Chapter 3

*Branch's POV*

Branch hadn't stopped thinking about poppy since her visit the previous week. She was always on his mind. Even before then. Since they were young, she had always tried to be kind to him, and include him in things around troll village. He could just never bring himself to go to any of her invites. Thinking about her warm hug and sweet smell made his heart pump and face crack a smile. He had known for a good long while, but never truly admitted it. He was in love with poppy. A deeper love than he could ever hope for. But there was never a need to tell her. How could he? She would never want a troll like him. At least, that's the way he felt about it. As long as he saw that she was happy, that was enough for him. 

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of pounding on his front door. He shot up out of his seat, listened, and pinpointed the location. Running up to his trap door, he slid open the eye slot in his "GO AWAY" door mat. "WHO IS IT?!" He growled with an annoyed yet lightly angry voice. Biggie appeared, Holding his precious worm pet, Mr. Dinkles. "Biggie?? What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived??" Branch snorted. " I-I'm sorry branch, but poppy sent me to find you, she needs your help, she needs you".

Fear gripped branch. His heart almost stopped of the thought that she could be in danger. "What happened to her? Was she hurt?" Branch thought to himself. Slamming the eye slot shut, branch emerged almost instantly. "Where is she? Is she alright? Show me where she is, big". He says to the large troll with a hard expression. Biggie was almost frightened by it. But quickly agreed to take him to her.

Treading through the bramble, branch was beginning to wonder how far poppy had gone. Did she get bitten by something? Was she attacked? He was starting to really worry. It was starting to get dark, the sunlight was quickly waning. He needed to find poppy and he needed to do it fast. "Through here branch, poppy is through here"! Without missing a beat, he ran past biggie and straight into the clearing. "Poppy?! Are you hurt!? What happ-"! In mid sentence, he saw poppy and her friends holding dark green sequin banners with " Happy Birthday Branch " in silver lettering. All the trolls, including poppy and biggie, cheered for him.

"Happy birthday braaanch"!!! The group cheered while clearing from in front of a table to reveal a large birthday cake with his name on it. He stood there mouth agape, at first confused, then understood he had forgotten his own birthday. He stopped celebrating it because he had no one to celebrate it with. "Poppy, what is this"? She hurried over to him, And grabbed hold of his arm. Gently gripping it, and pulled him over to the table with the cake. "It's your birthday party branch". Biggie said happily. "Poppy planned it for you, we all helped out."

Branch looks around to the group of trolls all smiling at him, Why would they do this for him? Why would poppy of all people do this for him? "Poppy"? Branch called to her in a hushed but distinctive voice. She slowly walked up to him holding his cake. "Branch, when I remembered it was your birthday I wanted to make sure that you knew that some trolls care about you. I just want to show you that even though you may feel like it, you're not alone". Her words gripped his very heart. Poppy walked closer to him, presenting him with his birthday cake and flickering candles. "Make a wish branch". She said softly. Looking around to the other trolls, they all were smiling and urging him to make a wish. Looking intently at poppy, admiring her sweet smile, he continued. Closing his eyes in inhaling deeply, he blew his candles after a few moments. Through the smoke of the extinguished candles, branch and poppy's eyes met. He made his wish. Without taking their eyes off of one another, they smiled. The group of trolls noticed this, smiling and snickering, they all exchange suggestive glances to one another. Moments later, DJ popped up with her headphones.

"Party tiiiiiime"!!!! DJ Hollered. Soon afterwards, lights and music began to play. The group of trolls cheered happily and begin to dance and sing 'Celebrate Good Times', pulling branch and poppy in the middle of them all. But naturally, branch refused, much to poppy's disappointment. She wanted branch to dance and sing with her, but she wouldn't force him. He did however, enjoy watching poppy dance. Watching her smile, twist and swirl with her friends made branch feel good inside. Listening to her beautiful voice and innocent laughter somehow made branch comfortable. Allowing a light smile to creep across his lips. He always loved listening to poppy sing. But he would never tell her to her face. He would be too embarrassed. Biggie twirled her in the air like a top, cooper caught her and vogue danced with her. Guy diamond used his hair to suspend himself from the lowest tree branch to act as a disco ball. The twins dancing in tandem while also making shapes with their hair. Quite some time passed as the happy trolls enjoyed dancing and music. Smidge and guy diamond rushed behind branch to wrap a cloth around his eyes, handing him a fake hair puff to pin on the troll. "GAME TIME"! They yelled in unison. Branch was a little skeptical about playing games and such, but they made allot of effort trying to do this for him. So he would try to experience being around more trolls for once. He started with a simple game of 'Pin the hair on the troll'. After a few failed attempts, he finally managed to get it pinned on the paper troll. Everyone cheered for him as he successfully pinned the fake hair finally. Which actually made him feel legitimately amused. Several games were played that night. Biggie was so good at the ring toss game, that everyone assumed it was because of his size that he was easily able to win. Bobbing for sugar berries was actually rather fun for branch, he got to eat the ones he fished out. When poppy had her turn, she leaned too far into the barrel and almost toppled inside.

Thankfully, branch run up to her and caught her by her ankles. Much to his embarrassment when he looked down to see her dress coming up short, he saw her bright blue underwear. It took everything he had not to blush too badly. To his fortune, no one noticed. After a few games they all enjoyed the cake and food. Sandwiches, fruits and some candies. Cooper ate more than his fill of the cake and candies. Resulting in a belly ache. Once they were finished eating, poppy called for everyone's attention. "Ok everyone, before we start getting everything ready for clean up, I would like to do our last event for the night. PRESENT TIME"! She excitedly squeals as she runs off to the back of DJ's music station. Branch was legitimately astonished. A present? For him?

Poppy came back quickly with a large, glimmering package. Placing it before him, she gestures to go ahead to open it. He hesitates for a moment, unsure if he actually deserved this gift. In his eyes, he hasn't done anything to deserve a present. After another gesture and some egging on from poppy, he began to slowly unwrap his gift, slowly unwrapping the sparkling paper from the package. Pulling back the last bit of glittery paper, the bag opened, revealing a brand new goods satchel. Only this new one was much larger, with several pockets on the sides and a holding compartment for wood. He sat, eyeing his gift for several moments. It was very well made and with a durable material. She most likely worked all night just to make this for him. Not even noticing that a happy smile had crept on his face. The others were slightly frightened at first, since they've never seen him with a full smile. Poppy however, was more than happy to see him do so. "I made this for you last night. I saw that your satchel was getting old and has seen some better days, and I knew that you would need a new one soon. So, I made you a new one, only bigger, so you could carry more with you if you wanted to". She beamed proudly.

"It's amazing poppy, thank you so much. Thanks to all of you. This was... very nice. My first time having a real party. Thank you poppy, you didn't have to do this." Branch chuckled to himself. "You're very welcome bra-"! Poppy started.

The entire pack gasped in shock. 

She was interrupted by branch pulling her waist close to his, his soft grip on her hips pulling her towards him as he hugs her. She stands shocked that this grey troll, who is considered to be the most miserable troll in the village, was giving her a real hug. His scent of earth, soil and fruit filled her nose, she enjoyed this smell. She wrapped her hands around his back, rubbing the middle section. Feeling his muscular back with her hands, she could feel his strong back through his vest. She hadn't noticed how strong or muscular he was. Maybe she just never paid attention to it? "Thank you poppy, for everything". He whispered in her ear. Her body had chills and made her hair raise. She hugged him back tightly, slowly closing her eyes in content as she savored his hug. Hearing one of the pack members clear their throats, he looked to see cooper, DJ and biggie looking at him with smiles and raised eyebrows. He released her when he noticed everyone else was staring at them. Clearing his own throat in the process.

"Ok everyone, thank you for what you did for me, seriously, it was the most fun I've had in years. But we should start cleaning up and heading home. It's dangerous out here at night, so we'd better hurry". After everyone agrees, the group of friends quickly clean up their party spot and make their way home after a short hour. During the walk back home, he was thinking of ways to make it up to poppy for doing something so thoughtful for him when she didn't have too. But he was coming up short on ideas. Listening to the group as he leads them home, he hears poppy wish that there was a way to cool off on the hot days of summer they had been having. Then an idea sprung into his head. Smiling to himself and walking through the bramble, leading the others, he stopped when he heard the rustling of leaves and broken twigs. His ears twitching to pinpoint the noise, it immediately stopped. He quickly advised the group to hurry along faster. And so they finally made their way back home safe and sound. Standing at the edge of the village square, he bid the pack a farewell and goodnight, thanking them all one by one for a night of fun. He was grateful for being thought of, he wasn't used to that. Poppy was the last to say her goodbyes, enjoying talking to branch one last time before the night ended for them. "I'm glad you had fun branch. You deserved a good birthday party. I'm just sorry no one has ever thrown you one before". Poppy sighed with an almost melancholy tone. Branch chuckled to himself for a moment. "Believe me poppy, I had a great time. At first I can honestly say I wasn't sure if I was ready for "fun" just yet. But tonight was a good first step. But don't sorry, I am just glad that I was thought of.....you didn't have to do that for me you know.....". Branch finished as he shyly looked to the ground. Poppy perked up a bit. "Of course I did, you're my friend and I felt like you deserved it. The smile and hug you gave me.... made it all the more worth it....". She said softly. Branch looked to her, trying his hardest not to blush or look too obvious. His heart skipped with how sweet she was. Not to mention the starlight dancing off of her skin and eyes made her look so beautiful. His whole body felt shaky just by looking at her. Poppy thought he looked rather handsome in the moonlight. His mysterious look and strong, muscular body made him actually quite attractive, as she has never really paid much attention to detail before. Thinking of this actually made her blush a bit. Quickly turning her flushed face to the night sky. 

She gazed happily at the stars. A wide smile spread across her lips as soft chuckles escaped. Branch was wondering what she was thinking, looking up to the sky as well. "I always loved watching the stars, blazing bright like beautiful diamonds. They always shine, even when the darkness surrounds you, there is always light to be found". Poppy finished with a hushed voice. Branch was enamored by her words. For someone as perky and outgoing as poppy, he never expected words of wisdom like these coming from someone like her. "To me.....the night sky has always been so beautiful". She sighed. Branch smiled softly. Agreeing with her. "Yeah.....beautiful.....". He whispered under his breath. Not hearing him, poppy turned to wave goodbye to branch. " I'm happy you had fun branch. It's good to see a nice smile on your face, you have a nice smile. Goodnight branch"! She said as she casually walks away toward the palace. "Goodnight, poppy". Branch stammered. Feeling his face warming from her compliment. For once, in a long, long time. Branch felt good. Very good.  He continued to wear the soft smile until he reached his bunker, when he slept soundly throughout the night.

End Of Chapter 3