**Hey guys, thanks for checking out this sequel! Me love you long time.

A few notes, the boys are sixteen, and therefore in… (how does American schooling work?) Year ten, I believe. Anyway, Courtney has moved out, but everyone else is pretty much the same. Last warning, there will be mature/sexual themes. Also, there's a bit of sadness because one of the characters is insecure about his sexuality :( And yes, there's boy-boy action somewhere around here…

Hope you enjoy, and please feel free to tell me what you think of this!

Sushi for all (except the vegetarians, you guys can have… Rice)!**

The two weeks passed much faster than Norman thought they could've. Before he knew it, Sandra was rushing around the house, cleaning and preparing "Dipper's" room, Courtney was planning her sexual assault on the newcomer (even though she lived on the other side of town), and Perry was giving Norman some pretty wigged-out side-eye glares that spoke volumes.

The day that they were to pick up Norman's new housemate was just as horrible as Norman had expected it to be. He was ready to leave and standing by the door, but his parents kept rushing about — late and stressing, as usual — but kept yelling at him to get ready. Norman just kept his position and beat his record of dismayed sighs before they finally left in their beat-up Ford to go to the place Norman knew as Hell, and his parents knew as free daycare.

Blithe Hollow Middle School was buzzing with activity, which was unusual considering it was a Sunday. Faces no one had ever seen before were lined up at the entrance to the school with suitcases and roller bags, and were being attended to by their temporary families. The family got out of the car, and where Sandra rushed over to the only boy without adults swarming over him, Perry held Norman back and leaned down to give him the only kind of talk Norman was used to hearing from his dad.

~ O ~

Sandra was probably on the top ten list of scariest creatures Dipper Pines had ever faced. Armed with a too-stiff blonde bob, an overbearing smile and sickly sweet manners, Dipper tried to look on the bright side. He'd be out of the craziness of Gravity Falls for six weeks. That, or he would attract the same craziness he was used to having to deal with in his hometown, and he'd get to face some new foes. And as much as he loved Mabel, he was hoping to solve some mysteries on his own. After the pleasantries, Sandra led him over to a car Dipper was sure was about to fall apart, where a man was giving a boy Dipper's age — probably his son — an earful about something, but Dipper didn't really hear.

~ O ~

'—Get what I'm saying?' Norman had barely enough time to nod and shake his father's hand from his shoulder before turning to greet the boy his mom was walking over with. The first thing Norman noticed was the boy — Dipper — had curly brown hair that was no doubt as hard to tame as his own, which was tucked under a blue and white cap. The second thing Norman noticed was that where the other exchange students had bags upon bags, Dipper had only one duffel, slung casually over his shoulder. Dipper shot him a contented smile before easily introducing himself to Perry, interacting as if he'd known them for years. They firmly shook hands, which practically made Sandra shoot sparks at how civil everyone was being. Then Dipper turned to introduce himself to Norman. He was about to hold his hand out for Norman to shake it, but the introvert saw it coming and quickly turned away after mumbling a "hi", pretending that he didn't see and was just turning to open the car door for Dipper. Before anyone could protest, Norman darted to the other side of the car, got in, slammed the door, and pushed himself as close to the window as possible.

Sandra sighed at the action and Perry had no readable expression, but Dipper just took it in his stride. Tossing his bag into the car before him (so it would act as a barrier between him and Norman; he had actually learned something about people needing/wanting space after all that time with his sister) he hopped in cheerfully.

'Is that, uh, all you have, Dipper?' Sandra asked as the two adults loaded into the car.

'Yes, ma'am.' Dipper replied. Perry made a sound like an impressed huff, and Sandra quickly told Dipper to not worry with manners like that; the topic of his bag long forgotten.

No matter how hard Norman tried, no matter how much he told himself to not be interested in Dipper, he was. What he didn't know was that Dipper was equally as fascinated by the quiet boy, as well. They drove back to the Babcock residence, Sandra chatting the whole time about astronomy.

~ O ~

Sandra has suspected that the first dinner of Dipper's stay would be tentative and awkward, so she made extra preparations for everything to be as hospitable and welcoming as possible. She de-teenage-girl-ed Dipper's room (which was previously Courtney's) and made a huge dinner, traditional of Blithe Hollow.

OK, not really, but she told herself it was.

After Dipper was shown around the house, they sat down to eat. Dipper was the polar opposite of how Norman had been interacting (or lack, thereof) with them for the last five years. He shared stories of his family, hometown, school, all with a smile, and the occasional joke. Sandra spotted Norman smiling into his lap whenever Dipper made a gag that they could quickly tell was typical of him, and she was happy. She knew Norman would initially view Dipper as an intruder and just another person to call him a freak, but she'd hoped Dipper being Norman's age would make her son begin to open up to people more. She knew Perry would've given Norman a stern chat beforehand, so, if Norman managed to not scare Dipper off, maybe opposites could attract and they could be friends. She laughed quietly to herself. Hell, the second Dipper showed any sort of friendly behaviour toward Norman, her companion-deprived son would probably fall in love. She smiled again, and it grew as Dipper included Norman in what he was talking about, and Norman actually said more than three words.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, after all.

~ O ~

Norman instantly disliked Dipper.

He talked a lot, smiled too much, got on way too well with his dad, and worst of all; didn't know about Norman's… Quirk. He'd become so used to having people know after the appearance of Aggie, and now Norman had to hide himself again. It was exhausting, and annoying, and Norman blamed Dipper.

That night, as Norman sat on his bed and filled in Grandma Babcock on the evening, he took some time to consider the situation. He had a few choices: tell Dipper outright, or let him find out at school. Either way there was a chance that Dipper wouldn't believe that Norman could speak to the dead, and Norman really didn't feel like an energy-consuming activity tonight. He decided to let it slide.

'Norman? Norman.' The teen blinked himself out of his stupor.

'Sorry Grandma, I was… Thinking. About D— tonight.'

'Well, you shouldn't think so hard,' the old ghost rasped from half-way through Norman's wall. 'that was always your Grandpa's problem.'

With a sigh, Norman kept chatting on to his Grandma about the night, before there as a soft knock at his door.

~ O ~

Dipper could've sworn he heard voices before he knocked on Norman's door, but since they stopped as soon as he knocked, he blamed it on his creeping down the corridor. He had to creep; he really didn't want to get caught by Sandra or Perry on the first night, in a shirt and boxers, sneaking into their son's room.

A soft "come in" later, and Dipper entered Norman's room. The teen was sitting on his bed, clad in plain pyjamas and facing the nearby wall.

Instead of speaking, Dipper was struck for a moment at how plain Norman's room was. Spots of Blu-Tack and pale patches on the walls indicated there used to be posters, and lots of them, but Dipper wasn't about to ask where they went.

'Hey,' he said. Norman nodded in response, keeping his eyes on his hands, which were folded neatly in his lap. Dipper cleared his throat and leaned against the shut door.

'I, uh, just wanted to say…' Oh shit, what did he come in for?! He'd totally forgotten.

'Um… Thanks? For… Having a room prepared for me, and all that…' Smooth, Dipper, smooth.

'Are you usually this articulate?' Norman asked, raising his head just enough to flash a smug smirk. It was quickly lowered. 'Sorry, I meant… My mum did all that. I have no idea how it looks, actually.' That took Dipper back, and he latched onto the first thought that came to his head, desperate to get along with Norman.

'Well, do you wanna come see, now? I mean, it's your house I don't really have to ask you— I mean, you don't really need to have my permission to…' His words trailed off and he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. When he looked up again, Norman had lifted his head and was looking him straight in the eye, with an expression on his face that Dipper wasn't used to seeing.

'I think… I'll just get to sleep now, if… That's OK.' Dipper nodded earnestly and went to say goodnight. As he was about to walk out, Norman quietly called him back.

'Hey, tomorrow, when we're at school, this kid Neil — he's cool, you'll see, he'll show you around. And, since you'll be here for six weeks, just know that you shouldn't really hang around me.'

Dipper was so taken aback by Norman's bluntness that all he could do was nod cluelessly and go back to his own room.

Once there, Dipper practically slapped himself. "Do you want to see the room in your house that I'm staying in at ten o'clock at night? I swear I'm not creepy." Geez Dipper, you've really done it this time.

Once again mentally slapping himself, he tossed and turned until falling into a fitful sleep.

~ O ~

Norman had never really been… Hard, before, but as soon as he felt a very peculiar tingling sensation in his lower area when Dipper entered his room wearing only a singlet and boxers, he knew what was going down. Or up, rather.

Now Norman berated himself. Not only was he a freak, he was a gay freak. Alvin would have a field day. With a sigh, Norman turned over and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

~ O ~

Dipper woke and felt strangely energetic despite the rough night he had just woken from. Probably because he was starting at Blithe Hollow Middle School today. He jumped out of bed and raced to the bathroom to clean his teeth, determined to get through so that he wouldn't hold Norman up. After last night, he needed the most help with a good second impression that he could get.

Humming around his toothbrush, Dipper didn't notice Norman walk into the bathroom until they practically knocked heads. Norman snapped to attention, and hurried out without saying a word, but Dipper saw he suddenly he blushed. Perhaps Norman was even more shy than Dipper first though.

It was then he remembered he was only wearing a top and boxers. Finishing his teeth and ninja-running back to his room, Dipper berated himself. When will I learn, really? Imagine what Mabel would say…

~ O ~

Dipper met Norman at the front door, where he'd apparently been waiting for a while.

'Ready to go?' Norman nodded. 'Hey,' Dipper continued, determined to get Norman to open up, 'you were up pretty early.'

'Yeah,' Norman nodded again, then after a moment added, 'we'll need it.'

'Oh? Is the walk to school that long?' Norman hesitated.

'No, it's… Just that you need to be shown around, and stuff.' Dipper thankfully didn't see the pitying look Sandra gave Norman from the kitchen. Before she could comment on his lie, Norman started out the door, Dipper hot on his heels.

~ O ~

'So…' Dipper began.

'So.' Norman said, his gaze never moving from the sidewalk in front of him.

'So why should I not hang with you?' He obviously caught Norman off guard with the candid question, as the boy's step faltered momentarily.

'Uh, I'm just one of those people who's better off alone.' He said.

'Oh,' Dipper let out a breath of relief, 'so you don't like people hanging around you, but there's nothing stopping me from doing it, right?'

Norman didn't answer.

~ O ~

When they reached the school, Dipper hardly had time to say "see ya round" before he was handed off to Neil, one of Norman's… Well, Dipper didn't exactly know if he could say "friend".

'So has Courtney come onto you yet?' Was the first thing Neil asked as the two of them walked around the pathetic excuse for a school.

'Excuse me?'

'Norman's sister — older. She's really…' He paused to think, then turned to Dipper. 'What the word for a girl who's into younger guys, older guys, and guys her own age?'

'Busy?' Neil laughed, but a more serious topic popped into Dipper's mind.

'Hey, you're buds with Norman; did I do something to piss him off? Like, insult his small-town-ness, because I came here from Gravity Falls!'

Neil's nose scrunched up in thought. More students were arriving, now.

'No, it's just Norman. He was pretty cold to me, too, when I first tried to get in to interact.' Dipper smiled, relieved.

'So he'll warm up to me, then?'

'… Not necessarily.' Was all Neil said, before leaving Dipper at his locker.

Most of the day was as Dipper expected it to be— having to re-introduce himself in every class, most of which he shared with Norman. Still, his new housemate refused to even look Dipper in the eye. It was only after last session, walking out of the school that Dipper even saw Norman. He was about to stride up to the teen and outright ask if he'd done something wrong already, but Norman was already talking to someone.

At least, that's what it looked like.

'Yeah, I know, I know,' Norman said, chucking slightly. Dipper's eyes narrowed in confusion. Norman hadn't seen him, because Norman was so preoccupied with… A tree. He was talking to a tree. Specifically a higher up, bare branch. Wow, Dipper thought. Just wow. He'd gotten a certain tree-hugger vibe from Sandra, but this was a whole new level.

'Um, yeah, I don't think we have to worry about that. The Germans made a peace treaty, or whatever. Everything's good now.' Norman informed the branch. 'Anyway, I've gotta go, hang in there!' Norman called behind him as he began to walk in the other direction, but as he turned around to greet the tree goodbye, he caught sight of Dipper standing there. Almost tripping onto his face in surprise, Norman stumbled back as he saw Dipper, who was a little speechless.

'I suppose you've heard something about that already.' Norman said, taking advantage of Dipper's silence. After a moment, Dipper cleared his voice and gathered his thoughts.

'Um, about what? I mean, I get you're not exactly Mr. Popular, but no, no one told me about how much you love trees… I'll have to recycle more.' Dipper thought he saw a smile play at the corner of Norman's mouth, but it soon vanished.

'What do you mean? Seriously no one told you yet?'

'About… What exactly? The trees? No.'

Norman was silent, then: 'Come on, let's just go home.' This time, Norman didn't say goodbye to the tree as the two boys walked side by side to the Babcock residence.

About halfway through the walk (which had been totally silent), Dipper cleared his throat and spoke.

'Y'know, I did hear a few things today. Info travels really quickly at your school.' Norman gave a non-committal shrug. Eh, small towns. What can you do? It seemed to say.

'I heard heaps about the town's history, the witch trials and everything. It was pretty cool to see how much everyone was into it, I love that stuff—'

'Burning children?' The acid in Norman's voice almost made Dipper stumble.

'No! No, of course not! Just… History.' Norman nodded his understanding. 'I heard about the haunted house on Halley Hill—' Dipper took a moment to elbow Norman's arm suggestively, and Dipper's inquisitive raised eyebrow was met with a very tired look from Norman. '— and I heard a bit about your sister, from Neil, and how she should try to pick me up in the next twenty-four hours, otherwise she's been replaced with a clone.' Dipper paused for a moment, but Norman didn't comment. He didn't want anything to imply he could have any chance whatsoever with this gorgeous curly-haired pocket rocket from what seemed like another world.

'Too bad for her I'm gay.'

It took a moment for the words to register in Norman's head.

'What?' Dipper gave Norman a side-look, confused at his tone.

'I said I'm gay. Do… Does your family or something have a problem with that?'

'No, no, of course not. Neither do I.' The thought had crossed Norman's mind to lie, say for six weeks that Dipper couldn't do anything remotely homosexual, to try and quell Norman's own interest. But, after years of having to hide who he was, he wasn't about to put Dipper through the same thing, not even for a few weeks.

They walked for a few more minutes in comfortable silence, and just as Dipper was about to speak and ask about the tree thing (it really didn't feel like Norman was just talking to a tree), Norman spoke first. 'I think… I'm gonna take the long way today. You go that way—' He pointed to the street ahead of them, '—Go two blocks, then turn left and then right for three blocks, I think you know the rest of the way. I'm gonna take the other path— the park is nice.' Norman attempted a smile to make his lie seem more legitimate.

'But isn't it quicker if I just go this way with you? Since… Your house is…' He pointed vaguely to their right, where Norman was planning to go, then pointed out how it was longer straight ahead. Norman silently swore.

'No, no,' He confirmed, 'there's road works, so straight ahead is fastest. I'm gonna swing by the park, then maybe Neil's.'

Realising Norman was trying to ditch him, Dipper ceased protesting. Wishing each other goodbye, they parted ways.

~ O ~

That night, during dinner, Dipper had felt something was amiss. He knew if he paid attention, he'd solve it— the key to any good mystery. Where Perry Babcock was happily chowing down on his meatloaf, Dipper noticed Sandra looking a little worried; checking the clock, fiddling with her vegetarian meatloaf, and twisting her marriage ring around her finger.

'Does Norman usually get home by now, Ms. Babcock?' Dipper asked. Sandra seemed struck for a moment.

'Oh, dear, please, Sandra's just fine. And yes, he does, or at least I think… Perry?' The man grunted through his food. 'Is Norman usually back by now?' A lower pitched grunt responded negative. What parents don't know when their kid usually gets home?

~ O ~

It was nearly an hour later that the back door swung open and Norman's light gait echoed through the house. Sandra called out if Norman was home, and he yelled back that he was. Dipper listened from his temporary room and watched through the doorway for Norman. For some reason, he felt worried that afternoon about why Norman was trying to brush him off. Dipper told himself there was probably a party Norman didn't want to bring Dipper along to, and he could get that. It still hurt a little, though.

Dipper's door faced Norman's door, but since it was dark, all Dipper really saw was Norman dart inside his room and shut the door without turning around. After that, it was all silent.

He must've fallen asleep pretty quickly, Dipper thought. He was curious as to why Norman would've taken his bag with him to a party. Or would be coming home this late from a friend's place; why not just stay the night? Also, Norman didn't sound, smell or act drunk, or high, or anything, really. Dipper knew nothing really, only that tomorrow would be very interesting.

~ O ~

Norman quietly thanked the ghost of the greaser that had accompanied him home, again. It had really worried Norman when he was walking home with Dipper and the greaser appeared from around the corner to warn that Alvin and his gang were waiting for Norman along his usual route, even more so when Dipper had tried to skirt Norman's lie. Still, he ended up not involving Dipper, which was as much of a win as the situation could've allowed. After the incident two weeks ago, at the party across the street, Alvin and his gang had kept their distance, but like goldfish they'd obviously forgotten about it. That, or gotten bored. Probably a mix of both.

So, Norman spent the afternoon getting beaten up, the evening trying to find the scattered contents of his school bag while it was getting dark (some ghosts had helped though, which Norman really appreciated), and then the night getting home as fast as possible, and getting through the house having to hide a limp and sound totally normal. Normal Norman.

God, please let tomorrow be uneventful, was the thought through his mind as he collapsed onto his bed, going to sleep instantly.

**This story is young, so if you want anything specific to happen, please let me know!

Sushi for all,

- TJ out**