When Gravity Falls and Earth becomes Sky

Chapter Four

( Key: Bill talking in reader's mind Bill talking through reader to other people)

After shaking Bill's hand, I could feel a very subtle change in myself. I didn't know what was different, but I just felt so much better. Bill went into my mind almost as soon as I shook his hand. I could hear his laughter in my head, talking about how it was "good to be back". I didn't ask him what this meant and instead just walked back to the shack. Miraculously, my headache from earlier went away. Maybe that was Bill's doing. He really was all powerful, I guess. 

When I entered the Mystery Shack, I saw everyone sitting in the living room watching something on the tv. I tried to walk passed without them seeing me, but I wasn't so lucky. Stan had caught me.

"Woah, hey, kid. What are you doing out of bed? And why are you coming in from outside? You're supposed to be upstairs." He took a slow sip from his Pitt Cola, raising an eyebrow in my direction. 

I stood still, frozen on the spot. I'd never been great at lying, I couldn't think of anything to say. I opened my mouth, hoping I was able to form a convincing sentence. "Relax, pops, I just went for a walk, that's all." I was surprised at the voice that left me. It didn't sound like me, and I would never refer to Stan as "pops". Number one: it wasn't accurate, he was an uncle, not a grandpa, and number two: it just wasn't my style. 

"Just one of the many perks of having me in your mind, Sixer." Bill. It was Bill who said it. he must have taken over in my slight panic. 

"Uh... okay. Glad you're feeling better." It was clear that Stan was still a bit suspicious. 

"Hey, (Y/N), come watch TV with us!" Mabel waved me over from her spot on the floor. Dipper nodded along, copying her wave. 

"I- uh, I can't guys, I still have a bit of a headache, I'm gonna go upstairs." I excused myself, backing away and turning. As soon as I turned around I ran into something- well, more like someone. "Oh, I'm sorry, Grandpa Ford. I wasn't watching where I was going."

"It's quite alright, (Y/N). I understand, they can all be a bit distracting." He joked with a small chuckle. I looked up to him, and I was going to smile back at him until-

"Fordsy! Just the man I wanted to see! How about some grandpa-grandchild bonding time, huh? Tell me about your recent, crummy little life, tell me all your secrets! How about telling me about those journals Dipper was telling me about?" 

Damn it, Bill. He was not copying my mannerisms at all. And Dipper had not mentioned any journals to me, I didn't know what bill was talking about. Once I had full control of my body, I looked back at Ford with a nervous smile. "I mean... I'd love to get to know you some more. I spent so long trying to find you, it would be nice to spend some time together." It wasn't technically a lie, and it would get both Bill and me what we want. 

Ford didn't say anything for a minute, he just raised an eyebrow. He wasn't buying it, he knew something was wrong. He could definitely tell I was nervous too. He took a step towards me, Bill made me take a step back. Ford didn't come any closer after watching me back away. "If you don't mind, I'd like to take you down to my lab, to test you for a... concussion."

"Don't do it, Six. It's a trap. He knows you're better than him, he's gonna take you down there and lock you up forever. He can't stand that you're smarter, better."

I couldn't argue with Bill, he knew everything. "Uh, actually, Grandpa Ford, I'm gonna go upstairs and rest, you know?"

"Is something going on, (Y/N)? You can tell me... Whatever happened, I won't be angry." His tone was a bit gentler than it had been earlier. He definitely knew something was wrong.