The planning didn't go quite as Mabel had expected.
"So, I think Ray's sad because of Wendy."
"...Wendy? That doesn't make any sense."
"Why not? Ray's probably in despair because even if he punches Robbie, he can't make Wendy stop dating him! Ah, a tragic love story..."
"That's the part that doesn't make sense, Mabel. If Ray liked Wendy, there should've been some hint of his emotions towards her, but he never even flinched when Wendy was right next to him. Plus, I asked him. I straight-up asked him if he likes Wendy or not, and he told me with a very genuine expression that he couldn't even imagine that kind of situation."
"...Hmm..."
Mabel couldn't help but agree... But her thoughts didn't align with what Dipper intended.
"But then again, that means Ray might be lonely! We need to find him a girlfriend!"
"Ha...okay, do whatever you want, Mabel. Personally, I think he's upset because there's something wrong with his...study. I mean, that's the only thing he ever gets emotional about."
"Dudes, maybe it's because Ray can see the future."
The twins paused for a moment and scoffed.
"...Haha, very funny Soos."
"No, I'm serious! Ray can see the future!"
The kids just laughed at Soos's claim about Ray seeing the future. It sounded like one of Soos's classic wild stories.
"Come on, Soos. Ray seeing the future? That's a bit much, even for him," Dipper chuckled.
Soos shrugged, "I'm telling ya, it happened when we fought that evil Ray. He knew exactly what was gonna happen next. It was like he had a script or something."
"Evil Ray?! Haha!"
The laughter continued, and they shifted their focus back to the task at hand—helping Ray. Mabel was determined to find him a new relationship.
"Okay, so here's the plan, guys. We need to get Ray a girlfriend. Someone cool, someone he'll like," Mabel declared with enthusiasm.
Dipper rolled his eyes, "Mabel, I really don't think that's the issue here. Ray's not upset because he doesn't have a girlfriend."
"But it could be, Dipper! Love conquers all, you know?"
Dipper sighed, realizing they were on different wavelengths. "Look, I think the real problem is something to do with his studies. He's been acting weird about it lately. I'll talk to him and see if he needs help with anything academic."
Mabel crossed her arms, "Fine, I'll be the responsible friend. I'm gonna find Ray his perfect match."
They looked at Soos, who was contemplating the situation. "Uh, dudes, why not both? Maybe Ray needs love and good grades."
Dipper and Mabel stared each other in the eye and nodded.
"Okay, then this is now a bet! Whoever makes him happy again, wins." Mabel said. The two agreed with a serious expression on their face.
Ray was immersed in jotting down notes behind the counter, his pen dancing across the paper. Mabel, driven by her insatiable curiosity, tiptoed towards him in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the mysterious notes. However, Ray, ever perceptive, effortlessly blocked her view by shifting his body and sliding the notes out of sight.
Undeterred, Mabel persisted, "Hey, Ray! What are you working on? Anything interesting?"
Ray looked up, his expression calm and collected. "Oh, just some ideas for improving the snack bar. You know, trying to enhance the Mystery Shack experience."
Despite the vague response, Mabel couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to those notes than snack bar improvements. Nevertheless, she decided to steer the conversation towards her own agenda.
"Speaking of improvements, Ray, what do you think about that person over there?" Mabel pointed towards a pretty blonde girl of around 15 who was browsing the merchandise. Mabel noticed she was eyeing Ray for some time, and it might be her chance.
Ray, seemingly puzzled by the connection between improvements and the girl, observed her with a detective-like focus.
"Hmm," he mused, "based on her attire, the absence of any distinct accent, the most recent bus that arrived near the shack, and the subtle tan lines on her wrist, I'd say she's likely from Idaho. The slight wear on the edges of her sneakers suggests frequent outdoor activities, possibly hiking or biking. As for her age, the choice of accessories and the well-worn charm bracelet point to a teenage demographic, probably 15 or 16."
Mabel stood still for a moment, processing the detailed information Ray had just effortlessly delivered. However, her intentions were slightly different.
"...Wha...No! I didn't mean for you to find out who she is. I meant...what do you think of her romantically? Can't you feel the thumping in your heart?"
"Hm... No."
"Aw, come on! Look, she's coming towards us!"
Mabel excitedly punched Ray's arm multiple times as the blonde-haired girl approached the counter. Ray, though appearing slightly annoyed, quickly put on a fake smile.
"Hello, miss. How may I help you?"
The blonde-haired girl approached the counter with a friendly smile, attempting to flirt with Ray. She batted her eyelashes and said, "Hey, so... I was thinking, maybe I could get your number?"
Ray, completely oblivious to her advances, raised an eyebrow. "Number? Oh, you mean merchandise numbers, right? Sure, let me show you our selection." With a charming but fake smile, he effortlessly guided her around the gift shop.
Ray, seizing the opportunity, strategically pointed out items with hefty price tags. "This here," he said, holding up a seemingly ordinary snow globe, "is a limited edition. Very rare. Only a few left in the world. A collector's item, you know?"
The girl, eager to impress, nodded enthusiastically, "Wow, really? I'll take it!"
Ray continued the masterclass in upselling, showcasing items with inflated prices and convincing explanations for their uniqueness. From cryptic-looking journals to supposedly enchanted keychains, Ray weaved a narrative that made each item seem indispensable.
As the girl's basket filled with overpriced merchandise, Ray smoothly segued into, "And of course, you can't leave without our exclusive Mystery Shack mystery box. Guaranteed to contain rare and mysterious items from around the world. It's a steal, trust me."
With a final flourish, Ray presented the mystery box, complete with an exaggerated description of its contents. The girl, charmed and swept up in the excitement, eagerly agreed to purchase it.
As she reached for her wallet, Ray maintained his facade, "Oh, and don't forget the limited-time offer – buy one, get one at half price! A fantastic deal, right?"
The girl, thrilled at the prospect of a bargain, gladly added more items to her purchase. By the time the transaction was complete, she had spent a considerable amount on seemingly magical trinkets.
With the girl's purchases neatly bagged, Ray escorted her toward the exit with a polite smile. The blonde-haired girl, not ready to give up, attempted one last flirtatious comment, "You know, you're really good at this. Maybe we could grab a coffee sometime?"
Ray, still oblivious to her intentions, responded with genuine friendliness, "Coffee? Oh, I'm not really a coffee person. But thanks for shopping at the Mystery Shack! Have a great day!"
Before she could make another attempt, Ray gently guided her out of the shack, closing the door behind her. Mabel watched the scene unfold, perplexed by Ray's apparent lack of interest in romantic endeavors.
"Ray, seriously? You don't know romance even when it's hitting you in the face!" Mabel teased, shaking her head.
Ray chuckled, "Well, I'm just focused on providing the best customer service. Romance is not really on my radar."
Mabel looked at Ray in the eye. Yes, he was still stressed. She could see it. Ray was constantly thinking about something. Something that is probably something more serious than just getting a date. He was constantly tapping his thighs with his finger as if he was typing something down, even now.
Even when dealing with that Idaho girl, he didn't stop being cautious of every single act the girl was doing. He looked afraid, and annoyed.
And it was clear that she had failed her mission.
"Who needs romance when you have the Mystery Shack, right?" Ray added, attempting to redirect the conversation.
"...Ray," Mabel said. "Why are you...stressed? What's bothering you?"
"..."
Ray smiled. Mabel knew that was the fake smile that he used for customers.
"Mabel. I'm fine. Everything's fine."
"But you're...!"
"I'll tell you when you grow up, bud. Okay? I'll deal with this by myself."
Dipper couldn't contain his laughter as Mabel admitted defeat.
"Ha..."
"You failed, didn't you?" Dipper smirked at his sister's downcast expression.
Mabel nodded, and Dipper couldn't resist rubbing it in, " 'Oh, I'm going to get Ray a girlfriend!' 'Ray's sad because he's lonely!' Ahhh! Stop it, Dipper!"
"Say that again, Mabel. What was it? 'I'm going to find Ray's perfect match!'...haha! I told you!"
Mabel groaned, burying her face in her sweater as Dipper continued to mock her. "It's nothing to laugh about, Dipper! Can't you see? I just want to make everyone happy in the shack. And, well, I thought if Stan can get along with Lazy Susan, this would work too!"
Dipper chuckled and stood up, placing his journal back into his vest. "Haha... Well, I guess I'll have to try. Get ready to lose the bet, Mabel. Prepare my prize."
"...Bleh."
Dipper was secretly confident. He understood Ray's temperament better than his optimistic sister did. Ray was a person of intellect, not too keen on excessive social interaction, much like Dipper himself. That's why he had a plan.
"Tada! Chess!"
"...Chess..?" Ray looked puzzled at the sudden suggestion.
Dipper, however, was quite confident. Chess was a perfect distraction, a way to engage Ray without delving too much into social dynamics. Plus, Dipper himself often turned to chess when he needed a break from math and science.
The game began, and to Dipper's surprise, Ray proved to be a formidable opponent. Each move was deliberate, calculated, and Dipper found himself thoroughly engaged. After a few turns, Ray delivered a checkmate, leaving Dipper astounded.
"Wait, wait, wait! What... What did you... Again! Let's do it again!"
Ray agreed, and they started another round. However, Dipper's confidence quickly waned as Ray checkmated him three times in a row, each game concluding surprisingly swiftly.
"Okay, okay, you win. I didn't see that coming at all. How are you so good at this?" Dipper exclaimed, a mixture of disbelief and admiration in his voice.
Ray just smiled weakly, "Chess is a game of strategy, Dipper. It pays to think ahead. And I... well, recently had a chance to practice this ability... Yeah."
However, chess proved insufficient. Ray's tired, stressed expression returned, and Dipper couldn't divert his attention from whatever was bothering him.
Soos faced a similar outcome. Attempting to fix a radio with Ray, Ray effortlessly repaired it manually before Soos could unleash his creativity.
"...Dudes..."
"Ha..."
"Ugh..."
They were struggling to discern the cause of Ray's distress. The attempts from the previous day had failed, and they were brainstorming for alternative approaches. Ray wasn't at the shack yet; he mentioned he needed to take care of his sister since his parents were away.
"Ray's coming back at 3 PM. We've gotta find out something!"
"But there's no clue why he's stressed, dude!"
"Maybe Grunkle Stan was right... Maybe we need to give up."
The shack door creaked open, and they turned to see Wendy entering. She seemed surprised by their collective scrutiny.
"...Hi, guys. I'm back from camping... Is something going on here?"
"Ray's stressed," Mabel stated matter-of-factly.
Wendy appeared puzzled at the news. "Well... yeah, he's always stressed. I can feel that. He just doesn't show it to us that easily."
"...He can't hide it. It's serious...!" Mabel began explaining their attempts to cheer Ray up. Wendy, while listening, seemed to notice something.
"He was scribbling something?"
"Yeah, dude. Like when we fought that evil Ray," Soos added. Dipper shot Soos a warning look, signaling that this wasn't the time for jokes. However, Wendy seemed to grasp the gravity of what he said.
"...Hm. I think I can distract him. But you guys need to trust me, okay? Don't try to interrupt."
"Alright, Candy. If you're hungry, there's tomato stew on the stove. I've got to head to work, so you'll be on your own. Can you handle it?"
"Oppa, do you still see me as a baby? I can handle myself!"
"...You're still young. Just be safe."
Leaving Candy at home, I stepped out. Today, my parents had some meeting to attend, leaving me in charge of taking care of Candy. I prepared some supper, but I couldn't shake off the uncertainty about leaving her alone.
After my recent struggles with depression, I felt the shack members making an effort to cheer me up. I appreciated their gestures, though staying positive proved to be a challenge.
Nevertheless, I kept myself occupied, digging for more clues about Bill's plans in the journal. There wasn't much to go on, but it was the only lead I had.
"...It's been a while since he sent me another story... He's gearing up for a powerful move."
The next one would likely be intense. I needed to stay vigilant. Ha.
I pondered how many times I'd face death this time. I just hoped it would lead to some progress.
[Drr...Drr...]
"...?"
Retrieving my phone, I noticed a call from Wendy. Was she back from camping? I hoped my altercation with Valentino wouldn't lead to more trouble.
[Hey dude. I'll show you the 75-cent coin I mentioned. Swing by my house. You know where it is, right?]
"...What? No, Wendy. I have to..."
[So you're coming?! Okay! I'll take that as a yes! Bye!]
[Beep-]
"...?"
What was that? It was sudden and left me puzzled. Did she just hang up after telling me to go to her house?...75-cent coin? Why all of a sudden? Is it something urgent? Do I have to do something? I...agh...!
Checking the time, I had an hour before my work shift.
"...Fine."
Reluctantly, I headed towards Wendy's house near the forest.