Lorax - Once-ler x Aurora - Breathless - Chapter 7

I just had to go see the Lorax again. I saw it this time in 3-D and I think it was even better the second time!

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Once-ler walked the stretch of road, he heard the farm animals and looked at all the different crops that were being grown. There were multiple farm houses and markets scattered along the roadside and he was just trying to find out which one belonged to Aurora’s family. He finally stopped when he noticed a small market and saw Aurora standing behind the counter wearing a bright green apron and helping out a customer. Once-ler smiled before tying Melvin to a pole outside before heading toward the door.

Once-ler walked into the small market, hearing a loud bell ring when he pushed the door open. Aurora looked up to instinctively and took a double-take when he realized who it was. After she finished checking the customer out, she handed her the bags and the elderly customer left a few seconds later. Once-ler played it cool, looking around the shop and being coy. Aurora looking around making sure no one else was in the shop before she walked up to him.

“What are you doing here? Aurora asked in a hushed voice.

“Shopping. I thought you had a big project.” Once-ler said, smiling nonchalantly wondering why Aurora seemed to be so nervous about his presence in the shop.

“I did, but my parents needed help, and – “

“Ooh, is this the young man we’ve been hearing so much about?” A woman asked loudly, poking her head out from behind the door near the front counter. She walked out from the door and Once-ler immediately recognized the family resemblance. “So, you must be the famous Once-ler.” Aurora’s mother, Sylvia, said as she walked up to the two.

“At your service, ma’am.” Once-ler replied, curtseying slightly before taking her hand and kissing the top of it.

“Wow. So polite and handsome too! I could see why you like him so much.” Her mother commented, nudging her daughter teasingly with her elbow.

“…Mom!” Aurora felt her cheeks grow a dark red hue.

“So, what are you looking for today, can I… now where did you get that exquisite scarf?” Sylvia continued.

“Oh, it’s not just a scarf, it’s a thneed. …You really like it?”

“It’s beautiful!” Sylvia replied. “Where did you get it?”

“He made it, mom.” Aurora answered for him.

“Really?” Sylvia asked the tall man.

“Mm-hmm.” Once-ler said, smiling and nodding his head.

“I’d love one. May I buy this from you?”

“Sure. You’d be my first customer.”

“I assure you, I won’t be your last! I know a few people who would just love this!” Sylvia said as Once-ler removed the scarf from his neck and handed it to her.

“Wow. It’s so soft! How much do I owe you?”

“$3.98.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep.”

“You’re kidding… You have more I can buy right away?”

“Actually, I don’t. But tell you what, I can make a few more and bring them back tomorrow if you like.”

“Sure. Here’s the money for three more.” Sylvia said, handing him sixteen dollars.

“Thank you. Wow. This turned out to be a pretty good day after all. I’ll get started on them right away. Thank you for your business, Madame.” Once-ler said, waving to Aurora before walking out of the store.
“If I were you, Aurora. I wouldn’t let that boy get away.” Sylvia said, patting her daughter on the back before Aurora ran out of the store after him.

“Once-ler, wait!” Aurora said, Once-ler paused and looked over at her in the midst of untying Melvin from the post.

“Is something wrong?” Once-ler asked.

“…Why did you come here?”

Once-ler sighed softly thinking back to the events he went through in town. “Uh… things in town didn’t go to well, so I was going to see what you were up to. Honest, never intended to embarrass you or anything.”
“What happened in town?”

“Well, long story short, I got pelted by tomatoes and practically thrown out of town.” Once-ler said with an uneasy laugh.

“No…”

“Yeah. Never imaged that would happen, but there’s a first time for everything.” Once-ler continued, shrugging his shoulders. “And hey, the day turned out pretty well. I sold a few.”

“That is a good thing and my mom knows a lot of people around town too. She’ll get the word out.” Aurora said with a laugh as she leaned against one of the poles.

“Wow, that’s nice to hear. So… I should be going. Um, I should be done with the thneeds by tomorrow if you want to stop by.”

“That’d be great.”

“See you then.” Once-ler said, saluting before finishing untying Melvin and walking back toward his cabin. Aurora watched as he grew farther in the distance. She sighed, standing back up from where she leaned up against the pole and walked back inside.

Another month went by quickly. The word was soon getting out this amazing new product and there were more orders soon coming in, but still, the sales were not exactly what Once-ler was expecting as of yet, but he was satisfied as long as the sales kept coming in. Him and Aurora still made time to spend together, however. When she was at school, he made sure to make his thneeds during that time, still obeying the Lorax and using his new invention to pull the thneed material from the tops of the trees rather than cutting them down and gathering it that way. Sure the progress was slower, but with the few orders he got, it didn’t really matter much.

It wasn’t long before Once-ler got back into the swing of things. He made his thneeds, which he was happy to report were being sold just by word of mouth that was even starting to spread to town. He was certain that any day now, they would be selling by the truckloads. But during the downtime, he made sure to spend what time he could with Aurora. He wanted her in his life. Whether romantically or not, he knew he wanted to be with her. He just wanted to give it a little bit of time to make sure it would be something she wanted to before he made a move. They spent many fun-filled afternoons together and they were growing closer everyday.

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“I’ve always wanted to hold one, but I think I’m just a little nervous.” Aurora said, nervously scratching the back of her head.

“Come on, I’ll show you a sure-fire way to do it.” Once-ler said, pulling her near the pond, where a few Barabaloots were splashing in the water.

“Maybe some other time.”

“Come on, you want to hold one, right?”

“Well, yeah…”

“Then what are you worried about?” Once-ler asked, holding his hand out to her. “Do you trust me?”

She looked at his hand before looking back up to his eyes. Without another moment of hesitation, she smiled and took his hand where he the bears were playing.

“Okay, now all you do, is give them this.” Once-ler said, pulling a marshmallow out of his vest pocket.

“A marshmallow?” Aurora said, glancing up at him wondering if he was going crazy.

“Believe me, it works. Now, go on.” Once-ler said, gently pushing him toward the direction of the bears. Aurora looked back at Once-ler with a nervous look on her face remembering her first experience with a Barbaloot. She was only a five year old girl camping with her cousins and ended up getting bit on her hand. She still had the scar to prove it, and since then, her relationship with the small animals never was really the same.

Wanting overcome her fear, she walked close, but the fear soon came back up and she stepped back toward Once-ler.

“Here. I’ll show you. Come here.” Once-ler said, taking another marshmallow from his vest pocket and walking fearlessly toward the Barabaloot. He kneeled near them and lured a small one with an opened hand showing him the marshmallow. “That’s right, come here, Pipsqueak.” With that word, the small bear ran over to him and immediately jumped into his lap, grabbed the marshmallow and ate it happily. “Now give him yours.” Once-ler said to Aurora who was now kneeling next to Once-ler.

Aurora froze for only a moment before she handed the small bear the marshmallow on her open palm. The bear took it and she immediately pulled her arm back.

“Come on. He’ll let you pet him. Go ahead.” Once-ler said, holding the bear and moving it closer to her.
Aurora hesitates slightly but looked at Once-ler and trusting him, he reached out and stroked the soft bears fur fully expecting to be bit like she was as a child, but it never happened. She looked back up at Once-ler and smiled.

“Told you.” he said with a chuckle as she went back and pet the soft animal.

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The next day, they were back at his cabin, he played his guitar and she lay on the bed on her stomach as she happily listened to him sing. She always admired his guitar playing but after so many editions of his thneed song, she was just happy to hear him sing a cover version of a few of his favorite song. She silently wondered why he didn’t have any aspirations to be a professional musician. She never told him, but she always believed he was better suited to be a singer than a salesman, but that was his dream, and she was happy to support him in it.

“You’re really quiet today.” Once-ler commented.

“Just thinking.” Aurora said, a slight blush on her cheeks.

“About what?”

“You.” Aurora said with a sweet smile when she noticed Once-ler blushed nervously and quickly began changing the subject. Aurora laughed at his nervousness and wondered if she went too far but seeing his expression, she knew it was only a matter of time before their friendship was to become something far more.

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It was high afternoon a few days later. The weather around there never changed since it was November, yet 90% outside and was getting hotter by the day.

“Is the weather always like this?” Once-ler said, opening his shirt and rolling up the legs of his pants after taking off his socks and shoes.

“Yeah…” Aurora said, laughing softly as Once-ler dipped his legs into the cool water of the lake.

“Whew… Never thought I’d actually miss the snow.”

“Where did you grow up again?”

“Up north, can’t tell you exact mileage, but it’s pretty far.”

“How did you find this place?” Aurora asked.

“I just stumbled into it. I’ve been all over the world for years, searching for the material to make my thneeds. Nothing worked… until I found this place.”

“Years, huh?”

“Yep. And now – it’s finally happening. Coming true. It’s just crazy, but I can taste it. I know it’s gonna work out this time.”

“It will.” Aurora said, smiling warmly, and placing her hand on his leg.

“Thanks. You’re the sweetest.” He said placing his arm around her shoulder. He seen her smile before directing her face from him and down to the water and he quickly decided this was the moment. He wanted to let her know how he felt and he thought it was a good moment as any. Without letting another doubt cross his mind, leaned toward her and kissed her softly on the cheek.

Aurora felt his lips on her cheek and couldn’t help but smile as he cheeks burned a soft pink hue. She looked back at him after he pulled back and in response, just leaned onto him. He placed his hand tighter around here as they both listened to the sounds of the forest do the talking.

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