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I held my axe over my shoulder, looking for a good place to start chopping down Truffula Trees. I stumble upon a river, shining blue. There is someone laying there, and they appear to be sleeping. I slowly creep up to the figure. I notice that that someone is a girl, with medium-length strawberry blonde hair and a crown out of Truffula Tree trunk. I blush unconsciously. I tap her shoulder, but she doesn't flinch. I shrug. I begin to walk away, but then look back. I push some of her hair behind her ear and smile.

"Sleep tight, girly," I whisper, then leave the area. I had no idea she had awoken after that.

I stretched my arms as I walked into my tent. "Great day!" I go to flop on my bed, but I faintly hear breathing. I look to my bed, slowly lifting up the covers. That same girl is under the covers, and now I can tell she is about some inches shorter than me. I roll my eyes.

"You again?" I ask. The girl stumbles awake as she sits up. I see her eyes are just as blue as that river. Except her eyes seemed to glow.

"Oh," she said quietly. "What?" She tilted her head to the side a little. I chuckle.

"I saw you by the river, you were asleep." I offer my hand. "The Once-ler, at your service, madam." I nod my head once, trying to impress the girl with my charm. It seemed to work, because she took my hand and shook it once. Her cheeks were pink.

"I am Claire," she says, a little louder. "Such a pleasure." I notice her eyes stray to the opening of the tent, where my axe is visible. "W-What's that?" She asks warily. I sigh.

"It's an axe."

"Yeah, I know that. But why is it here…?" She slowly looks between the axe and myself. "Did you…?"

"Now—what? Why would I?" I say nonchalantly. I take off my hat and put it next to my guitar. Claire's eyes sparkle and glow even more.

"You play guitar? Wow," she admires it. I blush and sit next to her. She looks at me, putting her hand on mine. "You seem amazing…" Her comment makes me smirk, putting my arm around her.

"Claire, you'll come to realize… That you're right," I say. Her cheeks darken, making me smirk victoriously. She notices, and scoots a little closer to me.

"I just know I'm right," she whispers into my ear. Now my cheeks darken, making her giggle. "You're cute, Once-ler." She leans her head on my shoulder, getting comfortable next to me. I chuckle sheepishly, petting her hair as I do. I look outside and see how peaceful everything has become. I look to Claire. Her eyes are shut, and her lips are curled into a cute smile. My heart is thumping.

"Claire…?" I want to ask some questions: How did she get here, and things like that.

"Yes?" She replies, obviously relaxed. I take a deep breath.

"How long have you been here, in this forest?"

"As long as I can remember."

"Did your family abandon you?"

"I never remember having one, besides the trees and the creatures."

"…Hm, interesting…" I say. She giggles.

"Why?"

"Just curious about you."

"Well," she begins. She sits up and faces me. "I'm curious about you." She taps my nose. I blush, but smile through it.

"Anything for you," I wink. She blushes and giggles.

"So, how about your family? Must be a blessing to have you in their family, huh?" She sounds chipper. I scratch the back of my head, chuckling nervously.

"Actually my family believes I can't be successful. I haven't been in the past, and I want to prove to them something good can happen to me. Heh," I say, not too fast. Claire's expression darkens, then she starts to pout cutely.

"They're not very nice, I see."

"Tell me about it." I roll my eyes. Claire stops pouting, but just looks at me. I stare into her deep, beautiful blue eyes.

She has me in a trance I never want to get out of.

"Once-ler?" She says quietly. I nod.

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever fallen in love?" I'm startled by the question, but I don't show it.

"Yeah."

"With whom?" I take a little while to respond.

"You." I take her and sit her on my lap, facing me. I hug her, never wanting to let go. She nuzzles her face into the back of my neck. We say nothing, just holding each other.

I don't know what this feeling is, but I like it.

"Claire…" I say quietly.

"Mmhm?" She responds, moving back to face me again.

"I… I think I love you." I say, my cheeks heating up as my heart is ready to pound out of my chest and into her hands.

"I love… I love you too, Once-ler…" She leans her forehead onto mine, smiling wide. I lean forward to lock my lips with hers. As soon as our lips barely touch, someone clears their throat at the door. I pull away quickly and look to the door.

"Oh. Great," I say sarcastically to the Lorax. Claire stands, and so do I as I go to confront the little hairy peanut. "What do you want?"

"What were you doing?" He says in a scared way. Claire has sat back down on the bed, her cheeks red and her smile everlasting. I look back at her then back at the Lorax.

"Found her by the river, then she popped up in my bed when I got back. Problem?" I shrug with a smile. The Lorax facepalmed.

"That is Claire of the Forest, and she has to stay here, and not be inspired by you!"

"Inspired?" I laugh. "Right. To not be successful?"

"Just… It'd be best to leave her alone."

"She doesn't want to be alone."

"She isn't! She has the trees, the creatures, me! The last thing she needs, Bean Pole, is you!"

"That's not true, don't say that," Claire comes up from behind me. I watch her. She grabs my hand, which I softly squeeze hers back. "The Once-ler has been ever so kind to me, Lorax. Don't make me leave him."

The Lorax took a double take at us, then said, "Fine. But he leaves by sundown, or the forces of nature will turn against him."

"Yes. I know," I say.

"Why?" Claire looks to me. "What did you do?"

"He cut down my tree, Claire."

"What?! He would n—What? Once-ler, what's going on?" Claire's face is drenched with fear. She is shaking as she lets go of my hand.

"No, Claire, I'll show you. Just stay with me tonight, okay?"

"Nah, nah, nah!" The Lorax stops me. "I know what that leads to! No way!"

"But you cut down a tree…" Claire is still scared, looking into my eyes. Her blue irises' glows had darkened. My words stumbled.

"I'm trying to be successful, Claire. Trust me, everything is going to change." I walk right by the Lorax, taking Claire's hands into mine. Her hands are warm. "I want you to be by my side when I am."

"Once-ler… What do you plan to do with it anyway? The tree?" Tears start to well up in Claire's eyes. My hands go to her face.

"I'm going to make a Thneed."

"A… What?"

"A Thneed. Trust me, It'll be revolutionary." Claire's eyes lighten up again.

"I do trust you. And don't leave." She hugs me. "I don't ever want you to leave." I chuckle.

"I won't, Claire," I pet her back sweetly.

To the Lorax, she says, "Don't do anything to the Once-ler, Lorax. Please." The Lorax sighs, but replies.

"Fine." I can feel Claire's smile against me. She moves to face me, then lets go of me. She takes my hand and leads me through the forest on a walk around. I always have to look at her beautiful face to remind myself…

I'm with an angel.

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