Chapter 2: Genius Revealed
Dipper's POV
I awoke the next morning not wanting to get out of bed but realizing it was our birthday I decided to get ready for the day.
I headed downstairs where I could hear Grunkle Stan's snoring. He must have come home very late last night from the bar to still be asleep.
As I headed to the kitchen, I looked everywhere I passed by and Mabel was nowhere to be found. When I reached the kitchen I received a txt that read, "Happy Birthday Bro-Bro! Went with friends for the day and to have breakfast! Make sure to leave the house so Grunkle can set up for the party. See you tonight!"
I was so angry that I nearly threw my phone against the wall. But that anger became depression and the sick feeling from last night came back into my chest.
"Why aren't you hear with me?" I thought
Ever since we were little, we would always eat breakfast together on our birthday. And ever since we started having our birthday at the Mystery Shack, we made delicious pancakes with each other and had an eating contest. Mabel not being next to me made me not hungry and the nearly empty Shack wasn't of any help towards my loneliness.
I texted back, "Don't worry, I've made plans too. Decided don't want a huge party this year… Just you and me tonight… ok?"
I waited a while for her to text back…
Then I received another text from Mabel.
She texted, "Why?! We always invite everyone! My friends are so excited for the party!"
I texted back, "I'm just not feeling well…ok"
Mabel agreed but it was technically a lie since she already had everyone doing a surprise party.
Of course I lied too because I said I had plans… I had no plans. And it wasn't that I didn't want a huge party, but I just wanted to have Mabel to myself again… Also after lots of thinking about it… I decided to give Mabel her birthday wish.
A personal performance by me on the old piano in the living room. To do this and have nobody learn my secret, it can only be me and Mabel in the shack. If this is to be our last birthday together before we split… I want to give her wish to her and have her to myself. That's my birthday wish… To have Mabel all to myself tonight like I used to.
Though I told Mabel I didn't want a party, I still decided to leave the house. It was lonely and I didn't need to practice on the piano. I was sure I'd be fine. I couldn't do it anyway because it would wake up Stan. So I decided to go to the arcade and waste money until it was time to be with Mabel.
But what I didn't know, was that Mabel was still putting on the surprise party and everyone was going to be there.
The sun was now coming down as I exited the arcade… I was about to head back to the shack when someone called my name…
"DIPPER!"
I looked over to see a beautifully dressed Pacifica walking alone.
"Hey Pacifica! What are you doing?" I asked
"Taking a break! My parents invited a bunch of rich politicians and their children to my house. I've been babysitting all day and I just needed a second to breathe." Pacifica said exhausted
"Are those kids really that bad?" I asked
"There a bunch of snotty, little, spoiled, ogres that need to be constantly entertained! I had a hard time just trying to put them to bed!" Pacifica said angrily
"Sounds rough! Well… If you need help just give me a call, ok?" I said
"Ok…And I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll make it to your party tonight with the guests at are mansion…" Pacifica said with a sad expression
"It's fine! I told Mabel I didn't want a party this year anyway…" I said trying to cheer her up
"No Party!? But you love parties when everyone's over! You told me yourself!" Pacifica asked shocked
I stood there silently. I looked away from Pacifica. I used to like them, until everyone stole Mabel away from me.
"Dipper is everything alright?" Pacifica asked worried finally realizing that Dipper was alone at the arcade on his birthday.
"Ya… Everything is fine." I said as I started to head back to the shack.
"Dipper!" Pacifica said.
I looked back.
"Happy Birthday…"
I gave her a smile and started walking again.
I reached the shack all the lights were off and it was quite… I went inside to wait for Mabel. But as I passed the living room, I saw her foot just sticking out from behind the couch.
I laughed to myself. Looks like she wanted to surprise me before I could surprise her. She could never beat me to the punch, and I wasn't going to let her now!
I quietly walked to the piano.
I turned on the small lamp next to it to give me some light in the room.
I wiped my hand across the top of it. Dust covered my hand. I wiped it off with my pants.
How long has it been since I touched this instrument? How long has it been since my fingers fell into place with the keys that would start the performance?
It had a comforting feeling. Like meeting an old friend.
And before I could think anything else, my hands began to move and my fingers play.
Writer Notes: I recommend, to get the most out of the story, to listen to the song I mention before, during, and/or after the reading. It makes it easier to understand the emotions that the characters have using the emotions of the song.
(Song sung and played by Dipper in the story is: Your Call- Secondhand Serenade; "A Naked Twist in My Story" Album)
Mabel's POV
Hearing my brother's gentle singing voice and the smooth notes played by the piano, I started to quietly come out from behind the couch where I was hiding. I slowly walked behind him trying to not make a sound. I've been waiting for this moment for so long that tears began to fill my eyes to the soothing notes. As I watched and listened, I didn't notice everyone else who was hiding also start to slowly come out from their hiding places and watch my brother.
Waiting for your, call I'm sick, call I'm angry, Call I'm desperate for your voice
Listening to the song we used to sing, In the car, do you remember, Butterfly, Early Summer
It's playing on repeat, Just like when we would meet…
Like when we would meet...
As he sang, I pictured all the memories of how close we were. How we were always together and how he always took care of me. How he has since birth, told me he loved me.
I was born to tell you I love you
And I am torn to do what I have to, to make you mine
Stay with me tonight
I then noticed how he started to become anxious while he played. Dipper started to lean forward and play and sing louder as if the song started to affect his heart. And it wasn't much longer till I started to see tears forming in his eyes. Why? Why is he crying? Is it the song?...or maybe… the reason why he's singing it? Did I force him? He didn't have to play or sing, he could've turned it down like he usually did. Then why? Why did he play and sing for me this time? Why does the song sound like a cry for help?...
Stripped and polished, I am new, I am fresh
I am feeling so ambitious, you and me, flesh to flesh
Cause every breath that you will take
When you are sitting next to me
Will bring life into my deepest hopes,
What's your fantasy?
What's your, what's your...
Dipper finally wiped his tears and calmed down the pace to his small musical… And as he sung I could see the warmth the words had on him.
I was born to tell you I love you
And I am torn to do what I have to, to make you mine
Stay with me tonight
But as quickly as he calmed down he began to pick up the pace again. His words becoming louder and louder, till there was probably no difference from screaming with his singing. His words felt heavy with meaning as if he was trying to tell me something. But it sounded so good. Too good… Too good for someone whose heart was struggling during this small recital.
And I'm tired of being all alone, and this solitary moment makes me want to come back home…
And I'm tired of being all alone, and this solitary moment makes me want to come back home…
And I'm tired of being all alone, and this solitary moment makes me want to come back home!
And I'm tired of being all alone, and this solitary moment makes me want to come back home!
I was boooooooooooorn… to tell you I looove yooooooooooooou…
And I am toooooooooorn… to do what I haaave tooooooooooooo…
And I was born to tell you I love you
And I am torn to do what I have to, to make you mine
Stay with me tonight…
It wasn't until Dipper was done and sat there at the piano silently that I understood how he was feeling. As his twin sister, I hated myself for not noticing how he felt sooner. How could I, the closest person in his life, not notice how I was making him feel. I've spent less time with him and left him all alone. Looking back we were always together. But the last couple of years I had hardly hung out let alone talked to him. How hard it must have been for him to not let his feelings of loneliness get in the way of my happiness. It totally did sound like Dipper. Being the protective brother who always put his sister's happiness before himself. But now I can finally see, how much he misses me.
"Happy Birthday Mabel!" Dipper tried to say happily without looking back at me.
Now I know too well, that the reason he didn't look at me was to hide the tears that were forming. But he quickly tried to wipe them to keep me from seeing them.
"Happy? After so many years of saying I'll never play music again, you finally convinced me!" Dipper teased acting a little annoyed.
"Dipper…" I said with a sad look.
"Yep, I even surprised myself! After not touching those keys for so long, you'd think I'd get a little rusty… but it looks like a musical genius doesn't get rusty. Too bad… Would have been a great excuse to not play again." Dipper said
"Just remember to keep this a sec-"
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT DUDE?! YOU'VE GOTTA PLAY AGAIN!"
Seeing Dipper's shocked face as he looked over my shoulder reminded me that this wasn't a closed performance. I looked back to see Wendy was the one shouting with a paralyzed group of friends and family standing behind her still in shock.
"Uh…Mabel? What are they doing here?" Dipper asked
"U-Umm… I-I invited them to have a surprise birthday with you…" I struggled to answer now knowing I was in deep trouble for his secret to finally be out in the open.
"Didn't I ask for it just to be the two of us tonight?" Dipper asked still shocked and staring at the familiar paralyzed faces behind me.
"Y-Ya you did…But I thought it was the perfect time to surprise you with a party like we used to do." I said while giving an awkward smile.
"Dude, no way…" said Robbie
"Since when can you sing, let alone play?" said Soos
"Well… When I was little I used to play while signing-in to concerts and contests and stuff. But before I came to gravity falls that first summer, there was an… incident… and I stopped playing all together." Dipper said with a defeated look, now that his secret was out.
"Can you play anything else?" said Nate
"Ya… It's sorta why people back then called me a musical genius…because of how fast I learned how to play instruments and how good I was at it…" Dipper said not wanting to have this conversation.
"Like what?" said Tambry
"Piano, violin, guitar are my main…but then there's flute, sax, trumpet, drums…" Dipper said starting to count on his fingers. But he then figured it was a waste of time since he wasn't going to play again.
"A lot ok… But that's all behind me! This was a one time thing for Mabel on our birthday! You all weren't even supposed to be here…" Dipper stated out loud so they could all hear him clearly.
"Did you ever want to join a band?" asked Lee
"Sure I've thought about it, but I never did. Now can we please stop talking about it!" Dipper yelled as he pushed his way through the crowd to head upstairs.
"Mabel your brother was amazing!" said Grenda
"Is it me or did he just get a lot hotter?" asked Candy
"Girls that's my brother!" screamed Mabel
"Ok I know all of you are shocked by Dipper actually having a cool talent-"
"You got that right! Do you know how much money I could have made with him as a sideshow?" Grunkle Stan screamed from the back of the crowd.
"Hey! He's not an attraction! You guys don't get how hard it was for him to do what he just did now! And he thought it was only going to be for me. How do you think he feels after having all of you attack him with your questions?" Mabel shouted
The room was quiet.
"We're sorry Mabel…" Wendy apologized
"Just make sure this doesn't spread through Gravity Falls" asked Mabel
"Oh… Um… You wanted to keep it a secret?" Tambry said with a hurt look in her face.
"Tambry?!"
"I didn't know! I was recording for the surprise shock in his face when we would jump out, but instead I got that amazing performance… Soooo I kinda immediately posted it on the net…" Tambry said
"WHAT?!" Mabel cried out