Just Sing and Dream

by MiraculousDragonMaster

Things couldn't be better for Poppy Summers and Branch Hawthorne, who had been dating for a year and were both now famous stars. But when they are challenged to a series of televised sing-offs, their relationship starts to crumble as they still have different views. However, they soon learn that the sing-offs aren't the only things to worry about. Human AU! *Second in trilogy*

1. How Time Flies

Just Sing and Dream

A/N: Hey there, everyone! Well, you guys have your wish granted. Here's the second part of the trilogy for "Catch a Rising Star." Back when I was starting on that, which was my very first "Trolls" story, I was surprised that so many people really liked it. And to be honest, I was planning on ending it right there, but then I got inspired to keep going with it; expanding more on their relationship and on their lives, now that both of them are superstars.

While I was imagining it, there's both ups and downs, considering both sides of their famous and personal lives, and of course, who could resist a competition? We all know that Poppy and Branch can be pretty competitive, but what happens when things start to get too much out of hand? Who will be the first to say, "enough", considering this AU?

A quick little thing before we get started. One; yes, I will be introducing some characters from both "Trolls: World Tour" and from "Trolls: TrollsTopia", but the ones from "World Tour" will be the ones I will be focusing on more, other than our two main protagonists. So just be prepared for them when they make their appearances.

With that out of the way, let's begin our second part of the trilogy, "Just Sing and Dream." And action!

Chapter 1

How Time Flies

It was late one midsummer night in the City of Angels; Los Angeles, California. A humongous crowd was inside the famous Staples Center, where a concert was being held inside. People were going crazy, waiting for the famous star they were seeing to come up onto the stage.

Just then, an announcer spoke up from the shadows of the stadium. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's the moment you all have been waiting for. Please welcome the City of Angels' own pair of star-crossed lovers, Poppy Summers and Branch Hawthorne!"

The entire crowd started screaming and clapping hysterically as spotlights started flashing rapidly. After a few seconds of colorfully flashing lights and long lingering cheers, everything soon became tensely and uncomfortably quiet. But then, two spotlights flashed brightly, and two beautiful voices; one female and one male, started singing together.

I really really really
Really really really like you.

The crowd started cheering again as a pretty young woman about twenty-two years old appeared on the stage. She had fair skin, hot pink colored hair pulled up into a ponytail with bangs framing the sides of her slightly freckled face, and shockingly pink eyes. She was wearing a light aqua blue, knee-length dress that had a little magenta heart on the front of her chest. On her feet were matching low heels with ankle straps, around her left wrist was a pink and purple yarn bracelet, and around on her head was a matching flower headband. This was Poppy Summers, pop cover artist and superstar.

Poppy: I really wanna stop,
But I just gotta taste for it.
I feel like I could fly
With the boy on the moon.

When she turned over to the side of her, the other spotlight shone on the form of a handsome young man about three years older than her; about twenty-five. He had tawny skin, short black hair colored navy blue in the light, and bright blue eyes. He was wearing a pine green sleeveless jacket, brown pants, and black dress shoes. Around his own left wrist was a simple green yarn bracelet, similar to Poppy's. This was Branch Hawthorne, up-and-coming singing superstar himself, and Poppy's boyfriend of just over a year.

Branch: So honey, hold my hand.
You like making me wait for it.
I feel like I could die
Walking up to the room, oh yeah.

Poppy smiled at her boyfriend as she playfully sauntered her way over to him while singing. He just smirked at her playfully as he met her halfway.

Poppy: Late night watching television.

Branch: But how'd we get in this position?

Poppy: It's way too soon.

Both: I know this isn't love,

Poppy: But I need to tell you something.

They started to dance around each other, smiling flirtatiously, ignoring the squeals and cheers from the audience. They were used to it, but even then, their smiles grew a little bit wider at the wild squeals from their fans.

Both: I really really really
Really really really like you.

Poppy: And I want you.
Do you want me?
Do you want me, too?

Branch: I really really really
Really really really like you.
And I want you.
Do you want me?
Do you want me, too?

Both: Oh, did I say too much?
I'm so in my head
When we're out of touch.

I really really really
Really really really like you.

Poppy: And I want you.

Branch: Do you want me?

Both: Do you want me, too?

Branch took Poppy's hand in his hand and then spun her around as he took up singing the second verse of the song.

Branch: It's like everything you say
Is a sweet revelation.
All I wanna do
Is get into your head.

Poppy just smiled at him and then playfully bopped his nose with a finger as she took up her part while dancing away from him like she was a sprite.

Poppy: Yeah, we could stay alone,
You and me, and this temptation.
Sipping on your lips,
Hanging on by a thread, baby.
Late night watching television.

But then Branch took her hand and then spun her back into his arms, smirking mischievously at her.

Branch: But how'd we get in this position?

Poppy: It's way too soon.

Both: I know this isn't love,

Poppy: But I need to tell you something. (Branch: Whoo!)

Both of them then quickly whirled away from each other and then jumped back, their eyes never leaving each other. The crowd was really loving the playful interactions between them, especially those who were some of Poppy's more dedicated fans. They had never seen the pop star look so happy while performing on stage. When she was singing with her equally talented and totally hot boyfriend, it was almost like she was glowing with joy.

Both: I really really really
Really really really like you.

Poppy: And I want you.
Do you want me?
Do you want me, too?

Branch: I really really really
Really really really like you.
And I want you.
Do you want me?
Do you want me, too?

Then, the two stars began to walk over to each other, taking small and deliberate steps, but their smiles were both playful and flirty.

Both: Oh, did I say too much?
I'm so in my head
When we're out of touch. (Branch: Oh, yeah.)

I really really really
Really really really like you.

Poppy: And I want you.

Branch: Do you want me?

Both: Do you want me, too?

Soon, they were both standing in front of each other as the spotlights dimmed a little bit. Poppy then placed a hand on Branch's face, and he subtly leaned into her soft touch.

Poppy: Who gave you eyes like that?
Said you could keep them.

The dark blue-haired man then placed his own hand on top of hers that was cradling his face, gently rubbing his thumb on top of the back of it.

Branch: I don't know how to act
Or if I should be leaving.

The pink-haired woman then slowly pulled their hands away from her partner's face and conjoined them as she brought them in between their bodies, their foreheads touching each other's softly, their eyes never straying from the other's loving gaze. Natural pink eyes quickly became lost in ocean blue ones, and vice versa. It was almost as if they were the only people there.

Poppy: I'm running out of time.
I'm going out of my mind.

Branch: I need to tell you something.

Poppy: Yeah, I need to tell you something.

Suddenly, their loving smiles turned playful once again as they pulled away from each other just as the spotlights brightened up again, and the crowd started cheering and squealing even louder. Their eyes once again didn't leave the other's as they danced and sang on opposite ends of the platform, getting closer and back together little by little.

Both: Yeah!

Poppy: I really really really
Really really really like you.
And I want you. (Branch: I want you, baby!)
Do you want me?
Do you want me, too?

Branch: I really really really
Really really really like you.

Poppy: And I want you.

Both: Do you want me?
Do you want me, too?

Branch: Oh, did I say too much? (Poppy: Did I say too much?)
I'm so in my head (I'm so in my head.)
When we're out of touch. (When we're out of touch!)

Poppy: I really really really
Really really really like you.
And I want you.

Both: Do you want me?
Do you want me, too?

The song ended as they were both back in front of each other, their eyes not leaving the other's and pushing away the loud squeals and cheers of the audience from their minds. They both smiled at each other uncontrollably, small red blushes appearing on their faces. But they were both used to hearing the crowd's reactions to their affectionate gestures towards each other when they would be on stage.

"I love you!" Poppy shouted into her microphone over the raucous cheers of the crowd, her eyes still glued on her boyfriend.

Branch smiled at her lovingly and coyly. "I love you, too." He said into his microphone.

The two of them then shared a gentle and chaste little kiss, which only made the crowd cheer even louder at the show of affection. With their free hands entwined with each other's, they then looked over at the squealing audience. With slightly bashful grins, they waved at them with their other hands that were holding their microphones.

It had been a crazy year since Poppy and Branch had gotten together. To think that it took a misadventure dodging persistent paparazzi for the wrong reason to bring a mega singing star and a normal young man from Kansas to fall in love with each other, especially because he wanted nothing to do with her because of her stardom privileges and having to hear about her for almost every second of every day. But Poppy found his strangely hostile behavior towards her intriguing, because everyone else she would meet would practically treat her like a princess and kiss the ground that she would walk on.

However, during their little misadventure, they both learned that there was a lot more to them than meets the eye. Poppy learned that Branch has an incredible voice, one that has been kept secret because of the loss of his parents years earlier, and Branch learned that just because Poppy was famous doesn't mean that she has completely everything; at least not material-wise. She had to sacrifice time, energy, talent and privacy just to please her co-workers and fans.

Now, there was nothing stopping them from being together. Branch was now a recorded artist like Poppy when he finally showcased his talent, having already released a couple of hit covers and original albums, and he and his family; which included his grandmother and his younger sister, had moved to Los Angeles so that he could have his family close by while also being close to Poppy. Poppy took control of her own life and made more time for the important things in life, like friends, family and love. And she hasn't regretted a second of it.

Both of them have overcome the odds, despite their differences, their opinions, and their challenges when it comes to fame, and it only made them stronger in the end, especially when they're together. And they seemed to have both their fame-filled and their personal lives under control and in a good balance. Nothing could ever tear them apart now.

---

A/N: Now how was that for starting off a new story? The first couple of chapters will just be how things had been going during the time frame between the two stories before we get into the interesting stuff.

The song that I used is called "I Really Like You", which is originally sung by Carly Rae Jepsen, but I found a really catchy duet cover that's sung by these two artists, MAX and ATC. But I don't own either version; all credit goes to their rightful owners.

Well, that's all for this time, so I'll see you guys soon! Please leave a review about what you think. And remember to stay healthy!

Got to fly! ;)