. Complete opposites. That's what we are, Sandy thought in disgust.

Soon, the other students slowly came in. Stan could be seen chatting with Hamtaro and the others and soon, class began. Sandy was sweating by now. She knew that she had all of the bad grades. She was worst in her class, even more terrible than Stan. Sandy turned her head around to see Maxwell, who gave her a reassuring smile. Sandy smiled back and Maxwell could see that her face was very pale. Spat handed out the test and purposely dropped, then stepped, on Sandy's. Sandy looked at the tattered, dirty paper and frowned. No, it wasn't because there was a tiny piece of gum that was from Spat's foot that made the girl worse. It was the problem. It was so confusing to Sandy. Her head span as she timidly wrote -6. She could feel the trouble coming.

No, that's not right. Wait, isn't that supposed to be a positive? But, when I carried the- Oh, my gosh! Is that an exponent over there!? So I have to the whole thing over again!? Oh, no. They really have to make the print bigger when it comes to exponents. Just like in the library. I swear, they don't even have the right print. I may have perfect vision, but the print is barely noticeable. Maybe I should get my eyes checked up. The last time that I did that was- well, I can't even remember. What are those guys called? Optometrist? Isn't that like Dexter's family? I heard that his parents make eye glasses. Or are they doctors? Man, I wish that my family owned a shop or business.

Sandy went on and on like that until class ended. She was still left in the same position as before. When Maxwell tapped her on the head with his pencil, she waked from her trance. She glanced behind her and Maxwell mouthed, "The test?"

"OH, MY GOSH! LIKE, I HAVEN'T EVEN DONE THE FIRST PROBLEM!" Sandy gasped as she figured it all out. Spat looked up and grinned.

"Five more minutes, Sandra. Not to mention that you're the only one that isn't finished," Spat cackled.

"AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!" Sandy screamed. Hamtaro was knocked over at the sound while Stan flung his pencil to the ceiling. Sandy was standing up, furiously scribbling answers and in five minutes, she didn't even finish half of it.

"Tsk, Tsk, Sandra. I seriously would have thought that you could have done better than that. This is a new low!" Spat said excitingly. Sandy groaned and walked off to lunch. She was doomed from the start.