An Old Flame (A Gravity Falls Fanfiction)

Chapter 15: Freaky Flames

Next week

Nera's P.O.V:

It was about half past 11 p.m. when I was drawing in my sketchbook while watching TV. I was tapping my pencil momentarily before I sighed, heard the girls laughing loudly, and rubbed my head.

The constant noise is disrupting my creative process. I need my own space to concentrate. These disturbances have been relentless for days. I growled in frustration, my grip on the pencil tightening. I glared at the drawing, feeling the tension build until the pencil snapped in my hand.

"عليك اللعنة. I broke another one," I muttered, my frustration evident. Suddenly, I heard a cough. I turned to see Dipper, concern etched on his face, holding a pillow and blanket. "Pine Tree...You okay?"

"...Do you mind some company?" Dipper asked, looking down a bit before holding the pillow tighter.

"I don't mind at all, Pine Tree," I answered, smiling softly before Dipper walked over, and I sighed, "I can understand trying to escape from the noises."

"Really? I figured you would be used to it since you're a girl too...I mean, you must have plenty of sleepovers at our age, right?" Dipper said, looking at me with a curious yet drained look.

"That's...a good guess, Pine Tree. Let's drop the subject for now," I said, a hint of sadness in my smile. "Would you care to look at my drawings instead? I could use a break from drawing for a bit." I offered, opening up a part that I usually keep hidden.

"S-sure. I mean, you just draw clothes, right?" Dipper asked while I gave him my sketchbook before I chuckled, and he looked it through. "Sometimes. I also draw portraits of people I care about and what my home used to look like." I answered, looking at him before I turned the TV off, and he looked at me.

"Really? I didn't think you would care so much about me..." Dipper mutters under his breath before I look at him and sigh. "Of course I care, Dipper. I just...have a hard time showing it to you. It's not easy being around humans, always hiding what I am." I whisper, rubbing the back of my neck before I sigh, and Dipper looks at me.

"I dunno seems easy around Stan," Dipper said, chuckling a bit before I looked at him and saw he had a cheeky grin. Oh, that little shit. I chuckled at him and ruffled his hat a bit before he groaned, and I smiled. "Okay, you little brat. You got me there. But I have to ask, what's with the pillow and blanket?"

"Um...w-well...I was looking for a place to sleep." Dipper answered, sounding really defeated, before I raised an eyebrow and sighed.

"Did you ask Soos first?" I asked, looking at him before Dipper gave me back my sketchbook, and I closed it till I noticed it was on the page of the portrait I did of Stan. I blushed hard and sighed. No wonder Dipper made that comment about Stan.

"Yeah...He sleeps in the walls next to the pipes..." Dipper answered, making me take a double take. "I'm sorry, what?! Soos sleeps in the pipes! Oh, for the love...That is a problem for the morning. For now, let's find you a place to sleep for now." I said, putting my sketchbook on the side before I stood and looked at him.

"Do you know a place?" Dipper asked, looking at me, curious.

"You need to sleep in the car. It's the safest place for you, Pine Tree. Sleeping outside is dangerous. There's wildlife outside, and I don't want you getting attacked by them," I said, my concern for Dipper's safety evident in my voice. I grabbed the car keys before we walked outside towards the car.

I unlocked the car and opened the backseat door for Dipper. Dipper crawled in and set up his bed. "Thank you, Nera..." Dipper said, yawning. I smiled and covered him with the blanket, understanding his need for comfort at that moment.