AVAVA
(Author's Note)
VAVAV
Fried chicken, and mashed potatoes! Now that I have your attention. It's me again. Yes it's been a while. I've been suffering from major's writer's block. But I'm forcing this out, so obviously... if this seems forced, it is. I can't let you guys wait forever, no matter the writer's block.
Also this is the chapter I'll start adding OC's. Candy might make a reappearance in later chapters. And Wendy will likely Visit.
And as always, I don't own Gravity Falls. I do own the ideas that are unique to this story. Names and Places are owned by their respective owners.
AVAVA
( No one's PoV )
VAVAV
Times had their ups and downs over the last few years. Their friend Wendy knew about their relationship together, while no one else knew. They always had meant to tell someone. At the same time they were afraid to tell anyone in the family. And with Wendy back in Gravity Falls, no one would find out. Unless they slipped up and told someone that is. Now another corner is about to be rounded for the two lovers. Another stage in their lives.
University Life. Luck had it, they both managed to get into the same University, though for different reasons. Stanford University. Dipper would be attending for Psychology, while Mabel would be attending classes for Art and Art History. Unlike High School, University life... well... it was rarely private. One of the reasons that lead to an argument among the two. Mabel wanted the University experience. She wanted to live in the dorms, have a room-mate, and the such. While Dipper, on the other hand, wanted to take their parents offer to pay for an apartment for the two close to the Campus.
AVAVA
( Dipper's PoV )
VAVAV
Dipper busied himself packing items that he would need. Books, games, movies... pretty much anything he used often enough that he figured he'd need. Furniture and stuff would be bought there, actually it should already be at the apartment by now. He had finally convinced Mabel that an apartment would be much better than staying in a dorm. Mabel could decorate how she wanted. She'd have more room to decorate. She wouldn't have a room mate that would tell her 'no'. She also wouldn't have a room mate, she'd keep up at night. Then the fact that they'd have privacy.
No twin time had been the biggest deciding factor. Elementary, Middle, and High School had been hard enough with all the rumors. And that was before their relationship. How would they be able to relax like they normally would in a common room, or in a dorm room where people would no doubt ask questions of the two that were supposed to be twins, and siblings? No Mabel didn't like the fact that there wouldn't be a place or time they could. So she reluctantly agreed, since there didn't seem to be any other option.
Finally he packed the last item he needed. A printed out map of Stanford's large campus. Which is located on 8,180 acres Stanford is a self-sustaining community featuring 49 miles of roads, a 49-megawatt power plant, two separate water systems, three dams, three open water reservoirs, a central heating and cooling plant, a high-voltage distribution system and a post office. Stanford provides or contracts for its own fire, police and other services. So needless to say, the map would be more than useful to him and his sister, who gets lost easily.
The best part of Stanford, is that the Psychology building, and Art Center are within a fourth of a mile of each other. It could have been a lot worse for the two. Luckily the two wouldn't need more than the buildings they would learn at. Since they would be living off campus. There would be a few other places, though they would be located in the Main Quad, which was also within the same area as their classes would be.
AVAVA
"So you Ready Broseph?" Mabel's head appeared in his doorway. He had been ready for months... up until today. Now nerves were starting to get to him. He wanted to go, he really did... but this was a big step.
"I guess." He said picking up the last box in his room. Carrying it out to the car their parents had bought him. Mabel's car would stay here, and their parents would drive it up another time. Mainly because they didn't know if the apartment building they'd stay in had one parking space or two. That and Freshmen couldn't drive cars on Campus. So they choose Dipper's since it had more trunk space.
"I thought you'd be... you know... more like I usually am. All excited." Mabel closed the trunk after he had put the box in.
"I dunno, I'm a little nervous. And it feels strange without mom and dad here." He looked around knowing his parents wouldn't be around.
"Yeah, we said bye to them yesterday. You know... that business thing. But they'll come visit once we find out about the parking dealy." Mabel looked wistfully at her car. "Welp Bro, lets get this show on the road."
"You got it Mabs." He took a deep breath and one last look at home before getting in the drivers seat, then they set off to their destination.
AVAVA
They walked into the apartment carrying their belongings. It was bigger than Dipper expected, he even checked the address to make sure he got the right place, and apartment number. Mabel put her stuff down on the floor in the living room, obviously wanting to explore. He set his down and went back down stairs to get the other boxes from the car.
He wondered if they should go get furniture today, or if they should wait. They still had a week before either of their classes started. It was only a little more than two hours drive from home. Maybe they should go today... Would be nice to actually have a bed to sleep in.
"Hey Mabs. Wanna go pick out furniture today? We need beds and things you know." Dipper called as he reentered the empty apartment.
"You know there are four rooms here?" Mabel appeared from around the corner of the hallway.
"Four rooms?" Had to be his parents doing. Always going way over board with things. They didn't need all that space... but... it would give Mabel a room for her art, and him a room for a study... leaving an extra room.
"Uh-yeah. Four!" Mabel seemed ecstatic for someone that didn't want an apartment in the first place.
"Anyways... mom and dad gave us a credit card for us to get furniture and food until we find jobs." Mabel started paying attention at the word food. "So, I think we should go pick out stuff now... so it'll be delivered faster. Then we get food, dishes, and..."
"I gotcha... we need stuff. So... if we are gonna do this, lets do this." Mabel followed him out the door. "Before the food though. Think we can go by the Campus? I really wanna see where we are going."
"Alright, we can stop by." Normally Dipper would tell her to wait another day, that it wasn't going anywhere. But when they did a tour of the Campus, Mabel had the flu and couldn't join him. So she hadn't gotten a chance to see anything other than pictures. He tried to catalog everything he saw for Mabel... but he knew it wasn't the same.
AVAVA
Furniture was easy, and everything would be able to be delivered that day. They picked out a bedroom suit for what would be Mabel's room, when their parents visited. And they also chose a bedroom suit they'd both like for the bedroom they'd share. They weren't sexual yet, since in their home their parents could walk into their rooms at any time. But here they'd be free... if they wanted to do that stuff. But they did enjoy sleeping in the same bed, it gave each other comfort.
So they still had two hours to kill before their furniture would arrive. So they sat waiting for their order at the Axe and Palm. One of the many cafes and restaurants on campus. Dipper chose this one, because he'd eaten here on the tour, so already knew the food was good.
"Oh God, you were right Dip, this is great." Mabel said after taking a bite from her burger.
"Yeah I know right?" He had taken a liking to this place, and had eaten lunch and dinner there the three days he spent touring the campus. Because the food was good... and because it was the only place he knew how to get to.
"Haven't seen you two around," A female voice called from behind him. Then came into view next to the table. This girl... looked like something out of Mabel's preteen craft projects. She had blue and green streaks in her black hair. He clothes... looked like someone splattered her with all kinds of paint.
"I'm Mabel!" Of course Mabel would be the first to say something. Well it seemed a new friend had found Mabel... he just hoped that Mabel didn't adapt the other girls look. He liked Mabel's hair the way it was. "And the silent one is Dipper."
"My name's Janet, but everyone call me Bubbles. So are you guys passing through, or are you two starting classes next week?" Janet/Bubbles pulled up a chair at their table. And ordered something.
"I'm starting Art History next week." Mabel piped up still eyeing the strangely dressed stranger.
"And you?" She turned her attention to Dipper.
"Psychology."
"Why? You don't seem to be... like the rest of the psych students. They are usually all serious... and from your girlfriend here, I assume you're not completely boring."
"She's my..."
"Girlfriend... yep. And he can be boring at times." Mabel interrupted him, and gave him the look that he knew too well. It meant 'don't correct me.' She did have a point though... They could be who they wanted here. No one knew they were siblings, even if it was only by marriage. They didn't have the same classes, so not even the teachers would know, or assume. I mean... the last name Pines... can't be too rare... right?
"So cool that you two managed to get into the same school... and this one, isn't all that easy to get into." That one he knew. He spent months helping Mabel study. But it all paid off.
"Yeah... at first I thought we'd have to go to another school." Mabel looked over at Dipper. "Dipper said if I didn't get in, we'd just go somewhere else. He didn't want to come without me."
"So you two going to live in the dorms?" Bubble's order arrived, but she still waited for an answer.
"No, we got an apartment not far from here. In fact... we need to get going soon for to let the delivery men bring in the furniture." He knew Mabel didn't want to go, but it was true they needed to let the people in.
"That's cool." she took out a small notebook and wrote down something and handed it to Mabel. "Give me a call sometime, we can hang out or something."
"Sure... or you can come wait for our furniture with us!" Mabel jumped out of her seat.
"I don't think she wants to wait in an empty apartment while waiting for furniture, Mabs."
"Yeah... I'd like to. But I'm kinda meeting some friends in a bit." Mabel frowned some. "Don't worry, I'll come check out your place sometime. I mean we are going to be going to the same class."
They parted ways, with Mabel one friend richer. He should have guessed that Bubbles/Janet was an art student. Didn't matter, she seemed nice enough. Sadly, they couldn't go shopping for food. They'd spent too much time talking, and now would have to wait until after the furniture arrived. And he wasn't entirely sure why Bubbles/Janet thought they were dating, and not siblings. They DID look alike, even if they weren't.
AVAVA
( Mabel's PoV )
VAVAV
Mabel carried the last of the bags into the kitchen and collapsed on the floor. How did their mom do this every week? Dipper explained that it would be more than usual because they literally had nothing in the apartment. The other times would be just to replace what had been used. That made sense. Plus the load was bigger because of the plates, bowls, forks, knives, spoons, pots and pans. Everything. Even Toaster and coffee maker. They had to get Everything. Luckily most of this stuff was a one time thing.
She pushed herself off the floor and started helping Dipper put things away. She tackled the refrigerator, and cabinets while he fought with the boxes with their cups and plates and stuff. It needed to be done, and the faster it got done, the faster they could relax.
"Why did we get coffee cups anyways?" Mabel asked, it wasn't like either of them actually liked coffee.
"Because it came with the plates and bowls. Plus we might make friends that like coffee... it's why we got a coffee maker.
"Oh yeah. I guess that makes sense." Maybe Bubbles liked coffee. "So you cooking dinner tonight?"
"I thought we might order a pizza or something. I'm too tired to cook." Dipper looked tired, mainly because he'd done most of the work all day. "Where all done."
"Yay." She exclaimed as she jumped on the couch. And watched Dipper carry all the trash and boxes out the door. Maybe to the dumpsters. She shrugged and picked up the remote and turned the TV on... No signal. That's right. No T.V til tomorrow, okay she could use... no internet either.
"What's with that face Mabs?" Dipper asked her when he returned.
"It's horrible!" She exclaimed and mock fainted back on the couch. "No T.V. Or Internet."
"Well we brought movies with us. So we can watch those for now. Or there are other things we can do." She couldn't tell if he was smiling because of her over reacting, or if he was hinting at being intimate. Had to be the former, because Dipper wasn't that bold. She loved him... but he wasn't that bold at all.
"Other things? Is that your way of saying, 'We have our own place so we can fool around without worrying about getting caught'?"
"N-No... I never said that! I just meant... like read or something!" Dipper's face turned a delightful shade of pink. This was going to be fun.
"Oh come on Dip, you know you wanna..." she ran her hands up her sides, "You know I'm so fine."
"O-Order a pizza, I'm going to take a shower." He walked out of the room his face even pinker than before.
"Cold shower I bet." She giggled to herself as she used her phone to get the pizza places number, then called them. She had to find the paper with the address and apartment number on it. She really needed to memorize the address and soon.
AVAVA
This is nice, Mabel thought as she laid there with her head in Dipper's lap. Of course she'd done the same thing back at home, with the exception all she was wearing now was a long t-shirt and her underwear. This having our own place thing was a great idea, she thought to herself, knowing she'd never tell Dipper she thought it was a great idea.
And this couch is so comfortable, she thought to herself. She was glad Dipper let her pick out most of the stuff for the apartment. The only things he really picked out were the electronics... Mabel had to face the face, Dipper was much better at that stuff. Her mind drifted back to the girl they had met.
"So what did you think about Bubbles?" Mabel turned her head, looking up at Dipper.
"Janet? She was alright." Yeah Dipper wasn't big on calling people by nicknames unless they were for her. So he wouldn't be calling her Bubbles... at least not for a while. "I think you two will get along, and she seemed... interesting."
"So you think she was weird." Mabel narrowed her eyes. She knew that wasn't exactly what Dipper meant. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to mess with him as much as she could. Really who could stop her now?
"That's not what I said... I said interesting. Like you." She could tell her was getting flustered.
"Oh so now I'm weird?" She watched as Dipper's mouth open and closed a couple of times. Once again, she'd rendered him speechless. "Dipper, I'm messing with you. I mean, COME ON, Dipper. After nineteen years, don't you know when I'm joking by now? Or am I just that good a actress?"
"I dunno. I'm a little worried you know."
"No I don't know. What's got you worried? This University thing? Pfft, you are the brainiest person I know. You got this Broseph."
"Not that Mabs. I mean me and you. I keep wondering when one day you'll... I don't know. I keep worrying about messing things up." Mabel sighed. This wasn't the first time that he'd brought this up. He was worried that she'd find someone else. And now with this new 'world' they were in... she'd see more kinds of people. Maybe he was worried she'd find someone more like her. But she knew... she didn't want any one else. No matter how many times she told him that, he over thought things. It didn't aggravate her... it was just one of the things that made Dipper... Dipper.
"Dipper Dipper Dipper... Don't you know if I wanted someone else. I wouldn't have worked my butt off learning and studying to get into this snazzy school of yours?" She leaned up and kissed his chin... his chin being the only thing she could reach at the moment. "Hmm? Or that I would have caved about the apartment? Which was a great idea. Or that even though we got two bedroom suits, I only plan on using one?"
"I guess... but you never..." She put her fingers to his lips, since she couldn't stop him with a kiss unless she moved, and she was too comfortable to move right now.
"I do know. Hello I'm Mabel, I might not have your book smarts. But I am the emotional twin." She didn't know if they'd ever stop referring to themselves as twins, since they weren't. "So I know what I'm feeling. I love you. You big dork."
AVAVA
Mabel plopped down on the couch after finally emptying the last box they brought. They were officially unpacked. And the apartment was now theirs. She couldn't paint any of the walls, which saddened her. But she had hung pictures of up here and there. And shelves with stuffed animals and little things here and there. Most guys, she assumed, wouldn't want those kind of things in the living room. Dipper didn't seem to care. He was happy as long as she was happy. She groaned as her phone started ringing. She pushed herself up and went to answer it.
"Pines Manor. How may I help you?" Mabel had been answering her phone that way since they'd come here. It was fun.
"Uh... Maybe I have the wrong number... is Mabel there?" The familiar voice came over the phone.
"Yeah I'm Mabel." Then she recognized the voice. "Bubbles?"
"Oh Mabel... yeah I know you texted me your house number... I thought I wrote it down wrong."
"No, I just... well I answered the phone... you know what... never mind that." Not a good way to start out a would-be friendship. "What's up Bubbles?"
"Nothing much, just was looking to kill some time. My friends are off doing something for the day. And I figured. I'd see what you were up to. Maybe take you up on the offer to hang out at your place."
"Uh... sure. Dip's not here right now, so I could use the company. He's out picking up things we forgot, while I finish unpacking things. Which I finished. So I don't mind." Mabel gave her the address of the apartment building, which she still had written down. "K see you when you get here."
She gathered up the empty boxes after she hung up the phone. No since in having trash all over the place with someone coming over. When she was younger... it didn't bother her if she or Dipper left shoes or socks in the living room when friends came over. But now it would reflect her and Dipper... so yeah, she couldn't just leave things laying about.
AVAVA
( Dipper's PoV )
VAVAV
Well that should be all of it, Dipper thought as he put the last of the bags into the trunk of his car. He couldn't believe they had forgotten towels. Maybe because they had always just assumed there were towels, they'd forgotten to buy any when they went out. They ended up having to use one of Mabel's sweaters to dry off with, which happened to be surprisingly absorbent. Even so, Mabel said that it would be a one time thing. While she might not wear them as much anymore, she didn't want them to be used as towels.
He got into the car and sat back in the seat before starting it. This was going to be an experience. They had their own place. And it would just be them for the next couple of years. He smiled as he started the car and and started home. He didn't doubt that it would be a learning experience... but he had a good feeling about what was happening.
After getting the bags from the trunk, and carrying them up the stairs. He realized that he hadn't put the apartment's key on his key ring.
Great, he thought to himself as he banged his head against the door.
"Whoa," The door opened, causing him to fall into the apartment.
"Was shopping that bad Dipster?" Mabel asked barely containing her laughter. But it wasn't her giggles that caught his attention. He pushed himself up, to see Bubble/Janet sitting on the couch looking at him.
"You know, that's not how you're supposed to use a door man." Ha ha, he said sarcastically in his mind. What was she even doing here? Mabel no doubt invited her.
"Hey Janet." Dipper muttered as put the stuff down on the table then turned his attention to Mabel. "I got the towels, and that scrubby thing you wanted."
"Did you get the shower curtains?"
"The one with kittens right?" Dipper pulled it out of the bag holding it up behind him, which was taken from his hand. "That is the one right?"
"That's it!" Mabel almost yelled as she bounded into the bathroom.'
"My boyfriend would never let me put something like that up." Bubble/Janet said from behind him.
"Mabel is... Mabel. I don't try to control or contain her. I've learned after all these years... to just go with it. It's easier for me, and more fun for her." He said absently.
"Years? So you've known each other a while huh?"
"All our lives. Well most of our lives. Since we were two." He stopped realizing that he shouldn't have said that. They were supposed to be a couple here, not siblings.
"Oh so you guy's parents were friends?"
"Friends... yeah you could say something like that." Dipper said picking up the towels, and other items for the bathroom. "I'll be right back, I gotta put these away."
"I'll walk back with you, Mabel wanted to show me the bathroom anyways. Kept going on and on about the size of the tub." Dipper sighed and lead the way. "By the way... how many people are staying here?"
"Just us. Why?"
"Just wondering. Cause of the other three bedrooms."
"Oh, one's going to be where I study most of the time. And another will be where Mabel works. The third is... will be a spare bedroom. Uh you know... someone comes over and needs a place to crash." What did she ask so many questions? Was this what University student interaction was like? He knew there wouldn't be much privacy... but seriously...
"Gotta say, some of those big dorms on campus aren't this big." This had to end. He wasn't good with talking to people...
"Say... could you take these to Mabel." he handed her the bags and towels. "It's right through this room. I'm going to get dinner started."
"You don't mind kitten shower curtains, you go and buy groceries, and stuff for the place, and you cook? Mabel needs to tell me her secret." And with that, he made a bee-line to the kitchen to be alone.
"Her secret..." he mumbled to himself. Well no doubt this Janet girl would run screaming if she knew their secret. Our secret? Now that would be funny... 'Hey, We are Dipper and Mabel, we were raised as siblings and twins for most of our lives. And only found out about three years ago that we were not twins.' Oh yeah. That would be... chaotic.
Instead of thinking about the problem more, he decided that he'd concentrate on cooking. But before he started, he had to wonder if there would be another mouth attending.
"Janet?" He called down the hallway.
"Yeah?"
"Are you staying for dinner?" a couple of moments of silence. Maybe her and Mabel talking... more so Mabel talking her into it.
"Yeah she's going to stay for dinner." Mabel answered... and he assumed that she had either talked Janet into it... or had just decided for her.
"Alright." So another person for dinner. Wouldn't be a problem. Mabel would have someone to talk to, about things that she liked. Of course Mabel could talk to him about it... but he didn't have the same... spark as Mabel did with art. He lacked the imagination for it, he assumed. Either way, it would make Mabel happy, and as long as she was happy, he was happy.
AVAVA
( Author's Note )
VAVAV
This is only a part of the chapter. This chapter became a long transitional chapter. So this one will have another half. But after the next chapter, we begin with uni life for the two. Challenges, and old rivals. And we'll get to know Bubbles more, and some of her friends. More about Bubbles in the next part as well.