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The warm glow of string lights shimmered across the walls of Poppy’s pod as evening settled over Pop Village. The pod itself looked especially cozy tonight, transformed from its usual cheerful clutter into a sparkling sleepover paradise. Fluffy blankets were draped over woven hammocks, colorful pillows covered nearly every inch of the floor, and bowls of snacks sat balanced on tree-stump tables carved into flower shapes.
Tiny lantern bugs floated lazily near the ceiling, giving the entire room a golden softness that made everything feel safe and welcoming. The scent of berry popcorn, vanilla cupcakes, and herbal tea drifted through the air while upbeat music played quietly from DJ Suki’s portable turntable in the corner. Outside, crickets chirped in rhythm with the music, and the gentle sway of the pod in the breeze made the whole place feel like it was rocking everyone to sleep already.
Viva stood near the entrance clutching a fuzzy blanket to her chest, her bright eyes darting excitedly from one detail to another. She had spent years hidden away beneath Bergen Mountain, isolated from so many ordinary Troll experiences, and tonight still felt unreal to her. A real girls’ night. A sleepover. Snacks, gossip, matching pajamas, silly games — things she had only imagined from stories Poppy told her. Her colorful hair was tied loosely with ribbons Satin had insisted on adding earlier, and she wore an oversized pajama sweater that Smidge claimed made everyone “officially cozy.” Viva looked completely enchanted by everything around her.
“This is amazing,” Viva breathed, her voice filled with genuine wonder. “You all really do this? Just… hang out and talk all night?”
“Absolutely,” Satin said dramatically while adjusting a silk sleep mask on her forehead. “Girls’ night is sacred.”
Chenille nodded beside her twin. “There are rules. Snacks first. Emotional conversations second. Dancing whenever necessary.”
“And absolutely no judging anyone for ugly crying,” Smidge added firmly while carrying an armful of pillows bigger than she was.
Poppy giggled warmly as she finished pouring tea into flower-shaped mugs. She looked radiant tonight, relaxed in a soft pink pajama set decorated with tiny musical notes. Her hair was loosely braided with glowing flowers woven into it, and every time she smiled, the room somehow seemed brighter. “The most important rule,” she said cheerfully, “is that everyone has fun.”
Viva’s heart swelled as she looked around at the group. DJ Suki was lounging casually near the music player with her headphones around her neck, tapping her fingers to the beat. Satin and Chenille were already organizing face masks by color while arguing over which shade was “more emotionally healing.” Smidge was aggressively fluffing pillows like she was preparing for battle. It was chaotic, loud, affectionate, and completely unlike anything Viva had ever known.
For a while, the night unfolded exactly the way Viva had imagined girls’ night would. They painted each other’s nails in glittering colors, shared embarrassing stories from childhood, and competed in ridiculous dance contests that mostly ended with Smidge tackling someone into a pile of blankets. Poppy floated effortlessly between everyone, making sure nobody felt left out. Whenever someone needed another snack, another blanket, or encouragement during karaoke, Poppy was immediately there with her endless warmth and support.
At one point, Viva noticed how naturally Poppy listened to everyone. When Satin became briefly dramatic about a broken nail, Poppy comforted her like it was a real tragedy. When Smidge admitted she secretly liked romance novels, Poppy didn’t laugh at her — she just grinned and promised to recommend some. Every little thing Poppy did made the room feel safer and happier.
“She’s really good at this,” Viva whispered quietly to DJ Suki while watching Poppy help Chenille braid ribbons into her hair.
DJ Suki smirked knowingly. “Poppy likes taking care of people.”
“I can tell,” Viva replied softly, smiling at her younger sister with pride.
A little later, after the snacks had been demolished and everyone was sprawled comfortably across blankets, Satin suddenly sat upright with a mischievous grin sparkling in her eyes.
“Oh my glitter,” Satin gasped dramatically. “Do you remember the bet?”
Chenille immediately burst into laughter. “THE BET.”
Poppy, who had been sipping tea peacefully, nearly choked. “No.”
“Yes,” Smidge declared mercilessly. “We absolutely remember the bet.”
Viva blinked in confusion as the room suddenly erupted into laughter. “What bet?”
Poppy’s face immediately turned pink.
DJ Suki groaned loudly and covered her face with a pillow. “Oh no.”
“The bet,” Chenille explained while grinning wickedly at Poppy, “about how obviously in love Poppy was with Branch.”
Poppy squeaked.
Viva stared blankly. “What?”
Satin leaned forward eagerly. “Back before they got together, we all made guesses about when Poppy would finally admit she was hopelessly into him.”
Poppy buried her face in her hands. “Please don’t tell this story.”
“No, no,” Smidge insisted. “This is girls’ night. Vulnerability is mandatory.”
Viva looked utterly stunned as she turned toward Poppy. “Wait… everyone knew?”
“EVERYONE knew,” Chenille said.
“You sang his name in your sleep once,” Satin added.
Poppy’s blush deepened so dramatically it nearly matched her hair. “I did not.”
“You absolutely did,” DJ Suki replied through laughter. “It was during a camping trip.”
Viva’s eyes widened further. “Seriously?”
Poppy groaned and dropped backward into a pile of pillows. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
But despite her embarrassment, she was smiling helplessly. The others continued laughing affectionately, clearly delighted by her reaction.
“The funniest part,” Smidge said, pointing at DJ Suki, “is that she won the bet.”
DJ Suki immediately raised both hands defensively. “Okay, in my defense, I was joking! I literally guessed the exact week they’d get together because Poppy looked at Branch like he personally invented happiness.”
Poppy made a strangled noise into a pillow.
Viva stared at her younger sister with growing amazement. “You really loved him that much?”
The room softened slightly at the question. Poppy slowly lowered the pillow from her face, her expression turning shy in a way Viva hadn’t seen before. For a moment, all the teasing faded into something gentler.
“Yes,” Poppy admitted quietly.
The honesty in her voice surprised Viva more than anything else.
Poppy toyed nervously with the edge of her blanket while the others watched knowingly. “I mean… Branch has always been Branch. He’s loyal and thoughtful and brave even when he pretends he isn’t. He notices things nobody else notices. He protects people without expecting credit for it.” She laughed softly to herself. “And he’s secretly really sweet once you get past all the grumpy survival stuff.”
Every time she said his name, color crept back into her cheeks.
Viva blinked slowly. “Wow.”
“I tried really hard not to make it obvious,” Poppy admitted.
The entire room burst into disbelieving laughter.
“Poppy,” DJ Suki said carefully, “you once made an entire scrapbook of Branch’s accomplishments.”
“It was supportive!”
“You made him friendship bracelets in six different colors,” Satin added.
“You got distracted staring at him during meetings,” Chenille said.
“You defended literally everything he did,” Smidge snorted. “Even when he was clearly being dramatic.”
Poppy covered her face again, laughing helplessly despite herself. “Okay, maybe I wasn’t subtle.”
Viva watched her curiously, still processing everything. “But… didn’t it bother you? Everyone knowing?”
Poppy paused at that. She lowered her hands slowly, thinking carefully before answering. The teasing atmosphere quieted as everyone listened.
“A little,” she admitted honestly. “Mostly because I didn’t know if Branch felt the same way for a long time.” Her smile softened at the thought of him. “And I didn’t want him to feel pressured. I loved being his friend first. That mattered more to me than anything.”
Viva listened intently.
Poppy glanced down shyly. “So even when my feelings got really big… I tried to keep them under control. I figured if he never liked me that way, I’d still want him in my life.”
The sincerity in her voice made Viva’s expression soften immediately. She had spent so many years isolated from healthy relationships that hearing Poppy speak with such gentle patience felt almost unbelievable.
“But they weren’t wrong,” Poppy admitted with a tiny laugh. “I really was in love with him.”
The second Branch’s name came up again, Poppy’s cheeks turned pink all over.
“There it is,” DJ Suki teased instantly. “The blush.”
Poppy pointed accusingly at her. “You are never winning another bet again.”
“Oh please,” DJ Suki laughed. “I’m still shocked I won in the first place.”
Viva finally started laughing too, her earlier confusion melting away. “You all really noticed this before she did?”
“Way before,” Smidge answered.
“Honestly,” Satin said dramatically, “it was painful watching them dance around each other.”
“They’d stare at each other for like ten full seconds,” Chenille added.
“And then immediately panic afterward,” DJ Suki finished.
Poppy groaned loudly while everyone laughed again.
Still, despite the embarrassment, Viva noticed how happy Poppy looked talking about him. There was warmth in every word she said about Branch, every smile, every blush she failed to hide. It wasn’t just a crush or excitement. It was deep trust. Admiration. Love built carefully over years of friendship.
And somehow, seeing that made Viva emotional.
“You really care about him,” Viva said softly.
Poppy’s expression immediately gentled again. “I do.”
The room became quieter for a moment, filled only with the soft hum of music and lantern bugs glowing overhead.
Then Poppy suddenly smiled brightly at Viva and nudged her shoulder. “But enough about me. Tonight is your first girls’ night, and I refuse to let you spend it stressing about old bets.”
Viva laughed softly. “I’m not stressing. I’m just… learning a lot.”
“Oh, there’s more,” Smidge warned.
“No there isn’t,” Poppy replied quickly.
“There absolutely is,” Satin declared.
For the next hour, the girls shared increasingly ridiculous stories about Poppy and Branch’s slow-burn romance. Viva laughed until her sides hurt listening to stories about Branch pretending not to care while secretly saving every gift Poppy ever gave him, or Poppy accidentally planning entire festivals around activities Branch liked. Every story made Poppy blush harder while the others teased her mercilessly.
Yet through all of it, Poppy never became defensive or upset. Even embarrassed, she remained warm and encouraging, laughing along with everyone else and making sure nobody felt awkward. Whenever the teasing shifted toward someone else, Poppy immediately balanced it with kindness, reminding everyone what they appreciated about each other.
As the night grew later, the pod became quieter and softer. Blankets were tangled together across the floor, empty snack bowls sat forgotten nearby, and everyone looked sleepy and comfortable beneath the lantern glow. Viva lay curled beneath a fuzzy blanket watching the others chat lazily around her.
For the first time in years, she didn’t feel isolated.
She felt included.
Safe.
Loved.
Poppy noticed Viva growing quiet and scooted closer beside her. “You okay?”
Viva looked at her little sister — really looked at her. Poppy had grown into someone extraordinary while Viva was gone. Someone who loved fiercely, supported endlessly, and created spaces where people felt accepted exactly as they were.
“Yeah,” Viva said softly. “I’m really okay.”
Poppy smiled warmly and rested her head against Viva’s shoulder.
Around them, the others continued talking and laughing sleepily while the lights glowed overhead like tiny stars. Somewhere far outside the pod, Branch was probably wandering through the village doing something practical and cautious and quietly heroic without realizing Poppy was still blushing over him even now.
Viva smiled to herself.
Somehow, girls’ night had turned out even better than she imagined.