Trolls: All This Time

Chapter 7

-branch's pov-

*1 week later*

it had been 1 week since poppy and i had officially become a couple, and nothing felt different, but at the same time, everything felt different.

poppy had had so many queen duties that we'd barely had any time to spend together.

occasionally, we'd smile at each other as we passed or she would come over to say hi and watch a movie. we hadn't officially announced to the village that we were dating, but i wanted poppy to ask if it was ok first. after all, she is the queen.

"branch," king peppy called my name, rushing over to me. "we need to talk."

"about what?"

"it's about poppy."

my heart skipped a beat. had she told him about us?

i gulped. "is she ok?"

"well, not really. for the past week she's seemed...off. i decided to come to you since you guys are...together all the time."

i shrugged. "she hasn't told me anything. maybe she's just stressed about being queen? then again, she's poppy. she's probably just adjusting!"

king peppy nodded and put a hand on my shoulder. "now that i think about it, you're probably right. i'm so glad poppy has a friend like you."

peppy scurried off. inside, i felt sick to my stomach. was it guilt? since when do i feel guilty?

i sighed and made my way to poppy's pod. she wasn't in her dress, she was in her pajamas and it was nearly 1 in the afternoon.

"poppy? are you o-"

interrupting my sentence, she pulled me inside.

her hair was a mess, but she still looked beautiful. she had crumbs all over her face and stared at me, sadly.

"what's wrong?" i asked.

"the whole stress about being queen is just getting to be...too much. i cant take it anymore." tears fell from her face and immediately i rushed over and sat by her on her bed.

"hey, hey," i wiped away a few of her tears. "it'll all be ok. i'm right here, by your side. what can i do to help?"

i got up and looked through the papers scattered all over poppy's desk. she didn't say anything.

"well?" i asked, turning around to face her.

she shook her head. "that's the problem. i don't know. i'm stressed but i don't know what it is that's making me that way."

"do you want to go for a walk? or go watch a movie? or we could go out for lunch. or..."

poppy held up a hand. "branch, please."

"i'll let you be. if you need me, you know where to find me."

i kissed her forehead and headed out. i smiled before closing her door, hoping she'd say something, but she didn't. on my way back to my bunker, i somehow managed to ignore the all of the concerned stares from all of troll village.

what's wrong with poppy? i asked myself.