Never Trust Your Demons

24

"Look at us," I listen through my bedroom door as Stan and Ford talk. "When did we become old men?"
"You look like Dad."
"Ugh, ugh, don't say that," Stan groans. They both laugh and I smile. Maybe they'll work out those grudges.
"Okay, Stanley," Ford sighs. Uh-oh, that doesn't sound good. "Here's the deal. You can stay here the rest of the summer to watch the kids. I'll stay down in the basement and try to contain any remaining damage. But when the summer's over, you give me my house back, you give me my name back, and this Mystery Shack junk is over forever. You got it?"
"You really aren't gonna thank me, are you?" I can practically feel Ford glare at Stan. "Fine. On one condition: you stay away from the kids; I don't want them in danger. Cause as far as I'm concerned, they're the only family I have left." I hear thumping as one, probably Stan, walks upstairs. There's a pause before footsteps start and retreat to the front of the shack. I sigh, laying back on the bed. Looks like the last month-ish of summer won't have Ford and Stan being all brotherly.
"Wow... Only a month and a week left of summer!" I realize, sitting up. I would have to go back home... And back to school. Would Bill come with me? Or would he stay in Gravity Falls? Would I get another summer like this next year?
"So many questions. Are you really so curious in every aspect of your life?"
"I guess," I answer instinctively. "One way for me to figure out what's going-" I stop. Glancing Down, I see Bill, sitting at my feet. I stand up, glaring at him. I take a deep breath in.
"WHA-" I start to yell, but he cuts me off, a hand over my mouth.
"Shhh..." He doesn't wear his traditional grin. "We can't talk at the shack... someone will find me"
"Why should I care?!" I reply at a perfectly normal volume.
"Because we're not at the shack anymore." I look around and find its true. There are trees all around us.
"Good." I take another deep inhale "WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING?!"

I'm fairly certain you could hear me clear across town, if not the entire west coast.
"Why on earth would you think trying to hurt my cousin was a good idea?! And why'd you want to stop Stan from bringing Ford back?! And did have to let my fire go right then?! And all day you've been just sitting in my mind, confusing me and making everyone around me confused..." I trail off as I look at him. He's leaning against a tree, silent and glaring at the ground. "What... what's wrong?"
"Trying to decide whether I'm glad or annoyed that ol' Sixer's back," He grumbles. Sixer..?
"Oh, you mean Ford! Well, I guess he knows about you... but so do Dipper and Mabel and that's never bothered-"
"Pinetree and Shooting Star don't hold the key to my destruction or success," He turns to me. "Sixer does, though I could've been okay with the portal opening and him never coming through."
"Success at what? That... weird-pocalypse that Ford talked about?"
"No. I mean, not really. It's-" He pauses and sighs "It's complicated, and the more I tell you the more questions you'll bother me with.
"Listen, keep that alibi you told Sixer. If anyone asks, and only about me specifically, that's what happened. You've never heard of me before now and you certainly haven't seen me afterwards, okay?"
"I have no problems with that... if you answer at least some of my questions."
"Do you really need more incentive to keep this secret?!" He exclaims. "If any of them find out about me being in your mind, they'll never trust you again. Do you seriously need more of a reason?!"
"I..." I think more a second. "What do I have to loose? The only person whose trust I still have is Ford's, and I'm already taking advantage of that!"
Bill rubs his temples, miming a headache i know he can't get. "Fine, fine, fine. Tell you what. Let's make a deal," His grin returns. I shake off a feeling of unease. "I can make Shooting Star, Pinetree, and Fezzy forget everything with the flames involved, they'll just remember they were angry for some reason and that'll be over quick. In exchange, you stop asking questions about things you won't understand and tell no one about me," He holds out a blue flaming hand. "Do we have an accord?"
I reach out a hand hesitantly. "Wait," I pull my hand back. "How about I get to ask a few more questions before the whole 'stop asking these questions' thing goes into effect, okay?"
"Two."
"Two?!" That doesn't even begin to cover my curiosity.
He nods. "Two or none."
I pause for a second before giving in. "Fine. Two questions," I shake his hand, the blue flame changing to purple as it leaps to my hand. "What are you planning and what does my family have to do with it?"
"Those are two very good question s that would probably give you the answers to all of your other questions," There's a long pause, then his grin grows. "Good thing there was nothing in the deal about me having to answer them!" He laughs as the flames spread to my entire body.

That was dumb. I should've realized Bill would pull something like that, and now I'm engulfed in purple and blue flames because I forgot who I was dealing with.
Just going to say I've had a rough 24 hours, okay?
"Sorry about the freaky special effects, Police Box," Bill says. "That's how deals like this work."
"What's happening?!" I ask.
"Just a little something to make sure you uphold your side of the deal."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I scowl, crossing my arms.
"Hey, I can't exactly take too big a risk at the moment," He shrugs as the flames fade away. "Now, if you ever start to talk to anyone about me, you'll temporarily derail your train of thought. Also, those three will start to remember, but unless you get the whole story out somehow, they'll forget as soon as you stop talking," He explains. "That should do it!"
I keep my arms crossed, continuing to glare at him.
"Oh, come on," He chuckles. "You can't be that mad at me. Tomorrow you're just going to forget about that, probably the whole deal," His arms wrap around me.
I blush. "No I'm-"
"You always do."
"I-i don't forget! I just... let it go," I brush it off. "But I still have a million questions, not even two of them have been answered!"
He pulls me into a playful headlock, ruffling my hair.
"Your fault, Police Box!" He laughs as I duck out from under his arm. "Listen, I gotta split now, but I'll probably see you tomorrow." He starts to do his Cheshire style exit.
"Bill," I sigh. "Why must you do stuff like this and then leaving me hanging, even more confused than last time?"
He pauses, than smiles. "No more questions, Police Box," Then he disappears completely. The entire world starts to spin, making me dizzy as it stops and I'm back in my room.
As soon as I find my balance again, I glare out the window.
Honestly, he's not the one I should be mad at.
"Curse my inexplicable love for bad boys!" I groan, flopping back on my bed. Why do I still like him?! I really have no reason to, so why does my heart still melt when he grins?! At least now I know to be a bit more careful when dealing with him, as well as why I keep his secret.