*Listen to my background writing music: Elliot Moss - Slip: The Neighbourhood- Afraid

In the day time, I clean, work the register, redirect lost visitors (and buses) down the path, sometimes I cook dinner, co-host the tours, make signs. I eat lunch with Wendy or Soos or alone, or with them all. we have a single day where the mystery shack is closed, I drive down with grunkle stan to the town center, we buy necessities, I buy my junk food and hide it under his, so he can pay it. In the day time, I facetime Mabel and my friends, they tell me stories, catch me up, tell me they miss me. I do the same and tell them I miss them more. In the day time, I wear my shiny crystal amulet, in or out the woods.

But in the night time, I think of nothing except the supernatural or logic. I take off my amulet when the rays of light fade away, when dinners' done and I'm washing dishes, I run up worn down wooden stairs, open the tiny window in the room, lose myself in papers, in articles, in my own emotions. Today is no exception. How convenient would it be if someone created a 'Guide of how to survive having feelings for an interdimensional demon who can't date you and probably has no feelings for you except the will to play along'. Every morning since that night, I've told myself to see this like anyone would take a summer fling. I've told myself to try not to remember our kiss, or how great I felt in his arms, even if it was terrifying and I was powerless. Except it was with a demon. Or maybe it's all a dream and I'm insane.

Since a week, I have thrown most of my free time in researching supernatural occurrences or phenomenons in Gravity Falls. Turns out that this place is a goldmine when it comes to supernatural activities. Countless articles have been published both in newspapers and independently about weird artifacts found in caves in the outskirts of town, sightings of different legendary beasts in the woods. Even the founding of the town itself is eerie and odd like a chunk is missing. But within it, nothing was compared to Bill. No appearances of a 'human' looking abnormality, no gold pocket watch. No radiating gold light, no golden eyes. I rub my eyes, tears forming in the corners from the excessive screen time. The time on my computer reads midnight, which means I've been at it for almost 4 hours. I take a bathroom break and slide down to the kitchen for some water. It's been a week and I haven't seen him, today I didn't bother going out the woods, the humidity was unbearable. I settle in the corner of my bed and notice a wet spot right by the side of the window. Sometime between my break, the rain picked up. I curse loudly, at least my computer wasn't near it. I throw a folded towel, hoping it'll be semi-dry by the time I go to bed. I click back in the websites and my own collage of pictures and articles, and something catches my attention. The article is different. The usual source is 'Gravity falls gossiper' Instead I see 'Oregon Community Watch- Gravity F. Section'.

"Gravity Falls Newcomer Fiddleford Mcgucket leads reporters to cave, with promises he found a run-down cave filled with odd and futuristic machines, instead found was a cave with an entrance completely blocked". Apparently, it took over an hour to get to that certain location, after that they found the entrance blocked, with a single massive boulder blocking it. The entire area appeared untouched, wilderness overtaking the cave, the boulder itself looked jagged, but the moss covered the edges only forming a perfectly symmetrical upside down triangle. My mind fills up with questions, with no possible answer. I can't keep digging myself deeper in this hole, there's no lead, no light.

I look at my side, the window still slightly ajar, the rain not slowing down. I Send Mabel my collage and some articles, with the subject 'Read it when you can' I close my laptop. Suddenly feeling caged up, I put on my cargo shorts and dust off an old windbreaker I found in the closet of the room. In bright yellow letters, *Backupsmore University* reads in the back and only hope it fits.

The shingles are slippery, but I manage to find a spot to sit in the tiny rooftop balcony, the rain still coming down. Wendy showed me this spot my first week, and I don't think I've ever been more grateful. The jacket serves its purpose, paired with my hat I'm only about 60% wet. The rain looks different near the woods, the scent of the trees is intensified. It's almost relaxing, if not mostly uncomfortable. I stare straight and notice how the wind blew thru the treetops, but the tip of the pine stayed swayed to the right. I sit up straight and see the same for all trees. Bill is close. I hop back from Wendy's spot and Head down, I need to see him. I don't get very far past the porch when I hear footsteps.

"I thought I told you to stay off".

"I know, I just didn't listen". Bill looks at me like he always does, with a stern face, sad eyes, but still glowing. I notice his attire, black pants, and black jacket, but something catches the light. A Shimmer under the jacket, gold like his pocket watch. I move to the side, ignoring his questioning face and see a gold yellow triangle nestled in the buttons of his shirt. An Upside-down triangle, just like in the boulder. I would say it's a coincidence but I know better now.

"Bill, What happened all those years ago in that cave? Why are you truly here in Gravity Falls?" I point at his chest, he looks at me, no shock or questioning look. He sighs and walks in front of me, towards the woods.

"You can't just keep yourself busy with chores, can you? What help will it do if I tell you?"

"I can't help you much, But if what you said is true, and your world is dying, I can give you more Lifesource, enough for you to last enough time in your homeworld to try to make a plan". His eyes squint at me, the glow diminishing. He looks almost human now, almost.

"If I tell you, will you wear your pendant in the woods? And not come back after this summer?"

"I don't control that, my family does... Look if this isn't some weird dream, why don't you let me just give you this life source?"

"Are you crazy? Didn't you hear me before? It takes away years from your actual life".

"10."

"What?"

"I'll give you 10 years. It's willingly".

"No your doing it on impulse".

"No. I won't feel it. Either way that sounds like something I'll regret when I'm old and withering."

"I can get back just fine".

"I'll give you my life source and wear my pendant. Take it as a selfish deed to me. Haven't you ever felt selfish?"

"I've acted selfishly for so long".

"Good. Now let someone else. Why do you even care? I'm just a human." He finally stands in front of me, and I search for his gaze, for that blinding burning light. And he does, and I feel whole.

"I care because you're not just any human. You remind me of someone... I met a while ago".

"Then let me do this. Answer my questions. Tell me why. I'll hold my end of the deal and you yours".

I get my hand out the pockets of the jacket, feeling the cold rain. He looks at me, then my hand. I see him smile, his eyes brighter than before.

"We have a deal then?"

"Deal, Bill". He extends his hands, and we shake, our fingers entwined. His eyes going blue, he brings our hands to his lips

"Deal, Mason". The blue light engulfs us, and I lose sight of everything, but never let go of his hand.

*Backupsmore University was were Standford attended after he couldn't get in into his first option. I thought it would make sense for Stanley to just place some of his brother's old stuff away in the attic room no one uses. I also added my 'background' music. I read a fanfic years ago with this feature and thought it was a nice touch from the author. I always listen to music when I write, so I'd figured I'd give it a try. As always I'm open to C.C. Much love.