One Year Later

IV

A/N: Thank you guys so much for being patient with me. I know you guys have been waiting and it means a lot that people are interested in this story. So, thanks again. It's taking so long because

1) it's not my main fanfic
2)I'm not feeling very motivated in the summer
3) I'm trying to work on my Gold Award
4) More fandoms. Seriously, since I've updated I've gotten into Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Rick and Morty, and Wolf 359
5) This is the chapter where they finally meet (somewhat) and I NEEDED to get the wording right.

So, lots of reasons. Sorry, I really am. But enjoy.

Wirt

"Almost there, guys." Wendy assured me as we headed toward the edge of town. She lead the way, with Greg at her side. He had Jason Funderberker in his arms. Me? I stayed behind them, in no way enthusiastic about meeting Wendy's friend. The Journal I left at Wendy's house.

"Hey, Wirt." Greg turned back to me. "Do you think Wendy's friends will go on a frog hunt with us?"

"I don't know." I muttered. Greg didn't seem to buy that answer, as I soon had Jason Funderberker in my face.

"Cheer up, Mr. Sourface. Candy?" He pulled out some of the candy in his pant pocket and held it out to me. I took it to keep him quiet.

"Whatever, Candypants." Greg smiled at this remark. He then ran back to Wendy's side, and pulled out more candy out of his pockets. She took some. We walked for a little longer, with Greg occasionally offering us candy.

"Here it is." Wendy said, as we approached a place called the Mystery Shack. It looked old and run down, with the 'S' in Shack not even on the sign. "Just as tacky as I remember."

"You ... work here?" I asked, as a goat passed by my left. Wendy just shrugged.

"Money is money. Even if it means working in a tacky tourist trap." Wendy beckoned us to follow as we headed inside. The 'exhibits' were obvious fakes, with one being a monkey glued to a fish and calling it a mermaid.

"Wow. How do you even make money in here?" I asked, cringing.

"People are willing to pay for anything." Wendy whispered.

"Woah." Greg exclaimed. "A unicorn made of corn."

"Prime example." I commented, and Wendy and I both laughed.

"What up, dudes?" Another person, this one older than Wendy. He wore a suit with a fez on top of head.

"Soos!" Wendy beamed.

"You're on register, as always." He said. "We open on five. These your cousins?"

"Soos, meet Wirt and Greg." I waved shyly. Greg turned around at the mention of his name, then came to practically tackle hug Soos.

"He's like a giant teddy bear." He breath, trying to bury himself further into Soos's stomach.

"You should introduce this dude to Mabel." He commented to Wendy. "She's covering right now at the register."

"Thanks, man. C'mon, boys." I followed Wendy at a distance, making sure Greg let go of Soos and he followed. We entered what seemed to be the main gift shop of the shack, with another door leading out.

"Ohmygosh!" A girl at the counter squealed. She couldn't have been more than 13, with long brown hail that reached down her back. She had a sweater on covered in stars. "Wendy! You're finally here. Tell me EVERYTHING!"

The girls began chatting, and I used the time to really take in the place Wendy worked. The things that were in here were beyond strange. There was something that looked like a Mayan calendar in the corner, a variety of bumper stickers, yellow t-shirts with question marks. There was even a skull up high on a shelf with a candle melting on top, the wax slowly melting down its sides like rain on a leaf without a care ...