Years after that first summer, the movie was almost over. It was late. Crickets were still singing outside. The night was still, and Dipper's bike was waiting outside.

He didn't want to go home. Not until he knew.

Wendy crunched on the popcorn beside him and chuckled at the stupid, stupid commercials. They were good material for riffing. Dipper didn't feel particularly into it just then. He was laying down and staring at the ceiling.

Wendy turned her head, swinging his old blue cap as she did. "Hey," she said nudged him with her leg, "You awake back there? I know the movie is boring, but it's worse when you're not doing this with me."

Dipper felt a pang of emotion pull at him, hearing that. She wanted him to participate in this thing they did. So did he… except… he wanted more. But there couldn't be more. So why…?

He sucked in a breath. "Wendy, can I ask you something?"

"Hmm? Yeah, sure dude, what's up?"

Dipper shifted on the bed. "You, like, said once that you had more fun with me than anyone else. Was… that true?"

Wendy thought a moment. "Yeah, it's true."

"Why?" He said to the ceiling.

Wendy didn't respond right away. She shifted a little on the bed to look at him. "Do I need to give you a reason, dude?"

"I'm two and a half years younger than you. I'm a snotty nosed, sweaty, paranoid teenager with awkward acne and an obsession with ghosts and the paranormal." He winced, "Why would you throw yourself in the bottomless pit for me when I'm one of the least cool kids in Gravity Falls?"

"Ummm…. Because you can tell a good riff?"

"Wendy…"

"What, dude?"

"Just forget it." Dipper rolled over.

"Dude, why are you being so weird all the sudden?"

Dipper didn't answer right away, but then said, "It's not important, forget it."

Wendy stared at him. Something about this moment and tone reminded her of the look on Dippers face at ma and pa's, long ago. And again just after the bunker. He was being vulnerable, just like those times.

She could save face and let it drop like he asked, but there must be a reason he was being this dodgy. Even if she didn't want to consider the answer.

"First of all, who told you that you weren't cool? You're like one of the smartest kids on the planet, Dipper. How can that not be cool?"

He rolled on his back and said, "So if I told you I won the 6th grade spelling bee with the word, 'Sesquipedalian', you'd be impressed?"

Wendu thought for a moment. "Uh… yeah actually. I can't spell that." Her eyes rolled skyward. "What does that even mean?"

"It's a measurement. Foot and a half." Dipper said. "But like, a spelling bee? Not like punching bears or… having a great taste in music or… like… being older?"

Wendy laughed, "Dude, you told me about the manatars and the multibear. Macho guys like that are… kinda a turnoff for me."

"Really?"

"Yeah Dude, you see my family? They're soaking in testosterone. It's kinda disgusting. Especially when some of it is just performative to cover their insecurities. They just won't be honest."

Dipper didn't say anything at first. Then he said, "So, you hang out with me because im brainy and non threatening?"

Wendy, playfully, said as she nudged him again with a foot, "Come ON dude! Like, you drop zingers like nobody else I know. You wanna know the level of humor I get around here? Fart jokes. It's kinda rad to listen hear something clever for once."

Dipper didn't say anything, his eyes were closed and a hand was pressed to his forehead.

Wendy went on, "Like, you're not afraid to punch ghosts and you literally saved this town together with your sister. You're funny, caring, sensitive, and just a really all around cool dude. Why wouldn't I want to hang out with you, just because you're younger? You're rad, man. You prove it every year you're up here."

After a moment, Dipper sucked in a breath and said, "I wasn't able to completely get over you, you know."

Somehow this came as a shock to Wendy. She drew back a little and blushed as she stared at him. He went on as he dropped his hand, "I guess what I'm wondering is if I was ever worthy enough for you to, you know, do something about it. Like, some nights I stay up thinking about you when I'm here. I think i just need to hear from you definitively if I'm wasting my time."

Wendy's eyes lingered on Dipper. He was older now, taller. It wasn't likely he could top the freakish height she inherited from her father, but he was no longer the shortstop she knew when they first met. In many ways, he had grown. It was harder now to dismiss the possibility of expanding their friendship.

She heard herself speaking slowly, "What if I hurt you Dipper? I kinda don't want to wreck this."

Dipper himself hesitated, then said, "I don't want to keep living without giving it a shot. I can't stop thinking about it." He sat up at last, resting on his elbows, and looked at her. "I'm not going to push if you really don't want to. If you're still not interested, I'd like to know so I can work on it."

She looked at him, then dropped her eyes. He was asking something she wasn't sure if she should give. "Can… I have some time to think about it?"

He bobbed his head in a nod and he looked away. It panged her to see him hurt, but he nodded in understanding. "Yeah…" he said and glanced over her. "The movie is over, I should probably go."

"Yeah…" she said, not moving.

Dipper grabbed her old hat as he started to gather his things and leave her room. He was about to go to the door when she said, "Dipper, wait."

He turned to look at her. She rightened on the bed to look at him. Looking into his eyes, she said, "Are you serious about this? About… wanting to try? I don't want you ending up like Robbie."

"We both know i'm more chill than he was then about it."

"Yeah… I just…." she hesitated with herself, hands bouncing in her lap before she forced herself to say it, "I… love you, man… and I don't want to hurt you."

Dipper took a step back into the room, moved by what she said. "I… um… I love you too Wendy."

Both of them could hear the other's ragged breathing. Wendy asked, "Do you have to leave, just yet?"

"No."