Lorax - Once-ler x Aurora - Breathless - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The next day came quickly. Aurora had a slight skip in her step as she walked along the dirt path keeping her eye out for the opening in the woods. She looked up to the afternoon sky and was looking forward to another day getting to know the tall entrepreneur. She smiled when she walked upon his cabin. He was leaning up against a Truffula tree with his guitar in hand, a few humming fish dancing around his feet. Once’ler laughed warmly as the fish started humming along with the music drifting from the strings. Aurora smiled as she walked closer and sat next to Once’ler as she continued to watch the fish perform.

“Hey. How are you doing this fine day?” Once’ler said with the normal smile plastered on his face before bumping her a gentle greeting with his shoulder.

“Wonderful. And you?”

“Never better.” He replied as he continued to strum away on his guitar.

Aurora clapped happily along with the music as the fish continued to dance. “Isn’t there anyone here who doesn’t like you? You seem to have your own gravitational pull.” Aurora commented with a laugh as a Barbaloot came from its hiding place behind a tree to join in the merriment.

“Well, there is someone… But it’s only a matter of time before I get to him though. No one can resist this much charm for long.” Once’ler laughed.

“Who is it?” Aurora asked looking at Once’ler perplexingly.

Once’ler didn’t verbalize an answer; he just nodded his head toward his cabin. Aurora looked where he motioned and seen a small orange creature with yellow eyebrows and a big bushy mustache to match. Her eyes squinted slightly as she took in the form of this strange creature. In all her years of wandering these forests, she had never seen anything like it.

“What is it?” Aurora asked, scooting back slightly when she noticed it walking toward where they were sitting.

“Hmm, that’s interesting, Once’ler, I didn’t know you were expecting company today.” The small creature spoke, making Aurora squeak in surprise.

“Sorry, Lorax. Forgot to mention it.” Once’ler responded, smiling warmly at the creature.

“So, is she one of your employees?”

“No. She just happens to enjoy my company, right, Aurora?” Once’ler said, his arm slinging around her shoulder, making Aurora’s cheeks turn a bright red feeling the weight of his arm enveloping her thin shoulders.

“Uh… Yeah…”

“Oh. I do apologize. How rude of me, ma’am. I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.” The Lorax said, reaching over and taking her hand before placing a kiss on it. Aurora smiled before withdrawing it and hurriedly scratching her hand being tickled by its silken moustache.

“Hello, Lorax. I’m Aurora. Pleased to meet you.” She responded with an easy smile as she pushed some loose hairs behind her ear.

“Aurora. Ah, what a magnificent name. Oh, and the pleasure is all mine.”

“Why, thank you.”

“Alright. Wait, wait, wait! Just… wait… Alright, what’s going on? Why does she get all the pleasantries and I get the threats?” Once’ler interrupted looking questioningly at the orange creature.

“For starters, she’s a heck of a lot prettier than you are.”
“Other than that…” Once’ler replied.

“What do you want from me, StringBean? We have our differences and you haven’t backed out of your promise yet, but that still doesn’t mean I’m not going to keep my eyes on you… … wait, is it just me, or is something burning?” The Lorax asked, sniffing the air and looking around.

“Oh, no! I almost forgot!” Once’ler said, quickly jumping to his feet and running to his cabin.

Aurora sat in stunned silence as she felt the dust settle and her hair fall back in place from the rush of air. “Whoa… he can sure run fast…”

“Most tall skinny guys can, now tell me, what is a sweet girl like you doing with a manipulative greedy guy like that?” The Lorax asked.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about…”

“Ol’ StringBean, there.”

“Listen, I don’t know about you, but I’m a pretty good judge of character. The Once’ler I know is nothing but a sweetheart.”

“It may seem that way. I tell you, that kid could have made one brilliant actor to be able to fool a smart girl like you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s playing you like that guitar of his and the worst part is, you can’t see through the smokescreen! Yeah, he may seem all happy-go-lucky, but I tell you, deep down is something a bit darker…”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Listen, just be careful…”

“Believe me, I can handle myself.

“I sure hope you’re right, because let me tell you, you gotta keep an eye on that one… He can be a tricky one…”

“Who wants cookies? I made plenty!” Once’ler asked, bursting out of the cabin doors wearing big red oven mitts holding two sheet trays with golden brown sugar cookies. As all the animals smelt the delicacy, they all came running out of their hiding places. Once’ler smiled, kneeling on his cabin steps handing each creature a cookie. “Careful, they’re still a little hot…” Once’ler said, handing them out.

Aurora smiled as Once’ler pet one of the Barbeloot bears before she turned to look at the Lorax wondering what negative spin he’d place on the scene that just unfolded in front of them.

“See? I told you… He’s evil… Be right back.” The Lorax said getting in the line that formed.

Aurora just laughed softly, looking down at the Once’ler’s guitar he placed to lean against the tree. She picked it up before scooting farther away from the tree. Her fingers were tracing over the strings as she strummed the guitar softly as her fingers moved along the frets sporadically pressing down the strings trying to make a pleasant sounding note. She flinched when she strummed the strings again, the off-key screech resulted instead.

Aurora was about to place it down when she felt someone sitting behind her. She looked over her shoulder and looked at Once’ler’s face as he placed his left hand over hers, which was still loosely grasping the neck of the guitar. Her eyes glanced back over to the strings as his hands guided hers to the right frets and the correct strings. “I find it’s easier to use chords. It just helps in getting the feel of the guitar. Now, make sure your index only presses the first two strings, your middle on the second fret and holding down the third. Now, go ahead and play the strings.”

Aurora swallowed the lump that developed in her throat before her right hand gently slid across the six strings and a beautiful chord played. Aurora smiled and looked back over her shoulder at Once’ler who just smiled.

“Now try your index on the third and your middle on the second.” Once’ler suggested before Aurora placed her fingers down. “No, you need to move this one over to the second fret…” he whispered softly, his breath tickling her neck. Aurora flushed a bright pink as she allowed his fingers to guide hers. After she corrected her fingers, he gave her a nod to tell her to strum the strings again.

“Good. Now play the first chord once and the second twice.” After slight hesitation, Aurora followed through and a start of a beautiful melody came from the guitar. “See, you just need to get a feel for it. You seem to be a natural. I can teach you to play if you want.” He said softly. He watched as her face flushed slightly and a warm pink hue enveloped her cheeks before she smiled warmly.

“I’d like that… I’d like that very much.”

“Great. Alright, first lesson…”

The rest of the day went by way too fast for the both of them. Aurora smiled proudly as she played a short song Once’ler had just taught her. After the song concluded, Once’ler clapped enthusiastically as the fish squeaked in delight. “Wonderful! You’re a very quick learner!”

“I just have a great teacher.” She said before she removed the guitar from her lap and placed it softly on the grass. She smiled softly at him before she looked up to the sky and noticed the sun was quickly disappearing over the horizon line. She sighed unhappily knowing she had to get going. “Well, looks like I should get going.” She continued as she stood to her feet and dusted off her pants.

“Wait. Before you leave, here, I had a few extra cookies. You and your folks can enjoy them.” Once’ler said, running back into his cabin before emerging with a small container.

“Wow, thanks, Once’ler.” Aurora said, taking the container from his hands before she looked up at him and smiled brightly before ignoring her own hesitation and taking a step toward him and hugging him around his waist much to the Once’ler’s surprise. But he quickly returned it. She pulled away a few seconds later before she stuttered, struggling to find words to say, but quickly found them and said, “I mean, thank you. You know, for everything. I’ve had a great time with you today.”

“Same here.”

“I feel the need to apologize though.”

“For what?”

“I keep stopping by while you’re trying to create your business. I just feel as if I’m taking that away from you.”

“Don’t think like that! I’ve had a wonderful time with you and the only thing I’m working on is my thneed song and I’m giving it time to simmer. It’ll come to me eventually.” Once’ler replied with a laugh. “So, until that happens, I have plenty of time. You’re more than welcome to stop by to visit whenever you want! I love having company that’s not always stealing my stuff when I’m not looking.”

“Thanks. I’d love to, it’s just fall semester begins on Monday anyhow. I won’t be around as much, but I’ll stop by when I can.”

“Hey, tell you what. If your folks are still going to be busy with other stuff tomorrow, why not just stop by tomorrow and we could have one last day of fun before you have to start college again, alright?”

“That’d be okay with you?”

“Of course! That would be wonderful! I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Now, go along now, get home. It’s getting late. There’s not much sunlight left.” Once’ler said, turning her around and scooting her along to the path that led her home. “See you then, Aurora!” he said as he waved.

Aurora was a little stunned, but smiled and waved regardless as she headed back toward home.

The Lorax peeked from behind a tree at the girl who was walking away toward her home. He sighed looking back at the Once’ler. He shook his head just hoping with all his might the girl turned out to be right and the Once’ler would ultimately keep his promise…

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