CHAPTER TWO: WINTER FORMAL REJECTION

Monday, December 16, 2013. Piedmont High School. 7:50 AM.

PIEDMONT HIGH 2013-2014 WINTER FORMAL

DECEMBER 20, 2013 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

GET YOUR TICKETS BY DECEMBER 16

Dipper stared at the poster advertising the annual Winter Formal that the school hosts every December. He has never attended a winter ball before – the middle school never arranges those kinds of dances – and he is really curious on how it would be like. Being in grade nine, this would his first opportunity to attend a high school dance party.

There are tickets for both singles and couples. However, since it is already the last day, the price of singles' tickets have rose and are now more expensive than the couples' tickets. It seems like the ASB council is trying to encourage students to find dates.

But the now-cheaper cost of the couples' tickets is not the reason why Dipper wants to seek out a date to take to the dance. He actually does have a particular girl in mind. He's had a crush on her since Thanksgiving holiday, and in the few exchanges he has had with her since, he believes that she actually may be interested in him after all.

Mabel's first class of the day is Algebra I, and she has already gone to her classroom. Dipper has a programming class, which he should be heading to now, but he wants to do something first.

Dipper looked to his right down the hall towards the doorway leading to the campus breezeway. By the doorway is a dark-haired girl – Olivia Cicierega – reading through a novel. She pushed her bangs aside from covering her glasses.

Dipper took a deep breath, and started heading towards Olivia's direction. She doesn't have a date yet, and shares similar interests and mannerisms like Dipper. Unlike the previous two girls Dipper has had crushes on, Olivia is more focused on her schoolwork and doesn't really hang out with others that often. Dipper believes that he has a better chance of receiving returned affection for the first time.

"Hey Olivia," Dipper got himself to say.

Olivia looked up from her book. "Oh, hi Mason."

"Just call me Dipper," Dipper puffed. He could feel himself starting to sweat. Man, why does he always get so tense and sweaty whenever he is around girls?

"Okay, Dipper…what is it?"

"Well, Olivia, I'm just wondering, if, you know…," Dipper struggled to say. "Would you be willing to, I don't know…go to the Winter Formal this Friday with me?"

Olivia's eyes widened at Dipper's request. She shut her book and then rubbed her chin.

"You want to take me to the Winter Formal? Did I get that correct?" Olivia narrowed her eyes at the awkward boy.

"Yes ma'am," Dipper confirmed.

"Uh-huh," Olivia continued to stroke her chin, as if in thought.

"So…what do you say? I mean, today is the last day to purchase tickets, and if we are to go as a couple…"

"Let me think about it," Olivia interrupted. "You are the first boy to approach me regarding this Winter Formal business. A lot of girls I know already have dates, but unlike them I'm not actively waiting to be asked out…just, just let me think about it."

"Oh, okay."

"Come find me again near the end of lunch. You know where my locker is, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Now I better run," Olivia hoisted up her backpack and exited the doorway into the breezeway.

Lunchtime. Dipper thought to himself. She wants to think about this. Man, I hope that doesn't mean she's not interested. What does a girl really mean when she says she will think about it?

Dipper looked at the time on his watch; it is about time he should be heading to class now. He straightened his backpack and left.

1:20 PM.

Dipper and Mabel are sitting in front of their lockers. Mabel is texting on her phone, while Dipper is simply looking around the hallway, waiting for Olivia to come by. Earlier in the day Dipper had told Mabel what he had done, and what Olivia's response is. To Dipper's surprise, Mabel doesn't know what "I'll think about it" means – at least in the case of Olivia.

After a few moments of anxious waiting, from the corner of his eye, Dipper spotted Olivia coming down the hall. Dipper took a deep breath, got up, and approached her.

"Hi Olivia," Dipper greeted.

Olivia stopped in front of Dipper. "Oh, hi again."

"So, uh, Olivia…you'd say you think about my request, yeah? Well, it's lunchtime, and…"

"Oh right, about that…," Olivia started. "I'm already going with someone else."

"I'm sorry?" Dipper felt his heart get punctured.

"You heard me. Some other boy had asked me out," Olivia continued. "And I agreed immediately. Wallace and I have already bought our tickets."

"Okay, but…did you at least thought through my proposal before Wallace asked you?"

"Why would I?" Olivia put on a face of disgust. "It's quite obvious that I wouldn't go out with a guy like you."

"What do you mean, 'a guy like me'?" Dipper asked, his heart sinking deeper.

"Face it, Dipper. You're sweaty, awkward, weird, and just outright gross," Olivia revealed bluntly. "You're not even cute or the least bit worthy of me, or any girl, for that matter. And you thought I would be willing to say yes just because I am an introvert and teacher's pet like you?"

"Well…"

"I may not be the most social person in this school, but I wouldn't consider myself an outcast or a freak. As a result, boys who fit into that category – perhaps a little too much – are definitely out of my league. So epic fail, Dipper. You really need to have better judgment. Just because a girl is similar to you doesn't mean she views you as lovable."

"Whoa, that's kind of harsh, Olivia."

"And you fully deserve it. A delinquent shouldn't receive any respect."

"A delinquent? I have never been sent to the principal's office once!" Dipper retorted. "And what about Wallace? Wasn't he the one who kicked a soccer ball inside a classroom and broke a window back in September?"

"He's still a bazillion times better than you!" Olivia retorted. "There are many types of losers in high school…actually, the only REAL loser would be the wimpy, awkward loner who even remotely thinks he can win the attention of an equally awkward lonely girl, like YOU!

Olivia roughly pushed Dipper to the side and continued on her way. Dipper slammed into the lockers and slid down to the floor. Several bystanders chuckled at the sight.

Mabel was still busy texting when she heard the impact between her brother and the lockers. She looked towards Dipper's direction and saw Olivia stomping away from his direction, and immediately came to the conclusion that the same thing has happened again.

Mabel rushed up to the poor boy and helped him up.

"Well, I blew it again," Dipper sighed. "Another seemingly friendly girl passed me off as the worst kind of loser to exist."

"You don't even classify as a loser, Dipper," Mabel said. "Forget about her. Just go find another girl to ask out. You still have some time."

"Never mind that," Dipper shrugged off. "I'm not going to the Winter Formal."

"You're not? But weren't you looking forward to it?"

"I was. But then reality struck again, and I figured I should probably just save myself the shame on being the only date-less boy at the dance. I'd be a laughingstock for being unable to get a girl."

Mabel let out a sigh. She wants to convince her brother that Winter Formal is more than just about securing a date. Heck, Mabel herself doesn't have a date, and she is fine going there with a few friends; but knowing how her brother has always been made fun of for being unable to get a girl to like him back, she knows he wouldn't be welcome. Let alone be spared from being pushed around and rudely asked why he would even bother coming as a single.

"Are you sure?" Mabel tried confirming again.

"Yes, I'm sure. There's no point anymore."

Dipper went to his locker and picked up his backpack. He hoisted it up and continued walking. Mabel picked up her bag as well and followed suit.

Friday, December 20, 2013. 8:45 PM.

It is the night of the Winter Formal. As he had said earlier in the week, Dipper is not attending.

Mabel had gone to the event a few hours earlier. She felt sad seeing Dipper upset, and even considered whether or not she herself should even go. However, Dipper insisted that she goes and have fun, while he would be fine staying home.

Dipper is on his bed with one of his mystery novels on his lap. However, he's too distracted and depressed to read properly.

Dipper heard a knock on his bedroom door. Mabel must be home.

"Come in," Dipper said.

Mabel opened the door slightly and poked her head in. "Hey, bro-bro. Everything all right?"

"Yeah. I'm fine," Dipper responded. "How was the dance?"

"Pretty fun. Me and the girls practiced single dancing and ate quite a lot. And I totally wasn't expecting who the cutest Winter Formal couple would be. News flash: it was Olivia and Wallace. The most incompatible pair I have ever saw, I would say."

"Huh," Dipper simply muttered. He let out a sigh.

Mabel entered Dipper's room. She has already changed out of her dress, and is now in her sleep gear. She climbed onto Dipper's bed and sat next to her brother against the head stand.

"Dipper, I'm sorry you weren't able to get a date to tonight's event," Mabel sighed. "I knew you were eager to ask Olivia out. And once she rejected you…"

"It's okay, Mabel," Dipper insisted. "It was my fault to have thought she liked me back. And just like what she had said: just because she is similar to me in certain ways doesn't mean I am worthy of her."

"You seem like a better match for Olivia than Wallace in my opinion. She probably hates how she is like in order to hate you." Mabel puffed. She put her arm around Dipper as she snuggles closer to him.

"Well, thanks for being here for me, Mabel. At least you are willing to provide comfort the second I start feeling bad."

"Hey, what are twins for?" Mabel smirked.

Dipper smiled at his sister. Mabel smiled back as well.

"You know, I brought back some brownies and other leftover goodies from the party, just for you," Mabel brought up. "They're very good. Would you like to have some now?"

"Sure."

"Wait right here," Mabel jumped off the bed and rushed to her room. She came back with a few plastic boxes of sweets.

"Dig in," Mabel said. She gave the box of the brownies to her brother. She opened up the one with various pastries and started stuffing her mouth.

Dipper chuckled at his sister. He opened the brownie box and helped himself to a piece.

"You know, this actually is pretty delicious," Dipper said with his mouth full.

"Told you."

The twins continued eating their late-night snack, occasionally sharing jokes and some playful bantering. Dipper wished he could have gone to Winter Formal, if he managed to get a date; but spending a few minutes with his beloved, caring sister is enough to him, better actually. According to Mabel, some of the promises for the event had to be cut for budget reasons anyways.

…

Next: A Typical Valentine's