Get her back

Branch locked up the auditorium and headed on his motorcycle. His mind was heavy. He knew he deserved what poppy said to him, he wanted more than anything to get her back, but now he wasn't sure how. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about this with Liam, but as soon as he walked in the door, there he was.

Liam: sooo?

Branch: so what?

Liam: did you talk to her?

Branch: attempted to

Liam: what do you mean attempted? Did you or not?

Branch: (sighs) she caught me singing a song about her...we started to talk, but she walked out...I didn't realize I had hurt her that much

Liam: give her time...I think she's finally processing this..she'll eventually come around..and whoa? You wrote a song about her

Branch: a lot actually

Liam: Brandon what'd you doing?! You need to go serenade her now! Sweep her off her feet!

Branch: oh please! That only happens in chick flicks

Liam: I take it you've seen a couple

Branch: fuck off Liam

Liam: hey I'm just trying to help, girls love that don't they?

Branch: like you know so much about this

Liam: I've struck a couple

Branch: I don't wanna hear about this

Liam: what's your plan then?

Branch: plan?

Liam: of getting her back

Branch: I don't know...wait?

Liam: wrong! You've got her to talk, that's good, now you have to make the bold step, make her hear you. You're not going to get anywhere just sitting here

Branch: I got somewhere by singing (shrugs)

As poppy was driving, she regretted not staying and talking to branch. She had so much she wanted to say but didn't know how to bring it up. All she wanted was some answers. At the same time she was mused by his guitar playing and singing, branch was never interested in that stuff. He had a wonderful voice, and she couldn't stop thinking about the song he was writing. She knew he had said her name, that's what she didn't understand, if he wanted nothing to do with her why was he writing a song about her? Poppy almost turned to go to Blair's house but remembered she promised her dad she would come home. She wasn't sure what was going to happen, but when she turned to her house he was already home. She braced herself before going in.

Peppy: poppy?

Poppy: hey dad...

Peppy: poppy...I...we...we have some things to discuss

Poppy: (sets her book bag down) well...I'm all ears

Peppy: what in the world was going through your mind when you decided to go stay at Blair's place?! Didn't you once think about how that might make me feel?

Poppy: what about my feelings?! You skipped the therapy session for what?! To see Christine off?!

Peppy: wait hold on...we're already getting off on a bad start

Poppy: I'm not sure what to say dad...I was really upset and wanted to see Blair because I just needed someone to talk

Peppy: why didn't you go to one of your friends?

Poppy: because...I needed someone like a mom to talk to...

Peppy: (pauses for a long time) I...I didn't know you felt that way...I mean I know we were engaged but I didn't think you saw her as a mother figure at a young age

Poppy: I mean...you don't talk about mom

Peppy: (sighs) it's hard to poppy

Poppy: well I'm not a child anymore dad...you don't know how hard it is to feel the things I feel being a teenager and not having a mom around, I'm sorry but I'll never see Christine as my mother

Peppy: and I don't expect you to, she'll never replace your mother, but you have to respect her poppy

Poppy: it's not that I don't respect her, it's because you haven't been there for me because you spend all your time with her

Peppy: I know...your right, but it seems like you have your own life. I didn't think you needed me

Poppy: how can you say that? Your my dad, you're all I have, but I haven't felt like you've been

Peppy: (takes a deep breathe) wow..this is a lot to take in, I should not have skipped that session now that I know how this has how you've been feeling, poppy I'm really sorry, I know you're tired of hearing it but I really am. I'm going to the therapy session alone next time and I promise to keep going for you

Poppy: thank you...(remembers what Dr. Cloud said) how..was your day dad?

Peppy: (takes aback from the question) um...not too bad...how about you?

Poppy: well I had auditions for the musical today

Peppy: oh yeah...that's fantastic..what musical?

Poppy: Phantom of the opera

Peppy: interesting choice...school going ok?

Poppy: yeah...not too bad, senior year though

Peppy: (sighs) I know I've let you down all these years...I promise I'll do more..it's your last year..the time really has gotten away from me, I feel like you were so little yesterday

Poppy: I feel like I had to grow up fast...

Peppy: I'm sorry poppy...I really am...I wish I could have been a better father for you, when your mom died...I honestly didn't know what I was doing and still don't, I just didn't think you really needed me. You had your friends and your activities, I didn't realize that you might've needed support too

Poppy: I did need you dad..I still do..I know you can't fix the past years, but I hope you can do more now

Peppy: I want to..I'm sorry I waited this long to do so

(Poppy couldn't believe the conversation they were having, all from asking how his day was like Dr. cloud said, but she knew she couldn't get too excited. Just then her phone notifications went off regarding the results of the musical.)

Peppy: what is it?

Poppy: I got a call back for the musical..

peppy: (smiles) that's great...whatever that means

(Poppy couldn't help but chuckle a little at that, she knew they still had a long way to go, but maybe there wasn't lost hope after all. And now came the other lurking thought in her head...Branch..she should be focused on practicing her callback but Branch just seemed to stay in her mind. She would never forget the song she overheard him play. She wished she hadn't walked out, oh well she thought. I'll be seeing him for awhile, I got time.)