There's Gnome One Like You ~ A Gnome Alone Fanfiction

2) Flashback

"Hey, Chloe," Liam began. "Do you ever think the gnomes will come back?"

Chloe and Liam were walking through the park, enjoying the last week of summer before going back to school. It was the summer before their last year of high school. The cicadas sang loudly deep within the woods  surrounding the park and the birds chirped contently. It definitely felt like summer; sweat dripped from Chloe and Liam's skin. Chloe kept waving her hand in front of her face like a fan while Liam blew on her.

"Ew, quit doing that." Chloe told him, pushing him away.

"Hey, I was just trying to help!" Liam explained.

"Anyways, about the gnomes," Chloe began. "I think the they'll only come back if the troggs do."

Liam sighed. "You're probably right. I sure do miss them though."

"Me too," Chloe said with a nod. "Maybe we should be happy we don't see them. We know the world is safe, at least."

"It's still crazy to think about, what we went through. It was only a couple of years ago. My parents don't believe me at all." Liam said. "Then again, they never believe anything I tell them."

Chloe laughed. "Why is that?"

"Years of lying about my grades in elementary school, my parents punished me even if I got an A-."

"Dang," Chloe replied. "That sucks."

"Oh well, my grades are much better now, so I don't have to worry about that anymore."

The two continued making their way through the park; the sun beating down on them anytime they came out of the shade. 

"Hey, what's that?" Liam said to Chloe, bending down facing the grass. He picked something up. He held it up to Chloe with his hand closed. He opened it up. "Look!"

Chloe backed away with a disgusting expression. "What the heck is that???" she shrieked. 

"It's a moth. You never see them at this time, ever. He looks injured. Look at his wings." Liam explained. 

Chloe carefully got closer and looked at the moth. It was trembling.

"Aw, poor guy," Chloe said. She slowly stretched out her hand to touch the moth's wings. It didn't flinch, and began trembling less.

"I think he likes you!" Liam commented. 

"He's kinda fuzzy," said Chloe. "You know, if he wasn't so ugly, he'd be kinda cute."

"That doesn't even make any sense!" Liam replied. 

After a few minutes, the moth quit shaking. 

"I think...he died." Liam sighed  He put him back down in the grass to rest. Chloe glanced down at him once more before the two would move forward. She felt a quiet sadness, looking down at the lifeless body of the moth.

Chloe ran to catch up with Liam. 

"You know, I don't ever want to get old," Liam suddenly spoke. "Death seems pretty scary."

"I feel the complete opposite, minus the death part. I hate being a kid. Adults don't take you seriously." Chloe explained. 

"Yeah, that's true, but...being an adult comes with so much responsibility. My parents argue about every little thing. Life as a child is so simple. All I have to worry about is school and after school, I get to play." Liam told her.

"As for me, I can't wait to grow up and not have to deal with kid stuff. I want...freedom." 

"I feel plenty of freedom being a kid! I'd imagine you'd be less free with all that responsibility." 

"I don't know," Chloe pondered out loud. "I feel trapped and stressed by all the pressures of school and having to worry about what my mom thinks about everything I do." 

"Sure, both us kids and adults have pressure, but isn't that just life? It seems like it only gets harder." Liam replied. "But hey, why am I worrying about that? We have one more week to enjoy before we go back to school, so let's enjoy it!"

Chloe smiled at Liam, and then spoke. "Well, before we do, can you promise me something?"

Liam looked at Chloe seriously. "What?"

"Promise me that even when we grow up...we'll still be friends. Okay?"

Liam gave Chloe a gentle smile and said softly, "Of course."

The two parted later that afternoon, and before they knew it, their interests changed, their classes were different, and the two unfortunately drifted apart during their last year in high school. Luckily, they remained on good terms and still considered each other friends, but things were just...different. Chloe became involved with the yearbook committee, and Liam went on to create the school's first tech club. While the two remained apart, hanging out less and less, they still always made sure to give each other a smile as they passed one another in the hall. Chloe still hung onto the promise, and by high school graduation, she wondered if Liam still did too.