Poppy's POV

What have I done? Of course I love him! I didn't know that he loves me more than a friend like how I feel to him... It's just, I thought he doesn't. I thought he just like me as a friend. I just realized that, I was wrong too. I shouldn't be unfair at Branch. Stupid me, doesn't even realize how Branch was there for me all along... And now I have realized that it's the reason why I fell in love for him. But right now, Branch is angry for what I have done for him...for calling him a freak and a paranoid. I didn't even know that he's being like that for me. It's all my fault, and I need to fix the broken pieces of his heart, for the sake of our relationship.

Today is a very calm day, and everyone is singing random songs, while I kept on looking at Branch who is sad, lonely and alone. Guilt is prevailing my mind right now, and I wanted to make things right.

Everyone was entertaining themselves while Branch and I were the only ones who are just sitting down.

I heard Branch crying. I want to go and hug him so tight and I want to apologize. But I can't. What if he hates me right now? Should I give him time to think?

"Poppy, why are you crying?" Guy Diamond whispered.

"I wanna hug him... But I can't." I answered, shedding a lot of tears.

"There, there Poppy. It's okay..." GD said, petting my back.

"It's all my fault... It's all my fault..." I said.

"Don't say that, Poppy. It's not your fault." DJ Suki said.

"Y'know, Poppy, it's not your fault. It's his fault. He's just trying to be emotional so that you'll have pity on him. It's just crocodile tears!" Creek explained.

"No Creek! You are wrong too. You always put Branch at the wrong side! And it was my fault why he was crying right now..." I said.

~~🌸~~

It's night time again and Eagle went down into a woods for us to rest.

We all went down and put our beds near Eagle, except for Branch. He was kinda far away from us and what's worse, he is not sleeping. He's still crying. I wish I could hug him so tight. I wanna tell him that I love him too.

I went behind him, making sure that he won't notice me.

"How do I mend a broken heart?
My entire world has fallen apart.

How do I find hope in a brand new day,
when the one I love has gone away?

My mind overflows with memories of you,
of all that we've shared, all that we knew.

I long for your touch and your warm embrace,
the look in your eyes, the smile on your face.

Our moments together were precious and few,
but I cherished them all more than you knew.

I love you, my angel, and always will.
I loved you then and I love you still."

Then, I saw Branch slowly turned into gray. Oh no... Branch...

I began to sing to him...

♪ How can I convince you
What you see is real
Who am I to blame you
For doubting what you feel

I was always reachin'
You were just a man I knew
I took for granted
The friend I had in you

I was living for a dream
Loving for a moment
Taking on the world
That was just my style
Now I look into your eyes
I can see forever
The search is over
You were with me all the while... ♪

"What are you doing here?" Branch asked. "You need to sleep. Leave me alone here." He said, not looking at me.

Even if he was hurt because of me, he still cares for me by saying that I need to sleep...

"Branch, I'm sorry for not realizing that you love me....that you love me...more than a friend."

He doesn't answer but I still continued what I want to say to him.

Third Person's POV

"I'm so sorry for calling you a freak and a paranoid. It's just that I don't want you to fight. I'm sorry if I am being unfair to you. I just don't want to be obvious. Now I realized that, I can't live without you..." Poppy said.

Branch still didn't reacted nor he looked at Poppy.

"I don't want to see you being gray because you don't know how I feel if I see you being like that. I feel that my heart breaks a million times. And there's one thing I really wanna say to you..." Poppy paused and continued, "I love you, Branch. I always do."

Branch was shocked but still, he didn't look.

"Yes, you heard it right. I love you. And I just wanna say thank you for always being here for me..."

Poppy waited for Branch's respond. But it looks like he is still mad at her. So she decided to leave Branch first and let him think for his desicion. But when Branch heard her footsteps, he quickly went near her, pulled her arm and held her puffy cheeks gently.

"Please don't ever leave me..." Branch whispered and gazed at her beautiful eyes.

Poppy felt her heart beating fast, but she was unable to look away once their eyes had met.

Branch didn't wait for Poppy's answer. He tilted his face and quickly pulled her into a sweet and gentle kiss.

At first, Poppy widened her eyes and was shocked. But then she closed her eyes and layed her arms around his neck and deepens the kiss. Branch then wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tight. He slowly regains his colors back and was so happy. Right now, they are having the most wonderful kiss they had ever have under the beautiful night sky.

But they didn't know that someone is watching them behind the bushes.

The girls accidentally squealed so loud that interrupted their sweet kiss.

Branch and Poppy quickly break the kiss and moved away from each other, pretending that nothing happened.

"H....hey! Uh, what are you guys doing here?" Branch asked while grinning.

Poppy still looks shocked and had nothing to say. But Branch didn't know that she was secretly smiling and was very blushed.

"Ehem?" Guy Diamond said.

"What?" Poppy and Branch both shouted. But still they were smiling and looked very red.

"Stop pretending. We all saw you...." Cooper said.

Then everyone sang... "♪ K-I-S-S-I-N-G ♪" and then they all squealed in excitement.

"Uhh...umm... Please don't tell this to Dad! Uhh... I mean...Poppy's dad...I...uhh..." Branch stopped when he saw Poppy that looks like she is waiting for something.

Everyone smirked at Branch.

"Um...Poppy?" Branch called the one whom he love in his whole life.

"Yes?" She answered.

"Will....will you be my girlfriend?"

"AAHHH!! I'm gonna die....I'm gonna die!" Biggie just shouted and cried with joy.

"Well, you love me and...I love you too so, why not?" Poppy said. And then she quickly said, "My answer is yes!"

Branch's POV

I am so glad. I carried Poppy and we happily spun around. "I can't believe it! I can't believe she's now my girlfriend!"

I then put Poppy down and we both smiled at each other.

"Good thing Creek's asleep. But if he's not, none of this would've happen." Chenille whispered to Satin.

Poppy and I heard that, and this made me uneasy.

Poppy saw my reaction. "Branch, don't worry. I'm now yours, right?" She said and smiled. This made me blush and smile too.

"But Poppy, do you believe about what I've warned you before?" I asked.

"I'm still not sure. But I know that I can trust you. And I won't be that close to Creek from now on." Poppy answered.

I nodded and smiled.

"Oh, Branch... I can't believe that our first kiss was so amazing!" Poppy said and squeezed my cheeks.

She's right. It is amazing. Wait, that was not our first kiss. It was our second kiss! I just remembered when I accidentally kissed Poppy when she's sleeping and she didn't know about it! I don't know if I'll tell her about this...

"Yeah... It is amazing..." I answered.

"I love you, Branch..."

"I love you too, sweetheart." I answered and we cuddled each other.

I do not own the poem said by Branch. It's from https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/a-broken-heart :-)

Song: "The Search Is Over" by Survivor

EEEKKKK!!!!!!!!!! So guys, what is your reaction of this chapter? Comment now! <3