Poppy visits Branch's best friend and fights her feelings for Branch, Also Sunset is up to something.

Saturday morning Poppy got up and got ready for the day. She put on a pink tank top and blue shorts, she went to the kitchen and saw Gust and Holly at the table.

''Morning guys!'' She smiled.

''Morning Poppy, you're up early.'' Holly noted.

''Yeah, I have a few things to do today. What are you guys up to?'' She asked.

''Oh well Holly is coming back to the ranch with me to take care of the animals and the country trolls are throwing a party.'' Gust said cleaning his plate.

''Ahh, say Holly can I borrow your car today?'' Asked Poppy.

''Sure, sugar but can I ask what you need it for?'' She looked at Poppy.

''I have a couple of errands to do and I would like to take a car rather then the bus.'' She said grabbing some toast.

''Sure.'' Holly smiled.

''Shortly Poppy got in the car and typed in the coordinates and headed to the Mountain Apartments. Once she got there she went to the buzzer pushed the button going in and up to the 24th door. She took a deep breath and knocked.

The door was opened by a cute looking techno troll. ''Hi are you Trollex?'' She asked.

''Oh no, I'm his cousin Synth.'' He said.

''Ahh, I'm Poppy, I thought Trollex lived here.'' She said.

''Oh he does, come on it.'' He let Poppy in and closed the door.

''Hey Trollex! You got a visitor!'' He called.

A handsome dark blue techno troll with a pink heart on his chest came into the room. ''Hey Synth who is this?''

''I'm Poppy a friend of Branch's and would like to talk to you.'' She said.

Trollex looked surprised and Synth grabbed his back. ''I'll leave you two alone got a band to get to.'' He left.

Trollex nodded and motioned for Poppy to sit down. ''Please sit, can I get you anything?'' He asked.

''No thanks, I just wanted to ask you a few questions about Branch.'' She sat down.

Trollex sat in his armchair. ''Are you a reporter?''

''No, no I'm his therapist at the jailhouse.'' She said.

''Oh, what! Really?'' He asked surprised.

''Yeah and I came to ask you something about Branch.'' She said sitting.

''Aren't you supposed to get him to talk?'' Asked Trollex.

''Yes, and I do but he talks about you and I was hoping you could tell me a bit about Branch and do you think he killed his grandma?'' She asked.

The male troll frowned and sat back in the chair. ''NO, I know for a fact Branch didn't kill his grandma. I knew him since he was little we met in pre-k and grew up together.''

''What was Branch like throughout his childhood?''

''He was sweet a bit shy but he was a whizz at school, all the teachers loved him but he did have a hard time making new friends.'' The troll said smiling as he stood up and brought over a scrapbook and let her look though it.

She saw pictures of Trollex with his arm around Branch's back they were eating ice cream that was smeared on their faces, and another one of him and his grandma, then one of Branch a 1 year-old with his parents.

''Oh he looks so happy.'' She smiled.

''He was and after his parents died when he was three, his grandma who lived with them took care of him, and they were close, he did well in school. He had a hard time meeting girls. In fact in high school on girl he had a crush on asked him to the dance.''

Flashback....

Branch was at his locker getting out his books, he was wearing his signature green vest with brown pants, he closed the door and a pretty orange female troll was standing next to him.

''Hi, you're Branch right?'' She asked leaning against the locker.

''Yeah, and you're Arianna.'' He said.

''Yep the one and only. Say um I was wondering if you were going to the dance tonight?'' She asked.

''Um no.'' He said.

''Well, I need a partner and I was wondering if you would go with me?'' She asked.

''Sure.'' He said excitedly and smiled widely.

That night he went to pick up Arianna and they went to the party, they danced and were having fun.

''Say follow me.'' She whispered pulling Branch to a closet.

She kissed him and he kissed back suddenly the door opened and camera's were flashing as Arianna smirked and pulled away laughing.

''Woah, I can't believe it! You fell for it! Poor Branch.'' She laughed.

He looked confused and sad. ''What?''

''Like I would ever date you weirdo.'' She said.

Branch was red and ran away crying as he left the dance.

Flashback over...

Poppy was shocked and sad to hear this girl kissed Branch. ''Poor Branch.''

''Yeah, he could of gotten her back but he didn't and he never dated again.'' Trollex said.

''So why didn't he go to college?'' She asked.

''He stayed to take care of his grandma and that day when we were working, he was worried about her and left at lunch to check on her. 45 minutes later I'm getting a call from Branch asking me to meet him at the jail cell I thought he was joking but he wasn't and went anyway to see him locked up, He told me what happened and I tried to defend him, get him out but they sent me away saying that I couldn't verify where he was.'' Trollex sighed.

''So, did he tell you about the little girl he was following?'' She asked.

''Yeah, he mentioned that and I went back to that spot and there was a small footprint when I got the cops the footprints disappeared.'' He said looking down.

''So if you know he is innocent why didn't you go and visit him?'' Asked leaning forward.

''I wanted to, but my boss Sky said he didn't want anybody working for him to go visit Branch, it made the company look bad.'' Trollex said.

Poppy wrote this down as Trollex.

''Whyare you asking all of these?''

''Because I looked into his case file and something didn't add up, I work with criminals all the time and Branch is different then most and well I believe him that he is innocent and I'm trying to free him but I need your help.'' She said.

Trollex's eyes widened. ''Woah, I will help anyway I can.''

Poppy smiles and write something down. ''Do you always go this far for clients?''

Poppy looked at him. ''No, but Branch is different.

''I think you like him.'' Trollex smirked.

''What? Nah, me like him? That's crazy I don't do criminals.'' She said feeling her cheeks heat up and looked away.

''Ok, I like that a girl with principal but Branch isn't a criminal. ''True, well here is my card and call me if you pick anything up or remember something.'' She said standing up.

''Thanks, though you might try talking to his lawyer, I know the guy sucked at his job but he might tell you more and Creek the prosecutor he's hiding something I believe.'' Trollex said as they walked to the door.

''Thanks, I will keep that in mind.'' Poppy said as she left.

On her way back, she was thinking of Branch. She didn't like that a girl used him like but she felt relieved that it didn't work out. 'Stop Poppy, oh this is so hard.' She thought to what Trollex said and he was right, she knew she was slowly falling in love with Branch and he wasn't a bad guy. She pushed those feelings aside and turned on the radio.

'And now back to our call show. Go ahead caller.'' The voice said.

''Yes I'm calling because I want to know, how do I know if this guy I like is telling the truth?'' She asked.

Poppy frowned and changed the station and a song came on.

'I can't fight this feeling anymore!' She turned off the station.

She got back and saw Val watching Trollules and it got to the part where Meg was signing her famous song.

'No chance no way, I won't say it no, no.

'Check the grin your in love.

'Oooh at least out loud I won't say I'm in looovvveee.'

Poppy went to her room shutting the door. She was fighting it but she smiles thinking of Branch and even the world was saying it was true. 'Damn I am falling in love.' She places the pillow over her head.

*************

Branch was in the courtyard lifting weights, Poppy was the only thing on his mind, he smiled at the thought of her, it was interrupted when they all heard the door open.

''Oh look it's Sunset.'' One said.

Branch sat up and was scared. After what he did he knew he was probably gonna die.

Sunset nodded to them all and saw Branch going over.

''Hey Branch! Nice to see you.'' He said smiling.

Hi Sunset.'' Branch said feeling something was up.

They heard a whistle and knew it was time to go in. Branch was gonna be on guard.

Enjoy!