AN: * Jumps up and down* YEEESS! THERE'S A REVIEW! I'M GONNA... I'M GONNA... *clears throat* I'm gonna stop now. Anyways, guest reply:
Williebadger618: Thanks for reading, and glad you liked it! Oh, and by the way, love your name :3 Genius!
Chapter I: Clanges
June 4, 2015
Three years later...
"Mabel, sweetie, please don't play with your food."
It was a bright morning, but Mrs. Pines' voice cut through her reverie like ice. She looked up, startled, then nodded at her mother sitting across the table. She returned to her cereal, brushing a strand of brown hair away from her eyes, which was getting pretty long. In fact, there were a few changes to Mabel Pines. She had grown taller as the years went by. She had also removed her braces. And yet, she was still that wacky and bubbly girl who wears sweaters during summer, and who flirts with boys using her own style, only a shade more mature. She was still the loudest among all her friends, and when you ever need support, or professional help on how to take someone on a date, she's always there for you.
But there are times - during breakfast, for instance - when she would be quiet, staring at a distance for ages, thinking about something... or someone.
Mr. and Mrs. Pines now exchanged looks of concern. Mr. Pines, who was seated at the end of the table, just shrugged and went behind the newspaper he was reading. Mrs. Pines pursed her lips.
" Mabel, you okay?" She asked, lathering a slice of bread with marmalade.
"Of course! "Mabel said in a falsely cheery voice. "Never better! Oh, would it be okay if I would have a sleep over with my friends tonight? We're celebrating the downfall of evil Dr. School!"
Mrs. Pines laughed. "Sure. Just, don't mess the house up, okay?" Mabel smiled slightly, before turning back to her musings, as if in a trance.
"When is he going home again?" She asked after a moment's silence, as casually as she could.
"He says he would be arriving tomorrow," Mrs Pines explained gently. " Gotta take care of things before he leaves."
"It's like he's obsessed with homework or some biz, " she said, smirking. It was so like her twin to get worried about something as boring as school.
"Well, you know Dipper. He's into.. that stuff..."
"Mabel do has a point," Mr. Pines said, folding the paper. "The boy's too hard on himself. He should be out and about, as a teenager should be."
"Yes, but we all agreed that this might happen, right?" Mrs. Pines insisted. "We all know how hectic it could get at Frontier. Anyways, he'd be here tomorrow night -" she faced Mabel "- and you can catch up with each other for as long as you want!"
"I... yeah..."
Mabel's voice faltered as she gazed at the seat next to her, which was empty. Loneliness started to overwhelm her. She put down her spoon.
"Mabel-?"
"I'm fine," she said softly. She stood up. "I think I'll be going. I'll be meeting with Katie at the mall." She grinned at her parents, though it looked more like a grimace. "Bye!"
She hurried out of the kitchen, climbed the stairs, and sped towards her room, slamming the door shut. She flumped down on her bed and sighed.
Things had never been the same ever since they went to Gravity Falls, and ever since he left for school. She felt that their relationship was slowly falling apart. Often times, he'd never talk to her. It wasn't just right; Mabel thought that something shattered wthhin her and left her forever, leaving a cold dark hole. And every summer... every summer, the time when she would get her hopes up for a reconciliation...
He would find some stupid reason stay in his room, like essays... projects...studies. . .
It's as if... every time she would try to reach out... he'd go farther away...
Was that even possible? They're twins for crying out loud! Surely, surely he missed her as terribly as she missed him?
Then she remembered what he had yelled at her three years ago:
"I hate you, Mabel! hate you, and I don't want to see you again. Is that an enough answer to your questions?! "
She lay down and gazed at the ceiling.
"You're so unfair," she muttered, brushing away the wetness at the corner of her eyes. She reached out and grabbed the frame perched on her bed side table, sniffing. It was a photo when they were twelve years old, when everything was fun and fine. It was the only latest picture she had together with him. She found herself wishing those fading smiles would come to life. "I hope you'll understand... and.. and..maybe... maybe...I'll understand you, too... wait a minute, what am I SAYING? "
She sat up straight in bed, looking determined.
"A Pines never gives up!" She yelled, getting to her feet. "This will be the summer when Dr. Mabel would fix everything! " She punched a fist in the air, before scowling in concentration. "Now, what to do..."
Library, Frontier Science Academy, Arizona
"Pines! Hello, anyone there?"
Kurt Johnson knocked on the side of his head for the umpteenth time that day, wearing a very sly grin. He's really getting into his nerves.
"What do you want?" Dipper Pines hissed, nudging Kurt on the shoulders. "Darn it, Johnson, I'm reading!"
Kurt leaned back on his chair and yawned pointedly. "To annoy you. Besides, Pines, it's summer! Go easy on yourself."
"Sssshhhh," the librarian, Madame McCormick, an old lady with her hair in a tight bun, ambled past while glaring at them. She turned to one of the numerous aisles of shelves piled with books, and was lost from view.
"Nice woman," said Kurt quietly. "Very nice. Remember the time when she threw me out just because I was eating one piece of candy?"
"You got a whole stash of them hidden in your jacket," Dipper grumbled. Kurt smirked and ran his hand through his blond hair. "Ah... well.. we're high school, that happens."
Kurt finally elapsed into silence. Taking the opportunity, Dipper began to read the book, this time absorbing the information. Nothing could ever break his concentration... Except...
"Hi, Kurt! Hi Dipper!"
Dipper groaned, then glanced sidewards; Kurt was staring at someone. Dipper looked up, and understood completely.
"Georgini," he nodded at the girl standing across the table. "Wanna join us?"
"Y-yeah..." said Kurt breathlessly. "Y-yeah... you can.. s-sit... I mean... stand... ah.."
Dipper tried his best not to burst out laughing.
Faith Georgini just chuckled and took her seat, her dark hair in a neat braid, and put down the books she was carrying on the table.
"Studying?" She asked in a crystalline voice. "Wouldn't that be a little early? It's the last day of classes."
"It's nothing," Dipper replied, ignoring Kurt's sputters. Soo.. heard you're included in the honor roll. Congratulations."
"Thanks." She raised her eyebrows. "Heard you got in, too." She paused before saying, "Impressive."
Dipper narrowed his eyes.
"Uh... any activities from the Student Council for this summer?" Kurt asked quickly, before Dipper could react.
"Yes, actually," she answered promptly. "You just have to wait till Homeroom. Morning break's almost over after all."
She got to her feet. "Oh, and by the way, I read your article about the supernatural., Pines It was very good. See you later!" She said, walking away. Kurt slumped on his chair, moaning.
"Activities?" Dipper quizzed. "Yeah, likes that's real." He stood up and gathered his things on the table. "C'mon, let's go.. oh, and yeah, you suck at flirting."
He swung his backpack onto his shoulder, straightened his polo shirt and went out of the library. Kurt followed him, red in the face. They pushed their way through the crowded hallways. "What do you see in that girl anyway? She's nothing but a pompous know-it-all."
"You only hate her because she beats you at every test," Kurt pointed out. "And in fairness, she complimented on your rant about the paranormal."
Paranormal...
It was strange how a simple word could bring an upsurge of bitter memories.
Three years had passed, and Dipper knew that there were big changes all around him. For a start, he was now slightly taller than his sister. He had abandoned the cap a long time ago, and was letting his hair to do the job of covering up that birthmark. And, all this living-on-his-own stuff had made him tougher than he was before, for he knew, that he could never trust anyone again. Sure, there's Kurt Johnson, but Dipper made sure he was less gullible, less naive, so that he wouldn't fall for anything like betrayal ever again. Many people think he's weird, and anti-social... but hey... it's better to be alone... so that no one could hurt you.
"Seriously, though," Kurt was saying, pulling Dipper out of his musings, "what were you reading inside the library? It doesn't look like homework."
"Parapsychology, " Dipper said dismissively, as though this settled the matter.
"Assuming, of course, that you are speaking English," Kurt countered mischievously. There's no shutting the boy up.
"The Supernatural, you moron." He quickened his pace, so Kurt had to jog to keep up with him.
"Oh, yes," he said sardonically. "Paranormal Investigator coming through. Whatever, see you next school year, dork!"
Kurt went the other way for PE, along with students bustling up and down the corridor. Dipper was standing still, confused. What was he-?
Ugh, how could he have forgotten? He's going home tomorrow, back to Piedmont, where... she... was.
"Move along, Pine Tree, you're blocking the way. "
Dipper jumped, startled, then looked around: the cold whisper was still ringing in his ears, and it sent goosebumps erupting all over his arms. He tried to find for the source, craning his neck here and there, but he could not determine who it was because of the crowd. This was just a corridor full of chattering students going to their classes, and he couldn't' see anyone that near to him who could lean in that close. But he was sure that he heard something ... or someone... and the voice was vaguely familiar, bringing up horryfying memories and recollections. It was creepy
Then, he remembered...
The only being who had ever called him Pine Tree was...
A shiver ran down his spine. He shook his head.
"Get a grip, " he scolded himself. "That's past, and it's not happening again. He can't do anything about it."
But still, as he sat down on his armchair, and their Biology teacher, Mr. Smithwick, started the lecture, he can't shake the image of a triangular yellow dream demon with one eye off his head, screeching the words with a maniacal cackle:
"Everything's going to change..."
AN: because... puberty, man... puberty...
