Chapter 14
Upstairs Dipper pulled on a long sleeve black cotton turtleneck shirt, and swapped his pajama bottoms for blue jeans. Then remembering last night that his plaid shirt seemed to ease his acceptance into the Corduroy household, decided to put on a green and black plaid wool shirt with thin red lines as a kind of jacket, and then stepped into his mountain boots. He looked around for his cap but couldn't find it, so pulled on a black knit cap, brown wavy locks pushing out from underneath. He made a pit stop at the bathroom to brush away morning breath and then headed down the stairs. But then he saw...
Oh no. What did Mabel SAY to her?
The girls were both crying and holding onto each other.
"Wendy? Wendy are you OK? Mabel! What did you say to her?"
Wendy looked up and seeing Dipper quickly turned around, and grabbing a tissue from the counter began dabbing her eyes as carefully as she could without a mirror.
Dipper rushed to her and holding her shoulders from behind turned to look at his sister.
"What happened Mabel?"
Mabel wiped her tears. "Oh brobro, it's just girl talk."
Wendy turned towards Mabel and smiled at her. Thanks for covering...sis.
Then she turned to face Dipper, and still unsure of the state of her makeup looked up at him briefly and then turned to the side.
"It's OK Dipper snif...we were just talking, that's all."
"She didn't like, insult you or anything? She can be relentless when she's curious." And he gave Mabel an unhappy look.
"Nah, it was nothing like that. Really, Mabel and I are good. Better than good." And she turned to smile at Mabel again. "Ain't we sis?" and she reached out with her hand.
And Mabel smiled in between sniffs and nodded. "Big sis!" and reached back and the two held hands. Then Wendy let go and faced Dipper, and wrapped her arms around him.
"I need a hug."
Dipper held her tight in his arms, kissed her cheek and leaned his head and against hers.
She whispered so as not to let the crying be heard in her voice. "You're so warm."
"Yeah well I just got outta bed. Do you want me to make you some breakfast?"
"Nah I ate at home. It's ok."
"Hot chocolate then? Coffee? A can of Pitt on the rocks?"
"Ha. Well, the hot chocolate sounds good. Snif."
"I'll leave you two alone." And Mabel climbed up the stairs, wiping her nose but still smiling.
Wendy kissed him on the cheek and then leaned back to look at him. "I must look like an unholy wreck."
"You look like a goddess. An angel of the forest. Or of the city. Seriously Wendy, I don't care about makeup, I love you. Although you do look extra gorgeous this morning."
"Thanks. You look rather handsome yourself." And she finally smiled as she adjusted his plaid collar "Even if you haven't shaved yet this morning. Looks good on you."
"There, now you're thousand times prettier. I love your smile."
He held her hand as she smiled and pulled her to the kitchen.
...
He got out the tea kettle and then walked over to the fridge.
"So, can you at least give me a hint? Did it...have anything to do with us? 'Cause, I don't want Mabel messing us up you know? She gets these little schemes in her head..."
"S'ok Dip, really. It had nothing to do with Mabel. Honest."
"Kay." And she admired him as he pulled the gallon of milk from the fridge. Dang long sleeves.
"I didn't... say anything earlier...?"
"Nope." And she walked over to him and held him from behind as he poured milk into the tea kettle, leaning her head on the back of his shoulder. "You only say the nicest things. You make me feel like a woman, an adored woman." And she kissed the back of his neck. Then she sighed before she spoke again.
"But...I know how you love a good mystery Dipper."
He turned on the stove, adjusted the flame and then turned around to hold her.
"I want to know what makes you cry. I have never seen you cry except once when I proved Robbie was messing with your mind with that song he plagiarized a couple years ago."
She looked at his lips and then back up at his eyes, smiling. "Step away from the stove, I don't want your shirt catching fire."
They twirled around still holding each other and he sat down at the table, dragging her down with him to sit her on his lap.
"Eeep!" and he smiled at her surprise as he forced her to sit.
He glanced down at her legs as she crossed them. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Those boots really look...kinda... good on you." He blushed. "You... always had... great legs." And he kissed her cheek to hide his embarrassment as he bravely tried to compliment her to help her stop crying. "Is that ok to say? I mean...polite? To say? To a girl?"
She closed her eyes, and then turned to kiss his lips. They nuzzled noses and then opened her eyes.
"Dipper, I am like, your first girlfriend right? And your first date, your first kiss? We both know that."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean my love for you isn't the real thing. I know it is. Being...inexperienced doesn't mean..."
She placed two fingers on his lips. "Shhhh. I know baby. What I'm trying to say is...well...I had the opportunity to date other guys, and to meet other people, but you...you are just starting, and so like, I may be the first, but...I won't be ...your last..." and she couldn't help it, the tears started again even though she shut her eyes tight and turned away.
He whispered as he placed his hand on her far cheek and gently but firmly turned her head back to face him.
"Wendy...there is no need for me to keep searching...when I already found heaven..." and seeing her tears began kissing each of them, wherever they trickled he kissed them, and the salty taste spurred him on.
"I love you Wendy. And I don't need anyone else. I don't want anyone else. You're all I need."
She smiled and then wrapped her hands around his neck and nuzzled his nose again.
"Well you sure do talk like you've been around you ol' smoothie. Where did you learn all of those sweet nothings?"
"I just say what's in my heart Wendy. It's true. I've heard some people find true love in old age, some find it in their teens, and some never find it. I just had beginner's luck I guess." And he kissed her cheek and lay his head against her chest as he held her on his lap.
"I can hear your heartbeat."
"Dipper, I am the luckiest girl in the world." And lifting his head by the chin she kissed him. Her soft and moist lips were electric, the warm intimacy of her giving herself to him made him forget everything else, he only need feed on her love for him. And he returned the French kiss with gusto: the morning shadow of his beard on her sensitive upper lip and chin made her tingle, and his strong arms around her waist made every muscle in her relax.
The tea kettle whistled in vain...
