Author's Note: You know that moment when you read over your already published stuff and you see misused words? I've seen those in here! How annoying. I always double check. I hope this romance isn't going too fast and there's some suggestive stuff here. Nothing graphic. I add years in chapters so it's not all spread out. I don't want this to be too long. P.S. Ever had soda out of your nose? Happened recently to me and it hurts!

(The Lorax and The Once-ler do not belong to me. They're Dr. Seuss' and Illumination's. Same goes for his family shown in the film. You know who they are! Marie and her family are only mine.)

Chapter 10

Lover in Disguise

Both the butterflies and sparks never stopped for Once-ler as the months progressed. He kept telling himself the feelings for Marie would go away and he hoped they would. To change their bond could break them apart. At least that was what he thought. Marie could get angry at him for ruining their friendship by liking her in another way. This was something that his irrational optimism feared the most; Marie not being open to dating him. Even the sunniest days had rain. The term "nothing ventured, nothing gained" wasn't any encouragement.

"It's nothing," he kept telling himself as winter became spring and spring became summer. "It'll stop. It's happened before."

He knew what crushes were, he had them twice before. The strong longing to be near the other, drama, heart racing, starry-eyed. He knew how it felt. He usually was around her when not in school, but he felt the urge to be around her more. He fought it off so as to not look like a stalker or feel like one for the matter. Nobody likes a stalker! He would feel rushes of excitement when he thought about her. If he saw her, she looked like a dream. It was like every flower was swirling around her figure and her hair was flying about her heart shaped face. She seemed too gorgeous to be real. He had dreams of her, but when he awoke he felt a pang of guilt. He felt like he was betraying her trust.

Typically a crush lasts for a few months. Once-ler was certain that his growing feelings for Marie would stop as sudden as they began, but it didn't happen. By the time his fifteenth birthday rolled in the feelings hadn't left. He was annoyed with himself for feeling that way to her. Even when Marie got a new boyfriend, emotions only seemed to increase. The emotions were not just sparks or butterflies, but also jealousy. A horrible, strong feeling of hate would creep in and he felt awful feeling hate to someone. It bothered him to see Marie with someone else, especially when the guy seemed nice. He couldn't shake off the greed or romance.

Marie's new boyfriend was named Frankie Stanford. By this point Once-ler knew what Marie liked in a guy. She liked guys who were around her height, buffed, blondes, either green or brown eyes and sporty. Frankie had green-brown eyes (a double threat,) and dishwater blonde hair. Once-ler didn't know there were so many definitions of blonde hair until Marie describe them. He was buff from being on the wrestling team. He looked like the kind of guy who would be on a magazine within a beach setting. Of course, Betsy and Rufus liked him. Clarisse and Dashiell didn't notice their own daughter's romance.

Once-ler knew he wouldn't win Marie. His family seemed to have the moral that if you gave something that would earn love. Poor Once-ler felt that was how it was for his mother. That wasn't how it should be. It was supposed to be unconditional, not wanting anything for selfish reasons, but there was the fear of rejection. It hurt to be rejected by anyone, but to be rejected by Marie…he didn't want to live a life without her no matter what relationship they had. He had nothing special to win her heart.

Besides, he didn't meet the qualifications that Marie looked for. He was as thin as a stick, still growing tall with growth spurts, dark hair (his hairstyle was still the same floppy look from when they first met,) and blue eyes. Marie probably didn't even like freckles, be they faint or not. He wasn't a jock, tall enough for basketball, but not that athletic. He had strength and could play an instrument, but he was so different from typical men with his knitting, capabilities of cooking and having high standards for how he dressed. Marie liked it in a friend, but a boyfriend?

Once-ler would think about Marie with Frankie while he did his chores around the farm. It was there that he talked to Melvin. He had done it before to fill the silence, but now it was a good way to let off steam.

"I don't understand what she sees in them!" he ranted as he raked hay into a stall for Melvin. "What does she see in blonde jocks? Jocks? More like jokes! They all were Melvin. Dennis did something called surfing where he used to live, and then he did soccer. Keith did football. This one does wrestling!" He paused and leaned forward on the rake. "It looks painful to be hugged by buff people. I would know. Aunt Grizelda!" He shuddered at the childhood memories of the rare occasion she hugged him. He slumped down in the hay.

"Well," he sighed hopelessly. "I know I'll never get to their size. I'll always be this way. Nothing but bone." He looked up at Melvin who actually looked sympathetic. The mule must've cared for him a little despite the sour attitudes toward his human. "I just want things the way they were."

He missed childhood. Teenage years seemed so confusing! Things didn't seem too familiar. He wasn't seeing Marie as much as he wanted to, feelings or not. High school only got harder and stressful. Along with school was basic life changes; voice deepening, height shooting up, and trying to shave. Trying to shave meant hoping he was growing facial hair to shave off, but nothing was there. Not even a chest hair sprouted.

Marie was making more friends. Compared to him, she was still his only one. Everyone teased him. She was friends with some girls who were all on the cheer team. He hadn't met them, but Marie talked about them. She was proud she was making friends. She said their names were Annie Lloyd, Julie Randall, and Renée Franklin. Marie said it was nice to spend time with girls, but she savored time with Once-ler. He didn't mind her having other friends, it was just that he missed the old days of it being a duo. Due to the fact high school was busy for both of them they called each other almost every night. Be it twenty minutes or two hours the talks continued in the evenings. If he couldn't see her everyday then at least he could hear her voice. Her wonderful voice that flowed through his mind.

Dennis and Keith still went to Marie's school. Keith was still with Sara Spruce though they weren't in the same school. Once-ler never forgot when Marie told him how she felt when Sara glared at her that one night. He could see that glare. The other girl he had liked, Jeanette Cuthbert, ironically had asked him to a dance for a date. Gently he turned her down. No hard feelings were between them. Marie was baffled when he told her that and thought he had missed out. Once-ler gave the same "no time for love" saying he had given before.

Summer was sacred to Once-ler as that he got more time with Marie, when she wasn't with her group of friends. Marie was always kind enough to ask him if he wanted to join her, but he wanted it to be just the two of them. Marie was genuinely worried about Once-ler. He seemed more distant from her and almost sad when they hung up after calls. She reassured him that nothing would drive them apart. Once-ler wasn't sure about that as of how he hid his feelings. She wanted him in her life. She had known him for so long; she couldn't imagine him not being there.

"I always want you to be there," she said one evening on a call. "Even if we live far away I want you be a part of my life. I want you and my future husband to be friends. I want you there at my wedding. I want you there when my seven kids are born. I want you to be in their lives and their kids' lives."

There was a pause followed by a sarcastic tone. "You want seven kids?"

"Seven's a lucky number," she said blushing, a little embarrassed by one of her dreams. She looked out from her window seat seeing January snowflakes fall. "I don't care how many sons or daughters I have, I just want seven and I want them to have eyes like Frankie."

"Oh?" Marie noticed Once-ler's voice sounded strained. In fact, Once-ler was sitting on his bed gripping the neck of his guitar when she mentioned Frankie. Once-ler would practice while pressing the phone between his shoulder and ear.

"Yes Once. Like Frankie. He's great! He calls me Hot Stuff. It's starting to grow on me."

"Hot Stuff?" This conversation was getting awkward. Reaching over he grabbed a cherry cola bottle off his nightstand to wet his throat. He planned on changing the subject, but what Marie said caught his attention.

"Frankie says that next year, junior year, we should-" she lowered her voice so nobody heard her. "We should give each other our virginity."

Once-ler's soda flew from his lips across the room. He gagged and spluttered. He couldn't believe his ears! Marie couldn't possibly want to do that! She always seemed pure hearted to him. Swiping his sleeve over his mouth he heard Marie asking what the noise she heard was.

"Your what?!" he coughed. The soda caused fizzing pain in his nose and he pinched his nostrils closed to prevent more.

"Don't tell anyone!" she hissed. "I haven't agreed to it. I told him I would think about it. It's none of your concern."

Once-ler had been capable of changing the conversation because the talk was too uncomfortable for him. He was shocked from what Marie had said and he felt concerned. Concerned for Marie, not for Frankie! He hoped Marie wouldn't fall into the peer pressure from her boyfriend. It was Marie's life, but he did worry about her choices, like her choice of guys. He had to let it go and let her do what she wanted. However, he would intervene if she did something dangerous. He knew Marie could make irrational choices if stressed enough. Another thing in common; they both could be irrational.

Marie and Once-ler had managed to find a free day at Blue Fountain Park aside from their busy schedules. Once-ler wasn't sure if it was his senses playing him, but Marie's golden hair smelled just like the many tree blossoms that bloomed in spring. Spring was almost there. What kind were they? Apple blossoms? It didn't matter, but there were many and they all smelled good.

"For the last time," said Once-ler firmly, but playfully. "You're not cutting my hair. It's fine."

"What if I trimmed the bangs and swept them to the side?" said Marie running her fingertips over his head. It felt amazing and he ached to do the same. A whole year had passed since the stirring in him for her and it only grew stronger. Her coarse curls had grown down mid back length. "You need a sophomore look. You still have the same cut you had at eight."

"The sophomore year ends in three months," chuckled Once-ler and gently grabbed hold of her wrists. "It's pointless to fix me now."

"Oh, you won't believe what my parents are doing this year for our traditional summer vacation," she said releasing his grip. "We're going earlier instead of late June. We leave in the beginning of the month and my parents have invited Frankie to come."

"So they invite your boyfriend but not your best friend?" he thought with a sting of anger. Aloud he said, "Really?"

"That must means my parents are paying attention to me right?" said Marie. She looked hopeful. "They want to travel with the guy I love."

"Are-are you sure you love him?" asked Once-ler. He pressed and twisted the toe of his boot into the snow so that it brushed away the flakes. He could almost see a patch of covered walkway when he did. "I mean, love takes a long time."

"I'm sure," she began. "I think I do. I-I like him. He says he loves me, but I think that…" Once-ler saw her eyes wander and then back into his. She sighed.

"But he…" Once-ler encouraged slowly moving his hands.

Marie drew her boot covered legs up the bench and ran a bare finger over the snow caked sole. She bit her lip as she scraped to show the black leather. Then she inched closer to him as if she wasn't close enough.

"I don't know if he really does," she was almost whispering. "He gets mad at me when I miss a wrestling match, even if I was in art club. He keeps asking me where I've been, who I've been talking to, and who'll I'll see. At first I thought it was cute, but not anymore. I feel like he doesn't trust me or listens. He just nods off and ignores any topic."

"You haven't told anyone, have you?" Once-ler asked knowingly. Marie slipped her bare hand under his with a nod.

"Why do you always were your garden gloves when it's cold?" she asked. The green gloves were rough on her ice cold skin, but she was used to the calloused fingers of her friend. It felt like a massage.

"Why haven't you told Betsy or Rufus?" he asked. "And it's because my fingertips are sensitive to cold from not using a guitar pick." He smiled as he answered her question. Their conversation harmoniously went in rhythm.

"You should knit yourself some mittens Once. You'll be warmer. Anyway, I would tell them, but I don't want them to worry. They'd have heart attacks if they knew I was scared. My parents wouldn't care."

"I don't like mittens! I feel like I have socks on my hands! Wai-you're scared of him? If you're scared you should leave him!"

"He'll be hurt if I leave him. He's said so. I don't want anyone hurt."

"You don't have to be a martyr."

"I'm not; I just want to keep the peace."

"You care too much Roses."

"Yes I do. I care for everyone, especially my favorite people."

"Like our housekeeper and butler?" chuckled Once-ler.

"Yes, but you're my favorite person too." Without thinking of it being a romantic gesture, Marie leaned her head on his shoulder. She didn't notice the blush across his face and playfully placed his fedora over her bare head that was sprinkled with snowflakes.

"She's killing me," he thought. She killed him with her worries, her annoying habits and how she was only making him fall deeper for her.

He didn't know what it felt like to be in love, real love, but it had to feel different from the fast feeling of sparks. He felt a new spark, a spark of hope. Marie would leave Frankie and Once-ler would ask her for an innocent night out and then she would fall for him. Then when she confessed, he would confess. Happily ever after! If that all happened before his sixteenth birthday, then that would be the best birthday present ever. For now, he would enjoy the private moment they had. Just when he had leaned his head against hers…

"Hot Stuff!" came a booming voice from behind. Once-ler sat up and cringed as if he had been caught shoplifting. Marie only turned her head and calmly sat up. Frankie Stanford was crunching across the snow with a face that could burn marshmallows black. He looked like a bull nearing the edge to charge.

"Where have you been?" he demanded. He glared at Once-ler. "Are you snogging on my girl?" Once-ler was afraid to answer.

"Frankie it's okay." Marie got up from the bench and dropped the fedora over Once-ler's head. "Once-ler's my best friend. He would never do that." Poor Marie tried to keep the peace. "I said I was meeting him today. I got more cold so he was keeping me warm."

"Come on," Frankie snapped impatiently. "I have wrestling practice. You're coming too."

Once-ler felt a chill run down his spine when he saw Frankie grip Marie's wrist and yank her close. That chill wasn't from the weather. Marie softly grunted from Frankie's burly hands, but she turned quickly and waved a good-bye. Once-ler stood up and copied her. It had been nice while it lasted.

"I don't want you seeing him," said Frankie boldly as they left the park entrance. "I don't think he's a good influence."

"Once-ler's my best friend," Marie defended. Frankie yanked her hard to look him in the eye.

"I'm your boyfriend," he said softly with a smile. "I'm your best friend."

There was something in his smile that made Marie nervous. Almost as nervous as when he asked her to lose her virginity to him.

Once-ler's birthday dream didn't come true, but he was satisfied that it was just them. Marie made him a cake and bought him what he only asked for as a present; two pairs of jeans in different shades. Marie wasn't sure why he wanted pants for a birthday which she considered was a big number. Sixteen meant driving a car, attending prom and halfway through high school. She thought he'd want something more.

"Your boyfriend's okay with you seeing me?" Once-ler asked as he cut a piece of cake for her.

"I didn't tell him, but he did ask why I was buying men's jeans." Marie managed a smile. "I said they were for Father. He won't come here. I've never told him about Misty Hideaway. I wouldn't tell anyone."

Marie felt happy for the day as there were no problems. Once-ler was happy too and not just because it was his birthday. A year and two whole months of puppy love seemed to be over. The sparks and butterflies were gone. He felt a blissful relief around Marie instead of rushing. What he didn't realize was that the bliss was not from relief.