Truth or Dare

Chapter 4 Panic Attack

Poppy was never one to back out on a challenge. The end of this week had thus far been glorious, and finally getting asked out by he forever crush Creek had been the absolute frosting, cherry and sprinkles on top of the cake! She honestly felt she could fly, feeling so invigorated by the whole thing gave her more confidence than she had ever felt before. So, coming up with a plan to befriend Branch Woods and convince him to come to the Hair Ball prom flowed out of her fingers easily as she scrap booked every tiny detail of her idea. A good chunk of glue, card, stencils, sequins and a veritable rainbow of glitter later, Poppy flipped through the pages satisfied with her work. It had to be a new record for her, completing an entire scrapbook in one evening and she was proud of herself to say the least.

So the following morning as she bounced out of bed when her radio alarm clock burst into life, Poppy was more than ready to start the day head on. She danced around her room pulling through her wardrobe and picked out a suitable outfit to start her plan with. She yanked out her lavender zip up hoodie with darker purple trim and stripes down the sleeves, a pastel blue T-shirt and navy blue jeans. Finally she pulled out her pale sneakers and the look was complete. Perfect! Step one of her plan, 'shadow Branch' was a go!

With a final twirl in the mirror she snatched up her scrapbook plan and headed downstairs.

"Good morning dad!" She sang, slipping her scrapbook in her school bag by the door.

"Good morning my princess!" Her dad greeted her from the kitchen. "You seem extra energised this morning."

"Yes! It's going to be a brilliant day!" She leant against the breakfast table and devoured a strawberry muffin from the stack in the centre sucking the sticky sweetness off her fingers as she continued bobbing to the tune in her head.

"Certainly looks that way," her dad chuckled. "Did you want to take any of these muffins to school with you for your friends? I honestly think I made too many again."

"Oh dad! That's not a bad thing! But yes! I'd love to take some with me," a nice freshly baked muffin was always a good icebreaker to try and get to know someone.

Her father was just putting the last muffin in a paper bag for Poppy when a casual glance out the kitchen window made her eyebrows raise and her heart start beating a little bit faster (which was somewhat unexpected). "Ooh dad, I've got to go! Busy, busy, busy today!"

Peppy laughed good naturedly as his daughter took the bag from him and pecked him on the cheek. "See you later sweetheart! Have a good day!"

"I will, you too! Thanks dad! Love you!" And with that Poppy grabbed her school bag and raced out the door.

*TOD*

Poppy jogged to the end of her driveway, looking up the road to try and see who she was convinced she saw. She glimpsed a dark clad figure round a corner at the end of the street which confirmed her suspicions. Well, it hadn't been a part of her plan but an opportunity like this she wasn't going to waste. If Branch was walking, she would walk with him! Poppy ran to the corner and chased after the fast paced figure.

Her target was halfway down the second street as she turned the corner. "Frosting!" She muttered. This guy was fast! Well only one thing for it. Poppy continued running and called out, "hey! Branch? Wait up!"

She knew he heard her because almost immediately those unique downcast ears of his perked at the sound of her voice. Half a second was all it took for him to glance over his shoulder at her and stop in his tracks. Taking the chance before he decided to pound off again Poppy capered over as he averted his eyes back to the sidewalk.

"I thought I saw you pass outside my house just now!" Poppy beamed as she jogged to a stop alongside him. "Where's your bike that I normally see you on?"