Gravity Falls High School

Friday October 10th, 2014

Man, the first couple of weeks here at Gravity Falls High have been fun. I've been able to spend a good amount of time with Wendy and the gang. I've got homeroom (English Lit) and lunch with Mabel, Biology with Wendy and Candy, Creative Writing with Pacifica, Lee, and Tambry, French with Wendy and Grenda, Calc 2 with Wendy and Tambry, and Cooking with Grenda. Wendy, Nate, and Pacifica are in the same lunch as Mabel and I. That leaves me with one class where I really don't know anyone, Conditioning. Being on the track team I felt I needed to take a athletics class to keep my stamina up during the off season.

The only down side is I seem to have attracted to attention of Allan Weems, one of the muscle heads who plays tackle for the Gravity Falls Grizzlies. At six foot two and approximately three hundred pounds of muscle, his size really is all he has going for him. The nose ring he wears outside of football games only adds to the reason he's nicknamed Bull, mostly he has it cause he's about as bright as one. He's not an actual Gravity Falls resident, he comes from one of the little towns that are still in the county but lay just outside the valley. Hirschburg or Ritterton maybe.

"Alright guys, you have ten minutes till the bell. Get in there and get clean. I don't want any complaints from the other teachers." Coach Doherty said after he blew his whistle to signal the end of the class.

I stayed back as the rest of the guys headed into the locker. After I was certain that everyone should be mostly in the showers I head in and quickly get out of my gym clothes. Wrapping my self in my towel I head to the shower stalls and grab the first empty one. When I was done I dried off and rushed out to get dressed. Unfortunately Allan was waiting on me. Even worse, we were the last ones in the locker room.

"So Dipwad, how's my favorite tackling dummy?" he asked as he held something behind his back, as I got closer I realized it was my gym shirt and he had wrapped it tightly around his fist, "You know what, I really don't care."

Before I knew what was happening he stepped close and punched me twice in the stomach. As I gasped for air he dropped my shirt over my head and started walking away.

When he got to the door he looked back and said "Well this was fun, let's do it again tomorrow."

After catching my breath, I got dressed just as the bell sounded. Walking out of the locker I found Coach Doherty waiting on me.

"You ok, Pines? Mr. Weems told me as he left that he thought he heard you trip on something as he left the locker room." He asked as h saw me exit.

Just my luck, Allan gave the Coach an explanation for why I took so long. Not really wanting to press the issue I said, "Eh, I just stubbed my toe is all Coach."

"Well I hope you didn't break it. From everything I've seen so for I'm looking forward to seeing you on the track this year." He said as I headed towards the door.

I stopped at my locker and traded out my morning books for the ones I'll need after lunch.

"Hey broseph, ready for the Friday meatloaf?" Mabel asks as she opened her locker. She had art the period before and still had some paint on the back of her hand.

"I guess, it can't be any worse than Stan's mystery meat surprise." I replied still holding my sore stomach.

We got our food and headed towards the table that Nate had grabbed. We were the last ones there as Wendy and Pacifica were already eating.

As Mabel sat down she turned to Pacifica and said, "Oh man, Paz. Did you hear what happened today in the Candy's gym class? Apparently there was a big fight between two of her classmates."

"Yeah, I heard. Apparently Jimmy Holman found out that Marion Albert, his girlfriend, was seeing Aaron Holtz on the side. He just walked up to Aaron and punched him, ended up taking half the class to separate them. Someone said it looked like Aaron's nose looked broken." Pacifica said as she sort of picked through the food on her tray. She's told me that she no longer cared about her food meeting a four star rating but she still was leery of school cafeteria food. Welcome to the club princess.

"That's what Candy said too. Though she said it looked like Aaron actually threw the first punch." Mabel said around a spoonful of mashed potatoes.

"Eh, either way they both got suspended." Pacifica said just before it seems like hunger won out and she took a bite of the meatloaf.

That there was one of the reasons I just took the punches earlier and didn't fight back. Heck. He didn't hit anywhere near as bad as Rumble, so there's that also. But there is a reason that is even more important to me.

"God, I hate it when guys fight like that." Wendy said after she swallowed her bite of meatloaf. "This could have easily been handled by talking. And they're fighting each other and are either wondering what her opinion of the situation is, I mean maybe she didn't think they were exclusive."

And there is the most important reason I didn't fight back. Wendy dislikes guys fighting. And after we lost Robbie, I realized just how short life can be and I decided I would follow my own advice from a couple of years ago and strive to be someone worthy of her love. That doesn't mean I'm changing anything about me, it just means that I'm gonna improve the me that I already am. Oh shoot, Mabel is talking to me.

"Huh?" was all I was able to get out as a response.

"I asked if you were gonna finish that?" Mabel said pointing towards my less than half eaten tray and more specifically the chocolate pudding.

"Oh, yeah. Here you go, take what you want." I say as I slide the tray over to her.

"Hey Dip, you still coming over to work on Calc and Biology homework?" Wendy asked after Mabel snagged the last half of my meatloaf and the pudding.

"Sure, I've even got The Monster Of The Cape to bring over to watch if we have time afterwards." I say with a smile.

"Sweet. We'll have to rush through the homework then." Wendy says with a smirk.

The rest of the day went by like normal and soon Mabel and I were back at the house dad found on the outskirts of downtown. I took a moment to look over Mabel's homework while she got ready for a night with the gals. Pacifica, Candy, Grenda, and surprisingly Tambry are all gonna be there. I think Mabel is wanting to plan the baby shower.

After I was done, her work was on par for her which means she'll get a b plus at least, I grabbed my bag, the DVD, and a microwave burrito. I was just heading to the front door when my phone went off.

"Hey there." I said as I heard Wendy's voice on the other end, "Yeah, I was just heading out. You're where?"

I heard a knock echo through the phone and from the front door. When I opened the door there she stood.

"Well since you're ready I may as well come pick you up." She said as a greeting.

"I was gonna walk, but a ride with my best friend does sound great." I said as I walked out the door. Once I was out I noticed something, her truck wasn't there. Turning to her I asked, "Ok, if you're giving me a ride where's your truck."

"It never really was mine, Dad was just letting me use it. Marcus just got his license so dad is letting him use it now." Wendy said as she shut the door and started heading towards the street.

"Ok, if you don't have the truck how are we getting to your house?" I asked looking around as I followed her, thinking that maybe she had borrowed the Mystery cart from Soos or something.

"Well you see, when I got home Uncle Randy and his son Seth were there. At first I was afraid they were there cause dad was making plans to send me up to the logging camp next summer. But no, they were there to give me an early birthday and graduation present." She said as we got to the sidewalk. We headed past our driveway when we stopped in front of a charcoal grey van. "Here she is, a seventy-nine WV Uberkreuzung Microbus. It was my Grandpa's, then Randy's, and now its mine."

"Cool," I said as she unlocked the door. I hopped in as she ran around to the driver's side. I unlocked her door for her and she climbed on in.

"We need to stop and grab some snacks but then back to my place to study." Wendy said as she turned the key.

We sopped at the store and picked up a couple bags of chips, a bag of puffed corn, and a case of Pitt. After that it was a quick drive and we made it back to her place. The homework was done in less than ten minutes and that was with me going over the definitions of an infinite series and partial sums twice to make sure she got them. But really the homework is just an excuse we use to hang out anyways. We then cracked open the snacks and tossed the DVD into her player. She then plopped down on her stomach while I leaned back on a backrest pillow I had bought and left here last year just for movie nights. Grabbing a handful of puffcorn settled in for a marathon of jokes about the quality (or lack of it) of the special effects.

"Ok, that suit doesn't even have matching seams. I meant look you can see the actors neck right there." she called out as the 'monster' chase a hapless co-ed through a dock of fishing boats.

"Ok, there are several potential weapons on those boats. I mean I see a spear gun laying on the deck of that one. Why don't she go for one. Or maybe even just get on one of the boats and hide in it's cabin." I added after I had taken a swig of Pitt.

"They probably didn't get permission from any of the boat owners. Hell I would be surprised that they permission to even film on the dock." She said as she playfully swatted my stomach. Unfortunately I was still tender and I winced at the contact. Now Wendy is definitely no dummy and noticed something was wrong. "You ok, Dip? I barely touched you there."

"Oh, it's nothing." I said as I tried to play it off. I did not want her worrying about me getting into a fight or worse her getting in trouble fighting him in my place.

"Dip. We've been friends for a couple of years now, I know when you're lying man." She said as propped herself up with her right arm before sitting to look at me better. "And if it's something that you feel like you have to lie to me, then I know it's gotta be something big. You don't lie to me. So what is it?"

"It's nothing." I said as I tried to withdraw from her gaze.

Not buying it she said, "Nope, something is wrong. Luckily for me I have learned of a weakness in your armor from Mabel for just this occasion."

Before I knew what was happening she was on me and began tickling me. She started under my arms but quickly worked down my sides. I started laughing and as my diaphragm contracted during a particularly loud laugh I again grimaced.

Seeing that she grabbed the edge of my shirt and lifted it. I hadn't seen it myself yet, it looked like him wrapping his hand didn't do much towards preventing a bruise from forming.

"Dude, what the hell?" She yelled as she got a good look at it. "Who did this? Tell me and I'll beat the crap out of them!"

"That's why I was hiding it, I don't want you getting in trouble on account of me. Principal Reeves has been doing nothing but praising the turnaround you have made in the last couple of years and I don't want to ruin that on my account." I said as I tried to pull my shirt back down to cover it back up.

She let go of my shirt and sat back up, pulled her legs under her, and then leaned against the wall behind her. When was done she asked, "Please tell me you at least gave it to them as good as you got?"

"No," I said not looking her in the face.

"Wait a minute." Was her response. She followed up with, "What? Why?"

"Don't worry about it. I'm fine" I said almost feeling like I was twelve again.

"Nope, I'm gonna worry about you man." She said with a look of genuine concern, "Now why didn't you fight back? Whoever did this couldn't be worse than those two gnomes that found the growth crystals back in June. We kicked their tails."

I mumbled something barely audible.

"What was that?" she asked as she leaned closer to me.

"You don't like guys fighting." I repeated at a volume that she could hear.

I started to get up before I felt her hand on my shoulder. She pulled me back down and turned me so I was facing her in one turn. "Yeah, I hate guys fighting for stupid reasons. Defending yourself is never a stupid reason."

She pulled me into a hug, "Dude, I want you to be safe. But next time this guy does something, defend yourself. I mean why else was Stan giving you and Mabel boxing lessons."

As I pulled back I got lost in her eyes again, they were so full of worry for me. A part of me wondered if there was something else there too.

"I will." I finally said as I realized how long I had been staring turning my head I saw that the movie was over. Looking down at my watch I said, "Man, I gotta get going. Mom and Dad want me home for dinner. Tell you what, keep the DVD here and we can watch it next time."

I leaned forward and gave her another hug.

When I let go Wendy said, "Do you really have to go. I was hoping we could get in another movie at least."

"Yeah, unfortunately the rents aren't as forgiving as Stan is for coming home late." I said as I gathered up my school books.

"You want a ride back?" she asked as she slid off the front of her bed and turned off her tv.

"Yeah, thanks." I replied as I zipped up my backpack. "You're working tomorrow, right?"

"Sure, maybe we can hang after work tomorrow." She said as we headed out of room.

Mystery Shack

Saturday October 11th, 2014

Well today has mostly been about organizing displays and placing some in mothballs till next spring. Soos did take one group out on a tour and should be back sometime soon, but really the season is over. I mean we may get some to come through for Halloween, but this is Oregon tourist season is over.

I was dusting some souvenirs when I felt a large hand on my shoulder and heard a voice I was not wanting to hear, "Why Dipwad, what a pleasant surprise."

He roughly turned me around and pushed me up against the shelves. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Wendy look like she was about to jump the counter. I waved her off just as he continued, "Well I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I mean a freak like you must fit right in with all of this junk."

"Now you can call me names, but you best not insult the Shack." I said as I for once push him back.

It doesn't move him much but it does seem to phase him. It seemed to crack his veneer of superiority, but he seemed to recover his bravado quickly. Glaring down at me he said, "Whatchu gonna do about it. The only good things in this pig sty is red over there and that cute lil sister of yours. Where did she go anyways, she was here when I got here. "

"That's it. Step outside." I say as I once again pushed him. This time it moved him enough that I was able to start heading towards the door. Wendy was staring daggers at him as I neared. In a whisper I ask, "Is he coming?"

"On your six, but he just started moving." she responded her gaze softening as she turned it towards me. "Is he the one?"

"Yeah. There's gonna be a fight, I'm not sure you're gonna want to see this." I said as I reached the door.

She pulled a 'closed for break' sign out from under the counter and set it in front of the register. "I'm not gonna miss this."

I found out later that she had pulled out her phone and sent a group text to Mabel, Soos, and the rest of the gang that read 'Dipper about to confront a bully outside of Shack, fight probable'.

As I made it outside I headed towards the grassy area south of the parking lot. Mabel was running out from behind the Shack carrying a stack of signs, the visible one read 'Round One'. She made it over to where I was about the time Bull got out of the front door. He was followed shortly by Wendy.

"So you're fighting Bull. Man, what an idiot." Mabel said as she saw who I was looking at. Realizing that what she said could have sounded like she was calling me the idiot, she clarified "Not you, him. It takes him forever to get something through his thick skull. He most have asked me out at least twice a week since school started and I've turned him down every time."

"Oh there she is." Bull said as he realized Mabel had joined me, "Hey there cutie. How about after I beat the snot out of your brother, you n me go to Hermanos Brothers for a tray of tacos?"

"Kick him where the sun don't shine, broseph." Mabel said as she backed away and headed towards Wendy.

About that time Soos showed up with his tour group. I recognized three other members of the football team and a guy that looked like he could be Bull's dad.

"This him?" I heard the older guy ask.

"Yep, he's my project this year. He's got all the basics; weird name, class geek, smaller than me, crush on a girl out of his league, you know the works." Bull said as he looked at his dad. And with that what hope I had that his dad would help out faded. At least it looked like he had shocked and maybe disgusted his fellow team members, "He's a push over. He hasn't even complained yet."

"Then why is he fighting you now?" I heard his dad ask.

"Oh, he's just trying to show off for Red there." Bull said throwing his thumb in Wendy's direction. It was a good thing that Mabel was there to hold Wendy back or I may not even got a chance to have this fight.

"Well he at least has some good taste." Bull's dad said as he took a look at Wendy, "And if looks could kill, you'd be dead son. I wonder if he isn't reaching to far there. You ever try for her?"

"Oh hell no dad, she's a Corduroy. The whole family plays with axes like they were toys. That's a crazy I'm not touching. She's the one that dislocated Lorenzo's shoulder last year when he tried to cop a feel." Bull said as he grimaced remembering the incident, "Now Dipwad here won't last five minutes. He's a wuss."

"You're right, he isn't much to look at. We'll see how he is doing after this fight, maybe we can use him as a janitor at the farm." His dad said almost pushing bull towards me. "Enough talking, go get him."

As he got closer I held my hands up and said, "Before we start I have to warn you I have a purple belt…"

Before I could finish he rushed at me yelling, "I don't care, we're here to fight not talk fashion."

I side stepped him and brought my hand down across the back of his head, smacking him. This did nothing more than anger him, good an angry opponent is a sloppy opponent.

We threw punches back and forth for a moment. I did my best to remember what my teachers' taught me and kept my guard up to deflect most of his blows, all the while ensuring I landed mine. He still got me a couple times and I am gonna be sore tomorrow. Finally I got an opening. He threw a wild punch that I deflected, as soon as I did I brought my right knee up straight into his gut. After that connected, as he went backwards I snapped my right foot out and connected to his jaw. He fell flat.

"Do you give?" I asked as he went to get up.

There was still fire in his eyes as he stood. He rushed towards me with murderous intent. I reached out and grabbed his collar, put my left foot into his stomach, and rolled backwards flipping him in the process. I gained my footing first and as he tried to rise I brought my left foot down on the back of his head knocking him flat. When he didn't try to rise again I reached down and felt for a breath and checked his pulse.

"You lil son of a…" His dad yelled as he tried to get to me, only to be stopped by the other members of his sons football team.

"Just grab Allan and go Mr. Weems," said the one I now remember is named Frank, I think he's in French with me. "And tell Allan not to bother showing up at the game tomorrow. We're gonna report that he admitted to the bullying to Coach. He has a zero tolerance policy."

"And we'll just deny it, it'll be your word against ours." Mr. Weems said as he started towards his son.

"Probably not dood, I've got like the whole thing recorded on my phone. Including everything you and sleeping beauty said." Soos called from where he was standing with his phone aimed at Mr. Weems.

Wendy and Mabel rushed over to me as Mr. Weems gathered his son as he came to and got him to their truck.

"That was great man, I knew you had it in you." Wendy said as they both hugged me.

"Way to go bro, glad to see the classes finally are paying off." Mabel added.

"Alright, not so tight you two." I said as I winced from how sore I was now that the fight was over.

Wendy remembered my bruised midsection and released quickly before asking Mabel, "Classes? I wouldn't really call those boxing lessons Stan gave you and Dipper classes."

"Not those, but Dip did use some of those techniques today. I'm talking our kickboxing classes. We've been going since we were ten, but Dip here didn't take them serious until we got back from that first summer. That's why he only has his purple belt, I've got my brown belt." Mabel replied as she backed off and got into a fighting stance.

"Oh, so that's what you were trying to tell him." Wendy said as she brought her arm up and settled it down on my shoulder. "I thought you were just trying to confuse him."

"It wasn't my intention but it did seem to work out that way." I said as I try to head towards the Shack, the next thing he knows he is being hoisted up on a uneven pair of shoulders as Wendy and Soos carry him towards the Shack. It seemed Mabel was already sharing the video Soos had taken with the rest of the gang who hadn't made it to the fight. I wouldn't be surprised if I hear from the Stans before the Weekend is over about it, too.

"Thanks guys but really, I'm good. I just want to get some ice on my lip and jaw and, if it's alright with you Soos, find somewhere to collapse. The adrenaline is wearing off and I am sore." I said as we got to the porch.

As they sat me down on my feet Soos said, "Oh, sure dood. Go ahead and take the rest of the day off. You've earned it."

After a look from Melody, which carried some sort of mental message that married people seem able to do (I'll have to investigate that later), Soos added "Hey Wendy, you have the most knowledge out of us when it comes to first aid, why don't you take the rest of the day off too and take care of the Dipster."

"Oh yeah, Wends. I'll cover for you if needed." I heard come back from wherever Mabel was at.

"You don't have to tell me twice. Sit right here and rest Dip, I'll go grab the ice and then we can go back to my place and try to watch that movie again." Wendy said as she help me to the chair Soos had placed by the gift shop's entrance. Then she ran on into the shack.

"You can thank me and Melody later dawg." Soos said before he and Melody entered the Shack. And believe me I did.