it was 9:30, and most of the party had died down. no one had left, but not as many people were dancing anymore. poppy had checked up on her friends a few times, but hadn't talked to that many people.
"dad," poppy said, walking up to him on the stage. "is it ok if i head home? i'm really tired. i didn't get very much sleep last night."
king peppy nodded. "of couse." he kissed her forehead. "goodnight sweetie."
poppy let out a yawn and gave him a quick hug before running off.
little did peppy know, she wasn't going back home. she wasn't even tired.
she was going into the woods to find whoever had sent her that letter.
once out of her dad's sight, poppy threw off her heels. her feet were on fire and had never hurt more.
sighing, he took off in the woods. everything was dark out and she could hardly even see a thing.
-poppy's pov-
cautiously, i made my way around the woods. no sign of anyone. the only noise that filled the air were crickets chirping and a few owls humming.
i didn't even know why i was out here. that note could've been from someone evil. i could be walking right into their trap.
then again, it could've been one of my friends. maybe surprising me with a mini party as queen! maybe dj has made an after party for just the snack pack and i?
i smiled at the thought of hanging out with my friends. my friends meant everything to me.
"poppy," a voice said.
i looked in front of me. to my right. to my left. behind me. no one was there.
"where are you?" i asked. "i cant see anything."
"look up," they said. i did as instructed, and there sat branch sitting in a tall tree.
"branch?" i asked. "how did you-"
"shh," he told me as he made his way down the tree. "why are you shouting?"
i covered my mouth. "i didn't realize i was."
branch smiled and grabbed my hand. "come with me," he instructed me.
i did as told, and we walked for about 3 minutes in a complete silence.
"where are you taking me?" i finally asked.
"you'll see. it's right around the cover."
before i could say anything else, branch let go of my hand and came up behind me, putting his hands over my eyes. "don't peek," he said.
"okay, but i might fall."
he laughed and let me forward a few steps before saying, "okay, open your eyes."
he removed his hands and i found myself standing in front of a picnic blanket, covered in strawberries and blueberries. the sky was beautiful. shooting stars were endless. a full moon showed and practically every star there was, you could see.
i smiled. "branch! what is this for?"
we sat down on the picnic blanket and he started eating the blueberries. "a way of saying thank you. for showing me happiness again."
i popped a strawberry in my mouth. "i always believed in you."
i kissed his cheek and we both watched the stars, not saying a single word to each other.
out of the corner of my eye, i noticed branch was staring at me. i didn't think much of it, until he grabbed my hand.
"poppy," he said. "can i ask you something?"
i nodded. "of course you can."
"what you said in that pot...were you just singing lyrics, or..."
he paused.
"or did you mean it?"
i looked at him, then at the sky. then back at him. i took a deep breath and nodded.
"i meant it."
he smiled, and before i could say anything else, he kissed me.