Poppy sat in the waiting area while the doctor checked Branch out for any injuries that the bully may have caused when he decided it would be funny to stomped down onto his soft belly and chest also to help stop his nose from bleeding non stop since he first arrived there. She had been here the last few times with him, and each time was just as scary to her as the last time. Her eyes stung as she held back tears, it hurt her knowing that the others had refused to help when she asked them for it and instead, they chose to ignore her completely. Acting as if did not cared about what was happening but the worst part came when they all laughed as they passed by after the bullies attacked. They treated Branch unfairly when they didn't even know him like she did. If only they would see that he wasn't anything like Creek described he was besides if Branch was a horrible as Creek said he was, then why hadn't he ever been that way with her?
When Branch was released, he didn't say a word just walked with his head down, he was ashamed of how he looked. Though he knew Poppy would never make fun of him because of what happened, he was too embarrassed to show her. Without exchanging any words, the pink troll slid off her chair and silently walked towards him to give him a soft supportive hug. Branch welcomed her hug as he leaned into it feeling how much she cared about him, she was always so sweet with him and he loved that about her.
"Are you okay?" he asked remembering how hard Archer had hit her across the face and carefully bringing his hand up to softly touch her cheek.
"I'm fine," she replied slightly nuzzling her face into his hand "how are you feeling?"
"It's because of me that you got hurt," he said slowly pulling himself away from her to avoid the question "it's all my fault."
"Branch this is in no way fault," she said carefully taking ahold of his hand, "Archer and his friends are bullies and they enjoy hurting others."
The grey troll shook his head "No," he sighed gently pulling his hand away from her "My aunt is right about me; I am nothing more than a burden to others."
"Branch your aunt is wrong," Poppy replied, "you're not a burden."
"I have habit ruining everyone's lives," he replied sadly.
"Please don't say that," she said, "because it's not true."
"Yes, it is," he whispered, "my parents would still be here if it wasn't for what I did. I don't deserve to have you for a friend or to be happy."
Poppy did not know how to respond to his words, all she knew was that she wished he would stop blaming himself. All she knew was that everyone deserved to happy and she wasn't going anywhere even if he tried to push her away again. She watched as he took in a deep breath and slowly let it back out, she could tell by the sound of his exhale that it hurt him to breathe. The marks on his face had darkened up so much in just the two hours after he received them, and his right cheek now had a large bandage across it. She stared at the bandage feeling her heart breaking even more as the moment that he got the cut it was hiding replayed in her head. They had almost made it through the group of laughing and teasing trolls when out of nowhere a decent sized rock came flying at full speed and hit him hard on the side of his face and leaving a good size gash in its place. She also remembered looking back and seeing such a smug look on Creek's face knowing that Branch had been hurt, she wanted so much to march up to him and just slap it right off, but Branch needed her and she wasn't going to leave his side. "You deserve better than what has happened to you," she replied, "no one should have to go through what you have gone through."
"How can you be so sure?" he asked fighting back his own tears now "maybe I am just the bad troll that everyone thinks I am."
"Branch you're not bad," she said gently taking his hand into hers again "and I don't want to lose you."
Branch stared down at her hand as it held tightly onto his "I don't want to lose you either," he replied with a tiny smile.
Poppy returned the smile as her father walked up behind them "Branch my boy," he said gently patting the young troll on the shoulder "how about we get you home so you can rest."
Branch nodded following Peppy and Poppy back towards their pod. Once back home Peppy sent Branch to go relax while he went to go speak with the parents of the bullies that had attacked Branch and his daughter. Poppy decided to stay back with Branch because she knew she would not be able to hold back her anger when she saw Archer and would lash out at him.
"Here," she said Branch a glass of fresh squeezed berry juice and sitting down next to him.
"Thanks," he replied before taking a tiny sip.
The two trolls sat in silence both not knowing what to say to each other, Poppy let out a soft sigh as she brought her eyes to meet his. Branch could see the glassines in her eyes as she held back tears, he lifted his arm letting her know it was okay to come closer. She smiled slightly as she scooted closer to him before wrapping her one arm around him, leaning against him and gently placing her head on his chest. The sound of his heart beating brought comfort to her as she listened to it. She felt him place his own arm around her shoulder as he carefully leaned into her. Neither troll wanted the moment to end because it just so right being this close to one another.
When Peppy returned he found the two young trolls still cuddled up fast asleep, he couldn't help but to smile at the two of them. "Young love," he said quietly remembering when he was younger and met the love of his life who would later become his wife. Even if the two trolls did not know it yet there was something more there then just friendship or liking one other. Peppy knew it was only a matter of time before that grow into something more, it was already clear that they both cared deeply for each other.
Sometime later Branch was the first to wake up from the pain medicine the doctor had given him had finally started to wear off and he was left feeling the soreness from earlier slowly coming back. He very carefully removed his arm from on top of Poppy hoping not to wake her. "MMM..." she mumbled nuzzling her face against his chest.
"Great," Branch mumbled under his breath as he tried to wiggle himself away from her. It took very careful maneuvering to free himself, but he finally escaped, he stared down at her as she slept and smiled slightly as he bent forward to remove a stray piece of hair from her face then he gently kissed her forehead. Branch walked outside to the nearby pond and sat down by the water's edge. He knew that if he looked at his reflection, he would see someone ugly staring back at him like he always did. He did not deserve her friendship even if she kept telling him that he did, he knew it was something he was unworthy of. Twice now she had been hurt because of him and he was afraid that they would continue to do so if they remained friends. The others always had so many colorful names they called him to his face and laugh at him when he got hurt. They had no idea how much it hurt when they did that but maybe they did, and they really did not care. The lies Creek had spread all this time were leaving so many scars on him both physical and emotional, it was like they wanted him to attack them to prove that he was something that he was not (a monster).
Branch let out a heavy sigh before he started to sing softly to himself...
I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know, ooh oh
You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And You say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours
And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe
The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity, ooh oh
You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours
And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
Oh, I believe
Taking all I have and now I'm layin' it at Your feet
You'll have every failure God, You'll have every victory, ooh oh
You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours
And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe
Oh, I believe (I), yes, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe (oh)
Just as Branch was about to head back to the safety of the pod he stopped suddenly when Archer stepped out in front of him with fire in his eyes. "You got me in trouble!" the bully hissed as his hands balled into fists "I really hate you!"
"Leave me alone," Branch said bravely knowing that if the bully wasn't alone he would be no match for them.
"And why should I?" Archer smirked taking two steps towards the gray troll "I should beat you until you can't get up but I'm not in the mood tonight. But from now you better watch your back."
Archer then turned to leave without saying another word leaving Branch alone once again. Once Branch knew it was safe, he quickly went back inside the pod.