The world moves without me (Branch Angst)

New years eve

Branch's pov:

I stretched out my back muscles being greeted with a quick pain relief, I was so tense from all the running and sprinting and well... stress. I flickered my eyes and yawned.

"So sugar cube, why are you out alone? You're normally with Poppy" delta questioned

"Am I not aloud to be on my own?" I said defensively.

"Woah, woah calm down. I'm just wondering." Delta shrugged.

I don't know why I was so rude, I was utterly miserable. My attention kept shifting off delta as the loud ticking of the clock drove me crazy. Tick... tick.. tick. I wanted to punch a hole in that stupid clock! I couldn't help but just be angry at everything...

"Don't you want to hang out with your family on New Year's Eve?" Delta questioned again.

"It's new years? I didn't even realise... I lost track of time I guess." I shrugged.

My attention was still focused on that clock, it was so distracting. I couldn't keep my mind straight. Delta picked up a phone and held it to my face.

"I can ring Poppy if you'd like?" Delta offered

"DONT! Don't.. it's uh complicated." I yelled out.

Delta shrugged and got off the bed, she walked towards the kitchen in the room and started washing her hands, humming some country tune. I crawled out the bed and noticed I was wearing different clothes, my cheeks lit up a dark red colour.

"Whose clothes are these?" I blushed

"Hickory's, he spared you some because yours were drenched in blood and dirt." Delta giggled.

"Who changed me...?" I covered my face embarrassed.

"No clue, one of the guys if that makes you feel better?" Delta comforted me.

Me and deltas peace was disturbed as loud bangs came from outside. I stumbled back in fear as I clung against the wall. My heart punching out of my chest and my lungs breathing heavy. Delta looked over to me and rolled her eyes. She looked at me like I was the stupid one?!

"You seem startled, it's just party poppers. For new years?" Delta laughed

"What's that?" I asked, it was a stupid question. I just couldn't think with all the loud noises.

"It's like mini fire works, come on I'll show you!" Delta grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.

We rushed outside, the boiling heat irritating my skin slightly. There was a bunch of country trolls partying and dancing, lighting sparklers and singing songs. I had never experienced a party outside of the 'pop troll' area. It was honestly beautiful, today was a day to enjoy but I couldn't help but regret leaving my brothers... why did I mess up everything!? I saw hickory, the yodeller troll in the distance partying with the country trolls. Delta called over hickory and he rushed over.

"Branch! I was worried you wouldn't wake up" hickory giggled

"Thanks for the clothes man, I appreciate it." I thanked hickory

"Yeah yeah it's all good... hey are you gonna stay for new years?" Hickory offered

"N- yeah actually I will!" I clapped.

It would be nice to spend time with different people, the ones who won't be 'watching me' 24/7 I can look after myself. I'm an adult! I hated how everyone thought they had the need to babysit me all the time. I could take care of myself, I mean I'm still alive right?

"Cool, we're gonna do fireworks soon!" Delta smiled.

Delta walked off greeting more people in the town, I was left with hickory. It was still a little weird knowing hickory isn't a country troll, I was so used to seeing him walk on 4 four legs. I was just standing awkwardly next to hickory until an idea popped into my head.

"Did you change me..?" I mumbled

"Yeah I did, no shame though." Hickory chuckled

I just pushed the topic away, I didn't want to think about that anymore. I just sat down on a box watching the country trolls play their music and dance together. Everyone sorta just came together.. like a family. I was starting to miss my family a lot now. I missed Poppy the most, she was so lovely to me... I'm a terrible boyfriend.

"You okay man? You look lost in thought?" Hickory sat next to me

"Just thinking, I'm having a lot of  'thoughts' today." I pushed the topic away.

Hickory didn't get the memo and continued to sit next to me. We sat there in silence for a while, the music was so loud that even if I tried to talk I couldn't hear myself.

2 hours later

I had spent enough time with the country trolls to feel a little less tense. I was actually enjoying myself in the party, me and hickory actually became really good friends, talking about everything and anything. I saw some trolls loading up the fire works, I've never seen so many fireworks, not even the pop trolls could beat this. Delta screamed in the background 'fire them!' And then the fire works shot up into the sky. The colourful colours lit the sky, the burning fire ashes falling onto the floor.

I leaned back into a wall relaxing my feet. Something felt off, I could just feel it. I looked over to delta walking away with another troll, she was holding a poster... the poster gave me bad vibes. She was acting so suspicious, I leaned forward to peek where she was going but Before I knew it I was pulled away from the crowd behind a building with delta and hickory. Hickory lifted my hands above my head, holding me off the floor. He had a tight grip around my wrists.

Delta shoved the poster in my face, my vision blurred but soon went clear as I slowly read the poster. 'If you have seen this troll please contact queen poppy! Reward  : $$$' and it was a picture of me.... Poppy had made missing posters of me and basically stuck them around everywhere! I didn't understand how I didn't notice sooner, every wall I looked at had a poster on it.

"So you're a runaway?" Delta chuckled.

"You're selling me out?!" I screamed.

"It's a big cash prize branch, I can't deny that much money." Hickory snickered

"You're sick! You both are sick!" I kicked my feet violently.

"We're helping you, you can thank us later." Delta giggled.

Hickory pushed me onto the ground and held my hands behind my back. He was acting like a fucking police officer! I thought we were friends but I was wrong. You really can't trust anyone.

"hickory stay here with branch, I'll go call the queen~!" Delta snickered

Delta then skipped away and the count down started for new years. 3... 2... 1...! Happy new years! I can't believe I went into a new year with my face shoved in the dirt. Hickory held me down tight, I was freaking out. I struggled underneath him trying to get away. The massive fire works shot into the abyss, big red and blue colours lit up the dark sky. One of the ashes landed into hickory's hair lighting his hair a flame, it was hilarious. Hickory rolled off me patting his hair off. This was my chance! I picked myself and sprinted off. Nobody could tie me back, I always somehow got away. I ran for my life, the huge sparks still lighting up the sky behind me, it was like a movie scene.

"Branch come back! Please!" Hickory yelled

I didn't listen to him, he was stupid. This was my last time trusting him, last time trusting anyone. Everyone seemed to turn on me sooner or later. I was like a walking... no. A running bad luck charm.

I ran for the trees, using my hair to fling me up into the leaves. I watched as hickory struggled to find me. I shook in the bright green and yellow leaves as hickory fell to his knees. Watching this from above just made me want to laugh!

"FUCK! Branch get you ass back here now! Deltas going to kill me." Hickory whined.