An Autumn Wish
Chapter One
It was late November.
The leaves crunched beneath my feet as I strolled through the woods. The air was crisp, the kind of cold that made you feel alive when you breathed it in. My world was painted a thousand shades of red, and the air lingered with the warm, earthy scent of cedarwood.
Even on the coldest days of November the sun was bright in the sky, bringing joy to my heart. Fall was absolutely my favorite season, and I really meant it. I missed the taste of pumpkin pie, the warm bonfires, and the cool, dark nights.
My chestnut curls bounced as I trotted down the pathway. Gravity Falls looked beautiful this time of year. I smiled up at the scarlet leaves hanging above my head. They fluttered down, sparse in the late autumn air. This loveliness was overlooked during the summer, when grass was too prickly, and the plants would die of thirst. Now I could see beauty in the trees, the moist air, and the heavy rain. Moments like this made me realize, that maybe, moving here wouldn't be so bad.
When my parents sent me away in California, I thought he hated me.
"You can't send us away!" I shouted in disbelief.
"I already told you, Mabel. You need to listen and you're going to do as I say. I'm the father and you're my children. This is how things are."
I wish I could convey how absurd he sounded. "I can't believe this!" I cried.
Dipper tried reasoning with him. "Perhaps we could get jobs to support the household?"
"Your mother and I can't keep you here anymore... Besides, you're almost 17, and old enough to be on your own." he said huffily, but that's hardly the point.
"But were your kids!" I yelled. My face was not it's usual pretty self. My tears had turned my face blotchy and swollen. "Don't you care about us?"
"Say what you want." My father shrugged indifferently. "You're living with your great uncles, and that's that."
When our dad ignored us, I understood just how serious this was. He looked at me, and it's as though he's seeing me for the first time. I loved my grunkle Stan and Ford, but how could our parents just send us away? I would have thought they adored us, but obviously not.
"But dad-"
"You're leaving tomorrow…"
That was six months ago. The deep sadness I felt that day had lingered for a couple of weeks, but it had finally lifted. I did miss my parents -of course I did- but I couldn't believe the fact of the matter. I wasn't coming home.
This summer, after we'd gotten my brother and I settled at Gravity Falls, I started attending the local high school. Each day was more boring than the last, but today was probably the worst. It was the last day before Thanksgiving break, and I was eager to get away from my classes.
We prepared for midterms the entire day, which I couldn't stand. Exams "in my opinion" were the absolute worst. Just memorizing the material was enough to make my head explode. At least now I had some time to escape from my school work.
Though it was not late, the sky was almost dark when I returned to the Mystery Shack. Soos had already finished for the day, switched off the shop lights and closed the shutters.
As I entered the cabin, I placed my book-bag in its usual place on the kitchen table. The bag shimmered in rainbow sequins, which really stood out on the wooden surface. It was also decorated with silly pins, with references to some of my current obsessions. I smiled, admiring my creativity and uniqueness.
"Hey Mabel." Melody stood at the stove, making supper. "How was studying with Grenda and Candy?" Melody had recently married Soos during the summer, and had been living with us ever since.
"It was good!" I grinned. Our study sessions were always enjoyable. We talked about hot seniors most of the time….
Melody looked over her shoulder, and grinned. "That's awesome." Melody was very laid-back, almost as laid-back as Wendy. But sometimes she was like a mother, who'd care and occasionally worry about Dipper and I. Either way, I was grateful to have Melody in my life. Plus, she always made Soos so happy. Anyone in the world could tell how much Soos loved his wife.
"And you're just in time for dinner." Melody said. "Come help me, Mabel." I followed her into the living room, carrying several plates and utensils. We placed them on the table that sat between the couch and the television. Grunkle Stan and Ford had been watching football all November, something they unexpectedly bonded over, so every Friday, we were forced to watch together.
Once everything was situated, it was finally time to eat. Dipper and I sat on the floor, which we didn't mind. It was typical, being the youngest of the group. Melody and Soos sat on the couch, along with Abuelita who concentrated on her knitting. Next to them, Grunkle Stan sat in his favorite armchair, and Grunkle Ford pulled up a folding chair on the opposite side of the couch.
"And that's why gambling is never a bad idea..." Grunkle Stan said through a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
Dipper rolled his eyes. At age 17, Dipper had grown to be at least 6'1, towering over my 5'4 stature. It definitely caught me off guard, him becoming the alpha-twin. Dipper sometimes teased me... "Shrimp, half-pint, umpa lumpa, shorty…." which always irritated me. However, Dipper was still the good-hearted brother I loved since birth. His personality rarely changed throughout the years.
"Stanley, stop putting ridiculous thoughts into our niece and nephew's heads." Grunkle Ford spoke out, but his words were ignored completely.
"They'll thank me when their older..."Grunkle Stan said. Sometimes Grunkle Stan was too stubborn for his own good. His schemes would always get the best of him.
"So dudes..." Soos chimed in. "Now that you're off from school, what are you up to this week?"
Dipper and I glanced at one another. Besides Thanksgiving, there wasn't much we had planned. I didn't have a boyfriend, so I spent most of my time with Grenda and Candy. Don't get me wrong, I always enjoyed their company, but I still yearned for a boyfriend... someone who loved me the way Soos loved Melody. Silly I know… to want something so badly. But all my past relationships had failed miserably. It was difficult, if not impossible to find a boyfriend in Gravity Falls. The boys I'd date would always end up being not human, or just incompatible. I had wished, that just once, I could have a normal relationship.
"The Pie and Pastry Fair is going to be in town tomorrow." Melody remembered.
Suddenly, my eyes lit up. The Pie and Pastry Fair was one of the biggest events in Gravity Falls. People came from all across Oregon just to taste the different types of sugary sweets. There would be plenty of games, and live entertainment to dance and listen to. It was fun, exciting, romantic, delicious, and... "That would be great!" I beamed.
My brother shrugged his shoulders. "I wouldn't mind getting some blueberry pie..." Dipper supposed.
"Then lets go! This is going to be so much fun!" I said, giddy with excitement. This was the perfect opportunity to meet a new boyfriend. At streets fairs, you're always stopping here and browsing there... And so are lots of boys! If this wasn't a good place to find a boyfriend, no place was.