CHAPTER 4
Dipper took the more scenic route as he walked into town. The route was longer but he wanted time to himself in order to move past what had just happened and deal with the emotions whirling inside him.
It was about a half hour before he finally got to town. As he walked down the street, he noticed how not much has changed. The buildings were the same, as were most of the businesses; There were a few he didnt recognise but nonot many. The statue of Nathaniel Northwest was removed and in its place was a fountain.
Dipper walked over to the fountain. It was of simple design and was full of coins. Heaving a sigh, he dug out a coin from his pocket and tossed it in, before walking away. As he left, he saw a plaque on the fountain and took a closer look.
Engraved on the plague were the words: "We shall never speak and never forget."
Dipper closed his eyes as he was filled with some of the more traumatic memories of that summer.
"Well, well. Look who it is. I heard you had finally come back." A voice said from behind Dipper.
He turned around and saw Robbie standing there holding a skate board. He looked very different but Dipper was still able to recognize him. He wore regular jeans that were a little loose on him. He still wore his signiture hoodie, but his face was a bit off. His hair was longer, going down to his shoulders and then coming up to his bangs across his ears. His skin had a darker complextion and he wasnt wearing any mascara. But what surprised Dipper the most was that he was smilling.
"Hey, Robbie." Dipper responded.
"What are you doing here alone? I would have thought mister popularity would be hanging with friends or family." Robbie said.
"Just reminiscing...and seeing how much the town has changed." he responded.
"Hey, i'm headed over to the mall parking lot to skate with the others. Why dont you come along? Im sure Thompson has an extra board." Robbie said cheerfully.
"Im good." Dipper said, not knowing if he should trust this new Robbie.
"hmm. Well, whatever it is your moping about, i'm sure hanging out with your old friends will help. Trust me." He put emphasis on that last part. He then grabbed Dipper by the arm and pulled him along until Dipper started following on his own.
After some time, they finally made it to the mall. The parking spaces closer to the building were full of cars, but the outer lot was completely empty except for a beat up van and a group of familiar people.
"Hey, look who I found sulking by the fountain." Robbie shouted over to them. They stopped what they were doing and turned to meet them.
"Well, if it isnt Dr Funtimes." Nate said. He looked very much the same, as did the others except Thompson, who looked skinnier, and Tambry, who had her hair up and out of her face as well as larger breasts but a seemingly smaller butt.
"Hey guys." Dipper responded. He still wasnt feeling like skating but he had decided that this would be a good distraction.
"Thompson. Board." Robbie called. A second later, a skate board flew through the air to be caught by Robbie.
"Here." He said, putting the board at Dipper's feet.
"I dont, actually know...how to ride." Dipper said nervously.
"Its ok. We'll show you, but give it a try anyway." Lee said.
Dipper did just that. He wasnt any good, but he had fun. He even forgot about Pacifica and what had transpired that morning.
The rest of the day was filled with skating, pizza, and mild tresspassing. At some point Wendy joined them and they continued to get into trouble. At one point they got chased by sheriff Blubs and deputy Durland, who didnt stand a chance of catching them. Eventually the sun starting going down and everyone began heading there own way; be it home, jobs or something else.
Dipper's phone rang in his pocket as he walked through the woods back to the shack.
"Where are you?" Mabel said as soon as he answered.
"On my way home." He responded.
"Well get here quickly." she said urgently. Dipper got worried.
"Whats wrong?" he asked, picking up his pace.
"Just get here." The she hung up the phone and Dipper ran back to the shack. "Propero." He wispered under his breathe and casted a spell of stamina and speed. Nothing changed too much, but he was able to run a bit faster and longer without feeling the effects of a lack of oxygen or soreness in his legs.
He was able to make it back to the shack in record time. As he barged through the front door, he looked around for Mabel and or danger that might be lurking around.
"Mabel?" Dipper called out.
"In here" she responded from the family room. Dipper walked into the family room but was slightly shocked to find something he wasnt expecting.
In the center of the room, Mabel and Pacifica were on the ground playing with a little piglet. Its pink little body trying to run around but having trouble keeping up with the girls. Dipper rolled his eyes.
"Another pig? Thats the emergency?" Dipper said with annoyance. "Didnt you learn your lesson from last time?"
Mabel looked up with a sad expression as she remembered the unfortunate fate of Waddles.
"This will be different. For one, we arent in California." Mabel responded. Dipper let out a sigh and sat down on the couch as the aftermath of the spell caught up with him.
Dipper looked over at Pacifica. Her back was to him, so she didnt see him staring. He felt like he should say something but the last time that happened things only got worse.
Just then, Pacifica turned around as she followed the pig; she looked up at Dipper. There eyes met for a split second before he turned away to look at some nonexistent object at the otherside of the room.
Feeling the air begin to get heavy, Dipper forced his body to stand and he walked upstairs. Grabbing some clothes, he decided to take a shower.
He felt his body relax as the warm water poured down his body. He tried to push away any thoughts or feelings of Pacifica and just melt into the warmth and calm of the shower.
He lost track of time and eventually decided to get out. After getting dressed, he grabbed a soda from the fridge and climbed the ladder to the roof with one of his backpacks.
Sitting on the ledge on the roof, Dipper let out a sigh and took a sip of the soda. The sun was setting and the air was quiet.
He pulled some earbuds out of his pack, plugged them in and started listening to music. He then reached in an pulled out an electric latern, which he turned on and set aside, and an old book. The leather bound cover of the book was fraying and cracked in many areas. He opened the book to find the pages filled with latin inscriptions. Turning to a marked page, he took a sip of his soda and began reading.
After a little while, he felt the vibrations of someone climbing on the roof. He removed one earbud but continued to read.
"Go back inside, Mabel." He said without looking up from his book.
"Its just me." He turned around to see Wendy hop down next to him and take a seat on the ledge. "Whatcha doing up here this late?" she asked.
"Reading." He responded, turning back to his book. "What about you?"
"Eh, I was just in the neighborhood. Thought i'd come hang out with my best friend." she gave him a nudge as she said this, forcing him to lose his place. Letting out a sigh, he marked the page and closed the book.
"Why are you really here?" He asked bluntly, curious as to why she came out of her way to come here.
"Robbie told me about how he found you today. I just wanted to make sure you were alright." she explained.
"Im fine." He said. He kept his head slightly bowed and looked blankly into the forest.
"No your not." she said with an awkward smile. "I can tell when your arguing with yourself over something. You used do it all the time." He let out a sigh and waited a moment before continuing.
"How do you make it up to a girl you've pissed off?" he asked quietly.
"Well, i'm sure, whatever it was that you did. Mabel will get over it in a day or two. Shes just that kind of person." Wendy said, jumping to conclusions.
"Its not Mabel that I pissed off." He said turning a little red.
"Who?...Pacifica?" Wendy asked. Dipper didnt respond but continued to look at the book in his lap. "Pacifica is always quick to anger. Give her time and im sure she'll come down." she said.
"But its not some random burst of frustration...what I did..." He turned a dark red as he remembered what had happend and how it was going to be embarrassing to talk about.
"Dipper...what happened?" Wendy placed her hand on his shoulder and waited for him to feel comfortable enough to talk. "Well, what ever it was i'm sure you can just apologize and move on, right?" she continued, when he failed to speak.
"Its not that simple." he said.
"Then explain it." Dipper took a deep breath and told Wendy what happened. He told her what happened last night and what happened that morning.
"Wow." she said holding her breath. Dipper couldnt tell if she was genuinely concerned or if she was trying not to laugh. "That...is complicated. And...do you actually like her back?"
"Yes...No...I dont know. I hadnt really thought of her like that till last night."
"Well, insulting her probably didnt help." Wendy said with a light hearted tone.
"How was I suppose to know that she would be that sensitive, she always seemed superficial or calloused." Dipper said defensively.
"That was before. She's changed a lot." Wendy said. "And it sounds like she's contributed her change to you."
"That doesnt exactly make me feel any better." Dipper said. Wendy smiled at him and took a sip of his soda.
"Just try talking to her." Wendy said.
"Yeah, so I can get more food thrown into my face."
"Be upfront and tell her what you told me." Wendy said calmly. "Give her a reason to not be mad." Dipper took a breath and let out a long sigh.
"I guess your right." He said reluctantly.
"I know I am." She said cockily. After a silent moment, Wendy turned off his lantern and laid back to look up at the stars. Dipper coppied her and set his book down beside him.
A second later, Wendy reached over and grabbed his book. She opened it but couldnt make out the words.
"What is this? Another journal?" Wendy asked.
"Book of Spells." Dipper responded.
"Huh..." Wendy was about to say something when her phone vibrated. She took it out of her pocket and looked at the screen. "Crap. I gotta go." She said, standing up.
"I'll see you later, then." Dipper said, sitting up.
"Remember. Just try talking to her." With that she lept off of the roof, grabbing a tree on the way and fell to the ground unharmed. A second later the sound of an engine could be heard and Dipper watched as she drove off on a motorcycle.
With a heavy sigh, Dipper packed up his things and went back inside.
The mystery shack was dark and quiet with everyone in bed. Dipper decided to just get some sleep and went to his room. As he entered, he noticed Mable curled around the piglet on the floor. Dipper took a blanket from her bed and laid it on top of her. He then got into his own bed and went to sleep.