Pine Sapling

Chapter 1

Circa ~ May 22, 2012 - 3:20 pm - Gravity Falls, Oregon

      Finally school was out for the summer. The final bell at Gravity Falls High School had rang at 3:15. Hundreds of teenagers spilled out of the front doors happily.

      Valerie walked out of the double doors alone and into the sunshine. It seemed like such a perfect day for the last day of school. The skies were clear and blue, it was warm and sunny, the average temperature was somewhere around 70 degrees.

      She took a deep breath before descending down the cement stairs and walking down the path to the busy parking lot full of students and cars.

      As much as Valerie wanted to meet up with her friends she knew she had to get back home to the Mystery Shack because she had a shift there along with her best friend Wendy at 3:30.

      "Hey Val!" Someone yelled her name loudly causing the blonde haired girl to turn and shift her dazzling green eyes around the parking lot for the source of the voice.

      A group of kids were waving at her from across the lot, all of them were standing around a blue minivan. She recognized all of them immediately, they were her friends.

      Valerie walked cautiously across the parking lot in a bit of a jogging fashion. Well, her dad would understand if she were a little late, he always let things slide with her.

      "Hey guys." Valerie greeted with a smile to her usual crew of friends.

      All of them greeted her casually. Wendy was standing by Robbie who was leaning against the car door in a brooding way. Tambry had her eyed fixed to her phone as she typed away hastily. Nate and Lee were messing around with Thompson who just let them mess around with him.

      "Alright guys, party tonight at Thompson's house who's in?" Lee said.

      Everyone's eyes seemed to widen in excitement at the mention of a party. Gravity Falls was a pretty boring and small town, so there was really nothing ever to do.

      In a way Valerie was surprised there was a party at Thompson's house because his parents were pretty strict. They must've been out of town or going away for the night for the party to happen.

      "So you guys wanna head down to Greasy's? I'm starving." Nate asked, putting his hands on his stomach in a dramatic way.

      "Can't." Wendy shook her head. "Val and I have a shift at the Mystery Shack."

      Everyone shook their heads and gave words of disapproval. No one liked the fact Val and Wendy worked at the Mystery shack because they worked there so often and Stan wouldn't let them come by since they only messed around and distracted them.

      "Whatever losers guess we'll just eat without you." Robbie said.

      Wendy and Val just brushed off their comments. "Well since you guys are going that way, Thompson can you drop us off at the Shack?" Valerie asked.

      Thompson being the amicable guy he was said yes and unlocked the car so everyone could pile in.

      Robbie took shotgun, Nate and Lee climbed into the back while Tambry, Wendy and Valerie climbed into the middle seats and buckled up.

      It wasn't long before Thompson started up the minivan and pulled out of the high school parking lot. Everyone began to yell back at the school something dumb like "I hate you." or "See you next year."

      It just caused everyone to laugh and then begin fist pumping the roof of the van leaving indents and chanting "Thompson! Thompson!" Thompson!" over the cheesy pop song blasting  through the speakers.