Chapter 3: The Calm Before The Storm
Author's Notes: Once again, many people viewed this story along with Chapter 2, which truly gives my friend and I hopes for the future when it comes to this story! Thank you all! I kind of feel as if we rushed this chapter and that it doesn't really matter, but if you read it anyways and appreciate our lazy work, thank you! This chapter is kind of filler and just bonding and plans for the next chapter, and as said by the chapter name, something is coming….. Other than that, enjoy!
(Dipper's POV)
Quickly, I set my backpack down, right next to my desk as we are expected to and I sit down as fast as I can, still trying to catch my breath. I was almost late for my third class due to our bus arriving to the campus surprisingly later than when school had begun, and so I had to run to the next class once we were dropped off. You'd imagine that if the school gets a message about one of the buses running late, specifically our bus and they DID get a message in my situation, that they would let those students on the late bus have a pass on arriving for class later than expected, but NOPE, apparently this school doesn't apply to that? That's one flaw of this high-school's system or really the county's system in general. So Mabel and I had to skip two class periods due to such a late bus. Hopefully they don't shove work in our faces once we both attend our first two classes normally after this "mishap".
I still have no possible idea of why it was running late, but I just concluded that the driver was slacking off and not getting to doing his job on time. This is Gravity Falls after all and it is very well known for having screw ups. Not that everyone is a failure of some sort; there are just a lot of people with more flaws than positive ideals to themselves.
If for some reason you've already heard of my family and I, due to saving the world from Weirdmageddon back 4 years ago, then you'd know that my family and a bunch of the friends I have are successors.
I'm very intelligent and I give the most possible answer to occur, in which I am very interested in mysteries, which is the same for one of my family members, Stanford Pines. After those 4 years, my other great uncle, Stanley Pines, Ford's twin, adventured with him across the ocean to study different anomalies in which it gave him fame, aside from being the retired owner of the Mystery Shack. One of my friends who used to work at the Mystery Shack, let's just call him by what we usually call him, Soos, ended up becoming the new manager after Stanley retired, and he works with his girlfriend Melody and runs the Shack now, giving them fame.
As for my old love interest…, Wendy, she got into a lumberjack business and as previously stated, she gained fame for that with her 3 brothers and father.
Mabel, she has multiple talents. I won't list them all but, she can definitely bring people together, if that's even a talent of some sort, and she's much of a problem solver like me as well. She can easily make sweaters, and she has an amazing eye for design. To top it all off, more than mentioned and all mentioned just seconds ago helped defeat our threat back during a dream demon's reign. I can't even begin to take in how our futures formed into this all the way from the aftermath of some insane apocalypse.
I do believe that everyone else in this town has potential, it's just they seem to prefer flaw over fame. And there's nothing wrong with that. Having no flaws wouldn't make you human.
But it isn't the best thing in the multi-verse to embrace your fuck ups, excuse my language. I just have a strong belief that you can always let your negatives affect yourself AND others too much. Like the bus incident, even though it WAS just a small thing that I was definitely over exaggerating here in my thoughts. Oh, and trust me, there are certainly more flaws about this place, specifically the school. The food isn't that bad, but what they do with, it is pretty disgusting. They'll legitimately take the leftovers from about a week ago and they'll serve it again. I thought that my previous school food was weird but THIS, just wow. I don't even really eat around the lunch area of time in the day anymore, especially ever since our first summer visit, so I'm used to it. I think I'll just stick with hanging out with Mabel while she eats during our lunch time.
I'm immediately dragged away from my self-discourse as I hear roll-call going on in my science class, as expected, the one I am in right now. Right as calls out my name, I say "Here" as we are expected to. Thank god I fell out of thought right before she called my name. I definitely didn't need my name to be called about thirty times and THEN I say "Here" as a casual response. If you couldn't tell, I'm trying to keep a decent reputation. I don't need to be seen as an idiot on day 2.
then tells us to reach under our desk and pull out the papers we were doing yesterday, along with our study book, and so all of us did. To be honest, this is probably my favorite class because of how everyone does as told and they never seem to have a single spark of an idea to disobey commands. Talk about loyalty.
I sigh as I start reading the page that we were told to return to in our study book. As said, I like this class because it's calm but sometimes I dislike it because it's a bit too independent. There never seems to be any interaction between us, the students. I DO like being independent, but I DID say that it was too alone based. I'd imagine that we'd have some form of group assignments, but I went onto my progress book and looked at all the future assignments and EVERY one of them are set under "Single", meaning that there aren't any partner assignments. It's simply just…single student work.
When I saw that, I was certainly disappointed, and mainly why is because, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it, but I have Mabel in my third class, the one I'm in now and due to every assignment being a "by yourself" assignment, I won't be able to work with her. Yet again, I can still talk to her during the beginning of class and near the end as well.
As our teacher starts talking, I'm still ranting about my schedule and primarily this class within my head, in which my thoughts cloud out the noise coming from my teacher. I don't really mind, as she always recaps what we've learned on the school website on the classroom blogs, so I can basically have my third class lesson back at the Shack. I look out the perfectly clean window as she talks, still thinking and trying to blur out her talking. As I stare out the window, I notice something move outside. My desk is near the window, so I can see the majority of whatever is moving out there. I squint my eyelids to focus more on the movements. I can't exactly tell what is over near that area of the forest, but something is telling me to look away. Not something with a voice, but just an urge. A nerve. Like it's a hazard to know what happens next.
I can't help but fall into the mysterious urge and I look away. I'm just being paranoid again. This town may have done things to me, but I know it shouldn't ruin my image entirely upon this place. Sure, it has negatives, but it also has positives that over ride said negatives, especially since that "Oddpocalypse" ended, or "Weirdmageddon". Whatever you want to name it.
Speaking of Weirdmageddon, my mind ends up trailing down a path of thinking about Bill. I wonder what would have happened if we gave him a second chance…as if it was possible.
What if he turned over a new leaf…? He'd never use the chance to be good.
I highly doubt it, and if you had the experiences I had with him, you'd agree that he would have a really low chance of joining our side. The entirety of this town would agree. I just wish he wouldn't take advantage of everything that is given to him. Just imagine the good he could have done if he put other's needs in front of his own and helped them with true sincerity. With no tricks to go with his deals.
Those deals of his are the main problem. He just…never helps someone genuinely. But would he still do the same tricks if he didn't have plans of taking over a dimension, like he said? I think he would still make deals like that just to mess with people and rise above everyone. Jeez, it sounds like I'm giving constructive criticism on his personality.
As I am rambling in my mind, something comes to me. Something I've disregarded for so long.
The Axolotl.
The memory of the Axolotl starts flooding my thoughts. I now remember what it said.
"Sixty degrees that come in threes.
Watches from within birch trees.
Saw his own dimension burn.
Misses home and can't return.
Says he's happy. He's a liar.
Blame the arson for the fire.
If he wants to shrik the blame.
He'll have to invoke my name.
One way to absolve his crime.
A different form. A different time."
Misses home and can't return…
I never really took time to go back to what the Axolotl said. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Mabel and I encountered some all powerful creature called "The Axolotl" and it gave us one wish. Mabel wasted it on knowing what creature it is, expressing her often stupidity and asked if it was a 'Salamander', but I asked if it knew anything about Bill. And the poem is what it responded with. I just didn't know what it meant back when I was told, and I threw it away along with all the other unknown cryptic messages I've come across. Now that I've thought about it…Bill is broken.
He misses home.
He can't return.
He burnt down his own dimension…
But why?
WHY?!
Why would he destroy it? What could possibly drive him off the edge? He seems like he was always happy, but, NOPE, apparently NOT. He was different back before, wasn't he?... Something screwed him up. Yes. Definitely. Absolutely. Damnit Mabel, you're getting to me now, I curse to myself.
But what? What did it? And….
I'm immediately in shock as I come up with the most likely conclusion. A different form. A different time.
He's going to return…
No! NO! I can't do this again! Please, something or someone, tell me that The Axolotl can be wrong! I can't deal with him again! I can't have him torturing everyone for a second time! One time was enough! I mentally sigh. I need to calm myself down. I can't let these past things ruin me even after 4 years. 4 years and he hasn't returned in any form…
But, if he does return…
My thoughts are screaming at each other, arguing, tearing each other down, denying at each other's assumptions, only wanting an answer that benefits me and that ensures my protection. But…he CAN come back. He WILL come back. He shouldn't have been so easily defeated…
I'm now mentally scolding myself for thinking we were always safe.
When he does return…
Dipper.
I'll be too weak.
DIPPER.
BILL.
"Mason "Dipper" Pines, answer me!" I hear a woman yell. I feel my eyes widen and my pupils shrink and shake at my name, or accurately, my real name, nickname, and last name strictly called by a dry sounding voice. I whip my head up and forward away from the window to see looking at me with her arms crossed, with probably the most angered expression I've ever laid my eyes upon, which scared the hell out of me when I first saw it, along with every student looking at me with confusion. Hey, at least they aren't laughing or at the very least whispering about me.
"Y-yes, mam?" I ask, trying to ask her formally. "Are you going to pay attention, now?" she squawks with her raspy voice. I rapidly blink, trying to catch back up to reality. "I-I, yes, I'm sorry, I just-" I'm cut off.
"You what?" she says, still giving me a death stare. Over the couple of seconds, students go back to reading. "I'm sorry, I was just daydreaming"
"Well, try and keep your imagination stable, okay? You're at work right now" she says, softening her voice. At least she can let things go. then lays her arms at her sides and walks back to her rectangular desk and sits back down, continuing to grade our small recap assignments and work from yesterday.
I sigh in relief and try and push away every thought about what happened. Gosh, did she really have to attract the attention of every student in this god damn room? Talk about being inconsiderate and rude.. Good job Dipper, you almost got yourself killed. Well, not actually. I'm just over exaggerating and complaining at this point.
Like I always do.
Just focus.
(between two class periods)
I feel as if I'd have a lot of more support if I put others down like most school stereotypes do. Then again, I despise the idea of being such an attention whore. Putting others down for your benefit is just, well, WRONG! It's just so obvious that it isn't right to put yourself on a fucking pedal stool to be more IMPORTANT, and it's unbelievable how so many people never get the idea that it's for the better to dispose of the thought to put yourself in front.
Gosh, I have a rambling problem. I legit almost got like, what, a detention or some bullcrap? Or at least that's what it seemed to be, for the aftermath of what happened back there. At least I'm not getting into any real problems. Another goal for this school year besides reputation is not causing or being involved in a catastrophe.
I am once again trying to squirm myself through the crowded hallways, as I had the same experience yesterday, full of diverse people. I understand that this school has many students but you'd imagine that they'd make in between times for getting to your next period different for every grade, mainly so that the halls aren't so crowded like the situation I am currently in, right? But as obviously concluded, they don't give a shit. I tighten my grip on my backpack straps as almost every student that steps by me pushes me aside, meaningfully. I start getting annoyed but their actions.
I don't want to get into some drama but these kids are REALLY punching the heck out of my buttons. To think that hormones can cause such a bitchy personality. I feel someone grab onto my shoulder right after I'm shoved multiple times, and due to my current mood, it felt like a jerky grab, trying to get my attention to annoy me even more. I ball up my fists in frustration and I snap my head to look at the person and I jerk my arm away, making their hand slide off of my shoulder, and I yell, "WHAT?!" but to automatically change my mood to concern from anger as I see who had grabbed my shoulder. The two of us exchanged glances for a moment that seemed to take longer than an actual 2 to 3 seconds, in which it had finally hit me in the head like a baseball bat that I screwed up.
"P-Pacifica!? Pacifica, I'm so sorry, I ju-", I hesitate, stuttering for the majority of the words I spew out. I am quickly interrupted by the blond.
"Dipper, it's fine. I know that these students are highly annoying" she says, keeping a calm tone and giving off her bright smile. "I literally just saw you get pushed like, what, 7 times in a row?" Thank goodness it was her. Both because it wasn't someone who wanted to have a quarrel with me and that she is very calm and knows how I'd react in certain situations. And I'm thankful for her being able to conclude the way I act and relate. "Thanks Pacifica...I-I'm sorry that I yelled. Let's just change the topic so I don't stay so disoriented" I huff out, glaring down at the ground in embarrassment.
"It's fine. Your actions were fully justified" I hear her object, as I look back up at her. At least someone thinks that my reactions are well fit for the current situations I'm imputed into. I think of what to say, not wanting the conversation to turn awkward, and I immediately ask her, "Are you doing anything over the weekend?" As claimed multiple times before, it was Friday already in which we had a short first week of school, so we have our two days off right in front of us. We start walking down the hallway, together, as we both have already remembered that our 4th classes are close to each other, as in where their rooms are, so we have the perfect option to walk as a pair. Yet again, that doesn't change how everyone bumps into you purposely to motion how 'They're superior'.
"I was actually going to ask the same thing" she laughs. "But, no, I'm not, and by what you've just said I'm guessing it's the same scenario for you?" she asks as well.
"Y-yeah, it certainly is. I was thinking that maybe you wanted to hang out with Mabel and I over at the Shack, maybe go out to the town and have fun, something like that?" I confidently question, showing off an abnormal amount of courage from myself, like I'm all the sudden comfortable. Hopefully it doesn't seem like denial and pushing away out previous incident. She then smiles again and replies. "That sounds great! I'd think that Mabel can easily think of something for the 3 of us to do, right?" she questions me as well as her response to my previous asking. I'm automatically reminded about the two girls we had met yesterday. Maybe I should invite them?
"Y-yeah, um, I'm sure she can. And, our group might be more than 3 people" I quickly state, wanting her approval and answer as quickly as possible, not wishing to have the anxiety of not knowing her answer to stick to my chest for the entirety of my next class subject. That IS if she doesn't tell me in time. "Sounds like a plan."
"Huh?" I blurt out, confused. I didn't think she'd be fine with that. "If it's about 8 people, then I'm perfectly fine with it" she claims. So, me, Mabel, Pacifica, and possibly Iris and Erin. Maybe even Candy and Grenda, that perfectly adds up to 7, just one under her comfort limit! Perhaps I can get them all together..?
"Oh! Sounds good!" I laugh out. "But remember, the number might change as I haven't asked the expected guests yet" I conclude my statement, as we both arrive to the hallway in which our 4th class is present. She quickly nods and walks into her classroom, in which I hear her greeted by many people. Looks like she still has quite the following.
I do the same, and sigh in relief. That went well. And no sarcasm intended.
(final period)
I swipe up my backpack and immediately run out of the classroom, speeding through the halls, taking the place as the asshole, as I keep on bumping into multiple people, annoying them like a lot of them did earlier, knowingly and with intention. I didn't meaningly do it, trust me, I had no goal at all, but hey, it happened, and I got my "revenge."
Why I was running to my destination instead of walking? Well, yes, the weekend was near! Only one class period left and that's only the simplest class imaginable. Language Arts. My other classes after my talk with Pacifica and other people who may or may not join us for the outing tomorrow, went pretty smoothly. On an unrelated topic though, I still haven't quite grasped the concept of still having classes around the subject of Reading and English and as said, language arts though, in which I am PRETTY sure that you wouldn't have reached high school if you didn't know how to write things close to perfection or at the very least, of an average range with not errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, even though there is a bit of an exception for spelling. Words are all different.
Off of the topic of 'language arts', I had previously asked Erin if she was up for hanging out with us, perhaps for a night out on the town or just chilling, and she happily agreed. I also asked Iris but, something was off with her mood. Her emotions were stall and acted as if she wanted things to be over with, as quickly as possible, gifting her enough time to herself. Like she had somewhere to be, more important then her advanced classes. Yesterday, she mentioned how they recap what they learned the previous year on the first day for advanced students, but the first day has passed and she now REALLY needs to focus. Heck, she even seemed stress yesterday night while watching Erin's rented movie. I don't even think that she was listening or at all, focusing on the plot of it. Maybe her classes are stressing her out?
Seems like something you would do when stressed. Not being able to focus on things is a 'symptom' of stress or however you wish to word it. Isn't it a bit harsh to use 'symptom' as to express an action of hers out of, simple stress or anxiety of perhaps the beginning of actually going through school? It makes it seem like a serious thing. I mean, she isn't suicidal or anything. Most definitely not.
It IS highly possible that she's just struggling with her advanced classes and that's why she appears to be thinking so hard. She did agree to come with us tomorrow though, but, she seems too pressured when answering. I even stated that I didn't want to force her into going with us, yet she hesitated every time I would object my own request.
I guess I'll ask her….At the end of the school day, that is. Hopefully she is okay, as she states.
The hall that I was sprinting through, in which I slowed down my running as I became tired, began to clear up until it was entirely empty. I was currently the only one there, now walking rather than running as of previously. I can finally walk to my class without getting shoved around. I take in a deep breath to get my breathing on a normal rate, but I'm immediately hit with a whiff of smoke, interrupting my attempt to get some fresh air. I start coughing and covering my mouth. Why the hell do I smell smoke!?
It feels as if it goes on for about even a minute, but the majority of the scent goes away right when I feel as if I can't take in tiny breaths anymore. I uncover my mouth and nose to notice some remnants from the previous blast of smoke. I swear, if someone is smoking in here, I'm just-
I stop myself from finishing my thoughts, as I notice where it is coming from. Seeping through the opened cracks of the door. Hey at least it isn't from inside. But then again, you shouldn't be smoking at all! That IS if someone is smoking. I walk to the double door next to a sealed window in which I had smelled the smoky scent. I take one small breath, thankfully not invested with smoke. I breathe out my fairly large intake of air and I burst through the door. "OKAY, WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HE-"I stop my own sentence once again, as my eyes widen, once my pupils wonder over to the figure. I then fully turn to see who was in my line of sight.
"Heh, sup dude" I hear the voice chuckle with its identical tone, which expresses being chill with every word . I let go off my firmly balled up fists in shock, and as well as relief of who it was.
"Wendy?" I ask, surprisingly in a casual manner, as much as I wished it came out as a surprise. I don't want her to get the wrong message and think that I was disappointed or not at all enthusiastic about seeing her again. I'm sure that I am looking way out of context.
"Yeah?" she asks rationally, assuring that it was her. She stands up from her previous position of kneeling down next to a pipe that trails along the side of the window. What was she doing? I want to ask her that, but I'm too excited about seeing her again to really get onto that topic and stick with it. It would just be blocked out with my excitement in which I probably wouldn't go back to this situation I've 'caught' her in, if I were to as mentioned let my happiness get the best of me and make me blurt out statements of joy. She doesn't seem to have changed a bit in appearance, but her fashion sense has gone from her green flannel to a red flannel, but that's not a big change to really put my attention to.
"Wh-why are you here!?" I ask, hearing my voice crack a bit. Probably out of my happiness, as I am pretty sure that my voice cracking every now and then has stopped, mainly because I am metaphorically crawling my way out of puberty hell. Mabel once told me that she talked with Wendy, and she told her that when you grow up, that your body goes against you, and I can agree to the fullest extent. She then continues, pulling me out of my dreaming state.
"Well, as of being around the school, I'm here because I'm attending here" she says, with her voice, expressing how sly she is with every word that pops out from her lips.
"Wait, but.." the realization comes to me. Isn't she 19 right now? God, I should have remembered the age calculations! She shouldn't be attending this place, yet….she just said that she is going to this high school. I'd think that by now, she would have gone by her dreams and would've started living in Portland because she would have graduated, like she's mentioned multiple times to me over the course of our previous visits. Then, wouldn't the same apply to her friends I saw here yesterday?
"Aren't you 19?" I ask exactly as of my previous thoughts. She right after my claim, nods her head and then speaks out her response, even though she already answered my question. "You're wondering why I'm 19 in 12th grade, huh?" she asks me, practically reading my mind, along with a cocky and eager smirk, perhaps the eager part because of her wanting to tell me something of why this was the case and the cocky part of it just being her personality. I nod my head as well the same way she did before to answer my question.
"Well, let's just say that I got held back" she casually states, like it's not a big deal, and, obviously, at least in my eyes, that IS a big deal! "H-held back!?' I ask in panic. It may be her life and her decisions, but I don't want her getting bad grades and being held in a grade because of something! Or, maybe even some things. Multiple. I ought to ask why. Before I can ask, she answers my exact wonder.
She gestures during her talking. "Tambry, Robbie, Nate, Lee, and Thompson, the ones you all know, along with me as you should've concluded" she states, poking out a finger for every person mentioned. "Ended up getting held back. I was held back into 12th grade, meaning that I was supposed to be 1 year out of school by that time and by now, but despite all of my friends mentioned being older than me, they all got put BACK into 12th grade, going to this high school to "get the same punishment" as me, at least that's what they said, despite their ages and when they graduated. And, I mean, we DID commit our crime together, so, it's kind of reasonable? But confusing."
Yesh, sounds pretty complicated to me. Imagine getting out of school, spending a fair amount of time as an adult and then BOOM, back into your last year. Pretty mind twisting just to comprehend the whole thing at first glance. "So, then, that means you'll be going to this high school, along with Mabel and I, for the rest of this year?" I ask, trying to hide my excitement. In general, it should and probably does sound awful to be happy about many of your friends being held back in basically they're final place before getting to the real world because they'll be with you for another school year.
Sounds kind of cruel to be happy about and accept your friends going through the suffering of school again just so you're with them. Then again, they already know all this stuff so they'll pass 12th grade without a sweat, meaning they won't be stressed all the time as I thought they would. Another questions dawn on me. What crime did they commit?
"What did you and your friends do?" I ask, stealing a glance at what Wendy seemed to be setting up near the pipes. Don't tell me she's committing more crimes! "Oh, we ended up exploding a car in a parking lot" she once again casually states, as if it doesn't matter in the ling run.
"What do you mean 'ended up'!?"
"I know, I know, dude. We did it on our own with all of our common sense and selves intact. It wasn't under the influence" she objects.
"Promise me, you won't do it again." I boldly state, sounding like a parent towards the red-head. She rolls her eyes. "Yes mom" she sarcastically states, chuckling right after and picking up her backpack from the ground, in which I just noticed she had it with her. I laugh with her as well, hiding my blushes of embarrassment for seeming so concerned and acting like, as stated, a parent to her. At least things aren't awkward between us anymore. I glance down at the pipes once more that she seemed to be tampering with again, and I ask her "What are you doing with the pipes?"
"Oh, heh, it's a surprise."
"A bad surprise?"
"Nope."
"Surprise for who and why?"
"For you and Mabel, and because you've returned" she concludes.
Right after our quick talk, I comprehend what she stated. She's planning something huh…? I still don't understand why it involves smoke or… burning open the pipes, as I immediately take notice of. "And no, I won't give you hints to study and have a full on investigation, you dork" she pats me on the head and puts her hat back on. I smile back at her. "Heh, I wasn't going to even ask but, hey, thanks for telling me" I state.
We take a moment to look at each other and mentally thank the world for making us meet again. I snap out of my dreamy state as I hear a loud, ringing bell. CRAP, I'M- "LATE!' I immediately blurt out, finishing my thought as in real verbal words, spoken from my throat. I quickly run through the door, back into the school and I shout. "WENDY, MEET ME AT THE SHACK TONIGHT!" I don't think she fully heard me, as my voice probably faded away but I heard her yell back with an agreement. I dash into my classroom to see no one there.
Just an open door.
Lights off.
No one present.
AW SHIT, WE'RE IN THE COMPUTER LAB TODAY!
I continue cursing to myself, mainly because of my stupidity as I then run up the stairs towards where my class was present. No other thoughts now! No Wendy, no tomorrow plans, no Iris! Just run!
(...)
Date: September 2nd 2016.
Classes are easy.
Nothing can go wrong.
They can't interfere.
Yet, this has been going on for too long.
.
The conclusion is still coming
Yet it's so far away.
At least I have time though.
To persuade and say,
.
'Your choices seem limited,
And they say the same for you
You are wary of me.
It's what you shouldn't do.
.
You can trust me.
You can like me too.
You can stay there, though,
And never get through.
.
I'm here to help.
To gift you a throne.
To caress you with hope,
And break him from stone.
.
You can trust me and,
You have all rights to love me
Just remember, though,
You are more than what they see.'
.
Revisit all my claims, and remember,
You think and are so very torn.
But soon, it will change and stay that way.
The calm before the storm.
…
Author's Notes: UM, HEH, EXCUSE OUR SHITTY POEM SKILLS, but hey, we tried :3
Nothing much to say here as everything has basically been summed up in the first A/N so, yeah, hope you enjoyed this chapter that to us seemed lazily crafted together, and please do comment if you have any criticism, general comments, even theories.
Anyways, REALITY IS AN ILLUSION THE UNIVERSE IS A HOLLAGRAM BUY GOLD, BYE PEOPLES!