Once-Ler x Reader- Boosting Morale

         You nervously tug at your [insert favorite color] elegant dress that you will be sporting at the Once-Ler’s party- in which you’re going with your boyfriend, Brad. (Just go with it, I promise he won’t be your boyfriend throughout the story. uwu) Even though you’ll be with Brad, who was your support when your shy self got scared, you were still very fearful- you’ve never been to a party of such manner, which was classy. Most of the parties you went to were in high school, where the kids thought they were so cool for smoking blunts and chugging alcohol, although you never touched either. Somehow, you felt more comfortable with those illegal parties than you did with this one- because you felt like you weren’t worthy to be at a party with such higher-ups.

How did I even get invited to this thing, anyway? You think as you insert some large golden loop earrings inside of your pierced ears. You quickly find the answer- people who were originally invited had the option to bring a few people, so your best friend Sherrie decided to invite you and Brad. You know it was only in good will that she did, but then you were really wishing she didn’t. Sighing, distressed, you trudge out of the bathroom, arms hanging at your sides.

“Come on, [your name], we’re going to run late if you hold us up anymore,” He demands, already holding the car keys. You nodded, desperately wishing that you could be so late where it didn’t even matter if you came or not, but Brad seemed excited to go, so you didn’t want to delay him any longer. You followed him out of your two bedroom apartment, closing the tan door behind you. Stepping down the stairs, you think how you would introduce yourself to the snotty people that you’re going to be surrounded with all night.

“Hello, my name is [your name and your last name]. I really hate to be here, but it’s a pleasure to make your rich acquaintance.” You sarcastically think. Realizing that you’re being awfully sour, you sigh, trying to let all the contempt in your heart escape. After closing the car door that was bedecked with peeling red paint,  Brad hurriedly started the car and sped out of the parking lot, much to your confusion. Sure, he tended to be hasty, but this was out of hand. The man seemed like he wanted to get there in three seconds. Parting your lips to say something about it, you immediately shut your mouth, not wanting to fight with him. He was your only support if anything went wrong during the night, since Sherrie would be flirting with all of the guys, and you didn’t want to lose that support. You instead focused your luminous [your eye color] eyes on the road ahead of you, dark except for the headlights that were produced by your car that pierced the darkness.

The car ride seemed to last forever- but finally Brad approached a large, strange residence that really didn’t even look like a house. “How is he going to have a party here? This place doesn’t even look that big.” You wondered out loud, carefully exiting your car, loudly closing the door behind yourself.  The marble walkway, however, was decorated very nicely, with nice little lamps with spherical shapes for the tops leading all the way from the start of the walkway to the entrance of the residence. The lights were spun around with pretty white lights, and a beautiful bubbling fountain, complete with humming fish and statues of cherubs was but a few hundred feet to the left of you. The stars perched in the skies definitely completed the look- it was beautiful, stunning, even though simple. You always appreciated the littler, simpler things in life.

Brad eventually came to you after locking the car, linking your hand in his. His grip…it wasn’t tender, it was cold. Like he didn’t really want to hold onto you, yet he did to show off- you are quite the looker. Deciding to ignore it, you once again averted your attention from Brad, and onto the courtyard, where lanky woman and well-dressed men conversed with each other, sipping on their margaritas that probably cost more than your dress.  Their dresses and suits were stunning- the dresses red, green, blue, and shimmering with jewels that matched the dresses' colors, and the suits sturdy but very classy, complete with very elegant ties. You smiled- knowing that the elegance didn't bother you as much as you bargained for.

       Your boyfriend led you into the house, where the lights were very dim and classical music was playing on a piano. More classy people were in here, taking up tables and chairs made out of jade, which you found intriguing. A bar was in the far right, where multitudes of people were ordering drinks. You wished to join them, wanting to drink away your returning anxiety. Although, when some of the people you feared the most flashed you a kindly smile, upon returning it, a bit of that anxiety was eased. After being caught up with smiling at the kindly people so much, you returned your attention to Brad, who was now leading you far from the tables and passing the bar, a neutral look on his face as he looked forward. Something about his expression made you feel uneasy, but you couldn't exactly pinpoint it. You followed his lead, until both you and him reached the courtyard, where, once again, the rich people roamed, playing croquet on the Astro Turf, and once again, sipping on their alcoholic beverages, talking about silly things like how much their toy dogs cost. The courtyard was even better- extended lights, as tall as streetlights but much prettier, were sitting in different places around the courtyard, and bulbous white lights on wires hung from each of them. A stone walkway lead to something, but it was concealed in large amounts of lush growth.
 
      A face you recognized was flirting with a man, her pale face in juxtaposition with her very red cheeks induced by whatever the man was saying. Temporarily breaking away from Brad, you found your way to her, gripping her skinny arm with your hand. Sherrie turned around, her baby blue eyes as wide as that of a deer's caught in headlights, until she realized that it was you. A smile bursted onto her pink lips as soon as she did. "[Your name]! You came!" She bounced up and down happily- that's Sherrie for you, eccentric over the smallest things.  "I really didn't think you'd come, [Your name]. We both know how you are." Both you and her share a small laugh, knowing that she was very true. You didn't want to come, but only did come, really, because of Sherrie's good will. She takes your [your skin color] hands into her pale ones, and looks into your [your eye color] eyes with hers. "But I'm glad you came. You're finally breaking out of your shell, and you're really going to have fun! ...Oh, Brad looks like he wants you," Sherrie pushes you enthusiastically. "Just in case we don't get to see each other much over the night, have a great time!" You giggled, Sherrie's words motivating you, until you saw Brad's face- still cold as a stone. You narrowed your eyes, wondering what had gotten into him.

     Not wanting to cause a scene, you pulled him close to the lush grass that was obscuring what the path led to. Your [your eyebrow color] eyebrows were now furrowed, it looked like your lover was out to ruin your night. Grabbing his hands with not love but anger, you look into his brown eyes. "What's your problem, Brad? You haven't been talking much and you've been sulking around. You're going to ruin my night if you keep doing that."

    "Listen, [your name]. I'm sorry I've been acting this way, it's just," The man paused, trying to avoid your stare, but he eventually got caught in it again. "I've been thinking-"

    "-That's a first." You joked, wanting to make the conversation less awkward, to which Brad laughed awkwardly, more of a forced chuckle than anything else.

    "I've been thinking. Is our relationship really working out, [your name]?" The smile previously on your face quickly melted into a worried frown. You were sure, but unsure at the same time, on what was about to happen.

    "What do you mean?" You know what he meant, but you wanted him to say something that differed to what you were expecting. The young man sighed, running his hand through his brown hair.

    "Well, for one, we fight every single day over useless things. And...I don't know. I don't feel like...I don't...I don't really even have feelings for you anymore." The man admitted, trying to evade your awed stare.

    "Are you saying you want to break up?" You started to get defensive and raise your voice. How could he dump you right then?! He knew that you were a nervous wreck to go in the first place, and he wanted to stockpile upon that? He could have waited until you had gotten home! He could have acted like he cared during the party! To just show that you have at least one person to support the shy woman you are!

    "Yes. [Your name[, please understand-"

    "-No, it's okay, I completely understand. You don't have the balls to wait until we get home to dump me. It's alright. Goodbye Brad, don't worry about taking me home, I'll go to Sherrie's tonight and pick up my things tomorrow." Before he even had the chance to respond, you rushed off, into the lush greeness, tearing through the plants until you reached a pond that was sparkling due to the moonlight. The place was like a fairytale setting- beautiful lily-pads wafted in the clear pond, moss covered sycamore trees, bedecked with the same bulbous white lights as the streetlights, stood on the grass that was actual instead of Astro Turf. Beautiful flowers of all hues poked up from the ground, waving gently in the light breeze, and a single bench sat right in front of the pond, elegant vines weaving their way up the legs of the object. The magical look was completed by at least two hundred fireflies buzzing about, their lights occasionally reflecting on the water. You knew you would have enjoyed the scenery many times more if the incident that just occurred didn't.  Tears running on your face, you decided to park yourself on the bench, and then proceeded to throw your head into your awaiting hands, crying out of frustration more than sadness.

    Tonight out of all nights? Come on, that's low, even for him. I wasted two years on that jerk?! Two years? I should have known that he was wrong from the start, but...but I wanted support...and he provided it...he was my voice when I couldn't speak up. And now he's leaving me, probably for another girl! Thinking about it, he is. Hanging around Chelsey all the time...I saw it coming, I really did. I should have broken up with him before he could do so to me, You huff in, creating an odd gasping noise. You're not the type to cry over guys, really. If he would have dumped you at any other time, you wouldn't have shed a single tear, but the fact that he did it right then, you knew inside that he did it to ruin your night. What have I ever done to him to make him want to do something that cruel... You sat,somber, the moon and quiet clicking of nearby insects your only company. Although you kept trying to push the thought out of your head, you finally wondered what you would do without Brad. How would you ever speak up when something was wrong? You certainly knew how to do that with your close friends, but Brad always swooped in and told whoever wronged you off. It wasn't that big of a deal, really, but him leaving you meant that you would have to live in constant harassment without proper justice served until you found someone else.

      Silence reigned once again and two hours passed as you stared longingly at the slowly ascending moon, wishing with all of your heart that you could be on its serene peace instead of on Earth, where humans like Brad ruled. Suddenly, after being lost in thought for quite a while, you heard footsteps and looked up to meet the possessor of them. Tall, lean. The man sported a very fancy tailcoat and striped pants, and an outrageous top hat and sunglasses, even though it was eleven at night. You didn’t recognize who he was, so you stayed parked on the bench, feeling his eyes observe you curiously. He slowly approached you without noticing, his gloved hands stuffed in the pockets.

“Excuse me, miss. Why aren’t you enjoying the party?” The young man asked. After linking his voice with his face, you realized that he was no other than the Once-Ler, the one who was holding this party in the first place! Why wasn’t he of all people enjoying the party, resorting to a secret clearing instead of mingling with the rich people who he was more than ten times richer than. The entrepreneur sat down next to you, his blue eyes radiating from under his sunglasses.

“Not to be rude, but you’re the one holding this party,” You said, sniffling. “Why aren’t you enjoying the party?” The Once-Ler laughed, which cheered you up a little. His laugh was so childlike and innocent for such a powerful man.

“I don’t really like being crowded much,” He responded, looking at you, although you evaded his glance by focusing your stare on a moss covered sycamore. “I was attacked by a swarm of people asking for my autograph, and asking me stupid questions like ‘what type of underwear do you wear’…so that’s why I was delayed in arriving here. I was held up by some idiots who only like my products because of me and my image. They only want to have sex with me, really.”

You should be honored, You thought to yourself. Isn’t that a sign that you’re good-looking? Why does that bother you? You glanced at him, and understood the people he claimed that only wanted sex from him. He was very attractive, even bedecked head to toe with some wacky clothing. He had silky black hair that the moon’s light perfectly kissed, blue eyes that were luminous, radiant, and himself as a whole looked so classy and elegant. He seemed to have noticed you observing him, and awkwardly laughed.

“What about you? Your makeup is destroyed and your face is red, so I’m guessing you were crying?” He asked. Bingo, he already hit the nail on the head, although it wasn’t that hard to tell. Embarrassed, you wiped at your makeup, as if the gesture would fix it, and frowned.

“Yeah, I was crying,” You said quietly, still avoiding eye contact with the Once-Ler. You realized that you sounded rude and tried to elaborate more, and decided to just tell him everything. He was the only person there, and he seemed the tiniest bit of trustworthy. “My boyfriend dumped me a few hours ago. That’s not what was bothering me, though. He decided to do it tonight. He knew that I was so afraid to go to this party, since I didn’t want to be looked down on for being…poor. He could have stayed by my side until tomorrow. But it seems like he deliberately wanted to hurt me tonight. I don’t understand why.” You finally looked up at the man, tears threatening to leak out of your eyes again, to be met by his gaze, which was filled with sadness. How could he empathize for a girl he didn’t even know?

“I’m sorry that had to happen, for one,” The man apologized. “And that was a rather mean move of his. Why he would do something like that to someone as kind and beautiful as you makes me wonder.”

Kind? I’m treating him like some alien! You forced a smile and dipped your head in thanks, your [your hair color], [your hair texture]hair falling at your shoulders. You decided to keep talking, since you assumed he would keep listening. “And I don’t know where I’ll go for a while…I can’t buy an apartment on my own. I can’t afford that…and my best friend Sherrie is out of the option too, she has a few roommates already, and I don’t want to only add to the amount of girls there already are.” The Once-Ler nodded, seemingly empathizing on how you felt.

“You don’t have any family either?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at you. He seemed thoroughly concerned with your situation.

“Yes, well, I do, but they live up North. I’m not flying out there, begging for a home from them. I want to show them that I’m a success, not a failure. I want to make my family proud.” You wanted to prove to your family that you weren’t the pushover that you knew you were. The young entrepreneur nodded again, a smile now bedecking his face.

“Listen, I’ve been awfully lonely here at my house, and I wanted someone as beautiful as you to keep me company. Would you like to live with me? Since you have nowhere else to go.” His well-groomed face was now red, and you smiled politely at him, assuring that he wasn’t weirding you out. Live with him? But he didn’t even know your name. Why did he already care for you so much? But it didn’t bother you. Being cared for certainly did not rub you the wrong way.

“Sure, although…why do you want to care for me?” You asked with a laugh. “You don’t even know me.” You didn’t want to sound rude, but it was something you were wondering. The male responded with a laugh, still observing you with his blue eyes that possessed mystery…

“Because. You’re obviously hurt and you don’t have anywhere to go.” He quickly responded- he was just reiterating what he was saying earlier, but you decided to take the answer. You nodded at him, smiling.

“If I wouldn’t bother you-“

“Oh no,” He said, a sly smile crossing his face as he jokingly looked at your body up and down. “You wouldn’t bother me at all.” Both you and him snickered like children, and awkwardly he scooted closer to you, his attention now focused on the moon that was then at its highest peak in the dark sky.

“So, what’s your name?” He asked you. Something inside of you started stirring, you felt like you were already developing feelings for this man, although you desperately wanted to deny them.

“[your name here].” You responded, a goofy smile crossing your face as your last tears resided.