The next day started pretty slow. Mabel was stationed at the register, while Soos and Dipper fixed up the shack. Stan was outside instructing them on how NOT to fix the roof's tiles. The indoor brunette sighed happily, her fingers lightly tracing over carvings on the edge of the desk. She figured Wendy had been the one to leave them from when she was still working the register. There was a little pine tree, a question mark, a heart, a llama, something that looked sort of like a star, and a few other tiny images carved into the desk. They all seemed somewhat familiar, but Mabel Pines didn't have time to think too deeply about them, before a bus full of tourists pulled up into the driveway.
As the hoard of people followed Mr. Mystery through the building, the young woman straightened herself up. 'Who knows? I might just meet the man of my dreams this summer.' Mabel thought to herself, trying to quietly hold in her excitement at the notion of a real summer romance. Her right hand went back to the edge of the desk to carelessly trace over the symbols once more, but to her surprise, they were… not exactly gone, but the carvings were completely different. After a moment of confusion, Mabel shrugged and let it go.
Slightly odd things started to happen for the next week or so. They weren't completely distracting, at least, not at first. The carvings on the desk would change every now and then, there was a soft voice calling Mabel's name in the mornings and evenings, and the light bulb would dim nearly every time she took a shower, only to start working again, when she was out. After nearly two weeks of these little interruptions, Mabel finally brought it up to Dipper. Her brother tried to assure her that it wasn't serious and he lent her Journal #3 as a way to satisfy her curiosity.
Mabel skimmed through the pages, more entertained by the illustrations. She cringed slightly at the pages dedicated to the gnomes. Just as she was about to give up, something caught her eye. There was what looked like a wheel of some sort. It contained the same images that had appeared on the desk in the gift shop from time to time. Then she realized whom the pages were dedicated to. "Bill Cipher?" Mabel pondered aloud.
The world's color began to drain, the lights dimmed, and life itself seemed to pause entirely. The brunette was unnerved, sitting in the best defensive position she could think of. She knew he was there, why else would everything feel so off? A sensation of familiarity washed over Mabel at the realization that, she had felt this way when the light in the bathroom dimmed during her showers. 'I think I'm gonna be sick.' Mabel thought to herself, trying not to imagine the worst.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Shooting Star herself! Did you miss me?" The familiar demonic triangle asked, sounding smug as ever. "Admit it! You missed me~!" Bill hadn't changed a bit since the day the twins had first met him, but this time, Mabel was on her own. "Why would I miss a crazed geometric entity like you?" She questioned. "I'd be offended, if it weren't for the fact that you've expanded your vocabulary." The demon appeared next to the young lady, who had now retreated to Sweater Town. 'He can't hurt me. Dipper will come get me.' She thought in a slight panic, not realizing the creature was so close. Suddenly, Mabel's entire body stiffened as a small black hand gently rubbed her back. "You know he can't find you in here, right?" The demon asked, practically mocking her previous thoughts.
"Besides, I didn't come here to hurt you or anything like that." Something about his tone made the girl peak over the rim of her sweater. "Why were you making all of that cryptic stuff happen then?" asked a muffled Mabel. "I was bored and you are amusing to me, Star." If the demon had a visible mouth, a smirk would be ever present as he smoothly talked the human into a false sense of security. "So you wanted someone to talk to? Why not Dipper?" Mabel asked skeptically. "He's one for intelligent conversation." She added in one of the cheesiest posh accents to ever exist. "Star, no offense, but Pine Tree is more of a stick in the mud." At that, the woman grinned. "He can be a bit of a stiff, but his bark is worse than his bite." Bill was caught off guard and started to laugh. "He was a bit of a sapling when he was younger but…" "He matures as he gets molder!" Mabel finished for him, having fully returned from Sweater Town with a suitcase full of smiles.
After the two had joked around and chatted for a while, the isosceles monster looked down to where a watch should've been. "Well, it's been a blast, but it looks like your break is just about over." He sounded rather disappointed, but he made a good point. "It's been fun, Shooting Star! See ya later!" Before Mabel could even respond, she woke with a start from her bed. 'That was pretty fun!' the woman thought with a warm feeling inside. She felt like she had just met a great new friend. "Hey Mabel, Grunkle Stan says your break is over." Dipper stated, trudging into the room. "What happened to you?" Mabel asked with a hint of amusement in her voice. "Let's just say you might want to watch out for a trail of mud on the stairs…" With little to no warning, Mabel burst out into laughter. "What's so funny?" Her brother questioned, sounding both confused and annoyed. "Oh just an inside joke~!" Mabel replied as she headed out the door.