DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything except the OC, peeps.
(A/N: So, here's yet another OC added to this fandom! It's cool, though... If you don't like OC stories, there are plenty of OC-free stories to choose from! Otherwise, I really hope you enjoy the story! It's a cute story!)
Prologue: Opposite Paths
Once upon a time, which is a long, long time ago...
There was a boy. He wasn't a spectacular boy, really. Just a normal boy with a tall, irregular, beanpole-like body. Even as a child, this boy, Once-ler as he was called, was a tall, thin person.
He was too tall to play on the monkey bars. His feet still touched the ground when he grabbed onto the bars.
He was too thin to play football. One tackle was enough to send him to the ER.
Overall, this didn't make him too popular with the other kids.
"Beanpole, Beanpole!" they would sing as he sat alone on the swings before they began to pummel him with as many stones as they could find. He didn't care. Instead, he preoccupied himself with what he knew best: knitting. Or sewing. Whatever the heck adults called it.
He would bring his yarn and needle with him to school and knit all kinds of wonderful things. Hats, scarves, Wuzzles, Fuzzles; you name it, he could make it!
This also didn't make him too popular with the kids.
"Girly boy, girly boy!" they would sing before they pummeled him with more rocks.
"Man," the Once-ler said with a frown as one rock tore through the Fuzzle he was knitting. He sighed and put it down in his lap. He was so used to the treatment that he didn't bother crying anymore. Instead, he put on a cheery face and started swinging.
"Woo!" he cheered while kicking his long legs back and forth. It wasn't long before he was swinging as high as the sky (at least it was that high in his eyes).
One day, he thought, I'll show them. My knitting is gonna be sold all over the world and I'm gonna be rich!
It wasn't until he stopped swinging and came to a slow stop that he noticed there was now someone sitting on the swing beside him.
It was Clementine Valentine, one of the snootiest-pootiest girls in his class. She never talked to anyone and always kept to herself. Everyone knew it was because she was a spoiled, rich kid who thought she was better than everyone else. That's why they all did her a favor and stayed far, far away from her. She never seemed to mind. She just seemed sad all of the time.
Once-ler swallowed hard and blushed. She sure was pretty though. She had the prettiest green eyes and they matched the green ribbons tied around her dark brown pigtails. He had often found himself staring at her in class, wondering if she'd ever wear one of his Fuzzles or maybe one of his Wuzzles?
"Um," he began. "Hi. Er, I'm the Once-ler." He held out his hand to her, which was covered in bandages, thanks to all the times he pricked himself while knitting. "It's nice to meet you!"
Clementine gave his hand a quick glance before she looked down at the soft material of her pastel green dress. He kept his hand there for a few more seconds before he dropped his hand back to his side, where it flopped around like a deflated balloon. His mom always said he was too friendly. Maybe he should just...
"What kind of name is the Once-ler?"
Once-ler felt himself blush at the question Clementine asked him. He puffed out his chest, feeling highly offended. He was quite proud of his name. It was one of a kind!
"It's my name!" he said with a pout. "What...What kind of name is Clementine Valentine, huh? You sound like a nursery rhyme!"
He watched as she rolled her big, green eyes. "Better than sounding like a magazine..." she mumbled while rocking on her swing. Once-ler growled, held up his finger, and opened his mouth to retort, but Clementine was faster.
"Why are you even talking to me?" she asked. Once-ler closed his mouth at the sound of the sadness in her voice. Her eyes were focused at the dirt below her small, expensive shoes. "No one else does."
"Maybe it's because you're so mean," he mumbled beneath his breath. He hadn't meant for her to hear it but the tears in her eyes told him that she had indeed heard him.
Now, the Once-ler wasn't one for making girls cry. His mom had taught him better, at least, she did when she wasn't too busy making fun of him and crushing his dreams. He knew he had to make her feel better, even if he wasn't too fond of her.
"Hey!" he said in a bright and cheery voice. "Do you want to see something cool?" Clementine rubbed her tiny fists against her eyes and blinked at him curiously.
"What is it?" she asked with a sniffle.
Once-ler held up a finger before he turned to the side, making sure that she wouldn't be able to see him. He began moving his fingers and yarn at lightning speed. A few times, Clementine tried to look but was scolded with a "No peeking!" from the Once-ler. Finally, with a pout, she sat back in her swing and waited.
After a few more seconds, he was finished. He turned around and held out his work of art to her.
"Ta-da!" he sang. Clementine blinked once at the small, round...thing. She cocked her head to one side and then back to the other.
"What is that thing?" she asked finally.
"It's a bracelet!" he beamed. "Hold out your hand."
Clementine coughed over her shoulder before she did as she was told. She was surprised when he slipped the multi-colored strands over her hand and to her wrist. He pulled his hands away and smiled at her.
"See? A bracelet," he said with a pleased smile. Clementine held up her wrist and studied the bracelet with wide eyes, while still clasping onto the swing's chains to keep herself from falling. It was at this moment that Once-ler noticed that her other arm was already weighed down by rows of diamond bracelets and gold bands. He slapped his forehead. She was definitely gonna hate his stupid, dinky bracelet when she had all of those other ones...
"I love it."
Clementine's response was almost enough to send him falling off of his swing. He looked up at her and found her giving him a smile. He was surprised. It was the first time any of the kids had ever seen Princess Snooty-butt (as some called her) smile.
"Thank you very much," she continued, the smile still on her face. Once-ler could feel that he was blushing, so he looked away and gave a nervous laugh.
"I-it's nothing, really..." he sputtered.
"It's pretty ugly, though," Clementine added. Once-ler's mouth fell open and he shot her a glare that only made her giggle.
"It is not ugly!" he nearly shouted.
"Yes, it is," Clementine sang back, still giggling. "It looks like cereal, the really gross type."
"Yeah, well... You're gross!" Once-ler shot back while crossing his arms.
She only giggled in response before she pointed at his yarn. "Can you make some more?" she asked.
The Once-ler blinked and nodded. He smiled a little. No one had ever paid any attention to his knitting before. "Sure!" he said, forgetting all about her insult from earlier. He began to go into animated detail about every step of the knitting process.
Clementine watched curiously, paying more attention to the hyper, happy boy than the yarn and needle. She smiled and listened.
That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, folks. Clementine Valentine and the Once-ler were inseparable after that day. They became the best of friends, doing nearly everything together. The flamboyant Once-ler was just the thing to help Clementine open up more while Princess Snooty-butt helped him to stay focused on his knitting.
Of course, they couldn't stay in elementary school forever. That would be weird. No, they went on to middle school, to face the horrors of puberty, acne, dodge-ball and bullies. Middle school really sucks, so let's just, ah, skip over that part.
Enter high school. Many people call these years the most important years of their lives. Those people are now considered losers. But everyone goes through high school, even the Once-ler and Clementine.
Things had changed since that day on the swingset. They were older now, that much you can bet. But other than different looks and different clothes, the thing that stayed the same is that these two remained close. This is where our story really starts. So take a seat, and let's get right to the good part.
A/N: So! Another old story I found on my laptop! Tell me what you think, people :) I appreciate it and have a lovely day!
Laterz
CR