A/N: this chapter is NOT related to the previous one. It is an entirely separate story, just connected to the first due to the fact it came from the same idea. It's basically the previous chapter, just with a role reversal.

With that cleared up, enjoy!

Loser.

Freak.

Dipper shut his eyes, trying to block out all the words ringing in his ears.

Loner.

Misfit.

The tiny closet in the back of the school was small and dark, but that didn't help quiet his thoughts.

Weird.

Outcast.

Finally, he couldn't take it, and buried his face in his knees, breaking down. That only seemed to make the words louder.

Look at him! He's gonna cry!

What'sa matter? Can't handle the truth?

Maybe one day you'll realize how pathetic you are...

Laughter.

He'd ran.

Yeah, just run away.

Too bad you can't run away from yourself, huh?

You can hide from us, but you can't hide from reality!

Dipper had run to the one good place to hide in this school. A little broom closet not many of the students even realized was there. And he was not coming out until the school day was over.

Weak. You've always been weak.

The voices of his peers were so loud in his ears that he didn't hear his name being called up and down the hallway outside. He didn't even hear the knocking on the closet door until it turned into an urgent pounding, snapping him back to the present.

"Dipper? You in there?"

He shrunk back into the farthest corner he could, still overcome with too much emotion to realize he recognized the voice.

"Dipper! It's Mabel! Please... talk to me!"

Mabel? Mabel! The seventh grader perked up and said in a strained voice, "M-Mabel?"

He heard Mabel give a relieved sigh and whisper "Oh thank goodness" before raising her voice again. "Please come out, Dip."

Suddenly, all the fear and anxiety returned, paralyzing him. He couldn't go out there. He couldn't have all of... all of them start ridiculing him again. "I- I can't."

"Well... then can I come in?"

Dipper thought for a moment. It was his sister. She loved him, and never said anything bad about him. Besides... he could probably use the comfort. "Okay."

Mabel opened the door and gently sat beside Dipper. The two didn't say anything for a long time, until, finally, Mabel broke the silence.

"I'm sorry," she said. Dipper didn't respond. "Those guys are total butt-faces," she added, hoping to make him laugh, but he still just stared at his feet. Mabel quieted again, deciding talking wasn't gonna do much right now. Maybe he just needed her presence.

It was Dipper who broke the silence next. "They're right about me," he whispered.

"Wait, what? Dipper, you know that's not t-"

"But it is!" He cut her off. "Everything. I'm just an outcast, a freakish misfit with no friends, and no matter how hard I try, it seems like I just can't fit in. I know what they all think of me. Just that kid who sits alone in the corner, reading some stupid book, obsessing over some stupid made up creature, thinking about some stupid fantasy, freaking out over some stupid insecurity, wearing some stupid hat because he's trying to hide something everyone already knows about because it's his nickname for Pete's sake, wishing that someone, anyone, would care enough to say, just once, 'Wanna come play with us?' or even just 'What's up, Dipper?', but knowing it's never gonna happen because he's already pushed everyone away, and HE JUST... FEELS... HOPELESS SOMETIMES!" Dipper yelled, the final statement echoing in their ears, trying to calm his breathing.

Mabel didn't know what to do. She'd seen her brother hurt before, but never like this. Finally she managed to choke out, "Dipper... you don't really believe that do you?"

He turned away from her as best he could in the tiny space. "I don't know... but it's been getting harder not to lately."

Mabel felt like something inside her shattered. She reached out to put her hand on his shoulder, and while he tensed up at the touch, he didn't shake her away. "Well... nothing could be further from the truth."

"How?" Dipper looked back at her, silent tears flowing down his cheeks.

"Well, for starters, nothing about your interests is stupid. Even if others don't believe in it, you do, and everything you believe in, obviously I do too," Mabel smiled. "And you don't drive people away. If anything, they're just idiots that don't have the sense to be friends with someone as awesome as you! You not a freak, Dip. You are and always have been beautiful, inside and out." Mabel sniffed. "And as for not having a friend... your're right, because you have a best friend. You're more than just my brother, Dipper," she said, pulling him into a hug. "You're the most amazing person and companion I could've ever asked for, and I'm proud to be your twin."

Dipper returned her embrace. "I love you so much, Mabel. Thank you... for everything."

"Always." She grinned at him. "You are not hopeless, bro-bro. Anytime you think that, just remember everything that makes you wonderful. You're sweet, kind, smart, and most importantly, loved. Not just by me, either. Mom and Dad love you so much, and are so proud of everything you do. And we just want you to love yourself as much as we do."

Dipper opened his eyes. He hadn't thought of that. Did he really not love himself? Sometimes, it was hard to, especially on days like today. But Mabel was right. He just needed those who loved him to remind him that.

After minutes in their warm embrace, Dipper finally took the first deep breath since the lunch period that started this whole ordeal. He let go, gratefully smiling at his sister.

Mabel returned the grin, happy that he was finally happy. "Shall we get out of this closet now?"

Dipper closed his eyes, pondering all the possible scenarios, before he said, "Yeah. I'm ready." No more hiding. Dipper Pines was going to go out there and be himself, without fear of what others might say... well, maybe with a little fear; but never enough to put him back in the place he'd been.

"Good, let's do it." Mabel opened the door, and the two of them, hand in hand, walked out, ready to face whatever came next.