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It was a lovely day in Smiling valley, and Cali the chameleon was taking a nice walk in the park with his wonderful boyfriend, Kickin.
The two of them had been officially dating for about 3 weeks now, and everything was going well.
They’d gone on a few dates, kissed a couple times, and had generally been spending lots of time together. Cali couldn’t ask for anything more.
There was just one problem…
Lately, another one of the critters had caught his eye, a certain sporty rabbit girl.
Hoppy Hopscotch was amazing.
Whenever he saw her playing soccer like a pro or beating Kickin in a race, it just made his insides go all tingly, like he’d been struck by lightning, but in a good way.
Everything about her, the electric green color of her fur, the way she smiled, her adorable laugh, her enthusiasm…
She was a bolt of happiness.
But, Cali knew that he needed to keep these feelings to himself.
He was already in a happy relationship, and he didn’t want to get involved with any drama.
Even so, he couldn’t get the gorgeously awesome bunny out of his head…
~the next day~
Cali was walking down to the large, beehive shaped house, because he needed advice from smiling valley’s resident love expert.
He gently knocks on the door, waiting patiently for her to answer.
After a few minutes, she does, smiling.
“Oh hi Cali!”
She says softly. “What are you doing here?”
Cali smiles and waves. “Hi Bobby.”
He says. “I need some advice.”
Bobby nods. “Okay, come on in.”
She says, stepping aside.
Cali steps in, following Bobby to the living room.
“Sit on the sofa, and I'll go make some tea.” Bobby says. “Any flavor requests?”
Cali smiles. “Do you have any watermelon tea?”
Bobby nods, going to the kitchen.
While she was gone, Cali looked around, seeing many pictures of her and her friends on the wall.
There were some of her and Hoppy together, some of her and Crafty together, some of her and Kickin, and some of all 8 of them together.
He smiles.
‘That’s nice.’
He thinks.
“Okay, it’s ready!”
Bobby comes back, carrying a tea tray, with a teapot and two cups, setting it on the table.
“So, who’s on your mind?”
Bobby says, pouring him a cup of watermelon tea, and handing it to him. “Are you and Kickin doing okay?”
Cali sighs, sipping it.
“Well actually, I'm trying to get someone OFF my mind…”
He says.
Bobby was shocked.
“Really…?”
Cali nods.
“Kickin and I are doing okay… but now…”
He sighs in shame. “Someone else has caught my eye.”
Bobby nods, sipping hers. “I see.”
She says. “Who is it?”
Cali blushes, turning a bit invisible.
“H-hoppy!”
He says, covering his face.
“Ohhh.”
Bobby giggles. “That makes sense, Hoppy’s a catch.”
Cali nods.
“But I CAN’T like Hoppy, because I'm already dating Kickin.”
He says. “And I would never in my LIFE cheat on him.”
He looks back to Bobby.
“So… what should I do?”
Bobby smiles.
“Well, maybe you and Kickin could discuss having an open relationship.”
Cali looks confused.
“An open relationship…?”
Bobby nods.
“Yeah, where you two aren’t mutually exclusive, and can date other people while still being with each other.”
Cali looks mind blown.
“YOU CAN DO THAT…?”
Bobby nods.
“Yeah, like, have you never heard of polyamory?”
Cali shakes his head.
Bobby giggles.
“Well, like I said, it’s where someone can date multiple people, as long as everyone knows and is comfortable with it.”
Cali looks at his hands.
“Wow… I never knew.”
Bobby smiles, scooting closer.
“So, what I think you should do is tell Kickin how you feel.”
She says. “From what I know, he’ll probably be okay with it.”
Cali looks nervous.
“Y-you think so…?”
Bobby nods. “Absolutely.”
Cali thinks a bit, then nods.
“Okay, I will.”
He says. “Thanks Bobby.”
Bobby smiles. “No problem!”
~Later that day~
Cali takes a deep breath, walking up to the small chicken coop and knocking on the door.
Kickin opens it, smiling when he sees him.
“Oh hey babe!”
He says. “What are you doing here?”
Cali sweats nervously.
“Um… We…”
He sighs.
“We need to talk.”
Kickin gets a little worried.
“Uh… ok?” He says.
He steps aside, letting him in.
“Come on in.”
A few minutes later, they were both sitting in Kickin’s hay bed, the tension in the air was thicker than garlic butter aioli dip.
“So… what did you want to talk about…?”
Kickin asks, nervous.
Cali was even more nervous.
“I…”
He says, quietly.
“I-I was wondering if you maybe… wanted to have an…”
He turns a bit invisible.
“Open relationship?”
Kickin’s eyes widened.
“An open relationship?”
He says.
Cali nods.
“Y-yeah… where we can… uh…”
He closes his eyes, scooting away.
“N-never mind, it was a stupid idea!”
He says, going even more invisible.
“Hey hey, wait…”
Kickin scoots over, putting his arm gently around Cali’s shoulders.
“It’s not a stupid idea…”
Cali tears up a bit.
“Yes it is… I mean we’re already with each other, why would we want to?”
Kickin giggles a bit.
“I was about to ask that,” he says. “Is there somebody else you have your eye on?”
Cali turns away, turning even more invisible.
“N-no, there isn’t.” he says. “J-just forget I said anything.”
Kickin pulls his other arm around him, pulling him closer.
“Cal…” he says. “Calm down, I'm not mad.”
Cali becomes a bit more visible, looking up at him.
“Y-you’re not?”
Kickin gently kisses his head, making him blush.
“No, I get it.” he says. “Sometimes you wanna have other options, you know?”
Cali hugs him, burying his face in his chest.
“I… I just don’t want you to think that I'm not happy with you…” he says. “Because I am! I love you so much, and you always make my heart beat…”
Kickin smiles and blushes, kissing his head again.
“I love you too, Cal.”
Cali sniffles. “And that’s why I feel so guilty about it, but I cannot shake the feelings I have for her…”
Kickin tilts his head.
“Her?” he says. “Who’s the girl?”
Cali whimpers, pulling back.
“I REALLY LIKE HOPPY, OKAY!?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he went cold, slapping both his hands over his mouth.
Kickin’s eyes go wide. “Hoppy?”
Cali cries.
“Yes, Hoppy…”
He says. “I’m so sorry…”
Kickin gently wipes his tears.
“Hey, hey, calm down.” He says. “Like I said, I'm not mad…”
Cali hugs him, burying his face in his chest.
Kickin smiles, gently stroking his back.
“If you wanna ask her out, that’s fine, but I'm just curious… Why Hoppy of all critters?”
He says. “I mean she’s really annoying…”
Cali smiles a bit.
“Not to me…”
He says.
He sighs softly. “She’s really cool, and athletic, and her fur always smells like peppermint and lime, and whenever I see her my heart goes-”
He was interrupted by Kickin putting a feathered hand over his mouth.
“Okay, okay, I get it.”
He says, giggling. “You wanna ask Hoppy out.”
Cali shyly nods.
“And… you’re sure you’re not mad?”
Kickin nods, kissing his head again.
“Completely.”
He says. “I’m just kinda shocked you fell for HOPPY of all critters.”
Cali nuzzles him softly.
“Thank you…” He says. “I love you so much.”
Kickin hugs him softly.
“I love you too, Cal.”
~Even later that day~
Hoppy Hopscotch was in the park, practicing slam dunking on the basketball court.
“Yes! 10 in a row!”
She says, landing back on her feet.
She hears someone clapping, looking around.
Cali was there, clapping for her.
“Good job, Hoppy!”
He says softly.
Hoppy smiles.
“Thanks Cali!” She says. “I don’t see you around here very often.”
Cali gets nervous.
“Well, Hoppy, that’s because today, I have a question to ask you.”
Hoppy walks over.
“Oh? What is it?”
Cali takes a deep breath, preparing himself.
He then pulls something from behind his back, showing it to her.
It was a large cardstock sign that said “Will you go out with me?” in green, glittery letters.
Hoppy blushes when she reads it.
“I… I discussed it with Kickin, and he’s okay with it…”
Cali whispers. “So…”
He smiles brightly.
“Will you?”
After a bit of silence, Hoppy smiles, nodding.
“Sure!”
Cali’s eyes sparkle.
“R-really?!”
Hoppy nods.
“Yeah, why not?” She says. “You’re cute and really sweet.”
Cali blushes, going a little invisible.
“T-thanks…” He says, not really knowing what to do next.
Hoppy giggles, going to kiss him on the cheek, making him turn even redder and even more invisible.
~That evening~
A certain blue elephant was sitting on the hillside in stardew park, waiting for his date while reading a book about painting.
Even though he wasn’t very good at it(He was more into making scientific and mathematical charts and diagrams), he wanted to learn to get better, to impress his girlfriend.
“Bubba!”
A soft and sweet voice says.
Bubba smiles, putting a bookmark in his book and looking up, seeing a beautiful white unicorn walk up beside him.
“There you are.”
He says. “I was wondering when you’d get here.”
Crafty giggles, sitting next to him.
“Sorry I'm late…” She says. “I had to clean up some spilled paint.”
Bubba gently
“No matter, my love.” He says softly. “I’m just glad you’re here.”
Crafty giggles, kissing him on the cheek. “Thanks sweetie.”
She says, before leaning her head on his shoulder.
And so the two spent the evening together, counting the stars and talking about everything and nothing in particular.