Tuesday September 2, 2014
It had taken a couple of years but we had done it. Mabel and I are finally full time residents of Gravity Falls. Of course we have been bugging our parents that they need to come up and visit us during our yearly summer trips. This year they came up for a two week stay before our birthday and dad fell in love with the small town feel. After mom found out that Northwest Medical (Pacifica says it is one of the few things she is proud her family did) was looking for a new head RN as Nurse Brooks was retiring. Deciding that that was a sign, the two began looking for a house. For now we are staying in the former servant's cottage on the former Northwest estates with Fiddleford's blessing.
And here we are, sophomores at Gravity Falls High School. It won't be too bad, most of our friends are here. Candy is a freshman, Grenda and Pacifica are sophomores like us, and Nate, Lee, Tambry, and Wendy are seniors. Thompson and Robbie graduated last year. Thompson is taking some business classes at the community college the next town over and Robbie…
About a month ago Wendy got a call at the Shack asking if she had seen Robbie. Apparently Tambry had told him that they were gonna be parents. At first he didn't take it well believing that they were too young and he rushed out leaving her at his house with his parents. It wasn't five minutes after telling her that she hadn't heard from him that Nate and Lee called asking if she could met them at the Dusk2Dawn lot. Mabel volunteered to watch the counter for her and I ended up riding out with her.
Wendy told me what was up on the way to the meet. Since it was really a private matter between old friends, I stayed in Wendy's truck while they talked. Occasionally I would hear a loud utterance like 'not ready' and 'you love her right?' and at least once it looked as if he was gonna lunge at Wendy. Even with Nate, Lee, and Thompson were there I nearly rushed out of the truck. I know she can handle herself and well it was just Robbie, but I would've rather take a hit from him than let him touch her. But I had no need to worry. He wasn't attacking her, he was hugging her. Later she told me that she had just told him that he thought he would make an adequate dad. That was how much he still valued her opinion.
It wasn't too much later that Thompson, Nate, and Lee had to head out. Thompson, as the manager of the theater, had hired Nate and they both were about to be late to work. Lee had a date that he offered to call off if Robbie needed him, but Robbie said he didn't want him to as he knew how long it took him to set up the date. They all stopped by and said bye as they left. Robbie stopped by to thank me for coming to support him and for understanding it was something the 'Gang' needed to deal with, I told him it was no problem and if they needed any help while I was in town to just let me know. He smiled his smirk like grin and said he would remember that when they need a babysitter.
He never got the chance to ask. We had been back at the Shack for about half hour or so when we got the call from Tambry asking for us to come to the hospital. Apparently Robbie had stopped to buy Tambry some flowers as an apology. Unfortunately as he pulled away from the florist, his van was t-boned by a car heading home from the Fractured Skull. The doctor said he didn't make it to surgery and the driver of the other car was killed on impact.
It was then I reaffirmed my decision that life was too short. I ended up spending as much time as I could with either Mabel or Wendy. The two most important women in my life. At first it shocked our parents at how much time I spent with them but I think Stan may have told them about what happened. Soon it seemed as if that they had accepted Wendy as part of the Gravity Falls package. At one point dad pulled me to the side and asked 'So is this the one your sister is always teasing you about?'.
The principal offered to let Tambry take time off to grieve and to have her baby, but she apparently only needs three credits to graduate and she wants to get them done so she can graduate with her friends whether the baby is here or not.
So there she was on stage with principal and a few other faculty members as they turned the first day of the new school year into an assembly. They talked about the dangers of drinking and driving, had a memorial for Robbie as an Honored Alumnus, introduced the freshmen, and finally introduced Mabel & I as transfer students to the assembled students. Seeing how it was a half day they dismissed everyone by grades starting with the seniors, with everyone picking up a copy of their schedule as they left incase they didn't receive the one in the mail. The plan was as soon as we were done the whole group was gonna head over to Yumberjacks for burger and fries. As Mabel and I got our schedules we heard our names called, turning we saw it was Principal Reeves.
After we walked over he shook Mabel's hand as he started speaking, "Hello Mabel, and you must be Mason, I mean Dipper."
At that he turned and shook my hand before continuing, "I would like to welcome you personally to our school, I've heard such great things from your great uncle. Now normally I wouldn't believe a word that old shyster said, but I have seen both of your transcripts."
"And just where do you get off calling our Grunkle a shyster?" Mabel asked, getting defensive over her second favorite (at least I hope) family member.
"No need to get into a huff, my dear. I reckon I've known your, 'Grunkle' was it, for longer than you've been alive. Though for most of that I thought he was Stanford Pines and not Stanley. You play cards with a guy twice a month for nearly twenty-five years and you'd think you would know someone." Principal Reeves said. When he saw the look of confusion on our faces he pointed to a small lapel pin on his jacket. It was a maroon trapezoid with a familiar looking yellow fish (?) in he middle of it. "We're both members of the Order of the Holy Mackerel."
Apparently he thought it warranted more explanation, "We're a fraternal organization along the lines of the Knights of Columbus or the Shriners. But enough about that, I called you two over to talk about tomorrow. Most of the incoming students were able to come in during registration and get a basic idea of where their classes, but since you two were late comers I have arrange for you to have guides for the first couple of days."
"You didn't need to do that…" I started before Mabel slapped her hand over my mouth.
"Speak for yourself, broseph. I'm always up for some help. Maybe it'll even be the start of a new friendship." Mabel said as she removed her hand.
"Actually from what I am to understand, these two are people you already know." Principal Reeves said as he raised his hand and waved for someone to come over, "Actually one of them credits you Mr. Pines as one of the reasons she has turned her academic aptitude around."
I felt a familiar hand grab my shoulder. I turned and saw it was Wendy. Being eyeball level with her chin, I'm finally catching up to her height wise.
"Paz!", Mabel called out as she turned and saw who her guide was. She quickly pulled her into a hug.
"You ready to learn the ins and outs of the school, Dip?" Wendy said with a smile that brightened up the whole school.
"If you're leading…" I thought before I realized I was actually saying it. I had gotten better at that but there are times that she still draws out my innermost thoughts. She had a small smirk that told me that she had heard me as I said, "I mean, yeah. With your help I'll have this place figured out in no time."
"Well since this all seems to be in order I'll see you all tomorrow." Principal Reeves said clapping his hands together.
We stood there for a little bit while Mabel and Pacifica seemed to be comparing schedules. (I actually lost track of time just being there with Wendy) before my stomach told me I had rushed out without eating breakfast with a loud growl. This got a chuckle from Wendy and broke the girls out of whatever discussion they seemed to be having.
"Did someone anger a gnome?" Pacifica asked with a chuckle. Mabel joined her in the laughter.
"Yeah, yeah. Cut the guy some slack, we were supposed to be at Yumberjacks by now. Come on the gang is probably waiting on us." Wendy chastised the girls before she put her arm around my shoulder as we walked off.