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Chapter Text

Branch sat on her bed, reading Romeo and Juliet. The girl had always been a big fan of love stories and longed to experience one someday, though she considered it complicated since the only men who were worthy to her were those she found between the pages of her many books. Finding love at her age seemed to Branch like a bad joke since she considered most guys her age to be brainless and uninterested in finding true love, thinking only with the head between their legs.

Branch felt something brush against her leg and as she looked away from her book she found her gray cat, Gary. The girl smiled gently as she petted her pet, who settled down on her stomach to sleep.

The jet-haired girl tried to refocus on her reading, but it was becoming the most complicated activity in the world. Branch let out a frustrated cry when she realized she was still stuck on the same line of the same paragraph she had been trying to read for several minutes. She was having difficulty focusing due to the disruptive loud music emanating from outside her window. Frustrated by the circumstances, Branch gently removed Gary from her lap and rose from her bed to approach the window. She opened it, took a deep breath, and screamed a name, hoping that the source of her distraction would hear her.

"Poppy!"

After a few minutes and noticing that she had not received a response, Branch called out the name she disliked once more.

"Damn it, Poppy. I'm talking to you!"

Finally, from the window of the neighboring house, a boy smiled happily. "Hey Branch, what's up?"

"It's eleven o'clock at night and I want to relax in my room, but it's impossible because SOMEONE has the music blaring out loud with no regard for the neighborhood's auditory well being."

"I'm sorry, but I don't see anyone else complaining about it, so I don't see a problem with the volume of my music." Poppy shrugged his shoulders.

Branch responded with a sigh and a hint of frustration in her voice. "Could you please turn the music down? I'm trying to read."

Poppy still couldn't help but keep smiling. The boy raised an eyebrow as he looked at her, challenging her. "I'd love to help you, but I don't want to ruin everyone else's fun. Although...I would be willing to consider lowering the volume of the music, but only under a specific condition."

Branch glared at him with disdain and rolled her eyes before responding. "What's the condition?"

Poppy's smile grew wider. "Let's have you join the party, even if it's just for a few minutes."

"No, that's not gonna happen."

"Then forget about reading your amazing book. Good night Branch." Poppy answered as he walked into his room and disappeared from the girl's sight.

Branch clenched her jaw, annoyed by her neighbor's attitude, and slammed her window shut when she realized Poppy had cranked up the music.

Who would even think of having a goddamn party on a weekday, knowing that school was in session the next day? Only that idiot Poppy Kendrick. 

The girl shook her head as she reached for her headphones. She had to go to sleep if she wanted to get a good night's rest for the next day. Resigned to having to postpone finishing her reading until another day, Branch made her way to bed and closed her eyes to fall asleep.

********************

Branch woke up feeling great and started getting dressed for the day. She skipped downstairs and found her big brother already in the dining room, happily eating breakfast.

"Good morning JD." She said as she placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Good morning, Bitty B. Your breakfast is ready. Please eat it so that you are not late for school."

Branch nodded enthusiastically as she took a seat across from JD and began to eat her breakfast. She had barely taken two bites of her cereal when the garden door opened and Floyd entered the house, holding an envelope in his hands.

"This came for you, baby Branch." He said, handing her the envelope as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

Branch frowned slightly, intrigued to know who had sent her the letter. As she began to read the contents of the letter, her eyes widened as a smile spread across her face. "I got an interview with Trollstopia University next week!"

Jhon Dory smiled with satisfaction. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the initiative to complete your application. I am incredibly proud and excited that my younger sister has been accepted into the prestigiois Trollstopia University. I'm so proud of you, Bitty B.!"

Branch smiled sheepishly as she glanced at her elder brother. "I have to pass the interview first, John Dory."

"I have complete faith in your abilities. I am certain that everything will turn out perfectly, and you will not disappoint us."

"She's never done that." Floyd said, defending his sister. 

Branch looked at him with gratitude in her eyes. Since it was just the three of them in the house, Jhon Dory was kinda controlling his younger sister's life to make her successful. Branch was the only one left to attend college and establish a successful life for herself, and John Dory had high hopes and aspirations for her future, which required Branch to excel and achieve perfection.

********************

In the house next door, a tall, slender young woman with wavy blond hair and magenta eyes cursed at the air as she tried to rescue her culinary creation from the pan in which it was cooking.

"Everything is on fire!" She pouted, on the verge of tears from the frustration she was feeling.

"Everything is fine, Viva. Whatever you cook, we will like it." Her dad said, looking at the young girl with affection.

"But—but breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it's ruined."

"Hey Viva, no matter what you cook, it'll be yummy to us." Poppy said, trying to cheer up her older sister.

"Poppy." Stated his father, capturing the boy's attention. "Soon, it will be the most important game of your life. The coach said that all the talent  scouts would be there."

"I know." Poppy responded with a hint of nervousness..

Viva interrupted the ongoing conversation between the two boys to serve them their breakfast. "Burned bacon and hotcakes with fried eggs. Enjoy."

Poppy looked at his plate and noticed that even the eggs were overcooked. Cautiously, he brought his fork to the plate so that he could scoop some food into his mouth. Upon tasting the breakfast, Poppy felt an involuntary urge to vomit. Despite its inedible nature, he managed to swallow the food, all the while maintaining a smile for his sister's sake.

"Delicious." Poppy said, trying his best not to make a face or throw up the little he had eaten.

"A fancy breakfast."  Their father said.

"I promise, next time it'll be better." Viva expressed with regret as she gazed upon them.

Peppy went back to the serious talk he was having with his son. "If everything works out, you could be the first guy in the family to go to college, just like your sister. But if things go awry, there will always be a job for you in the family business. It's time for me to look for a successor, and maybe you can become the king of the "Mattress Kingdom."" He said with a smile.

Poppy faked a smile and nodded while watching his father. He really didn't like that idea.

The conversation was interrupted by the sound of a horn, causing Poppy to rise from his seat with a sense of urgency. "Smidge is here. I gotta go, you know, I don't wanna keep him waiting."

Poppy said goodbye to his family with kisses on the cheeks and ran out the door. In the driver's seat of his convertible car, Smidge waited patiently, his attention focused on his cell phone.

"Hi" Poppy said to get his friend's attention. 

Smidge stopped looking at his phone and smiled at his pink-haired friend.

"How are you Smidge?"

"Alright, Pops, why don't you hurry up and get in so this baby can get going?"

Poppy climbed into the car as fast as he could. Already seated, he reached for the car stereo and turned it on, setting the volume to full blast.

Chapter Text

Both boys enjoyed the song playing as they sang along at the top of their lungs. Suddenly, Smidge lowered the volume of the music, catching Poppy's attention.

"Look who's there! Isn't that our favorite party pooper?" Smidge said that as he pointed to Branch, who was walking down the sidewalk.

"Yes, that's her."

"I see that she is standing very close to a large puddle."

"That's not a smart move from her."

The two boys turned to look at each other, mischievous smiles on their faces.

********************

As Branch exited her house, she quietly rehearsed her upcoming presentation to herself. The girl paused her discourse upon noticing the school bus passing before her.

As she shouted loudly for the bus to stop, Branch began to run after it. Unfortunately, no one could hear her. She took a deep breath and rolled her eyes before starting to walk towards the school. Perhaps if she had not lingered with her brothers, she might have arrived at the stop on time.

After her breathing returned to normal, she continued her walk towards the school. The blue-eyed girl had already walked a few blocks when the sound of an engine caught her attention. She turned to look toward the source of the sound and found Smidge's car. Smidge honked at her as he and Poppy looked at her with big smiles.

Branch frowned, confused to see the car speeding toward where she was. At that moment, she noticed the large puddle of water beside her and quickly closed her eyes, knowing what was about to happen. Immediately, Branch felt her body get completely wet. With her eyes still closed, the girl took a deep breath as she heard Smidge and Poppy's laughter gradually diminish in the distance.

"What the heck did I do to deserve this?" Branch said with annoyance as she rearranged her clothes. Once she had ensured her appearance was appropriate, Branch proceeded towards the school with the remaining dignity she possessed.

Minutes later, Branch finally arrived at her intended location. Everyone in the school looked at her with amusement, as her hair had become quite disheveled due to Smidge and Poppy's prank. Branch tried to fix her hair or at least make it look a little more decent, but it was an impossible task. She gave up and sighed. "At least my clothes are dry."

As she was about to make her way into the school building, Cooper approached her with a friendly smile. "Hey Branch, I really like your hair." He said that and left her alone once more.

Confused, Branch walked down the halls until she arrived at her locker. Next to her locker were Creek and Poppy kissing. The two interrupted their kiss when they noticed the blue-eyed girl's presence. Creek, never missing an opportunity to tease Branch, didn't hesitate to make her presence known upon seeing her appearance.

"Look Poppy, your boring neighbor is here. What did you do to your hair? It's awful. You should stop trying new looks that only make you look worse than usual." Creek said, with a mocking smile.

Branch once more rolled her eyes, having lost count of the number of times she had done so throughout the day. Branch had a really bad start to the day, but she didn't want to think about what else could go wrong because there was always a chance that her terrible day could get even worse.

"But if you are the slow learner party boy and the most popular slut in school." Branch said with fake surprise and joy. "I really don't have time for you right now." She stated, directing her focus towards her locker.

"My name is Creek, you idiot." The girl with the violet eyes defended herself.

"By the way, I apologize for this morning." Poppy said, pretending to be sorry. "The puddle just got in our way, and we couldn't help but step over it." He finished speaking as he shrugged.

"Don't apologize for things you're not truly sorry for doing, Poppy. There's no need to be hypocritical." Branch said with a smile.

Poppy looked confused, that wasn't the reaction he was expecting from the girl with the black hair.

Branch kept talking with a smile on her face. "You must understand something. Maybe a person like me doesn't fit into this absurd high school prototype, but this—" She said, gesturing around her. "—is all you can hope for in life, Poppy. The great party boy and football player with his girlfriend—"

"Cheerleading captain." Creek interrupted her and looked at her with an arrogant expression, raising an eyebrow.

"Whatever." Branch said. "You both lack brains, so you should start facing your reality." The smile on her face started to get a little naughty.

Both Poppy and Creek looked at Branch, very confused. They didn't understand what the jet-haired girl was getting at.

"You." Branch said, pointing to Poppy. "You'll probably end up taking over your dad's small mattress store and likely marry Creek. You'll feel so dissatisfied with your life that you'll look for the answer to happiness in bottles of beer; becoming a fat, depressed drunk man. While you." Branch said, pointing to the creek. "Not feeling satisfied with your husband, will seek attention by cheating on him with his loser friends. I hope you stay in shape as you get older. Otherwise, it would be difficult for you to cheat on your husband."

That last comment managed to put a horrified look on Creek's face as Poppy looked at Branch with a frown. 

"What friends?" The boy, with a hint of annoyance and curiosity, inquired about the future that the blue-eyed girl had just described.

"I think most of them." Branch said that as she shrugged and left the room, feeling like she had won.

Branch proceeded towards her computer class and took her seat, patiently awaiting the arrival of her fellow classmates. The girl was so focused on her phone that she didn't realize class was about to start until she heard an irritating voice beside her.

"Good morning, classmate." Poppy said, with a smile.

Branch watched Poppy with disinterest and chose to pay attention to the teacher, who was beginning to give instructions for the activity they were about to do. After the teacher finished explaining the activity, Branch calmly began performing her task until she had to leave her computer unattended to pick up her water bottle, which was on the floor, and take a drink.

Poppy took advantage of Branch's carelessness to quickly enter the link to a porn site on the girl's computer, causing moaning sounds to start blaring through the room and drawing the attention of the entire class.

"Miss Timberlake! It seems to me that my classroom is not the place for these types of videos. Please focus on the activity, or I will be forced to send you to detention." The teacher said, looking sternly at the blue-eyed girl.

Poppy covered his mouth to hide his laughter at the situation while Branch blushed and slid down in her seat. The poor girl wanted the earth to swallow her whole.

********************

After the great embarrassment she had just endured, Branch walked excitedly to the school bus. They were going on a field trip to a history museum, and that was something to be excited about.

As she stood in front of the bus, the teacher in charge looked at her with a disapproving expression as he visually inspected her from head to toe. "Ms. Branch, you appear to be—"

"Thank you." Branch interrupted him, clearly frustrated with the situation, and moved past the teacher to board the bus.

Slightly further behind were Creek and Poppy. The cheerleader was talking about the outfits they were both going to wear to the prom, while Poppy was trying to hide the fact that he didn't understand what his girlfriend was talking about. They were both taking their time getting to the bus. 

"Mr. Kendrick." The teacher, tired of waiting for the boy, called his attention. "Would you mind hurrying up?"

"Give us a minute." Creek replied with annoyance. The girl turned to give Poppy a kiss before letting him go.

Finally, the boy boarded the bus, and the class departed for the history museum.

Chapter Text

Upon their arrival at the museum, Branch attentively observed the various exhibits, while Poppy engaged in a conversation with Smidge, seemingly unaware of their surroundings. Until the teacher got everyone's attention to gather around a sculpture.

"Please take a moment to observe this artwork." The teacher started talking. "May I introduce you to the revered Aztec deity, Tezcatlipoca. The most significant deity for the Mexicas was the ancient god of sorcery. He was the embodiment of transformation through conflict and was associated with the concept of fate. Also known as the deity of the smoke mirror—" The professor paused his speech and glanced at Smidge and Poppy, who were engrossed in a private discussion. "Mr. Kendrick and Mr. Dohrn, could you please pay attention to the class? Perhaps you would like to share something insightful with us."

Both young men silently observed the teacher, having nothing to say in their defense.

The teacher let out a sigh, tired of dealing with teenagers. "Listen, class, we don't have much time left, so I want you to pair up to finish the tour. Remember to write about what strikes you the most."

Smidge and Poppy exchanged smiles and then gave each other a high-five. However, their joyous moment was unfortunately interrupted by the professor within a matter of seconds.

"Don't even think that I'm going to let you work together. Mr. Smidge is going to work with Mr. Cooper and Mr. Poppy you are going to work with," The teacher thought for a moment to see who was the best option and then said with a smile. "Miss Branch."

The lady with blue eyes was gazing at her reflection in the mirror held by the Aztec God. However, upon hearing the teacher's words, she turned her attention to him and then to Poppy, displaying expressions of shock and disbelief.

"This has got to be a terrible joke." Branch murmured.

Smidge burst into laughter as he disappeared along with Copper down one of the corridors. Poppy approached the girl, smiling mischievously while Branch looked at him with disdain.

"So many options, and you had to be my pair for the rest of the day." Branch said, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.

That only increased the smile on Poppy's face, for he loved to see Branch in a bad mood.

"Hey," Poppy started saying. "I never thought you'd be so bold as to watch such intimate videos in the middle of computer class."

Branch let out a grunt of annoyance, knowing that Poppy had been the one behind such a lousy prank.

"Poppy, I can't believe I'm stuck working with you. I just hope your stupidity isn't contagious."

"I hope your bad sense of humor doesn't rub off on me."

"You're rude."

"Oh, please! Look who's talking." Poppy responded with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"I hate you so much!"

He smirked. "That's because deep down, you're in love with me."

"Oh, please! As if someone like me would be interested in someone like you."

"Admit it, Branch, you'd be lucky if someone like me noticed you. In fact, with that horrible attitude you have, you'd be lucky if Cooper notices you."

"I really can't stand you! Do you really think the world is all about parties, soccer, and popular people?"

"You're crazy! You think you're so superior to everyone else, but in reality, you're just like everyone else, Branch. You're no different to us, Timberlake."

"Different from"

"What?" Poppy said, frowning.

""Different from" is the correct way to say it, not "different to" like you said, dummy"

"Whatever." Poppy said, rolling his eyes. "Don't think you're so special because you're not. And listen up, stop correcting people unless they ask you to. If you keep doing that, you will never make any friends."

"It's not my fault that you're an idiot."

"And you're a snob."

"Empty-headed."

"Brainiac"

"God, I really dislike you. I hate you so much that I'd rather die single than be your friend."

"Same."

The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they failed to observe the faint wisps of smoke emanating from the Tezcatlipoca sculpture, which gradually enveloped them.

Branch and Poppy ceased their conversation as they experienced an unusual sensation coursing through their bodies. They both frowned and decided to walk in opposite directions so they wouldn't have to look at each other's annoying faces anymore.

********************

Poppy was singing in his room as he got ready for bed when night came. Branch was next door, trying to finish reading Romeo and Juliet.

Minutes later, glad to have reached the end, the young, jet-haired girl closed the book and wished Gary goodnight, hoping that the next day would not be as disastrous as the one she had experienced that day.

The two young people turned off the lights in their rooms and closed their eyes, ready to drift off to dreamland. As they were sleeping, the same smoke that had enveloped them in the museum returned to their bodies, causing a slight discomfort to both of them, yet it did not disturb their slumber. Finally, the smoke dissipated, but not before it had made a slight alteration.

********************

The next day, as their alarms went off, both teenagers woke up feeling confused and strange. Poppy was the first one out of bed, but when he put his feet on the floor, he felt shorter and lighter. With his hands, he began to roam his body until he stopped at the level of his chest as he felt two breasts that were previously not there. Poppy opened his eyes wide, beginning to feel frightened. 

"I must be dreaming. This is definitely not happening to me."

It was not until that moment that Poppy came to the realization that he was not in his room. Despite this, he made the decision to proceed to the nearest mirror, where he let out a shriek upon seeing his reflection. Poppy rushed to the window and flung it open, letting out another shriek when he saw himself staring back at him.

"We need to talk, now. But first get dressed, you damn neanderthal because I know you are capable of leaving my house dressed like this." Branch said very seriously, then closed the window, and followed her own instructions.

Poppy nodded in bewilderment as he shut the window and proceeded towards Branch's clothing drawers. Did they switch bodies while they were sleeping? How is that even possible?

If Poppy wasn't so confused, he would have laughed out loud when he opened Branch's drawer. The girl had organized her underwear according to the days of the week. Poppy took the corresponding one and promptly put it on, then searched for the drawer containing the bra.

"If these are also sorted by day, I swear I'll shoot myself."

Finally, Poppy found the right drawer and grabbed the first bra he could find. The boy tried to put the bra on but found it impossible to fasten it in the back. Poppy kept trying until he accidentally scraped himself on one of the hooks and decided to give up.

"Enough! This thing just won't fasten, and I'm scratching my back in the process. I don't know who the hell invented these things. They're impossible to put on." Poppy turned to look at Branch's breasts. "Hey girls, we're going natural today."

The boy got dressed and took a peek out of Branch's room to see what was going on. "Well, it looks like the coast is clear."

Poppy exited the room but had barely taken two steps when a gray cat approached him, growling and attempting to scratch his leg. The boy quickly avoided the cat and went down the steps, hoping not to run into anyone. He was about to open the door to leave the house when it opened, and Poppy found himself face-to-face with Branch's older brother, John Dory.

Chapter Text

"Good morning." JD remarked with a smile, but his demeanor quickly turned serious as he noticed his sister observing him silently with wide eyes. "Bitty B, are you okay?"

Poppy finally responded. "Yes, sorry. You startled me."

It seemed like the answer relaxed the older brother, and he smiled again. "Your breakfast is ready. I made you some oatmeal."

"I'm not hungry. I have to go."

"Don't talk nonsense, Branch. Now, sit down and eat your breakfast. Remember, it's the most important meal of the day. Besides, oatmeal will help you have better digestion."

"That sounds great, but I already went to the bathroom, and I recommend that you not use it because I assure you that at the moment it's more dangerous than visiting Chernobyl." Poppy said, smiling proudly at his clever answer.

"Pardon me?" JD responded with a frown.

"Nothing, you’re right. Oatmeal is very healthy, and I should eat it."

Poppy sat down at the table with a fake smile and took a spoonful of oatmeal, quickly feeling sick. He definitely preferred eating Viva's burnt food.

JD gave a gentle smile to his sister and then proceeded to walk down an aisle. Poppy took the chance to spit the food on his plate and wipe his tongue with a napkin.

"Now I understand why Branch is always in a bad mood. I would be too if I ate this poorly every morning."

Poppy glanced to the side and noticed the cat's food dish. With a smile, the young man emptied the contents of his plate into the pet's dish and returned to his seat at the table, pretending to have finished all of his breakfast as he heard footsteps approaching.

JD returned to the dining room once more, only to be taken aback by the sight of his sister's empty plate. "Wow, you must be very hungry!"

Poppy smiled in satisfaction, knowing that his plan had worked. However, his face changed to one of dread when JD spoke again.

"I'm going to pour you some more, Bitty B. Then you'll have plenty of energy for the rest of the day. Just sit here and wait."

Poppy sighed in resignation as JD returned with a new bowl of oatmeal and sat down next to him, observing him consume his meal.

"Oatmeal will make you even more beautiful and strong." Said the older brother with a smile.

After a few spoonfuls, Poppy felt sick again, so he forced down the last bite and got up from the table. "I'm full. I can't eat any more oatmeal. I'll see you later."

JD gently held his sister's wrist to stop her from leaving. "Branch, you can't leave without bidding a proper farewell." JD pointed to his cheek.

********************

In the meantime, next door, Branch observed the thoroughly charred breakfast before her. With a concerned expression, she turned her attention to the chef.

"Don't you have any oatmeal? Or cereal?"

Viva glanced at her brother with a puzzled expression, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Poppy, there isn't any, but I can look up oatmeal recipes on the internet and try to cook it tomorrow. It might even turn out better than our usual breakfast."

"What's wrong Poppy? You've always liked your sister's food." Peppy interjected, looking at his son seriously to make him understand that Viva's feelings should not be hurt.

"You're totally right! Sorry, Viva."

Branch took a bite of the food. It couldn't be that bad, right? But when she tasted it, she realized it was disgusting. She swallowed it with difficulty, feeling Poppy's family staring at her.

"I'm late. I have to go." Branch said that and jumped up from the table and dashed out of the house. No way was she gonna eat any more of that gross breakfast. As she left the house, she saw Smidge pulling up.

"Let's go, Pops." Poppy's friend yelled from the car.

Branch began to walk slowly towards the car as she took quick glances at her house, hoping to see Poppy emerge from it.

Smidge honked the car horn to let her know she was taking longer than necessary. "Come on Poppy! I don't have all day."

Branch approached the car, looking suspicious. She tried to open the convertible door but was having a hard time, causing Smidge to look at his friend strangely. Finally, the car’s owner, taking pity on Poppy, decided to help him by opening the door.

Smidge could not take his eyes off his pink-haired friend as he watched him climb into the car. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." Branch answered quickly. 

"Are you sure?" Smidge kept insisting, not believing Poppy's answer.

This time, Branch simply nodded her head. Smidge, still looking at his friend with concern, directed his hand to the stereo to begin playing music. The boy started the car so fast, Branch held on for dear life.

"Aren't we going a bit too fast?"

Smidge laughed out loud and said, "Of course we're going fast, that's what makes it fun! We're totally taking the long way to school. We don't wanna be early, right?"

********************

Poppy emerged just in time from Branch's house to see his friend's car in the distance. Frowning and crossing his arms, the boy couldn't help but complain."Damn Branch, you stole my ride to school!"

With a pout, Poppy turned his gaze towards what would be his temporary residence until the body swap issue was resolved. He then lazily strolled in the direction of the school bus stop.

"I can't believe I have to take the bus. It's been years since I've done it, and I still remember how uncomfortable it is."

As Poppy complained to himself about his bad luck, the bus passed him, causing the boy to have to run at full speed to try to catch it.

"Wait for me!"

Realizing that the driver hadn't been paying attention to him, Poppy stopped his run and dropped Branch's belongings on the ground, feeling a mix of frustration and anger.

"Fucking idiot! You definitely heard me!" Poppy shouted at the top of his lungs as he watched the bus disappear into the distance. 

An old man, walking down the street, looked disapprovingly at the girl. "That's not how a lady should talk."

Poppy glanced at the elderly gentleman with irritation. "What do you care, you old busybody!"

The old man was speechless, so Poppy picked up Branch's stuff and headed to school.

********************

Branch finally arrived at the school and quickly got out of the car, doing her best to avoid kissing the ground as she finally felt safe.

She started walking toward the entrance when she saw herself standing in front of her. Poppy was glaring at her, showing how annoyed he was. The boy, taking advantage of the fact that he was in a woman's body, grabbed Branch tightly by the jacket and pulled her towards him, their faces too close together.

"What did you do to me? You damned witch!" Poppy whispered.

Branch pulled out of Poppy's grip, putting some distance between them. "Let go of me, you bully. Do you really think I had anything to do with this? What makes you think I'd want to live in your body, you inept wretch?"

"I assure you, I didn't do anything. So, Branch, you're the smart one here. How do you explain this?"

"I understand that I am intelligent, but I do not have an explanation for whatever this is." Branch took a deep breath. "I can't believe this is happening to us. This is crazy!"

"Well, it happened! So you better do something so I can get my body back as soon as possible."

Chapter Text

"Believe me, there is nothing I would like more than to return to my body. It's no fun inhabiting the body of a Neanderthal."

"Oh, shut up! At least you didn't have to eat that horrible oatmeal for breakfast."

"Are you seriously complaining about that? I didn't even get to eat breakfast because your sister's cooking is so bad, it could poison everyone."

"Leave my sister alone! She may not be a master chef, but she puts in the effort."

Branch began to pout as despair and helplessness coursed through her body. "I don't want to be a boy. I especially don't want to be you."

Poppy widened his eyes in surprise as he observed Branch on the verge of shedding tears. He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to them and placed his hands on the shoulders of the body Branch was inhabiting at the moment, trying to calm her down.

"Don't cry, Branch. Please don't cry, especially not here. Look, what's happening to us is silly, okay? It must be something like a cold."

"A cold?" Branch asked, sounding confused.

"Yeah! Maybe it's one of those things that only lasts twenty-four hours. Tomorrow, when we wake up, everything will be back to normal, with nothing to worry about. We just got to make it through today, alright? So, please, do me a favor and try to keep it together. Stop crying, okay? Let's keep a low profile."

"Okay." Branch replied, calming herself and nodding her head.

********************

They were in history class when the teacher reminded them of the assignment he had given them about the most important people in history. 

"Miss Creek." the teacher said, "Would you be so kind as to tell us about your research?"

"I'm sorry, professor, but I'm the cheerleading leader, so I don't see the need to do my homework." She replied, smiling innocently. 

The instructor furrowed his brows, yet he maintained his composure, displaying no signs of astonishment at the response. He came to the conclusion that it would be most prudent to direct his inquiry to the one individual within the class who consistently exceeded his expectations, his esteemed pupil.

"Miss Branch?"

Poppy, out of habit, diverted his attention from the teacher and focused on drawing pictures in his notebook. The instructor continued to repeat the name without receiving a response. Poppy furrowed his brow in concern. Why was Branch taking such a long time to respond?

He was totally startled when the teacher slammed his hand on the desk. The boy looked up and saw the teacher staring at him with a mix of worry and annoyance. Poppy suddenly remembered that he was in Branch's body for the day and had to act like her.

"Miss Timberlake?" The professor asked once more.

"Yes?"

"Could you please share your thoughts on an individual you believe is one of the most prominent people in history?"

Poppy opened his eyes wide and quickly turned to look at Branch, who was hiding her face in her hands, expecting to be embarrassed.

The young man winced slightly as he gradually rose from his chair. "Okay." Poppy said with a sigh. "I think...one of the most prominent people in history is...Harry Styles."

The professor displayed a look of disapproval. "Harry Styles?"

"Yes! Almost everyone knows or has heard of Harry Styles. He is a very famous singer and actor. He was originally in the band One Direction until the band went on hiatus, and he decided to start his solo career—"

"Yes, Miss Branch." The teacher interrupted the speech,  "I am aware of who Harry Styles is. However, I am curious to understand why you believe he holds such significant importance in history." 

"Of course, the great thing about Harry is that...he was a simple baker, and...now he's very famous, but he's still a humble and genuine person. Even though he has a lot of money now, he remains true to himself, and I think that's what makes Harry Styles so significant in history."

The instructor gave him a serious look that conveyed a sense of disapproval. "Ms. Timberlake, if you have not completed your assignment, please be honest about it rather than misleading the entire class."

Poppy sheepishly nodded his head as he resumed his seat.

The remainder of the class proceeded as usual, and upon the bell's chime, the students commenced their orderly exit from the classroom. Branch swiftly approached Poppy and, with a grasp of his wrist, halted his further movement.

"Harry Styles? Did you really say Harry Styles? Are you kidding me, Kendrick?"

"It was the first thing that popped into my head, alright?"

"You made me look like a fool!"

"What's wrong with you? I love Harry Styles. He has an amazing voice."

"You can't say someone is one of the most important people in history just because they have an amazing voice."

"Well, I've already done it." Poppy replied and turned around to continue on his way.

Branch snorted as she watched him walk away. "Poppy, you're an idiot!" She shouted loudly to make sure the boy heard her.

Poppy stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. "You know what, I don’t like it when you call me an idiot." He said as he kept walking.

********************

Lunchtime arrived, and Branch made her way to the cafeteria. Upon her arrival, she obtained her lunch and paused in front of the various tables, contemplating where to sit.

"Hey Poppy!" The football team yelled from a table.

"Just what I was needing, spending time with men without brains as if it wasn't enough to inhabit the body of one of them." Branch thought to herself as she greeted them with a small smile and a wave.

As she was about to begin walking towards the table, Branch sensed arms encircling her waist, prompting her to stiffen slightly in response to the unexpected physical contact.

"Hi Poppy." A voice that sounded unpleasantly familiar whispered in her ear.

"Creek." Branch replied with annoyance.

The cheerleading captain lightly kissed the nape of Poppy's neck, causing Branch's eyes to widen as she tensed her body even more.

"Guess what?" Creek stated as she turned the boy's body so they were facing each other, and placed her arms around Poppy's neck. "My parents are going out tonight, maybe you'd like to come over to my house, so you and I can have a good time." She said in a seductive tone.

"I have things to do." Branch replied fast. This situation was getting on top of her, and she just wanted to get the hell out of there.

"I don't think you understand me, Poppy. You and I will be alone, which means..." Creek leaned close to her ear and started whispering stuff to Branch that made her feel sick and want to run away.

"You're unbelievable!" Branch yelled, frustrated with the situation as she dropped the tray of food, getting everyone's attention. "Are you even listening to me? I said no! No means no, get it? Stop being so needy!" Branch scowled at Creek and then ran out of the cafeteria. 

Creek froze as everyone looked at her with mocking expressions. Feeling all embarrassed, she walked over to the table and sat down with her friends, letting out a big sigh.

"I can't believe Poppy doesn't want to have sex with me." Creek was frowning. "This is a nightmare. I mean, who wouldn't want to have sex with me?"

As Bridget gazed at the boys' table, she responded. "If I had Gristle wrapped around my finger, I wouldn't bother with Poppy."

"Come on, you clearly don't get it! Poppy might be just a football player today, but he could become the best football player of the year tomorrow. That would make him famous and it would mean Poppy would be rich. You have to think ahead, Bridget."

"Well, Smidge becoming famous or not doesn't matter to me. He and I are meant to be together." Mila interjected, joining the conversation. 

Creek looked at her with a frown on her face. "Mila you can be...a bit naive sometimes, but I still love you. You're my friend, after all." The cheerleader finished speaking with a radiant smile on her face.

Chapter Text

The last class was over, so Branch started to walk toward the exit until Smidge interrupted her way.

"Hey Poppy!" Smidge exclaimed from the carpentry workshop.

Branch peeked through the door and saw him with a raised eyebrow, waiting for Smidge to speak.

"Don't wait for an invite! Just come on in!" Said Poppy's friend.

Branch nodded and entered the workshop. "Hey Smidge, what's going on?"

"You've been acting strange today. Just wanted to remind you that we have football practice later, don't forget!"

"Football practice?" Branch inquired with concern. Although pretending to be Poppy might have been manageable to a certain extent, she was fully aware of her complete lack of athletic ability when it came to sports.

"Yes." Smidge said with a big grin. "I'm ready to kick some ass.

"Yeah...me too." Branch said, pretending to be excited. "Unfortunately, I have a commitment that gets in the way of kicking ass."

"Come on, man. We have the most important game of our lives in a week. Do you know what the coach will do to you if you skip practice?"

Branch shook her head.

"He's going to kick your ass. Poppy, listen up, this is really important, don't miss it!"

Branch grimaced as she nodded. She tried to tell herself it was just a silly football practice. How bad could it be?

********************

Hours later, the young lady who inhabited Poppy's body found herself surrounded by men in uniform. Branch looked around, unsure of what to do.

The coach instructed them to take their positions for warm-up, and Branch observed everyone as she attempted to imitate the exercises they were performing. However, the heavy uniform made it challenging for her to keep up with them, particularly the helmet, which Branch though was hindering her ability to breathe comfortably. The young lady was trying very hard to go unnoticed, but she kept tripping, which made it obvious that she was out of her comfort zone and the team noticed.

When they started practicing the moves for the game, Branch was totally clueless. Smidge tried to help her out by giving her instructions, but the coach still called her out a bunch of times.

During one of the last games, Branch smiled with pride at finally catching the ball. Her celebration was short-lived, however, as she was tackled by nearly the entire team. The teammates began to mock the dismal performance as they headed to the locker room.

As soon as Branch entered the locker room, she was stopped by the coach, who didn’t hesitate for a second to call her attention.

"What the hell was that Poppy Kendrick? You acted like a rookie!"

"I'm sorry Coach. I guess today was not my day."

"Was today not your day?" The coach rolled his eyes. "Poppy, listen up. The next game is super important for the whole team. I know you're really good, but don't let that go to your head and mess things up for everyone else. Got it?"

"Yes." Branch responded in a hushed tone, feeling slightly intimidated by the manner in which she was being addressed.

"I can't hear you." The coach shouted. 

"Yes, Coach!" Branch responded in a louder tone.

The coach gave her one last disapproving look before turning and walking away. Branch let out the breath she didn't know she was holding as she finally entered the locker room. Branch really hoped Poppy was right and this was a one-day thing, or else she was totally clueless. She was good at school, good at poetry, but sports? Definitely not her thing.

Branch was unable to remain lost in her thoughts as Smidge approached her to engage in conversation.

"Hey Poppy, don't let his words get to you, okay? Everyone has bad days, and just because you're the quarterback doesn't mean you're perfect. Just keep practicing and—"

Branch was trying really hard to listen to the encouraging words Smidge was saying to her; however, the boy was completely naked and unconsciously Branch was looking down at Smidge's lower body. This day was definitely becoming too overwhelming. She urgently needed to get back into her body.

"Do you get what I'm saying?" Smidge asked. 

"Certainly, thank you very much, Smidge." Branch responded as if she had been paying attention.

When she finished dressing, Smidge took her home—or rather, to Poppy's house—and Branch went straight to bed to sleep. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Pretending to be Poppy had been more difficult than it had seemed.

********************

The next morning, both homes were filled with the sound of alarms going off at the same time. The teenagers woke up, hoping that everything was back to normal.

Branch was the first to notice where she was. She groaned in frustration when she realized she was still inside Poppy's body and in the boy's room. Branch was getting dressed and trying to find some clothes that she liked. She survived Viva's breakfast and went outside to wait for Smidge to take her to school.

Upon reaching school, Branch exited the car and started walking towards the entrance, until she was pulled by her shirt and pushed against a nearby tree.

"Hey, that hurts! Please be a little more careful." Branch demanded with a frown. 

"Explain to me what happened at practice yesterday." Poppy expressed his frustration, as it seemed the boy was already aware of Branch's unsatisfactory performance during the prior practice.

"Don't even remind me, I'm all bruised up. I don't know how you can like such a rough sport."

"I don't care about your bruises, Branch! You know that game means the world to me, right?"

"Come on, Poppy, it's just a silly game."

"That silly game, as you call it, will define my and my teammates’ lives. Why can't you understand how important this is to me and everyone else?"

Branch shrugged. "Maybe it's because I don't care, but you know what, I can see clearly that this," She said, pointing to both of them. "is not a cold."

"Unless you have something more constructive to say or a solution to our problem, I'd rather you kept your mouth shut."

Finally, Poppy noticed the girl's choice of attire and his expression changed from annoyance to concern. "What the hell are you wearing?" He said, checking her out from head to toe.

"Formal pants and a shirt." Branch said proudly. "I didn’t know you had any decent clothes in your closet until I found this very well-hidden outfit."

"It was hidden for a reason! What did you do to my hair? I look like a professor! You're overdressed!"

"Excuse me for wanting you to appear like a decent person."

"The only thing you're going to do is ruin my life and my reputation. Now I look like you, but in a male version. I hate it!" Poppy said, sounding annoyed.

"As long as I'm stuck in your damn body, you'll just have to deal with it." Branch replied with the same annoyance in her voice and a smirk.

Poppy raised an eyebrow, snorted, and shook his head. "So that's how you want to play, huh? You're going to regret this, Timberlake. You just started a war that you'll lose."

As he finished saying that, Poppy turned away. Meanwhile, in his head, he began to plan the different ways he could get revenge.

Chapter Text

The next day, Poppy got off the school bus feeling like a total boss. Poppy had dressed Branch's body in a pair of heels, which the boy was doing his best not to break an ankle in, and walk, according to him, sexily; a mini skirt that left almost nothing to the imagination, and a shirt that was tied up in a way that made it look like a really short top. 

Murmurs around him began to be heard. The boys were looking at Poppy with morbid curiosity while whistling for his attention, and the girls were making fun of him for trying to walk in heels.

Poppy's vivid imagination was briefly interrupted when he became aware of a nearby presence, disrupting his self-assured modeling fantasy. Frowning, he realized that Branch had just tied a sweater around his waist in a silly attempt to cover his temporal body.

"What are you doing?" Poppy complained to Branch when he saw that his outfit was getting ruined.

"Protecting my image and reputation, duh! You look like a cheap prostitute." Branch said, sounding annoyed.

Poppy winced as he shrugged. "Damn, I was attempting to be an elite prostitute."

"I can't believe John Dory let you out like that!" Branch expressed with a tone of disbelief in her voice.

Poppy smirked. "I managed to sneak away from John Dory; it was difficult but not impossible. Your brother, Floyd, saw me, but he said that he would not obstruct his younger sister’s journey of self-discovery."

"Hey, you can't just show off my body like that, walking around school dressed like that!"

"I can do whatever I want. You started this, Timberlake. Are you having second thoughts? Just so you know, I haven't finished my moves yet."

Poppy blew her a kiss and happily turned to walk away. The score was tied for now, but he was going to win the battle in the end.

*******************

Both Branch and Poppy engaged in competition with each other throughout the day. They challenged each other to see who could damage the other's reputation the most.

After the perfect catwalk, Poppy decided that during lunchtime, he would sit with his football teammates while he put an excessive amount of mayonnaise on his food and chewed with his mouth open. Everyone was looking at him in disgust, even Branch, who almost started crying because of how Poppy was ridiculing her.

During music class, Branch sang out of tune and missed as many notes as she could, causing grimaces and pained expressions on Poppy's face, as it was the only class in which the boy excelled besides sports.

The vendettas continued unabated, with no regard for the consequences of their actions. The final act of the two took place at dismissal time.

Poppy was walking along quietly until he noticed Branch walking purposefully toward Creek. The guy tried to follow her as much as he could so he could listen in on the conversation without making it obvious that he was eavesdropping.

Creek and her friends were discussing the ridiculous outfit the blue-eyed girl was wearing that day, and her pathetic attempt to get attention. The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Branch, who was observing them with a serious expression.

"Hello, Poppy." Creek's greeting was somber, as the girl was still upset about the rejection in the cafeteria.

"Hello, Creek. I'd like to speak with you about something important."

"I bet you're here to say sorry for rejecting me that day in the cafeteria, huh?" The young lady said, starting to smile.

"No." Branch replied quickly. "I actually wanted to talk to you about breaking up."

Creek's smile vanished as her friends observed with astonishment as Poppy ended his relationship with their cheerleading captain.

Creek burst out laughing. "Poppy, you're hilarious! For a moment, I genuinely believed you were being serious."

Branch grimaced. "I'm sorry Creek, but I don't think you're pretty enough to be my girlfriend anymore."

The comment caused exclamations from the rest of the girls, who looked at Poppy's body as if he were the worst piece of trash on the planet. Creek shoved her now ex-boyfriend and stormed out of there in annoyance, along with the rest of her friends.

Branch was still recovering from the unexpected push when she was pulled by her shirt. Poppy was looking at her with great concern and distress. "What happened? Creek sounded very angry."

"It seems like you and your girlfriend just broke up."

Poppy glanced back to where Creek and her friends had departed as he pouted and looked at Branch with a significant increase in annoyance. "Why did you do that? Me and Creek made a cute couple."

"The correct way is "Creek and I", you moron."

"Why did you break up with my girlfriend? That's not fair!"

"You'll get over it. Don't be dramatic."

Poppy clearly wanted to scream and throw a tantrum, but then suddenly he grinned mischievously. "You know what, Branch? You're totally right."

"Really?" Asked the very confused girl. 

"Yeah, and I'd love to keep chatting, but...I've got to run or I'll be late for my date.

"Date? What date?" Branch inquired with great concern. 

"Congratulations! Apparently, you really are attractive to men."

Branch frowned at him as the young man smiled with satisfaction. Poppy said bye, turned and ran to a motorbike, where a young guy was waiting for him to get on.

"Poppy! Come back here right now!" Branch shouted desperately, trying to avoid the madness Poppy had planned as revenge.

However, the young man disregarded her presence and mounted the motorcycle. He encircled Blaze Powerchord's waist with his arms and swiftly departed from the school.

Blaze took Poppy to an arcade. They ate lunch and had some fun. The pink-haired boy thought Blaze was a good friend when he wasn't being a jerk. Poppy was proud of his revenge. He was having a good time with a buddy while mentally torturing Branch.

It was getting dark, so Blaze told him it was time to leave. Poppy confidently climbed onto the motorcycle, thinking he would be taken home. However, Blaze did not take him to Branch's house, but rather to the motor home where Blaze resides. For a moment, Poppy looked confused, but then he shrugged. He figured Blaze wanted to extend the date because he was having a good time with who he thought was Branch. Poppy was smiling happily, maybe he could even find a boyfriend for Branch at the end of this crazy adventure and then the girl would stop being so grumpy and negative.

Blaze offered Poppy a beer, and he happily accepted it as he sat down at the dining table in the RV. Blaze sat down on the couch next to him.

"Nice...home?" Poppy said in a failed attempt at a compliment.

Luckily, Blaze didn't mind. "Don't lie, it's a mess but...my parents are out, so we can do whatever we want without anyone bugging us."

Poppy took a big gulp of his beer as he analyzed the other boy’s words. The pink-haired boy really wanted to believe Blaze had just made the comment without any ulterior motive or intention and that the motorcycle rider wasn't trying to sleep with him.

"Branch, I must admit that I am surprised to see you drinking beer in such a manner."

"It's just...I feel like my throat is a little dry."

Blaze got up from the couch and started walking towards Poppy. "Perhaps I can assist you with that." He said as he gave Poppy his most seductive look. Blaze tried to close the gap between them to steal a kiss.

Poppy's eyes widened in surprise, and he began to move back in the long dining room chair he was seated in. He had to come up with something quick to get himself out of the mess he got himself into.

"I think I need another beer." Poppy said, holding the bottle to Blaze's lips, trying to create some space between them when he noticed that Blaze's nose was almost touching his.

Blaze grimaced and responded with annoyance. "Of course."

Time passed, and Poppy had lost count of how many more beers he had asked Blaze to drink to distract him and get him as far away from Branch's body as possible. He had a goal in mind: to get Blaze drunk so he could escape that damn house.

Chapter Text

"Wanna have some fun?" Poppy asked in another attempt to create some space between him and Blaze. "Why don't you head to your room and wait for me there? I promise I've got a surprise for you."

Blaze quickly went to his room. When Poppy was alone for a moment, he didn't hesitate and ran away from that awful place. He clearly hadn't thought through his revenge against Branch, but he didn't have to admit to the irritating girl that he had been wrong. Poppy planned to torture her some more by making her believe that everything had gone perfectly with Blaze.

********************

Branch was seated in what was temporarily her new room as the numerous possibilities of what Poppy could be doing while impersonating her flooded her mind. She felt a deep desire to cry. Branch knew she had made a mistake by dressing formally when it wasn't Poppy's style, but what he was doing at that moment was something entirely different and unforgivable.

As implausible as it seemed to some, Branch had never dated anyone. She's been so busy studying and doing what John Dory tells her to do that she's never had time for a boyfriend. Of course, the idea of dating had crossed her mind from time to time.

Branch imagined dating someone like those characters she read about in her books. She knew she may have had her hopes up too high, but she wanted to believe that if she was patient, she'd eventually find the love of her life and live out a love story like the ones she loved reading about. But now... now Poppy was taking away that fantasy so precious to her because of a damned revenge.

Branch felt like crying again, even harder this time, but she stopped herself when she heard a knock at the door. She looked over and saw Viva, who was looking at her with concern.

"Are you all right?" Poppy's sister asked as she entered the room.

"Yeah, don't worry about it." Branch replied with a fake smile.

"It's just that... you've been acting weird lately, and I think I know why." Viva sat on the bed to talk to her younger brother.

"I doubt it, Viva." Branch grimaced slightly.

"Hey, let me give it a shot. I think you're a bit worried about not wowing the talent scouts and ending up stuck in the family business with Dad."

"What?" Branch said, a bit confused.

"I'm not dumb, Poppy. I'm just really good at pretending not to notice things. But I want you to know that no matter what you choose to do with your life, I'll always be proud of you. So, if you don't want to be the mattress king, who cares? I sure don't."

Viva gave him a final smile before exiting the room. Branch was moved by Viva's words. Poppy was fortunate to have such a wonderful sister.

********************

Branch and Smidge were in the car on their way to school, and the girl decided to make an attempt to play the music she liked. Branch put her favorite classical music playlist on her cellphone and hit play, changing the pop music that was playing.

"Do you want me to fall asleep at the wheel? Put my pop music back on!"

"Why don't you give it a try? You may end up liking it."

Smidge turned up the volume on the music momentarily and quickly turned it down to play his beloved pop music again.

"I tried it, but I didn't like it. Thank you."

Branch rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling.

Smidge spoke again, getting her attention. "Hey, have you heard the latest about our favorite party pooper?"

"No." Branch replied with a frown on her face.

"Well, it seems she slept with Blaze last night."

Branch was totally freaked out. She knew Poppy could do anything to make her mad, but this was way too much, even for her. Branch felt like she had been stabbed in the back and her heart was broken.

Arriving at school, the young woman noticed that everyone was commenting on it. Branch made her way to the soccer field, which at that moment was deserted, and finally broke down, beginning to shed all the tears she had been holding back.

To her luck, the history teacher was passing by and was surprised to find Poppy alone and balled up in a corner of the field.

The instructor approached and placed a hand on the football player's shoulder. "Poppy, are you crying?" He inquired with concern.

"Yes." Branch softly whispered without raising her gaze.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't think you'll understand, but...I just found out that I had my first kiss and lost my virginity in the same night! In a damn RV with someone I don't even find attractive!" She said this as she burst into tears again and hugged the teacher's leg, seeking comfort.

The teacher was so confused that he patted Poppy's body on the head, trying to calm him down. "I'm—I'm so sorry? Hey, I'd really like to help you out, but...I've got a class to teach soon. I hope things get better for you!" He told her that and ran away from the scene.

********************

Poppy was making his way confidently to his locker when he noticed that the entire school was looking at him with amused expressions, which was beginning to make him feel slightly uncomfortable. Upon reaching his locker, he observed that someone had written graffiti on Branch's locker, which read: "Slutty. " Poppy was really confused now. He couldn't believe all this drama was happening just because he decided to give Branch a makeover the previous day. Today, he had dressed in the girl’s usual clothes. They were all being a bit over-the-top in his opinion.

At that precise moment, he sensed a presence on his right. He turned around and observed Branch, who was gazing at him with evident annoyance.

"What?" Poppy asked, raising an eyebrow.

The young lady disregarded him and proceeded to her locker to retrieve the necessary items for the day. Poppy observed Branch's lack of attention with a furrowed brow.

"Hey, if you're still hung up on last night, relax. You had a blast. You'll never forget your amazing date with Blaze." Poppy told Branch with the intention of pissing her off and getting her attention.

Branch sighed and finally looked at Poppy. "I can't believe you did that to me! You managed to make me lose the little respect I had for you."

"Come on, Branch. It was just a date. It's not a big deal. And don't forget, you're the one who started all this by dressing me up as a teacher. Not to mention that you ended my relationship with Creek."

"I wanted my first kiss and my first time to be with someone I was in love with! Not someone you chose just to win a fucking war."

Poppy frowned deeply. "What are you talking about? Nothing happened with Blaze last night. Just wanted to tease you a bit."

Branch glared at him, her eyes starting to light up with hope. "Are you being serious?"

"Yes, I swear."

Branch was about to smile, but then she quickly looked back at Poppy with annoyance. "Blaze's version is different."

"That's because Blaze is a liar!"

"Well, try convincing the whole school! Because now everyone thinks I'm a slutty." Branch stated as she shut the locker with more force than necessary, once more making it obvious the words someone else had painted.

Poppy removed his sweater in frustration and tossed it toward Brach, who instinctively caught it.

"Looks like I gotta have a word with that stupid liar. Ain't no way I'm letting anyone talk bullshit about us like that." Poppy said this as he began to walk in search of the previously mentioned man.

Chapter Text

Branch froze for a moment when she heard what Poppy said. When she realized what the boy was planning to do, Branch ran after Poppy to remind him of something important that seemed to have slipped his mind.

Poppy resolutely made his way through the school hallways, intent on locating Blaze. He began his search by checking several classrooms, but to no avail. Consequently, he proceeded to the basketball court, the only remaining place where he believed Blaze might be. Upon arriving, the boy found Blaze among the students practicing basketball.

Poppy walked with annoyance toward the liar and nudged him to get his attention. "I was looking for you."

The boy ignored Poppy and continued doing his thing like nothing was wrong.

The action caused the boy residing in Branch's body to feel increasingly irritated. "I'm talking to you!"

Blaze rolled his eyes and finally deigned to look at the girl’s body. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Perhaps what you're telling the others about what transpired yesterday."

The other students ceased their activities and became silent in order to focus on the discussion. Some of them even started yelling in support of Blaze, calling Branch a beggar.

"I didn't say anything," Blaze started to say. "that wasn't true."

Blaze's response elicited a mixture of exclamations and chuckles from the spectators.

"Stop lying!" Poppy demanded. 

"Am I the one lying, or is it that you're embarrassed that others know you're only pretending to be a prude when in bed, you're anything but that?"

In a moment of heightened frustration, Poppy's patience reached its limit, leading him to impulsively throw a punch towards Blaze's face. However, to Poppy's astonishment, Blaze effortlessly deflected the blow with remarkable agility.

"Branch, is that all you got?" Blaze said in a mocking tone.

Poppy was trying unsuccessfully to punch the boy in front of him, remaining in a pathetic tussle with Blaze that only caused the other students to laugh. Blaze's grip on Poppy's wrist began to tighten, causing discomfort to the girl's body. Poppy attempted to release himself from the grasp, but his efforts were unsuccessful.

At that moment, Branch arrived on the scene. She was visibly annoyed upon witnessing Blaze's aggression towards Poppy and her original body. Without any hesitation, she swiftly moved to intervene by punching Blaze in the face, resulting in his fall to the ground and the subsequent release of Poppy.

"That's not cool! You shouldn't treat a girl like that!" Branch was unsatisfied by Blaze being on the ground so she threw herself on top of him and used Poppy's body to immobilize him while looking at him threateningly. "If you value your life, I think you're going to tell everyone what really happened between you and Branch last night." The girl in Poppy's body raised a fist threatening Blaze with hitting his face again.

Blaze, feeling intimidated, closed his eyes and let out a loud shout. "Nothing! Nothing happened! I lied! Nothing I said was true!"

Branch smiled in satisfaction as she lowered her fist in the air, but she didn't stop applying force to hold Blaze down. "It appears to me that you should offer an apology to this kind, innocent, and very beautiful young lady standing next to me."

Poppy discreetly rolled his eyes as he listened to Branch brag about herself. Although he would never admit it to her face, he was really proud of her at that moment.

"I'm sorry Branch." Blaze said reluctantly.

"I didn't catch that. Can you repeat it?" Branch said as she raised her fist again and tightened her grip.

"I'm sorry, Branch! I'm sorry for making up so many lies about you!" Blaze looked at the people watching. "I'm a liar! Branch is innocent and nothing happened between us!"

"Thank you." Poppy said sarcastically.

Finally, Branch stood up, releasing Blaze. When the girl noticed that he was attempting to stand up, she kicked him and threw him back down.

Branch, all smiles and pleased with herself, went over to Poppy, grabbed his hand, and they left the basketball court together. They made their way to the auditorium since it was the first vacant room Branch noticed. Once she was certain they were alone, the young lady turned to see Poppy and he could clearly see her beaming with joy and enthusiasm.

"Did you see what I did? That was awesome! Is it always so much fun to hit someone that stupid? Can I hit Blaze again?"

Poppy chuckled softly as he observed Branch's excitement. The young man gently placed his hands on the shoulders of the masculine physique that Branch currently occupied, attempting to pacify her enthusiasm with a soothing touch.

"Chill out, buddy." Poppy said, smiling as he looked Branch straight in the eyes. "Do not think that because of your heroic act today, I have forgiven you for ending my relationship with Creek." He went on to say, with a hint of humor in his voice.

Branch opened her eyes wide and then looked at the boy with some pity. "Poppy, I'm really sorry. I'll do my best to help you and Creek work things out."

Poppy winced and let out a sigh. "It doesn't matter. I'm still a girl, after all. But thanks for trying to work things out with my ex."

Both of them remained quiet for a brief moment until Poppy decided to speak once more. "What are we gonna do, Branch?"

The young lady shrugged her shoulders while keeping her eyes glued to her hands. "I have no idea. This is a total mess." Branch paused momentarily, seemingly contemplating a thought, before continuing to speak. "What were we doing before this happened to us?" She asked, pointing to their bodies.

Poppy arched an eyebrow, silently asking the girl to elaborate on her idea.

"Maybe if we think back on the last things we did, we might figure out what's causing this huge issue we're having."

"We were arguing." Poppy stated as if his answer were the most obvious in the world.

"That's nothing new."

"Except the time we argued in front of that Mexican god. I felt shivers run down my spine."

"It was an Aztec deity, Poppy." Branch said, rolling her eyes. "Although you bring it to my attention, I also experienced a sensation of chills running down my spine."

"What was his name?" Poppy asked, frowning.

"Tezcatlipoca. He was the ancient deity of sorcery and the embodiment of transformation—" Branch paused her explanation as she listened attentively to the words she was speaking.

Branch turned to look at Poppy, who appeared to have arrived at a similar conclusion. They were both resolved to visit the history museum that very day.

********************

Upon exiting the school, they proceeded to the museum with the intention of seeking the deity who had seemingly caused their predicament. They both exercised patience, awaiting an opportune moment when that particular section of the museum would be devoid of any visitors, thus ensuring privacy and avoiding any potential judgment or curious stares from others.

Finally, Branch and Poppy respectfully approached the sculpture of Tezcatlipoca and paused before it, gazing at the deity with reverence and anticipation.

"Well, talk to him." Poppy said.

"You talk to him." Branch replied. 

Poppy sighed and reluctantly agreed. "Hey, how's it going?"

"Poppy, are you being serious? You are speaking to a divine being, not a family member."

Poppy shrugged, and Branch continued speaking.

"Mr. Tezcatlipoca, you may have gotten the impression that Poppy and I don't get along very well, but I think you misunderstood the strange relationship we both have."

Poppy nodded his head."Yeah, we argue sometimes, but that's just what friends do. You might not think so, but I really respect Branch. She's so organized, intelligent, and talented. And she's gorgeous, too!"

Branch was slightly taken aback when she heard Poppy refer to her as gorgeous, but she chose not to exacerbate the situation with Tezcatlipoca. Instead, Branch decided to support the boy's statement. "Yes, we are very good friends."

"Best friends."

"We're like siblings. We'll always be there for each other."

"Don't be over the top." Poppy whispered. 

"I don't." Branch responded with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Well then, now that everything has been clarified, how about we close our eyes, count to three, and when we open them, we will find ourselves back in our own bodies? Certainly, if it is agreeable to you, we would like to reiterate that this entire situation is a misunderstanding. We are confident that in the future, the three of us will be able to laugh about this together."

"Now." Poppy said hopefully as he shut his eyes.  "One, two, three."

Chapter Text

They both opened their eyes, but were disappointed to see that nothing had changed. Things were exactly the same as before.

They departed from the location in a state of defeat and proceeded to occupy a bench situated within a park located adjacent to the museum. They maintained a state of silence for a considerable duration, contemplating the circumstances in which they found themselves and the profound implications associated with them.

"Perhaps Tezcatlipoca speaks another language? What language did the Aztecs speak?" Poppy inquired with a serious demeanor, directing his gaze towards Branch.

"Nahuatl, but supposing that's the case, what are we supposed to do? Sacrifice a soul and give Tezcatlipoca a macehual pozole as an offering?" Branch started to pout. "What are we gonna do, Poppy? John Dory's gonna be so disappointed in me when he finds out his little sis didn't get into Trollstopia University." Tears started to well up in her eyes.

Poppy began to feel anxious when he noticed that Branch was on the verge of shedding tears. "Hey Branch, come on, don't cry. Let's just try to stay calm, okay? Take a deep breath, inhale and exhale."

They started doing breathing exercises until Poppy managed to calm Branch down and the tears stopped flowing from her face.

"Hey, do you think I want to end up as the mattress king?"

"Poppy, with all due respect, I don't think you can compare your problem to the Trollstopia University and JD's disappointment."

The young boy let out a sigh, until he turned to his right and frowned at the sight of Blaze. Poppy gently nudged Branch to gain her attention. "Hey, Blaze is around, wouldn't hitting him again help you feel better?" He asked.

Branch shook her head. Poppy grimaced, which quickly changed, his eyes widening in surprise and beginning to form a broad smile.

"That's it!" The young boy exclaimed, causing Branch to glance at him with a slightly raised eyebrow. "My strength and body allowed you to beat Blaze! I just have to teach you how to use it properly so you can become good at playing football."

The girl smiled when she got what Poppy was saying. "And, I can help you study so you can pass my interview at Trollstopia!"

Both of them smiled, neither would confess it verbally, but they experienced a certain degree of apprehension and anxiety coursing through their bodies. Nevertheless, the emotions of excitement and happiness were the most prevalent at that particular moment.

Branch and Poppy would start working as a team. Poppy will impart her football knowledge to Branch, while he will acquire the necessary skills to excel in the Trollstopia interview under her guidance.

********************

The following day, Poppy initiated the plan by taking Branch to the school field for a practice session with the diverse football training equipment.

They commenced their practice by engaging in the activity of throwing the ball. All of Poppy's attempts resulted in the ball landing precisely within the designated metal baskets. However, when it was Branch's turn to participate, her throws lacked sufficient force or accuracy, resulting in inconsistent outcomes. Then, they engaged in practicing the act of throwing the ball to one another. However, Branch exhibited a tendency to let go of the majority of the balls that were thrown in her direction, as she harbored a fear of being struck by them. They made the decision to temporarily halt the practice when one of the balls struck Branch in the nose, and they both became aware of the fact that they were beginning to draw the attention of onlookers.

As they left the school, they headed to a small dock near a lake. There were no people around, so they saw it as the perfect place to practice football with Branch without someone coming to judge her for her lack of skill in the sport.

Poppy made a decision to attempt to teach Branch how to play, explaining the sport to her as if it were an academic subject, the kind that the girl used to excel at effortlessly.

"Who's the quarterback?"

"You!" Branch said, pointing at him excitedly and then frowning in confusion. "Well, now I am. I guess"

"Yeah. So, once they're done counting, the center throws the ball to the quarterback, and that's when the game begins. Does that make sense?"

"Yes." Branch said, nodding her head.

"Great." Poppy was grinning from ear to ear.

The young man patiently continued to explain the intricacies of football, including moves, techniques, and fouls, to Branch. As the girl's understanding of the sport grew, darkness began to fall, prompting them to head to Poppy's house, where Branch would assume the role of coach.

********************

Branch joyfully picked up a book of poetry and commenced to recite it. Poppy attentively listened to her, understanding that upon her completion of the reading, he would be required to provide an interpretation of what he had just heard.

"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date." Branch concluded reading with great enthusiasm and then turned to Poppy, her gaze filled with anticipation.

"So," Poppy began saying, "he's not saying she's like a summer day. He's saying she's hot, really hot like a summer day."

"That's right!" Branch replied with excitement. 

Poppy allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. "You know, I can’t imagine saying those sorts of words to someone."

"Maybe you haven't met the right girl to say such beautiful and deep words to yet."

"Or maybe I don't want to be seen as a fool. That girl must've been drop-dead gorgeous, and Shakespeare must've been head over heels in love with her to write those words for her."

"Shakespeare actually wrote this poem for a man."

"Was he atraccted to men?" Poppy inquired, taken aback by the unexpected information.

"It is uncertain and unknown to all."

Poppy chuckled softly. "Branch, he wrote a poem to a man telling him how hot he is and you're telling me that you don't know exactly whether William is gay or not? I think the answer is too obvious."

Branch rolled her eyes. "I think that's enough for today."

"A gay poet, who would have thought." Poppy stated, beginning to walk in the direction of the window.

"See you tomorrow." Branch stated, smiling at him.

"Bye."

"Sleep tight, Poppy." Branch said, starting to lean out the window as Poppy pulled a tree branch towards him so he could cross from home to home.

"You know," Branch interjected, causing Poppy to pause. He had been standing on the windowsill, his gaze fixed on her with an air of anticipation. "I was totally wrong about your sister. She's actually pretty cool, once you get past her terrible cooking."

"My sister is the best." Poppy stated as he made another attempt to pull on one of the branches. Branch once again stopped him.

"Hey Poppy, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"No, forget about it."

"Come on, tell me."

"It's too embarrassing."

"Branch, tell me, or I'm staying here until you do."

"It's just...in the mornings you get...well, you know...that...that thing—"

Poppy frowned in confusion as he listened to Branch's babbling until the young woman pointed to his lower body. Poppy opened his eyes, finally understanding what Branch was talking about.

"Are you referring to my friend who wakes up very happily in the mornings?" Poppy said, looking at Branch in a mocking way.

The girl nodded while covering her face with her hands. "Yes, how do you get rid of that?"

Poppy chuckled softly. "There’s only one way." He said, beginning to move his hand up and down.

Branch looked at him in disgust. "Poppy, that's disgusting! There's no way I'm doing that. Please tell me there's another way."

Poppy snorted. "Well, in case of emergencies, it helps to think of gross things, like you, for example. It always works for me."

Branch rolled her eyes and went back into the room to close the window. "Good night, Kendrick."

Chapter Text

As soon as Branch was alone, she decided to go down to the kitchen for a glass of water. However, she ran into Mr. Peppy, who was drinking a cup of hot chocolate. 

"Hey Poppy! Do you want some?"

"Nah, I'll just have some water."

"Hey, you seem a bit down today. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I was just... studying with Branch."

Peppy chuckled softly, hiding his laughter behind his cup of hot chocolate. "Is that what you call it now, studying?"

The young lady frowned when she heard those words. "Branch is not that kind of girl."

"I know." Peppy said that and then took a sip of his drink. "But you can't deny that she's pretty. You know, there was a time when her older brother, Clay, and Viva were really close. They even set up playdates for you and Branch to hang out. You two were super tight, like mini best friends. You were just a little kid back then, I don't think you remember, but those were some good times.

"So what happened?"

"Well, Branch’s older brother, John Dory, did not particularly enjoy any of those friendships. I suppose he does not hold our family in high regard since we do not meet his perfect standards." Peppy finished his drink and put it in the sink, then he went upstairs.

Branch followed him with her eyes. "Get some rest...dad."

********************

The next day, Poppy was on his way to the school entrance when he began to hear loud cries. The young man frowned when he saw that it was Bridget. Poppy wasn't fond of watching people cry, but he definitely couldn't stand by and do nothing. He was going to have to comfort her.

"Hey Bridget, are you okay?"

"No." The girl said that while she started crying harder.

"What's wrong?" Poppy inquired, taking a seat beside her.

"It's Gristle. I'm pretty sure he's cheating on me."

"Nah, I don't think so. Gristle loves you."

"Then, why did I see him kissing another girl?"

"Hey Bridget, are you 100% sure about what you saw?"

"Yes, I'm pretty sure. Why are men such jerks? Never mind, forget it. I don't know why I'm asking you. You know less about men than any other girl I know."

Poppy simply nodded his head, unsure of how to respond. He was grateful that Branch was not present to hear Bridget's somewhat hurtful remarks. Bridget appeared to recognize her error and attempted to apologize.

"Sorry Branch, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"It's fine, you're right. I don't know anything about men."

"I'm so stupid! I knew we weren't meant to be together, but I stubbornly insisted on it."

"Hey, don't say that! But seriously, why did you notice him out of all the guys?"

"When I first arrived here, I didn’t know a single soul. I felt like a total nobody, you know? But then Gristle reached out and offered me his friendship. Thanks to him, I started hanging out with Creek, Mila, Poppy, and the rest of the crew. Gristle helped me feel more confident and I've liked him ever since. I really like his personality. To be honest, I think he's perfect, so when he asked me out, I was super excited and I really wanted to believe it was for real. I thought I might actually have a shot at a perfect movie-like romance, but he doesn't seem to feel the same way."

"Bridget, there are lots of guys out there. You can do better than Gristle."

Bridget chuckled at the answer. "Branch, I sometimes wish I had your self-assurance. You are always true to yourself, regardless of whether or not others find it appealing. I greatly admire that about you."

Poppy responded with a subtle smile. The young man had never noticed that Branch was, in fact, a sincere individual. The young lady wasn't trying to act differently just to get people to like her or to get attention. However, upon listening to Bridget, he found himself concurring with the sentiment of admiring Branch for her genuineness.

Bridget was so appreciative of the brief interaction with the girl she believed to be Branch that she extended an invitation for a sleepover, which Poppy happily accepted.

******************

That evening, Poppy made his way to Bridget's residence for a sleepover. Upon his arrival, Bridget, whose hair was adorned with pink highlights, enthusiastically opened the door and guided Poppy to her room. Inside, Creek and Mila were engaged in a seemingly significant conversation. However, they paused their discussion upon noticing the girl presence.

"What is this savage doing here? We never invited her." Creek complained. 

Bridget jumped in to defend her new friend, real quick. "Branch is super cool, and she just wants to make friends, right?"

Poppy nodded. "Precisely, I come in peace."

"So you finally figured out you've been wrong all this time, huh?" Creek said, looking at Branch body with suspicion.

Poppy looked at her with a smile. "That's true! Now I'm just trying to be a better person and enjoy myself."

Creek raised an eyebrow and then looked at him with a big smile. "Alright, let's get this sleepover going!"

The girls started having a pillow fight, and Poppy was just watching them with a smile on his face. Maybe he couldn't find a boyfriend for Branch, and to be honest, after getting to know the girl, he wasn't really interested in doing it anymore. He realized that not just any guy would be good enough for her. But hey, he could still try to get Branch some friends. Poppy noticed that the girl was usually alone, and he thought Branch was special enough to stand out from the crowd.

Poppy participated in all the sleepover activities, including baking desserts and watching emotional movies. At that moment, they were engaged in a spa routine, with all the girls wearing face masks while assisting one another in painting their toenails. The boy could not suppress his curiosity and inquired about the unfortunate incident Branch had caused in his relationship with the cheerleader.

"Hey Creek." Poppy mentioned as he feigned to concentrate his attention on painting Bridget's toenails flawlessly. "I heard you and Poppy broke up. Is that true?"

"That relationship is completely over, don't even bring it up."

"How are you holding up after the breakup?" Mila asked, pouting and looking worriedly at her friend.

"Come on, Mila." Creek laughed at the other girl's reaction and rolled her eyes. "You knew very well that the only reason I was dating Poppy is because he's the quarterback of the football team and there's a chance he'll become a millionaire someday.

Poppy attentively listened to his former partner's statements, attempting to conceal his astonishment and maintain focus on the shade of pink nail polish Bridget had selected.

"Without me, Poppy is a nobody who can easily be replaced by another talented football  player who can help me achieve my goal of being a trophy wife in the future." Creek finished saying with a dreamy smile on her face.

Poppy furrowed his brow without diverting his attention from Bridget's toenails. He felt betrayed and hurt, but not as much as he thought he would when he found out his ex never loved him. Strangely, a part of him felt a sense of tranquility and relief, as if he had been liberated from a burden. He turned to face the girl, a genuine smile gracing his countenance. "I hope you really do find the guy who will help you fulfill your dream life, Creek."

Chapter Text

The cheerleader displayed a hint of surprise upon hearing the words uttered by the girl with sapphire eyes and jet-black hair, yet she managed to maintain a gentle smile on her face. "Thanks, Branch. I hope you find someone who—" Creek frowned a bit and hesitated for a moment, like she was trying to figure out how to say something without upsetting the girl in front of her. "—complement you."

Poppy nodded his head as he gave a small smile. He also wanted Branch to be able to find her soul mate, even if the thought of her being happy with another boy caused him some discomfort he could not explain.

********************

On the other hand, Branch and Smidge were in Gristle's car, preparing to attend a party. The car's owner was observing the young ladies entering the fraternity house where the party was being held that night.

"Look at those cuties, we're gonna have some fun today."

Branch frowned at Gristle’s words. "What about Bridget?" She asked out of inertia and curiosity.

Gristle feigned to search for something and then turned to observe Poppy's body. "She's nowhere to be found, I guess it's a sign."

"Come on Gristle. Are you really going to risk Bridget's feelings for a one-night stand?"

The car's owner began to laugh uncontrollably, and when he was able to compose himself, he looked directly at Poppy's face. "Dude, sometimes you're hilarious. Don't tell me you actually think true love exists in real life? That's pure fiction. I prefer to be guided by fun without commitment, but if you want us to be guided by your romantic philosophy, I assure you that tonight I'm going to fall in love quickly."

Branch regarded the boy with a disapproving expression, while Smidge shifted his gaze between his two companions, uncertain of how to contribute or mediate the discussion.

"What?" That was the only thing that came out of Branch's mouth, expressing disbelief at the words she was hearing.

"Come on, Poppy. You know how this goes. A few drinks and any girl becomes the most attractive woman in the world. Let's go. We've wasted enough time in the car already."

Gristle got out of the car, leaving Branch and Smidge inside. She sighed as Poppy's best friend put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Gristle is hopeless, but we can't just sit here all night, can we? Let's go have some fun. I love you, Poppy, but I don't want to stay with you all night in this car."

Branch laughed at Smidge's words as they both got out of the car to join the party. They both went inside and met up with Gristle, who was watching a game of beer pong. When the players saw Poppy’s body arrive, they challenged him to play with them. Branch was quick to refuse, and she started making lame excuses. When the girl realized she couldn't get out of it, she ended up playing beer pong with the others.

Initially, the young lady was determined to win, however, due to her lack of experience, the beer glasses on her side began to empty. Branch was thoroughly enjoying herself, despite the fact that she had begun consuming the drinks in the red cups as if they were water rather than alcoholic beverages. When the game was over, everything was spinning in her head, but the smile wouldn't leave her face. Apparently, she had misjudged Poppy. Parties were actually fun and not a waste of time, like John Dory used to tell her.

Branch's train of thought was interrupted when Smidge placed an arm around Poppy's shoulders. They both turned to face each other and began to laugh uncontrollably due to the substantial amount of alcohol they had consumed. After that, Branch's memories became a blur, and the girl didn't know how, but she made it to Poppy's house before she completely lost consciousness.

 ********************

The next morning, Branch woke up to the sunlight streaming through the window. She groaned in annoyance as she felt a splitting headache coming on and instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes from the light.

The girl felt a hand gently stroking her hair. Branch let out a sigh as she leaned into the caress, thinking it was her brother Floyd. However, at that moment, Branch remembered that she was in Poppy's body. So she opened her eyes to see the person who was stroking her hair. Branch found Poppy sitting next to her. He was looking at her with a soft smile and a bit of worry in his eyes.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty." Poppy said this as soon as she noticed Branch had opened her eyes.

Poppy stopped his caresses and reached for the things he had left on the bureau beside the bed. Branch sat up and leaned her back and head against the headboard so she could see the boy better.

"How did you arrive here?" Branch asked.

Poppy offered her a glass of water and an aspirin. "As usual, through the window. How are you doing?"

Branch took the medicine Poppy gave her. "My head is killing me and I feel like the room won't stop spinning."

Poppy glanced at the dark-haired young lady with a slight smile. "How much did you drink last night?"

"I have no idea. All I remember is that someone dared me to play beer pong, and I ended up drinking way too much. Poppy, you were right about parties being a blast! I went a bit overboard last night and had an amazing time, but I'm not sure I can handle that much drinking again."

Hearing her response, Poppy couldn't help but chuckle. "I must admit, I understand why you were challenged yesterday, being in my body and all. However, I am genuinely surprised that you chose to accept the challenge."

"I'm a competitive person. Besides, I wasn't going to let them call the quarterback a coward."

"Thanks a lot for trying to defend me, Branch, but let me tell you, what you experienced yesterday was just a taste of the party scene. Hey, next time, watch how much you drink, okay? I'll stick close to you at the next party, make sure you don't overdo it, and that no one gives you a hard time."

Branch smiled gently. "Thanks for looking out for me, Poppy."

Both of them gazed into each other's eyes, becoming engrossed in one another's presence. However, Poppy became conscious of the situation and, with a slight frown, looked down, ending the intense visual connection they had established.

Poppy cleared his throat before speaking, not daring to look back into the eyes of the young lady with jet-black hair in front of him. "We gotta practice. Will I see you later?"

Branch nodded even though she knew Poppy wasn't looking at her. "Sure, just give me a few more hours to rest, and then I will meet you for practice."

Poppy smiled as he quickly made his way to the window to head to what was momentarily becoming his home.

********************

When the world stopped spinning for Branch, she got out of bed, got dressed, and walked to the window to get Poppy's attention and go outside to practice.

They both went to their secret spot, on the dock near the lake. They started practicing throwing and catching. Branch had gotten much better at playing football, and her enthusiasm in the private practices became more evident.

"No, wait." Poppy interrupted one of Branch's throws and said, "Your body language is giving away your next move. Stand behind me and hold the ball with me so you can copy what I do. I'll show you how to disguise your movements."

Branch obeyed, stood behind Poppy, and wrapped her arms around the body that was currently being inhabited by the boy to hold the ball. Poppy was showing Branch how to disguise her moves when he felt something weird - a hard something - bump against his butt.

The boy stopped his lesson and froze for a second. "Branch, what's that?"

Poppy turned and looked at Branch with a raised eyebrow as he attempted to suppress a smile. The girl with jet-black hair, on her part, frowned, feigning ignorance of the unfolding situation.

Chapter Text

"What is what?" Branch asked. 

Poppy could no longer contain his amusement and burst into laughter. Once he had regained his composure, he turned to the girl, a smile still playing on his lips. "Branch, focus! We're playing football here! You're getting a little too excited, aren't you? Can't handle being near me or something?"

The young lady rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, feigning annoyance. Despite her own embarrassment, Poppy's response elicited a desire to join in the laughter.

"Not my problem, Kendrick! This thing is on you, not me. Maybe your friend is just really into me. Who knows?"

"Nah, I don't think so. You're the one who has it right now. That means you're the one who finds me attractive and irresistible."

"This thing thinks that everything is attractive!" Branch exclaimed with a sigh, already sick of the topic. "Could we please continue playing football?" Branch snatched the ball from Poppy and kept practicing her shots.

"Sure." Poppy began to say, thinking of how to annoy Branch even more. "Just keep your bum and my friend in separate zip codes, okay?"

Poppy swiftly intercepted the ball that Branch had intentionally thrown towards him with the intent to cause harm. He smirked, having successfully achieved his objective of provoking the young lady.

When they were finished with football practice, they headed to the dock to begin preparing for the Trollstopia interview. They had lunch together while reading different poetry books. They were both chillin' in their own little world, away from everyone else. They were starting to dig spending time alone together. It felt really good and somehow even right, like that's how things should be. Neither of them wanted anyone to come along and mess up their almost-perfect moments, but they were both too proud to admit it out loud.

********************

Branch looked at the tree with determination. Poppy made crossing between the windows look so easy that she didn't want to be left behind. She reached out to the branch that appeared to be the most stable and, utilizing her weight, she successfully crossed over to the opposite window, entering the room that was rightfully hers, where Poppy had been staying since the unexpected body swap.

"You came in through the window!" Poppy was delighted to see her taking risks.

"It's one of the many skills I've managed to acquire since our exchange." Branch replied, proud of herself.

The young girl turned her gaze toward the door and wiped away her smile to run toward it and close it quickly but without making any noise. "Be quiet! If JD finds out there's a boy in my room, he'll go ballistic, and I don't know what he's capable of!" Branch lowered her gaze before directing her attention to Poppy. "Considering that I am currently in your body, I would prefer not to imagine the reaction of my older brother if he were to see you here." She said that while pretending to shiver.

Poppy simply made a face and shrugged his shoulders. Then he turned his attention to the wardrobe. "I'm trying to decide what to wear to the interview."

"Wear navy blue pants and a jacket, a white blouse, and black heels."

The boy tilted his head to the side, looking all confused. "I was thinking of something more revealing, you know, to get some attention."

"Poppy, it's an interview, not a date. Let's focus on presenting myself professionally, rather than trying to show off my body" Branch said, frowning.

The blue-eyed girl observed that Poppy was regarding her with a grin, indicating that his remark was intended as a jest and not to be taken seriously.

Branch smiled back at him. "Do whatever you want, Kendrick. I trust you."

"Thank you. I expected nothing less." Poppy wiped the smug look off his face, sighed, and rubbed the back of his neck. "I was thinking...as long as we're in each other's bodies, maybe...you and I could go to the prom together."

Branch was staring at him seriously, which made Poppy even more nervous and he just kept talking.

"Who else would we go with? I don't wanna be alone at the prom, and... I promised to be with you at the next party to stop you from drinking too much, so... I don't know, I guess it makes sense... It's not a date!...I'm just suggesting."

Branch appeared to be contemplating her response, furrowing her brow slightly. She then shrugged and turned her attention to Poppy. "Yeah, I think it's a good idea." She said with a little smile.

Poppy was grinning from ear to ear. "Perfect! It's a date!"

Branch looked at him in surprise, and the boy, realizing what he had said, quickly tried to fix it. "A date that isn't a date." 

Before Branch could respond, JD announced that dinner was ready. The dark-haired girl understood her older brother's words as a cue to return to her temporary residence. She bid farewell to Poppy and crossed back between the windows to her temporary room. Poppy sighed and proceeded downstairs to join Branch's brothers for dinner.

The three of them were eating quietly when Poppy remembered that he had to tell the elders he would be late the next day because of the big football game. So, he stopped eating and turned to John Dory. "I might be a bit late tomorrow."

John Dory abruptly ceased his meal and assumed a stern expression, directing an intimidating gaze towards his younger sibling. "A bit late, Branch Timberlake? What’s the matter with you lately? You’re acting strangely, and I feel as though I don’t even know you anymore."

"John Dory Timberlake!" Floyd jumped in to defend the youngest of the family. "Not everything in life is about getting good grades and studying. Branch is growing up and needs to have a life outside of school. Our sister deserves to have friends, party and have fun. You can't control her all the time. Branch is a human and our baby sister. She's not a robot so she doesn't have to be perfect all the time!"

John Dory sighed but softened his gaze a bit at Branch. "Could you let us know where you are going, or is it a secret?"

"It's no secret." He began saying. "I'm gonna study with Poppy."

"Poppy? Poppy Kendrick?" John Dory asked, frowning once more.

"Yes, is there a problem with that?"

John Dory opened his mouth, ready to debate about it, but Floyd cleared his throat, trying to get the older man's attention.

John Dory took a deep breath and closed his eyes before answering his sister. "No."

Floyd seemed happy with the answer and went back to eating. But his older brother wasn't done talking. "You're responsible for how you want to waste your time."

"Excuse me?" Poppy replied, frowning.

"Branch, please. We are discussing Poppy Kendrick. One only needs to meet him to understand what I mean."

"What's wrong with Poppy? He seems like a great guy."

John Dory snorted. "Poppy's a jerk, a troublemaker and a good-for-nothing. You said so yourself."

Poppy stopped talking and listened to what John Dory had to say. It was tough for him to believe that Branch would think of him that way, but deep down, he knew it made sense. Nevertheless, upon learning the harsh truth, his heart shattered, for he had cherished the notion that he and Branch were growing closer and forging a robust and meaningful connection. However, it seemed that he had been mistaken. It appeared that he had forgotten his own words. Branch was an exceptionally valuable and genuine individual, and no boy was truly deserving of her, including himself. She was simply too perfect for someone like him. As much as it pained him to acknowledge it, Branch deserved someone who could meet John's high standards and bring Branch happiness. Regrettably, he had come to the realization that he was not the ideal choice for her.

He let out a sigh and pushed the plate of food away. He had lost his appetite. Poppy rose from the table, noticing the look of concern on Floyd's face as John Dory's gaze invited him to respond that he was mistaken, knowing it was impossible.

"I am going for a walk." Poppy told Branch's brothers as he was leaving the house.

Chapter Text

Branch went to her house like a normal person. She knocked on the door instead of going through the window. When she knocked, Floyd answered the door. So, the girl smiled at him, trying not to accidentally call him "Flo Flo" like she usually does. When her brother said hi back, Branch finally asked her what she had been dying to ask him.

"Hey Floyd, sorry to bother you, but is Branch around?"

The girl's older brother made a face, which caused her to feel concerned. After a seemingly interminable pause, Floyd finally responded to the question.

"Sorry Poppy, Branch went for a walk after dinner and hasn't come back yet. I think she's feeling stressed about her interview at Trollstopia University tomorrow. John Dory really stresses her out, and... I don't know why I'm telling you this." He concluded his statement with a brief chuckle.

Branch frowned a little. It was obvious that Floyd was her favorite brother. To her, he was the only one who seemed to really care about her, no matter what. Branch was having a tough time lately. Not only was she stuck in a different body, but she also missed cuddling with her favorite brother for comfort.

"How've you been, Floyd?" Branch finally inquired, unable to suppress her concern for her elder brother's welfare.

Floyd gave a gentle smile. "Fine, thanks for asking, Poppy. How are you doing?"

"Fine too. I won't bother you anymore, please say hello to Branch and John Dory. Bye."

The girl couldn't help herself and gave her brother a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Floyd was a bit confused, but he didn't say anything.

Branch made the decision to go to the school with the intention of finding Poppy. As she watched him practicing throws on the school field, the young girl couldn't help but smile. However, as she got closer to the boy, she noticed that he was throwing the balls with excessive force and fury, as if he wanted to break or destroy something. This caused Branch to feel concerned.

"Poppy, stop or you're going to hurt my arm."

"I don't care, Timberlake. Leave me alone." Poppy snapped back with annoyance.

"What's your problem?" Branch asked, crossing her arms and getting annoyed.

"My problem is that for a moment...I had this crazy idea that I could totally reinvent myself and change my whole life, but... turns out it was all a big fat illusion."

"Poppy, don't say that. You can do anything you set your mind to. I know it might not feel like it right now, but you're an amazing person and a great friend. I'm lucky to have you in my life, but if you ask later, I'll deny saying that."

The boy let out a sarcastic laugh. "Are you serious? Because your older brother appears to have a different opinion." Poppy replied, keeping it a secret that he found it hard to believe her words due to what John had told him earlier. Poppy couldn't help but think that Branch was being dishonest in an attempt to make him feel better and that she actually viewed him in a similar manner as John Dory.

Branch frowned. "Big Brother? Which Big Brother are you talking about? Is it John Dory? What did he say to make you so upset?"

"Branch, none of that matters. What matters is that my life and my destiny have been snatched away from me. I was supposed to be playing in the most important game of my life tomorrow! And instead, I have to go to some stupid interview at a damn university that I'm not even going to attend."

"You're not the only one who's frustrated by this, you know! But you know, life and fate can be really weird and unpredictable. We're trying our best to deal with this crazy situation, so don't let my brother's words affect you. Let's keep working together and doing our best while—"

"Listen, save your motivational speech for someone who cares. What you're saying doesn't mean anything to me right now. I know who I am and what people think of me...and I'm pretty sure you know that too."

Poppy turned away, feeling disheartened by the circumstances. Not only had he recently discovered his feelings for Branch, but he also learned from the girl's older brother that his affections were unreciprocated. That and the fact that he couldn't help his teammates in such an important game were too much for him. He needed some time alone to let off some steam, just like he was doing before Branch came and interrupted him.

On the other hand, the young woman furrowed her brows as she noticed Poppy's intention to leave her alone in that place.

"What does this mean? Are you just going to give up now? Really? Poppy Kendrick is going to throw in the towel at a time like this? I can't believe it. But then again, I'm not surprised you'd leave me hanging when I need you the most. I should have known better not to trust you so much." Branch finished talking, letting out a sigh. 

Poppy didn't even bother to look at her. He just froze, closed his eyes, and tried to process what Branch had just said. Hearing from someone else that the girl you like thinks you're a disappointment and a good-for-nothing was difficult, but hearing Branch’s own mouth imply those things was devastating. His heart was shattered in a way he never imagined. He couldn't take Branch's hurtful words anymore, so he sighed, shook his head, and walked away.

When Poppy arrived at Branch's house, he sat on the bed and allowed himself to cry for a moment as he lost himself in a sea of thoughts. Upon calming down, Poppy decided to pay attention to the various poetry and achievement awards that Branch had displayed around the room. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that in one small corner were what appeared to be blueprint sketches. However, he chose to ignore them and focus his attention on the awards.

At that moment, Poppy made the decision to do his best at the interview he would have the next day. Branch's fate depended on him, and he would not allow himself to be the one to blame for ruining Branch's life. If anyone was deserving of good things in life, it was Branch, and Poppy would do everything within his power to assist her in achieving the success and life she merited. Even though the young lady did not trust him or reciprocate his feelings, Poppy had no intention of disappointing Branch.

*********************

Poppy confidently strolled through the university hallways. Sure, he was a bit nervous, but he wasn't about to let that stop him from achieving his goal. He intended to demonstrate his capabilities to not only Branch but also to all those who had underestimated him, proving that he could achieve anything he set his mind to. In doing so, he hoped to make the sapphire-eyed girl proud.

As he patiently awaited his turn for the interview, Poppy diligently reviewed the lessons imparted by Branch during their numerous sessions.

Finally, a secretary called Branch’s name. The time for the long-awaited interview had arrived. Poppy took a deep breath and entered the office with a firm, confident stride, projecting an image of confidence and professionalism.

Inside the room, a gentleman was seated at a desk, with a vacant chair before him. The gentleman offered a courteous smile upon noticing Poppy's entrance.

"Good afternoon, Miss Timberlake. Please take a seat." He said pointing to the empty chair.

As Poppy sat down opposite the gentleman, he commenced speaking. "At Trollstopia, we seek enthusiastic and passionate individuals to join our team. I was particularly impressed by your essay, which showcased your profound love for poetry and literature. It is quite uncommon to find such a deep appreciation for the arts among individuals your age."

Poppy couldn't help but smile. Branch really loved poetry and reading. He still can't understand how she had managed to go unnoticed by others for so long. Although if he think about it, Branch was never invisible in his eyes, there was always something that made him want to get her attention even if it was through practical jokes and insults.

"Thank you very much. Both poetry and reading are of great significance to me." Poppy responded at last, redirecting his focus to the ongoing interview.

The interview proceeded smoothly. Poppy promptly responded to all of the gentleman's inquiries with the knowledge he had acquired from Branch. The young man felt confident that his interview was progressing exceptionally well.

Chapter Text

"May I ask why you have such a strong affinity for poetry?" The interviewer inquired.

Poppy tried to hide his surprise. Branch had taught him about poetry, but the sapphire-eyed young woman had never told him why she was so passionate about it, and he hadn't asked about it either. Poppy frowned slightly and tried to respond as he thought Branch would.

"I like the way it expresses feelings that are so complex and difficult to explain."

As were his feelings for Branch, although that was private information he did not intend to share with anyone.

The interviewer appeared satisfied with the response, which briefly reassured Poppy until the individual posed an additional unanticipated inquiry that had not been rehearsed or studied with Branch.

"Are there any contemporary poets or writers you currently admire?"

Poppy was at a loss for an answer to the question. They had been diligently studying general information. The fact that he had never inquired about Branch's poetic preferences was a source of great frustration for him. Additionally, he couldn't stop thinking about how concerned Branch appeared to be about disappointing John. This, combined with his own nervousness, caused Poppy to forget all the names of the poets he had studied with Branch.

The boy sighed. At least he could say he had done his best. "No, I'm sorry."

"No? Why not?"

"Because... not?" Poppy responded with a tone of uncertainty.

The interviewer frowned and let out a sigh. The man looked disappointed of him, and if Poppy had to be honest, he was starting to get tired of people seeing him that way. He was doing his best and still managed to find a way to disappoint others! He was a football player—not a poetry lover like Branch.

"I believe that would be all, Miss Timberlake." The interviewer remarked.

Poppy stood up, feeling a sense of dejection and sadness. He could not believe that he had been unable to answer such straightforward questions pertaining to Branch's preferences. He dreaded the thought of how the young lady would react when he informed her that he had inadvertently shattered her dreams due to his inability to provide information about her preferences in poetry. If the questions had been about Branch's general preferences, Poppy would have responded without any hesitation. He had come to know the blue-sapphire-eyed girl quite well and could confidently say that he understood her better than anyone else, with the possible exception of her older brothers.

Poppy paused in front of the door leading out. Under no circumstances would he destroy Branch's dreams or allow her to become her older brother's disappointment, without making the slightest attempt to answer the question. Perhaps he did not know how the girl would answer, but he could provide his own. He turned around and decided to answer the question according to his own preferences and knowledge.

"In fact, there are a few poets that I really love. Like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, and Chris Martin." Poppy responded with a sense of pride.

"Excuse me, but I believe they are singers." The interviewer said, confused by the answer.

"But isn't music also poetry? I dare to say it is urban poetry. Through music, artists express their vision of daily life and reality. They address themes such as loneliness and existential crises, conveying complex emotions. For this reason, I consider music to be a form of modern poetry and believe it should be recognized as such."

The interviewer remained silent, merely acknowledging with a nod. Poppy departed from the room, leaving no doubt that he had done his best.

Poppy checked the time on his watch. The game had already begun, and he would be tardy for Branch's game. The young man sprinted to the bus stop to head to school; he needed to arrive there as soon as possible to support one of his favorite girls.

Upon arriving at his destination, Poppy noticed that his team was losing by a wide margin of points. At that moment, his gaze met Branch's, and although everyone thought it was impossible, he was confident that she would lead his team to victory.

*********************

Branch felt like a shrimp among those big, strong dudes. The poor girl tried to use what Poppy taught her, but every time she tried, someone would knock her over or mess up her moves.

The team was losing, and it was making her quite anxious. This was the most significant game for Poppy, and she was not performing as well as she had hoped. Not only was she going to disappoint the young man, but she was also letting down an entire team that had placed their trust and faith in her as their quarterback. Branch was feeling overwhelmed by the pressure on her shoulders.

At that particular moment, Branch observed Poppy's presence within the audience.Their eyes met, and Poppy smiled at her, which she returned. Knowing that Poppy was present at the game gave Branch a surge of confidence to win. She did not intend to disappoint Poppy, especially since he was there to watch her play.

The gazed connection was broken when Branch, instinctively, caught the ball and was promptly knocked down by one of the opposing team’s players. Poppy winced at the unfortunate fall as he made his way to the bench where his father and Viva were standing. Branch was beginning to rise, feeling frustrated about being knocked down but determined to secure victory in the competition.

As she readied herself to commence the upcoming quarter, she directed her attention towards the rival team. "You messed with the wrong girl." She quietly expressed her frustration to herself, speaking in a low voice that made it difficult for others to understand what she was saying. When she finished saying the sentence, the girl began to play, exerting her maximum effort and thinking about winning.

Branch made an incredible pass, resulting in a spectacular touchdown. The team's outstanding performance, led by Branch, gradually narrowed the point gap between the two teams. Poppy's team members, the spectators, and the cheerleaders erupted in jubilation. The prospect of a triumphant victory was becoming increasingly tangible.

As the clock wound down to the final moments of the game and with only a four-point deficit in favor of the opposing team, Branch turned her attention towards Poppy, who was intently focused on her. Subconsciously, he exuded a sense of tranquility, instilling in her unwavering self-confidence and a profound belief in her capabilities.

At that precise moment, the game and the other participants vanished, leaving only Poppy visible to her. During this adventure, the young man had earned a special place in her heart. She realized this when she saw him and felt her heart racing, not due to the adrenaline of the competition, but for a different reason. Branch felt butterflies dancing wildly in her stomach, and she knew they had nothing to do with the nerves caused by the game she was playing. She came to the realization that her admiration for Poppy extended beyond his athletic prowess on the football field. The time spent with the young man with magenta eyes had a profound impact on her emotions and affections. She experienced a warm sensation on her cheeks as she recalled Poppy's radiant smile, his hearty laughter, his infectious enthusiasm, his amusing jokes, and the profound conversations they had shared during those memorable days. The blue-eyed girl began to feel vulnerable and shy because of this new emotion she was experiencing. Branch couldn't help but relate her feelings to how the characters in her books described love.

As hard as it was for her, Branch had to admit that she had fallen in love with Poppy Kendrick. The very thought of it terrified and thrilled her simultaneously. It felt like standing on a precipice, filled with uncertainty and unaware of what lay ahead. She knew she had to focus on finishing and winning the game, but her heart and mind kept playing with her. She couldn't stop thinking about all the different possibilities, and Branch couldn't help but wonder if there was a chance of starting something serious with Poppy.

"C'mon, you got this! I believe in you!" Poppy cheered for her from the audience.

Branch grinned. That's what she needed to hear. She turned her attention back to the game. She was this close to winning, and she wasn't going to mess it up for anything. She took a deep breath and got ready to triumph.

Branch got the ball when there were only a few seconds left on the clock. She ran as fast as she could, dodging all the players who tried to stop her. She finally scored a touchdown, and her team won the game.

Chapter Text

As the celebration erupted, Branch scanned the room, her eyes searching for Poppy. When she spotted him, he was watching her with pride, beaming with joy as he celebrated alongside Viva and his father.

At that moment, the rest of the team surrounded her as Poppy watched from the stands. He knew Branch would win the game and never doubted her. 

"Why are you still here?" Viva asked, gaining his attention. "Go with him."

Poppy gave a nod of his head and swiftly made his way towards the tunnel that he was aware the players would be passing through in order to reach the locker room.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team lifted Branch up and congratulated her on her excellent performance. The young girl couldn't stop smiling, she was so happy. As they were entering the tunnel, the boys finally put her down, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, a talent scout approached her.

"You were amazing in that game, kiddo." The talent scout said. "Have you given any thought to where you wanna go to college?"

Branch inertly responded. "Yes, my brother has always wanted me to attend Trollstopia University."

The talent scout responded with amusement. "That's funny. You know what? Tell your brother to call me." He politely extended a business card. "We're not Trollstopia, but I think you'll like what we have to offer."

"Thank you very much." Branch responded with a handshake to the talent scout.

"No problem. Congratulations on the game." The talent scout responded and subsequently departed.

The remainder of the team had already entered the locker room, leaving Branch alone in the tunnel. The young lady had not noticed this, as she followed the talent scout with her eyes, until the voice she yearned to hear brought her back to reality.

"You did it! You were awesome, Branchifer! I knew you could do it." Poppy offered his congratulations.

"Thanks! Did you see me play? We crushed the other team!" Branch responded with enthusiasm. "Oh, and guess what? He was a talent scout!" She pointed to where the man had gone. "You're going to college! And you know what the best part is?"

Poppy observed her with a smile, pleased to witness Branch's evident joy and enthusiasm. However, at that moment, he began to feel a sense of guilt regarding his performance during the interview.

"I really enjoyed playing football! The adrenaline rushing through my body and the cheers from the crowd—" Branch ceased speaking as she observed Poppy's demeanor transition from joy and enthusiasm to concern and distress. "The interview! I had completely forgotten about it. How did it go?" She inquired with concern.

"It was awesome. The place is beautiful and for a moment...I felt like I belonged there." Poppy winced as he recalled his performance. "I swear, I really tried my best."

Branch smiled at him as she put her hand on his shoulder. "I know I trust you did it. That's why you should be proud. You know what? Trollstopia would be so lucky to have someone like you as a student. Thanks for taking over my interview, Poppy."

"No worries." Poppy smiled gratefully at her. "Branch, I'm so glad we've switched bodies. I couldn't imagine navigating this wild adventure with anyone else by my side. Plus, it's a thrill to see the world through your eyes and experience life as you do. Honestly, it's a real pleasure. "

"I totally agree with you."

Both of them smiled sincerely at each other as they became engrossed in each other's gaze once more. At that moment, no one else held any significance; it was just the two of them.

Again, they were so focused on each other, as on that first visit to the history museum, that once more they failed to notice a light smoke beginning to surround them. And finally, what they had yearned for since the beginning occurred; they had both returned to their respective bodies.

They both looked at each other with surprise and joy in their eyes as they realized that they were looking at each other's faces instead of seeing themselves. They had huge smiles on their faces, which showed how happy they were to realize that things were finally back to normal. It took a few seconds before anyone could react and say anything about it.

"Branch?" Without losing his smile, Poppy inquired, seeking confirmation that both he and the young lady were in the correct bodies.

"Yes." Branch responded, beginning to laugh, which caused Poppy to laugh as well.

"Is everything really back to normal?"

Branch nodded her head and decided to give Poppy a tight hug, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. For a moment, the girl felt at peace, knowing that everything was finally alright. Poppy reciprocated the hug with equal intensity and enthusiasm. The boy felt content and secure in Branch's embrace. Like her, he experienced a sense of tranquility, knowing that their crazy adventure had finally reached its conclusion.

At that moment, Branch looked up from Poppy's chest without breaking away from the embrace. The sapphire-eyed girl felt that this was the perfect moment to express her feelings for the boy, and deep down she knew that if she didn't declare herself there and then, she doubted she would ever have the courage to do it again.

Branch ended the hug and looked the boy in the eyes and said, "Poppy, I have something very important to tell you."

The young man was all ears, showing that he was listening to her attentively. He looked at her expectantly, as if Poppy was also going to make an important confession based on Branch's words.

"I—"

Nevertheless, Branch's speech was interrupted when the football team reappeared. The players began to call out Poppy's name, inviting him to join their celebration. The boy began to excuse himself because of the important conversation he was having with Branch. However, Poppy couldn't do anything, and his team ended up dragging him into the locker room. His gaze remained fixed on Branch until the young lady was no longer within his field of vision.

Branch was shocked and froze, watching Poppy being taken away. When she snapped out of it, she decided to go after him. She was determined to tell him how she felt, and she wasn't going to let a football team stop her.

Poppy entered the locker room feeling slightly irritated but understanding that he could not be angry with his teammates as their reaction to the victory was expected. Despite that, he just wanted to turn around and go back to meet Branch so that they could have that long-overdue conversation. Unfortunately, Poppy didn’t have time to react because when his team finally gave him some space, Creek came rushing toward him.

She placed her arms around Poppy's neck as she gazed up at him with a radiant smile. "There's my favorite guy. Did you miss me? Because I have. I think this time apart helped us realize that you and I belong together."

Poppy was about to speak, but Creek interrupted him with an unexpected kiss, leaving Poppy speechless.

At that moment, Branch arrived in the locker room. Upon her arrival, the girl with blue eyes searched for Poppy with her gaze until she finally found him... in Creek's arms and being kissed by the girl.

Branch frowned due to the confusion she was feeling at that moment. She froze in place, trying to find a coherent explanation for what was happening. At that precise moment, Poppy exchanged a brief glance with her and swiftly ended the kiss. Poppy looked at her in surprise, along with something else that Branch didn't care to figure out. The young boy swiftly withdrew from Creek and attempted to approach the girl with captivating sapphire eyes. Meanwhile, Branch's gaze became entrapped by Creek's, whose eyes were narrowed in a superior, victorious glare, her face twisted into a gloating smile as she beheld the blue-eyed girl. Branch concluded that the kiss between Poppy and Creek was not an accident after that.

Chapter Text

Branch took a deep breath as she tried to calm herself, trying to keep from bursting into tears in the middle of the locker room, surrounded by so many people. She couldn't fathom how someone of her intelligence and rationality had become so swept up in juvenile fantasies, especially since she believed Poppy shared the same feelings and connection. Everything they went through together, all the talks, the laughs, it was all just a cruel illusion. She came to the understanding that Poppy's actions were solely driven by the need to cope with their challenging circumstances, rather than any genuine romantic feelings beyond friendship. Branch couldn't help but wonder if Poppy even considered her a true friend.

The girl turned and began to run for the exit, desperate to escape the person who had unwittingly broken her heart. She felt hurt by the scene witnessed by her eyes, and the reality she was facing hit her like a bucket of cold water.

Naturally, Poppy would eagerly return to her beloved Creek, as normalcy has been restored. The boy's words from their conversation at the history museum kept echoing in her mind repeatedly: "Admit it, Branch, you'd be lucky if someone like me noticed you."

She experienced a profound sense of nausea, and her legs quivered, as though her strength was waning with each step she took. Nevertheless, she persevered, determined to reach the sanctuary of her home and seek solace in the embrace of her brothers. Branch was experiencing a severe chest pain that made it difficult for her to breathe. It was like she was drowning and there was nothing she could do to save herself. As she heard Poppy calling her name from afar, she began to feel tears streaming down her face, prompting her to accelerate her pace. She needed Floyd, right now he was the only man along with JD that Branch wanted to see and talk to.

********************

Branch attentively listened to the ongoing conversation between JD and Poppy at the house entrance while she rested her head on Floyd's shoulder, who had his arm around her. The blue-eyed girl had lost count of the times and days she had ignored the boy, who was begging to have a conversation with her. 

Poppy realized Branch wouldn't listen to him, so he decided to confront her older brothers to finally talk to her. The young man really wanted to tell his side of the story.

"Please, John Dory, let me in. I need to speak with Branch." Poppy requested, unaware that the girl was out of sight but could hear everything from the other side of the door.

"She doesn't want to talk to you." John Dory said, holding the door frame tightly as he stared at Poppy with a serious expression.

"But I have to talk to Branch. It's important!"

Branch felt as delicate as a porcelain doll. Hearing Poppy's voice made her feel exposed and she was having difficulty remaining still in her position so that Poppy would not notice her. She really wanted to run and hug Poppy, and act like nothing had happened as she shared the new news with him. But it was impossible to act like everything was okay when she was feeling hurt.

"Why would I let you talk to my sister?" JD's face contracted with annoyance, causing the boy pain. "Look, I don't really know what you did, but you hurt her. Honestly, Branch deserves someone better than you." 

Upon hearing those words, Poppy once more experienced a sense of insecurity, recognizing that he was not an adequate match for someone as authentic as Branch. This realization caused his desire to engage in conflict to diminish significantly. The boy looked down, lost for words, and silently agreed with JD.

Branch felt a lump in her throat as she listened to the conversation and tears started rolling down her cheeks. Branch knew JD was right. She deserved someone who loved her back. But she still couldn't help but think about what could have been. She knew it wasn't meant to be, but she couldn't help but fantasize about it. 

JD began to close the door, but paused to give Poppy a final look, and with a note of regret and frustration in his voice, he remarked, "For a moment, I thought you had changed, but I see I was mistaken." With a final glance expressing disappointment, he shut the door.

Poppy didn't even try to stop JD, because he knew the old man was right. The boy turned around and went back home.

When she heard the door close, Branch looked away from the paper she held in her hands to JD. The older brother noticed with concern that his younger sister was crying again.

"Come on, Bitty B, change that sad face. Our dream has come true. You should be happy about it." JD said, trying to cheer her up.

With a sigh, Branch turned to face Floyd, who responded with a reassuring smile. She then redirected her attention to the document in her possession. It was an acceptance letter from Trollstopia University, confirming Poppy's successful completion of the interview process. Branch was aware that she ought to experience a degree of contentment upon receiving the news; however, in truth, it failed to elicit any genuine joy within her that she had been accepted. It seemed absurd to her that she didn’t feel any excitement or any positive feelings at having fulfilled what was supposed to be her dream, but her mind and heart could only think of the boy. In fact, all Branch truly desired to do was to congratulate Poppy on his good work.

Branch left the letter on the table and rose from the chair she had been sitting in. "I'm going to my room. I want to be alone."

None of her brothers mentioned anything about it, they simply allowed her to leave.

********************

Branch had completely lost track of time, and the only thing she was certain of was that it was late due to the darkness outside her window. As she lay there, staring at the ceiling of her room, an unexpected knock on the door startled her. Branch sat up on the bed and told the person to enter.

"Hi Branchie."

"What do you need, Flo Flo?"

"I heard today's your prom."

"Yes, but I am not going."

"Does this have anything to do with Poppy?" Floyd inquired, with a serious demeanor.

Branch frowned. "No." She responded in a hushed tone. 

Floyd raised an eyebrow at her response.

"Maybe." Branch winced. "He likes someone else." She said this with a sigh.

"Are you certain about that? Because I noticed that Poppy was very eager to speak with you, but neither you nor John Dory gave him the opportunity to do so."

"It's irrelevant, I don't stand a chance against Creek."

"Why do you say that? Is Creek a princess?"

"She's gonna be the queen tonight." Branch said, grimacing. 

"In my opinion, princesses have a youthful charm and beauty that queens can't match. And that's particularly true when it comes to my little sister, who's the perfect example of a lovely princess."

Floyd's reply made her smile. He was her favorite brother because of moments like that. Branch desired to trust Floyd's words, but her mind was preoccupied with insecurities fueled by comparisons to Creek and doubts about Poppy's genuine feelings for her. Assuming what the boy was thinking was one thing, but when Poppy revealed his feelings to her, Branch knew the fantasy would collide with reality. She was petrified that the response wouldn't be what she longed for. She was afraid that the conversation would end up breaking her fragile heart. 

"You really like him a lot, don't you?" Floyd asked. 

Branch nodded, recognizing that her emotions had evolved beyond a simple crush; she was truly, deeply in love with him.

"I must say, I'm quite fond of him myself. He seems like a really nice guy. And honestly, I think you two are perfect for each other; you look so adorable together! Can I share some advice with you?"

Branch nodded in agreement, eager to hear his brother's insights.

Chapter Text

"You should consider going to the prom and listening to what Poppy wants to tell you."

"I'm scared that Poppy might shatter my heart." Branch said, admitting her fears out loud.

"Hey, don't let the fear of getting hurt stop you from living your life and taking risks! If you do, you'll end up with a cold heart that's never really experienced anything. Feelings are a part of life, and sadly, we can't only have the good ones. We often learn and grow from our mistakes and heartaches. If Poppy doesn't feel the same way and hurts you, I'll be here to offer a shoulder to cry on, help you pick up the pieces of your heart, and support you in healing and moving on. My promise extends far beyond heartbreak, Branch. I'll be there for you through every up and down, every triumph and every struggle, always."

The young lady with the beautiful blue eyes smiled, deeply moved by the kind words spoken by her elder brother. She will talk to Poppy. "Thank you Flo Flo." Her smile transformed into a concerned expression as she recalled a minor inconvenience. "I have nothing to wear."

"Wait here a minute; I'll be right back."

Branch furrowed her brow in confusion. A short while later, Floyd returned, carrying a box in his hands. The boy extended the box toward her as he gazed upon her with a gentle smile. "Here, take this! Having a brother with a great fashion sense has its perks—like being able to bail you out of style emergencies like this one."

Branch pulled a beautiful turquoise dress out of the box. The dress elegantly exposed one shoulder and gracefully hugged the body until the waist, where the skirt cascaded freely. It was adorned with silver sparkles and had a slit on its left side, giving it a sensual touch.

"It's beautiful." Branch remarked as she admired the dress in her possession.

"And that is not all." Her brother replied. "I got you these too." Floyd said, showing her a pair of black heels.

Branch gave Floyd a warm smile because of his gesture. "Thank you." She ran to her brother and gave him a big hug.

********************

Poppy found himself watching the entrance of the place, having lost count of how many times he had done it already. His friends had convinced him to attend the prom, and in order to avoid raising any concerns, he ultimately complied with their wishes. His heart still held onto the glimmer of hope that Branch would walk through those doors, and he would finally be able to pour out his soul to the girl who had effortlessly stolen his heart away.

"Poppy." Creek stated, positioning herself in front of him to capture his attention. "What do you think of my dress?" The girl was wearing a short, tight black dress with a low neckline.

"You look nice, Creek." Poppy said, with a polite smile, hoping that his answer would get rid of the girl.

"It's so tight that it hugs my curves very well, don't you think?"

Poppy frowned. "I'm gonna grab a drink."

Creek observed with astonishment as Poppy withdrew to the refreshments table. This was not the reaction she had expected from the young man, and it bummed her out.

A few minutes later, Poppy returned to Creek's side and offered her a glass of punch, silently hoping that it would finally put an end to her incessant chatter.

"I'm so nervous." Creek mentioned.

"Are you kidding? You've got this in the bag!" Bridget, who had approached the girl and Poppy, responded.

"Thank you, I know that. Do I look all right?"

"Yes." Her friend replied.

Creek smiled with contentment but frowned as she glanced at the boy beside her. "Poppy, fix your tie. There are photographers around, and we've got to look our best."

As the prom king and queen were about to be announced, Poppy's focus shifted to the entrance, where he hoped to see Branch make her entrance.

"We'll announce our prom king." The teacher began saying. "And it's our football star, Poppy Kendrick."

The young man ceased paying attention to the entrance upon hearing his name being called. Then everyone started congratulating him as he walked to the stage with a fake smile plastered on his face.

"And now, the moment we have all been eagerly awaiting." The teacher spoke again after putting the crown on Poppy's head. "This year's queen is...Creek Lowe!"

The girl was beaming with pride as she strutted confidently towards the stage. When they finished placing the crown on her head, Creek thanked the teacher. Then, she stole the microphone and turned to her classmates. "Thanks, everyone! I want to share this incredible honor with so many people. My dear friends, I am deeply grateful for their unwavering and unconditional support. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to my stylist for—"

The teacher snatched the microphone from the girl’s hands. "Thank you, Creek." The teacher looked toward the students. "Please give another round of applause for our king and queen."

Poppy was attentively observing everything with a serious demeanor. He was not fully present in the moment as his thoughts were preoccupied with Branch. He felt the need to have a candid conversation with her to clear any misunderstandings and reaffirm the importance of her presence in his life.

The students vacated the dance floor to formally introduce the king and queen's dance. Poppy looked at Creek, who was watching him excitedly. The young guy let out a sigh and reluctantly made his way to the dance floor. They started coming closer to begin the dance. Poppy, who was standing facing the entrance, turned to look again and then saw her. Branch had finally shown up.

In Poppy's eyes, Branch was the most beautiful girl at the prom. Her attire shimmered brilliantly, resembling the radiance of diamonds, due to the lighting conditions in the venue. Her hair cascaded gracefully, resembling a dark waterfall. The sight of Branch had made him forget how to breathe. At that exact moment, the others just vanished, and Poppy felt like he was all alone, floating in the middle of nowhere. He couldn't help but be drawn to Branch's good looks, like she was some kind of magical creature that had him under her spell. The young man was unable to avert his gaze or move. He was captivated by Branch's mesmerizing sapphire eyes and willingly succumbed to the allure of her beauty.

Unconcerned with the dance and with nothing else on his mind but Branch, Poppy removed the crown from his head and walked swiftly toward the smiling, blue-eyed girl. Everyone was quiet, waiting to see what they were going to do.

"Go get her, Poppy!" Smidge yelled, breaking the silence.

To Branch and Poppy, the rest of the world faded into insignificance. In their eyes, only each other existed. The young man stood before his beloved, gently taking Branch's hands in his own, and began to express his profound love.

"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds...blah blah blah blah, I don't remember what's next." Poppy said, with a chuckle, spreading his laughter to the girl. "Sorry, I'm not Shakespeare, and I guess Romeo wasn't a quarterback, either."

Branch shook her head, maintaining her smile, and remained silent to attentively listen to Poppy's words.

"But just like a quarterback calling an audible in the middle of a game, my heart calls your name, changing the moves and making you the center of my universe. You are the touchdown I long for, the championship I want to win, and the forever I want to spend by your side." Poppy released Branch's hands and placed them on the girl's face, bringing his forehead close to hers. "Be my teammate and my partner in crime?"

"I would be delighted." Branch whispered. The girl stepped back a little and looked at Poppy with a raised eyebrow. "I was unaware that you possessed such poetic talent."

"What can I say? I’m full of surprises."

Branch's face approached Poppy's, and they shared a tender and affectionate kiss. As they parted, their faces still held radiant smiles. Branch remembered that she had previously planned to be the first to express her feelings, and although Poppy was quicker than her, she had something prepared for that purpose.

"I have a surprise for you."

Chapter Text

"Really?" Poppy asked with an arched eyebrow.

Branch nodded. "Besides football, what else do you like?"

"You." Poppy responded in a flirtatious manner, bringing his face back to hers to give her a kiss.

Branch leaned back slightly. "Poppy! I've got a real surprise for you, just answer my question."

The young man let out a soft chuckle and then assumed a contemplative expression before finally responding to the question. "Music?"

Branch responded with a broad smile. "You won't believe it, but I actually have friends. And they're awesome! They agreed to help me even though I asked them at the last minute."

Poppy furrowed his brow in confusion. He observed as Branch made her way to the stage where the band hired by the school to perform that evening was playing. The band was comprised of graduate students, so Poppy was able to identify the young man with the multi-colored dyed hair, Boom, extending a microphone to Branch. It was not a concern for him that Branch was the only female on the stage. After all, the body swap demonstrated Branch's ability to manage an entire football team. However, Poppy was taken aback when he realized that Branch was going to perform a song for him in front of the entire audience.

"Maybe is the way you say my name. Maybe it's the way you play your game"

Poppy's heart skipped a beat when he saw Branch on stage with Kismet, her eyes locked on him. He perceived the lyrics of the song as if they were sweet words specifically directed to him. The music enveloped him like a delightful serenade that resonated profoundly with his soul.

"I'm in a field of dandelions wishing on everyone that you'd be mine, mine."

As Branch hit the final notes, Poppy's heart raced wildly, and in that instant, he knew he was forever lost to Branch. With a sense of urgency, the young man swiftly made his way back to the blue-eyed young woman who was gracefully descending from the stage alongside her fellow band members.

Poppy reached for Branch's hands, but a tall, red-haired man intervened, his hand grasping Poppy's wrist. The man glared at him, his expression stern. "Branch is family to us. Hurt her, and you'll answer to us."

The young woman's soft laughter echoed through the air as she listened to his friend's threats directed at her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Poppy nodded reassuringly, trying to placate the band's male members, whose eyes were shooting daggers at him. He aimed to convince them that he would protect Branch from harm.

Ablaze hesitated, then stepped aside, allowing Poppy to approach Branch. Kismet and Branch exchanged tender smiles and forehead kisses before the boys returned to the stage to announce a romantic ballad. Couples flocked to the dance floor, eager to sway with their loved ones. At the center, Branch and Poppy stood, poised to lead the enchanting evening. Lost in each other's gaze, they danced in perfect harmony, their hands moving as one. As the song concluded, Kismet transitioned to a lively melody, and the couple strolled hand-in-hand towards the refreshment table.

"Hey, I've noticed you've never sung before. But when you were in my body, let's just say you didn't exactly shine. Honestly, I thought you were tone deaf!"

Branch chuckled softly. "Grandma always said I sing like an angel."

"No doubt, and you're in a band too, huh?"

"Jealous?"

"Of you? Nah, never. In fact, I'm really proud of you."

Just as they exchanged warm smiles, a fake cough from the side cut through the moment. They both turned around in confusion, finding Creek, Bridget, Mila, and Smidge. Creek had an unfriendly expression on her face as she reluctantly handed the queen's crown to Branch, who took it in surprise at her actions.

Bridget gently nudged the purple-haired girl with her elbow, prompting her to speak. "I reckon...you deserve the crown more than I do." Creek gave them a final disgusted look and turned away, making the others laugh.

Smidge gave the king's crown to Poppy. "This is yours."

Poppy could sense that his friend had something more to share with him, as evidenced by the subtle manner in which he attempted to contain his enthusiasm. "Smidge, is there something you'd like to tell me?"

He swiftly raised Mila's hand, which displayed a radiant smile, revealing the ring adorning her wedding finger. "Mila and I are engaged! I know she wanted me to wait a bit longer before telling you, but I was too excited to wait."

Branch and Poppy embraced the couple with immense joy and heartfelt happiness for their union. Undoubtedly, Mila and Smidge appeared to be an ideal match, exuding an adorable charm as they stood together.

"When—" Branch began to speak until Mila interjected.

"Immediately after the game ended, I’ve been holding this beast back from saying anything since then. We wanted to tell you, but it was pretty clear that it wasn’t the right time."

Everyone embraced one another once more, and at that moment, Poppy's brow furrowed as he noticed the absence of an individual. "Where's Gristle?"

Bridget grimaced. "Let's just say he's got some serious groveling to do if he wants to get back in my good books."

The others couldn't help but laugh at that answer. They knew the boy deserved it for the way he had acted. 

The group of friends decided to return to the dance floor with beaming smiles, each one internally celebrating the wonderful news that brought them immense joy. As the party drew to a close, they decided to take a group photo to commemorate such a magical night. Their faces beamed with happiness. The music faded away, but they knew that the memories they had created would last a lifetime.

********************

As the night wore on, the smitten couple were reluctant to bid each other farewell, basking in the comfort of each other's arms and dreaming of a lifetime together. They found themselves beside the tree that had served as a secret bridge between their windows, a reminder of their thrilling body-swapping experience.

"Can you believe it?" Branch started saying as she wrapped her arms around Poppy's neck. "Despite all the chaos, you managed to ace the interview at Trollstopia."

The boy looked confused. "What?"

"Of course! I completely forgot to share the wonderful news with you, Poppy! I received my acceptance letter a few days ago. Congratulations!"

"What?" The young man inquired once more, expressing disbelief at what he was hearing. This prompted Branch to begin laughing. "Oh my gosh! You're going to Trollstopia? I can't believe it!"

"I trusted you, and you didn't let me down. Good job, Poppifer!"

"We nailed it! Or did you nail it? What would be the correct way to say it?"

"I don't really care about proper speech right now. How about you give me a kiss instead?"

"As my princess commands."

The two individuals engaged in a gentle and affectionate kiss, oblivious to the fact that from the doorways of their respective residences, and concealed by the obscurity of the nocturnal environment, two elder siblings were observing the unfolding scenario with a sense of astonishment and admiration. Floyd's phone vibrated in his pocket, prompting him to retrieve it and review the newly received message. A smile graced his face as he read the contents displayed on the screen.

Chapter Text

Floyd slipped away to his room, unnoticed by Branch, and drifted off to sleep with a heart full of joy. He was thrilled to see his sister finally listening to her own heart and breaking free from the expectations of others. It was a significant step, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was time to welcome her into the inner circle—the private chat group he shared with most of their brothers and Viva.

********************

"Are you crazy?! You can't be serious!"

A week had passed since the tumultuous events. On that morning, the tension between the blue-eyed girl and her older brother, Jhon Dory, erupted into a fierce showdown at Branch's home. 

Floyd was observing the argument while leaning against the wall next to the door. The young man was supporting his sister, but he was also enjoying watching her defend herself. Therefore, he remained silent and listened to his siblings argue.

"A gap year? Absolutely not, Branch Timberlake! This is Trollstopia University we're discussing! The best education anyone can get! You can't seriously be considering jeopardizing your future for the sake of a boy!"

"I'm not—" The blue-eyed girl attempted to defend herself, but her older brother swiftly interrupted her.

"Of course you are not! You are not giving up on our dream! Our dream, Branch!"

"No, John Dory, I’m giving up on your dream, not mine. For so long, I’ve pretended to share your aspirations, all to earn your approval and pride. But the truth is, I’ve been living a lie."

"How dare you! You're clueless about what you're saying! Do you even have a hint of a plan for your future? And does Poppy have any idea what he wants to do with his life? And what happens when he leaves you for someone else? You can't build a life solely on love!"

"I've come to realize that love alone can't sustain me, so I'm prioritizing my own well-being and making decisions that align with my goals. JD, I enjoy poetry, but I don't want to dedicate my life to literature. The truth is, I never had the chance to explore my own aspirations because as soon as you discovered my talent, you assumed our dream was attending Trollstopia University. But I've found my own path. I know exactly what I want to do with my future: I'm going to take charge and apply for the engineering program at Vibe City, which offers the best educational opportunities. I'm breaking free from the dream that was always yours, not mine, and embracing my own ambitions."

"Engineering? You don't even like engineering!"

Branch was about to respond to JD when Floyd interjected, believing it was an opportune moment to contribute to the discussion. "What are you talking about? Bitty B. has always been passionate about designing and building things, even as a child. Remember the treehouse she created with the Kismet boys? She not only drew the blueprints but also helped build it. How could you have missed this or chose to ignore it, pushing Branch to follow your own vision instead of supporting her true interests?"

Jhon Dory remained silent for a brief moment, and it was evident that he was slightly irritated. "You still haven't answered the rest of my questions."

Branch sighed but decided that she owed some explanations to her older brother. "Poppy has also decided to take a gap year to focus on her music studies and apply to the prestigious music program at Trollstopia—"

John Dory snorted and interrupted Branch. "Ha! As if he even stood a chance of getting into Trollstopia University."

Branch rolled her eyes. "You'd be amazed at what Poppy is capable of achieving! And as for the uncertainty ahead, I can't predict the future, but I've learned from a wise person that I mustn't let fear of getting hurt hold me back from living my life to the fullest." Branch said with a smile as she turned to look at Floyd and began to walk towards him.

John Dory turned to look at his younger brother. "Are you really going to let her go without saying anything?"

At that moment, Floyd was hugging Branch tightly. "I have nothing more to say. It seems to me that Bitty B. has made everything quite clear. Do you mean this?" He indicated with one hand the small suitcase and backpack that were in front of the door. "I believe you may be overstating the situation. Branch is simply taking a short holiday with her partner and friends, and will return in two weeks. John, our sister, has achieved excellent academic results and certainly deserves this break and more. But if you really want me to say something to her, I will." Floyd gazed at Branch with a friendly smile. "Enjoy yourself, but stay responsible." He said, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Hurry up and go, or you'll miss your flight."

Floyd assisted Branch with her luggage, and together they departed the house, leaving behind the echoing shouts of frustration from John Dory.

Outside, Smidge was already seated in the driver’s seat, while Mila waited patiently beside the car, waiting for the other two passengers to get in so she could claim the front seat. Meanwhile, Poppy lounged against the vehicle, relaxed and carefree.

As the pink-haired boy's gaze met the blue-eyed girl's, he couldn't help but smile. After sharing a tender, fleeting kiss, he swiftly turned to assist his brother-in-law with loading Branch's luggage onto the truck. Then, Poppy bid farewell to Floyd and helped the girls into the car, before jumping into the back seat himself.

The young adults bid farewell to Branch's brother and Viva, who was departing the house, and embarked on their exciting journey.

Although they were apprehensive about the uncertain future ahead, they had to trust that they would navigate it together, buoyed by the support of their loved ones - friends and siblings alike. Having already overcome the extraordinary experience of switching bodies, they now felt empowered to face whatever challenges lay in store.

Poppy turned to gaze at Branch, who was smiling back at him. They surrendered to the depths of each other's eyes once more, knowing they'd discovered a sanctuary, a haven, and perhaps a forever home. If someone had told them they'd fall for their former enemy and embark on a journey to chase their true passions and heart's desires, they would have dismissed it with laughter. Yet, their love story began in the most unpredictable and chaotic way, defying all expectations.

Life's most breathtaking surprises often lie hidden in plain sight, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal themselves and guide us toward our true destiny. These unexpected twists and turns hold precious lessons, designed to illuminate our path and shape our journey. Embrace the infinite possibilities that fate has in store, for you never know what wonders or challenges await just around the corner.