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“Clover Cookieee!” Licorice Cookie came rushing towards the tree stump where he and Clover had first met. “Are you there?”
“I’m always waiting for you Licorice Cookie,” Clover Cookie responded sweetly. “Like I promised. Was there something you needed?”
“Oh, you know… it’s just been a particularly horrible day today,” the sorcerer complained, sitting down beside the other cookie. “I’ve just… been feeling pretty down I guess.”
“Hmm.” Clover Cookie thought, strumming a minor chord on his lute as he did. “Have you considered, maybe, writing about your feelings in a song?”
“W-well… you know I’m not a songwriter—“
“It will take some of the weight off your shoulders,” the bard interrupted. “Plus, I’m sure your voice would sound great while singing.”
Licorice flushed like he had on the first day the two cookies met. “Y-you think so?” Licorice Cookie avoided eye contact.
“Mhm! Of course I do. Your voice is quite unique.” Clover Cookie thought for a moment. “Have you ever tried singing before?”
“W-what? You want me to sing? Now?!”
Clover shook his head with a small smile. “I was just asking. It is fun though, if you’d want to give it a shot.”
Licorice twiddled with his thumbs, clearly conflicted. The idea of singing in front of someone terrified him… though it also excited him just a little. “But I don’t know any songs…” he pointed out.
“Why not just make something up?” the bard readied himself to play his instrument, looking to the sorcerer cookie to see his response.
“‘Make something up’? You can do that?” Licorice Cookie tilted his head to the side.
“Well, of course. I’ll play some chords for you, and you can just sing whatever’s on your mind.” Clover Cookie strummed a few chords, waiting patiently for Licorice to join him in the song.
Silence filled the forest for a while, the strumming of Clover’s instrument being the only sound heard besides the quiet sounds of nature and Licorice Cookie’s anxious breathing. Eventually, though a bit reluctantly, Licorice Cookie began attempting to sing something. It rarely rhymed and the notes sounded clunky and off. Still, it undoubtedly carried real, raw emotions. Licorice sang about how much he wished Dark Enchantress Cookie would notice him and how much he hated that so many people underestimated him et cetera et cetera. Clover didn’t mind that it didn’t sound the best; he was just happy the magic wielding cookie was getting all of that off of his shoulders.
As the final chords faded out past the trees, Clover turned to Licorice with a gentle smile. “See? Doesn’t that feel better?”
Licorice shrugged, “I guess maybe a little bit. I think I’m a horrible singer though.”
“You just need… some practice. Maybe I could help?” Clover Cookie offered. “Of course, only if you want to that is.”
“You’d do that for me?” Licorice’s heart fluttered with excitement and his stomach filled with butterflies. He’d never felt something like this before, but he didn’t hate the feeling. It was as if as long as Clover was with him, he could do anything.
“Of course,” Clover Cookie answered joyfully. “We shall meet here every day and write a duet together, and I’ll teach you how to sing as we go.”
And so, they created somewhat of a routine. Every day, Licorice would return to the tree stump where Clover would always be waiting. Progress was slow at first, but eventually, the song started coming together. Licorice improved on his vocals too with Clover’s help. Licorice Cookie even started developing his style of singing that was purely his own. He was proud of his progress, and he was sure Clover was proud of him too. Finally, after a few weeks of work, the song was fully written.
The first time the pair sang the song together, they made a few mistakes, but eventually, they got the hang of it, and they were able to sing it together all the way through without messing up. Unknown to Clover Cookie, Licorice Cookie had slipped in a few lyrics about how he felt towards Clover though he didn’t know what the feelings were or what they meant. Clover and Licorice continued to meet up everyday just to sing the song because they had so much fun singing together.
On a particular sunny day, about a week later, Clover Cookie had a spark of excitement in his eye as he had some surprising news for Licorice. “We’ve been invited to perform our song on stage in a town nearby. Some of the cookies there must’ve heard us from just outside the forest.”
“Us? Perform? On stage? But why?” Licorice Cookie had a million questions running through his mind. “Are you sure we’re ready for something like that? I mean I thought the song was just for the two of us, why would—”
“Licorice Cookie.” Clover Cookie interrupted Licorice’s rambling. “I really want to do this, if you’ll agree to do it with me. It’s up to you what you want to do. There’s no pressure.”
Licorice was reluctant at first, but eventually, he nodded. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt if it’s really what you want.”
“Yes! Thank you Licorice Cookie. You won’t regret this, I promise,” Clover said with an enthusiastic expression. He hugged Licorice, still maintaining a big smile on his face. The sorcerer cookie was stunned for a moment, not used to physical affection. He had to admit: it was nice. He hugged the other cookie back timidly, subtly smiling as he did so. They stayed that way for a while, Licorice Cookie’s heart fluttering more and more as time passed; he still didn’t understand what he was feeling, but he knew whatever it was, Clover was the one to cause it.
“They want us performing tomorrow evening; is that alright?” Clover asked softly as he pulled away, his warm gaze never faltering. Licorice Cookie nodded, still a little phased from receiving Clover’s physical affection. You see, Licorice was definitely not used to being wanted or appreciated like this, so it all was so foreign to him.
“I’ll be ready… maybe.”
Licorice yawned and sat up slowly in bed the next morning. Did I really agree to sing with that other cookie on stage? he thought to himself. His heart pounded in his chest from all his racing emotions. He rubbed his eyes with a groan and rolled out of bed. The day ahead of him trudged by slowly, partly from Licorice Cookie’s excitement and partly from his anxiety. He’d never performed anything on stage before; what if he messed up and made a fool out of himself?
When the sun was at the top of the sky, Licorice Cookie made his way through the forest like he’d done many times before. This time, it was different though; he was going to do something he’d never even dreamed of doing before. All of the pressure was going to be on, but at the very least, Clover would be right by his side for all of it.
“Oh good, you made it.” Clover gave Licorice a relieved smile.
“What? Did you think I wouldn’t show? I am a cookie of my word you know.” Licorice Cookie rolled his eyes playfully.
Clover strummed a chord on his lute, making sure it was in tune. “Want to run through our song one more time before we perform?”
Licorice Cookie nodded and sat beside Clover Cookie. Clover strummed the intro to their song with a gentle smile on his face. Time seemed to slow down as they sung their song together.
The golden sunlight streamed through the trees, lighting up the forest beautifully, and along with it, Clover. Licorice Cookie found himself sneaking glances at Clover Cookie a little more often than he should’ve. At one point, they even locked eyes. Clover Cookie’s expression was filled with the kind of affection and warmth that made Licorice’s heart stumble, and he nearly forgot the words to the song.
Licorice Cookie felt so peaceful yet so conflicted. On one hand, he loved being around Clover. On the other hand, he couldn’t stand how much he enjoyed himself around the bard cookie. He was a cookie of darkness after all; these stupid emotions he didn’t understand shouldn’t matter. And yet… here he was, singing a duet with none other than Clover Cookie, an annoyingly charming cookie with a strong connection to nature and music.
The final notes of the song faded out into the quietest corners of the forest. Both of the cookies were left a little speechless from the impact of this single run through of the song, so they just allowed silence to hang over them for a while.
Licorice decided to look to Clover again, but when he did, Clover Cookie was already looking at him with that same warm and affectionate gaze that made Licorice Cookie feel like he was going to melt into a puddle. “S-stop looking at me like that!” Licorice hid his reddened face in his hands.
“Like what?” Clover tilted his head, maintaining his affectionate expression.
“L-like you—w-well—I um—“ Licorice Cookie paused, stopping himself from saying something stupid. “…Never mind.”
Clover chuckled lightly, the sound soft and airy and sweet like a marshmallow—a marshmallowy giggle that Licorice would hear any day. No! I can’t keep thinking such sappy things! Ugh! Why am I like this? Licorice Cookie continued to scold himself for the way he thought around Clover Cookie.
Clover Cookie looked up at the sky. Without a word, he stood up and offered his hand to Licorice Cookie.
At first, Licorice didn’t quite understand. His eyes darted between Clover and his extended hand as his heart pounded from the spiraling emotions inside himself. Then, he reached out his own trembling hand, gingerly placing it in Clover Cookie’s.
Clover gave Licorice’s hand a gentle yet reassuring squeeze as he began to lead Licorice down the path that lead to the town where they would be performing.
Slowly, the trees began to thin and the town came into view. In the distance, Licorice could see small rooftops, and as they got closer, he saw a stage in the middle of town. This was it. Licorice felt his heart sink into his stomach as the reality set in. He felt like he might throw up right then.
The town was considerably small, but that didn’t make the thought of performing on stage there any less terrifying. Licorice Cookie found himself instinctively tightening his grip on Clover Cookie’s hand.
Clover turned to face Licorice. “We’ll do great. You have nothing to worry about.” He gave Licorice Cookie’s hand one last reassuring squeeze before leading Licorice over to the backstage area.
Licorice began pacing back and forth, his mind running a million miles a minute. “I can’t do this—I shouldn’t have agreed to this—I’m going to mess up and make a fool out of myself—I—“
Licorice’s rambling was abruptly cut off by Clover’s lips on his own. The kiss was gentle and light, and Licorice Cookie’s eyes fluttered closed almost immediately. Clover Cookie reached up and gently cupped Licorice’s cheek.
Licorice Cookie’s brain went completely blank as he stood frozen in shock. All his anxiety was replaced by a sudden, overwhelming fuzzy feeling that filled every corner of his head. As much as Licorice hated to admit it, he liked that feeling. Actually, he liked that feeling a lot, but he would never admit that to anyone.
After what felt like an eternity, Clover pulled away slowly, still keeping one hand cupping Licorice’s cheek. Licorice stayed stunned frozen for a moment, not knowing what to say or do. When he finally tried to speak, it came out stammered nonsense not even Licorice Cookie himself could understand.
Clover let out his marshmallow chuckle again, finding Licorice’s mental blue screen kind of endearing. “You’ll do great. Come on, we’re going to be on soon.” Clover Cookie gently took Licorice Cookie’s hand again and squeezed it reassuringly again. It was almost as if Clover was playing it off like the kiss never even happened. Licorice wasn’t sure to be upset or grateful about that, but before he could even think about deciding how he felt, Clover Cookie was already dragging him on stage. Licorice almost tripped before barely regaining his balance, though his knees were still super weak.
Once they were on stage, Licorice Cookie knew there was no going back. The sudden switch of scenery was really jarring to Licorice at first, but when Clover started strumming the beginning of the song, everything else seemed to fade out. The only thing that mattered was the two of them and their song; only, their song meant more than it ever did before to Licorice Cookie now.
Every note seemed to come naturally as long as Licorice and Clover maintained eye contact. Clover’s sweet smile made all of Licorice Cookie’s worries fade away. Licorice felt that as long as they were together, they could do anything.
The final notes hung in the air for a while before everyone started clapping and cheering. They did it. They actually did it! Licorice Cookie couldn’t believe it.
The two cookies bowed and headed backstage once again.
“We did it! We actually did it!” The sun was starting to set as the sky began to swirl with vibrant warm colors. Licorice was in utter disbelief of what he had just done. He paused for a moment, looking at Clover and remembering the way he’d kissed him before the performance. “C-Clover Cookie, may I…”—he paused to swallow—“may I speak to you in private…? Perhaps back at the tree stump…?”
“Of course,” Clover Cookie gave Licorice Cookie a warm smile. “We should go quickly though—the sun is setting.”
Licorice Cookie nodded and the two cookies hurried their way back to the tree stump.
At the tree stump, it was quiet and calm. Safe. Licorice had so many things going through his mind that he didn’t even know where to start. He had so many questions. He settled on just one for now: “May I have your hand for a moment?”
Clover was a little confused but he happily obliged, a sweet smile on his face.
Licorice gingerly took the hand of the gentle bard. He held it like it was a fragile piece of treasure, gently running his thumb across the back of it.
Licorice Cookie’s words suddenly caught in the back of his throat. Panic slowly settled in as he realized what was happening. His mind spun with a million thoughts and emotions. He could’ve sworn he felt his cookie heart completely stop.
And then, Clover gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. It was a simple gesture: something that he’d done multiple times before. Even so, this felt different. It felt more special, more… personal, and it was all Licorice needed to ground himself and gain some confidence. The sorcerer stared at Clover Cookie’s hand in his own. They seemed to fit perfectly together, and thinking about that made Licorice Cookie’s heart flutter.
Licorice took a deep breath and decided that maybe his actions would speak more than his words. He slowly and steadily brought Clover’s hand up to his lips and gently kissed the back of it. Clover, slightly thrown off guard, turned a little red before a smile tugged at his lips.
“Clover, I—…” and then he lost his confidence. “I-I’m sorry— I should be going.”
But before he could even stand up, Clover placed his hand gently on top of Licorice’s. “Wait… it’s okay. I… feel the same way.”
Licorice began mentally digging his grave; he knew this cookie would be the end of him. And yet somehow, that was okay. He sat frozen for a moment, watching as Clover slowly leaned closer; there was no pressure to it, but that almost made Licorice panic more, knowing he was given the chance this time to choose what he wanted to do.
In the end, Licorice’s emotions won, and he hesitantly leaned in as well, gingerly giving Clover the go-ahead to kiss him once more. Time slowed down and fireflies began to flicker to life as the sun set. Colors painted the sky like fireworks celebrating the moment and the two of them. Neither of them would’ve had it any other way.
Once it was fully dark, Licorice waved goodbye to his friend—well, more than a friend now—and made his way back down the path and towards home.
He lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. The more Licorice thought about everything, the more his mind and heart spun.
Why does it have to hurt so much? he thought to himself. Then he realized what this feeling he’d been fearing for so long actually was:
It was love.
And suddenly, that feeling wasn’t so scary anymore. Maybe, things would be okay, and that was enough.