"Oh c'mon, Lake!" Poppy cheered, pushing Lake towards the park with a giant sign stating "SPEED DATING"

Lake resisted, feeling self-conscious for the fact that her best friend is making her find herself a boyfriend.

Lake sighed and turned around, stopping them in their tracks. "But Poppy-"

"No buts! You've been lonely for too long that the others are starting to think you're another gray troll like Branch!" The pink troll exaggerated, pointing her thumb over her shoulder to reveal the now blue but still slightly gray troll who was setting up the party.

There was a group of tables, each one with a pair of chairs. There was lovely lighting, setting up the mood with romance and passion.

Trolls will rotate around the tables at random, meeting a new partner every time. Everyone gets 5 minutes before the cycle continues again and trolls will rotate.

And between those five minutes, trolls will communicate and learn more about each other. If both of the trolls feel like they're right for each other, they can get up and walk out of the party together.

Lake laughed quietly, grinning warmly. She turned to Poppy with an exaggerated sigh. "Oh Poppy, there's no one else in the world I'd rather be like than Branch. Besides, I'm kind of a fan of him. I've seen his work and I think I'd consider-"

"Oooo-kay! But please don't be another party pooper," She rolled her eyes with a smile. They shared a laugh, leaving Branch skeptical and with a lot of questions. He arched an eyebrow.

When the two trolls noticed him glaring, they snickered and cleared their throats.

Poppy smiled and went behind Lake to shake her shoulders. She peeked over one, smirking. "Good luck, Lake! Just be yourself and you'll do great!"

"Thanks Pops," Lake chuckles nervously.

A few hours later, the sun settled down, creating a beautiful and atmospheric sunset. It was absolutely stunning. Trolls were gathered around the party, babbling about the gorgeous sight before them.

Lake stood there by herself, taking a glance at the sunset, her eyes taking every detail in.

Just then, her ear perked. She heard the other trolls' conversation. They were laughing and complimenting each other. Lake looked at them, slightly shaking her head. Well that kinda ruins the communicating part of the party..

Lake sighed, looking down at the ground. Just then, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She cringed, she was afraid it was gonna be a random troll looking for a conversation.

Lake never believed in love at first sight. She always thought that a slow and gentle pace wins the race when it comes to love. Lake thought that a rushed relationship may be a bit too much; too much pressure with a lack of information. It's like being married to a random stranger!

Lake turned around, sighed of relief when she saw that it was Branch. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, smiling reluctantly. "I didn't know you were gonna participate in this, Branch! Don't worry, I won't tell Poppy."

"What? No. I just wanted to wish you good luck," he said, rolling his eyes. Lake was taken aback, she kicked herself mentally. She just made an absolute idiot out of herself! An absolute idiot.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't know, but thank you," Lake smiled warmly, patting his shoulder gently. She hesitated for a while, but she gave him a quick and friendly hug.

Branch smiled, but he cleared his throat and looked away, patting her back. "I don't understand how a hug is necessary. It's not a big deal or anything,"

Lake pulled away with a grin. "Good luck coming from you? Of course it's a big deal! You're like the most sarcastic person I know,"

"Alright, alright. The party's starting, you should go ahead already," He scoffed. Lake turned around to see Poppy preparing to make an announcement. Lake turned back to her best friend, walking backwards towards the party. "Thanks B, (A/N: 🅱️) you're the best!"

Lake gave him a thumbs up before running to the party with a big smile on her face.

"Welcome to all Trolls who came here today to celebrate the VERY first occasion for this season! Our first annual Speed Dating!" The pink queen cheered, earning a round of an applause from the crowd.

"You all know the rules! Get on to it!" She roared, then turned to the Snack Pack who were the band and providing the lovely music.

"A 1, 2, 3!" She counted, giving her friends the signal.

They played a romantic song. It was slow, smooth and passionate. Most of the trolls immediately recognized the song. Can't Help Falling In Love.

Lake clapped for them, smiling widely. But then she realized the rotation was starting. She panicked and quickly headed to her first "date."

Lake has met a few nice trolls. Most of them were sweet, but Lake just didn't think it felt right.

She was kinda hoping that if she held onto herself for a little while longer, she wouldn't end up with others.

Sometimes Lake would see a couple in a table having fun and talking with joy. But when one of them arrives to her table, she gets a little resistant. She knows that they already have something there, and she doesn't wanna be a part of it.

"Do you like chocolate?" Lake's current date asked, grinning at her. Lake immediately gave her full attention to him, smiling widely. "Oh! Of cou-"

"I absolutely HATE chocolate! It tastes weird and it ruins my-"

Just then, the rotation bell rang, signaling the trolls to rotate and go to another table. Lake was relieved. She gave him a fake grin, laughing and trying her best to hold herself back from ending this troll's whole career.

"Welp! That's the bell! Gotta go!" She waved, quickly walking away to the next table. She was trying to hide her furious face. She felt her skin heat up and melt.

She then sat down on the next table, taking a deep breath and fixing herself. She brushed her hair away from her face and sighed. She didn't bother looking at her partner for a moment, so she just immediately decided to create a conversation while staring down at the table cloth. "Soooo what's your occupation?"

Then with a hint of guilt, she decided to look up at her partner. Lake quickly got nervous when she saw who her date was.

It was a lady troll with turquoise hair and a warm green dress. Her eyes matched her beautiful hair and her skin was the color of a bright blue sky.

Lake was sweating bullets, she grinned widely and slowly tried getting up from her seat. "I am so so sorry, I-I think I sat in the wrong table!"

"Woah, woah, woah, I'm sorry ma'am but I think the rotation has already ended," She said with a sly grin. Lake blushed, eyeing her. She felt weird around this new troll. It was strange too, her hair wasn't defying gravity just like hers.

"B-But wouldn't that ruin the order-"

"There is no order! The only point of this party is to have fun, so why not join me, my lady?" The troll leaned against the table lazily, grinning at Lake.

Lake sighed in defeat, sitting back down. "T-This is strange... We're both ladies, aren't we?"

The troll looked at her and laughed, almost falling off her chair. She gathered herself, wiping away the tears of joy. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard all day!" She snickered in between the words.

Lake blushed intensely, she felt embarrassed and confused. What is this? Am I being tested?

"Oh sweetie, I don't mean to scare you but couples don't always have to be the opposite gender of each other. That's kinda wack," she said, drinking her glass of water.

Lake inched closer, raising an eyebrow. "And your name is?"

"Seana," She said, reaching out to shake her hand. Lake took her hand and shook it.

"Lake," she replied reluctantly, suddenly finding admiration for the other lovely blue troll.

"Lovely name, say, haven't we met from somewhere before?" Seana gazed at her, looking at Lake respectfully but with desire.

"I don't think we have, what makes you think that?" Lake asked, feeling self-conscious of herself.

"I dunno, but something about the way your eyes glimmer gives me-"

"And the remaining couple are Lake and the other beautiful lady!" Poppy announced, smiling at them widely. She clapped loudly for them.

It took a second for Lake and Seana to realize that they were the only ones left at the party with the exception of Poppy and Branch. Branch was standing behind Poppy, trying to look over her to see who Lake ended up with.

Lake looked at them. Out of nowhere she felt terrified and embarrassed. "W-Wait we aren't a couple just yet! Right, Seana-..."

Just as she turned around, Seana was nothing but thin air. Lake frowned slightly, she sighed and turned back to Poppy. She shook her head.

Poppy understood, she turned to look at Branch, shaking her head as well. Branch gave a look of concern, telling Poppy that they should to come over to Lake.

When they arrived, Lake was the first to give a hug to Poppy.

Lake didn't cry, she rarely cries.

In public.