June 4th
"Mabel, have you finally finished packing?" Dipper called from across the hall, only a slight note of irritation in his voice.
"Almost bro – what do you think will come more in handy: that weird bracelet-thingy that we found that lets you talk to plants, or the growy-shrinky crystal?" she called back at him.
"None of the plants we talked to had anything useful to say... they just kept going on and on about rainfall patterns and carpenter ants – I'd go for the crystal."
"I dunno, I thought that one squash gave some pretty good advice but I guess you're right. Alright, just have to crush... this ...down!" she paused, grunting with effort as she compressed the massively overstuffed suitcase resting on her bed shut and barely managed to slip the worn metal latch in place before slumping off with a sigh. "All done!"
"Jeez Mabel, sure you haven't forgotten anything?" Dipper asked sarcastically as he looked in from the doorway, his faded blue pine-tree hat already on his head and a heavy backpack slung across one shoulder.
Time had been kind to the Pine twins, now fresh out of highschool. Dipper had shot up until he was a half a head taller than his sister, and while he wasn't exactly a bodybuilder he had filled out beyond the noodly arms of his pre-teen self. He'd even taken to trying to grow a goatee, though he still couldn't manage more than a small patch of scruff on his pointed chin. Mabel meanwhile, had a straight white smile beaming from her face in place of her old braces in addition to her fuller figure – she had had more guys lining up to ask her out than she could have ever imagined when she was younger, though most of her relationships didn't survive very long due to her... intensity.
"Oh, so Mr. 37 point plan is criticizing me for being over-prepared?" she retorted with a smile as she sat back down on her bed, resting her arm on the bulging suitcase, causing it to creak slightly from stress.
"I... have nothing to respond to that with actually." Dipper set his bag against the door frame and sat down next to his sister, catching a glimpse of their reflections in the large round mirror across from the bed. So alike and yet so different – the harsher angles of his face with its heavier brow and sharp cheekbones contrasted against his twins oval face and soft lips. We've been growing apart for a while now, he thought, and not just in appearance.I guess thats partly why I've been looking forward to this trip for so long.
"You think grunkle Stan will be surprised to see us?" Mabel asked to break the slightly awkward pause.
Dipper shrugged, "If anything can still surprise him after living in that town for so long then I guess he will be. Pleasantly surprised though, I hope."
"Its going to be great to see everyone again! I hope they haven't forgotten about us... we did stay home for the summer last year after all."
"You've been Skype-ing with Candy and Grenda all through the school year, I'm pretty sure that your best friends still remember you. Anyway last summer sucked... its going to be good to head up and see Gravity Falls again. Might be the last time we get to see it for a while what with, y'know, college and all."
"Yeah." Mabel shuffled her feet awkwardly on the thick turquoise carpet, "Do you ever get kind of freaked out about that Dip? College I mean."
"Sometimes. Especially since we got accepted at different places. I mean, at least they are both in the same state but still, it would be... I dunno, the first time that we're going to be really apart."
"Well the drives only a few hours, so its not like we won't ever see each other." she said, but there was a note of resignation in her voice. But we won't see each other for a while and there isn't any avoiding that.
A small cloud hung over the room before Dipper broke the silence with a sharp slap on his knee and he said with slightly forced gaiety, "Well that's why this trip is so important after all! We've been saving up for this all year now... our last big adventure before we have to grow up. Lets make the most of it!"
Mabel beamed back at him, "You're right Dipper! No more moping – lets enjoy the time we have instead of thinking about the time we won't!" She brought her own hand down sharply on the suitcase, mirroring his gesture. Unfortunately this caused the overstuffed bag to burst open, fountaining out colorful sweaters and all manner of strange trinkets across the room.
"Right after we help you re-pack that is."