"For how long long I love my lover, now, now?
For how long long I love my lover, now, now?
For how long long I love my lover, now, n-"
"Alright, hold on, hang up." Blake interrupted their rehearsal, setting down his drumsticks. There was a chorus of irritable groans.
Mabel sat down on an amp, sliding off her guitar, equally frustrated. This whole rehearsal had been a bust so far, something was eating at everybody. Herself included.
She realised after a moment that everybody was looking at her.
"What?" She looked around vaguely.
"Got something on your mind, Mabel?"
She blinked. Of course she did, but she couldn't tell them that.
"Who doesn't?" She answered, after a pause.
Blake crossed his arms and sighed. He took his band seriously. He reminded her of Dipper in that. He was a pretty tall guy, with spiked up short brown hair.
"Let's be fair, nobody else is letting it affect their performance." He gestured to the others. Lucy and Ned nodded, guiltily.
"Thanks, guys." She rolled her eyes.
"We just want to help, if we can. What's up?"
She looked at them all.
What was up? Apart from the fact that a way of life was coming to an end? They were leaving school? Splitting up and heading out on their own? Going to college? Or what about the fact that her own mother hated her all her life? How about the fact she didn't know why her mother hated her for all her life? What about her dad skipping out on them when she was fourteen? Or maybe even realising that the only real friend you ever had, the only person who was ever really there for you, who ever even cared about you, was your twin brother? What about being so close, so familiar, so intimate with that brother and not caring about the lines you cross? What about realising that you were in love with that brother? What about realising he was in love with you? How do you explain how it happened? How do you even reconcile with yourself? Where was the moment where their bond as siblings morphed into romantic feelings? And now, now they were going to be apart. For the first time in their lives, they were going to be really apart. What did that mean for them?
"Mabel?" Lucy ventured, with a little wave. "You all there?"
She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.
"Yeah, yeah, its fine."
The others didn't look convinced.
"Look, I just lost some sleep the other night." That at least, was true.
Blake seemed mollified, at least.
"Well, we'll table rehearsal for today. No sense forcing it, we'll only get edgy with each other." He stood, retrieving his bag. "See you guys tomorrow. And hey, take it easy Mabel."
She nodded.
Ned yelled a farewell and disappeared out the door, leaving Lucy and her. She liked Lucy, but right now she hoped she could get out without the girl asking-
"I know that look, that's the 'guy trouble' look." She smiled, sympathetically. "The others are gone now, you can talk to me." Lucy offered.
"It's not what you think." Mabel blurted, before she could stop herself.
"Oh?" She grinned. "And how do you know what I think?"
"…um…?"
"Y'know, I wondered at first if it was just about this Nick guy who asked you to the dance. I've never seen you with another boy really, thought maybe you had the jitters."
"No, its not-" Mabel objected.
"But it's not that is it. You've got another guy, somebody who you really love, but in secret." She continued. "But you agreed to go with Nick because you're just so…nice."
"…er…" Mabel blanked, morbidly fascinated by both how near and off the mark Lucy was getting it.
"That's so romantic Mabel!" She laughed.
"Isn't it just…?" She smiled, weakly. She wondered if she should tell Dipper about all this, maybe he'd find it funny in a twisted sort of way? He had a pretty black sense of humour anyway.
"Don't you worry, your secret is safe with me."
"…thanks. I, er…I've got to go and meet my brother now, so I'll see you tomorrow I guess?" She slung her guitar over her back.
"Say I said hi!"
Mabel waved and made for the door, heart hammering in her chest.
…
Mabel lay back on the bed. The same, rickety, battered old bed as last year. In the same, grubby, ancient room she shared with Dipper last year.
Honestly, she couldn't be happier.
This was the second summer they'd spent in Gravity Falls. After the year they'd had, she couldn't wait to get away from home again. With Dipper.
A snore from across the room reassured her of his presence.
Things were good between them. After their first summer here, they were closer than ever before, and after the year they'd had, they were closer yet.
Things weren't good at home. Their mom hadn't even driven up with them to Gravity Falls this time. Dad had driven them, and he'd been silent practically the whole way. Which was actually rare, these days. Back home he and mom spent most of the time yelling at one another, or at her. Or occasionally Dipper whenever he stood up for her. She didn't understand it all.
And they started high school next year. Things were happening fast, Mabel was just glad for a chance to get away from everything. She glanced at Dipper, he must have been happier about it. He'd always been trying to grow up faster, this must be what he wanted, right?
She didn't know what she wanted. She just wanted to have fun, to do things she liked, to hang out with Dipper. Was that so much?
"I can hear you thinking from here." Dipper murmured, making her jump.
"What's that supposed to mean!" She retorted, rolling over so she faced him.
"You're a loud thinker." He yawned.
"That doesn't even mean anything!"
"I know, right?" He laughed. "Is this what it feels like being you?"
Mabel's only response was to hurl a cushion at him from across the room, but she giggled too.
"Nice to be back, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess it is." He replied. "Altough…" He trailed off.
"What?" She asked, smiling.
Dipper looked embarrassed. She thought it was cute.
"…uh…just saying, it doesn't matter to me where we are really, as long as you're around, sis." He chuckled nervously.
Her heart flipped and she felt fuzzy all over. It took all her will not to go "aaawwwwww". She beamed at him.
"Love you, Dip." She said, laying back again.
"Love you too, Mabel." He replied.