4

Branch finally sighed in relief as the detention bell rang. He was very annoyed! He was already late for work and his boss was gonna be angry with him! He didn't have much time to waste, so he got in the car and sped up. When he arrived at his place of work, he was met with angry faces.

Branch: I'm so so sorry! I got held up at school!

Boss: you didn't think to pick up a phone! You had 3 appointments brandon! 3! And now they want their money back!

Branch: they wouldn't let me call! I'll reschedule! I'll do it for free! anything!

Boss: brandon...you've been acting so unreliable lately...you've called out a lot over the summer and now you miss your appointments

Branch: please sir...I'm very sorry about all this! I promise this won't happen again!

Boss: (sighs) well...you are indeed a very great teacher and all the kids love you...alright I'll give you another chance...but one more screw up and I'll have no choice

Branch: thank you sir! And once again I'm very sorry!

Branch didn't know what he would've done if he lost his job. He loved it. He taught guitar, piano, and voice lessons to kids. It was a huge secret for those who didn't know him. When he became distant from his friends, he taught himself how to play and to sing to give himself hobbies. He wished he could share it with people...but he couldn't. Whenever he saw signs for talent shows or for musicals at school. He wanted so badly to be part of it, but he couldn't bring himself to. Branch didn't care very much for being the center of attention, but loved encouraging the kids he taught to always reach for the stars. When he finally got home, he didn't even bother going over any homework that was given to him that day because the detention really pissed him off. He knew he wasn't going to care for Mr. Larkins very much.

He took out his guitar and started to play. It was the only thing that distracted him from the pain he felt everyday. He sighed again. He had his chance. He could've talked to poppy, he could've finally made amends with her, but he couldn't find the right words because he was taken aback she was in the class. He saw her at lunch but left before she could find him. He didn't have much time, he knew he had all school year but he needed to act fast. He was writing a special song for her...all the songs he wrote were dedicated to her.

Poppy had finally finished her homework. Creek had also got in contact with her, and she told him about the day she was having. He was still hungover so he wasn't much comfort. Peppy had come up to check on his daughter.

Peppy: poppy...

Poppy: Dad..

Peppy: how was your first day of junior year?

Poppy: I'm a senior

Peppy: oh right, listen poppy...I know I'm not around very much but I try the best I can, maybe I was a little hard on you earlier and you know I love you very much

Poppy: it just seems like Christine is on top the propriety list while I'm rock bottom

Peppy: it's not like that poppy

Poppy: Dad..it's been like that for 4 years

Peppy: (sighs) well poppy I don't know what you want me to do..I'm trying the best I can

Poppy: then don't do anything...I've been doing fine without you anyways

Peppy: you're still not thinking of going to California for school are you?

Poppy: of course I am, it's my dream

Peppy: it's just...pretty far

Poppy: you'll have Christine to keep you company

Peppy: well then I hope you have the money for that type of school

Poppy: like I've said I've figured it out without you

Peppy wished he knew what the right words to say were. The truth was...he never wanted to be a single parent. When poppy's mom died he didn't think he could do it, her mother always knew what to do. He thought about giving custody of poppy to his parents because he never knew if he could be a good father, but he went against it because he didn't want to abandon her. But after hearing poppy's words, it seemed like he had already done that. He sometimes wished he had married Blair, poppy would've been happy and they would've had that father-daughter relationship he hoped for. He ended the engagement with Blair because he didn't think he was ready to have a wife again and take her mothers place. He wished he could've done things differently, but what was done was done. He truly loved Christine, he wanted to marry her a couple years ago, but he felt he couldn't do so without poppy's blessing. Deep down he was very hurt poppy was going to a school very far, but he couldn't help but feel it was his fault. He knew he wasn't around much so it would seem poppy would feel like she had nothing here for her. He went out of the room and into his own room.

Christine: is everything ok?

Peppy: huh? Oh..um..yeah

Christine: peppy...I can see right through you

Peppy: it's poppy

Christine: she's a teenager, what'd you supposed to do?

Peppy: she's my only daughter and I feel like I already lost her

Christine: (crosses her arms) because of me?

Peppy: what! No!

Christine: then why haven't you asked me to marry you?!

Peppy: Christine! I've wanted to! It just wouldn't feel right with poppy feeling the way she is

Christine: what'd you need her permission for? You're the parent!

Peppy: she's my daughter..

Christine: so I'm not important to you?

Peppy: don't play this card

Christine: I'm going home

Peppy: (sighs) wonderful, I have two girls mad at me

Branch had finished the lyrics to his new song. What he would give for poppy to hear it. The girl he had always been in love with. He never wanted to shut her out, he just couldn't bear to burden her with all the events that had happened to him the last couple of years. He knew he had to take everything step by step. If he could get her to talk to him again...in time he would tell her...he would tell her why he had disappeared. He then had an idea...he knew poppy was always in the school musicals..this time he was gonna be involved.

The next day at school poppy was a lot more relaxed this time. Now she would have a routine! She was also very excited because they were going to announce the school musical today! She couldn't wait to find out what it was! She decided to pick up coffee before she headed to school and even got one for creek. When she arrived she looked for him, as much as she felt something wasn't right with him, she hoped they could fix it. She then had gotten a message from him saying he would not be at school once again. Poppy felt rage enter her body...she felt stupid for even trying to do something nice for him. She was so upset that she didn't want to talk to her friends and decided to go to Mr. Larkins class early. To her surprise everyone else was early as well...he must've really scared them. She immedialty saw branch...his green jacket stood out so he was easy to find. She then remembered she had an extra coffee...could this be the way she could start a conversation? She felt completely nervous but thought maybe it could work, she slowly approached branch and she stood there for awhile before branch looked up at her.

Poppy: um..hey branch...I mean...Brandon

Branch was completely taken aback! Not only did she approach him! But she called him by his real name!

Branch: huh...oh...hey..

Poppy: um...I had an extra coffee...if you wanted it

Branch: (grows silent) oh um I don't really drink coffee but... thank you...

Poppy: oh ok (she then proceeded to take her seat)

Poppy felt a little stupid for approaching him. Luckily no one else was paying attention.

Sable: I'll take it off your hands if you want

(Poppy looked next to her and saw a girl sitting next to her. She hadn't noticed her yesterday. She was a very short girl..really short..maybe only 4'9. Her feet didn't even touch the floor. She was surprised to see her sitting in the 3rd row.

Poppy: sure if you really want it!

Sable: anything to keep me awake (takes the coffee) thank you!

Poppy: I didn't see you there yesterday

Sable: yeah...I just moved here and I didn't wanna draw attention to myself

Poppy: Mr. Larkins is gonna make you switch seats probably

Sable: (rolls her eyes) I heard about him, I wasn't looking forward to this class anyways...I'm sable

Poppy: I'm poppy

(Mr. Larkins entered the room looking quite annoyed. He noticed sable and looked like he was trying to hold back a laugh)

Mr. Larkins: well well class it looks like we have a lost student and most of you are sitting in the wrong seats (glares at some students at the other side of sable)

Tim: it's not our fault, she took my seat and I had to sit somewhere else

Mr. Larkins: or you could've grown a pair and told her to move...she's short but she's not gonna bite you

Sable: yeah yeah go ahead with the short insults

Mr. Larkins: what is your name? Smidge?

Sable: no it's sable

Mr. Larkins: well it's smidge in this class and I'm not gonna move you to the front just because you're tiny I'd like you to go sit in that desk in the corner and now you all may go back to the seats you were in yesterday before smidge messed up our system and once that's done everyone turn in your homework

Branch felt his stomach drop! He forgot to do his homework! He had spent so much time thinking about poppy and that song he had forgotten! Dang he only said a few words to her and she was driving him crazy already! He didn't know what he was gonna do, Larkins wasn't going to give him credit, so he'd just have to take a 0 for now, but Larkins didn't let that go by.

Mr. Larkins: Brandon? Your homework?

Branch: I don't have it sir

Mr. Larkins: is this a joke?

Branch: no sir...I just had a lot going on yesterday

Mr. Larkins: doing what? Jerking off

Branch: (feels outraged) WHAT?! No!

Mr. Larkins: got a better excuse than "a lot going on"? I get that one all the time

Branch: I don't think that's your business

Mr. Larkins: you want another detention Brandon? Is that what you want?

Branch: no...

Mr. Larkins: then you will have extra homework to make up for the loss of today. Let this be a lesson to all of you! There will be no excuses for homework in the class, none at all! As for you smidge since you were not here in this class, you too will also have an extra assignment

Sable rolls her eyes and everyone else remained quiet after that. And when the bell rang everyone didn't get up at first until Larkins waved his hands for them to get out of the classroom. Sable got up but got ran into by the other students because of her height.

Poppy: you ok there?

Sable: (rolls her eyes) great way to start off at a new school

Poppy: well...you have me, I know my friends will love you

Sable: really? I mean...are you really being serious?

Poppy: of course! Why would I not?

Sable: well some people at my old school weren't really nice to me so I've learned not to really trust people

Poppy: you can trust me, it looks like you need a friend to make the first day great

Sable: (smiles) thanks poppy, where are you heading to?

Poppy: I'm going to my theater class, not to brag but I've been the lead in the school musicals since I've been here

Sable: that's impressive, well I guess I gotta get to my other class, I'm not a really musical person

Poppy: (looks at her schedule) we have the same lunch though! You can sit with me and all my friends!

Sable: that'd be great, I'll see you later!

Poppy smiled to herself. She was happy that she made another new friend. As she walked into her theater class, she felt her heart drop, she saw Creek, not only was she supposed to see him, but also shocked that he was kissing Bridget.

Hey guys! Sorry for the late update! College and all! Anyways, review and see what happens next!

~Ash