The Things We Leave Behind (Gravity Falls Fic)

Chapter 24: And Now, the Moment We've All Been Waiting For!

Saige's POV:

        Let me tell you, Bill is a hard guy to track down. Like, really, the one time I actually want to talk to him, he's nowhere to be found. I ended up waiting an hour and a half in the clearing, and then he finally showed up. It was weird and mortifying enough that I had to tell him about the deal I made with Mabel, and I had to add on top of it giving him the satisfaction of knowing that I looked for him. Like, I sought him out. I sought him out. It's usually the other way around.

        Anyway, there's no use telling you the conversation, since it's not like it took any convincing to get him to... go... on... a... daaaa... a daaaa... a... a meeting with me. He was all the way there before I'd even finished talking. 

        Marcy and Angel weren't hard to sway either. They said they wouldn't mind going out, and that I needed the "social time." Pfft. Who needs socializing when you can lock yourself in a dark room with a box of Ding Dongs and a six pack of Pitt Cola? I mean, all you really need to learn about the world is Netflix and Youtube, after all.

        What was I talking about?

        Oh right, the um... the thing that Mabel forced me into.

        It's today, at the mall. I just hope Mabel doesn't slip love potion into my soda or whatever. I made her promise that she wouldn't try anything funny like that, but I can never be too sure. As for Bill, or Dominik as Mabel knows him, I just won't accept any drinks he gives me. 

        I look at my watch. Then I remember that I don't wear a watch, so I check the clock by my bed. Two hours... Mabel will be here any moment to pick out whatever the heck she had in mind for tonight. 

        I sigh. Splendid.

---

Bill's POV:

        I lean against a light pole outside the mall, waiting with slight impatience for Saige's arrival. It seemed like forever... and then I saw Marceline and Angel pulling into the parking lot in a golf cart. The Operator was lounging in the back, and from this angle, all I could see was her wavy hair and a sliver of her face. I straightened, watching as Angel opened the door of the cart and helping his girlfriend out. Not like she needed it, he was just being a gentleman. 

        Finally, Saige climbs out of the cart. I focused in on her words, listening through Angel's ears.

        "Let's just get this over with."

        I sigh, waiting for them to walk over. 

        When they finally do, I get my first good look at Saige. The Ooolanders stand back a bit, letting us greet or whatever, and Saige walks up to me, looking like she would rather be dragged by a truck across a bed of nails. She was wearing faded denim capris, tennis shoes, an ice blue and white baseball-style shirt, and a fluffy white polar bear zip-up vest. Her right arm was swaddled in bandages, as per usual. However, I do believe this is the first time I've seen her with her hair down. It flowed down her back like beautifully hand carved mahogany. 

        "Wow," I choked out, "You look... not like you."

        She huffed, "Mabel picked it out... it was part of our deal. It took all I had to get her to let me wear jeans and tennis shoes. I see you changed, too." She briefly examined my gray jacket and sky blue V-neck. I chose blue to compliment my eyes, and it turns out that I'm matching Saige, too. Woo for serendipity.

        What, a dream demon can't be fashion forward?

        Anyway, after she had looked me up and down with her uncertain gaze, she sighs, "Are we gonna go in, or what?"

        I glance at the Ooolanders, and then we head inside.

---

        It's been about an hour, and I've tried everything, but nowhere we go seems to interest Saige. So, we stopped in the food court for lunch. I didn't get anything, seeing as how I didn't really need food, but Saige bought some Macaroni and Cheese from Noodles and Company. The Ooolanders sat apart from us.

        Saige pushed the food around on the plate.

        I blink, "I can't help but think that you aren't really enjoying yourself."

        She drops the fork and stares at me, "Oh, really now? How observant of you."

        "Look, whether you like it or not, this is a date," she is visibly disgusted at the word, and I can't help but feel slightly hurt, "My number one priority right now is making sure you have a good time. Is there anything here you would actually like to do?"

        Her gaze flickers to the arcade, but she shakes her head, "No... honestly, I just want to go home... sorry if I'm boring, but, you know..."

        She glances at the Ooolanders table, "Aren't they done yet? They've been eating that same plate of spaghetti for like, an hour, and they haven't barely made a dent in it."

        "As if you're one to talk," I retort, gesturing at her untouched plate of pasta.

        She shrugs in resigned agreement.

        "I'm going to assume you're done," I say.

        She nods, pushing the plate away.

        I smile, "Perfect."

        Then, I grab her hand and pull her out of the chair. She yelps, "Woah, wait, what're you-"

        I cut her off, dragging her towards the arcade, "We might as well have some fun. I'll be honest, being here with you, you know, forcing you everywhere we go, with you constantly complaining, it's been great, really, I love it, more than life, but I thought, hm, maybe we could do something that we actually enjoy for once."

        We skid to a stop inside the arcade, "So, my dear girl, pick something. My wish is your command."

        She turns to look at me, then tucks that ornery curl behind her ear and allows the faintest of smiles to grace her face. And I must say, as I've found countless times before, she's even prettier when she smiles.

---

        Two hours and 785 arcade tokens later, the date is over. I know Saige is happy to be rid of me, but I'm glad she had a little fun before it was over.

        She stares awkwardly at me, "So, that was... not as unbearable as I thought it was gonna be."

        I chuckle, "I'm glad I didn't make you suicidal."

        It's quiet for a moment, and then Saige, sticks her hand out in front of her. A handshake? Is this what we've become? Seriously?

        I take her tiny hand in mine, anyway. I'll take what I can get.

        Then, I'm being pulled downwards, and I find my lips on hers. It's over quickly, and she's walking away from me before I really know whats happening. But she pauses and calls over her shoulder, "Now we're even."

        And then before I can respond, she climbs into the golf cart and zooms away.