The next morning Branch was greeted with a nice breakfast that smelled absolutely delicious, he inhaled deeply as he slowly made his way into the kitchen where Poppy and her father were finishing setting up the table.
"Branch!" Poppy exclaimed when she noticed him and giving him her wide happy smile "I hope you like berry pancakes!"
Branch returned a shy smile as he thanked them again for allowing him to stay. "Of course My Boy," Peppy said carefully placing the last pancake on the dish and gesturing for them to have a seat.
Poppy took her seat across from and offered him first pick since he was their guest, Branch politely refused saying that she should have first pick. She felt her cheeks go warm and quickly turned her face away hopping that he did not notice the sudden change in the color of her face. After breakfast Branch helped clean up along side Poppy both not knowing what to say to one another as they put the dishes away. Branch was putting away the last dish when his nose started to bleed again, Poppy noticed him stop suddenly and quickly asked "Branch are you alright?"
"I'll be right back," he quickly replied before rushing off. Poppy watched as he hurried around the corner and out of sight, she wondered what had gotten into her friend all of a sudden and if there was any way she could make it better. The last thing she wanted was him to keep something from her because he knew he could trust her; they were friends after all. She gave him a bit of time to be by himself, but she was really starting to worry about him when he failed to return for a over a half hour.
"Branch?" she questioned just outside of his door "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah," she heard him reply in a somewhat shaky voice.
"Branch if something is the matter you can tell me," she replied lying her head against the door and closing her eyes wishing he would tell her what the matter was with him.
"I know," he said feeling ashamed that he was afraid to tell her what was going on. "I'm just going to lay down for a bit, that's all."
"Oh okay," she replied letting out a soft sigh before turning and walking away.
"What's wrong Poppy?" her father asked when he saw his daughter walking with her head down and frown on her face.
"I'm just worried Branch is hiding something from me," she explained.
Peppy smiled at his daughter she had such a big heart "Why don't you help me set up for the party later?" he suggested knowing it would take her mind of her friend for a while.
"Oh yeah," Poppy replied happily "your party is tonight."
"That's right," her father replied, "The Elder Troll Sock Hop."
"What's a sock hop anyway?" Poppy asked.
"A dance from many trolls younger years where they would dance in socks," Peppy explained "and I thought it would be a great way to honor dancing of the past to throw a dance from the past."
"So, they had special socks made so they could dance around in them?"
Peppy nodded watching his daughter's face light up "Sounds like so much fun!" she exclaimed.
All afternoon Poppy helped her dad and a few other trolls set up the party area only stopping to take a quick lunch break. She quickly prepared two berry jam sandwiches hoping that Branch was feeling better, she knocked on his door and smiled when he opened up.
"I made you a sandwich," she said holding out the plate meant for him "I figured you were getting hungry."
"Thanks," Branch said carefully taking the plate from her and stepping aside to let her in so they could eat together. Her smile widened as she walked in and sat down in the middle of the floor "Sorry about earlier," he said quietly "I just needed to be by myself."
"It's okay," she said waving it off pretending it didn't bother her. Branch sat down beside as they ate their lunch together. "My dad is throwing a party tonight," she said before taking a bite of her sandwich "a sock hop party."
Branch looked up at her "You should come," she suggested "I know you said you don't dance but it could be fun."
As much as he wanted to say yes Branch was afraid that he would do something wrong and everyone hate him even more. The last time he was at a party he was shoved into the giant cake knocking it over on the very troll he cared about. "If it makes you feel better I don't think many if any kids from our school are even going to be there because this dance is for the older trolls of the village," she explained "you know so they can relive their younger days."
"I don't know," he whispered turning away from her.
"it's okay if you don't feel comfortable enough to go," she replied lowering her head wishing he would go to keep her company.
"I'm sorry," he said feeling bad for not being brave enough to go.
Poppy stood up reassuring that it was fine if he did not go and that she wasn't upset with him.
Xoooooooooooooooooo
Poppy watched from a distance as all the older troll couples danced and laughed together, she smiled knowing that they were having as much fun as they had when they were younger. Peppy saw his daughter standing alone "Care for a dance?" he asked holding out his hand for her, Poppy smiled as she took her father by the hand and shared a dance with him out on the floor. After a couple dances Poppy excused herself to get some punch, she had just finished pouring her punch when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Branch standing there looking nervous and so uncomfortable but all that mattered was that he was there. A big smile appeared on her face as held out his hand for her to take, she carefully placed her one hand into his and the other one rested gently on his shoulder. He swallowed hard as he let her hand go so he could rest it on her hip allowing her to let both of her hands to rest on his shoulders. Branch closed his eyes as his heart began beating in over drive as they began to sway back and fourth together, he wished he could dance with her the way his father had danced with his mother but that would require the use of both arms which he did not have at the moment. Poppy on the other hand did not seem to mind but just enjoyed having him beside her. She closed her own eyes and let out a soft sigh as she rested her face against his hugging him close to her. Unknown to them from being lost in their own dance they failed to notice that all older the trolls around them had stopped dancing and were now just watching them. The older troll couples smiled resting their heads against each other remembering when they shared that first dance together many years ago. Branch was the first one to open his eyes and notice all the eyes on them causing him to panic and to stop dancing. He was afraid they were judging him because of all the marks that were visible on him or how he was the one responsible for his parent's deaths.
Poppy quickly took his hand into hers giving him a reassuring smile letting him know that everything was alright. "Do you want to go get some fresh air away from the party?" she asked. Branch nodded happy to be getting away from all the stares.
They walked hand in hand to the pod again where the music from the party was just loud enough to share another dance together only this time nobody would be watching, or so they thought. As the dance came to an end the two trolls stopped and looked at one another. Like the night before Branch felt the urge to kiss her again only this time he wasn't going to ignore it. He placed his forehead against hers and gently caressed her cheek with his hand, both trolls closed their eyes and leaned in…..just as their lips were about to touch the sound of a stick breaking nearby stopped them. The two trolls both looked in the direction of which the sound came from and saw nothing…..
