In time, Caesar rose from the table to pull the twins away, explaining to them that it wouldn't be a good idea to be seen watching when a moderating teacher arrived. He let go of the pair's wrists when they arrived at what was, for all intents and purposes, the nexus of the school's hallways. He left in what dipper thought was a random direction while Mabel examined a map, pointing proudly down one of the four halls.
Aside from Mabel practically (scratch that, WAS) vibrating in excitement, 5th hour was uneventful. Dipper's sister was in too high of a state to take notes, what boring information on early Mesopotamian Dipper figured she could copy off of him later that night. Her smile was genuine now.
"You weren't serious, were you?" Dipper whispered to Caesar in his next hour, the apathetic youth looking at him with equal question from his leaning chair.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Caesar whispered back, looking around for any sets of eyes that happened to be watching them and happily finding none. "I've had to take things back as well."
"Really?" Dipper said. Maybe it was imagination that made him hear Mabel say 'Skepticles!'
"Believe me. I need something as much as you do." He took a Polaroid out of the bag beside him and handed it to Dipper. "What once belonged to me was taken yesterday after it fell from an open pocket in my bag." he seemed embarrassed at his latest statement.
"You left a pocket open?" Dipper asked, a smug look scrawled across his face. "Now how did that happen-"
"You two." The veteran in his desk said, pointing an emaciated finger at them. "Shut up and sit correctly in your seats." something of an annoyed look spread on Caesars face as the chair squeaked beneath him.
"Call me tonight for more." He whispered to Dipper while the young, spry assistant resumed.
The rest of the day flew by.
"Sooo...what are your thoughts on Caesar?" Dipper asked. His sister was spinning behind him with glazed eyes, following closely to her brother on the walk home.
"That man is awesome!" Mabel replied. Good god her braces were vibrating.
"Is that just because he said he could break us in?" Dipper asked. He was walking backwards now, watching Mabel's upward stretched arms dance for the sky.
"Well that's one reason." Mabel said. Her spin slowed to a normal walk, her glinting eyes visible without rotation. The seeds of concern found their place in dippers mind.
"Yeah. Okay." Dipper said, spinning himself around with half closed eyes. "How much says no ones home?"
"First shower." Mabel said. She was beside Dipper now, walking casually but gripping her shoulder straps.
"You're on." Dipper said. Lo and behold,there stood their house and the moment of truth it unwillingly carried.
Tension spilled into the air with Dipper's sweaty brow, hand reaching for the doorknob. Moment a' truth, boy he thought to himself. Behind him, Mabel bit her lip. A silent prayer was said to Tom Cruise.
The door flew open to reveal the twins' mother, hastily walking for wherever she worked.
"Mabel, make sure your brothers in bed at a reasonable hour." Their mother said to the twins without turning her head, the twins now lying in a small shrub after being swept aside by the door.
"Ay ay, cap'n!" Mabel replied, saluting the businesswoman from her place atop Dipper.
"Does that count?" Dipper questioned, eyes dancing for something to do. "Because she isn't technically in the house when we-"
"Dipper, what do you think?" Mabel asked, resting her head on her hand and elbow on Dipper's stomach. Dipper could smell the confidence leaking off of her.
"I think I'm takin' a cold shower in the morning." He said, shuffling upwards and sending Mabel sliding. "And I also think that 'reasonable hour' is an ill defined term." the pair looked at one another, unanimous on an unspoken decision.
"I call first player!" Mabel called out, running inside for the TV.
"I call second!" Dipper called out, running after his sister.
It was an old NES the pair had found in the attic, along with disks for Contra, Super Mario Bros., and a couple of other miscellaneous titles. It was a wonder the thing still worked, but a wonder no one wanted to question.
I just spent the entirety of my study hall revising and re-uploading documents of my story because major edits needed to happen. I didn't want spelling mistakes to take away from my writing because I'd seen it happen before.
If I don't upload anything in the next couple of days, it's because I'm having too much fun cooping with this guy I met online in dark souls. 3 hours to connect and another 3 hours to get through the Funhouse. I loved every second of it.