"Favorite color."
"Red."
"Food."
"Steak. Anything with meat. Actually just meat. Period."
Dipper laughed, "Ok um.. favorite movie."
"Easy. The Thing. 1982 version."
Dipper squirmed, "I hate that movie. Gave me nightmares for weeks."
"Ha, pussy."
He slapped her playfully but accidentally hit her in the face. "Ah! Jerk." She slapped him back, purposely hitting him on the chest. He laughed, but rubbed his chest. Man, he'll never get used to that.
They were up in his bedroom, and were looking through the journal until they got bored and started talking about nothing and everything. From Dipper's bed they somehow ended up on the floor, his blanket laid out and they brought his and Mabel's pillow down with them. Snacks and cans of Pitt Cola littered the floor around them as well as many of Dipper's book, the journal left on the bed forgotten.
She picked up a cd case, and examined it. "What band is this?"
Dipper strained his head up to look at the cd case upside down. "Oh! They're called The Bad First Impressions. Here." He reached up and took the cd and crawled to the cd player.
"Okay- okay just listen to this."
Dipper slid the cd in and turned up the volume. It started with a good beat... until the singer started singing and Dana scrunched her face up.
"Oh god what is that infernal noise?!" She threw her pillow at the radio, "Make it stop, make it stop!"
"Hey... it's not that bad." Dipper muttered tossing back the pillow. "They're my favorite band." he said, but ejected the cd out of the radio.
He crawled back to his spot on the floor and laid back down.
"Listen to anything else?" Dana asked, resting her legs up on Mabel's bed.
Dipper blushed, "Well... there is one more song I really like but uh you won't like it. It's stupid. Actually just forget I said anything."
"What? No I wanna hear. What is it?"
Dipper closed his eyes, "It's... Disco Girl by BABBA..."
...
"BABBA? You mean the Icelandic chicks from the 70's? You like them?"
Well at least she wasn't laughing, Dipper thought. "I mean not really they're just uh, I just-"
She laughed and slapped his arm, "I knew a guy who loved them. Played Disco Girl all the time."
Dipper sat up, "Really? I thought the Multi-Bear and I were the only guys who liked them." He got up and stuck his hand under his mattress, pulling out the blue cd case. "You don't mind if I play it?"
"Go ahead, I don't care." He did so and laid back down, Disco Girl filling the room and Dipper nodded to the beat.
"Is Dipper your real name?" Dana asked, snatching his hat and putting it on her head.
"Hey!" Dipper tried to get it back but she slapped his hand away and he gave up. "No... but I always wanted the name Tyrone."
She laughed, "Tyrone? Yeah that name is waaay to manly for you."
"I'm manly! I had one chest hair... but Mabel plucked it off but it still counts." Dipper said, pulling down his shirt to rub his hairless chest with a longing look.
"Like the manotaurs? I swear they're all gay for each other. They just don't want to admit it."
"They did bathe together naked.." Dipper agreed, remembering his manly trials to prove his manliness. A bright light flashed with the sound of a camera shutter taking a picture, and they both turned to see Mabel giggling, picking up a fallen photograph from the floor.
Dipper sat up flushed, "Mabel get out of here!"
"Aw c'mon Dipper, you guys' been in here for hours. I can't do all the work by myself. Grunkle Stan said you had to help out too." Mabel complained and looked at the picture. "I ship it." she whispered, clutching the picture with sparkling eyes.
"We'll be there in a sec." Dipper said, anything to make Mabel go away. The girl went to her bed, pulled out a book and slipped the picture inside before skipping out of the room.
Dana groaned, "Do we have to?" She was of course referring to the carnival outside for the 4th of July celebration. The town held an annual festival for the day, and Stan each year let them build the fair on his property, just so he could advertise the Mystery Shack. They were tasked with helping out anyway they can to prepare the fair, but as Mabel said they neglected their duties to hide up in Dipper's room.
Dipper got up and peered through the triangle window. As if sensing him, Stan looked up and glared, jabbing a finger to get down here. "Yeah.."
They got up, Dipper taking his hat back and made their way out of the shack.
"Finally, you two get to work!" Stan ordered, walking up to them wearing an American flag suit instead of his usual black one.
Dipper scampered off but Dana stayed. "I don't count I'm not your niece."
Stan crossed his arms raising a brow, "You drank all the Pitt Cola?"
"Maybe."
"Then get to work." Stan pointed a finger to where Dipper was struggling to pitch a tent up and she sighed in frustration, but obeyed.
Dipper bit his lip as he tried to hammer a nail into the ground but it didn't budge at all. Not even an inch.
"Move." Dana said, and grabbed the hammer and in one hit the nail dug into the dirt secure. They moved on to the next and repeated the process. In no time the tent was up and Dipper made a face.
"Kissing Booth? Who would even sign up to do that."
"I did." Wendy answered, coming up beside them carrying a chair.
Dipper, and it was painfully obvious, lit up like a Christmas tree. "You are!" He coughed, "I mean you are?"
Wendy went behind the booth and set the chair down. "Yeah, the last girl who did it moved out to college so I volunteered as tribute." Dipper and Wendy laughed at the joke while Dana didn't get it.
Dipper asked casually, "So uh just wondering is it a kiss on the lips or cheek?"
Wendy leaned back in her chair, propping her legs on the table, "Lips dude. Cheeks to the weirdo's."
Dipper laughed uneasily, "Ha ha ha, I'm not a weirdo.. nope not a weirdo.."
"No of course not." Dana said sarcastically, flashing a grin when Dipper turned red.
"Oh hey, Dana how's your shoulder? Did Stan fix it up?" Wendy asked.
Dana stiffened and brushed her hair back, "Yeah he did. Uh, we gotta go do work stuff." She said quickly, and dragged Dipper away from the booth. Thankfully, Dipper was more focused on the thought on kissing Wendy that he didn't hear what had transpired between the two girls.
Wait did his breath stink? He breathed into his hand and took a whiff. He couldn't really smell anything, but better safe than sorry. Dipper broke from her grip and ran to the house.
"Hey where are you going?" Dana yelled.
"I need to brush my teeth!" Dipper yelled back.
Dana groaned and made to follow him but Mabel appeared out of nowhere with Candy and Grenda.
"Dana! I want you to meet my girlfriends, Candy and Grenda."
Candy adjusted her glasses, "Hi, I remember you from the dating show. I like your hair, it's so long." The asian girl reached out to touch her hair but Dana moved away.
"Wow your eyes look like the ocean!" Grenda said in awe, and all three girls advanced on her.
Backing up she glanced away, wondering if she could make a run for it away from these psychos.
Mabel looked at them, "Girls, I think I know what Dana needs..."
"A MAKEOVER!" All three girls screamed in excitement and Dana only had time to give them a wtf look before they dragged her forcefully back into the shack.
While on the other side of the fair...
From behind a booth, Stan peeked around the corner eyeing the load of cash in a glass heart shaped container. He rubbed his hands together greedily and walked over to the glass container.
"Finally, this year will be my year to win this baby and that little brat isn't here to steal it from me again!" Stan said to himself, referring to the 4th of July America appreciation contest where each contestant supporting the American flag the most win 500 hundred dollars. And each year Gideon always won.
"Are you sure about that Stanford?"
Stan's eye's widened, "It can't be-" He spun around, "Ah! Gideon?!"
America's little cutie, Gideon snapped his fingers and two buff looking dudes gave him a drink and an American flag. "Surprised Stanford?" He chuckled, taking a sip from his drink.
Stan crossed his arms sending Gideon his best glare, "Actually no. I thought I smelled baby prostitute somewhere."
Gideon raised his hand to his chest as if he's been struck, "Why I never." The chubby boy looked Stan up and down and scoffed, "My, my Stanford you got dressed up. It's a shame you won't win, but A for effort."
"Ha! Not this year kid. This time I came prepared-" Stan flashed his coat open, and dozen of mini American flags popped out with confetti and the American anthem started playing from somewhere inside. He closed his coat, a smug look on his face.
Gideon raised a brow and snapped his finger. Instantly, the two guards ripped the blue suit off and underneath the boy wore a flashing red white and blue sparkled suit, mini American flag sticking from his shoulders with plastic windmills American themed blowing in the wind. He clicked a button on his right sleeve wrist, and the whole thing lit up, flashing the colors and America's anthem blasted from mini audio speakers, little fireworks shooting off and exploding in an array of American colors.
Gideon, the little bastard, gloated, patting the gawking man's arm. "A for effort, Stanford. A for effort." The chubby boy walked off and Stan shook in anger.
"Not this year. This year is my year!" Stan exclaimed, shaking his fists in the air. Soos came up beside him and also raised his fist in the air.
"Soos what are you doing?"
The man child lowered his arm, "Oh are we not doing this right now. I thought we were."
Stan deadpanned, "Get back to work."
Soos sighed, and walked away dejected as Stan ran back to the shack to upgrade his suit.
This year was his year, and he's going to win the cash and beat the little brat.
0000000000
The sun was starting to sink, the sky a soft pinkish orange when people started arriving at the fair. In no time, the place was crowded, amusement rides turned on and Dipper could hear the screaming and laughter of kids as he stepped out of the shack. He breathed in and out from his mouth. He had spent the last hour brushing his teeth, his tongue and gums raw. When he was done with that, he tried to go to his room to get a pack of gum but Mabel kicked him out.
"You can't come in yet! We're busy." Mabel yelled, shoving Dipper out before he could see anything.
"But I need gum!" Dipper whined.
Mabel left to get the gum, leaving the door open a crack.
From somewhere in the room Dana called out, "Dipper? Dipper is that you?! Oh god you gotta help me they got me tied to a chair! Call the cops, get Bill, help me-mmphrf!"
Mabel re-appeared, holding duct tape in one hand, and threw a pack of gum at Dipper. "Ignore that, she's in denial."
Dipper caught the gum, and ran back outside, popping five in his mouth.
He adjusted his hat and made his way to where the kissing booth was. There was already a long line, and Dipper tapped his foot impatiently.
"C'mon, c'mon" he muttered, looking around the people in front of him to see Wendy giving a quick peck on the forehead to a little boy. The kid ran off laughing, rubbing his forehead. Dipper groaned, that's it he couldn't wait any longer.
"Excuse me, free pass, work here, sorry!" Dipper said as he cut through the line, flashing them a badge that verified he did work there. Stan had given the kids a free pass. He reached the front and stepped in front of the person next in line.
"Hey, get out of my way dork!"
Dipper turned to see Robbie and smirked, "Sorry, free pass." He said not sorry at all and stepped up to the table.
Wendy smiled when she saw him, "Hey dude, cheek or lip."
Dipper blushed, "...uh.. lip?" He leaned in, his heart pounding a mile a minute. This was it, he was finally gonna kiss Wendy! And it wouldn't be awkward or anything since this was a kissing booth, right? Didn't mean he still liked her or anything. Closing his eyes, he puckered his lips and-
"Uh Dipper. You need to pay first."
He eyes snapped open to see Wendy holding a jar of cash in his face, $5 dollars written on a paper tapped to the jar.
He pulled away, "Five? Five, five, five.." He searched his shorts desperately but nada. He was broke. He laughed nervously, "Ha ha.. hold on for a second." He said sheepishly and ran away to find Stan.
Robbie stepped up next, "Unlike that dork I got a five. Do I get a kiss?"
Wendy took the five, crossing her arms. "Ex-boyfriends who mind control their girlfriends don't get anything."
"Aw come on babe don't tell me you're still mad about that."
"Mad?" She reached down and came back up with a broom that Stan let her borrow if the costumers started harassing her. "You could say so."
Robbie yelped as he got whacked, while Dipper finally found his uncle.
"Grunkle Stan I need to borrow five dollars, it's important!" Dipper pleaded, grabbing on to the man's coat, but let go and stepped back, "What are you wearing?"
Stan looked down at his costume, "What, you don't like it? You don't think it's cool, it's not hip for you or whatever you teens like to say these days." Stan thought he out did himself. He amped the glitter, making it so every time he turned he would sparkle brightly, but it only blinded people. He had also dyed his hair, courtesy of Mabel's hair products, and glued to his back a giant American flag. He had Waddles strapped on the baby carrier, painted red, white and blue, and dressed up as Uncle Sam, a fake beard hanging from the pig's neck.
"It's alright. Can I borrow 5 dollars?"
Stan nodded, "Here you go." He pulled out a five from his coat.
"Really? Wow that was easy." Dipper grabbed it but Stan held it away laughing.
"Yeah right! What do I look like, a charity case?" Stan said, stuffing the five back inside his coat just as the mayor got on stage to announce the tournament.
"Grunkle Stan wai-" But the conman was off, running to sign up. Dipper groaned, now what was he supposed to do? He jumped as something smacked his arm.
"Thanks for saving me, jerk." Dana said, appearing beside him. In the hands of three girly girls, they had curled her hair and forced her into a white skater dress. Thankfully she got to keep her converse. "Hey, what's wrong with you."
Dipper pinched his nose, "I need to get five dollars before the fair closes so I can kiss Wendy but Grunkle Stan's too cheap and I'm broke... Hey do you still have all the ten's Mabel gave you?"
She bit her lip look away, "Um.. no."
"What? It was ten dollars! What did you even spend it on?!" Dipper exclaimed.
She crossed her arms, "Hot Cheetos alright?... they're delicious."
Dipper groaned in frustration, "A chance in a lifetime and I don't have 5 dollars. Someone hates me."
She frowned. Dipper looked so pathetic it made her almost feel sorry for him. Loud cheering drew her attention, and she looked at the stage where Stan was on, strutting his stuff, shaking waddles to the beat.
The mayor got back on the stage, thanking the contestant and stepped up to the microphone. "Alright folks how about that? We got some amazing American pride this year, really spectacular!" He waved to the right and the heart shaped glass filled with money rolled onto the stage. "And don't forget folks, whoever shows the most pride wins 500 dollars!"
She smiled, "I think I know a way to get you money.."
0000000000
"That was Stanford Pines, with Waddles the pig, give a round of applause for those two." The mayor said and the crowd clapped and cheered. "Our next-"
"And don't forget if you want to see mysterious spooky things head to the Mystery Shack!" Stan cut in, taking the microphone from the mayor. He got shoved off by the Mayor and he fixed his tie, "As I was saying our next contestant is the adorably cute but evil Lil' ol' Gideon!"
Gideon was carried on stage by his two hired guards and set down. He did the same show again, but this time with bigger fireworks and bigger stereo's making the whole stage shake under the bass. The crowd went wild and threw roses at the boy. "Oh gosh oh you guys." Gideon cooed, catching a rose. He got carried away from the stage, but no before sending Stan a smug smirk.
The mayor got back on stage, "Wasn't that a show! I'm sure Lil' Gideon would've won but we changed it up this year. Not only will contestants wear their pride, they have to show it! Singing, dancing, performing whatever you name it!"
"WHAT!" Stan yelled surprised. "But I don't have anything ready!"
The Mayor shrugged, "Of course you aren't it's a surprise twist!" He cleared his throat, "We will give contestants ten minutes to make and prepare their talent show. Break starts now." Parts of the crowd dispersed, some to get food and most to go to the bathrooms.
Gideon strolled over to Stan smirking. "Ooh Stanford you don't have an act? Tsk Tsk."
"Shut it Gideon you don't have an act too." Stan reflected.
Gideon giggled, "Oh on the contrary, I happen to have an act already planned out. You could say, I saw into the future with my psychic powers."
Stan balled his fists, "Why you cheating little-"
"Don't worry about the act Grunkle Stan, we got this." Dipper cut in, followed by Dana, Mabel, Candy, and Grenda. Dipper turned to Gideon, and blinked in surprise. "Gideon? You're back?"
Gideon glared at Dipper, "Yes I presumed Mabel already told you of my return." Dipper looked to Mabel and she gave him an apologetic look.
"What I forgot." Mabel said.
"Wha? Who else knew." Dipper asked incredulously.
They all mumbled yes' looking away.
Dipper deadpanned, "Really. I was the only one who didn't know."
Mabel stepped up and pointed at Gideon, "You're going down Gideon! We got a show that'll blow everyone's socks off!" At the same time, the Mayor announced the show to begin.
"Oh really. Well we'll just see about that." Gideon hissed and they glared at each other going there separate ways.
They walked to the side of the stage and Dipper looked out at the crowd. Wow, he didn't realize how many people were out there. He started to sweat and his stomach twisted sickly.
"I don't know if I wanna do this anymore." He said nervously. Really, he felt like he was going to throw up. He felt worse than the time Bill wrecked his body.
Dana smacked his arm, "Do you wanna kiss Wendy or not?"
He rubbed his arm (it still felt like Manly Dan punched him), "Ow!... Yes but.. really? Does it have to be this song?"
"Yeah it's a classic. Old people love this song."
"But..."
The Mayor cut in, "Alright let's have a round of applause for that a-ma-zing performance by our Lil' Gideon." Gideon waved and blew kisses, blowing one in particular at them evilly.
Dipper narrowed his eyes, "Getting to beat my enemy and kiss the girl of my dreams? Let's do this."
They were called up next and all five got on stage. Speakers were placed behind them by Soos and Candy, Grenda, and Mabel got in position. Dipper and Dana got two microphones and glanced at each other. Dipper looked nervous but Dana gave him a reassuring smile, even though inside she too was sick. She hoped Bill wasn't watching or he'll never let her go on that.
"Hit it Mabel!" Dipper yelled and Mabel started the music.
Disco Girl by BOBBA wafted out through the speakers, and blushing a deep red, Dipper began to sing. Never in his life, had he been more embarrassed than he was now. But looking out at the dancing crowd, he supposed it wasn't so bad. He glanced at Dana, just as she looked at him. She looked just as embarrassed as he was, but it was okay since the both of them were singing it together.
Mabel, Candy, and Grenda were their backup dancers, dancing some 70s move the crowd seemed to appreciate. Just like he practiced in the mirror, he shook his hips and pointed at the crowd, Dana following suit.
~Disco Girl... Coming through... That girl is youuuuuuu~
The song came to an end, and fireworks exploded in the background as the crowd went wild. Dipper had his finger pointed in the air, breathing hard and smiling wide like an idiot. Roses and cotton candy? were thrown on stage, and Mabel grabbed all the sugary cotton to devour later. They walked off stage waving their hands, the crowd still cheering.
Mabel jumped on Dipper, giving her brother a huge hug. "That was AMAZING! We rocked!"
"Rocked enough to win the money." Dana said, coming up beside them, her face flushed from singing in the cold. At that moment, the Mayor came back on stage, a huge smile on his face.
"Well I think we all know who won this year's American Pride Tournament." The crowd cheered again, and one person even screamed. "Come on up Mr. Stanford Pines!"
"YES! YES!" Stan yelled, pumping his fists in the air and he ran on stage with a shit eating grin on his face. The Mayor stuck out his hand to congratulate the man, but Stan ran past the mayor and attached himself to the money filled heart shaped glass. "Mine! It's all mine!"
"Are you.. crying?" Dipper asked.
"Shut it kid your ruining this for me." Stan perked up and looked to Gideon. "HA! EAT IT GIDEON! I GOT AN A+!" Stan whooped, and danced around like a crazy person on crack.
Gideon narrowed his beady eyes and pointed a chubby finger at the conman. "Just you wait Stanford! You'll get what's coming to you! I'll make sure of tha-AH! OH GAWD GROSS AW GOD NOT MY HAIR!"
Dana drew her hand back from pitching a shake that Grenda had. They all burst out laughing as Gideon ran away, screaming about his hair. That one's for making a deal with Bill, she thought. Now that the commotion was dying down, Dipper turned to his uncle.
"So Grunkle Stan, can I have that 5 now?"
Stan reached in and plucked a 5 and threw it at Dipper. "That's for winning me this baby. You earned it kid."
Dipper caught it and held the bill proudly, a wide smile on his face.
"Go get her tiger." Dana said, smiling softly. Dipper smiled at her and took off, swerving through people and in record time arrived at the kissing booth. He didn't bother waiting in line this time, and just went straight to the front, flashing his badge at complainers. He slammed the five on the table and looked at Wendy.
"Hey look who got a five." Wendy said laughing and grabbed the bill. "Alright, I guess you want on the lips?"
Dipper couldn't speak because he was so excited, so instead he nodded his head furiously. She shook her head smiling and leaned forward, "Pucker up dude."
He did so and they leaned in. Was this really happening? He didn't believe, it was just so impossible. But it was, and he felt soft lips press against his for just a second before it was gone. He opened his eyes.
Wendy leaned back in her chair grinning, and just like that it was over.
"So how was it?" Wendy asked.
Dipper opened and closed his mouth. How was it? "It was... nice."
Wendy let out air, "Whoo I thought I broke you for a second."
He laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah... it was nice." So many countless nights he has dreamed of this moment, always imagining it to be amazing or spectacular as fireworks going off and tiger singing in the background. Don't get him wrong, it was nice and she tasted like soda... but he guesses it's not as amazing as the magazines that Mabel owns says it would be for a first kiss.
"Dipper!" Mabel called out to him and he turned to see her waving at him, Dana standing next to her. "Come on! The nights still young and we have all the rides to go on!"
He lit up and started to them but glanced back at Wendy, giving her a shy smile. The teen smiled back, giving him a wave. "Go have fun loser."
He laughed and took off, and the three ran towards the bright lights.
0000000000
The night went by in a daze. When Mabel said they had all the rides to go on, they went on all the rides. From the tilt a whirl to the rollercoasters, which Dana refused to get on, they screamed through it all. Actually, Dana refused to go on most of the intense rides.
"It's not so bad." Mabel said but Dana refused.
"I hate drops." Was her only reason. "I'll never get use to it."
Other than that, they went on the sizzler next. Mabel called middle, so she could squish the both of them as it spun them around. The ride lurched to the right, and Dipper groaned in pain as their combined weight crushed him. After the rides, they went around playing at the booths. Unsurprisingly, Mabel was amazingly good at all of them, and won each round be it at shooting water to make her horse go faster, or throwing balls in a cup. She even won a fish she named Nemo.
Dana, surprisingly, sucked at all the games, even more than Dipper, and he was bad. But it didn't seem to effect her. She only laughed and they would all run around. The night was winding down as they went to the lit up ferris wheel. Because of their badges, they got to cut through line.
"Only two a seat." The ticket worker said.
There was a moment of awkwardness as they knew one had to sit by themselves. "You guys go, I'll be in the next one." Dana said but Mabel shook her head and before they knew what was happening, the two were shoved into the carriage, the steel holder swung down on them and Mabel clicked the button to make the wheel go up. Dana peered over the carriage, ripping a piece of cotton candy and threw it at Mabel, but it landed harmlessly on the ground.
She glared at the grinning girl who only smiled back at her. The wheel continued, and they rose up, up, up to the very top where it stopped, and the carriage swayed slightly. They had a grand view of the forest, and the moon that shone so brightly like a beacon in the dark ocean. From way up there, the people looked like little ants.
They relaxed in a comfortable silence, both lost in their own thoughts.
"So why don't you like rollercoasters?" Dipper asked curiously, because seriously, he's never meet someone who hated the ride.
She shrugged, placing her feet up on the edge, "Honestly? I don't know. It looks fun, but when I went on for the first time, I guess I just hated it." She remembered the time when the first carnivals started popping up in America, so long ago. And the very first rollercoaster.
She ripped a piece of cotton candy and gave it to Dipper who popped it into his mouth.
"Oh... and here." Dipper muttered, pulling out a candy necklace from his pocket. She took it and held it in her hand, staring at it. "As a thank you, for what you did. I mean... if it weren't for your idea, I would've never got to kiss Wendy."
She gazed at the candy necklace, an unreadable expression on her face. She raised it to her head and stretched it down, the necklace snapping back to cling to her neck. She fingered it, gazing at the moon.
"Dipper?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever wonder how I knew your name."
He turned to her confused, "What do you mean?"
She bit her lip, "When we first met, back in the woods."
He shrugged, "I don't know. I mean, it was weird but a lot weirder things has happened to me here, so I never really thought about it."
She turned to him, "But don't you ever questions why? How did I know so much about you. How did I know so much about Gravity Falls."
"I guess you just found out, like me."
She pursed her lips, "Don't you ever think it was weird that you followed a complete stranger through the woods, and into a cave. You barely knew me and yet you trusted me."
Dipper shrugged again, "You just seemed trustable-"
"No! Dipper think. You barely knew me, hell you barely know me now."
He frowned sitting up, "I do know you. You're Dana. You're my friend."
She parted her lips in frustration and grabbed his shoulders. "Dipper look at me." He did so, brown meeting blue. "Do you remember your dreams."
Well that was a weird question to ask. "No. I haven't had any since... I don't know." He scrunched up his face. Odd, he couldn't recall his dreams, and usually he could remember just a little of it. But now... nada. Nothing.
She searched his eyes, and looked away, releasing him from her grip.
"Dana... is something wrong?" Dipper asked, seeing the girl look troubled.
She shook her head, "No... no nothings wrong."
They fell silent, but unlike the first time, it was heavy and thick. The moon shone down on them, and it made her pale skin look ghostly.
"Dana?"
"Yeah."
She looked at him and his breath caught in his throat. Maybe it was the high from all the rides, or the moon or something but at that moment, all the way up there, just the two of them, Dipper felt his chest tighten as he looked into her pale blue eyes. In the back of his mind, he felt like he's seen them before, but different... And how did he not notice how pale her skin was?
"What?" Dana asked, breaking him out of his trance.
His cheeks tinged pink and he looked away, "No-nothing." What was this feeling? He felt sick, but not like a bad kind of sick that leaves you in bed. No, it was like a queasiness in his stomach, a flutter of butterflies.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he looked at her as she looked at the moon. The sight of her made his heart speed up, and what was this?! He didn't know, but he felt like he should do something. Maybe it was the way the moon lit her up softly that made him do what he did.
Slowly, ever so slowly, he wrapped his hand around hers.
She stiffened, and looked down at their entwined fingers.
Dana stared at it, and drew her hand away. "What are you doing?"
Dipper blushed and scooted away nervously. "I-I- nothing. I don't- I wasn't holding your hand or anything.." His voice cracked at the end and he died a little inside. God could he be any more embarrassing. He wanted to jump off the ferris wheel, fly away, anything to get far, far away from here.
She looked down, her brows knitted together and she shook her head. "Dipper, do you like me?"
"WHAT?!" He blurted out, his face redder than blood. "No! No I mean- I don't- I don't know where you got that idea from?" Great now he sounded like a six year old girl. "Why? Doyoulikemetoo?" He added quickly, and could he get any redder?
She stared at him, her lips parted and oh no, she didn't look happy.
"You don't like me."
...
What?
"What?"
She glared at him, her bottom lip trembling slightly. "You. Don't. Like. Me."
"Dana-"
She abruptly got up, shoving the safety holder up and Dipper grabbed the edges of the carriage. What the hell was she doing?! The carriage they were in swung violently and Dipper panicked. Oh god they were gonna fall off! She growled and looked over the edge to see Mabel at the control seat. While they were up there, Mabel had taken control of the ferris wheel, purposely stopping the ride so they could be at the top, holding up the entire line.
"Mabel, get us down!" Dana yelled at her but the girl shook her head.
"No! If it doesn't work, force it! Don't deny your love for each other!"
She made a sound of frustration and slammed her hands on the carriage, making it sway more.
"What are you doing!?" Dipper screamed as she swung one leg over the carriage. She ignored him and proceeded to lift her other leg. Freaking out, Dipper stood up and leaned over the edge. "Take us done, take us down!"
Mabel looked just as shock as he was and slammed on the button. The ferris wheel started and Dipper grabbed Dana and pulled her back into the safety of the carriage.
"Are you crazy?! You could've fell!" Dipper yelled, waving his arms around. She didn't say anything, and when they reached close to the ground, she jumped off.
"DANA!" Dipper screamed as he reached out to grab her but she was just out of his grasp. He peered over the edge, his eyes watering as the image of her lying the ground dead flashed through his mind. But... she was okay?
He watched in astonishment as she got up, and marched off. He yelled her named but she didn't turn around. When his carriage came to a stop, he flung the gate open and ran after her, Mabel right behind him.
"Dana! Dana wait!" He called. He reached her and grabbed her wrist but she wrenched it away, glaring at him. "Dana! Dana what's wrong?" What happened? Did he do something wrong? Did he offend her or- or what?!
"Dana-!" She spun around and pushed him away. He stumbled back, shocked and Mabel gasped.
Her face was red, and her eyes were watery, her lips trembling. She opened her mouth, like she wanted to say something but turned away.
They stood shell-shocked as they watched the girl march off, disappearing into the forest.
