Number 9

The train was done… the body scanner with fun badges was a success (minus the security), the bunker was clean, the plantation was perfectly taken care of…

… Poppy hadn't showed up in days.

Branch was bored. His stomach was queasy. He missed his private time with his Queen. He missed talking to her when they were alone. He missed hugging her when no one was looking.

He had a feeling it was all because of the hickey. Biggie had said nobody had seen it, but Poppy simply disappeared from his life after that day. There was no way it could be something else.

He had taken the Dune Huggy for repairs and took an extra-long time cleaning it up. It was a good distraction.

"Hey, Branch…" Smidge had seen him alone, which was quite rare these days, and approached with a tentative smile. "Repairing the Queen's car?"

"You're going to have an earful if she hears you calling it her car." Branch humorlessly chucked. Poppy said the car belonged to Trollstopia. Anyone could use it. He had built it up for her… but apparently, she wasn't allowing herself that small luxury.

"You have a… grumpy vibe around you." Smidge said, paying attention how Branch was caring for every detail of the car. "You know Poppy misses you, too, right?"

That had done it. Branch dropped the wet cloth inside a bucket full of water and turned around to glare at Smidge like she was enemy number one. She actually took a step back.

"You told her to step away, didn't you?!" Branch accused, making the small yellow troll to get completely confused. "Since that day… when… you know. She's been avoiding me!"

"Oh my Guh, Branch. The hickey is so last week!" She face-palmed and Branch had a difficult time believing her. "Poppy's agenda is full these days." Smidge explained. "She actually has a life that doesn't revolve around you. So, what about, you try to have some spare time that doesn't revolve around her as well?"

"What are ya doing-y'all?" Holly Darling chose that time to gallop her way to her friends. The shine of the Dune Huggy got her attention from afar and she had to take a closer look. "You're quite good at cleaning, Branch."

The three of them blinked at each other.

"What are you girls doing here?" The thoughts hadn't crossed his mind at first. He wasn't getting popular and people were actually - he gulped - was looking forward to spending time with him, was he?

"I was looking for Poppy." Holly said. "I kind of missed her in the last couple of days."

"I was doing the same." Smidge nodded at Holly. "Apparently, we all miss Poppy."

The sun came out from the clouds and made the Dune Huggy shine.

"We could busy ourselves with some car washing, what do you think?" Smidge suggested and Holly squealed in happiness.

Branch thought it was a good idea to keep his mind off Poppy. Besides… Smidge was right. He needed some occupation that didn't revolve around his girlfriend. He was an adult and independent troll living in a multicultural city. There were a lot of things to do and a lot of trolls to meet.

He could be as busy as Poppy.

"How about we open a professional car wash? No! Better - We can become a clean team!" Branch suggested.

"If we do a good job, we'll be busy as ever!" Holly agreed.

"Saved from boredom!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Pure disaster. The spaceship was neatly cleaned a second time and Branch felt like he had been run over by a train. If he wanted to keep his body busy to keep his mind off Poppy… well… he had been successful.

And who - the hair - hugged the Snug A Lugs, again? There were at least six of them running around the car wash!

Like he had previously thought… pure disaster…

"You look sad." Poppy was waiting for him. He hadn't realized she had been there. She was sitting on top of the rock next to his bunker, swinging her legs cutely and enjoying the breeze that paid farewell to the last minutes of daylight.

"I'm…" His breath had been taken away at the sight of her. Somehow it was hard to come up with a simple reply. There was something so divine about the way she was sitting down there, unreachable, bathed in sunlight. Hair… he had missed her so much. "... I'm not."

"You must be tired then," Poppy continued with her childish smile, as if she was waiting for him to say the right word so she could announce something.

"Yes, I am." It was true. He wasn't going to play difficult just to make her life hard. He was curious about what she had in mind.

"I have pie, lemon juice and some cupcakes for dessert in that picnic basket." She pointed at a spot right behind him and for the first time that day, Branch looked at his bunker's trapdoor and noticed that Poppy had placed a lot of food and a card in there. "Can we have dinner together?"

How could he deny her? Yes, he was a little bothered that she hadn't prioritized him, but his heart filled with joy as soon as she stood up and jumped down, fully trusting him to catch her. With her in his arms there was no way he could be upset.

"I'm sorry, I have been away." She said while they went down into the bunker.

"I was wondering if I had messed something up." He tried to control a blush and looked away. She probably knew what he was referring to.

"No, I'm sorry I made you think that." The delicious smell of the pie was all over the kitchen as soon as she opened the wrapping. "I came across Cybil the other day while she was reading Demo's numerology chart. I overheard her explaining how the number 9 is related to fraternity spirit." Poppy talked as she busied herself around his kitchen. Branch sat down on a chair and watched her. There was something incredibly homey on the way she pampered him with food. "And you know I have been planning for Trollstopia 10th week anniversary, but after hearing about number 9… well... I decided that a 9th week anniversary would be a lot better."

"So… you worked yourself mad to push the festivities." It made a lot of sense now. "All that… because of numerology."

"Silly me, right? But it felt right." She gave him a guilty smile that made him melt.

"So… the party is tomorrow." He gladly accepted a huge piece of pie she offered.

"I hope you have fun." Grinning to herself, Poppy sat in front of him with her own pie.

"You should have fun as well." He raised a warning eyebrow at her. He knew how his girlfriend was.

"Obsessing over details is my way of having fun." She smartly replied and Branch rolled his eyes.

He let the subject drop. He was too happy to have her over after days of being away. It wasn't the time to pick on her. All he wanted to do was to enjoy that delicious pie and share a quiet evening with the only troll that could brighten up a disastrous day.

Notes:

I decided to update a little early. I'm not having a good day (actually, not having good couple of weeks), grandma passed away then yesterday my dog had a stroke and we had the tough decision that she would suffer less if she was put to "sleep". I couldn't say goodbye because voilà, I was in the hospital because a cyst erupted. I mean... wow. People say things get better on their birthday. Mine is less than a month away and let's hope this wave of bad vibes goes away!

Anyway, thanks for reading and let's hope for good vibes!