What could've been

Chapter 1 Falling out

One day they were the best of friends and then as soon as high school started, he disappeared and they grew apart. As long as poppy can remember, her and branch were the best of friends friends. They had known each other since they were toddlers. Poppy's mother had died when she was just 2. Her mother died from terminal cancer, it was very hard on her father, he wasn't around very much because he had to support him and his daughter. Poppy would spend most of the time in daycares or babysitters. Poppy and branch had met at a preschool her father enrolled her in and just couldn't seem to break away from each other, neither of them had siblings so it brought them closer in friendship. "Branch" was a nickname poppy had always called him. Brandon was his real name but at 2 years old poppy couldn't exactly say the name Brandon so for years she called him branch and the name stuck. Even all their friends called him branch. Their friend group consisted of satin, Chenille, cooper, billy "biggie", graham "Guy", and Suki. They were all very close and always had a fun time together even through the years of middle school when the cliques starting forming, they stuck together through thick and thin! They even included a new guy named Craig "creek" However, when high school came around, branch became distant from the group and no one knew why. He stopped coming to parties, stopped sitting with them at lunch, and ignored their calls and texts. Poppy was the one who was hurt most by branch's distance because she had known him for so long. She didn't want to give up on him, she tried to get him to open up. She would still invite him to parties or to hang out, but she never got a response from him. Sometimes she would go to his house to check on him, but he would never answer the door. All through high school she tried and tried, and by the end of the summer before senior year, she slowly started to give up. She knew there was no getting the old branch back. She wanted to help him. He had never acted like this before. Their friends insisted it was for the best to leave him alone. Of course she had seen branch around! But He seemed different, like he wasn't there at all. That summer she stopped contacting him, she stopped trying to invite him to things, she hadn't wanted to give up on her friend, she decided...one more chance. She knew her friend was in there somewhere, she just had to dig deeper.

(Last day of summer)

The gang all gathered at poppy's house. They wanted to through one more party before the next day of school.

Poppy: are we going to invite branch?" Everyone looked at her in confusion. Cooper: Why would we do that?

Poppy: Well..he's our friend

Satin: Poppy, you've been trying for years to get him back in...it's time to move on, after this year branch might move somewhere far away anyways

Poppy (sighs) I guess you're right

Creek showed up and joined the rest of the group.

Creek: hey everyone! What's up?

Guy: we're about to have a huge party!

Chenille: before we go back to school!

Creek: oh well that sounds fun! Don't you think so love? (Kisses poppy's cheek which makes her blush)

Poppy and creek had dated for about a year now. Ever since creek joined the group, he had a huge crush on her and had the courage junior year to ask her out. Poppy was happy with him, she didn't know why, but she wasn't as fulfilled with creek.

Satin: aw come on guys! Stop!

Biggie: yeah PDA!

Creek: alright alright! But this will be all you guys someday!

Cooper: so we are doing this party right?

Suki: of course! It's gonna be the loudest!

Satin: and the craziest!

Guy: biggest party ever!

Creek: is your dad ok with this darling?

Poppy: oh he won't be home...he's out on a trip with his girlfriend

Chenille: again? It seems like it's getting serious

Poppy: (shrugs) I don't know...he's had so many girlfriends who knows if this is for real or not

Cooper: so he's not gonna be here for your first day of senior year?

Poppy: I guess not, we haven't been that close since my mom died

Suki: well you always have us poppy! Don't forget that! We're gonna have a great time tonight and a great senior year! Now we should all go and get ready! We've got food to get and people to invite!

The group headed out for a few hours, and creek stayed behind to keep poppy company.

Creek: what's wrong? You're usually so excited about parties

Poppy: I am! It's just...

Creek: (rolls his eyes) it's branch again isn't it?

Poppy: yeah..

Creek: stop thinking about him! If he doesn't wanna come or be friend with you anymore then forget him! (He moves a little closer to her) you have me now...(whispers softly) you wanna have a little fun before everyone comes back?

Poppy: I'm sorry...I'm not in the mood

Creek: come on poppy! It's been a year now! How long are you gonna keep me waiting?

Poppy: you said you'd wait...

Creek: well...that was months ago...but I see if you're not gonna play, I'll just leave...but I'd have an open mind for the party tonight (he leaves and slams the door behind them.)

Poppy started to cry. She was lying to herself, she wasn't happy with creek. He had been trying to get into her for months but he wouldn't back down no matter how many times she said no. She hasn't confided in any of her friends because everyone assumed they were a perfect couple. She wish she could tell branch...if anything...she was in love with him. It hurt so bad that he wouldn't even talk to her. Even though she said she wouldn't try to, she wanted to invite him to the party. She drove over to branch's house, she didn't see any car in the driveway...she didn't know if he had a car or not. The shades in the windows were drawn. She walked up to the door and knocked. She waited a couple minutes but no one answered.

Poppy: branch! Branch! Please come out!

Poppy became fed up with him ignoring her so she started shouting louder and banging on the door until a neighbor threatened to call the police if she didn't stop. In a huff she stormed out and drove off.

Branch saw her car drive away, why was she still coming back? He thought if he ignored her enough she would give up...he hated himself for making her feel this way. He was amazed though by the fact even though for the past 4 years he ignored her calls or didn't acknowledge her presence, she still kept him included.