Trolls: Branch's Story

Branch could hear the music from his tree.

Ugh, he groaned inwardly jumping off heading towards the hilltop that overlooked most of the town, particularly the parties thrown. He saw everybody from town there, smiling, blind to the dangers lurking about. He scowled. How an they all be so...oblivious!

It wasn't until the teen's dark eyes spotted a familiar girl, one with a smile that shone brighter than the sun, softening his scowl.

His memories of the encounter with Poppy came flooding back. He'd been seven at the time, and had fallen in love with her warm smile ever since he laid eyes on it on town square's T.V. A party that he'd never been invited too, because he watched over his grandmother who was always there for him but had been losing strength. Usually his singing was the only thing she asked from him. It sounded

like angels, his voice, that got her through another day.

Except that one day...

Flashback

Branch had just arrived home from the park.

"Grandma! Grandma look," his cheerful voice bounced as he showed her the invitation. "Look she invited me! Poppy gave me an invitation!"

"Oh, that's wonderful Branch," she smiled from her favorite chair. "I knew you'd one day swoon an adorable Missy with that beautiful voice of yours."

"Grandma," he groaned embarrassingly. "I didn't swoon her, I asked her."

"Oh," she said disappointingly. "I guess that works too. Well, never mind that, when's the party?"

"Today!"

"Wonderful, here, ugh..." Branch's grandmother had collapsed trying to get up.

"Grandma!" Branch yelled helping her stand. "Here."

"Thank you, Branch," she said dusting her self off.

"Maybe I should stay here," he said, his voice full of concern.

"Nonsense! Now I can manage, and you are going to that party."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, now how about you sing me a song while I hang the clothes. Okay?"

"Okay. Oh! I have the perfect one," he took a deep breath and pictured himself alone. Away from everybody. A single spotlight. Turn around, he pictured someone say.

"Every now and then I get a little bit lonely

And you're never coming round,"

Turn around, "every now and then I get a little bit tired

Of listening to the sound of my tears."

His voice was quiet, as he imagined the words flash, turn around, "every now and then I get a little bit nervous

That the best of all the years have gone by."

Turn around, he plucked a rose from his backyard's rosebush. "Every now and then I get a little bit terrified

And then I see the look in your eyes," he sang into his rose. Visualizing the image of the pinkette and her eyes and getting lost in their bright pools, turn around bright eyes, "Every now and then I fall apart."

Turn around bright eyes, "Every now and then I fall apart..." He waited for it. The note. Then he let it out,"And I need you now tonight

And I need you more than ever

And if you only hold me tight

We'll be holding on forever."

"Branch! Watch out!"

Still in his own world he continued , "And we'll only be making it right

'Cause we'll never be wrong-"

The little boy looked at his grandmother in confusion as she ran towards him. He turned around, but too late. His grandmother pushed him out of the way. He fell back. Only making out the horror on her face as she was taken by a giant hand.

Then, he blacked out.

~The Next Day~

The police didn't believe him.

Nobody did.

They called him crazy.

~A week goes by~

He wasn't sure how long it'd been since that day. He sat right in front of her favorite chair, hoping one day she'd come back. With her warm, comforting smile, and kind eyes.

SMACK!

He jumped. Something outside moved, he got scared and ducked on the floor. Wait, he thought. Grandma's going to need a place to stay once she comes back. I'll just make a safe place, so next time we'll both be prepared!

He left his home in search of things to help him. He walked around, mostly collecting sticks. Unaware of a particular voice nearby screaming his name.

"Poppy?" He said in n disbelief because surely the angered girl couldn't be angry at him, right?

"You'd better have a good reason for missing out on my party!"

"Wh-"

"What kind of person doesn't come to a party!"

"Well I-"

"You nothing!" Branch was taken aback. Does she really hate me for not going? "I needed you there," she said with sad eyes, "but you didn't come. Do you know how sad that made me? Didn't you want me to be happy?"

He did want her to be happy, but right now... "Poppy, I need to tell-"

"No! I don't want to hear it!" She covered her ears.

Branch wanted to tell her. About the reason he missed, about how his grandmother would return and then maybe she too could be prepared with them for the giant's attack again. He just needed her to listen, to understand, so he touched her shoulder, "Poppy."

"No! You're not my friend!" The boy's eyes widen in shock at her hurtful words. I'm not her friend, his brows furrowed, for not going to her party!

"You know what," the boy had had it with people not listening to him. "You're right. I don't care about your happiness. In fact," he took out the invite that once brought him happiness and pushed it towards her "Here. Don't ever invite me to your parties ever again."

He took off hurt. Not only did she break up their friendship, but she ruined any little chance of happiness. He now believed that their was nothing in the world but him and he needed to prepare himself for the giants next attack. He never once regretted not looking back that day. He felt nothing.

~Years go by~

Every year he receives an invitation. Secretly stashing them away in his cupboards. Reminiscing the days he could've gone, in the past. When he was still happy.

When he still believed in happiness.

When he felt something.

Flashback End

Branch blinked back into focus. He frowned at the people having fun, unaware of the bad things around them. Retrieving to his bunker with nothing but some sticks and no happiness.

However none knew of them knew what sort of monsters lurked about on that fateful day.

Thank you for following and I'll try to update before the month ends. Please leave reviews, they usually give me ideas of what else to add on, and understand they are all in human form and already in their teens.