In The Wild

Chapter six: The party

Over the next few months, Poppy and Branch adjusted to school , as Clay said.

Poppy would often invite Branch to sit with her and "the snack pack," as she said they were called, but he always refused, saying she needed her own friends beside him.

In reality, Branch was just afraid of making new friends. Back in the troll tree, no one would talk to him, and they would make fun of him,it was the same at this school, everyone would just leave him alone because that's what he seemed to want.

Poppy would often  eat with Branch every other day, but it wasn't one of those days when Branch made his first friends beside the young princess.

Branch was eating outside for a change when four trolls walked up to him. He was sure they were in a different grade from him since he had never seen them before.

" Hey." A purple troll with red haired with stubble called out." You're that eighteen-year-old freshman, right?"

" Actually, my nineteenth birthday was a month ago," Branch corrected." But yeah. What do you want?"

" We want to talk to you!" A yellow glitter troll exclaimed.

" No thanks..." Branch mumbled.

" Well, why not? You've got nothing else to do." An orange troll with purple hair said.

" ....Fine just don't be loud." Branch replied.

The four trolls sat with and began eating their food.

" So my name's Trickee, by the way." The orange troll said.

" I'm Hype." A teal glitter troll added.

" I'm Boom." The yellow glitter troll added as well, then pointed to the red-headed troll beside him."And that's Ablaze."

" Those are your actual names?" Branch smirked.

" Well, you're not one to talk your names,'Branch'!" Trickee retorted.

" ....Touché." Branch remarked." You guys aren't as bad as I thought."

. . . .

Branch would hang out with these trolls whenever Poppy would hang out with the snack pack. The five had even started a band called 'kismet'. It wasn't really a band, though, as Branch didn't sing, but kismet respected that.Ever since hanging out with kismet, Branch's eyes started to turn a dark shade of blue.

Poppy was ecstatic when she heard about Branch's new friends. When she first learned about kismet, she grabbed him in a hug and exclaimed.

" Branch! I'm so happy for you!!"

" Thanks, Poppy. Your sentences are getting way better, by the way."

" Thank you."

One day, Creek walked over to Branch and Poppy on their way home.

" Hello." He said.

" Hi Creek." Branch muttered, gripping Poppy's hand tightly.

" Where are you going?"

" Home." Poppy answered.

" You still live in the woods,why?" Creek asked with a chuckle in his throat.

" It's safe there." Branch responded.

" Oh well here." Creek took two invitations out of his hair.

" I'm inviting you to my end of year party! You don't have to say yes right away, but -"

" No." Branch stated, grabbed Poppy, and ran to the bunker.

. . . .

As they reached their home, Poppy tugged away from Branch's grip.