Poppy hides her feelings from her roommates and runs into a certain someone.

Poppy made it home after a long and eventful day, went inside and stopped when she saw a cute sight. Holly was on the couch snuggled into a handsome orange color and brown hair country troll her boyfriend Gust Tumbleweed, they look as they came in.

''Oh hey Poppy!'' Holly said excitedly.

''Hey Holly, nice to see you again Gust.'' Poppy greeted excitedly.

''Hello, nice to see your lovely face Ms. Poppy.'' He said tipping his hat.

Poppy giggles and goes into her room placing her bag on the bed and she opens up her bag and pulls out Branch's file, looking over it, surely there was something missing it didn't add up somehow.

While she was looking though the file there was a knock on the door and she looked up. ''Come in.''

In came Val with her guitar. ''Why are you in here?'' She sat on the bed.

''Well, I wanted to give Holly and Gust some privacy is all.'' She said placing the file in the back.

''Yeah, I guess not like they are gonna do it while we are here.'' The rock troll said sitting down.

''Did you want something Val?'' Asked Poppy.

''Yeah, I came in here to make sure you're coming to my band gig tonight.'' She said.

''Of course, I am I got nothing to do.'' Poppy said smiling.

''Sweet, you, Holly, and Gust this will be great.'' Val said jumping off the bed.

''Wait, you mean Gust and Holly are going as well?'' She asked surprised by this.

''Yes, I know crazy right but Gust is staying here and they wanted to do something different.'' Val said as she stood up and pulled Poppy to the living room.

Gust was standing up and went to the bathroom. ''There you are Poppy, you don't have to hide because of me and Gust.'' Holly said coming over to her friend.

''Well, I wanted to give you two some privacy.'' Poppy smiled.

''That's sweet but we want you with us Poppy.'' Holly said hugging her.

Poppy nodded and went into the kitchen. She wanted to tell them about Branch and what happened and the flirting but she would be breaking the rules doing that. She wished she could tell someone.

While Poppy was in her thoughts, she didn't notice her two roommates watching her from the other room.

''You think Poppy is ok?'' Whispered Val.

''I think so, but I can't put my finger on it, something is bothering her.'' Holly whispered back.

Poppy made herself a snack and turned to see her besties looking at her. ''What?''

''Say, darling is everything ok?'' Asked Holly approaching her.

''Yeah, why don't you ask?'' Poppy asked back raising an eyebrow.

''You seem to be in deep thought is all, not like you at all, you're hyper and non-stop talking.'' Val said.

''Busy day at work more so then usual is all.'' She said.

''Hmm want to talk about it.'' Poppy said.

''Come on please we won't say anything and it not like your spilling your patient secrets.'' Val said eating.

''Well, one of my clients tried to kiss me and then another one came in and saved me and yeah, that is all.'' Poppy said looking down.

Holly and Val were silent and hugged her. Poppy-- we are so sorry, are you ok?'' Asked Val quietly.

''Yeah, like I said an inmate who was next to come in and threw him off of me.'' She said.

''How brave-- wait was that Sunset who did that to you?'' Asked Holly.

''Well, your hero he sure has guts to do that it's like taking on a tiger.'' Val said looking at her.

''I know and trust me, it will help him get out faster.'' Poppy said.

''So who was it?'' Asked Holly.

''Nobody important.'' Poppy said quickly not wanting to get into it.

The girls were gonna pressure her, but Gust came out. ''So, when are we leaving?''

''Well, I'm taking off now.'' Val said.

''Great! Let's go.'' Gust said taking Holly's hand.

They left in Gust's truck, Holly up front, Poppy and Val in the back as they took off to the Bar Dive.

''Here we are.'' Gust said getting out and letting Val out of the back, Holly did the same for Poppy on the other side and they all went in and sat down as Val went to the back.

The three sat down as another band group came up to play and everyone was cheering and having a blast. ''I'll get us some drinks.'' Gust said getting up and leaving the girls alone.

After an hour of listening to the bands playing Val's was coming up next and Poppy had to go to the bathroom. ''I'll be back going to the bathroom.''

She left the country troll couple and went to the bathroom, she washed her face and sighed. Her mind kept think about Branch and if he liked concerts, she shook her head and talked to herself. 'Keep it clean.'

She walked out and then she bumped into someone. ''I'm so sorry-- wait Creek!''

''Well, Poppy!'' He smiled.

They hugged each other for a couple seconds and pulled away. ''Look at you Poppy still the same.'' He smiled and looking her over.

''And you, you haven't changed a bit.'' She complimented.

''Why, thank you, so shall we sit?'' He asked.

''Sure.'' She followed him a couple tables behind Gust and Holly.

''So, what are you doing here? Doesn't seem like your type of place?'' Poppy asked surprised to see him here of all places.

''Well, I'm working on a case and I decided to come here where not too many of my clients hangout so I can go over to the notes and stuff.'' He said drinking scotch.

''Makes sense.'' Poppy said drinking her club soda.

''And what are you doing here?'' He asked.

''Oh, I'm here with my roommate Holly, we are supporting our roomie Val and her band.'' Poppy said looking over at the stage to see a band clearing their stuff off the stage.

''Ahh still with those two huh? Well at least your in good company.'' He said.

''Eh, I guess they are my besties.'' She said.

''So how is work going?'' He asked her.

''It's fine you know working with inmates, it's not that bad a lot of them are very fond of me and it keeps me busy.'' Poppy said excited to talk about her job.

Creek watches her and smiles. ''I can't blame them, you are a sweet girl. So how are you holding up?'' He asked.

''What do you mean?'' Asked Poppy drinking.

''Well, I heard one of the inmates tried to make moves on you.'' He said looking at her worried.

Poppy was quiet and wondered how he knew. He knew what she was thinking. ''Word gets around Poppy, in fact I put most of them in there and I do tend to check up from time to time.'' He said.

Poppy turned red. ''Yeah, well it was taken care of.''

''I know, I heard an inmate helped good for him I almost want to send him a fruit basket.'' Creek said.

''Yeah, don't. They hate those.'' She said looking away.

Val was playing with her band, Poppy enjoyed herself, her and Creek talked about what they had been doing and finally it was the end of the night.

''Say, mind if I gave you a ride back?'' He asked.

''Oh no thanks, I have a busy day tomorrow and I told the girls I would ride with them.'' Poppy said she noticed his behavior all the signs of a guy wanting a good night kiss and she wasn't dealing with that.

''Ok, I get it. Well it was nice catching up with you Poppy.'' He said hugging her as she hugged back.

''Same with you Creek, I hope your case goes well.'' She said about to go.

''Want to go out for dinner or drinks on Saturday?'' Creek asked holding her hands.

Poppy saw the look in his eye and knew where this was going. ''Look Creek--It's not a good idea and I'm really not open to dating.'' She said.

''I understand but I would like to spend time with an old friend please. What's wrong with us catching up?'' He asked.

''Because if we go out we are going to talk about us and what we did back in college then your gonna take me for a walk, while we are talking you will confess you till have feelings for me and I'm gonna say no and that it is in the past and I don't want to reopen something.'' Poppy said.

Creek stood up and sighed, there was no getting past Poppy. ''Alright then, here is my number in case you change your mind.'' He gave it to her and kisses her cheek and left.

Poppy rolled her eyes but placed it in her bag to throw away later and went back to her friends who were heading out and they saw the encounter but stayed quiet on the way home.

Enjoy!