WARPED

Chapter 25

Hazelle couldn't remember the last time she'd felt that peaceful.

Hanging out with Dipper, Mabel, and Jocelyn under the stars was soothing. There were a thousand, billion stars overhead, so many more than Hazelle would ever be able to see at home. She felt small, but was reassured by the presence of her friends. The heavens were beautiful.

"That one over there's Leo, the lion," Jocelyn was saying, pointing up to a group of stars. "And there's Cassiopeia, the queen, and Perseus, the hero." Dipper and Mabel were listening, wide eyed, to Jocelyn's spiel on constellations. "Perseus was the son of Zeus, or Jupiter, depending on if you're Greek or Roman, and Danaë. He managed to slay Medusa, which was quite a difficult task, as anyone who looked at Medusa immediately turned to stone."

"That's amazing," Dipper remarked, his eyes bright in the moonlight. "How do you know all of this?"

Jocelyn shrugged. "I used to watch the stars with my dad a lot when I was little. The stories just stuck with me, I guess."

Hazelle smiled and laid back in the grass, putting her hands behind her head. The things spewing from Jocelyn's fountain of knowledge never ceased to amaze her.

"What about that really bright one?" Mabel asked, pointing to a star almost above them.

"That's the North Star. Polaris. It's actually the handle of"—Jocelyn glanced at Dipper—"the little dipper, which is also also known as Ursa Minor, the little bear." Jocelyn tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Polaris was actually really important to the slaves on the underground railroad. They knew that to go north, they had to follow the North Star, or the little dipper, which they referred to as the drinking gourd. That's where that famous song comes from." She sang a few bars in a clear voice. "Follow the drinking gourd. For the old man is a–waiting for to carry you to freedom if you follow the drinking gourd."

"Hey, I remember that song from, what, fifth grade?" Hazelle piped up, memories of singing the song in chorus with Jocelyn and the other altos rising to the surface.

Jocelyn smiled and nodded.

"Huh," Dipper said, thoughtful. "That's really interesting. How do you remember all that?"

"I don't know," Jocelyn replied. "I just thought it was interesting."

Hazelle laughed. "That, and you have a freakish memory."

Jocelyn gasped. "That reminds me!" She jumped up and ran towards the Mystery Shack. "I'll be right back!" she called over her shoulder as she disappeared.

"What the—where is she going?" Dipper asked.

"Lord knows," Hazelle sighed.

Mabel snickered. "I'll be he doesn't even know."

Hazelle had to laugh. Mabel was probably right.

"Speaking of things we don't know," Dipper began. "Where do you think Lucy got off to?"

Hazelle frowned. "I honestly have no idea. I haven't seen her since this afternoon."

"Why does she keep slipping off like this?" Mabel asked, playing with a strand of hair.

"I guess Lucy's never really been the social type," Hazelle replied. "Plus I know she's been really tense and uncomfortable since we've been here. She doesn't like change."

"That makes sense," Dipper said, "but you've gotta adapt. I know I didn't exactly enjoy being here at first, but I've learned to love it. You just have to get used to your surroundings, you know?"

Hazelle nodded. "I get that. I just don't really get why she's hiding. You all have been super welcoming and helpful, and I know she's no exception."

"Maybe we should make her feel more welcome!" Mabel piped up. "I could make a cake!" She smirked. "With twelve layers."

Dipper tapped his pen against his chin. "I'm not so sure if it's our welcoming job that's got her hiding. It looks more like to me that there's a ton of tension between her and Jocelyn that she doesn't want to deal with."

"I really don't know what exactly is going on between the two of them," Hazelle began. "Jocelyn has a somewhat abrasive personality, but Lucy's never really been one to hide. They're both really competitive, and I'm almost always playing peacemaker between the two of them. Jocelyn loves winning, I think it has something to do with the whole four siblings thing, and she usually does. Maybe Lucy's just fed up. I really don't know. She won't open up, and she just pushes me away. I want to help her, but she won't let me. I really just don't know." She sighed glumly, swinging her legs into the open air. Her loose shoelaces slapped against the porch, the loudest sound in the silent night.

Dipper held up an announcing finger. "I think that maybe—"

"HEY GUYS!" Jocelyn came running back outside, Stan's viola clutched in her hand. "CHECK THIS OUT!"

"Joss," said Hazelle, wincing, "we're right here. There's no need to yell."

"There's always a reason to yell," Jocelyn replied, grinning brightly. "Especially when it comes to thiiiiis!"

Hazelle frowned. "Sorry to burst your bubble here, but what exactly are you yelling about? We've seen your viola before."

"It's not just the viola," Jocelyn said, rolling her eyes. "It's what I'mma do with it!" She placed the bow on the strings and started to play a tune that struck Hazelle as very familiar.

Hazelle's eyes widened and she beamed. "Yes!" she yelled, pumping her fist into the air. Jocelyn was playing the Gravity Falls theme song! Hazelle started to clap along.

"What...what's this song?" Mabel asked, making a funny face.

Hazelle smacked her forehead. She had forgotten. Mabel and Dipper would have no idea what this song was. How unfortunate!

"It's...uhh…" Hazelle stuttered.

"The song of my people!" cut in Jocelyn.

"What does that even mean?" Dipper demanded. "What are you guys ever even talking about?"

"It's a Hazelyn thing," said Jocelyn.

"Hazelyn?" Dipper said, exasperated.

Mabel burst out laughing. "Are you two a couple now?"

Hazelle sighed. "It's, um, actually the theme song."

Mabel and Dipper gave her a strange look. "Theme song?"

"For the TV show. In our reality."

There was an awkward beat of silence as the twins processed the information. Hazelle waited with bated breath for their reaction.

"That's so cool!" Mabel exclaimed. "I can't believe we have such an awesome song!"

"I know, right?" Jocelyn exclaimed. "Haze and I are, like, obsessed with it!"

Hazelle blushed as all eyes turned to her.

"Really?" Dipper asked, smiling.

Hazelle fixed her glasses on her nose. "I, uh—"

"Yeah!" Jocelyn cut in, grinning. "We listen to it, like, all the time! We'll randomly start clapping it and smirk at each other and it's pretty sweet. People are jealous of our hotness."

"Um...good," said Dipper, raising an eyebrow.

The evening lingered on, Jocelyn entertaining her friends with more music, Mabel cracking more jokes, and Hazelle and Dipper laughing along. The night cooled, the moon a white slice in the dark sky, and finally Jocelyn groaned loudly and massaged her fingers and wrist.

"Viola queen's all out of juice?" Hazelle snickered.

"For now," Jocelyn shot back, grinning mischievously. "I'mma go put this baby away. Don't want it to get damaged."

Jocelyn stood up, cradled the viola under her arm, and disappeared into the darkness.

"NOW THAT SHE'S GONE," Hazelle joked, making the twins laugh.

"You're tellin' me," grunted the shadows.

Hazelle and Dipper shrieked in terror, but Mabel waved and grinned. "Hiya, Grunkle Stan!"

Stan ascended from the dark, smirking at Hazelle and Dipper.

"Jesus!" Hazelle cried, her hand over her heart. "Don't do that!"

"Did I spook ya, kid?" Stan asked, obviously not apologetic. He chuckled. "You sounded more manly than Mr. Wet Blanket over here."

"I told you not to call me that," Dipper grumbled, fixing his hat, which had flown off his head from the scare.

"Yeah, yeah, lots of people tell me lots of things. Anyway, I'm surprised you knuckleheads are still out here."

"We were listening to Jocelyn play and watching the stars," Mabel said.

Stan rubbed his hands together. "Watching the stars were ya? You could've called me! Grunkle Stan knows his constellations."

"Actually," Dipper replied, "Jocelyn was able to tell us a ton of things. She knows her constellations."

"Oh, does she?" Stan appeared challenged, and when Jocelyn came walking back onto the porch, he said, "Hey, Portal Girl. I hear you like constellations."

Jocelyn was slightly thrown off by "Portal Girl," but seemed to accept it. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't. But it's certainly more than you, old man," she added with a cocky grin.

"Whhhooooaaaaa!" Mabel shouted, hand over her mouth. "We got ourselves a constellation-off, bro-bros!"

"Here we go," Dipper sighed, fixing his sitting position to become more comfortable.

Hazelle sat back, hands behind her head. "Tell me who wins," she told Dipper. "It's nap time for Hazelle."

"Nap time?" Dipper asked. "But it's 10 pm!"

Hazelle yawned. "I haven't been getting a lot of sleep. The last time Jocelyn made a portal, I didn't sleep a wink when I came back up to my bed."

"Any reason?"

"I dunno." Hazelle looked over at Jocelyn and Stan having their constellation battle, with Mabel officiating. Jocelyn looked so happy, her eyes lit up in a mischievous grin as she schooled Stan in astrology. No one would ever think her dangerous, let alone deadly.

"I guess I'm just worried, and being left alone with my thoughts doesn't help." Hazelle looked down at her hands. "Jocelyn is dangerous. And that scares me. I can make portals too. What if I'm dangerous too? I don't want to hurt anyone."

Dipper frowned. "I don't think you guys are dangerous. What's dangerous is thinking like that."

Hazelle nodded numbly, hands curling into fists. "Or worse: what if my powers are just a joke?"

"Portal jumping—a joke?"

"You've seen my portals: they're pathetic. They're Frisbees. And then Jocelyn's can take out a whole grocery store." Hazelle wrung her hands together. "I'm just babbling. This shouldn't be a big deal. Right? But for some reason...it bothers me. Like, of course we found out we have ultra-cool powers, and mine are the least threatening."

"Look at it this way," said Dipper. "Sure, yeah, your portals...they're not great. They get the job done, but they're tiny compared to Jocelyn's. But you've got another ultra-cool superpower."

"Don't you dare say the power of being myself or any of that crap," Hazelle retorted. "I'll throw up everywhere."

"No, not that," Dipper replied, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. He tapped his temple. "Your mind. You're just like me, Haze—not a lot going on the physical department. Although punching Robbie was probably the greatest thing I've ever seen, you're more clever than that. You're smart, and you think things through and consider every variable. You're careful and don't go jumping into stuff headfirst. Brainpower is awesome. It's just the unspoken superpower."

Hazelle rolled her eyes. "You sound like an elementary school teacher." But strangely enough, she felt better. "Thanks, though. That's nice of you."

"What can I say?" Dipper said, coolly leaning back with a smug look on his face. "I'm a pretty nice guy—"

"HA! SUCK IT, OLD MAN!" Jocelyn yelled.

"This is rigged!" yelled Stan, pointing at the starlit sky in outrage. "It does too look like a jellyfish!"

"Grunkle Stan," Mabel said sternly. "Jocelyn is one hundred percent correct. That's totally a chipmunk!" She squinted at the sky, nodding. "Definitely a chipmunk."
"You kids are insane," Stan complained. "Years of studyin' the stars and I lose to some loud mouthed portal girl."

"As you should!" Jocelyn exclaimed, highfiving Mabel.

Hazelle shook her head, and noticed that Dipper was doing the same. Portals, schmortals, she thought, smiling slightly. I'm fine just the way I am.

"I demand a recount!" Stan declared.

"There's, like, five of us!" Jocelyn retorted, and she, Mabel, and Stan started up their bickering again.

Yup, thought Hazelle, laughing with Dipper. We're all just fine.