Chapter Text
"Mabel, this is a huge opportunity for me-"
"Well it's a horrible opportunity for me!" Mabel cried. Tears welled up in her eyes as she ran to her scrapbook and tore it open. The fact that she was so upset made Dipper's heart shatter. He was worried about Mabel, and loved her, but couldn't watch her so upset over his dream. "I just wish summer could last forever" she said. She plopped onto the floor and opened her book. Dozens of memories flooded her mind. Stan, Soos, Wendy, everyone painted a landscape in her mind, ghosts chasing, dinosaurs flying, a sunset over a lake. Four forever friends holding fish and cringing over 1001 Yuk-Em-Ups. As she looked at her new family, her despair changed to anger in a second. It would all be taken away from her. One week. One week and the greatest summer she ever had would be a lifetime for him, and nothing but a memory for her.
Awkwardly, Dipper sat next to Mabel on the floor, on the splintery wood floor boards that had grown soft due to the twins rambunctious golf playing. "But it can't, Mabel. Things aren't going to stay frozen this way. Things change, summer ends..."
Mabel looked up at Dipper's desperate face. She knew he was trying to comfort her, but deep down, she knew he wanted this, more than anything. She wanted to run. She wanted to grab her backpack full of party chocolate and useless party invitations and run until she couldn't run anymore. Jump into the bottomless pit, ride off on a unicorn, make a deal with Bill, anything to keep her brother safe with her.
But Dipper deserved better. He deserved to travel the world and earn millions of dollars. He deserved to become an explorer and raid caves for booby traps and fight off monsters guarding treasures. He deserved to live a life of adventure, never look back, never worry about his sister catching up. He deserved hundreds of friends who didn't make fun of his birthmark or clumsiness or lack of whatever Mabel had. He deserved to be happy, and he wasn't at home. She couldn't make him if she tried.
So instead of running out the door, she ran down the hallway. Dipper looked up, shocked by her outburst and worried of what she would do.
The room was still for a moment. Nothing but Dipper's innocent figure, the soft feedback of the walkie-talkie in the corner, and the large triangle window, forever haunting him with its golden light seeping through, reminding him that the demon is watching him.
She ran back in, with her big pig in her arms. She placed him on the floor, and scooted him towards Dipper. Choking on her tears, she whispered,
"Take care of Waddles-"
Dipper jumped over the pig, straight to his sister. "Thank you. I promise." Dipper whispered as he wrapped his arms around his crying sister. And they just sat there in a sincere sibling hug, on the memory stained wood in the room that was no longer hers.