I Won't Tell

Chapter 3: Suspicious

"What do you mean?" Poppy asked Branch out of confusion. "I'll find out who it is. And I'll make sure they don't hurt you ever again." Branch said confidently. Now Poppy was really confused. Why, out of all the trolls in the troll kingdom, would Branch want to help her? It just doesn't make sense? Could it be...? No. No way. There's no way Branch...could have...feelings for her...right? 

"Poppy?" She was taken out of her trance by Branch. Poppy changed her expression from confused too demanding. "Okay but why? Why are you helping me? You hate me!" She protested. "I don't hate you!" Branch yelled back. He stepped back and coughed. "I um...don't hate you. I just dislike you. I want to help because even though I couldn't care less about the trolls or you, what this person did to you is heartless. That's why I'm helping." 

Poppy nodded. I guess it's not true... She thought sadly. She looked at him, oh she wished he could enjoy the parties and fun. She wished he wasn't grey and grumpy. She might find out why later. Anyway, "I should go and...cover this up." Poppy was about to walk away until, "What some help?" Branch asked. 

Poppy turned back around and faced him. "What?" "Well I just thought that since you're hurt, you would need some help. Basic logic really." He replied. Poppy rolled her eyes at him. "Fine, you can help, although I really don't need it." "Do you even know what to do in this situation?" Poppy froze and slowly turned around. She sighed. "No." 

Branch chuckled. "Thought so."

Once they left back to Branch's bunker

"Poppy?" Someone said in a deep dark voice while looking for the troll princess. "Where are you? It's time for you behave now..." He said more sternly. He looked everywhere but he still couldn't find her. And that made him angry. Where is she? And who saw her? 

Back to the bunker

Branch had now covered all of Poppy's bruises with pink make up that Poppy helped him get from her Pod. "How do you even know what to do?" Poppy asked. Branch chuckled. "Well you get to know how to cover up injuries when you're unable to get into a hospital." Poppy looked confused and shocked. "They didn't let you into the hospital?" She asked. 

"Nope." Branch replied. "I guess they thought I was bad. Speaking of bad, I would really like to know who did this to you." "I already told you Branch, I can't tell you-" "POPPY! Where did you GO?" Someone yelled from outside of the bunker. Poppy and Branch turned dead silent. "Oh no...He's here." Poppy said while beginning to tremble. 

"Come on OUT Poppy..." This made Branch gasp. He knew that english accent from anywhere. "Creek?" He whispered/asked Poppy. She slowly nodded. Branch was about to get up to beat the crap out of that abusive creep but Poppy stopped him. "No! Please!" She whispered. "Don't do anything!" "Why not?! Because he's definitely been doing something to you." Branch said. "Just leave it, please Branch!" 

"...Fine."