Content warning, there's teenage homophobia in the middle of this chapter but it's temporary and it goes away! I told y'all it would go away.


"I think the stuffed animal that Soos gave me is cursed," Cary mentioned as she and Wendy hunkered down for breakfast at Greasy's Diner before school one morning in late October.

"What?"

"I think he's possessed." Cary rifled around in his backpack and pulled out the duck, who was now dressed as a pirate including an eyepatch that hid his missing eye.

"You brought the possessed doll here?"

"I didn't want him to get lonely or bored."

Wendy gave Cary a look.

"What? If Miguel really is possessed I don't want to leave him alone at home, what if he decides he wants to wreak havoc? It's better to let him come with me. Anyway, I think he likes me."

"Sure," Wendy said, "why not?"

"Are we still doing the cemetery sleepover?" Cary asked.

"Don't we always?"

"I didn't know if that was maybe one of the things you guys outgrew while I was gone."

"You're not getting out of it that easily."

"Well, if you're gonna make me sleep in a creepy cemetery then I'm bringing my haunted doll."

"The others are gonna love that."

"Is Tambry going to bring the ouija board this year?"

"I'll ask at lunch. This is going to be the best Halloweek ever." They'd all had a hard year, they deserved some lighthearted, spooky fun.

"I just can't over-commit to anything this year since I have rehearsal, magic lessons, and work."

"The sleepover and the party are the two main things," Wendy said, "Everything else is just a bonus."

"I can't wait. It's gonna be perfect."

Their perfect Halloweek began crumbling immediately.

When Wendy asked Tambry about the ouija board, Tambry delivered some devastating news.

"Yeah, my parents said I can't do the sleepover this year."

"What?" Wendy was shocked. "Why?"

"They don't love that it's co-ed," Tambry said with a shrug.

"It's always been co-ed."

"But I didn't always have a boyfriend," Tambry pointed out.

"Oh, so this is your fault," Wendy said, giving Robbie the stink eye, which caused Cary to chuckle a little.

"Hey, I didn't tell Tambry's parents to be sticks in the mud. Anyway, chill, she'll be at the horror movie marathon and the party."

"She better be at the party, it's her party," Cary said.

"And it will be off the chain," Tambry promised, not looking up from her phone.

"Cary and I will be late for the marathon," Thompson said, "we have rehearsal."

Nate grinned now, "Remind me what your character's name is."

Thompson cringed, knowing what was coming, "Bottom."

Lee and Nate cackled and Wendy bristled, ready to fight. Normally she wouldn't defend Thompson, who seemed almost content to be a punching bag if it kept their friend group together. But Wendy wasn't content with her friends continually using gay as an insult.

"Which of those theater freaks is your top, Thompson?" Lee asked.

Now Cary, who naturally tuned out any homophobia because it was boring and she was tired of it, was back in the fight.

"Hey, we're not freaks," Cary snapped.

"Yeah, where do you get off?" Wendy said, about to give them an earful.

"Guys it's really not worth it," Thompson started, looking uneasy.

"Yo, Thompson," A new voice entered the conversation. A very tall, buff, upperclassman was heading over to their corner table.

Lee and Nate immediately clammed up, knowing this guy could tie them into pretzels.

Wendy held onto her anger, interested in seeing how this would play out.

Cary gave the upperclassman a wave.

"Hey, Duncan."

"Hey, Care. Thompson, are these guys bothering you?" Duncan put his hand on Thompson's shoulder. Thompson didn't flinch away. For once in his young life, he wasn't afraid.

"No, they're my friends."

"Hm. Well, if you ever want to sit with me and my friends, you're more than welcome."

"Thanks. Uh, we're having a horror movie marathon on Friday, you could come over after rehearsal with us," Thompson offered.

Now Lee and Nate were gaping. Halloweek was sacred, was theirs. No outsiders ever got invited to the movie marathon or the sleepover. No outsiders except for the occasional significant other.

"Who was that?" Lee asked.

"One of the theater freaks," Cary snarked.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Nate asked when Duncan was out of earshot. All pretense of judgment had been replaced with genuine curiosity.

Thompson shrugged awkwardly.

"Hell yeah, Thompson," Wendy said, "he's cute. Get it."

Thompson coughed. "It's not like that. Yet."

"Yet," Lee said. "Well, if anyone was gonna date a hot senior, I didn't think it would be you. But sure. Why not? I'm sorry I called your drama friends freaks."

Thompson had never been apologized to by his friends before. Well, maybe Cary, once or twice, but none of the others. He wasn't sure what to do.

"Uh… Apology accepted. Duncan is a really cool guy, you guys will like him."

"Alright, man, just ask next time you're inviting people to my house," Nate said.

And that was that. The final word on Thompson and Thompson's maybe-boyfriend.

It was not the final word on their Halloweek plans, though.

"I can't believe you can't come to the sleepover," Wendy complained to Tambry as they were leaving school for the day.

"Chill," Tambry said, "you're missing the silver lining."

"What silver lining?"

"It'll just be you and Cary alone in a tent. You can make your move."

Wendy blushed. "What are you talking about?"

"I've known you since we were five, Wendy. I know when you have a crush. Plus you defended Thompson today and no one does that unless they have a dog in the fight. You're gay or bi or whatever and you like Cary. Tell me I'm wrong."

"You can't say that so bluntly," Wendy hissed in a whisper.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

"Maybe. Yeah… Please tell me you haven't told anyone."

Tambry shrugged. "Not yet. But I just might have to if you don't get up the nerve to ask her out."

"You wouldn't dare."

"We'll see. Her birthday is in a week, Wendy. Surely you're not too cowardly to let Halloweek go to waste."

Wendy was silent. Normally nothing about Halloween scared her, but right now she was terrified. Tambry didn't press though, she just went back to her phone and left Wendy pining and pondering what to do.

Cary was also left pondering what to do about their crush. For years, doing nothing seemed like the appropriate course of action, but the tide was changing. More people in Gravity Falls were out and proud. There wasn't as much of a stigma here now. Even their friends seemed to be reforming when faced with the reality that Thompson was gay and no longer felt like he had to hide it.

"Hey, Thompson?" He was her ride to the movie marathon at Nate's house, Duncan was going to meet them there, which meant Cary had just a few minutes to talk to Thompson alone.

"Hm, yeah?"

"Why'd you decide to come out?"

"It wasn't really a decision, it was all happening, the guys were making fun of me for being gay without knowing I was gay, you and Wendy nearly started a fight, and then suddenly Duncan was there, like a knight in shining armor. And I want him to be my boyfriend so I couldn't exactly say no when Nate asked about it. I'm surprised they took it so well, though."

"But… I don't know… What gave you the confidence to even pursue Duncan? Isn't that kind of public?"

"First of all, Duncan pursued me. Second of all, yeah, it is, but... I mean, if Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durland get to be together, why shouldn't I end up with Duncan Wright?"

Cary echoed Wendy's sentiment from the other day, "Hell yeah, Thompson."

"Is, uh… Is there something on your mind?" Thompson asked, having a pretty good feeling that Cary wasn't asking for curiosity's sake.

"I think I am too," is all Cary said.

Thompson understood immediately, "Then you should go for it. You deserve to be happy just as much as Duncan or I."

"What if she doesn't like me back?"

"Then she's an idiot. And you don't seem like the type to fall in love with idiots."

Cary laughed a little, "Yeah. She's not an idiot. I just hope I'm good enough to be hers."

Of course, Cary had no way of knowing Wendy was thinking the exact same thing.


Thompson goes through the most shit in the show so he gets to have a really nice, hot boyfriend in this fic and there's nothing you guys can do about it. From here on out I'm gonna pretend homophobia doesn't exist, you're welcome.