Love Unheard

Chapter 5

(Dipper pov)

I head downstairs where Stan looks like he's in the process of ordering pizza since he has a pizza menu in hand. Ford turns to look at me and already I can tell that for some reason he doesn't look happy about something.

"Who was here with you? I heard someone playing a guitar and singing. You can't do that because of your....disability...."

I hate when he acts like this towards me.

I could if I tried, just feel like it isn't worth the effort. That was my friend Bill. He walked me home.

"You were already told before coming here that you weren't to let any strangers give you lifts anywhere for your own safety. You are only to take the bus to and from school."

He isn't a stranger, he's my friend. My first and only real friend that's my age. And he didn't give me a lift anywhere, he just walked me home. I missed my bus and didn't want to bother you or Stan. Besides, it takes less time for me to just walk here than it does to take the bus which doesn't even come straight here. It will still drop me off a mile away so I'll end up having to walk here anyway.

"I don't care. You should have texted one of us instead of walking home with someone from your school that you barely know. You don't know how people are. He could have easily decieved you or lead you somewhere without you knowing how to get back in your sensitive condition."

I am deaf, not fucking blind or stupid. I would not have just left myself get lost. If things did seem to get dangerous than you have to trust that I would be able to handle myself. I am not some little kid who doesn't know that the world is dangerous. I know that more than you. And just say deaf. Stop acting like it is something to be ashamed off, like I am some fucking shameful secret all the fucking time!

Feeling anger boiling inside of me I run out the door and into the woods feeling hot tears of anger stinging my eyes and making my vision blurry so I'm barely able to tell where the hell I'm going.

I hate when he acts like this, he acts just like my mom and that one teacher. I get that he's worried for me especially because of the accident but that was years ago. I have long accepted that I will forever be disabled and have adapted to being deaf. I have a system laid out so it doesn't hold me back. But he and everyone else around me just want to hold me back and treat me like some useless baby.

I finally stop running as I press the heel of my palms against my eyes trying to make the tears go away. I hate crying like this.

I jump slightly feeling someone tap me on the shoulder and looking up I see it's Bill.

"You okay?"

I sign back as I talk, feeling annoyed and need to voice it out as well as signing it for my own sanity. "Yeah, just some bullshit with my family. What are you doing out here?"

"I like walking through the forest to get home. I find the silence comforting and calming. What happened with you folks that has you out here?"

"Got in an argument with my great uncle Ford after you left."

"Is it because of me being there earlier?"

"Yes and no. He acts like I don't know how to do anything and went off pretty much warning me how strangers could potentially take advantage of me and that walking home is dangerous. But I'm not a baby. I know how to handle myself and my deafness. I don't need him to lecture me about the dangers in the world like I am a fucking two year old."

As I finish my rant I notice that Bill is looking past me and his whole body is rigid, his complextion has gone pale, eyes widened in horror.

Slowly looking behind me I see that he had good reason to be terrified because right behind me is the Gremloblin. It was hard enough dealing with this guy when I was 12, but he seriously has to show up again now of all times?

Bill grabs my hand and we both take off running. From the vibrations I feel everytime my feet hit the ground I can tell that it's right behind us.

We duck under tree branches as Bill has us slide down a steep hill before he pulls me behind a tree, holding me tightly as he has a hand over my mouth. I don't bother struggling because I know he's doing it for our safety and because for the first time I feel helpless.

There is nothing that I can possibly do to stop this thing from killing us. I barely got it to go away once and it had nearly killed me and Mabel back then. I can't even tell where it is anymore.

He finally lets go of me and looking around the tree I see it's gone and there doesn't seem to be any sign of it. I look up at Bill and he looks a bit worn out from running.

"I think we're safe now." He says before wiping the back of his hand across his forehead.

"Where did it go?"

"I don't know, but I think it just lost track of us and walked off somewhere else."

"Are you okay? You look really worn out."

"Yeah, don't worry about me I'm fine. Just haven't ran like that in a very long time. What the hell was that thing?"

"A Gremloblin. They are terrifying bastards. If you look right in their eyes, you'll see your worst fear."

"You've encountered that thing before?"

"Once, a very long time ago. Barely managed to survive it even back then." I glance at my watch seeing it's getting late and a sigh escapes me. Glancing up at Bill I see that he looks worried about me.

"You doing good?"

"Yeah, just really don't want to go home tonight is all."

He seems to be in thought for a minute before his face brightens up. "Come and stay the night at my place."

"Are you sure? Won't your parents mind?"

"I don't live with my parents, it's only me."

"You sure that you don't mind having me stay the night?"

"Of course not, it's totally fine. Come on."

Before I can think of a reason to say no he grabs my hand pulling me deeper into the forest and further away from the Mystery Shack.