The Shallow End (Part 2)
(Back with Stan…)
"Fids you got to help me with this girl!" Stan exclaimed as he raced up to the snack bar.
"Look Stan I'd love to, but I'm kind of busy here." Fids said trying to sort and organize all the new inventory.
"But it's an emergency." Stan cried.
"Well we are swamped." Susan said. "But if you order a sandwich. I can give you the time it takes to make it to help."
"Well okay…" Stan looks uneasy. "But it's about a girl." He added.
"I know, I heard you the first time." Susan said as she started to make the ham and cheese club special.
"So you're not mad that I'm going after a different girl?" Stan looked confused. "Aren't you insulted I got over you so quickly?"
Susan laughed. "No, in fact I'm happy you've respected my wishes about staying friends." She told him. "Now tell me about this girl."
"Well she's gorgeous, I mean don't get me wrong you are beautiful, but she's like-"
"Stan if Susan doesn't slap you, I will." Fids warned.
"Oh right." Stan cleared his throat. "Any way we were talking…"
"You said something stupid and hurt her feelings, didn't you?" Fids asked.
"No, everything was fine." Stan assured them. "Until I asked her to come here with me."
"Oh, did she give you a reason?" Susan asked.
"She said she had a terrible secret and just swam away." Stan said with a huff.
"Ooh maybe she's the daughter OF A MOB BOSS! Fids exclaimed.
"Or maybe she's just not into guys." Susan suggested.
"Great, I finally meet a girl who likes my jokes and doesn't think I'm pushy. Only for her to be a mob princess who's not interested in the opposite sex."
"Look you want her to give you the time of day?" Susan asked, finishing the sandwich.
"Absolutely." Stan was begging now.
"Then prove to her that you care." Susan said giving him his order. "What's ever bothering her, it sounds pretty deep. She's afraid of how you'll react, so she refuses to get close. Show her you that you want to be there for her and she might just come around."
"Thanks Susan." Stan said to her. "And thanks for understanding." He added. "You're a good friend."
"Any time." Susan told him.
"Well got to go prove to some random girl that I got feelings." Stan said taking the sandwich and running. "Later!"
"Later…" Susan said with a sigh.
"You're head over heels for him now, aren't you?" Fids asked knowingly.
"Yep." Susan admitted, not even trying to hide it.
"Figures." Fids teased.
Susan gave him a shove before they continued with their work.
(Back with Mabel…)
"There it is, Ria," Mabel said. After leaving the kids to their new jobs around the pool. She had decided to spend the day relaxing with Ria and Grenda, who was still on her way. She hated that the AC broke down, but it had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She really needed the break, she smiled showing Ria over to a pool chair. "Equal distance from the snack bar and the bathroom. Just the right amount of sun and shade. And pointed away from where the gross old men lotion themselves. The perfect lawn chair."
"The legends you told me in the car were true," Ria gasped.
"I just can't believe it wasn't already taken," Mabel said, tossing her towel over the back. The Gravity Falls pool opened every summer and usually some high roller would have snagged such a perfect spot by now. "And now to sit in it, therefore claiming it as my own."
She sat down on the end, but a foot rested on her back.
"What?!" She yelled. She looked back to see Bonnie sitting in the chair.
"Why hello, Ms. Pines," Bonnie giggled.
"Bonnie!" Mabel screamed, standing up. "Get outta my chair, missy!"
"Oh, was this your chair?" Bonnie asked. "I had no idea." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Yes I did."
"Seriously Bonnie!" Mabel snapped losing her patience. "Can't you give me a break for once?"
"I'm actually not here for you." Bonnie admitted. "I'm keeping an eye on my brother. Granddaddy says your family has corrupted him."
"We did not corrupt him." Mabel said defensively. "You're just jealous because he spends more time with me and the kids than you."
"This job is supposed to be correcting that!" Bonnie snapped. "We will get through to him!"
"Bud is the only decent person in your family and I will not let you ruin that!" Mabel yelled. She picked up Bonnie and a whistle sounded.
The next thing Mabel knows Cooper is ushering her away forcing her to put Bonnie down.
"Bye, Bye now!" Bonnie laughed after them.
"Seriously?" Buddy asked giving his sister a disapproving look. "Do you ever quit?"
"It's for your own Good." She told him.
Bud just scolds at her.
Bonnie softens and reaches for him, hopefully. "Bud I-"
"Save it!" Buddy snaps and walks away towards Mabel and Cooper. "I have a job to do."
Bonnie's eyes narrowed, she was getting just about tired of her brother's fascination with the enemy. "Mark my words Pines." She vowed as she watched Ford walk up to Buddy and start whispering. "You will rue the day you stole my brother from me."
Meanwhile Cooper was locking Mabel up in pool jail.
"Come on, Cooper!" Mabel begged as the teen locked the gate. "You can't do this to me!"
"Yeah she's the victim." Ria tried to explain.
"Sorry guys but the rules are no rough housing." Cooper explained. "Even if Bonnie started it you're the one who escalated it."
Mabel sighed as she sat down on the benched. "I know, I shouldn't have let her get under my skin. Bonnie just knows how to push my buttons. No doubt Gideon taught her."
"He did." Buddy agreed as he and Ford walked up. "I'm so sorry about this Ms. Pines." He added.
"It's okay, I don't blame you." Mabel assured him.
"Well I got to get back to my spot." Cooper said. "You taking watch Bud?"
Bud nodded.
"I'll sit back and watch you." Ford said, trying to look casual, "You know, to learn the job." He added like he wasn't up to something.
Buddy however knew he was, in fact they just got done talking about it.
"Sounds good to me." Bud said.
"You Nerds are up to something aren't you?" Cooper asked.
"What, us up to something?" Bud asked slyly.
"Never." Ford joked.
"Whatever dudes." Cooper said walking away. "I've had enough weirdness to last a while so whatever it is leave me out of it. Okay?"
"You got it man." Ford assured him.
"And to think he wanted to kill you not to long ago." Bud said as Cooper took his leave.
"Yeah, but technically so did you." Ford pointed out.
Buddy laughed. "Oops got me there." He joked.
The two laugh some more. Nearby Poolcheck scooped up some water from in the pool in a cup, drinking it. He looked at Ford, licking the water from his upper lip. Ford grimaced, all laughing stopped. "No wonder he acts so screwy." He whispered.
"How long you in for?" A kid in pool jail asked Mabel.
"Two hours for rough housing," Mabel said. "But I'm innocent!"
"Eh, pool jail ain't so bad," the second kid said. "As long as you don't end up in solitary."
They looked at a boy, who was trapped in a pool vent.
"It's the nights that are the hardest," he said quietly.
Bud gave Ford a little shove. "So you gonna ask her?" He whispered.
"She wears sweaters bud." Ford reasoned. "Hiding it must mean it's a touchy subject. What I need to do is ask her without her realizing I'm investigation."
Suddenly, Buddy had pulled out an old button pin of sorts. "Lucky for you I have just the thing you need." He pinned it on Ford's shirt. "It's a camera." He whispered. "Back when Granddaddy was Mayor he used these pins he handed out to spy on the townsfolks." He reviled.
"Okay no offense but your family is really starting to freak me out. " Ford said before he cleared his throat and looked to Mabel. "So Grauntie Mabel I was thinking about getting a tattoo when I'm older." He said. "Any thoughts?"
"Well since I love all forms of art I think it's nice you want to express yourself in such a permanent way." Mabel said casually. "Just remember it is permanent so choose wisely."
"Did you choose wisely?" Bud asked.
"Oh I don't have any Tattoos." She said. "I can knit with needles just fine but once they get close to the skin, oh boy is it a different story."
"But the one on you-"Ford began.
"Pines, take pool watch, it's time for Green's break." Poolcheck yelled his way.
"But-" Ford went to argue, but thought better of it when Poolcheck gave him an unstable expression. "Right of course. Right away." He raced off to relieve Cooper, more determined now than ever to find out what Mabel was hiding.
(Back with Stan…)
Stan dived into the pool, sandwich in hand before rising back up in front Merlina.
She looked at him, stunned.
"Hey there!" Stan said loudly. "I brought a sandwich for the beautiful lady. It's a little wet, but it's still good." He set the soggy sandwich on the floatie.
"Oh, that's so nice of you," Merlina smiled breaking the soggy thing in half. "Would you like to share?" She asked.
Stan nodded, taking his soggy half out of politeness. "I like sharing things," he said. "Sandwiches, secrets." He leaned over to Merlina, whispering, "Tell me your secret, Merlina."
Merlina giggled. "Well, you have been so kind to me," She looked unsure for a moment. Her hair blowing in the wind.
Stan put his hand on hers. "Look whatever it is, I'm here for you." He assured her. "You can trust me."
Merlina takes a deep breath and nods. "Ok then. But you must never tell anyone else my secret." Stan nodded. "You must stay away from me because I am," Merlina moved the raft, revealing her lower half. "A Mermanatee." Her voice was hollow.
Stan takes in her lower half, she was like a mermaid but her fin was like that of a manatee. "So you're like a hybrid?" He asked.
Merlina nodded looking solemn.
"Oh, thank goodness," Stan sighed. "I thought you were gonna say you liked girls. But this! Who woulda known?"
"You mean it doesn't bother you?" Merlina asked.
"Oh no, my brother and I see things like this all the time." He told her. "Why? Does it bother others?"
Merlina nodded. "When my father was a prince there was war going on with the Manatees." Merlina explained. "In order to stop the war my father married the princess of the Manatees. Having me united our kingdoms, but all the other kids treat me like a freak."
"Just because you're different!" Stan was suddenly furious. "I swear It doesn't matter where you are there's always jerks picking on people like us."
"Us?" Merlina asked.
"Yeah you and me." Stan said. "We're the same."
Merlina smiled. "I've never met a boy like you Stan." She said.
"Well I've never met anyone like you." Stan admit. "There's just one thing I don't get."
"What's that?" Merlina asked.
"What's a girl like you doing in a public pool?" Stan asked.
"It is a tragic story," Merlina sighed. "I was playing in the kelp by myself like I sometimes do, but my usual tormentors came and started calling me a sea cow." She said crying softly. "I ran away, and ended up getting caught by a fishing net. I escaped at the soonest possible moment. I tried to swim back home, but I couldn't. I fell down a drainage pipe and ended up here."
"Woah," Stan gasped.
"And now I'm stuck here." Her crying turned into sobs. "This Chlorine filled pool is making me sick, and I'll probably never see my family ever again."
"Sure you will." Stan assured her, wiping a tear from her eye. "Cause I'm gonna help you."
Merlina eyes lit up. "Really?" She exclaimed. "How?"
"I don't know, we have to get you out of this pool, but letting people see you might cause a frenzy."
"What about tonight?" Merlina asked. "Can you come back?"
"Of course, but for now we should probably find a way to pass the time." Stan told her. "After hours I'll come back with a plan and we'll blow this Popsicle stand."
"Oh thank you Stan, I have never known such kindness." Merlina sighed sadly. "Even though…"
"Look I don't care that you're different." He told her "Merlina, You're like, the most beautiful girl I've ever met!"
"Now why don't we play a game to get this upsetting stuff of your mind?" Stan suggested.
"Oh I heard the other children playing this one game, Marco Polo I think that's what they called it?"
"I Love that game!" Stan exclaimed. "You just close your eyes and say Marco, and I say Polo while you try to catch me without looking."
"Okay." Merlina giggled and closed her eyes. "Oh marcooo!" She sung.
"Polo!" Stan yelled, laughing as he dodged Merlina's efforts to catch him. Even with the strange and scare circumstances that brought them together, Stan was happy. He finally met a girl that was attracted to him. Someone who trusted him with her heart, as well as her life.
He promised himself then that he would do everything in his power to keep his promise to her. She would see her family again, and he'd make sure of it…
No matter what!
(Back with Mabel…)
[2 hours later...]
She growled inwardly as she watched Bonnie from across the pool yard.
The girl was putting on sunscreen, giggling. "Ooh, my cheeks are baby soft,"
"Look at her," she growled. "That smug, chair-stealer. Oh ho I'd like to get even. But I can't touch her, or the pool police will throw me in pool jail."
"Come on Mabel you're letting her ruin the day." Grenda said to her. Grenda had arrived just after Ford went to take over for Cooper. She already spent 2 hours waiting for her friend to get out of pool jail because of that little brat. She didn't want to waste any more time.
"You're right." She told her friend. "I'm sorry you had to wait on me, we'll come back tomorrow extra early to make up the girl time." She promised.
Grenda smiled. "Now you're talking."
Meanwhile Ria was slipping into an inflatable duck tube getting ready to jump into the pool.
"Ria," a voice sounded.
"Inflatable duck guy, is that you?" Ria asked.
"Yes Ria, I can talk!" The duck said.
"Yes! I knew you guys were secretly alive!" Ria cheered.
Unbeknownst to her, Heather and Cooper were around the corner, holding a megaphone. They were the ones making the duck talk. They snickered and shushed each other.
"My people have been enslaved, Ria!" The 'duck' said. "You must free us!"
"The inflatable duck resolution is at hand!" Ria announced. Heather laughed, but stopped as she noticed the time. "Oh no breaks over." She said "Mr. Poolcheck will want me back at the shallow end."
At the moment Mr. Poolcheck was filling in as the Life guard so Heather could hang out with Cooper during his break. It was great that they were actually taking the time to be together with just the two of them.
Cooper thought it was great too, even better he was happy that Ford was giving them space instead of trying to steal Heather for himself. Turns out the nerd was a pretty good guy, in fact Cooper had to admit he and the rest of Heather's friends were starting to grow on him.
Not that he would ever tell them that.
"Well see you." He said walking back he sighed, only to scream as someone pulled him into the storage shed.
"Shhh, Cooper it's me." Ford whispered.
"Pines? What the heck man?" Cooper exclaimed.
"Sorry I just needed someone to talk to." Ford said.
"About what?" Cooper asked.
"This." Ford flicked on a light showing Cooper the room.
Cooper gasped as he sees a cork board covered with Pictures of Mrs. Pines and what looked like a tattoo. "What is all this?"
"I'm investigate Anomaly #23, Grauntie Mabel's secret tattoo." Ford explained. "What is she hiding? A college prank? A secret symbol? Or something stranger? Mabel claims it doesn't exist, but today we're gonna find out!"
"So let me get right, while I was on break you were getting keck deep in some conspiracy theory about your Aunt?" Cooper yelled. "You were supposed to be on shift."
"I was." Ford assured him. "Mr. Poolcheck relieved about five minutes ago, so I bought a camera from Fids and got to work."
"Wait, you did all of this in 5 minutes?" Cooper looked dumbfounded, and rightfully so. Somehow Ford had managed to take several pictures of his aunt, put them on a board and set up this secret meeting place. He wouldn't believe it, but after spending some time with the kid, he knew was right up Ford's alley.
"Yes, now are you gonna help me or what?" Ford asked.
"Help?" Cooper asked. "I thought I asked you guys to keep me out of your weirdness for a day?"
"I know, I just need someone to bounce ideas off of." Ford explained. "Usually I'd pick Stan but he's useless when he goes all girl crazy. And Buddy is too busy trying to keep his sister from ruining anything else. And Fids and Susan made it very clear that the are taking their new jobs very seriously." He added remembering how fustrated they had been to be bothered by his antics.
"You're not gonna let this go are you?" Cooper asked.
"Nope." Ford answered plainly.
"Okay fine you can do your little side investigation when I'm not on break." Cooper told him. "But if this ruins mine and Heather's chances to hang out; I will never forgive you. Deal?"
"Deal!" Ford said as they shook hands.
"Alright well I got to go, before I'm screwed." Cooper said leaving the room. Ford looked back to the board. "And Pines?"
"Yeah?" Ford said not bothering to look away from his board.
"Don't forget to take this down before we leave, I don't want Poolcheck to think we're a bunch of creeps."
"Sure, sure, whatever." Ford said still not looking up.
Cooper shook his head as he left the kid to his own 'Investigation.' He was a strange one that Pines, but odd enough a smile still found its way to his face. Yeah, these dorks were definitely rubbing off on him, but this time Cooper thought that it might not be such a bad thing after all…
-To Be Continued