Chapter Text
The sun shines through the triangle window in the attic the same way it always did. When I was a kid I figured out you could figure out the time by watching the sun move through the room. Now I have a cellphone that wakes me up to the tunes of Babba’s Disco Girl. As I turn off my alarm my sister stirs in the bed next to me a few feet away.
“Why do you take morning classes?” she murmurs, still half asleep. She turns to face the wall she has covered in polaroids and design ideas.
“Because I’m more functional in the morning than 10pm Mabel” I shake my head, not sure if she can even hear me. I grab my clothes from the dresser and run down the stairs for a shower. Ford is already up, coffee in hand
“Morning sport, breakfast is in the kitchen when you’re ready” I smile even as Ford messes up my already messed up hair
“Thanks, Ford, whose car am I taking today?” Gravity Falls is a small town, far from most cities. Way different then the city I grew up in before. The university is about 20 minutes away though and we have opted to stay in the house to save money. That does mean I have to drive me and Mabel back and forth for classes.
“Take mine, me and Stan are going to town today for groceries” I nod and run off to take a quick shower. I listen to music as I take a blistering hot shower, the music drowns out the millions of thoughts that usually run my brain. As I dry off I look at myself in the mirror. As I’ve gotten older I have grown into my body a bit. Stand and Ford paid for the surgeries I never thought I could get. Now I am able to stand in front of the mirror and only fuss about how my hair looks. My brown shaggy hair lays just above my hazel eyes that match my sisters. I pull on a graphic tee with a popular video character in a cute art style and a pair of tattered jeans that I roll up a bit so my long sock with little computer monitors can be seen. I walk out of the bathroom and check the time, 8:30. Just on time. My class starts at 10am and I have enough time to eat and take the nice drive to the university. I like to get there early so I have time to grab coffee and walk a bit before I have to sit in class. I walk into the kitchen with a slumped Mabel at the table and a laughing Stan and Ford. Mabel’s wild hair is sticking up all around the table. She is successfully dressed, much more “fashionably” compared to me, as she would say.
“Did you really poison her this time?” I joke as I poke my twin sister who just grumbles.
“No, we just told her to get out of bed” Ford says while Stan is still booming with laughter. Ford and Stan are also twins, just like me and Mabel. Stan took care of us for most of that first year me and Mabel stayed here, Ford came home from a long trip and we had lots of fun that summer. Ford is an author that travels the world for his work. Stan is a con man who runs his silly shop full of the “mysteries” of this town. As kids we ate that up. Me and Mabel ran around this town telling stories and “solving mysteries” . It was all in good fun. When Ford got home he was astatic with the journal we had been keeping of our “adventures” and we had helped him successfully publish a series of the Mystery Twins. That was a long time ago though. We weren’t even in middle school yet. Now we’re freshman in college and live off the steady wage of the Mystery Twins series and the merch we sell in the Mystery Shack. Although me and Mabel have parents back in California it always felt like we were coming home every summer and had to leave every fall. On our eighteenth birthday me and Mabel moved here, applied to university, and quickly cut ties with our parents. I grab breakfast from the stove, scrambled eggs and bacon. I throw some in front of Mabel and that wakes her up a bit.
“Dipper, Bro-bro, I love you so much. I am not waking up this early next semester.” Mabel begins eating as I laugh
“Then you better get a license there Mapel” she growls at me but continues eating her eggs silently. Stan stands from the chair he was leaning back in across from Mabel. And messes up both of our hairs
“Have a good day kids, I have to open the shack” Stan tips his fez and I shake my head with a large smile. Ford is texting someone quickly back and forth, every once in a while he’ll get a sly smile and I quirk my eyebrow. There is one man I know Ford would ever smile for outside this family
“McGucket up this early in the morning?” I ask innocently and Ford nods not looking up
“Yeah he’s working on something in his lab he wants me to-” then Ford pauses and I see the red in his cheeks.
“Oh? Was I not supposed to know that?” I shrug as I stand to clean my dish and Ford sits there still shocked. Mabel, who’s more awake at the sound of drama squeals
“Please say you and McGucket and finally realizing you’re made for eachother” and I laugh, teasing is our love language in this family. Ford stands abruptly
“I’ve got to get the grocery list together for today, kids have a good day” and without another word he is gone.
“Whoops, I don’t think we were supposed to know that” I winked at Mabel and she stuck her tongue out at me. Just like old times. I actually got Mabel out of her chair in time and we made it for the car, our bags in hand and goodbyes shouted through the house.
The first time I drove around Gravity Falls I realized just how small my whole world was when I was young. When I drove to the university me and Mabel’s anxiety were bouncing off each other like atoms and our panic was palpable. Now we drive with the windows down as it’s still warm in the fall air of Oregon, the radio is on playing Mabel’s playlist. Mabel is sketching something in her sketchbook and hums along to the music as I talk about whatever comes to mind. This morning it is time.
“Mabel, are you still scared of us growing up?” I remember that summer day before we turned thirteen. Mabel had run away into the woods and everybody had to search for her. It was our older friend Bill who eventually found her, he sat with her instead of immediately trying to drag her home. He always had a bit of wisdom in him, he talked her out of her moment. Growing up was always scary for us, growing apart is our worst fear. If college isn’t the peak of growing up then I don’t know what is. I would be lying if I said I didn’t share this fear everyday with Mabel. Growing up scares me more than any story we ever created when we were little. Mabel looks up from her notebook
“I don’t know. I guess I have convinced myself I don’t need to worry until we get closer to graduation. Graduating highschool was easy because we already had a plan. So maybe in junior year we need to make a plan. Right now we just need to get through this first semester.” I nod and smile.
“When did you become the mature sibling” I tease and Mabel rolls her eyes,
“I’ve always been the mature sibling, I am five minutes older of course, and girls mature faster than boys” Mabel sticks her tongue out at me, and although biology we are the same, and Mabel forgets sometimes, I smile. Because she sees me as her twin brother, and nothing else matters to me. After that I’m turning onto the exit for our university and besides Mabel’s humming we drive quietly.
Arriving on campus, we park in the designated parking, and quickly hop out of the car. Mabel skips next to me as we make it onto the green to meetup with our usual group. It’s mostly Mabel’s friends, Candy, Grenda, and Pacifica all our age and majoring in some art field, other than Pacifica who’s aiming to be a lawyer. The only one I’m close with is Wendy, freshly 21 and probably my best friend besides Mabel, we give each other a fist bump and The girls all giggle about something.
“Whats up Dips, how's your computer classes” I jump excitedly at the mention of my programming major but I quickly tone it down, I know nerd talk isn’t Wendy’s thing.
“Really good, I know I definitely chose the right major. How’s vet school?” Wendy shrugs
“I’m barely in school anymore, I’m mostly working now. Getting ready for graduation, you know how it is.” I nod, even though I don’t really know how it is, I understand that Wendy’s been busy and is really excited to be able to help the injured animals in Gravity Falls.
“Coffee run!” Mabel suddenly shouts from the other group of girls and Wendy and I laugh, following the group to the closest coffee stand. Mabel orders hers with lots of sugar and cream, I take mine black. As we turn to leave back to sit on the green until our classes start we hear a shout.
“Is that Gravity Falls Mystery Twins” the group turns, the girls take a protective stance around me and Mabel until we see the one who shouted. A tall man about Wendy’s age with blonde hair that’s almost yellow and golden eyes that I would know anywhere
“Bill!” I shout and break through the girls, who’d shifted from defense to delight, into a hug I didn’t realize I missed. Bill is Wendy’s age, when we were kids he actually hung out with us.
I will admit I did have a crush on both Wendy and Bill when I was young. Bill didn’t mind being our villain or monsters when we needed him to be. A few years ago, when he graduated high school, he left for a better university further away to study psychology.
“How are you here?” I ask up at him, still in his arms. The rest of the group had made it up to us at this point.
“I transferred here, I wanted to be closer to home for graduation. Being away from my Mystery Twins and the gang really made it hard to care about anything really.” He shrugged and his smile never wavered, but I remember years ago. Summer nights when he would get existential and scare me enough I would have to tell my uncles I was worried about him. When he was leaving I remember he told me that most psychologists have a reason they want to work in that field. As I look at him now, he looks healthy, but his eyes still hold the same wisdom and heaviness I still remember. I step back from Bill’s grasps for a moment as the girls fuss over him. I search his form though, looking for a crack, looking for a waver in demeanor that could hint to something deeper. Wendy stands back too and nudges me
“Careful Dips, you might bore a hole in his fancy clothes” I chuckle and take my eyes away from an admittingly fancily dressed Bill. He always had an eccentric taste in fashion, something him and Mabel shared. A point of jealousy I held deeply in my heart when I was young and immature.
“I’m worried is all” I say, even though she didn’t ask.
“Sure Dips, we all were back then.” She squeezes my shoulder in reassurance “We all grew up though, a lot happens between your freshman and senior semesters. I’m sure he is getting the help he needs, if he needs any at all.” I nod, I know Wendy is thinking logically, but I remember how happy Bill looked during the day on the nights we would sit on the roof of the shack, or sneak out in the woods. The nights I would rather stay up all night then leave him alone for even a second. As I look at Bill in front of me though, all I can feel is warmth. Bill is back, today I can celebrate that. I will cross any bridges I need to when I get to them. And as if Bill could hear my thoughts our eyes catch and he winks at me with a soft smile, only for me for a moment. My breath catches in my throat and I ignore the flutter my heart does without permission.
Soon the crowds on the greens are getting thinner, and we know classes are starting. Candy and Grenda had to run to their color theory class, Mabel walked them although her class doesn't start till later. I am walking slowly to the STEM building in the middle of the two older people who were essential in my upbringing.
“So Pinetree all grew up, what are you studying?” Bill asks
“Computer Science, can never go wrong with IT work” I shrug and Bill smiles
“You want to make video games” he says knowingly, I sigh
“I want to make video games” I nod and Wendy shakes her head.
“Boys” she not-so-whispers under her breath and something catches her eye
“Oh my vet friends are waiting up for me, I'll catch you guys later. See you Dips, good seeing you again Bill” she smiles and waves as she runs across the walkway to a group I’ve seen her hang out with before a few times throughout the years. She gives me a little wink and nudges her head towards Bil. I know what she’s saying, I hate that she knows I know. Suddenly it’s just me and Bill. I get nervous, we haven’t been able to talk one on one in years. My hands start fidgeting, I pick at hangnails I never have time to deal with and Bill catches me immediately. Never one for silence he says,
“You’ll lose all your sap Pinetree” Bill gently pulls my hands apart, I want to hold his hand. I push that thought away
“You’re the only one who calls me that now” I smile at the nickname I earned my first summer here when I would never stop wearing my ball cap with the pinetree on it. After the years it has become very tattered and I have it hanging up on my wall in the attic of my uncle's home.
“Well we finally got you to stop wearing that old thing” Bill teases me and I shake my head.
“I missed you” I say it without even thinking and Bill keeps smiling, maybe he really is okay.
“I visited every holiday, and I came home every summer” Bill rolls his eyes but he looks at me like he understands.
“Yeah but you don’t feel up to playing dream demon anymore” I fake pout and Bill chuckles.
“Awww I’m sorry, my big kid's homework kept me away from our very important adventures” Bill messes up my hair and I complain and fake swat at his hands even though I don’t really care.
We arrive at my building before I even realize.
“Well this is my stop” I turn to Bill not really wanting to say goodbye and he just smiles down at me softly. It almost looks like he’s glowing again, before the scary teen years hit us. Maybe I am being too anxious.
“Hey, Pinetree?” Bill says and I quirk my eyebrows in response as if saying continue
“I missed you too” he smiles and runs off waving. I smile waving back before turning towards my building and climbing the stairs to get to my class. This year suddenly doesn't look so bad.
Our group has a few little habits since we’ve gotten the hang of this whole college thing. One is when we’re ready for lunch we hit the call button on our group chat and we all sit in the call until everyone is ready for lunch. I am sitting in the library on an empty call studying some code when I am surprised by the joining call sound. I jump nearly out of my chair as a loud Grenda says
“Hi Dipper! Only one here huh?” I turn her volume down a bit and take a deep breath.
“Yes. I am in the library, hang on.” I whisper into my headphone mic as I pack up my books.
“I’m waiting on Candy outside her classroom, her class should be done soon” Grenda says, I nod even though she can’t see me.
“Hey Grenda I’ve been meaning to ask you something” I walk along the green to the center where there are a lot of trees and benches where I can sit and talk to myself.
“What do you need to ask me?” Grenda sounds worried for a moment so I jump straight into asking
“Are you and Candy… a thing?” Grenda pauses a moment and half-whispers
“Not officially” I nod and think on this a moment
“Is that all the information I am privy to?” I ask and Grenda pauses again
“For now” I nod again but say out loud so Grenda knows I understand
“Okay, that’s fair and valid. Anyways, any ideas on lunch?” Our conversation devolves into trying to figure out the cheapest and best option for lunch when I hear a sweet voice come from Grenda’s side of the phone
“Hey Candy, yeah it’s just Dipper.” I hear the speaker being taken away from the conversation and I sigh, in silence once more. I look around the green and much to my surprise, I spot yellow hair in the distance. How come I only started seeing him today?
“Cypher!!” I shout across the green, many people do daily so it’s not odd to see. The yellow eyes turn to me and smile, Bill bounds up to me.
“Pinetree! Miss me already” He teases and sits next to me “No lunch? Do I need to take your books away again” he pokes me and I laugh
“No no don’t worry, I have grown out of the hyper focus just a bit” I motion towards my phone facing up on the table “My friends sit on call till all of us are on to decide lunch. We’re missing Wendy today and I’ve only got Candy and Grenda so we’re waiting on Mable and Pacifica, they’re in the same English class.” Bill nods and smiles
“What a good system, I’m sure no one would mind if I joined?” I smile practically jumping from joy if I wasn’t sitting down.
“Of course not, you’re always welcome when your Mystery Twins are around” I nudge his shoulder teasingly and we laugh, Grenda happens to pull the speaker back at this time
“Dipper? Are you talking to someone? I didn’t know you talked to anyone outside our group?” I laugh and shake my head, I probably look a bit crazy to Bill.
“I’m talking to Bill Grenda, don’t worry I haven’t changed into some extroverted crazy person” this causes everyone to laugh and I smile. Suddenly there is a ding and Mabel joins the call
“Sorry we’re late guys, we had a project to prepare for in our English class. We’ll be down in a minute, did we decide on lunch?” Grenda and Candy launch into a debate about whether chinese or sandwiches are better, Pacifica and Mabel have their own stances. I sit and wait, handing Bill my other headphone so we can both listen to the madness, until finally Mabel calls a cease fire
“Dipper, what do you want?” Mabel asks and the calls goes quiet, but before I can answer Bill interrupts
“You all know Dipper can’t decide, let’s go sandwiches, it's a late lunch and chinese will fill you up too much” Bill says matter-a-factly. The way he would when we were kids and we were making rules for a game. Actually I think Bill is the reason we were allowed in the woods without Stan or Ford, he would make rules to watch over all of us. He was the monster so he was supposed to watch us, it just made sense.
“Bill?” Mabel asks and I can almost hear her check her phone and I chuckle
“Oh yeah I found Bill on the green, I said no one would mind if he joined us” I look at Bill and we both smile, a sweet energy I haven’t felt between us in years.
“Ohhhhh, that makes sense. Well let's go sandwiches then, We’ll meet you guys at the shop near the common building.” Mabel concludes and there is a chorus of goodbyes as we all leave the call.
“Sandwiches it is” I say when it’s just me and Bill again, and I pack up my books again.
“Do you still like Ham and cheese with wayyy too many pickles” Bill asks and I chuckle
“Of course, Mabel still wont eat ham after Stan let us have Waddles though” Bill shakes his head and laughs.
“Honestly, slightly surprised she hasn't gone full vegan yet” Bill says and we laugh, like we used to. I smile like no time has passed. And the butterflies in my stomach began to flutter, as if they never really left.