High School AU/Fanasty AU

Blue Branch is just sitting on her couch texting on her phone. It keeps on dinging as she tries to reply to everyone currently messaging her. Poppy was sitting on the floor at the coffee table trying to finish the other him's homework. He was on the last question while Branch already finished hers. She even helped him with a few of the questions.

" Agh! Why can't that idiot just take the hint and leave me alone?!", Branch complains lowly to herself.

Poppy had just made a full stop when he heard the change in Branch's voice. She didn't sound simply annoyed but, it more like she was frustrated. He had heard his Branch have similar complaints but, this was different. He knew that her ex was now still bothering her and was acting like what happened between wasn't a big deal. The male troll looks up at Branch as blocked her ex's new number for the second time.

" Your ex?", Poppy asks.

" Unfortunately Yes... ", Branch replies unhappily and annoyed.

Branch couldn't understand why her idiot ex - boyfriend wanted to get back together with her so bad all of a sudden. He had made it clear to her on the night she caught him cheating that he didn't care about her and that he could get what he "needed" from any other girl. All he wanted was just to take her V card and could never convince her into agreeing to do it. They had a big fight about it before Branch caught him in the act.

" Didn't you already blocked him like three times?", Poppy asks.

" Josh had started using his friends and got a new number... ", Branch replies annoyed.

She rolls her eyes at the thought of how her ex refused to believe that their relationship sparks had died out. It's not like they were actually in love for crying out loud! If anything it was a case of having a crush. Crushes aren't deep and they certainly don't last either. Branch rather not take part in this battle with Josh since it wouldn't achieve anything but, highlighting why things would or will never workout between them.

The blue teen slumps back into the couch a little more as her hand held onto her phone tightly. Her gripe didn't loosen as more new notifications caused it to buzzed. She wasn't going to check her device. It didn't matter if it wasn't her ex. Branch didn't feel like talking to any of her friends on her phone. Her thumb decreased her phone's sound to the mute notifying buzzing sound by simply pressing one of the side buttons until the sound was gone.

" Why did you date him if you hated him so much?", Poppy asks calmly.

" I didn't hate Josh in the beginning... He was just like every cheater in movies. Their all nice and sweet giving you attention until you stop giving them everything they want from you then become their real asshole selves! The only reason he 'cares' now is cause nobody wants to be his girlfriend anymore... He went after my girl friends...", Branch explains unhappily.

Poppy,being a boy, did not know the girl code. Usually exes are completely off limits and plus nobody likes a cheater. He just guessed that her girl friends didn't like the guy for cheating on Branch which is true. There was talk about revenge but, Branch convinced them to not take revenge knowing full well that they would only get into trouble. Then Branch remembered in that moment Poppy didn't actually know the full story about her relationship with Josh. That's why he was asking questions.

" Let's just move on to another topic before I start boring you with the story and my complaints. ", Branch suggests calmly.

The grey troll could tell that she still wasn't okay but, this time around he wasn't sure what to say to cheer her up. He wanted to help her feel better cause it was in his nature to do so but, he didn't always know the right thing to say. His mind was basically blank.

" Hm... No,It's fine... I really don't mind.", Poppy assures kindly.

Branch paused for a moment before she started to tell him the story. She would had been more comfortable if she was ranting with her Poppy but, at least she still was talking to a Poppy. Every now and then he would try to say something but, ended not saying anything as she would continue explain and ranted. Before he could ask an question she answered with what she said next.

The Cheerleader apparently she had been keeping most of in because, she didn't want to be the annoying friend. Only her Poppy knew how she felt before but, she didn't have to open her mouth. He just knew and saw most of what happened between Branch and Josh. The relationship only lasted a month but, the arguments and the pressuring from Josh was real. Branch wasn't an innocent angel either but, Josh was worse. He didn't listen, just expected her to skip cheerleading practice after telling her that his Rugby praticise was more important and try to use their relationship against her if he didn't get what he happened. He was a "stupid jock who just wanted to do " her.

" And now he's just acting like none of it matters! It does flipping matter to me! ",Branch says ending her rant.

She felt lighter now from finally letting it all out for once. The mirror in Poppy's pocket was starting to subtly glow but, nobody noticed it due to it being covered. Poppy looks at Branch as he sat on the couch near her. He noticed the much calmer and relaxed shift in the blue girl. It seemed that she felt now after talking but, he didn't feel like he was much help.

"Thanks for letting me burn out your ears. ", Branch jokes.

" Wish that I could had been better help...", Poppy admits lowly and honestly

" Well from my experience, sometimes it is better to listen than knowing all the answers.", Branch replies softly.

" HELLO?! Can anyone hear me? I was gone for a while. What happened?", The Trairy's voice says loudly from the mirror confused.

Both trolls were taken off guard by the sudden voice. The grey troll quickly grabs and takes the mirror out of his pocket almost dropping. The Trairy could be seen on the mirror. The confusion was clear on her face.

" Wait! You weren't watching?", Poppy says in disbelief.

" Well... no... I got bored and went on a holiday trip with my friends. It's not like anything bad happened. Right? ", the Trairy shamefully and awkwardly admits.

" So you left two trolls in a world they know nothing about and went on holiday?", Branch says clamly while feeling upset.

" I'm Sorry! I didn't think I would be gone for so long. Did he tell you everything? ", the Trairy apologises guiltful then asks surprised.

" Yes but,only cause she had figured it out that I wasn't her Poppy and was ready to kill me... Can you just switch us back now since your here?", Poppy admits.

The Trairy paused for a moment as she bite her lower lip. She actually couldn't just send the Poppies home. It was completely up to the mirror. That's why she originally thought that it would be okay to leave for a while but, now regretted leaving. The blue troll seemed scary to her right now. The magical being nervously chuckles.

" Well it's not actually up to me... it's the mirror... Is it glowing now by any chance?", the Trairy nervously admits.

The mirror was obviously glimmering and glowing but, it wasn't bright enough to make you look away. Then before the two trolls could even answer the mirror lit up the whole room suddenly! Nobody could keep their eyes open as the Trairy sounded relieved that the mirror was working! In both worlds there were panick and blinding glow!

Then it all stopped but, the Branches were completely alone. The girls looked around confused and worried then at the mirror resting where the Poppies were sitting. It didn't make sense. If they magically teleported then why aren't their Poppies back yet?

" Poppy?", the Branches call out still confused.

Grey Branch slowly picks up the mirror then started looking at it from different angles. The other her did something similar. That's when they noticed something was off about the mirrors. They could hear screaming but, saw nothing,except an opening. The grey Branch threw the mirror scared when the mirror somehow got very hot! The pink troll gets injected out and falls on the floor face planting hard just before the magic mirror vanished!

" Ow... ", her Poppy says lowly and in pain from the landing.

" OH MY GOD?! ARE YOU OKAY?", Branch says very worried as she ran to his side.

Meanwhile in the other world, the grey Poppy just hugs his Branch so happy to see her again. He couldn't believe it that he was back home and with her again. The blue girl was surprised by the hug at first but, happily hugged back glad that he was okay. The grey boy's eyes were closed as he hugged her longer than usual. Grey Branch had gotten to him during their last conversation and had made him realize something important that he forgotten a long time ago...

" I missed you...", Poppy admits softly.

" I missed you too...", Branch replies caringly.

The next day everything was back to normal but, there was a new subtle difference. The grey boy was actually smiling and seemed happier as Branch came to check on him at his locker. She playfully and lightly punched his shoulder making sure that it was him while holding up her books with her other arm. She also had a couple extra books for him so he could catchup on the work he missed.

" What was the point of that?", Poppy questions confused.

" Just making sure that your not imaginary and by the way, I have the stuff you need to catch up on.", Branch replies honestly and kindly.

" I'll probably still be screwed in math even with your help. ", Poppy jokingly remarks.

Branch softly laughs at his remark. He didn't always make jokes but,she liked them most of the time. Everyone else in the hall would mostly just walk pass them but, some of Branch's friends would look at them noticing how they were happier before walking away minding their own business.

" So should I just meet you in the library after practise or at your house?", Branch asks friendly.

" Honestly I rather be home than walk outside and disappear again so my house. ", Poppy replies taking recent events in consideration.

Branch nods her head understandingly with a small smile still on her face. She gives her friend a innocent kiss on his cheek causing Poppy's face turn into subtly darker shade of pink. Kissing someone on the cheek wasn't necessarily a romantic gesture but, Branch only did it with the trolls she loved the most, including friends. She also didn't give her other guy friends that type of affection knowing that they would take it the wrong way and Poppy knew this but, he couldn't deny the butterflies he felt in his stomach after he started falling for her.

" What do you think your doing with my girlfriend,Pipsqueek?",a threatening voice says suddenly.

Branch felt her good mood completely leave her then cusses lowly under her breath immediately knowing who had interrupted their the conversation. The grey teen turns around to see Josh glaring at him like he had did something wrong. Poppy hated how Josh treated his relationship with Branch. He still remembered the night he got a call from Branch asking him to pick her up and found her wiping her tears when he arrived.

" Don't call me "Pipsqueek"...", Poppy complains lowly.

" Josh, it's been five months now since we brokeup. Just leave me alone. Come on,Poppy. Let's go. ", Branch says blankly and firmly.

Poppy really wanted to say something but, due to old habits he decided to not say it and went along with Branch. Then just as Branch turned her back Josh said the most hurtful thing he could think of that he knew would strike her emotionally without fail. It caused Poppy's blood to boil as he heard the words and saw Branch's ears dropped and bend a little, like they used to. That's it! He's throwing hands!

" What are you gonna do about it, Pipsqueek?", Josh mocks as the grey troll's hands turned into fists.

" Just leave her alone!", Poppy says angrily as he throws his first punch.

He hits Josh directly in the face as Branch dropped her books while watching stunned. Josh touched his cheek as he slowly and angrily turned his head back to the shorter boy. Poppy could both feel his hand paining and instant regret. Josh deserved the punch but, he could easily send him into the nurse's office. The grey troll slowly backs up holding his fragile hand as he nervously laughs. He knew that he was gonna die if he stayed there too long.

" Wait! Josh! Don't - ", Branch says worried knowing what was gonna go down.

An unfortunate ten minutes later... Poppy sat in the nurse's office hiding his bruised face with his hoodie. He pressed the ice pack against his face trying to cover it more. Branch frowns feeling a little guilty for not getting them both away from her ex in time. Nobody would had made an mistake or got hurt if she did.

" Never again... I'm an idiot... ",Poppy says regreting his choices.

" Poppy, look at me. It was stupid but, I don't think of you as less for it. I'll deal with Josh and you know that punch wasn't as bad as you thought it was. ", Branch replies honestly and caringly.

The pink troll removes the ice pack from his face. He looks at her surprised. Branch was gently holding his other hand not wanting make his currently hurting one worse. She was impressed by her best friend's action and thought that was sweet that he tried to stand up for her, just like she had thought before with the other Poppy, but she still didn't want him to get hurt or get into more trouble.

" Really?", Poppy asks surprised.

" Yes but, you almost died though for it... I don't want you to get hurt or in trouble cause of me even know Josh definitely deserve it. ",Branch says caringly and softly.

He simply smiled in that moment. He didn't completely regret the punch but, hearing how Branch cared for him so much always made him feel special in a way. She never stopped caring or loving him for who he was and he wished so much that he could do more for her. He would had been a better boyfriend to her than Josh ever was. All he needed was a chance and to force the words out of his mouth. Babysteps for now.

" I would do anything for you...", Poppy admits caringly.

Meanwhile in the other world,the pink Poppy was so happy to be home. He was still the same old Poppy but, just like the other him something was different and it wasn't an automatic change. He smiles as he spots his Branch. She actually smiles when she noticed him from across the hall. That smile was enough to make his heart feel warm and fuzzy. He slides over to Branch as she takes out some of her books from her bag.

" So did you miss me?", Poppy asks jokingly.

" Maybe I did...", Branch replies calmly.

The pink boy was just about to say something when he noticed the mark on her cheek she was trying to hide. It was near her ear and seemed like it was new. The sudden bruises or marks never sat well with Poppy. It's not like Branch is contastly getting into accidents.

" Hm... Branch? Who gave you that mark?", Poppy asks softly and concerned.

"It's nothing...", Branch lies.

The grey girl tries to cover it up with her bangs but, it was too late. He had saw it and he knew that something was wrong. Branch has been acting off every time he brings her bruises up. Why did she not want to tell him? Did she think that he will laugh at her? Even if what happened was funny he would at least try to hold it in with every cell in his body.

" Why won't you tell me?", Poppy asks concerned.

" It's nothing personal. I just don't want to talk about it.", Branch states blankly.

It was clearly written on her face that she didn't want him ask any further questions on the matter but, Poppy knew that if he did so again she might probably never tell him. The pink troll gives her an knowning look and it definitely didn't go unnoticed.

" Don't give me that look. It's my problem. Not yours. ", Branch replies.

" I knew it! It wasn't nothing. What's going on and don't you dare say that it's nothing again. ", Poppy says seeing through her as if she was glass.

The grey girl let's out an tired sigh. She knew that this could easily go on all day if she didn't tell him. He can be very stubborn and that certainly hadn't changed but, she didn't think he would actually see through her that fast. He usually wasn't that observant. Once it took him an hour to notice that she got her ears pierced. Sure her earrings weren't flashy or big but, it was an obvious change. She is actually wearing them today.

" Only if you will stop asking and actually listen to my side before you start saying that I should befriend people. That doesn't apply to everyone! ", Branch says giving in and seriously.

The pink boy nods his head to her agreeing her terms. He wasn't the best listener but, he would at least try. Then the bell rings loudly causing all of the other students to either stop talking or to shut their lockers and go to their first subject. Branch was no different. She shuts her locker with her books being held up with her other arm.

" Meet me at table C10 at the back during lunch. ", Branch says.

Then she walked away leaving the pink troll by himself for a brief moment... Poppy does the same while wondering who could be causing problems for her. Lunch will definitely be interesting at least.

AN: Not my best ending but, other ending ideas require extra build up or felt too rushed now that I think about it. I hope you at least enjoyed this messy concept and work that my brain came up with randomly.