(Poppy took her seat in class; she was still thinking about her encounter with Branch. So much was rushing through her head. She had a chance…why didn't she take it? She saw Branch walk in and take his seat, he looked at her a second before turning away. Meanwhile Branch was thinking the same thing, why didn't he stop her? He was glad he convinced Liam to finally leave so he could have some peace. Branch decided he was going to stop messing around, he had to finally face this. He was snapped out of his trance with Larkins entering the room)

Larkins: Awful! Just Awful! I do not know how you all are going to pass your first test when you cannot do this homework right! You are already losing 5 points; do you want more?!

(The class sat awkwardly in silence)

Larkins: Flower! (slams her homework on her desk) what is all this? Tell me! What?

Poppy: I thought that was how-

Larkins: obviously not! A pretty girl like you cannot even do math, I don't know why you're even here

Poppy: but sir-

Larkins: here is some motivation for you all! If you score below a B on this first test! You are done! I will not waste anymore time with you oxygen breathers (glares at poppy) especially this one

(Branch felt very angry at his words, he wanted to cuss this teacher out, but he could not afford another detention. He knew poppy was trying to stay strong, but this dude was humiliating her, and no one was saying anything! He could not hold his tongue any longer.)

Branch: I guarantee you; we'll all pass and prove you wrong, you don't even know her potential and by the way her name is POPPY, I don't know what you are trying to prove by calling her flower

Larkins: Aw how sweet, flower's little boyfriend is sticking up for her, Mr. Timberlake I advise you to keep your mouth shut

Branch: fine, but I still guarantee she and everyone else who feels bullied by you will prove you wrong

Larkins: well then…challenge accepted

(Branch waited for him to give him detention or extra homework, but he didn't. He just went about teaching like nothing even happened. When class was over, poppy stormed out of the room and Branch wasn't going to let her get away this time. He looked all over for her, she wasn't with her friends, which surprised him because he thought she would've run to them first. He then had an idea where she might have gone. He went into the auditorium and sure enough it was empty except poppy sitting in the far corner. His heart immediately broke when he heard her cry, never in their entire years of friendship had he even seen her cry. He wasn't sure what to do at first, but he knew he had to do something to make up for yesterday. Poppy felt embarrassed, she had never been talked down to by a teacher like that, she did not go to her friends because she didn't think they would understand. She had her callback today, but now she felt so discouraged. She thought she was alone until she saw Branch sitting next to her. He didn't say anything at first and neither did she.)

Branch: poppy…I'm so sorry

Poppy: (sniffles knowing he was not talking about Larkins) Branch…

Branch: I really am…I was a terrible friend…I shouldn't have left you hanging all those years, it hurt me so much, I wish I could take everything back, I hate that it's taken me until now to realize this…until Larkins class to realize this

Poppy: (looks at him in silence)

Branch: I just…at the time…I needed to be alone, I was going through so much…I hated myself, I thought you would hate me too, How could I have burdened you with my problems? It's not fair to you

Poppy: Branch…I always wanted to be there through the good and the bad…

Branch: I still can't open up about what happened…but not having you in my life is killing me…I thought I was doing myself a favor by shutting you out, but I was wrong

Poppy: I don't expect you to tell me what happened until you're ready, I missed you Branch…

Branch: Poppifer… I missed you more than you'll ever know

Poppy: (smiles, he called her his old nickname for her) Branch? Why did you join the musical? I mean, I know you can sing really well obviously, but-

Branch: I knew it was time, time to stop shutting myself out, I knew you'd be in the musical again and me and Mrs. Harvey are pretty close so she let me be assistant, poppy you have such a great gift, but yesterday what I saw…you belong on that stage, don't let Larkins ruin your callback he's an asshole, (he knew he was making a bold step doing this but he wiped away her tears) don't cry anymore, save that beautiful voice ok?

Poppy: (nodded) Branch…thank you…

Branch: you're welcome, listen…if you want help for this test, I'm here to help…I know it might take time to rebuild our friendship the way it was (He cringed as he said those words, oh how he wanted so much more than just friends) but I'm willing to do whatever it takes, I want you to prove Larkins wrong

Poppy: that would be great…Thank you (smiles a little) also thank you for the first day when you stood up for me

Branch: well…no matter what I'm dealing with, I can't see anyone mess with Poppy Kendrick

(Branch felt over the moon! He finally grew the balls to talk to her again! He missed this so much, and that smile she gave him melted his heart. He knew he had a long way to go, but he had made a great start. When the bell rang, they both got up and headed their separate ways, but poppy gave him a hug first, ok! Scratch that, this made his heart soar! Oh, how he missed her warm hugs)

Poppy: thank you Branch…for that pep talk, see you at call backs?

Branch: (laughs) look forward to it

Poppy: by the way…I loved your song yesterday

(He blushed a little before they went to their separate classes, Poppy was also over the moon about this encounter, she couldn't wait to tell her friends.

(Meanwhile Peppy headed for his part of the therapy session. He had never done anything like this before, he wasn't quite sure what to expect from this. Dr. Cloud? What a particular name? He knocked on the office door.)

Dr. Cloud: why hello, you must be Mr. Kendrick?

Peppy: yes, it's nice to meet you

Dr. Cloud: finally, nice to meet you as well, Poppy is a lovely girl, I look forward to getting to know her father, what would you like me to call you?

Peppy: peppy is fine

Dr. Cloud: peppy and poppy, I love it, so first I just want to say, this is a safe place I'm not authorized to tell you anything poppy said in her last session unless she is ok with it when you guys come to your group session, she has told me quite a lot and I want to know…what do you hope to gain from this

Peppy: well…I'm hoping me, and poppy can become close again, she's all I have left

Dr. Cloud: elaborate on that for me

Peppy: well…I lost my wife a couple years after poppy was born, I wasn't prepared to be a single father at all, I was so young still at the time

Dr. Cloud: how old were you?

Peppy: 23…I know young…I was just head over heels in love with my wife, poppy was unexpected, but we were so excited

Dr. Cloud: how did she pass away? If you're ok with sharing, do you ever talk with poppy about her mom?

Peppy: I don't really…I always tell poppy her mom died from a terminal illness because the real story is sad…it was so sudden…we were on a vacation with poppy…it was supposed to be a fun time…I'm sorry I can't about it right now…

Dr. Cloud: that's perfectly ok, did you ever talk to someone about losing your wife? I know that is a tough time being young and everything

Peppy: no, I didn't…but looking back, I should have, it could've been the reason why me and poppy aren't close anymore

Dr. Cloud: what do you mean?

Peppy: after I lost Joy, I felt so lost, I considered giving custody of poppy to my parents because I felt at the time I couldn't give her what she needed, I didn't feel stable mentally, I wish I had gotten help

Dr. Cloud: so, what did you do?

Peppy: I knew Joy would be disappointed in me if I gave her up, so I put myself though a masters program so I could get a good job, unfortunately I didn't get to see her grow up much because I was so busy, she was either with a nanny or at daycare

Dr. Cloud: so, you feel like you didn't bond with her from the beginning? Did you ever try taking time from work to spend time with her?

Peppy: I tried…

Dr. Cloud: it doesn't sound like it went well

Peppy: I don't know…I'm ashamed to admit this but when she was young, I tried filling the void with trying to find another wife instead of focusing on her, I know father of the year

Dr. Cloud: hey, no judgement here, did you want poppy to have a mother? Is that why?

Peppy: yes, I did, I wanted our family to feel whole again, I thought by finding a wife it would help create a bond with poppy

Dr. Cloud: well Peppy…I know where your head was at, but…why did you think bringing someone that poppy doesn't know into her life would bring you two closer? Only you can do that…no one else can do that for you

Peppy: (goes silent) it was hard…she was a little girl, I was young…I didn't know what I could do to make her happy, she seemed happy when I met blair

Dr. Cloud: (remembers from the last session with poppy) who is Blair?

Peppy: she was my fiancée, she loved poppy and poppy loved her, I felt me, and poppy's relationship got better when she was in the picture

Dr. Cloud: was? Is she not anymore?

Peppy: she is not

Dr. Cloud: (referencing back to what poppy told him) so you say…poppy was happy, you were happy, she made your family whole…did you feel like you were hurting your late wife by remarrying?

Peppy: no…it's much more complicated than that…

Dr. Cloud: well…I've seen a lot of complicated things…give me a try

Peppy: well…we were engaged for a little bit…we found out we were pregnant which was great news, but then the baby had passed away from complications…but…she revealed to me after some time the baby wasn't mine

Dr. Cloud: I see…so that's why you broke it off?

Peppy: it wasn't an easy decision you know! I knew she would be a great mom to poppy, but…she cheated on me, I have a new girlfriend Christine I've been with for 5 years and wanted to marry for sometime and Poppy doesn't like her and neither does Christine and I admit she took up more of my time with poppy and I didn't do anything about it

Dr. cloud: I see…and does poppy know about what blair?

Peppy: no…she is still in contact with her, which I'm not too thrilled about, but I know it would break her heart if she knew my reason

Dr. Cloud: well…peppy so far…heres what Im gathering, you need to start telling poppy the truth, your relationship can't grow based on lies

Peppy: I was just trying to protect her!

Dr. Cloud: I get that, but based on my session with her…she doesn't need a lot of confusion right now, she's 18 now, opening up to her is a good start, but you have to start being honest with her

Peppy: how am I supposed to do that?

Dr. Cloud: little by little

Peppy: and what if she hates me more after I tell her

Dr. cloud: I've seen lots of families, and if there's one thing I can tell you, it's that honesty is the key

Now that we're stuck in Quarantine I'll try to update more! Also if you haven't seen the trolls sequel, go watch!

~Ash