Uncertainty - Stanford Pines x Reader (female)

Chapter 55

I sat at the table, absently swirling a spoon in my coffee, feeling its warmth fade against my fingers. Stan rounded the corner, beaming. "Hey, Y/N!", he said, his voice all warmth and ease. "Mabel and Dipper are finally awake! You ready to head into town for Summerween stuff now?"

I took a breath, hoping to shake off the ache that pulsed in my chest. I didn't want him to see me like this—not now, not in front of the kids, with Mabel practically bouncing on her toes beside him and Dipper yawning, clearly still half-asleep. Mabel looked up at me, eyes bright and hopeful.

But I couldn't bring myself to meet her gaze. The hollowness in my chest felt like it was taking up too much space. "I... I don't think I'm feeling well, Stan.", I managed, my voice strained and quieter than I intended.

The shift was instant. Stan's smile faltered, replaced by something more uncertain, his brow furrowing. He wasn't one to probe, at least not outright, but the way his eyes lingered on me made it clear he could see right through the excuse. For a moment, I almost regretted it, almost wished I'd just forced myself to go along, to pretend I was fine.

But the reality of what I'd felt—it was too much to set aside. I could still hear Stanford's words, sharp and laced with that same frustration that had built up between us. And the worst part was, he didn't even seem to realize it.

Mabel's eager expression fell slightly, and Dipper cast a glance in my direction, now fully awake. The kids were smart. They undoubtedly understood something was amiss, even if they didn't know the full extent of it.

Stan shifted, his gaze traveling between me and the kids, before he finally spoke up. His voice was gentle. "You sure you don't want to come with us?", he asked, and the concern in his voice was clear.

Mabel chimed in, her voice laced with disappointment. "Are you sick or something?"

I struggled to school my features into a more neutral expression. The last thing I wanted was to add to their concern. "Yeah, I just feel a little under the weather.", I finally said, mustering a small, hopefully reassuring smile. "Sorry to let you down, guys."
"It's... Sixer, isn't it?", Stan muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for me to hear. But he didn't push it, not with Mabel and Dipper standing right there, oblivious to the tension lingering in the air.

I didn't have the heart—or the strength—to answer, so I just gave him a weak nod. He sighed, his expression softening with something I could almost call sympathy, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of understanding, something he was letting go unspoken for my sake. He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before stepping back.

Mabel pouted slightly, her disappointment clear. But Dipper, in a rare moment of perception, seemed to read the mood better than anyone else. He glanced at his sister, a silent message passing between them before he spoke up. "Hey, don't worry about us. We can handle Summerween without you."

His words were sincere, and I was grateful for his understanding. Mabel brightened slightly, seemingly appeased by his response. Stan, too, seemed to realize the need to back off a bit. He clapped his hands together. "Well, I guess we'll get going then. You gonna be okay here?"

"I'll be fine.", I reassured him, leaning against the table and forcing a casual tone. "I just need some rest. You all have fun."

"Alright, kiddo.", Stan said, his voice gentle, almost uncharacteristically so. "We'll manage without you. Just rest up, yeah?"

Before I could respond, the door creaked open again, and Ford stepped into the room. The warmth that had just barely settled in the air vanished in an instant, replaced by a tension so thick it felt tangible. I stiffened, my heart twisting at the sight of him, the man I'd shared so much with but who now felt like a stranger.