Alone

Chapter 20

Mabel's POV

Dipper and I sat on the couch for over an hour just talking. We talked about our first summer here, and we talked about what we would do when Bill let me go. We talked about what he learned at the college internship, and we talked about him deciding to go back there or become Ford's apprentice. We talked about what they would tell my parents, which they didn't have a solid plan for yet. We talked about what I would do after I actually finished high school. We talked about Dipper getting a date. We talked so much, that I didn't even notice Bill leaning against the wall until he spoke up.

"Shootingstar?" I jumped at his voice, drawing in a sharp intake of breath, and turned my head to look at him. "You alright now?" he seemed genially concerned.

"Y-yeah. I am."

"Good."He smirked. "Because I'm assuming the medication kicked in a while ago." I gulped, hoping he wasn't mad at me for staying so long.

'I'm not mad.' His voice chimed in my head and I nodded at him.

"Are we leaving?" I asked, afraid of the answer. He hesitated, seemingly contemplating the answer in his head. I was hoping he would let me stay longer, but I knew that wasn't likely.

"Yes. Are you ready." I cast my gaze down.

"Yeah." I looked at Dipper. "Bye bro bro." I hugged him and whispered in his ear. "Thanks for everything."

"You're welcome." He let go and stood up. I did too. 

"Hey Mabel," Bill spoke up. "Why don't you run up to your room and get whatever you need."

"Oh, um. Okay." I glanced at Dipper who smiled. I ran up to the attic.

Dipper's POV

I need to get her pills to Bill so she's safe. I don't want her to have them in case she... I stopped my thoughts, not wanting to think about that. I let go and stood up, glancing at Bill.

"Hey, Mabel, why don't you run up to your room and get whatever you need."

"Oh, um. Okay." She looked at me and I smiled, encouraging her to go. Then she turned and ran up to the attic.

"Thanks, Bill," I said, knowing he read my thoughts.

"Yeah yeah," he dismissed. "Now where's the medications?" I dug out the orange bottles from my pocket. 

"Here, this one is for her depression and this one is for anxiety. Give her one each every morning after she eats. And don't let her keep them, and make sure she actually takes them." I tried to get the information out quickly before he shut me down and ignored me. But surprisingly, he listened to me. He actually seemed like he cared. Ha! that's a funny thought. Bill Cipher, caring.

"Alright. And these should lower her attacks?"

"Yeah."

"What if she has one? Then what do I do?"

"Bring her here?" I suggested hopefully. He just glared at me. "Or try consoling her," I added. 

"What if I can't console her?" He asked, obviously not liking the idea of bringing her here.

"I'll have Ford work on something that could help. In the meantime though, just... try. Please. Don't let her get hurt."

"I won't." I smiled, glad I got a promise. Even if it was from Bill Cipher, it was still a promise. A hope that I could cling to that my sister would be okay. 

Mabel's POV

I ran up to the attic to get whatever I thought I would need. Luckily, I never even unpacked my bag, so I just grabbed that and walked back downstairs. 

"I won't," I hear Bill say. I won't what? What is Dipper saying?

"Hey," I quietly say.

"Oh, that was fast. Ready?" 

"Yeah. Let's go." I look at Dipper and give him one last hug. "Bye bro bro."

"Bye Mabes. I'll see you soon hopefully."

"Yeah." I let go and turn to Bill, whose expression I couldn't read. "Alright."

"Let's go." He grabbed my hand and we quickly teleported back to his house. When we were there, he turned and looked at me, placing his hands on my shoulders. I couldn't tell if this was a bad thing or a good thing. His expression remained blank until he took a deep breath. Then it turned into concern. "Mabel, really. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine now." I shyly looked at the ground. "Thanks, for taking me there."

"Of course." I looked back up at him and he was smiling. An actual, genuine smile. It was so foreign to me, to see that on him instead of rage. I smiled back and he laughed. "Okay, I have to go now. I'll be back later. Do you think you'll be okay?"

"Yeah, I will." 

"Alright." He turned around and started walking away. "Bye," he yelled over his shoulder before disappearing. I found myself staring at the spot he disappeared from for way too long. I realized this and blushed. I started walking to my room

Why does he suddenly seem to care? It's weird. He was literally just abusing me days ago, and now he's acting nice.

"Ugg, what the fuck does he want!" I screamed out loud and fell face first onto my bed. "What am I going to do?" I groaned into my bed. "I want to go home!" I started to cry. I pulled myself completely onto the bed and cried. "I want to go back home! I want to see Dipper and get away from this fucking physical, mental, and emotional abuse!" I kept crying, and honestly, it felt good. It didn't feel suffocating like a panicked attack, but more like I was letting it all out. I could have kept crying forever, but I felt a hand on my back. And, for the first time, I didn't flinch at his touch.

"Hey," his voice was calming. "Do you want to talk?" I sat up and wiped some tears away.

"I, I don't know-"

"Mabel, I've been in your head for the past three years. I think I can say I know you better than anyone else. Please, just talk to me." I took a deep breath.

"Yeah, okay."