Traitors.
- Dipper's POV -
I... don't know how I ended up in my bed and I want to beat someone up. Mabel explained to me that I fell asleep on Kahlil's shoulder... THAT is the most embarrassing thing I have ever heard! I feel like I am about to explode because of that experience. I told myself to not fall asleep, and I did anyways! Did the biome do that? I don't know what the place was called. I should ask when I have the chance. For now, I don't even want to see anyone anymore. I want to crawl up somewhere small and just rot there.
By the line, "I want to beat someone up," I meant that to my damn uncle. Uncle Stan forgot to take me to school this morning and left me where Uncle Ford had to take me in his new car. He is really trying to forget about me and pretend like I don't exist. It hurts so much, and I wish I can ignore it. I let out a sigh, staring down at the school's hallway floor.
I shouldn't be worried about that old man, he never even cared for me since the day he forgot to see how I was. I grunted in annoyance, and then the wave of sadness drowns my mind. Who am I kidding, this relationship of ours will never be fixed. I held my binder tight as I walked into someone. I quickly backed up and apologized before rushing to my 3rd period.
I took my seat and got set up for the lesson. When it was over, my sister bumps my arm with her elbow. She had a smug look on her facial expression. I glared at her. ``What the hell do you want?`` I asked.
``About what happened last night.`` She said, letting out a snicker.
``Shut up!`` I said, getting all embarrassed again.
``But I imagine it being cute, though.`` She whined.
``Still! It's the most embarrassing thing that I did.`` I said, glaring her down.
``But it was kind of cute that you fell asleep on me.`` Kahlil's voice butt in.
``DO not join this conversation.`` I warned him.
``Or what?`` He said, trying to push me.
I grunted and turned forward in my seat and tried to ignore the two of them. I heard my sister chuckle as I stared down at the keyboard.
``Ignoring me isn't the best option.`` I heard my friend say.
``Then, don't humiliate me during class.`` I said. ``I don't want to act all weird.`` I was speaking in a low, quiet voice.
``You just don't want to act at all during school. Something is up.`` He said.
``Like what?`` I asked, looking up at the screen of the computer.
``The first clue is those school bullies.`` He said. I almost looked over as I force my eyes on the screen. But it did look like I hesitated to type in my answer for the question on the screen. Please do not notice my hesitation.
``School bullies?`` Mabel said. ``There are some here?``
``Yes, they pick on anyone they can get their hands on.`` Kahlil said.
``Great, never knew this generation can get any worse.`` She grunts irritably.
``Yeah... some people are just jerks.`` He agreed.
``Anyways, I'm finished with the classwork.`` Mabel said, which surprised me. You're usually last, Mabel.
``Been done with it a while ago.`` He said in which I stared down at my shaking hands. Why am I shaking? My thoughts were running everywhere in my head, trailing off to ends, or even reminding me of the past. Was I remembering what happened to me with the school bullies? I don't even know, I don't know what is happening to me.
``Dipper?`` My sister nudges my arm; it snapped me out of my state. I slowly looked over at her.
``Are you okay? You've been staring at the keyboard for about a minute now.`` She asked, having a worried expression.
``I'm fine.`` I said, ``I was lost in my thoughts again.`` Like I always am.
``You need to get out of that mind of yours.`` I heard Kahlil say.
``Agreed.`` My sister said.
``...`` I stayed silent, looking back at the computer screen. The voices begin to come back into my mind as I sat there motionless, zoning out once again. Insults, nickname calling, kicking, screaming, all of that was in my head. I don't even know where to begin. I think someone was calling my name? I can't hear their voice; I can only hear the bullies' voice, trying to catch my attention away from everything around me.
A bell snapped me out of the void as I shook my head.
``Oh my god- that is the most creepy experience I have ever had.`` I heard my sister's voice once again.
``Dipper... are you sure your okay?`` Kahlil asked, looking at me with a more worried look than Mabel's.
``... I-i.. don't know.`` I said, still hearing the faint voices in my head. ``..don't you hear that..?``
``OKAY, since the bell rang, we must go.`` Mabel said as she turned hers and my computer off as I wasn't paying attention once again.
``Dipper! Snap out of it!`` She raised her voice at me as I looked over at her. I shook my head out of the thoughts as I snapped my focus into getting my things to pack up.
``..I don't like where this is going.`` Kahlil said, scooting his chair in when he stood up. I stood up and held my binder in my arms as I push the chair in.
``You are still there, Dipper?`` My sister asked. I looked over at her, I nodded slowly.
``Good. Let's not mention the topic once again, Kahlil.`` She said as she turned and led the way out.
I was walking a bit slow since I was trying to recall what just happened. My friend helps me catch up with Mabel, who forgot to look behind her.
``We're here!`` Mabel announced as we sat down with our lunches. I stared down at the tray of food, hearing the voices come back.
``DIPPER!`` I jumped out of my seat as I turned over to my sister's annoyed expression. ``I asked you a question and you zoon out again.``
``I really didn't mean to bring that topic up in class.`` Kahlil said.
``What's wrong with Dipper?`` Alex asked, getting worried.
``He's zoning out after we were discussing a topic. And I don't want to bring the subject up because it will trigger him again.`` Mabel said, sitting down into her seat.
``Wow, I didn't realize you were rude today.`` I heard Percy's voice as I shot him a glare.
``I'm not doing it on purpose!`` I said, glaring him down.
``It seems you are.`` He said, returning the glare.
``As we said, you should get out of that mind of yours.`` She said.
I sat still, staring down at the table now. Didn't anyone hear it? The voices? Is it only me that I am hearing them?
``Oh my god-``Someone took my hand as I was pulled away from the table. ``I'm sorry!`` I said. We left the lunchroom as I was drawn into the wall.
``Okay, what is going on?`` I looked up at Kahlil, who had his arms crossed.
``... I hear voices in my head.`` I said.
``... Voices? Isn't it too far from the jungle?`` He whispered to me.
``No, it's not the jungle. It's something else...`` I said, hearing them again. They were trying to get my attention once again. ``And... it's coming back.``
``I know what's going on now.`` He said.
``W-What...?`` I said, trying to look like I was confused.
``You never told anyone about them?`` He glared at me.
``...`` I stood there frozen. What am I supposed to say?
``You never told them about- how can you live with this?`` He said as his tone was annoyed now.
``... I tried, but... I guess the teachers didn't believe me. They started to pick on me a few weeks ago.`` I lied, sounding upset from all of this.
``You should have told us!`` It looked like he took the bait. ``We could have helped you solve this problem.``
``I know... I'm kind of dumb in the wrong.`` I said, looking off to the side.
``Let's just... I don't even know what to do.`` Kahlil said, rubbing his head. ``How could you...`` He trailed off as he turned away. ``Come on, let's head back.``
I stayed silent, following him. We returned to our seats as Kahlil told them what I said to him. I'm glad he took the bait, no one needs to know that I've been suffering this long for 10 years. I don't want them to know that I've been bullied for years.
The result is that my sister forced me to report it to the teachers. It's not like they can do anything, this school is lazy with its system.
We reported it as we were sent away for them to do whatever with it.
``I can't believe this family is full of victims from bullies!`` Mabel shouted, irritated as hell.
I stayed silent, getting a bit offended by what she said.
``Well, you can't blame how people are.`` Kahlil said.
``Yeah.. just don't hide it from us ever again.`` My sister said to me as she was looking at me.
I nodded, looking down at the floor. Sometimes... I just want to disappear.
- Mabel's POV -
We got home from school as I turned to my brother, he was still silent since we reported the bullies who'd been bullying him for a few weeks. I can't believe he hid it from us. I sighed as we headed upstairs to set our things down. I headed downstairs to give my brother some space. I'm still a bit annoyed he kept zoning out today. I walked over to the living room to find Uncle Stan watching his shows.
``Hi, Grunkle Stan!`` I said, walking in.
``Hello, pumpkin pie. How was school?`` He said, looking over.
``It was good.`` I said. I should tell him about the incident that happened today, but... I don't think he cares about him at the moment.
``May I ask you something?`` I said, leaning on the doorway.
``Sure. What is it?`` He turns the volume down to hear me.
``What happened between you and Dipper? Like... did you guys have a good bond with each other?`` I asked. I swear this will be my clue to everything that happened in this family. It will be fixed by my hands, I swear.
Grunkle Stan let out a long sigh. ``So you want to know. Alright then. Take a seat.`` I did what he said as I sat down on the couch.
I was living a life of surprises, running the Mystery Shack as usual. Only to be halted by my brother. When he called, he said he was coming here, along with someone else. I was frustrated as I didn't get a chance to tell what my opinion was on his choice. He hung up before I even said anything. I was angry at him, I tried to call him back, but he just wouldn't pick up at all.
We never had a bad bond between each other, but we refuse to see each other, and now he wants to come all the way from California to here. Why be in this mess in the first place?
Well, everything changes when I saw he had a child with him. I was about to assume the worst, but my brother promises to pay me back for all of the time he will be spending here. Of course, I accepted it because it was a fair deal.
He then explained what happened between him and our sister, your mother.
``... I already know about her doings.`` I said, feeling nervous but a small amount of rage built within me.
Never have I thought that my sister would do that to her own child, which has changed my mind about my brother's opinions. He was just trying to get Dipper out of there, and I assume the worse. I was the fault in this situation, but the deal between him and me never left my mind. Once he saves up enough money, he can move out, along with the child he brought in.
Well, that is what my mind was on until your brother gains interest in what I was doing for the shack. He started to get curious and wanted to help around the shop. Unlike other kids, he knew much more about what a child could have, and I was surprised at this. I thought that he was a copy of my brother, but that wouldn't make any sense.
I heard Grunkle Stan chuckle sadly; I did as well, feeling sorry for what has happened. Maybe you should just change for the better.
And soon after that, our bond blew up. After we were done, we would spend a lot of time with one another, and Stanford would sometimes join in. The days seem so far apart from what happened, and sometimes, I do feel guilty in what I was doing to him, but at the same time, I don't.
Then one time, when I was setting up shop, I heard Dipper collapsed onto the ground, he was coughing non-stop. I rushed over to him and placed him in the living room to help him with what he choked on. Then I notice he wasn't even choking on nothing, he just seems he was ill at the time. I called my brother over to help me with what was going on with him. And soon, we rushed him to the hospital.
I didn't know what was wrong with him, and Ford didn't know either. I guess he didn't know what happened to Dipper before he brought him here.
Once he was checked, the doctor told us he had a Respiratory Infection, more so a lesser form of bronchitis, but it could worsen. I was a bit scared and regretted the choices about him hanging in about dusty places of the shop and other areas that could affect his lungs. He also told us he was coughing up a lot of blood from his lungs.
My brother and I started to worry about the boy, wondering if there was still a chance he could make it through.
Although there was a treatment for it, we were mostly worried about the blood he was coughing up. The doctor told us that if we could clarify what was in his lungs, he won't cough up anymore. And so, we took what he gave us and kept a close eye on him.
``... I blame my mother for that.`` I said, interrupting him.
``You know you can't blame your own mother forever.`` Uncle Stan said.
``I know. It's just that she use to smoke a lot around us, and... it would make sense for this cause.`` I said, looking back up at him.
``... Oh. That may be right.`` He said, rubbing his chin. He nods afterward, ``Alright, I'll believe you, now back to the story.``
But never have I thought that an illness would remove his memories and forget where he was at the time. He panics a bit before accepting us. It was a bit strange, but I thought nothing much of it.
And then it soon hit me. Rather than a curious kid or any of the elements he was before, he forgot all about it. Which made me rage against him, I wanted to spend time and look out for him some more but never thought that he forgot all of those times.
And soon, I barely paid attention to him at all, while I got into fights with my brother because of it.
``... He forgot his memories?`` I said after he was finished. ``How could an illness like that effect... the brain?``
``I don't know, you're asking the wrong person.`` He said before standing up.
I stood up too and looked down. ``You did say you feel guilty for this.``
``I do, but... is it worth it?`` He asked, but I think he asked himself that question.
``For good bonds and people to be there for you!`` I chirped. ``Nevertheless, it is always worth it.``
He let out a chuckle at my reaction before leaving the living room. I frowned, thinking if he didn't accept it. Did it work? I hope so because I don't want this to continue. I exited the room and walked up the staircase to my shared room. I halted and turned to the triangular window with a seat next to it. I walked towards it and sat on it. Thinking powers go! I turned my body to face the window as my feet were off the ground. If this doesn't work.
Then I must come up with something else to fix our family.
- Dipper's POV -
Yesterday was duller than ever, although the bothersome that my sister was giving me did turn the tides a bit. I don't know. What do I do if I just lied to my friends like that? I want to keep it up to keep them out of it, they do not need to know about it at all. I paused in my steps. I was heading to my next class, but I heard a familiar voice behind me.
I turned my head over my shoulder to see Cole. ``Cole?`` I said.
``Hello, Mason.`` He smiled.
``I didn't expect to see you here, how are your studies with your tests?`` I asked. I feel like a bad feeling is about to happen. I don't know the kid, but... I don't think he would have been here, talking to me and missing his classes.
``They're doing good. I decided to come here and see what you were up to.`` He said, still keeping the smile.
``I was heading towards class, we're still in our school period.`` I said. He is usually nervous when talking to one of us. I don't see the tense on him at all. I turned my body to him, facing him completely.
``I know, just making sure your okay.`` He smiled.
I nodded, I was about to turn and walk away before I was slammed against the locker. ``Hey!`` I shouted, glaring at John. He was told to back away from me as I looked over at Jason. He was mad, and I knew what happened.
``It wasn't nice when you told on us. This isn't like you.`` He said, approaching me.
My back was up against the locker, looking over at Cole. I asked for help on my face, but all he did was stand there with a dull expression. I looked shocked, figuring out what is actually happening. I turned to Jason, who was grinning evilly.
What the hell Cole?!
Why would you join these bullies?
End of Chapter 21
.
No one expects the quiet kid for doing something fishy.
I wonder what will happen? I'm hoping you enjoyed this chapter so far
if you stayed with me this far.
Anyways, take care, and have a good day!
See you in the next chapter! ^^
