Trolls: All This Time

Chapter 8

-poppy's pov-

i'm stressed. i'm so stressed, but i don't know what about.

i'm not myself. i hardly even said 2 words to branch when he came over. normally, i'd be jumping off the walls, greeting him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek before having an hour long conversation about everything happening in troll village.

but the last couple of days have been...different. i haven't had the energy to eat, to get dressed, or even to shower. the trolls were probably wondering where their queen was, but that was the last thing i was worried about right now.

screw it. i threw on my dress and ran my hands through my hair in attempt to make it look somewhat presentable before leaving my pod. i ignored all of the trolls asking me if i was ok, where i had been, etc.

after what seemed like forever, i reached branch's bunker. i didn't even knock, i just entered on my own.

and there branch was, sitting on his couch.

"poppy?" he asked, standing up. "what are you doing here?"

"shh," i told him, feeling my head begin to pound. maybe i'm sick. maybe that's why i've been feeling like this.

branch grabbed my hand and led me to the couch. sitting next to me, he asked, "do you want to talk about it?"

i shook my head. "i just needed to come see you."

he nodded and smiled. "i've missed you. it feels like we haven't seen each other in years."

"i know. i've just been busy."

"do you need anything?" he asked, being the gentleman he is.

"do you mind if i take a shower? i haven't really had the energy for it, but i need one."

"of course you can."

i smiled, probably the fakest smile i've ever made. not because i didn't like branch, but because i really didn't have the energy for it.

-20 minutes later-

i hopped out of the shower and put on one of branch's robes. it was 2 sizes too big for me, but i didn't mind.

branch knocked on the door. "do you need anything?"

i opened the door and looked up at him. "i'm ok."

"do you need a smaller bath robe? i'm sure i have one-"

he tried to make his way into the bathroom closet to find another robe, but i put my hand on his chest to stop him. "you care too much."

we both smiled and he took my hand and led me down to his room.

"here," he said, handing me another one of his sweatshirts. "sorry, it's all i really have, and i..."

"branch. it's perfect. thank you." he smiled and seemed satisfied. branch was such a gentleman, but he worries so much. it's like he never thinks he's enough, or what he does is enough, even though it always is.

"can i ask you something?" he asked.

i nodded.

"why me?"

i looked at him, confused. "what do you mean?"

"of all of the trolls you could've been with, probably any troll in the village, why me?"

i smiled. "because you were there. i always knew that deep inside, you were truly a good person. we saw the good in each other, which is what got us through the toughest times in our lives."

there was a long pause, before branch blurted out, "am i good enough for you?"

i didn't say anything. i didn't know what to say. why on earth would he ever think he wasn't?

as if he read my mind, branch sighed. "when i was little, i was always told i wasn't good enough. i was pushed around because i wasn't like everyone else. i was told that i would never fit in. that 'no one could ever care for such a grump'."

i hugged him. i hugged him so tight to make sure he knew that i would never treat him like that. that everything is ok now.

"you have always been and always will be enough. i care for you. so much. i love that you're not like everyone else. you're different, which is what makes you so special to me. you're not like any other troll. you're handsome, a gentleman, a kind and funny troll. you care for everyone. all you want is everyone to be safe. and that's what i love about you."

a tear fell from branch's cheek, and he kissed me. it was quick, but it was meaningful.

"i love you," he said.