"Oh-oh-oh... What do we have here?" That's what Bill said when he snapped his fingers and turned the lights back on. He stared down at Dipper—whose face was red—from where he was floating. "Finally made a move, did you, Pine Tree?"
Both Wendy and Dipper froze, before quickly and awkwardly pulling their hands away from each other. Dipper's face was red as a tomato, and Wendy knew (even though she didn't want to admit it) that there was a pink tint in her cheeks as well.
"So you finally got the girl, huh Pine Tree?" Bill raised his eyebrow.
"Bill, shut it," Dipper said.
"Didn't know you stooped that low, Red."
Dipper looked super embarrassed. "Bill, I swear-"
Bill floated over to Wendy and put an arm on her shoulder. "You know, I actually thought the worst you could do was that emo anime kid, but I guess I was wrong." He mumbled. "This is a first."
"Okay!" Wendy tensed up, shoving Bill's arm off her. "You've went too far, you moronic flying tortilla chip!"
"Yeah, well I didn't go farther than you did with Nerd Boy over here," Bill pointed to Dipper behind him with one of his thumbs.
"Okay, that's it! Back up, triangle!" Dipper said. "Why don't you—"
"Bill, why do you keep chasing us and watching us? It's disturbing! You could just ask for things the easy way," Wendy suggested.
Bill said, "But then it's no fun!"
"Well, you're no fun, so..." Wendy said back. Dipper shot Wendy a warning glare. She knew she shouldn't say things like that to a demon, but he deserved it.
"Listen me loud and clear right now. I can make this more miserable than it needs to be." Bill floated right down in front of Wendy's face.
"Wendy, don't," Dipper warned her.
"Try me," Wendy told Bill.
"Wendy, no!" Dipper yelled. Bill picked him up by the collar of his shirt and held him in mid-air.
"Hey!" Wendy tried to throw her flashlight at Bill, but it just went right through his body.
Dipper struggled in Bill's hand. "Let... let me go!"
"Bill, let him go!" Wendy yelled.
"Oh, so you're saying I should keep Journal 3 for myself?" Bill began to lower Dipper to the ground slowly.
"You can't keep me forever, Bill! Just let me down already!" Dipper tried to throw a punch at Bill, who just extended his arm so he was far away until Dipper's arm was back by his side. When Dipper threw the punch, the journal also fell out of his pocket and onto the ground.
Wendy dove for the journal, but was hit back by Bill. Her head smashed against a rock. She stood up, rubbing the back of her head where she took the impact.
Bill had a hold on both the journal and Dipper. "How does it feel, Red? How does it feel to have this taken away from you?"
"Bill, put me bac—"
Dipper passed out suddenly. "I've had enough of this kid telling me what to do and what not to do. So Wendy, what do you choose?"
"You can't do this! Leave both Dipper and the journal alone!"
"Well, you see, I can't do that. I've gotta take one—I'll keep the journal, or if it's Dipper, I'll throw him into that portal right there. I mean, the obvious choice is to save your friend here," Bill motioned to Dipper. "But you know how much the journal means to him."
"That's... that isn't fair!" Wendy argued, her voice so loud it was becoming strained. She was frustrated.
"C'mon, Red. Think about it, though. How many times has Dipper taken you into situations that leave you stressed afterward? How many times has he invaded your personal life?" Bill's body became a playback screen, of all the moments where Dipper had made Wendy angry, sad, stressed, or unhappy. "Don't you ever feel just a little bit mad at him for all those things?"
Wendy swallowed hard and took a deep breath. She frowned. "He didn't... It's not..." She tried to defend Dipper, but she couldn't. She knew Bill was messing with her emotions. The bad thing was that it was working.
"You choose, Corduroy." Bill reached out a closed hand to Wendy. When she slowly held out hers, Bill dropped a lighter in it, then disappeared, along with Dipper. Journal 3 laid on the ground in front of her.
"No..." Wendy said. She clenched the lighter. Her head was throbbing. She was scratched up. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she stared at the book in front of her.
The summer had been a roller coaster so far. Sure, there were many times when Wendy wanted nothing to do with him. Yet... she forgave him for all of those. She knew Dipper had good intentions in everything he'd done. She thought about all the fun times they'd had, and that talk back at the author's bunker...
Dipper did a lot for her. They were pretty much best friends. They loved each other.
She didn't want to have to do what Bill wanted; she didn't want to have to give in, but she had no choice. Wendy was sobbing now. She knew Bill was watching, pleased by what she was going to do.
Bill, Wendy thought, I hope you know I'm not going this because of you.
Wendy said aloud, "I-I'm so-so sorry, Dipper." Shakily, Wendy raised the journal up in one hand and the lighter in the other. She clicked the lighter on and raised it to the journal, then dropped the flaming object on the ground.
Wendy couldn't stop the tears from falling from her eyes as she watched the journal incinerate.