"Casual" by Rapetacular

Summary
Dipper is determined to uncover the journal's secrets and the mysterious author. Despite the events that occurred in the Dusk 2 Dawn, Dipper is set to investigate the store once more. Much to Dipper's disapproval, the gang decided join in on the fun. However upon arriving to the haunted store, Dipper discovers that he is left to Tambry's company. Feeling bad with rumours of Dipper's rejection from Wendy, Tambry decides to entertain Dipper with their investigation. However the tension rises as they experiment with the many "activities" the modern teen would experience…


Chapter 1 - "Casual"

It was pretty much a cozy noon, the gang decided it was the best time to check out the store. This time Dipper was well prepared, and on good terms with the haunting of the dusk 2 dawn, Dipper was giving off a favourable confidence. The kind of confidence that he usually gives out.

"This was not well planned" Dipper pouted as he looked around in worry for his newly bonded friends. "Maybe I should've called ahead?"

"Don't bother." replied a voice sourcing off –view. Dipper was enlightened to see two familiar faces, it was Tambry and Thompson. Thompson being the nervous wreck he usually is, waved to Dipper, while Tambry, being the classic Tambers, had her face glued to the phone the entire conversation.

"Nate and Lee aren't responding for some reason. Thompson's here because he's got a day off from his movie theater gig, so that's why he's here." Explained Tambry, all the while typing away on her phone. Evidently multi-tasking is no stranger to this teen.

"I brought some flashlights and whistles just in case" Thompson added in a desperate tone.

"So um… where's Wendy?" Dipper asked. This question was especially hard on him due to his recent rejections since that bunker incident. He hasn't been able to face Wendy ever since, he figured that this revisit would help bond the both of them and possibly remind Wendy of how things were.

Tambry began with a soft sigh and began to explain "Well, she said she was going to be late, but I'm pre-" and was abruptly interrupted by a harsh vibration from her phone.

From the looks of it was a message.

"Yep." she added."She's out."

"What?" Dipper quickly jabbed with the question.

"She's not coming. Apparently she got into trouble for that cop car she boosted with Nate and Lee. Which is why Nate and Lee aren't responding. So They're not coming" She explained with a dull expression.

"Well… I guess it's just the three of us?" Thompson pointed out.

Dipper was a little saddened by this, but he needed to get these things of his mind and the only thing that helped was the re-exploration of Dusk 2 Dawn. He figured that Wendy of all people would've appreciate the fact that they were doing something they shouldn't despite the elderly ghosts' warnings and maybe appreciate Dipper's bravery too.

Sighing, Dipper opened the doors to the store and looked back "Well are you still up for it?"

"Whatever, I'm already stuck here, so I might as well" said Tambry as she walks into the store.

"Man, this better be worth it!" added Thompson, trying to win a fraction of the group's acceptance.

Dipper walked in and searched for the switches to the lights and soon as the lights were turned on, a familiar view was painted by the lights. The left over smile dip by Mable was still untouched. Ice from Thompson's butt was melted in a familiar puddle. The crime scene chalks of two elderly outlines were still fresh.

"What are we looking for exactly?" Tambry asked in annoyance.

"I don't exactly know, but the Dusk 2 Dawn is one of the few places that are untouched in the past few years. I'm pretty sure there's bound to be clues somewhere." Dipper explained as he rummaged through some of the store's debris.

"AH!" Thompson exclaimed.

At this point it was pretty clear a cardboard cut-out of the store's mascot fell through one of the lockers, giving Thompson the scare of his life.

"Oh man, not agaaaain!" yelled Thompson as he ran out of the store.

"Dude! Wait up! It's just a cut-out!" Tambry shouted, trying to shed some light into Thompson's over-reaction.

By then Thompson was long gone, leaving Tambry and Dipper alone in the store.

"Ugh… Wuss" She scoffed.

"Should we go after him?" Dipper asked.

"Don't bother. He's probably halfway to his mom by now." Tambry replied.

Apparently this happens a lot. Much to Dipper's disappointment, the investigation seems to have fallen apart. It was time to say it.

Dipper sighed deeply and stared to the ground "I guess we should go back, I'm sure you'd rather be hanging out with the others."

If this was any other day, Tambry would've probably agreed. In fact she still does, but earlier before Tambry had a conversation with Wendy about Dipper's recent rejection. Tambry felt bad, she was all too familiar with the feeling of rejection. Despite being known as the cynical phone-absorbed teen she was, Tambry decided to try to cheer Dipper up a little.

"Hey kid, I bet if anyone would know about that Journal, It might be those ghosts." Tambry pointed out. "I mean they're pretty old or whatever, probably older than McGucket."

That sudden realization hits Dipper like a bird unaware of a huge slow spinning turbine.
"Oh my god! You're right! How could I have missed something like that?"

It's no secret. Tambry was a little happy to help the young detective and clearly, it worked. Dipper was so invested he didn't notice that Tambry was smiling for once.

Dipper was pacing back and forth with his hand on his chin. After giving it much thought, Dipper looked up with a serious face and said "We need to draw out the ghosts again."

and there it was,

Tambry began to regret her recent life choices.

"Whoa kid, isn't that kind of risky?" Tambry hurriedly said, trying to diffuse Dipper's enthusiasm.

"I know, I know, it's a little dangerous, but I'm pretty sure I can talk our way out. I even got another dance just in case." Dipper answered.

"A dance?" Tambry asked.

"Uh, its nothing, It's like a special dance to calm spirits just in case. but It's gonna work!" Dipper stated.

It was clear enough that there was no way of stopping this young detective from his goals. Not without breaking his heart again.

This is it.

Tambry was in a twist.

But again, her conscience played the situation out like a damn fiddle. She had to take one for the team or the gang wouldn't ever be the same with "Dr. Fun Times" missing. Begrudgingly she says it anyways, but not without first letting out a long sigh of regret. "I uh….guess we just need to do what we were doing before"

"That's it! We just need to do normal teenage things!" Said Dipper.

It took a while, but they managed to do almost everything they could remember, from eating junk food to making soda fountains out of diet cola and mints. Except sticking ice into one of their pants and Tambry was having none of that. That was a job exclusive for Thompson and they both agreed. They couldn't anyways most of the ice melted off from the incident before.

Before she knew it, Dipper was back to being sad again. He was pretty easy to read. Tambry on the other hand actually had fun. All the while, she would update her status about was the fun things they did. Evidently this made Tambry a little guilty. So she figured she'd just give a little "push" to get the ball rolling again just to take Dipper's mind off things.

"Maybe, we need to do something else?" Tambry pointed out.

"Like what?" asked the boy detective.

"Well something new? Something every teenager would do that would really get on those elderly nerves of theirs" said Tambry. At this point, Tambry was feeling a lot generous. It was obvious that Dipper down because has had his romantic advancements crushed by Wendy's rejection. It was Tambry's equivalent of a "Hail Mary Pass". She wanted to make this one count…

…for the both of them.

"Maybe we should… You know…" Tambry hesitated.

"W-What?" Dipper asked.

"…Kiss?" said Tambry. Quickly she explained "Look don't get any funny ideas, I'm not in love with you, I just want to get this done as much as you do. You of all people would know that this is the best way to get on those old geezers' nerves."

Dipper was just frozen. He had this twisted feeling of betrayal. He had his heart sought out for Wendy all summer and out of nowhere, Tambry was offering something to him that he could never have from Wendy.

Tambry knew that this would happen, and she was counting on it. "Whoa alright kid, you don't have to if you don't want to." Tambry said, interrupting Dipper's dilemma of thoughts.

There it was. He hasn't put that much attention to it. But the situation shed a little light on that word.

"Kid"

If he was ever going to be with Wendy, he needed to grow up. He needed to show to her that he wasn't just an inexperienced little kid that Wendy would overlook.

Without hesitation Dipper dished it out, Catching Tambry off guard.
"Alright. I'll do it"

Shocked, Tambry followed up; "You'll what?"

"I'll kiss you! And yes I get it, It's nothing personal, it's just… casual?" said Dipper. Unknowingly saying the word "Casual" when it means a whole different thing in the teenage world. It was almost like Dipper was recreating the casual relationship right in front of Tambry. Tambry found this especially mature of Dipper.

Tambry dug too deep. She's bit off more than she could chew and she knew what she had to do.

"A-alright." Said Tambry.

She kneeled down so the little guy could reach her better. Her heart was racing. It felt like what they were doing was very, VERY wrong. In all honestly she knew that if Wendy were to catch her like this, she would never hear the end of it. But a part of her knew this was for the best.

She closed her phone and prepared herself mentally.

Her mind was on repeat.
"It's just a kiss, It's just a kiss, It's just a kiss"

Dipper on the other hand was nervous. He was probably thinking the same thing. But one thing about Dipper is that he is brave and being brave is doing something even when you know you're scared. Dipper was all too familiar with that territory. So being the brave little gentleman he is, he decides to lead the kiss. Their faces began to hesitantly close in. The tension builds up as they drew closer and closer together. Then finally it was the moment of truth. Dipper's lips had touched down on her's lips…

….and it was a peck.

It was the kind of kiss your grandmother or aunt would force you to do. If anything it was the international symbolization of an anti-climatic build up. Enough to probably slap the bejeezus out of whoever took their time writing this story.

Tambry was surprised but mostly disappointed. She was pouting at this point. The only thing stopping her from face-palming was the fact that Dipper was in front of her and she didn't had it in her to break his heart too. But then it hit her, Dipper has probably never kissed a girl ever. So it's not entirely his fault. At this point, Tambry was too excited. Dipper was too inexperienced. It was clear that it was up to her to fix that. There was just too much excitement in doing something so wrong and it was motivation enough. Motivation enough to make a man out of this kid.

"Are they out yet? You hear anything? W-what wrong?" asked Dipper as he noticed Tambry's utter disappointment.

"You call that a kiss?" said the disappointed girl.

Feeling guilty for not satisfying her expectations Dipper apologized, "Oh, um, sorry? It's just tha-"

"This is a kiss." Interrupted Tambry, as she plants a full-on French kiss on the unsuspecting fella.

It seems that Dipper just ignited a fire he can't put out.