November 24

Dear Diary,

Today was... something else, definitely.

Mabel decided she was going to go over to Candy and Grenda's house, so that left Great Grandma Pines all for me. Yay.

"Oh, we're going to have so much fun, Skipper!" she exclaimed, pinching my cheeks. "Now that your sister Mabel is gone, you get me all to yourself! Aren't you excited?"

"I sure am!" I lied. To be honest, I was afraid of what was going to happen next. Pinching my cheeks was already bad enough. I sighed.

"Yo, Dipper! I need you!" called Stan from the living room. I felt relief take me over. Finally, something else to do besides sit in the kitchen with Grandma Pines!

I ran to the living room anxiously to find Gruncle Stan sitting on the couch, sipping a diet root beer.

"You needed me?"

"Yeah. Change the channel for me, will 'ya?"

My heart sunk. That was it? The first time I actually want one of his chores I don't get one?

"Sure," I said with a frown. I picked up the remote and clicked it to the next channel.

"Thanks," he said.

Well, that was that. I walked back to Grandma Pines, dragging me feet. I wished Mabel was here more than ever.

"Oh, you're back, Skipper! I just though of something we could do!"

"And what would that be?" I asked, not wanting to know.

She kicked off her slippers and put her feet out.

"Grandma and grandson foot massage time!"

I was paralyzed. WHAT?!

I looked behind me, wanting to back away. I knew Stan wouldn't want me to, and if I did, I'd probably upset her. So I readied myself for the worst thirty minutes of my day.

"Hey, kiddo," said Wendy from behind the Mystery Shack check out counter. I went to go sit on the stool by her, and she set her magazine down.

"Hey," I said, not looking at her, which was how you knew when I was really upset. I looked at her every chance I could get.

"What's got you down?"

I took a deep breath.

"It's my stupid great grandma."

"Mrs. Pines?"

"Yeah."

"What's so bad about her?"

I made a list of all the things I could have told her, realizing that if I said everything on that list, I'd be talking for an hour.

"It's just... she treats me like a baby. And her idea of fun is me rubbing her feet."

Wendy giggled, then pat me on the back.

"Look," she began, "My grandma's been making me do that for years. It's nothing to get upset over. It's just... normal, I guess."

I thought about that. It still didn't make it any more fun, normal or not. I sighed as I heard the bell on the door ring, letting us know someone was entering.

Boots clacking, Pacifica Northwest walked in, arms crossed. She didn't look too happy... although she always looked like that.

She walked toward me, approaching the check out counter.

"Hey," said Wendy, "How can I help you?" she asked tiredly.

"I need him," she demanded, pointing at me.

Me? Out of all people?

"What do you want, Pacifica?" I asked, sounding annoyed. I was actually quite curious though.

"We need to talk." She pulled me by the arm, dragging me off my stool. I followed her, looking back at Wendy. She had her eyebrows crinkled in confusion.

"Where are we going?"

"Outside."

I followed her out through the door. She took me to a bench where we both sat. It was dark out now, and the clouds were starting to blend into the sky, turning to dark.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked a little uneasy. I felt stiff around her, like I couldn't move. Pacifica always made you feel like you were nothing. Like you were the most stupid person in existence. I hated her.

"You know that book you have with the hand on it and the 3 and everything?"

"No..."

"Don't lie to me, Dipper! I know you have it. Now hand it over," she demanded, holding her hand out.

"Why should I give it to you?" I said, stifling a laugh.

"Because it's mine, and you stole it. Stole it, Dipper!"

"Whoa. I didn't steal anything. I found it in a tree."

"Yeah! That's where I would hide it! Now give it to me!"

I couldn't give her the book. I needed it. I used it so many times to solve mysteries, and I would be so lost without it. I had no clue what to do. So I gave it up.

"Okay," I muttered. "I don't have it with me. I'll have to get it in my room."

"Then go get it. I'll be waiting here."

I dashed upstairs, a sinking feeling in my stomach. This was horrible! How was I supposed to solve mysteries now?!

I hesitantly reached under my bed, grabbing the book. I took one last good look at it. I took in the feeling I had when it was in my hands.

"Goodbye," I said depressed.

When Pacifica finally had it in her hands, her face lit up.

"Thank you so much!" she said, running up to me and giving me a hug. "I'm so glad that you found it. I mean, anyone else could have, and I'm so lucky the one who found it also loves mysteries. Anyone else could have thrown it away or sold it..."

Was I supposed to hug her back? I sure didn't want to. But to be polite I wrapped my arms around her.

After a few awkward moments, she finally let go of me. I felt so relieved. We sat back onto the bench. I didn't know why she just didn't go home. This was getting irritating.

"So, you like mysteries too?" I asked, trying to make conversation. Not exactly my strongest point.

"Yeah," she said. Surprisingly, she didn't sound like she was going to kill me anymore. I guess she had really just wanted that book. "I love mysteries. But I couldn't solve them for a while because my book was missing."

"Wow," I said. I was starting to give in. "I've never met someone who likes solving mysteries before."

"Me neither until now."

There was silence. I laughed awkwardly, running my hand through my hair.

"Maybe we could solve them together," she suggested, shrugging her shoulders. It wasn't a bad idea. And then I remembered. Mabel. She would hate me forever if I hung out with Pacifica.

"Sorry," I said, "but I don't think so."

"Why not?" she asked with a frown.

"Because..." I took a deep breath, and then sighed. "Look, Pacifica, I actually don't think you're that bad. But... you see, Mabel's not exactly too fond of you. And it would really upset her if I hung out with you."

"Oh..."

"Yeah..."

More silence.

"We don't have to tell anyone."

I thought about that. It actually might work. But I would have to lie a lot about where I was. And if I wanted to be famous for solving a really big mystery, I was going to do it with none other than Mabel.

"Sorry. No."

"Fine then, Dipper. Let your sister control your life. I don't care!"

And with that, she got up and walked away.

Surprisingly, that stung. A lot. I wasn't letting Mabel control my life. Was I?

I walked back into the shack, noticing my heart skipped a beat and butterflies danced in my stomach. It was almost exactly like the feeling I got when I thought about Wendy...

-Dipper