The 1AM Call

"Maybe it was that weird box thing in space that did it," I speculated as Poppy and I lay on the top bunk of my bunk bed, our legs dangling over the side, kicking the air gently, as we looked up at my glow in the dark star covered ceiling.

"Nah," Poppy denied casually, not even looking over at me. "It couldn't have been. I fell in too, remember? I don't have any... uh... powers?"
"Maybe you do," I shrugged, still staring up at my ceiling. "You just haven't found them yet."

She thought about what I had just said for a moment, and then finally smiled, sitting up quickly in excitement.

"Okay..." she said joyfully. "Maybe I can fly too!"

Just then, she stood, getting ready to jump off the edge of the bed.

"Poppy!" I yelled, noticing what she was doing. "No!"

Quickly, I sat up, reaching out my hand to grab her, but it was too late...

She hit the floor with a thud, causing some things to fall off of my dresser as it shook rapidly.

Ooo... that's gotta hurt...

I jumped off the bed after her, hovering gently down to the floor, as I looked at my best friend in concern.

"Are you okay?" I asked, squatting down as I helped her sit up.
"Just peachy..." she replied sarcastically.

—————

That night I slept peacefully in my bed, until I was suddenly awoken to the sound of the phone ringing.

     "Ugh..." I groaned softly as I reached over to grab the phone, placing it against my ear. "Hello?" I mumbled sleepily into the speaker, rubbing my eyes in exhaustion.

     "Guess what!" the voice on the other end of the call said in a high pitched voice. I knew right away who this voice belonged to. Even half asleep... I would know that beautiful voice anywhere.

"Poppy?" I questioned in confusion. What time was it?

     Sleepily, I looked over at my clock, my eyes barely able to focus on the glowing numbers.

     "It's 1:00 in the morning," I informed, turning my attention back to the phone call.

     "I know," Poppy said excitedly, not seeming even the slightest bit tired. "I had to make sure my family was asleep. I couldn't risk any of them hearing what I'm about to tell you. Especially Phlox. He couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it. I mean... he is only three, and..."
"Poppy!" I quickly interrupted, trying to get her back on topic. "What did you want to tell me?"

     I rubbed my eyes again, yawning. Normally I loved talking to my best friend, but right now... I just wanted the conversation to end so I could go back to sleep.

     Suddenly, much to my confusion, Poppy began to giggle.

     "What?" I groaned, laying my head back down on my pillow as I covered my eyes with my arm. It was way to late for this nonsense...

     "You said the nerd word," she finally chuckled.

     Ok... that's it... I'd had enough of this cupcake...

     I sighed, rolling my eyes in frustration.

     "Goodbye, Poppy," I groaned angrily, removing the phone from my ear.
"No. Wait!" Poppy quickly shouted, but I had already hung up.

I put the phone back on the hook, the dumb thing immediately beginning to ring once again.

     "Ugh!" I groaned, picking up the phone once more, knowing Poppy wouldn't stop calling until I answered. "What!?"
"I found my power!"

     Quickly, I jumped up in my bed, completely shocked by her news.

     "You did?" I questioned, suddenly wide awake. "What is it?"

     Though I couldn't see her, I could tell she was smiling just by the sound of her voice.

     "I can..." Poppy started excitedly, but before she could explain, another voice suddenly rang through the phone. An angry voice...

     "Branch Maximilian Astinlake!" The voice shouted on the other line.
"Grandma?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Get off of the phone this instant," she ordered harshly, "It is 1:00 in the morning!"
"Technically, grandma... it's 1:02 in the morning," I corrected.

     Her silence was intimidating, and it scared me a little... it wasn't often grandma got angry, but when she did... well... let's just say you don't wanna see her when she's mad...

"Okay, grandma," I gulped, terrified of her rath. "I'll hang up."

     It was silent for a moment, but she finally sighed, hanging up her end.

     With a sigh of relief, I turned my attention back to Poppy, who had somehow remained quiet through this whole ordeal.

"Sorry, Poppy..." I sighed. "I have to go."
"But I..." she started, really wanting to explain what her power was.
"Branch!" grandma yelled from her room, knowing I was still on the phone despite her orders.

     "I know!" I yelled back to her. "I'm working on it!"

     I sighed, rolling my eyes in annoyance before going back to talking with Poppy.

     "We can talk about this in the morning," I told her in a soft voice, hoping my grandma wouldn't hear. "Okay?"
"But..." she started, but I didn't listen.
"Good bye, Poppy."

     Without another word, I hung up the phone, but the second I placed it on the hook, it began to ring again.

     "Branch!" grandma yelled, warning me not to dare answer Poppy's call.

     I groaned, pulling my pillow up over my head, to muffle the noise, trying desperately to get back to sleep.

—————

That day at school, I was walking through the hallway, carrying my books, when something suddenly grabbed me, pulling me roughly into the janitor's closet.

     Completely taken by surprise at this sudden action, I dropped my books all over the floor with a scream, the door slamming shut behind me.

"Branch, relax! It's just me!" Poppy said, covering my mouth with her hand to silence me.

     "Poppy? Are you crazy!?" I yelled, pushing her away from me. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"I'm sorry, Branch," she apologized. "But I needed to tell you about my new power. I can..."

Suddenly, before she could finish her statement, the door swung open, causing the two of us to flinch, looking up to see the school's janitor standing in the entrance, staring at us intimidatingly.

     He didn't have any hair, there was a scar going from his head all the way across his face, his eyes were red, and his teeth yellow. Everyone, even the teachers were afraid of him. If they had to choose between being around him or Poppy... they would choose the pink troll in a heartbeat.

We looked up at him with wide, fearful eyes, remaining completely motionless, too afraid to move. We were going to be in so much trouble... kids weren't aloud in his closet. No one was allowed in his closet...

     After what seemed like hours of complete silence, the janitor suddenly growled, showing his rotten teeth in a threatening gesture.

     "AHHHHH!" Poppy and I both screamed simultaneously, quickly running out of the closet, making a break for our freedom.

"My books!" I suddenly gasped, realizing they were still on the floor from when I had accidentally dropped them.

     I stopped running, turning back to see the evil janitor putting all of my books into a trash bag as he stared right at me, smiling evilly, knowing that what he was doing upset me.

     Quickly, I turned, continuing to run, going straight to class with Poppy.