A week later, Creek was teaching his friends yoga and how to meditate and relax. There hadn't been any performances by Branch lately, he was glad to say, ever since his last song. At least Creek and his friends can meditate and relax now without distractions from Branch. Sigh. Isn't tranquillity great?
With his eyes closed, Creek and the others sat in lotus positions. Then he heard something. A female humming not too far away. He opened one eye and saw that it was Poppy who was humming, her eyes still closed, wearing a smile on her face.
"Don't be so quick to…walk away…hmm hm hmm…" she hummed and sang quietly. The others looked at her too. They hadn't heard any song like that before!
"Poppy?" Creek said, gaining her attention. She was disrupting the peace, unfortunately. She has a beautiful singing voice, but still. Poppy opened her eyes.
"Hm?" she said. Then she saw their staring faces, "oh, haha whoops! Sorry! I just got a song stuck in my head."
"What song?" Suki asked curiously. It sounded cool. Maybe she could play it at the next party.
"I think he called it "Rock Your Body"," Poppy answered, smiling. He? He who?
"Who's it by?"
Poppy giggled. Again. She's been doing that more than usual lately.
"Branch," she answered, beaming. The others smiled, then looked at her.
"Wait, he sang another song this week?" Biggie asked.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Smidge added, slightly disappointed. Poppy gave her an apologetic but happy look.
"Aww, sorry, guys. I ran into the performance on short notice," she explained. Satin and Chenille looked at each other and smirked.
"Well, spill!" Satin said.
"Tell us what happened!" Chenille added.
Creek frowned. They were going to continue with the meditations, right?
"Okay!"
Apparently not.
"Well, it started two days ago…" Poppy started, "while you guys were busy, I decided to visit Branch—"
"Ooh~!" Chenille cooed. Satin giggled but gave her sister a nudge when Poppy's gaze darted towards them, questionable. Chenille immediately shut her mouth, looking like she was fighting a smile.
"What?" Poppy asked, chuckling awkwardly. The twins giggled.
"Nothing," Satin said.
"Carry on," Chenille added. Poppy shrugged, then continued.
"Anyway, I was bored, so I decided to go see Branch and see what he was doing…"
Poppy skipped through the forest, trying to find a certain troll. Her friends were too busy with their duties and she had nothing better to do so she might as well. Besides, Branch was her friend too! Maybe she could just hang out with him. You know, for once? Maybe he'll surprise her by hanging out with her for once.
She saw Branch's bunker in the distance. However, before she even reached it, she saw Branch walk out. Poppy beamed.
"Hey, Branch!" she greeted. He turned his attention to Poppy, then sighed.
"What is it, Poppy?" Branch asked, exasperated, "I have things to do."
"Like what?"
"I have to collect more supplies for my bunker."
"Like sticks?"
"Mhm," he replied nonchalantly. Branch started walking away and into the forest, looking around for supplies. He needs more materials to last him another year. Right now he only has enough to last him eleven months. That's not good enough!
Poppy followed him.
"Can I help?"
"Don't you have better things to do?"
"Nope!" Poppy replied, grinning. Branch rolled his eyes.
"Fine," he said, walking away again. She happily followed behind him and looked around for sticks. Of course, Branch needed more than sticks, but Poppy didn't know what.
"No singing or dancing, though," Branch sternly told her, bending down and picking up a very large leaf. He rolled it up and carried it as they continued walking. Poppy picked up a random stick off the ground.
"No promises!" Poppy said, skipping along the way. Branch groaned. This was going to be a long day…
While they kept collecting materials, Poppy chattered for the time being, much to Branch's chagrin.
"And then, get this, I spat the drink all over the place, laughing! Haha! It was the best sleepover ever! Everyone was having so much fun! You could've been there too, you know!"
"Really? Interesting…" he nonchalantly replied, zoning her out. Branch stopped listening from the first moment she started chatting. Ugh, he was going to have a headache.
Poppy noticed his tone as he kept walking.
"Are you even listening, Branch?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Meh…"
Poppy rolled her eyes. What's the fun of telling the story to practically no one if you're audience isn't even listening? Sigh…she's got to do something to entertain herself…
She picked up another stick.
"I got a ticket for the long way 'round…" she sang. He seemed to have zoned her out completely because he didn't even say anything to scold her or anything. Great! Now she can sing whatever!
"Two bottle 'a whisky for the way,
And I sure would like some sweet company,
And I'm leaving tomorrow
What do ya say?"
Branch didn't react or didn't hear her. She switched songs just for the fun of it, dancing while skipping.
"And I see your true colours shining through,
I see your true colours
And that's why I love you…"
She switched the song again, singing any song that came to her head.
"So baby hold up,
Dance, don't hold the—"
"Woah, woah, woah, wait! What was that?" Branch exclaimed, turning his full attention to her. Poppy was confused.
"Hm?"
"What was that song you were singing? Where'd you hear that?" he asked her, worry glimmering in his eyes ever so slightly. Poppy realised what he meant. Cover it up!
"True Colours?" she answered innocently. Branch shook his head.
"No, the other one."
"The Cup song?"
"No, I…" Branch started. Then he paused and said, "never mind, forget it…"
He turned around and started walking again. Things got kinda awkward…
"What did I say about singing and dancing, anyway?" he scolded her. Poppy rolled her eyes. Ha, he's such a hypocrite.
"C'mon, Branch. It wouldn't kill you to sing or dance with us for once."
'You angel-voiced hypocrite.'
"Ha, no way. It will indeed kill me, for your information. You guys throw the loudest parties ever."
"Thanks!"
"That's not a good thing."
Poppy frowned, then smiled. She got an idea. She pulled out her trusty cowbell out of her hair and started playing it.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
Immediately, every sentient creature around them started making music with acapella. Poppy danced along to it as Branch looked at her incredulously.
"Seriously?!"
"C'mon Branch! Dance with me!" she said dancing closer to him. He didn't move and wore a grumpy frown.
"Just gotta rock your body!" she said, cheerfully, nudging his side with hers. He still didn't move. Branch clung to his sticks and leaves, trying not to drop them as Poppy danced around him. Honestly, the music the creatures were singing was getting very annoying for him. Poppy looked happy though. He watched her dance for a little while before averting his eyes.
"Okay, I think I've had enough for today," Branch announced over the music, "I'm going home now."
He turned back to the direction of his bunker. Poppy again followed him, giving the creatures a small applause.
"See? Dancing can be fun!" she told him, happily, "you're just always so quick to walk away."
Poppy chatted and blabbered as they walked. Branch was looking at her in what she thinks was exasperation.
They reached his bunker in no time, but for Branch, it felt like an eternity.
"See ya later, Poppy. It has been a pleasure," he said sarcastically before disappearing into his bunker without another word. Poppy was slightly disappointed. She just wanted him to have fun with her for once…
Poppy wanted for him to smile the same way he smiled when he sings.
Poppy wanted to hear him sing.
Poppy wanted to sing with him.
Well…he let her come along for once, so that's a step forward! Maybe he didn't want her company right now, but maybe tomorrow they can hang out!
"And so the next night, I went back and tried to find him, but he wasn't in his bunker," Poppy told her friends, "so I immediately went to where I thought he'd be. And I was right."
Poppy raced to the familiar clearing with the mushroom. She instinctively used her hair to camouflage herself with the bushes. Poppy looked up at the mushroom and saw exactly what she expected. Branch, sat down, a book in his lap and a pencil in his hand. His glow bug was hovering close to him. She could hear him talking to it.
The bug made small sounds.
"I know right? …I just keep getting inspired, I guess," Branch replied, writing something in the book. The bug made more noises.
"By a…girl I know…" he responded, his cheeks taking on a slight purple hue. Ooh, a girl he says?
The bug squeaked more words.
"Yeah…that one…"
Branch continued writing in his book.
The glow bug flew around, talking to any sentient creatures nearby. Poppy noticed that these were the same ones that always play the music when Branch sings. They nodded and started singing. Branch looked up from his book and smirked as he heard the music play.
"You guys couldn't wait, could you?"
The bug laughed and so did Branch. Cute.
Branch started to sing.
"Don't be so quick to walk away
Dance with me
I wanna rock your body,
Please stay,
Dance with me,
You don't have to admit you wanna play,
Dance with me,
Just wanna rock you,
Till the break of day,
Dance with me,"
'Ironic,' Poppy thought.
"Got time, but I don't mind,
Just wanna rock you girl,
I'll have whatever you have,
Come on, just give it a whirl,
I like the way you move,
So go ahead girl, just do,
That hair shaking thing you do
So you grab your girls,
And you grab a couple more
And you all come meet me
In the middle of the floor,
Said the air is thick, it's smelling right,
So you pass to the left and you sail to the right,
Don't be so quick to walk away
Dance with me
I wanna rock your body,
Please stay,
Dance with me,
You don't have to admit you wanna play,
Dance with me,
Just wanna rock you,
Till the break of day,
Dance with me,"
'You know, he could really just dance with us if he wanted to,' Poppy deadpanned in her mind. Nonetheless, she enjoyed his song and started making small dancing movements as he sang.
"I don't mean no harm,
Just wanna rock you girl,
Make a move, but be calm,
Let's go, let's give it a whirl,
See, it appears to me,
You like the way I move,
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do
Pull you close," he sang, dancing. All the glow bugs around him circled him beautifully. Wow. Since when was Branch this suave, haha? She'd totally dance with him.
So you grab your girls,
And you grab a couple more
And you all come meet me
In the middle of the floor,
Said the air is thick, it's smelling right,
So you pass to the left and you sail to the right,
Don't be so quick to walk away
Dance with me
I wanna rock your body,
Please stay,
Dance with me,
You don't have to admit you wanna play,
Dance with me,
Just wanna rock you,
Till the break of day,
Dance with me,"
Poppy noticed he keeps singing about a girl. Way too much for it to just be lyrics. She wonders who he's talking about. Maybe he dances with her and only her and no one knows who she is. Whoever it is, she's lucky.
…
Huh.
"(Talk to me boy…)" she sang very quietly.
"No disrespect, I don't mean harm," he sang, not hearing her.
"(Talk to me boy…)"
"I can't wait to have you in my arms."
"(Talk to me boy…)"
"Hurry up, cause you're taking too long."
"Talk to me boy…"
Branch paused and so did the music. He started frantically looking around. Poppy realised she probably sang that last one a bit too loud.
"Did you hear that?" Branch asked his glow bug friend. It shrugged but looked around. Branch's brows furrowed in concern.
"Let's go, that's enough for today…" he said, gathering his things and started climbing down the mushroom. Awh…
The musical creatures quietened and left the area, now not having anything to do. The only one who stayed was Branch's bug.
It made small noises.
"Maybe one day you can. She'd probably love to see you," Branch replied, walking to his bunker. The small glow bug followed him.
"Wow, you've gotta tell us next time, Poppy!" Biggie commented, amazed. They missed out on one of Branch's songs. It was unfortunate.
"Don't worry, I will. I don't really know how many songs he's written, but he seems to be doing it a lot!" she replied, happily.
It'll only be a matter of time before he starts singing with them…
Yaaay! New chapter of Lone Concert is FINALLY up! I know you guys really wanted this so here you go. I was just having trouble trying to fit the song with the story, but I did it!
So once again, Branch sang a song, but this time only Poppy heard. Branch keeps mentioning a girl in his songs. Who could he POSSIBLY be singing about? :P
Anyways, enjoy :D
Bye!