The Lemon Meringue Boy

Part 2

When I woke up, the first thing I remembered was that I was going back to Gravity Falls, Oregon to see my friends, my great uncles, my home away from home, and the exact place where I almost died on multiple occasions. The second thing that I remembered was that I hit the ground pretty hard. 

When I found a mirror had an aching bruise spread across the side of my face. Great, a little extra something to match my little souvenir beatings from public school. Personally I would have appreciated a "K.I.T". I opened the cabinet under the sink and grabbed an ice pack, then headed to Mabel's room. She opened the door and beamed at me with her perfect teeth.

"Hey Dipper, guess what?!" she practically screamed at my face.

"Um... we're going to the falls tomorrow?"

"WE'RE GOING TO THE FALLS TOMMOROW!" This time she did scream. Loud. I winced and covered my ears. We had negotiated with our parents to let us stay the entire summer at Gravity Falls. As captain of the debate team it wasn't hard, but now were signed up to do volunteer work every Sunday and Monday. Luckily our parents didn't ask what the volunteers do. 

The falls are still pretty messed up, and they need all the help they can get to clean up debris and rebuild buildings. We may also end up clearing the occasional three headed rat from a pool drain, but according to the "Never Mind All That Act", those are "just another one of nature's curveballs". I heard they found a flying pig head under the counter at Greasy's.

My attention snapped back to the present when Mabel shoved me into her room with more strength than I knew she even had. 

"C'mon Dip, I already packed both our bags!" she announced as she bounced on her toes. "Look! I've got clothes, Mr. Bear-Bear, all your nerd books, my new musical Summerween sweater, Chipackers for the road...And oh look! It's your Mr. Adventure hat!" 

She held up Wendy's hat and waved it in my face. I snatched it out of her hands before she could do her usual holding it up and making kissy noises. Yes I did tell Mabel that Wendy broke up with me. Sort of. Not really. She knows I'm "dating" Pacifica but she refuses to acknowledge it, so she still pretends I like Wendy. 

I got over Wendy, but she's still a really close friend. I looked down at the hat and my mind started to fill with memories of the falls. I kind of zoned out apparently, because when I looked up, Mabel had dropped her teasing face. Apparently I looked sad, because she half whispered, 

"What's wrong Bro-Bro?" I thought it over a minute. What was wrong?

"Mabel, do you ever feel like... like when we go back, it won't be the same? I mean, now, you know, That is all over, is Gravity Falls really the same place? Will the group still be together? Will the town still be the same? I know how traumatic experiences bind people, but now Bill's gone and the town is saved. What now?" 

I didn't know why I was being such a baby. I hadn't ever thought that before, and now I could feel tears welling behind my eyes. I looked up and saw Mabel biting her lip. She looked about on the brink of tears too. She opened her mouth like she was about to say something, then closed it. Then opened it again. Then closed it. She finally gave up and spread her arms.

"Awkward sibling hug?" she said softly. I smiled. We hadn't done this since the first day of school. I opened my arms wide to match hers.

"Awkward sibling hug." With my head on her shoulder, I finally cracked. Fat tears rolled down my face. And I hugged her even tighter. When I let go Mabel held out The Hat. I pulled it over my ears and the familiar scent of pine wafted down and embraced me in its warmth. 

Watch out Gravity Falls, here come the Mystery Twins.