Chapter Six: Lonesome Flats
The second day of their trip was slightly less eventful. Branch was really happy about it. That's what he wanted from the start: quality time with Poppy. Talking about the queen, she was very relaxed next to him, as if their friendship growing to love hadn't changed much, except a little more touching than usual.
They had arrived at the river near Lonesome Flats by noon. Poppy changed into a bikini piece that left little for imagination (where was her yellow bathing suit?) and decided to go for a swim, sending a fuzzy fish to find Trollex and invite him to the concert. Once she was done, Branch quickly offered her a robe.
"It's too hot for a robe, Branch, but thanks."
"Well, just cover up, then." He insisted.
"Why?" She looked hurt, taking a towel to dry herself. "Don't you like my new bathing suit?"
"I..." Branch knew he had to choose the next words very carefully so she wouldn't take it the wrong way. "Okay, first, it's really revealing..." Poppy looked down and blushed, getting his point. "Second, because I like it very much you should cover up."
They didn't talk anymore after that. Poppy changed back and fixed them sandwiches for lunch while he placed a picnic blanket on the floor. They still had some time to spare, so Branch took a book from his backpack while Poppy dozed off, resting her head on his lap. It was the perfect picture. His prayers had been answered. They were a couple! He played with her hair, feeling comfortable to be with her like that, in peace, quiet and safe.
"Hmmm mmm mmm..." He looked down at her, realizing that she was humming some song in her sleep. Was it her favorite song? He repeated the sound in his mind, trying to figure out which one it was. He had heard it somewhere... it was a movie soundtrack, he was sure of it.
Accidentally he pulled a strand of her hair and she shifted, slowly opening her eyes. She offered him a lazy smile and pushed herself up onto her elbows, turning around so she could sit facing him. Her ponytail came loose and her hair fell over her shoulders, framing her face in a way Branch had never seen before. She laughed joyfully at him.
"I look like a mess."
Branch offered her a smile back, and tucked her hair behind her ears. "You look perfect." Butterflies fluttered their wings inside his stomach when he realized she had closed her eyes and was coming closer. Her kisses were so much more delicate and sweeter than his. It held gentleness and love. He reached a hand to cup her cheek, but let her lead the pace. Getting a little more confident, she pressed closer, with one leg moving up to a more comfortable position, which made her almost sit on his lap. He had no idea if she knew what she was doing to him and involuntarily whimpered against her lips. It was enough for her to break the kiss and sit back away from him.
"Sorry," She blushed, looking away from him and adjusting her hair back in place. He could have kicked himself for that, because she was thinking she had done something wrong.
He couldn't come up with an answer. What was he supposed to say? It was nothing, let's please continue? He was blushing enough as it was.
"I was wondering," Poppy started, trying to come up with a subject to cut the uneasy atmosphere. "How come you knew about rock music and you acted like the Rock Trolls were news."
"I know a few songs," Branch stood up, dusting himself off. "I didn't know there was a whole tribe devoted to it."
"I feel a little silly... dad kept so much from me." She shrugged, standing up as well. Branch watched her closely as she folded the blanket. "I thought he just kept secrets about mom, but it seems to be so much more."
"I didn't know about that." Branch said, quietly. "Why won't he tell you about her?"
"I don't know, maybe to keep me 'safe'." She got a little upset with the conversation and so she decided to turn it around. "What about you? Have you ever met your parents?"
"Nope," Branch opened the trunk, neatly placing everything inside. "I like to think I've met them, though. I have a few things that I like to pretend they've given to me. Grandma didn't mention them much."
"Queen Poppy!" Poppy was about to ask Branch if he ever considered they could be alive and raise suspicion when a fuzzy fish called from the water. She made her way to the fish, taking a note from its fin.
"Yep! Trollex is coming!" She jumped happily and Branch couldn't help but chuckle at her childishness. "Now we just have to get Delta Dawn on board!" She jumped inside the car, buckling the seatbelt.
"I don't think she'll be very willing... you know… being sad and all." Branch pointed out, resuming their trip.
"You'll see, this time I have a trick up my sleeve."
"Do I want to know?"
"Err... no..." Poppy said, with a humorless smile. "You better lay low this time, just in case I need someone to break me out of prison."
"You're not going to sing again, are you?" Branch couldn't believe his ears, of all things stupid Poppy did...
"I'll go straight to her heart this time."
Branch could have face-palmed if he wasn't driving. He just turned on the radio and tried to keep his mind straight. He was already thinking of a plan to dig Poppy from the prison when Lonesome Flats came to view. It was the same as before. Dusty, reddish and hotter than he remembered. When he found shade, he pulled over, letting Poppy get out of the car on her own. He observed a few Country Trolls were already coming out of their homes to see who was intruding their peace.
Poppy went through her luggage, picking up a guitar, a cowboy hat and leather boots. Branch raised his eyebrows at her in exasperation. She completely ignored him and walked to the main road.
"You're struttin' into town like you're slingin' a gun
Just a small town dude with a big city attitude
Honey are you lookin' for some trouble tonight
Well alright"
Branch was surprised. The music indeed had a country inspiration. He leaned against the car and watched as Poppy advanced.
"You think you're so bad, drive the women folk wild
Shoot 'em all down with the flash of your pearly smile
Honey but you met your match tonight, oh, that's right
You think you'll knock me off my feet 'till I'm flat on the floor
'Till my heart is crying indian and I'm beggin' for more
So come on, baby, come on, baby
Come on, baby, show me what that loaded gun is for"
Okay... so maybe the lyrics were a bit spicy for Country, Branch realized, trying to hide his own embarrassment to hear Poppy singing like that.
"If you can give it, I can take it
'Cause if this heart is gonna break
It's gonna take a lot to break it
'Cause I know tonight"
Delta Down opened the door and stepped outside. She looked serious with her fists on her hips and her four legs planted firmly on the floor. Her mayor star shone brightly on her hat. Poppy pretended she didn't see it and went on.
"Somebody's gonna win the fight
So if you're so tough
Come on and prove it
Your heart is down for the count
And you know you're gonna lose it
Tonight you're gonna go down in flames
Just like Jesse James"
That was a huge song, Branch did like it, but he was worried. More and more Country Trolls were stepping out of their homes, looking from Poppy to Delta Dawn as if it was some western movie and both girls were ready for shootouts. The Mayor Troll looked like shooting was exactly what she was about to do, while Poppy continued her song, with her eyes closed and enjoying herself.
"Okay, Poppy, I think you've made your point." Branch ran to her, interrupting the song and looking at Delta Down in apology. Poppy opened her eyes and saw the whole town looking at her, suddenly losing all the confidence she had built.
"Hold it right there, Branch." Delta Dawn said, stepping forward. He gulped, but pushed Poppy behind him anyway. "I think Pop Queen... just learned what country music is." She said, breaking into a smile. Country Trolls threw their hats in the air in celebration. "That was some music!"
"Awesome!" Poppy cried out, hugging Branch as tightly as she could. "I told you it would be fine this time!"
"What are you guys doing here?" The Mayor laughed as well, with her niece peeking from her hair.
"Well...- Hey Clampers," Poppy started, "I wanted to make things right. First I need to apologize for last time." Branch nodded in agreement, "And I wanted to invite you to sing with us in a concert I've been producing with Barb."
"A concert?" Delta Dawn picked the invitation card Poppy handled her. Branch was surprised that there wasn't a glitter explosion when she opened it.
"You see, after the whole thing with the strings, I think we should celebrate our differences. It's going to be a rock concert, mainly, but with different features representing the other tribes."
"I don't know, Poppy," She sighed, "We, country trolls, we like to get a low profile lifestyle." Disappointment was evident in Poppy's face and the other female immediately mended, "Why don't you guys stay for a genuine country night and I'll decide later?"
Poppy was more than happy to accept and Branch followed, although he was a little edgy about the night before. Country Trolls seemed to be less fancy than Classical Trolls, but still he wasn't the social kind to party two days in a row.
"We stay for as long as you want." Poppy whispered at him, putting a cowboy hat on his head, "If it's too much you just say so and we go away, ok?" He breathed in relief. Somehow Poppy seemed to know what to say and when to say it lately, almost as if she could read his mind. Maybe she was learning how to listen... and how to read him out.
They helped to set the party, Branch observed Poppy as she took the opportunity to talk about how good contractors Country Trolls were and how they could contribute to each other's villages. Poppy was interested in building a larger school, since she was going to take in kids from other tribes for internship, she also had thought about a great hall to talk exclusively about political matters and maybe a hydroelectric plant wouldn't be so bad, after all...
Hair, he was proud of her. He wasn't the only one who had grown a lot in the past years. She was perfectly fit for the leader role. He filled a cup of punch and made his way to her, so he could -maybe- steal a quick kiss. He frowned when he saw her pushing back a hint of sadness and worry and placing a warm façade as he approached.
"What's eating you up?" He asked, making sure she would never hide anything from him again.
"Oh..." Her shoulders dropped visibly, not expecting him to notice. "It's just... I'm very interested in doing business with Country Trolls, but Delta Dawn doesn't seem to care about anything we have to offer." He arched an eyebrow at her. "They're not interested in getting paid in hugs, either."
"Maybe the first meeting of all leaders should be about establishing a currency." Branch pointed out and Poppy gave him a hug. "What?"
"I'll always need your advice." She picked up the glass he had been holding for her. "You're a natural leader and I'm so glad to have you with me."
A warm feeling invaded him and he squeezed her hand. The evening wasn't so boring as he thought it would be. He enjoyed Country Music, even with the sad parts they were used to singing and he enjoyed dancing and holding Poppy close, having her exclusive attention most of the night and making her laugh until she had tears in her eyes when he pathetically lost a spit contest with a Country Troll.
By the time they arrived at the hotel room Delta Dawn had offered them, Branch was crushed. He went through his stuff to get ready for a quick shower as he allowed Poppy to go in first. It gave him time to look at all emergency exits, at how to secure the door close in case of invasion and where he could place his safety gears in order not to be given a lecture from a rather reckless Pop Queen. He also noticed there was only one bed. Not exactly what he wanted, but he decided to take the couch.
Poppy came outside smelling so good he almost wanted a bite. Something burned inside him and he quickly entered the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He had no idea what was happening in the past days, but something inside him was coming up, it was aggressively crawling to the surface and every time he saw Poppy looking as good and willing as she was, he had to stop himself from doing something stupid. When people told him what physical attraction was, he never considered the immensity of the magnet pull he would have to face with Poppy.
The hot water relaxed him a little, giving him a much needed relief. His eyelids felt heavy, he needed to sleep more than four hours like he had slept the night before. He finished the shower as quickly as possible and got out.
Poppy was already under the blankets when he spotted her. She was wearing long sleeve pajamas and going through the book he had been reading before. He offered her a smile and placed a pillow on the couch, only to be frozen in place when Poppy's irritation became evident in her voice.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting ready to sleep?!" He tried, just hoping she wouldn't continue the path he thought she was going.
"Oh please, Branch, there's enough room for you here." She said, patting the mattress beside her. He gulped nervously. "You deserve a good night of sleep and you're not getting it on the couch."
"I don't think it's... appropriate?"
"If you come up with another answer like that I'll throw this book at your face."
Obediently, and fearing for his book's safety, he got under the blankets with her. He was sure he wasn't going to get any sleep that night. The warmth of her body was so close that it made every cell on his body very aware that he was sharing a bed with his significant other. He did his best to stay as far as he could, only to have her turning around and snuggling on him, with her head pillowed on his chest. A pink hand carefully made its way to his chest, drawing small circles absent-mindedly. That certainly was a test to his willpower.
"What are we, Branch?" She asked quietly, taking him by surprise. When he didn't answer she continued. "We've never talked about it..." He understood what she was asking. They had just jumped from friends to kissing and never said it out loud what it was.
"I'm sorry I didn't ask you properly." He put his right hand on top of her left one. "Poppy... will you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" She hugged him, tightly, taking a chuckle out of his lips. They turned around, tangling themselves in the blankets. In the dark, he could feel her hot breath on his lips. He knew her lips would collide against his a second before they did. He pulled her against him, his tongue sliding across her lips causing them to open up with a happy gasp. His mind faded away as instincts took control. He rolled over, so he pinned her down underneath him, allowing himself to feel every inch of her body against his, providing a rush of delight that swept dangerously through him.
Slowly, his hand advanced lower on her stomach, tapping the waistband of her pajama pants. He didn't know she could affect him this much. He opened his eyes to watch his pink beauty in the dark and realized that she swallowed nervously, feeling his daring hand on her thigh. Breathing heavily and lowering his forehead so it was touching hers he offered her a small smile and rolled off her.
Branch brought her closer by the waist, burying his nose in her hair. He could feel their hearts racing. She wasn't ready, he repeated to himself. He had to wait.
"Branch..." He heard her quiet voice. "... I love you."
Thank goodness it was dark. Tears spilled out of his eyes. He couldn't be grateful enough for having his prayers answered. There she was, laying next to him, saying she loved him, ready to spend the rest of their lives together. He kissed her forehead.
"I love you, too, Poppy."