Chapter Text
Summer 2019: Age 19
Mabel brushed her now shoulder-length copper hair, returning her stare to a pair of chocolate brown eyes in the tall mirror. She didn't really feel like she was going to be 20, so she felt nervous not knowing if she should. She was going back to school on her birthday, so today, two days before, she was going to celebrate her birthday with her brother.
At least, she was supposed to.
Dipper and Ford had left 3 days ago for some trip or exploration, it's not like Mabel would know. They said they would be back that morning, and Ford said he trusted her in the house, as long as nobody came over (it's not like any of her friends were town anyway).
Mabel didn't think anything of them not home yet at first. She just needed to sleep. It wasn't until around noon, when they still weren't home, that she started nervously fidgeting with her custom sweaters. She'd nearly finished one, and the boys still weren't home. Her stomach ached with worry as she sat by the window, wistfully staring into the afternoon sky
It was now 6:30 pm. The summer sun was coming to a close, the sky a cascading ocean of orange. She decided she could at least get ready, so she now stood in the bathroom, contemplating what she should do.
Pulling out her cellphone, she scrolled down her contact list, in search for Dipper's name. Frustrated, she just typed in his name and continued with her interrogation process.
Mabel: when are you coming home?
And now, I wait, Mabel thought as she sulked over to her room and flopped on her bed. Staring at the ceiling, she clutched her pillow, clinging to it for dear life.
The house was silent, save for the pitter patter of rain and hail on the old roof. She dug her nails into her arms when she heard a clap of thunder, booming as it echoed through the room.
Summer was coming to an end, which meant more storms and less time seeing her family. Dipper and Ford always went out the most late August, which Mabel always wondered why. It wasn't until the year before that she overheard Ford, speaking to Dipper, that their work was getting too grave, and must be hidden at all costs. But she knew what he had meant.
The very thought of what case was so dire that Dipper couldn't share anything with her was unfathomable, which panicked Mabel even more.
Half an hour had past, and Mabel stared at her phone, empty. Grumbling, she texted again, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
Mabel: this isnt funny, answer your phone, where are you
It wasn't even 5 minutes before her phone buzzed again, and she jumped a foot in the air fumbling for it.
Dipper: I'm doing something actually important Mabel
She was lucky that her phone had a life-proof case, otherwise when she threw it at the wall it would've shattered.
She spent most days wondering why Dipper woke up screaming, why he spoke solemnly and brushed off all questions, why she sat in the house alone some days, why she cried some nights when Dipper wasn't there.
That's when she snapped. She couldn't keep quiet anymore. All of these summers were Dipper's fault.
She stomped down the steps and into the kitchen. Yanking the fridge door open, she grabbed the cake she had made and dumped it in the trash.
Entering the code into the vending machine, she ran down the steps, to the elevator. She bit her lip hard as she sunk down 2 floors under the house. She dug the key into the safe and grabbed the crack in space time that she knew Dipper was obsessed with. She knew she shouldn't be here, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
And this was why she needed to go, she couldn't deal with keeping quiet in that empty house.
Shutting the vending machine door behind her, she bolted to the parlor, where she kept her schoolwork, and stuffed her new possession into her art bag .
She didn't even hear Dipper screaming her name. She barely looked up when he walked in.
"Mabel, I've been calling you for over 15 minutes! What are you even doing in here?" He had almost forgotten this room and its old wax inhabitants.
Mabel looked at him, but didn't say anything.
"Mabel, you texted me a hundred times, did you really text me to say nothing?"
"Oh, so I have to be in grave danger to see you now?" Mabel looked up, eyes red, not caring enough to notice Dipper's dishevled ones.
"God, Mabel..." Dipper sighed, rolled his eyes as he started to leave.
"Dipper, get back here and listen me once for 5 seconds!"
Dipper turned back around, to face his sister, ready for whatever may happen.
"Can you listen to me just once? Once Dipper, out of this whole summer, I hope you're happy with yourself."
"Jeez, I don't have time for this, Mabel-"
"Yeah, you don't have time for anyone anymore. Me, Wendy, Mom and Dad, Pacifica-"
"That's none of your business-"
"Wait! Just let me finish once!" Mabel's eyes started to water, "What about Grunkle Stan?"
Dipper closed his eyes, back turned to Mabel, "What about him?"
"What do you mean 'What about him?' He's family, and you practically forgot him!"
"He lied to us!"
"You lied to us!" Mabel yelled, fists clenched, "You and Ford tossed us aside. He gave Stan hell for so many years and now you are too! I visited him alone Dipper! You've ruined our lives-"
"Stan ruined our lives!" Dipper yelled, picking up Mabel's taped up picture of them and their uncles from on top the fireplace.
"Wait Dipper-"
"He ruined our lives!" And into the fire he threw the picture, catching flame as the tape melted to the firewood.
Mabel screamed as she slid down next to the fire, wiping tears from her face as Dipper ran out of the room and slammed the door.
He can't do this, Mabel thought, running after him as he walked to the vending machine.
Suddenly, she remembered something, and ran back to the parlor for her art bag.
"Wait!" Mabel screamed as she caught to Dipper,
"I have the rift."
Dipper whipped around, eyes finally meeting Mabel's for the first time in ages. They stood in front of the vending machine, Mabel's hand feeling for the doorknob, ready to run if the situation needed.
"Where did you get that?"
"Doesn't matter where I-"
"Yes it does!" Dipper yelled, turning around fully, "Hand it to me!"
Dipper lunged forward, and grabbing Mabel, busted through the door. Dipper reached for the rift in Mabel's hand, but Mabel held it out farther as they hit the dirt driveway. She kicked him off of her, barely missing a powerful swing. Getting up, she started to run, but he got up and put his training to use. He grabbed both of her arms, pinning her against a tree.
"It's like, all you-" Mabel kicked his stomach knocking him over.
"-care about-"
"Mabel, Mabel wait-"
"Is this stupid rift!"
"NO!"
If that damn rift hadn't been sealed, Dipper and Mabel's life, and the world would have shattered. But the world was spared that night.
Dipper and Mabel, however, were not.
"Enjoy the cake, jackass" Mabel yelled, hoping he would hear her from inside as she threw her bag into her car. She jammed her key into the old station-wagon, slammed her door shut, took a deep breath, and left.
Dipper watched from the window, angry. His eyes widened as he turned around, running back to the parlor. He frantically put out the fire and desperately searched the ashes, for anything remaining from that photo of the happy family.
But it was burnt to ash.