Branch was a little surprised. 'Normally, a spy will want to put fight between everybody to distract them. Obvious, she is not a good spy..if she is one..or an assassin... she doesn't act like none of the too! She should put conflicts between us! Do I really have to show her how this job it s done?'
"Branch..Braaaannchh! Are you still with me? "Asked Poppy seeing that Branch is totally lost in his thoughts.
"Yes, I am still here"
" Ok! I have to go now, it's a very busy day today! I just came to tell you that. Bye Branch!" Said Poppy already leaving.
The whole day Poppy showed the Troll Village and presented everybody to Elise. When they were done with their tour, Poppy said:
"I showed you almost everything. Just one thing if you want, I will be more than happy to show it. Branch's bunker."
Elise heard a lot about that bunker. Trixx could not get in so she became automatically curious.
"I would like to." she smiled.
Branch was very busy trying to repair a gathering fruits robot. He was very focused because he couldn't find the problem when someone knocked on the bunker's door.
" Branch, is me, Poppy! Open up!"
He just pressed the button for the door to open still very focused on his robot.
"Hey Branch, nice to see you!" Said poppy smiling.
"Hey Poppy!" answered Branch very focused on his work, still not looking.
" I hope you don't mind if I brought Elise here. She was curious too about your secret place."
"Ow no, everything it's fine" said Branch still very busy.
After a moment he snapped out
" Wait! What did you said?" Branch turn his head to see the 2 girls staying there.
" Are you crazy to bring her here? She will just take all the weapons and kill us right away, Poppy! What was on your mind?" Branch jumped and start to hide random things under everywhere without even looking on what he is taking. Poppy smiled embarrassed to Elise (who was feeling already bad for coming) and took Branch aside to talk.
Elise could hear their whispers and that both were upset. She started to look around and the gathering robot from the table got her attention. She looked a while then she saw something wrong 'this piece should not be here! It keeps all the power from the main source!' Saying that, she took a plastic piece which was between two electric cables. The robot started to make sounds.
"Stay away from that!" She could hear Branch yelling.
"I am sorry I just..." Elise tried to excuse herself while Branch came.
" It's working!" He said very happy forgetting that 'the enemy' was there.
" What did you do?" He asked amazed.
" Well the compressor could not work because he didn't got enough electricity from the main source. This piece was in between and made all the problems." She said smiling and very proud of herself.
" Wow, incredible! That is such a beginner mistake!" Branch smiled too being very enthusiast.
" Yeah! I know! Like, you think all the time on the super complicate stuff and you open up the engine when the problem it's just a little piece of plastic! That is so funny!"
They both started to laugh and talk enthusiast about components when Poppy interrupted them smiling.
"I am glad that you two get along finally" she looked more at Branch that now was in a very good mood.
They both stopped and became serious.
"I..I just saw that piece there...was luck that I figured out what the problem really is" Elise looked down becoming sad.
" What are you even talking about? You know as much as I do!" Branch found her reaction weird.
"No, I really don't! Poppy? Can we leave now?" Elise asked looking like a sad puppy.
"Yes..but Branch is right. Why would you want to hide such a nice talent?"
" That is no talent... it's just a way to make people fun of you saying that you are a nerd or a weirdo." Started Elise looking on the ground.
"Elise..." Poppy said with a sad face too.
"Because of my passion and my 'nice talent' I could not have a friend! Not even one friend! Nobody...they were just laughing. So I got lost in my books alone. I have the occasion to make friends now. I don't want to miss again that chance." Elise was amazed again by her honest words. She felt like she couldn't pretend and she really wanted to make friends...but she just said to herself that it's for the plan and she have no real feelings for them. Even if she knew deep in her soul that it was a lie and she desire to be their friend. After all, everything was completely true . But she avoided to say how bad she was treated by her sister and her friends because of her reading passion. Just because was not about fashion and make up and were robots and scientific stuffs that they could not understand.
"I will never avoid you for your passion and I don't know who will ever do that, I don't think they are really trolls but here you don't have to be worried about that. Nobody will judge you for such a thing. And about losing? Well, for sure you will not lose Branch, I think you just won a friend with the same passion" Poppy smiled to Elise and Branch.
" Let's not exaggerate there Poppy. Friends it's too much..." Branch was interrupted by Poppy
" Too much perfect I know! It's already late. We should go. Don't forget that you have to sing with us today. Everybody is excited about you!"
'Ow nooo! I totally forgot!' Thought Elise.
" Yeah sure...I am ready.." she lied
"See you later Branch, you have to come as well!" Said Poppy while they were leaving.
"I will think about it."
"Bye Branch!" Elise said very quiet.
She was on the stage with a lot of trolls looking at her. She was very nervous and she wanted to be brave..brave like a...bear! She just remembered a song that she wrote a long time ago to make herself feel better. She started to sing shy. (Everything at once by Lenka) Her voice sounded so sweet and pure. Everybody seemed to like it and she got more confidence. At the final everybody applauded. Every single troll loved her song. Even Branch who was hiding, listened and he could not help feeling curious when he heard from the stage that she composed that song. He was thinking what her past hide and also her soul. He smiled feeling weird that 'the little spy' make him feel this way and then he went to his place before he was seen.
Next day, Elise asked Poppy if she can go again to see Branch's work because was interesting for her. Elise realized too late that her pink friend looked very tired and she was not in the mood for anything.
"But in another day it's also good" tried Elise to not pressure her.
Poppy 's eyes begin to sparkle.
" O-my-goodness! someone is interested in Branch! I can't believe." She snapped out.
" What do you mean? I just.."
"No! Like really someone is finally interested in what he is doing, we know that he works so hard to protect us and that he makes all kinds of crazy stuff in his bunker but nobody seem to appreciate him. He will be so excited about you just wait! He will be very happy to see you again."
"You really think that?" Asked Elise relieved
"Because I was starting to feel that it s a bad idea. If you remember yesterday he was not so happy.."
"He was! He just doesn't show it" Poppy said that very confident in her words.
Once they where there, Elise was watching to a new project that Branch was working on while he dragged Poppy in a corner and started to whisper-shout .
"I am definitely not happy to see her again here! What do you think you are doing? This is a secret place! She can be the enemy! You can't bring her here everyday!" Branch said annoyed.
"Everything is fine over there?" Elise turned and asked them finding weird that they are whispering.
" Yes, yes we just...talk some things out. Everything it s perfectly fine!" smiled Poppy
" Come on! Like look at her how interested is she in in your work, and how much she knows about robots and all those crazy stuff, plus you promised to be less paranoid! Just give her a chance!" continued Poppy to Branch now
" I have to go now. While she was leaving she looked at them and said" have fun you too.
"Poppy wait! I will come with you!" Elise said scared.
Branch found her reaction weird while he was looking at her running after Poppy.
They talked at the entrance but Branch could not hear what they were saying.
"Looks like you have bad luck Branch, she wants to see the Scrap Book Club first!" Poppy said very enthusiastic on Elise's decision
"So bad. But it's ok. I will survive.." said Branch sarcastically.
After they left, he kept on thinking how she reacted like...she was..."afraid of me?"He asked himself.
The queen was visible tired and she could not keep up with her duty. That night when she was supposed to watch the comet rain with the other trolls she fall asleep. Nobody knew what is wrong with her..except Elise. She knew that it's her fault. Poppy wanted so hard to make her feel safe and to be a good friend that every night they kept on talking till late. After that,Poppy could not sleep being too nervous about Elise's presence.
After the Comet Rain, Elise and Poppy went to Poppy's house. Elise needed to make a plan and to move somewhere else where she could not bother anyone. She thought that she will have a lot of time because Poppy will instantly fell asleep but no. The queen started again to talk about all the things in the World till late.
Elise still had no plan yet..but speaking on plans.. She felt weird about her mission and she kept saying to herself every time that she still has two months. 'After a month here I will still have two..they said maximum three. I can have a little fun too.' She thought trying to hide her real feelings about all the trolls.
Next day both girls woke up very tired.
"I am sorry Poppy" Elise said.
"It is no problem" answered Poppy trying to smile. She didn't even know why Elise was sorry for but she was too tired to ask.
The queen had a lot of stuff to do on that day so she could not be all the time with Elise like she did in her first days. Elise spend a little time with Guy Diamond and Smidge. She found them very nice trolls. After that she wanted to go to the pond again. That was her favorite place. On her way she saw Branch putting some traps nearby. When she saw that, an idea hit her. 'That's it!' She said to herself and went after Branch.
"Hey Branch.." she said shy like always.
"Today you can't visit my bunker, I am working on defense" said Branch not very friendly.
" Well...I wanted to ask you something. If you can give me a survival tent." she said very fast her request, not wanting to annoy him
"Why would I even want to give you that?" said Branch being suspicious of her.
" Because everybody sees how tired is Poppy all the time..it's all my fault! She can't sleep because of me! So I want to move, that way she can relax and sleep good" said Elise feeling guilty.
Branch looked at her while she confessed. He started to think that she is not really a spy. His feelings were so weird on one moment he was very panicked that she was a spy and the other moment he wanted to be her best friend. 'Doesn't work like that...' he said for himself
" Umm Branch? If you don't want to help me I will find something else. Just give me an answer." Said Elise a little impatiently and fearful of Branch's serious face.
"If Poppy will find out that I gave you a tent to sleep in the most dangerous place at night she will kill me! Also, believe me! It's dangerous out there. At night a lot of scary creatures come outside."
"Poppy will never find out! I can take care of myself!" Elise said proudly.
"I can't believe that I will say this...but... you can come to stay with me, the bunker is big enough and there are a lot of free r..."
" No! It's ok Branch. You don't have to do this! I know it will be awful for you." Elise smiled embarrassed.
"Well awful it's..." tried Branch to be more friendly knowing that she act so distant because of him.
"Can I have the tent please?" Elise didn't let him finish.
"If that is really what you want..." he waited looking at her. Maybe she will say 'no'. She looked back.
" Yes that is really what I want!" She said it inpatiently.
"I am going to check." Pretending that he actually will check, still hoping that she will change her mind.
Branch came with the tent and helped her to assemble it. Then they both went to Poppy. After they tell all the fabricated story she looked suspicious at the two trolls.
"I am sorry that I didn't tell you about my sleeping problems. I just didn't wanted you to feel bad" started Poppy "and about sleeping in the bunker... I never expected that Branch will do something like this. But I am glad that he asked it. I am proud of you" she looked at Branch who started to feel very guilty that he was lying.
"Thank you.." he answered not so proud of himself..
"Ok! So let's get started with the moving. I will help!" Poppy jumped ready .
"Wowowo!" Elise and Branch said at the same time.
They looked shocked for a second to each other and Branch let Elise talk.
"You really don't have to! You are very tired and Branch offered already. Right Branch?" Elise looked like 'please lie once more'
Branch looked back at Elise like 'what it matters one extra lie in this sea of lies?'
"Suure! I will be glad to help while you get some sleep Poppy" he smiled.
"I am very glad to see that you two get along so good!" Poppy smiled back.
Elise took the books first while he took other objects.
All the stuff were in the tent.
"Thank you, Branch..." Elise said ashamed.
"They were just a few things, was not a big deal."
"Not for that, I mean for that as well but, that you kept the secret. I know it's difficult to lie your friends. Even if I don't have some, I can imagine how it is."
"It's ok" he said lightly smiling towards her.
"You really need to be careful though. I was not joking about those beasts. I actually found it nice that you risk your life just for Poppy to take a good sleep." Branch tried to make a joke.
"Ha ha. Maybe if you are lucky they will eat me." Elise continued too.
"Nobody can have so much luck."
They both laughed, once more going with the wave and forget about the stress between them.
Branch said that he has something to do and he left. He knew that if something will attack she will have no chance against it.
So he started to put traps around her tent without being observed. He thought that she is probably sleeping because it was very quiet in there. 'I need to protect her, otherwise Poppy will kill me. Yeah...that's why I am doing this. Not like I care..'Branch lied to himself. His job was done. Now he put a micro-fly so he can hear when creatures will attack. Maybe it will be safe. It's not so deep in the forest.
The night came and for Elise was difficult to fall asleep. She could hear movements of leafs, and weird sounds made by the birds. She was thinking on what Branch said about all the creatures and she was terrified. She started to cry, getting scared with a lantern in her hand, her only light.
Branch could barely hear that but he noticed it. He didn't knew what was so he decided to check it out.
Elise stopped from crying, listening to the noises from outside. Something came closer and she was shaking. Branch just came in the tent asking what happened.
"Aaaaaaaa!" Elise yelled scared to death and threw the lantern towards him and started to cry again.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa! yelled Branch too.
"Shhhh! It's me, Branch!" He tried to calm her.
She was very grateful that it was Branch but she could not speak, she was still too scared.
"I am sorry that I scared you! I just wanted to see if everything is ok." Branch started guilty
"It's not..you were right, it's very scary here. I am afraid that I will be attacked!" She said trying to stop the tears.
"Well I didn't told you..but, I put traps everywhere around you, so basically nothing can touch you. You are safe" he said going closer to her.
He wanted to put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. 'Maybe she will think that I am weird or she will slap me...' so he decided that will only support her by talking. 'How she can be an assassin...' he stared to doubt himself.
Branch said that he can hear if something will happen and he will come.
"So now you have to sleep and relax. Ok?" He asked feeling weird about the situation.
"Yes. Thanks again Branch! I really appreciate your effort. I think it's annoying to look after someone that you don't like.
'Ouch... I said only once that I don't like her but apparently she reproach me all the time..like it's bothering her or like she want to make me feel bad for saing that.' Actually, Elise didn't know neither why she did that, maybe she wanted to not be true, waiting to contradict her.
"Listen..I know what I said back then but it's not really..."
" It's ok! You don't have to excuse yourself. I told you that before." she smiled going under her blanket.
Branch left thinking on his way back to the bunker. 'All the time when I want to say something nice or to repair a mistake that I made in the first place she stops me...all the time. Like she doesn't want to hear me saying nice stuff.'
Elise was totally under the blanket. 'Why is he trying to be nice? I don't want that. It's already hard enough that everybody is so warm and friendly. Yet, I need to make him fall in love with me. But I don't want that! Maybe in a month or two I will want it. Yeah! That's it! I will just work on the plan later. Like I said before, I will just enjoy this for now. Actually, I should let Branch be nice. It's not like I will fall for him or something. I will be cold as an ice cube.' Elise felt already better thinking this way. She was not forced to start the plan now..she had all the time to be herself until 'the awful moment will come. No, no! I can't think like that. will bw no awful moment! I will get my own house and I will be very happy!' she encouraged herself once more.
Elise slept pretty good that night. She woke up early and get to the pond for some water letting the tent open. While she was there, Poppy passed by searching for some special mushrooms. She saw from far away a weird bush and she went closer. The closer she got the more she realized that was not a bush. It was a tent.
'What's with this here?' She thought suspiciously. She took a peek inside. 'Wait a second! I recognize those objects!'
" Braaanchhh!" Poppy yelled angry.
He could hear that without the micro-fly which was probably dead from the noise.
He came fast knowing already why Poppy was mad.
"Ow hey poppy.."
" Can you explain me what is this?" Asked poppy still upset
"Well it's a survival tent! Also it has 2 doors and..." tried Branch to avoid the real answer.
" I don't care about that! Why is it here with all Elise's stuff in ?"
" I can explain that.." he started to mumble searching for a good explanation.
" No, you don't have to, it was my idea, Poppy." Elise came with a leaf full of water in her hands after she heard the little dispute.
" Branch said that I can stay in his bunker but I didn't wanted to bother him and you already have no place so I will just stay here till my house it's done." Continued her on a sincere tone.
" You can't stay here..it's not safe, and the idea of staying in the bunker it's the best for now. I was thinking about that too but I could not force Branch to do that..but now that he offered, it's different." said Poppy smiling at Branch who was failing smiling
"Yeah...but you know..Branch doesn't really likes me...and..umm.." tried Elise to find an excuse to hide the real reason.
" Wait a second! Don't tell me that you are afraid of Branch!"
'I knew it' thought Branch feeling weird.
They were amazed.
" Are you really afraid of me? Why?" Branch asked curious. He remembered very good the other moment when she acted like that. He never thought that she will ever take him serious and he kind of regretted making such a fuss about her being an assassin or a spy.
" See what you did? I told you to be more friendly!" the two of them started to argue about it, while Elise was searching for a good moment to say something.
" Guys, guys it's ok! I am not really afraid of you Branch it s just.. not a comfortable feeling..it's weird and hard to explain" tried her to fix things up.
" Good, because you don't have to be, you see, Branch only wants to protect us and sometimes he can exaggerate with his protection, right Branch? Asked Poppy.
" Right!" answered very responsible the blue troll.
" And we are a family to him that's why he does his best, right Branch?"
" Right again!" He answered with the same responsibility on his face.
" And he will protect you just like he protect all of us right, Branch?"
" Totally right! Wait, what?" Snapped Branch from his responsible state.
"Elise, you are already part of the family!" smiled Poppy.
"Am I?" Asked Elise surprised.
" Is she? asked Branch more surprised.
"Yes you are, and in two days you will have your official ;welcome to our family; party. It will be awesome!
" Wow, thank you..I don't even know what to say.. In such a short time" Elise answerd clumsy.
" You don't have to say anything, just accept Branch's offer."
" I have a room with a key, very far from mine if you want" sighted Branch.
" And are you sure you are ok with this?" Asked Elise unsure.
"I..." started Branch to talk.
"Of course he is sure. You two will be best buddies in no time" said Poppy interrupting Branch and hugging the two of them putting them closer.
" Ok. It's decided. This time I am personally helping with your stuff just to be sure"