Lorax - Once-ler x Aurora - Breathless - Chapter 6

I know it's a repeat picture from something I never intended to be in the story, but it worked, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to put it in again.

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After Aurora started school, she was pleased to spend the breaks in-between her classes at the Once-ler’s cabin. He made her lunch and as he worked on perfecting his thneed as well as the song that accompanied it while she stayed busy working on her studies. It had been more than a month since the day the two first met. The time went by quickly and as time went on, the two just grew all the closer. They spent as much time as possible together. Aurora enjoyed being with Once-ler for many reasons, but mainly for his kindness, warmth, and spontaneity. Him living in the woods away from the rest of the world was just a bonus.

As her teenage years crept up on her, she found herself withdrawing herself from these woods she cherished so much as a child. She became more interested in her high school activities and maybe even starting to date. But with such a small school and considering the fact that 90% of the students were female, the pickings were virtually non-existent. She found herself just hanging out with a small group of friends through high school until after graduation when everyone moved on to bigger and better things, she found herself once again, getting left behind.

As her 18th, 19th, then 20th birthday passed, she soon let go of the notion that her life would amount to anything great. It wasn’t until just a few months ago that she only knew one thing and that was she was tired of living off her parents. She didn’t want to become dependent on them for the rest of her life, she wanted to start something that gave her a name all her own. While she loved growing up on their farm and helping out, she still never felt as if that was her calling. She wanted to do something more with her life. Something memorable… even though she wasn’t exactly sure what yet.

The events of the past month swirled around in her head. I mean, she just literally stumbled into Once-ler’s life. It all happened so quickly and it was like a whirlwind. No, they both weren’t even remotely close to discussing any sort of romantic relationship as of yet, but who says it wouldn’t eventually happen? But for now, she was just happy to even have met this sweet, caring guy, let alone become his dear friend. And if that’s all that ever developed, that would be fine with her because in this short month, he was probably the closest friend she’d had in years and wouldn’t change that for the world.

Aurora sighed before glancing away from her homework and over to the other side of the cabin where Once-ler sat in a kitchen chair struggling to fix a busted string on his guitar. “You need some help?” she asked.

“No… I aaaalmost got it… There! Just like new! So, you ready to hear my new seventh edition of my thneed song? I finally cut it down to 10 minutes!”

“You know I’d love to but I’m gonna be late to class.” Aurora said, catching a glance at her watch after placing her books back into her bookbag.

“Oh, alright. You need a snack before you leave?” Once-ler asked.

“Nah, I’ll be fine. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Aurora replied before standing to her feet. She pats Once-ler gently on the back before she took off.

“Have a good one. Learn something new.”

“I’ll try to remember that.” Aurora said with a laugh before she walked out the door.

Once-ler sat quietly for a moment after she departed back to college. He was tinkering with the new string making sure to get it perfectly tuned before he began to play it again. He let out a breath he wasn’t even aware he was holding as his eyes wandered over to the letter lying on the small table next to him. He reached over and picked it up and opened it. He had read it at least a half-dozen times. He could hear his mother’s disappointed sigh in every word his eyes scanned. While her faith in him has never been the most solid in the world, it had gotten worse. There were very few things Once-ler could admit he gave up on in his life. When this dream to make his ‘thneeds’ took hold, he was determined to fulfill it but as time went on, he wondered if perhaps his mother was right… Maybe he was in over his head…

Once-ler’s face turned stern when he thought about all the years he spent in what seemed a fruitless attempt to make this dream come true. What if he really was just wasting time with this? As his eyes drifted from her cruel letter and to the thneed folded on the bed, he knew in his heart what a great product it was. And isn’t that all that mattered? Once-ler let out a breath before a smile crossed his lips as he picked up the thneed more determined than ever to make this dream a reality. He would prove it to his mother that he could and what better motivation was there than to finally be able to make his dear mother proud?

The weekend came quickly. It was a sunny outside but there was a slight chill in the air from the autumn months slowly turning into winter. Once-ler was busy putting the final touches on his latest version of his ‘thneed’ song. The sun is high in the sky on a Saturday afternoon as he sat on the edge of his bed strumming his guitar and singing with whatever words came to his mind. He is looking at the page of words and music he began writing last night to make a catchier tune in order to make people want to buy his thneeds. He begins humming the first few lines of music when he hears a knock on his door. He quickly places his guitar to the side before standing to answer the door to Aurora. He smiled a warm greeting before stepping aside to allow her in to his small but cozy cabin.

Aurora quickly took notice of the sheet music on his bed. "You still working on the song?" she asked him.

"Yeah. It still needs a little work, but I think I'm getting a good melody going." he replied.

"Mind if I hear it?" she asked smiling softly and shrugging her shoulders meekly.

Once-ler didn't even hesitate before saying an enthusiatic "Sure!" before grabbing the neck of his guitar before taking a seat on the bed before patting the bed behind him motioning her to sit down. She sat down near the center of the bed as she watched him curiously as he tuned the guitar slightly before strumming the strings and singing.

"Everybody needs a thneed!

A fine thing that all people need!

The thneed is good, the thneed is great... and it’s just 3.98!” by this part of the song, he had stood to his feet as he continued to perform in his normal animated fashion.

“Everybody needs a thneed, its revolutionary guaranteed.

The thneed is new, the thneed is nice, and did you see that price!?

Since the glorious dawn of man, there’s never been a thing to do what this thing can!

So, listen carefully to all the wonderous things a thneed can be!!!

It’s a sock, it’s a suit, boxing glove, parachute, butterfly net, reusable diaper, exercise mat, runny nose wiper, slingshot, a muzzle, a jump rope, a hat, a colorful sweater you put on your cat! Nothing else in this world can do that!” he finished, the guitar strings still vibrating from a violent riff even after he stopped playing.

"So, what did you think?" he asked quizzically.

“Heh. Well, if it helps, it made me want to buy one!” Aurora said with a nervous smile, still a bit stunned by Once-ler’s flamboyant performance and just still trying to absorb it.

“That’s exactly what it’s meant for!” Once-ler said, sitting back down on the bed with his back toward Aurora. He was pleased knowing he finally had his pitch, now all he needed was a bigger audience to sell it to. “So, did you really like it? I mean, I know I kinda oversold it, so without all the guitar riffs and falsettos, just tell me, what do you really think of it? Just the honest truth.” Once-ler asked his eyes on his guitar, making sure the guitar didn’t get out of tune after playing it as hard as he just did.

Not hearing an answer, he was about to looked over his shoulder to see why she wasn't answering, but instead, she broke through her hesitation and bravely reached over and hooked her arms around him, one of her arms resting along the dip of his shoulder and the other under his left arm before linking against his collarbone. Her head fell against his left shoulder as she looked up at him before saying, "I think it's wonderful..."

Aurora sat quietly for a moment, their eyes still locked really surprised at herself for making such a bold move. Once-ler smiled back, feeling himself blush as he looked warmly into her cerulean blue eyes. His whole life he imagined making it big by selling his thneeds, but in this moment, feeling her arms linked loosely around his shoulders and her smiling at him seemed much more important...

Once-ler was about to speak but stopped when he felt her arms unwrap. She scooted up to dangle her legs over the side of the bed. She watched as he finished tuning his guitar before he stood to his feet. He wrapped the thneed around his neck before reaching for his hat that was hanging over the bedpost. After placing it on his head, he placed his guitar over his shoulder and opened the door.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Aurora said, never believing Once-ler would just leave her that way.

“Oh, I thought you were coming with me.”

“Where?”

“Into town. You know, to sell these. You should come. People might react better and want to buy this better if you’re hanging, or even better, you should model it for me!” Once-ler said, removing it from his neck and placing it around her shoulders.

“Uh…” was the only audible words that could come out of her mouth, shocked at his offer.

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Once-ler said, running outside the cabin and grabbing Melvin, who was tied to a post nearby. He grabbed a sign he had made leaning up against his cabin that simply read “EVERYBODY NEEDS A THNEED” in black lettering with “Only $3.98” surrounded by a spiky red graphic. He placed it upon Melvin’s back before unhooking the mule from the post.

“You ready, Aurora?” Aurora walked out a moment later, the thneed hanging loosely on her arm. Once-ler paused when he looked at her wondering why she removed it from her shoulders. “Is something the matter?”

“I think I’m gonna have to take a raincheck.” Aurora replied, shrugging her shoulders and handing him the pink thneed.

“Oh… You sure?”

“Yeah, it’s best I get home and work on my project anyway. It’s gonna be due in a week. I should get a head start.”

“Okay.” Once-ler said, his smile quickly returning as he placed the thneed around his neck. “can I at least walk you back to your folks since that’s the way I’m heading anyway?”

“Of course.”

“Great! Let’s go.” Once-ler said, offering his arm. Aurora paused a moment before happily accepting. Her arms linked around his right arm as they walked over to the path hidden behind a cluster of truffula trees.

Most of the walk was silent, the two mostly lost in their own thoughts. Once-ler glanced down at her for a moment, not wanting to catch her gaze, but more to think. He loved having her as a friend. Her company was refreshing. If he had no one else to talk to other than the non-verbal animals or the grumpy Lorax, he was sure he might go mad, but having her around at least partially guaranteed his sanity staying in the woods alone for any good amount of time. As easily as he got along with people, girls were usually a different story. But there was something different about her. He was arguing with himself and wondering if trying to form a romantic relationship with her was something he or her really wanted. He didn’t want to push her away if she didn’t feel the same and the more he thought about it, he was content with her friendship and if she wanted something more, he was fine with that as well, but until that day came, he would leave well enough alone.

“Well, here we are!” Once-ler said happily, seeing the road branching off from the main road.

“I’ll see you later. Oh, and good luck with the ‘thneeds’. I hope you sell a few.”

“Thanks. Have a good one.” Once-ler replied before he leaned over and hugged her around his shoulders before he waved back to her before he continued along the path with his beloved Melvin at his side.

Aurora lowered her hand as he got farther in the distance. She let out a breath before she walked the rest of the way to her house that was still at least a half mile down the branching road.

As Once-ler walked into town with his ‘thneed’ and guitar in tow, he quickly walked up to a gazebo in the park where people were gathered for weekend afternoon family fun. He pulled Melvin near the steps making sure the sign was directed toward his audience. He cleared his throat as he strummed a few quiet notes before putting on a full performance for the crowd, who quickly took notice – but not exactly in the way Once-ler expected.

“Everybody needs a thneed. A fine thing that all people – “ Once-ler sang before abruptly stopping when he felt a squishy red tomato hit his face and splatter.

“You know what we need?!” the person who threw it shouted from the crowd, “for you to stop!”

“Yeah, you suck!” another man yelled in agreement.

“Yeah!” a third voice agreed before Once-ler watched as more rotten food was being thrown his way. He quickly jumped off the stage and grabbed Melvin before running out of the park as quickly as he could. As Once-ler exited the town feeling extremely disheartened by the people’s reaction. Instead of flooding him with orders, they pelted him with tomatoes… not the kind of warm welcome he was expecting…

As he made his way home, he replayed it over in his mind wondering what he was possibly doing wrong. Maybe it was his over eagerness, maybe it was the way he was dressed, or maybe it was just the song. He wasn’t sure… but whatever it was, he needed to fix it quick. That’s when his eyes fell to the thneed around his neck. The thought that it was perhaps his product now crossed his mind. He touched the soft fabric made from the Truffula trees, he inhaled smelling the sweet scent of butterfly milk still lingering from it. He didn’t believe for a minute it was his product because of his belief in it. If only people knew how great it was, he knew everyone would want one! But… how could he make them see it themselves?

As Once-ler grew nearer to his cabin, he stopped at the small form in the road that led to the farmlands. He smiled before he turned down the road and toward Aurora’s family farm.

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