You and I

Branch didn't really know how he had ended up in a post-party with his friends at Poppy's pod. He wasn't exactly bored to death, but when everyone got tired of dancing and screaming in excitement and the noise quieted down to contained laughs and giggles, Guy Diamond had the brilliant idea of starting a Truth or Dare game. It was beyond past bed time, he was tired, but he decided to stay once the same Guy dared Smidge to open some bottles of alcoholic drink.

Were they old enough? Yes! Was it safe? Hair, no! When he saw everyone getting a little too enthusiastic about it, he decided to stay, to be the boring and sober one and keep everyone safe from themselves. Besides, Poppy would most certainly need help cleaning everything up afterwards.

Smidge seemed strong enough to keep the drinking contest (when it turned to be contest he didn't noticed), Guy was slightly too happy for his own good, Biggie had somehow lost Mr. Dinkles in a pile of formal coats that laid by the entrance of Poppy's pod. Dj Suki had already passed out in a corner, Satin and Chenille's giggles were very irritating to him. His eyes turned to Poppy, who was the only one laying down on the bed, with her hands on her chin, laughing lazily, satisfied with the gift life had given her: that beautiful group of supportive friends who were along her in her Queen duties... and time off.

The bottle turned towards her, it was Guy's turn to ask her:

"Poppy, I dare you to sing..."

Branch let out a snort, interrupting him "Seriously? You going to dare Poppy to sing? The alcohol melted you brain out already, that's not even a dare!"

"... a sexy so-o-o-ng." Guy finished, with a satisfied smirk. Silence followed. Poppy seemed to be frozen in place.

"Oh, please, she's so bubbly, I bet her repertoire are limited to rainbow, optimistic and scrapbooking songs." Branch laughed it off, almost suggesting a new dare or maybe suggesting it was time to end the game and go grab some well-deserved sleep.

Every eyes on the room turned to Poppy who were in the exact same position. The blinked a few times.

"So, do you quit, Poppy?" Smidge asked with a grin.

"Never" Poppy grinned back, slowing standing up in bed. She picked her half full glass and shot it down quickly, as if it she could drink up the guts to do what she had in mind. She turned to Branch, "I do have a vast repertoire, Mister-know-it-all."

"You go, girl!" Guy Diamond cheered.

"This ought to be good." Satin giggled.

"You will play Nebraska." Poppy commanded, taking Branch by the hair and sitting him down on a chair in the middle of the room. He didn't understand what she had just said, but he obeyed with a huge and doubtful grin. Although, when somehow DJ Suki woke up and started the song he felt his smirk becoming a frown. Where had he heard that one before?

"It's been a long time since I came around," Poppy started in a playful tone. "Been a long time but I'm back in town, This time I'm not leaving without you." And then her attitude changed. The playful attitude was changed into something else. Something Branch had never witnessed in her, or in any other troll.

She looked directly to him; he gulped.

"You taste like whiskey when you kiss me, oh

I'd give anything again to be your baby doll

This time I'm not leaving without you"

Oh boy, what had he gotten himself into. He was feeling awkward, but it looked like he was the only one. Even Biggie had this silly snappy fingers going on with the rhythm. Why was he the only one sitting on the chair, anyway?

"He said, sit back down where you belong

In the corner of my bar with your high heels on"

There she went, she took the daring step towards him, swinging her hips in a way he didn't even thought possible.

"Sit back down on the couch where we made love the first time

And you said to me" Okay, that certainly had his imagination going on.

"Somethin', somethin' about this place

Somethin', 'bout lonely nights and my lipstick on your face" She cupped his face in her hands while saying those words, and her pink eyes didn't even blink as she stared at him.

"Somethin', somethin' about my cool Nebraska guy

Yeah something about, baby, you and I" Oh, he realized now that Nebraska was the name of the guy!

And she turned around to face her public, who were all stiff with her acting. Curiosity hit them when they realized where this was going. Branch realized that a thin line of sweat stated forming along his hair line on his forehead. Did they know this song?

"It's been two years since I let you go

I couldn't listen to a joke or rock 'n' roll

Muscle cars drove a truck right through my heart

On my birthday you sang me "A Heart Of Gold"

With a guitar hummin' and no clothes"

They were all staring at him. Why was he the only one sober, again? Drink could certainly make things less awkward. She put her hands on his knees and he gripped the chair as tightly as he could.

"This time I'm not leaving without you

Ooh-oh ooh-oh"

She sat down on her ankles, eyes never leaving his, then in some move he didn't quite follow she had stretched her legs up, but kept her head in level with his. That certainly was an... interesting view she was giving the gang.

"Sit back down where you belong

In the corner of my bar with your high heels on"

She put her shoulders back, standing up straight again. He felt like he could pick up some air he didn't know he was holding. She started to walk behind him, running her hands through his arms and pressing her fingers on his shoulders. He could feel as she put her lips close to his ears for the next part.

"Sit back down on the couch where we made love the first time

And you said to me"

And her hot breath was gone the moment he closed his eyes to feel them better. She was laying on the bed, next to him. She circled her legs in the air and she took the impulse to knee up and continued:

"Somethin', somethin' about this place

Somethin', 'bout lonely nights and my lipstick on your face

Somethin', somethin' about my cool Nebraska guy

Yeah something about, baby, you and I

You and I, you, you and I

You, you and I, you, you and I"

His heart was melting inside his chest. Since when she had become such a seducer? That didn't even make sense to him. That wasn't like her at all.

"You and I, you, you and I

Oh, yeah, I'd rather die

Without you and I

C'mon!

Put your drinks up!"

She jumped from the bed, took the bottle and filled her glass again. Laughing a little off-tune when everybody raised their own empty glasses so she could pour them some more. She didn't drink hers, though. She continued with Branch's torture.

"We got a whole lot of money but we still pay rent

'Cause you can't buy a house in heaven

There's only three men that I'mma serve my whole life

It's my daddy and Nebraska and Jesus Christ"

And she sat down on his lap. He thought his heart was going to stop any second now.

"Somethin', somethin' about the chase (six whole years)

I'm a New York woman born to run you down

Still want my lipstick all over your face"

And he could swear she moved her hips against his a little too beyond necessary for the act, just before she stood up and took a few steps back, looking at the mesmerized gang before looking back to him.

"Somethin', somethin' about just knowing when it's right

So put your drinks up for Nebraska, - and they all did-

For Nebraska, Nebraska, I love ya"

Oh Hair, he loved her, too.

"You and I, you, you and I

Baby I rather die

Without you and I

You and I, you, you and I

Nebraska, I'd rather die,

Without you and I"

Since when his leaf-shirt was wet? He was dripping sweat all over the chair. Nervously he could see everyone else could sense his tension. That was embarrassing. She finished her drink.

"It's been a long time since I came around

Been a long time but I'm back in town

And this time I'm not leaving without you"

They applauded her like there was no tomorrow - after a long awkward silence. He was so tense his muscles refused to move. He heard Poppy laughing.

"By the look on your faces, I win!" Oh right, it had been a dare. Branch realized he could move again. His chest ached somehow. "Let's spin this bottle!"

"Actually, Poppy, I think it's time we all go to our own homes." He managed to say. His voice almost gave away how affected he was. "It's almost morning."

"As much as I would like to continue, Mr. Dinkles is already heavy asleep. Branch is right." Biggie said, picking his pet up.

"Besides, I'm starting to feel a little dizzy myself." Smidge said, using the sofa to stand up.

"You guys are no fun." Poppy said, but Branch could read that she, too, was exhausted. She walked to her door and helped Smidge out. Guy promised he would help her get home safely. Biggie and the twins carried a passed out DJ to her own pod.

Smiling, Poppy started picking up the empty bottles and glasses from the ground. Branch was about to leave, himself when he realized she was going to clean everything up before getting some rest.

Well, that certainly made him proud. He liked organization and cleaning. He wouldn't be able to sleep in a dirty pod, maybe she was a little like him. Finally, he was relaxing near her again. He decided to help her. He put washed the glasses on the sink and he heard she vaccuming the rest of the pod.

The silence was heavy on his part. She was humming some bubbly song that sounded much more like her. He felt like picking a subject to cut the tension, but before he could think of anything, he heard the shower running and the bathroom door closing.

Okay, so she didn't want to go to bed dirty. That was some hygiene routine she had. Did she even knowledge he was still in there?

He felt like waiting for her to come out before leaving. It was rude to just walk away like that, wasn't it? He sat down on the couch. Sit back down on the couch where we made love the first time. And he stood up quickly. Okay, it was just a song, he had never touched her in any way other hugs and holding hands. That couch certainly had just been there to SIT on.

He heard he water had stopped running, the door opened and Poppy was standing there, wrapped in a towel, looking at him in surprise. He quickly turned around to give her some privacy.

"I didn't know you were still here. Do you need something?" She asked him kindly.

"No, I just... just thought I should say goodnight." He blurted out.

"Oh, goodnight, then." He heard her saying. He didn't dare to turn around. He heard as she laid down and covered herself up with her pink and green blankets.

"Well..." He started, turning slightly, he saw the towel on the floor, and turned towards the door, marching up quickly. "See you."

"I nailed it, didn't I." She asked, burring her face in her pillow.

"You were good... too good, actually." He said.

"Night, Branch." She smiled beautifully at him. He felt his heart melt and his frown turned in a soft smile.

He was going to have some trouble sleeping that night... and he was glad for it.