What do we do now?
The next day, poppy still had not come back home, and peppy was starting to worry. He called her phone, but it went straight to voicemail.
Peppy: poppy, call me immediately (hangs up)
He started thinking..she had to be at a friends house. He felt embarrassed because he couldn't think of the names of her friends. He remembered..Brandon...but then again he noticed he hadn't been around for awhile. He felt ashamed, he didn't even know his daughters own friends...he tried calling her once again, but got the voicemail. He felt guilty knowing he had to go to work, he hoped poppy would be home when he got back, or at least just returned his phone call. He regretted not going to the therapy session, now he was gonna have to try even harder to get his daughter back.
Blair: sleep well poppy seed?
Poppy: I did, thank you Blair
Blair: have you spoken to your father?
Poppy: he left voicemails
Blair: poppy...id rather you tell him where you are
Poppy: no, he'll make me come home, I know he doesn't want me to be here
Blair: you don't want him to be panicked
Poppy: panicked? I don't know about that
Blair: id be worried if I was him
Poppy: that's be a first, he doesn't care
Blair: that's not true poppy
Poppy: yes it is! His actions show for it! It's all about Christine!
Blair: now stop it! Poppy...stop
(This was the first time Blair had ever raised her voice, and it took poppy by surprise.)
Blair: I know for a fact your father loves you very much, I feel that...he's just lost in his way right now..with the therapy you and him are planning on taking, it should help, but you have to give him a chance
Poppy: he had a million chances
Blair: you don't want to leave next year on bad terms do you?
Poppy: no..of course not
Blair: I know it's hard to do, but try your best...eventually he will come around (gives her a hug)
Poppy: thanks mom...I mean...
Blair: it's ok (smiles) now I think you should call him
Poppy: (nods and calls him)
Peppy was at work and excused himself as soon as he saw poppy calling.
Peppy: poppy?!
Poppy: dad
Peppy: oh poppy...thank goodness! Where are you?
Poppy: you'll be mad if I say
Peppy: at Creeks..I mean Craig's?
Poppy: no...me and him actually broke up days ago
Peppy: oh...I'm sorry...where are you then?
Poppy: I'm at...Blair's
(A silent pause between them)
Peppy: you're where?!
Poppy: at Blair's...
Peppy: this better be a friend of yours
Poppy: no it's the one you-
Peppy: poppy! What the heck are you doing over there?! How do you know where she lives?!
Poppy: because I talk to her
Peppy: are you being serious? Is this some joke?
Poppy: no it's not a joke, it's true
Peppy: you know how I feel about that! Do you know how I feel just hearing about this?!
Poppy: well...it's not really fair I can't have a relationship with her just because you two aren't together
Peppy: (sighs) I can't talk about that right now...at least you're safe, but you can't stay there
Poppy: I'm not going back home unless I know things will be different
Peppy: look I know I didn't go to the session and I'm sorry for that, but I'm going my individual one, so...I'm doing something here
Poppy: it's not just that...I don't want Christine there anymore
Peppy: excuse me? That's not your right say in this
Poppy: well you don't have a say in who I can stay with, I'm 18
Peppy: I don't care if you're 18! I'm still your father, look come home and we'll talk about this...this isn't something that can just be said and done
Poppy: I'll come home tomorrow...after school
Peppy: id rather you be back tonight
Poppy: I don't think I can do that
Peppy: Poppy Kendrick...you're really pushing it...but fine, I will let you stay one more night but then that's it.
Poppy: ok..thank you, see you then (hangs up)
Blair: it'll be ok poppy seed, right now..focus on what's ahead of you, you've got a bright future, now..why don't go practice for your audition tomorrow?
Branch sighed. It was only Sunday, auditions were tomorrow. Although he wasn't auditioning for the part, he thought he would practice for his understudy part. He really hoped he would get a chance to sing with poppy. Unknowing to the others, even though branch lived in solitude and didn't have many friends, he made friends with this one guy Liam freshman year, who always had his back. Liam unfortunately moved away, but when branch told him the news about his mom going back to rehab, Liam made a trip back to see him.
Branch: Hey Liam..
Liam: Brandon my man! I know this has been hard for you...how've you been doing?
Branch: could be better (shrugs) my life has been just a never ending storm
Liam: there's always a rainbow on the other end
Branch: yeah right with my luck
Liam: your grandma would want you to find that rainbow
Branch: (sighs) I can't talk about her right now...I feel like I've disappointed her
Liam: I think the only one who's disappointed is poppy
Branch: (goes silent)
Liam: you're crazy you know that?
Branch: I don't think crazy would be the right word
Liam: yes it is, from the moment I met you..you never stopped talking about poppy, the one friend who was always there for you and you just ghosted her, you haven't told her have you?
Branch: obviously not, otherwise my life could be rainbows and sunshine
Liam: cut the shit Brandon
Branch: excuse me?
Liam: you heard me...stop feeling so sorry for yourself, you know you'd feel happier if you talked to poppy again so why can't you?
Branch: I don't want to talk about poppy either
Liam: I didn't drive 2 hours just to have you push this aside
Branch: I will talk to her! I just...come on how would you talk to someone after you shut them out for so long?
Liam: she always reached out to you right? Even when you didn't answer
Branch: (sighs) yes she did
Liam: I think it's time you did the same...it's your turn...if you don't do something soon, you'll lose her forever and I know you don't want that
Branch: you're right...I don't
Liam: then tomorrow...you're going to make that first step and I'm gonna stay here for a week to make sure you do that
Branch: what?! I can't ask you to do that, school just started!
Liam: branch my man, it's senior year, I've been accepted to college already, I'll catch up, I know right now you need a friend
Branch: first of all don't call me branch...
Liam: (interrupts) why? Can only your precious poppy call you that?
Branch: (ignores him) and second of all I appreciate you coming to visit but I really don't need a company
Liam: no can do Brandon, you do need a friend and I'm not letting you push me away like you did poppy
Branch: (groans) fine, you know you get on my nerves sometimes
Liam: should I be lucky you still kept in contact with me?
Branch: yes very lucky
There we have it! Introducing Liam! Branch's one friend! I'm also curious on where y'all stand, are you team peppy or team poppy when it comes to Blair? Anyways, will branch talk to poppy like Liam said to? Find out soon and don't forget to review!
~Ash
