It's In Our Blood

Chapter 9

(Short chapter this time...sorry~) 

"So...Lemme get this straight. Your dad handed you a bunch of old documents about an 8th and a half president of the United States....because you snuck out of the house at night?"

"I guess? I'm not really sure what the thought process was between last night and just ten minutes ago...But hey on the plus side, at least I'm not grounded!"

Mari nodded. "Yeah. Last time you were was an absolute nightmare."

"It was for a week" Rodrick mumbled.

"So what?" Tyrone asked. "It was still pretty bad."

"I've had worse."

Tyrone and Mari exchanged glances.

"...Somehow I find that extremely hard to believe..." Mari pointed out. "No offense but all I've seen you do for as long as I can remember is either read, or draw, or say about one sentence every 5 hours."

"A lot can change in 3 years" was the only response.

"Anyway, you guys gonna help me decode this or what? I'm sure this is just one of those scavenger hunt things that my dad does to keep us busy, but I have a feeling it'll be a lot more interesting this time!" Tyrone exclaimed, hopefully.

"Well, it's not like I've got anything better to do. My parents aren't expecting me home until tonight." Mari replied with a shrug.

Rodrick just nodded, which Tyrone took as a yes.

"Okay. So we've all heard of Nathaniel Northwest, right? He's the supposed founder of Gravity Falls and that's what literally everyone in this town believes."

Dipper sighed as he listened to the kids, well...Mostly just Tyrone and Mari excitedly talk over each other. He partially blamed himself for why Rodrick was always so reserved.

How could he forget what happened...

He shook it off to the best of his ability. There was no use dwelling in the past.

"Are you still going to ask him?" Pacifica asked out of nowhere.

"Ask who what now?" Dipper replied in confusion.

Pacifica rolled her eyes. "Don't be stupid, this is exactly what we've been talking about for weeks already. Isn't it why you're always so zoned out all the time?"

Dipper twirled a pen in between his fingers. (A nervous habit)

"Yeah. Pretty much, I guess."

"So are you asking him or what?"

"Like I've been saying I don't know!" That came out a lot harsher than he meant it.

"I'm sorry-"

Pacifica gently put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay. I get it. ...but you'll have to talk to him eventually. You can't keep doing this under everyone's noses, especially since everyone trusts you so much. You can't afford another slip-up, even if it's for your stupid research."

"Fine, I'll go talk to him. But he's definitely not gonna like it." Dipper replied grudgingly, which made Pacifica roll her eyes again.

"Since when do you even care about what he likes or not?"

Dipper actually had to think about it for a second.

"You're right. I don't. ...but... I don't really want to go digging up old bodies again, either."

"I guess I can agree with that..."

The awkward silence only lasted for a few seconds before it got interrupted by Tyrone yelling:

"Mom, Dad, we'll be at the library! We'll be back by....5:00?"

"That's fine, just don't-" Pacifica began but realized that they had all left the house already.

"Well. At least Ty seems to be back to normal..."

"Yeah, that's great- have you seen my- never mind, it's right here. There's no use stalling so I think I'm just gonna go talk to him right now." Dipper rambled, rummaging through the nearest stack of papers.

Pacifica raised an eyebrow. "Wait- after weeks of stalling, you're just going to...waltz up to his house and talk to him?"

"Pretty much." Was his only response.

"Wow. You should write a book." Pacifica mused. "Called: 'How to Talk to Politicians Without Offending Them for Socially Awkward Individuals.'"

Dipper stared at her for a while.

"Ok, that wasn't funny."

"It wasn't supposed to be funny I was being serious," Pacifica replied simply.