Stepping out
Poppy felt rage inside of her. Sure, she didn't really know her real feelings toward creek, but there was her boyfriend and her once best friend locking lips.
Poppy: Bridget! Creek! What the hell do you think you're doing?!
Bridget: (smirks) oh hey poppy
Poppy: sick huh?
Creek: poppy I can explain...
Poppy: (crosses her arms) well?
Creek went silent, and immediately poppy walked out of the room. She felt confused...she knew she was falling out of love with creek, but why was she so mad about what she saw? But he lied! God how she hated Bridget! She didn't want to go back to that class, suddenly she saw creek coming towards her.
Creek: poppy...please
Poppy: get the hell away from me!
Creek: poppy wait
Poppy: I don't want to talk to you
Creek: ...you..you've been acting strange all summer...
Poppy: you want me to say it? Then I'll say it! I'm not happy with us anymore!
Creek: you don't mean that
Poppy: yes I do! I'm sorry creek, I've been feeling that way for a long time now and I know you have too, that's why you kissed her
Creek: (hangs his head) I'm so sorry, that I couldn't be the one for you, I really do love you poppy and always will (kisses her cheek) I'll see you around, take care of yourself
Poppy nodded and watched creek walk off. As much as she didn't want to go back and face Bridget, she knew she couldn't let her bring her down. She went back in with a brave face, it was then poppy was met with exciting news.
Mrs. Harvey: I'm very excited to share this news with you all, this years musical will be the Phantom of the opera! We will have all year to prepare for it instead of a couple months so I don't want to hear any excuses! Auditions will be held very soon
Everyone in the room beamed. This was something schools had not performed before so they would be the first one! The Phantom of the opera was one of poppy's favorite musicals! It was her dream to play Christine. It took away from what she had witnessed with Bridget and creek, but as soon as class ended, Bridget of course had to make her smart remark.
Bridget: this is what I've been training for, the part of Christine is mine
Poppy: you said that with the other musicals too
Bridget: (rolls her eyes) this is about talent, not favorites
Poppy: (laughs) I'm sorry...what? Who's got a acceptance to an acting and music school in California, and I don't need my rich daddy to pay for talent, it all comes naturally (walks away)
Bridget: you're so full of yourself you know that! Your voice is pitchy sometimes!
Poppy: and you're very bitchy (smirks) solid burn returned
(She left Bridget speechless. She smiled as she headed to her next class. Down the hall, branch made sure that poppy was gone before he headed into Mrs. Harvey's room. He had become close to her, she was the teacher you could turn to. He had been forced to take her class a couple years back, and didn't like it at first, but grew to enjoy it.)
Mrs. Harvey: Brandon! Good to see you! How are you?
Branch: I'm ok...
Mrs. Harvey: something on your mind?
Branch: kinda..I was...thinking maybe this year I'll be involved with the musical
Mrs. Harvey: really?! Brandon that's amazing! You have the talent for it! I've been asking you to try out all throughout your high school years, why the sudden change?
Branch: well...I...I don't want to be in it in it, I wanna...be behind the scenes or something
Mrs. Harvey: does this have anything to do with poppy?
Branch: what? No!
Mrs. Harvey: (smirks) Brandon...
Branch: I just wanna be involved this year, it's my last year after all
Mrs. Harvey: fair enough, won't you at least try out for the phantom at least? You have a great voice
Branch: no, I don't think I can do that, I can't
Mrs. Harvey: yes you can Brandon, you can do anything you set your mind to
Branch: I don't wanna be involved that way, I don't want the attention
Mrs. Harvey: alright, tell you what, I'll make a deal with you, you can be my assistant director/stage manager, if you are the understudy for the phantom...
Branch: (thinks really hard. It's not that he didn't like to sing, he just couldn't bring himself to in front of all the people. He could sing alone no problem, he even sang for Mrs. Harvey before. He just wasn't ready to show his peers that side of him, since they were so used to a closed isolated side of him.) alright I'll do it, do I have to help with casting?
Mrs. Harvey: no, but you can help me make the final choice
Branch: ok thank you, thank you for everything
Mrs. Harvey: you're very welcome Brandon, however I hope the one I cast to play the phantom gets sick one night, you have such a great gift, I'd hate for you to keep it to yourself
Branch: I know..I'm trying to change this year, I really am
Mrs. Harvey: well you made your first step (smiles) now hurry along before you're late to class
(Branch hurried along and deep down, he knew poppy would get cast to play Christine. He knew she'd be in the production either way, he hoped this would go according to plan. He felt if he was involved that the conversation would come naturally. He still didn't know what he would say, he hoped they could rekindle lost time, before he opened up to her about why he distanced himself away. He had the same thought Mrs. Harvey did, he hoped at least one night he would get to perform with poppy.)
