Uncertainty - Stanford Pines x Reader (female)

Chapter 49

Dipper was seated across from me, his nose buried in yet another book while Stanley slouched in the armchair beside him, aimlessly flipping through the channels of the ancient TV. His muttered complaints about the "garbage on nowadays". Ford was by the bookshelf, scanning through some obscure volume of his own, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. Apart from the faint sound of birds chirping outside, the world seemed to move in slow motion, as if time had decided to take the afternoon off.

Then, as if on cue, the door crashed open.

Mabel barreled into the living room with the kind of energy that could make the universe sit up and pay attention, clutching a brightly colored envelope in her hand. "Guys! Guys! You'll never believe this!", she exclaimed, her voice hitting a note somewhere between a squeal and a cheer.  Her energy was infectious, andI felt a smile tugging at the corner of my lips despite myself.

She practically danced across the room, waving the envelope like it was the key to untold treasures. "Look what just came in the mail!", she chirped, thrusting it into Dipper's face before he could even look up from his journal, while her eyes were sparkling with anticipation. "We're invited to a party at the Northwest mansion! The whole family! Isn't that awesome?!"

I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia at the mention of the mansion. My mind slipped back to that fateful night almost a year ago—the grandeur of the Northwest estate, all towering chandeliers and oil paintings, had been the backdrop for one of the wildest evenings of our lives. Dipper and Pacifica facing off against the furious ghost of the lumberjack. The storm. The curse. That night was steeped in both chaos and wonder, and the memory of it still stirred something uneasy in my chest.

Dipper, unfazed as usual, finally looked up and let out a soft laugh. "A party at the Northwest mansion? What could possibly go wrong?", he quipped, his tone steeped in irony.

Stan, without taking his eyes off the TV, snorted. "Yeah, I'm surprised you didn't end up as part of the Northwest family crypt."

We all laughed—well, most of us—but it was a laughter laced with tension. Beneath the surface, the memory of that ghostly encounter still lingered. It wasn't something you could easily joke away, no matter how much time had passed.

Mabel, however, was undeterred, her excitement undiminished. She bounced on the balls of her feet, her grin wider than ever. "But guys, this time will be different! Pacifica says the whole town's invited! There's going to be music, food, and—get this—a magician! A magician, guys!" She looked around expectantly, waiting for our enthusiasm to match hers.

But Ford, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "A magician?", he echoed, his voice sharp and far less amused than Mabel had hoped. I looked over at him and saw his expression had darkened considerably. He had set the book down and was staring at the invitation in Mabel's hand as if it were something vile. "I suppose your friend forgot to mention the part about ghosts and ancient curses, too."

Mabel faltered for a moment, her energy dimming just slightly. "Come on, Grunkle Ford. That was last year. Pacifica's changed since then. She promised this time will be different—more fun, no spooky stuff!"

But Ford's eyes shifted from Mabel to Stanley, his gaze narrowing with a sharpness that could cut through stone, the unspoken accusation hanging in the air. "And you—" Ford's voice was controlled, but I could hear the underlying frustration, a quiet fury that had been simmering for too long. "You allowed them to walk into that death trap last year, and I had to find out from them? A ghost nearly killed my niece and nephew, and you didn't think it was worth mentioning until now?"

Stanley, caught off guard, raised his hands defensively. "Hey, hey, how had I been supposed to know about some crazy ghost? If I'd known, I would've said something! I'm not that reckless." His usual bravado flickered, but not for long. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a huff. "Besides, it's not every day you get invited to a fancy mansion. Who wouldn't want a slice of the good life? Free food, free drinks... I'm just saying." He flashed his usual grin, but it felt more forced than usual.