Splash.
"Oh my God - MABEL! COME BACK HERE!"
I hid a giggle behind my mouth as my cousins (well, second cousins) started chasing each other with water balloons. Even at sixteen, they were still as energetic and fun as they were when I first met them.
Me? Dad likes to say I'm more mature, but he still thinks I should take things more seriously. Uncle says I'm finally getting how this dimension works, but that I have to be less serious.
Those two will never get along.
Who am I? Hayden Miranda Pines, only daughter of Stanford Filbrick Pines. I was born in Dimension 52, back where Dad met Mom - Lady Miranda Canterbury. Back then, Dad had saved Mom from a mass murder, making her the only surviving heir of their family. She was supposed to marry some Lord of somewhere, but she chose Dad instead. She chose a life away from her home, and she chose a chance at a dimension where she could start a family with Dad.
But she never did.
That's what terrifying creatures from other dimensions do. They rip your dreams apart - quite literally.
I'll never know past that, never know who Mom really was. I was just an infant back then, an unnamed infant. Dad decided to stick with Mom's chosen name for me: Hayden. To honor her, however, he also made her name my middle name.
I grew up hidden from the terrors of Dimension 52, but I knew about the dimension I was supposed to be living in. I had a mild telepathic ability that Dad had no idea about until now, and every night, when I wanted to, his dreams were my dreams.
Dreams that talked about failing as a brother, as a friend, and failing to notice tricksters when he saw them.
I was with Dad when he was brought back to this dimension. At first, Dipper and Mabel didn't want to trust me - heck, Uncle Stan even avoided me - but as soon as I showed them I was just a normal twelve year old, the 'Mystery Twins' took me along every adventure they ever took.
The biggest adventure was at the end of the summer - Dipper and Mabel's birthday - where we finally defeated the demon with one eye: Bill Cipher. It took two long weeks to figure out how to defeat him, but it was worth it. Gravity Falls was finally demon-free.
And don't think it actually got boring in Gravity Falls. No, the only thing we were free from was Bill Cipher. We still had an occasional goblin monster or enchanted furniture, but it was somehow easier to live in Gravity Falls. There were no more spooky nightmares, no unexplained dreams, and everything was back to a normal kind of weird.
"AH! HE'S GOT ME! MABEL IS DOWN! WADDLES, SAVE YOURSELF!" Mabel cried in fake pain, collapsing next to her pet pig Waddles. The pink animal only sniffed it's owner's face, making Mabel quiver as she tried to keep her laughs quiet to remain in character.
Dipper shook his head in bemusement and aimed his Nyarf gun at her, but then his phone started ringing. He grabbed his phone from where it lay by the stairs of the Shack, and immediately put it up to his ear.
"Hey, Mia...Yeah, me and Mabel were just playing around...the usual, what about you?...Really?"
I watched as Dipper walked near the totem pole, then casually leaned against it, gesturing with his other hand wildly as he continued talking into the phone. It was probably Mia Walter, Dipper's girlfriend from back in Piedmont. I was told the two had met up over a science fair project.
Not that I had any grudge against Mia. She had talked to me on the phone a week ago, and she sounded really sweet. I'm sure we could get along swell.
"Hey, what are you staring at?" I looked up to see Mabel smiling sweetly down at me, before she sat down beside me. Waddles walked up beside Mabel and laid his head down on the wooden floor, falling fast asleep.
I let out a small laugh before turning back ti Dipper. "Nothing, it's just...meeting him four years back, I wasn't sure he would ever get a girlfriend. No offense." I said quickly, remembering the stories Uncle Stan would tell me about Mabel beating anyone who would insult her brother.
Mabel simply laughed, nodding her head as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I know what you're talking about. Back when you were still in that other dimension, he could go hours talking about Wendy. Never thought he would get past the awkward stage, but look at him now!" She pointed to Dipper again, and there was an affectionate smile on his face as he nodded along and listened to whatever Mia was saying.
"People change too fast, huh?" I whispered silently. I didn't think Mabel had heard what I said, but I guess she did with the way she nudged me softly.
"What about you? Any changes since we've gone?" she asked.
I desperately wanted to tell her that yes, I've met an amazing boy who relates to me and loves me for everything I am, that he's the love of my life - but no. That's Mabel's love story, and I don't have one.
Every boy here in Gravity Falls either thinks I'm weird or is on the brink of insanity, and I'm pretty sure I'm straight, and everyone I know is in a relationship or has been in a relationship, leaving me alone and an outcast.
Mabel stayed silent when I didn't say anything, only wrapping her hand around my shoulder, causing me to lay my head on it and sigh deeply. Mabel's always had that effect on people, making them feel loved and at home (despite the fact I was already at home, but never mind that).
"You'll find someone someday. Some amazingly nerdy and handsome guy out there who'll love you and would be willing to give his life up for you, and we'll support you two every step of the way." Mabel said, gesturing to the setting sun. I stifled a laugh and pushed her away, giggling to myself as she sent me a braces-free grin.
"Oh my God, Mabel, that has got to be the cheesiest thing I've ever heard you say, and that's saying something." I laughed, and she crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out.
"Hey, I happen to be an aspiring fantasy writer. My very first story is going to be about a beautiful orphan princess who goes on a magical quest to find true love, and you, Hayden Pines," Mabel said, pointing to me, "happen to be the inspiration for her, so you better be very proud."
"Oh, trust me, I am very proud about the fact I am now a girl who wears ball gowns and has a bag of fairy dust." I said, rolling my eyes.
"Really? I'd like to see that happen." Dipper stood beside me, grinning as he leaned against the wooden pole.
Mabel's eyes glisten over and a very familiar large grin comes over her face. "Dipper's got a point."
My eyes widened as I slowly stood up, warily stepping back to stand beside Dipper. The younger twin realized his mistake and put a hand over his mouth, slowly stifling a laugh. "Oh my God, I am so sorry, Hayden."
Mabel lunged for me and I shrieked, running away from her as she chased after me, trying to powder me with glitter.
That's how Dad and Uncle Stan found us, and while Uncle Stan just shook his head and bid us a good night, Dad facepalmed, sighing before making us promise never to use fairy dust mixed with glitter against each other ("But it looks so much like it, how was I supposed to know?").
That night, everything was as peaceful as usual. I heard no sounds from downstairs, meaning Dad was having a peaceful sleep. In fact, it seemed everyone was.
Everyone except me.
My bed was amazingly comfortable and I was so sleepy, but I just couldn't sleep.
I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching me.
A/N: First chapter's up! This is sort of the 'introductory' chapter, more action and dialogue (hopefully) in the next chapter.
Disclaimer: All mentioned characters from Gravity Falls and Gravity Falls itself is owned by Alex Hirsch and Disney. Hayden Miranda Pines is a figment of my imagination.
- psychopathicdorito
