Sorry it has been forever since I updated this story, I hope you all forgive me. Any way here is the next chapter hope you all enjoy it.

Branch woke up suddenly with his face sticky and wet, it had been months since his last major nosebleed so why was it happening now. He quickly sat up and looked back at his pillow where it was now covered in blood, feeling ashamed by what happened he tried his best to clean it up before anyone saw. He did not want to worry Poppy so he quickly cleaned up his mess and hiding the soiled pillow safely under his bed until he could find a better place for it. Then rushing to the bathroom to clean off his face. After cleaning up he quietly was making his way back to his room when the very troll he was avoiding came up behind him.

"Branch?" she questioned gently tapping hi on the shoulder and startling him "Are you okay?"

He slowly turned back to face her "I couldn't sleep, that's all" he mumbled.

Poppy who had been heading back to bed with a cup of water when she noticed her friend gave him a tiny smile "Are you sure?" she asked taking a few steps towards her bedroom doorway.

Branch nodded "Like I said I just couldn't sleep," he repeated returning his own tiny smile.

"Well okay then," she replied slowly starting to back away.

"Poppy wait," he said loud enough to get her attention "it really means a lot to me that you and your father are helping me by letting me stay."

Poppy's smile grew wider "You're welcome."

The two trolls stood in silence not knowing what to say or do next "Well…. Uh….goodnight," Branch said shyly feeling his cheeks getting hot from they way she was still smiling at him. He could feel his heart beating faster as he stared at her, she made him feel nervous and embarrassed that he would say the wrong things to her.

"Goodnight," she replied before turning to into her room.

Branch sighed as he made his way back to his room wondering why he felt that way whenever she was around. He had just settled back in bed when heard his door open back up, he quickly sat back up and saw Poppy standing there.

"Since we are both having a hard time sleeping then maybe we could keep each other company until we get tired," she suggested stepping into his room and closing the door behind her.

Before Branch could protest, she was already by the side of his bed. "What did you have in mind?" he found himself asking.

"Well," she said taking his hand and giving him her signature smile making his heart begin to beat faster again "follow me."

Poppy led the way out of the pod and to the nearby pond "I come here when I can't sleep," she explained taking a seat to face the still water "I like to watch the lighting bugs."

Branch sat down beside her and watched as the lighted bugs glided over the water almost as if they were dancing. He heard a soft sigh escape her lips as she relaxed still holding onto his hand as she did then she gently placed her head against his shoulder. Branch swallowed hard feeling his nervousness returning as he sat perfectly still too afraid to move for fear that he would upset her somehow if he did. The two trolls sat watching the lighting bugs and listening to the singing plants humming softly in the background. Poppy nuzzled closer to Branch happy to have him beside her and no longer in harms way but her heart sank when she realized that when they returned to school he would be teased and made fun of because of how marked up he was. She wished the others would see him like she saw him, but they wanted nothing to do with him because of lies spread by his own family. It broke her heart knowing that Creek had made up such terrible lies, she had always thought that he was honest and the worst part she had even developed a small crush on him.

She closed her eyes fighting back some tears trying not to think about how scared she was when Archer and his gang had Branch on the ground.

"Poppy?" Branch asked softly when he felt a couple drops fall on his neck "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she whispered back slowly lifting her head from his shoulder as a few more tears fell from her eyes.

Seeing her cry upset him "Please don't cry," he said starting to panic. He was afraid that he had done something wrong, but he just couldn't figure out what. Letting her hand go he slowly brought his up to her face to carefully wipe the rest away. This gesture made Poppy place her hand onto of his and nuzzle her cheek into his palm. She closed her eyes against his warm touch before leaning forward, their faces were inches apart. A part of Branch wanted to close the small gap between them by kissing her, but the other part was scared that she would be upset, and it would ruin their friendship. Instead he mustered up enough courage to lean forward and place his forehead against hers.

"Maybe we should head back," Poppy suggested but deep-down wondering what it would be like if he had kissed her but like him, she too was afraid of ruining their friendship. Once back inside the pod they said their goodnights again before heading back to their own rooms.

Branch sat down at the edge of the bed scolding himself for wanting to kiss her, why would she want someone as ugly as him to kiss her? True, she liked being his friend but that did not mean she liked him more than that. He wished there was a way for him to stop himself with this sudden urge he felt whenever he was with her. Why did she give him this warm feeling whenever she was near him and why was she the only thing he could think about? "I never had this feeling before
She gives me shakes and shivers I can't ignore…"

In her own room Poppy couldn't help but keep thinking about Branch and how excited she was when they were so close…."I never felt my heart beat so fast, I'm thinking of him first and of myself last and how happy I want him to be….." She knew her feelings for him were growing each time she was with him and how different they were from she liked Creek. Branch was special to her and she just didn't know how to tell him.