"𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚜 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚟𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎, 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞."

How strange it was. He'd never felt a connection so strong since Pacifica, and now, there it was.

It was now late August, the fading summer lights were a strong reminder to Dipper that Pacifica Southeast was never coming back. The missed connection between the two of them was unfortunate and caused by a treacherous girl named Sarah who managed to delete Pacifica's number.

It was a strange circumstance, the last few days before his trip back to Washington. The sensation that something was watching him.

He wondered if she meant what she said back in December —about his flaws. Or if she was bluffing. Either way, Dipper felt reason to be wary of her. It wasn't fear, no, he wasn't afraid of her. How could you possibly be afraid of something that you were mystified by?

"Do you believe in soulmates?" Mabel asked as they dinned alone for the third month in a row. It was actually quite wonderful; the two understood each other.

Dipper traced a finger around the rim of his glass. "I believe in psychic powers, yet I also believe in science. I believe in a higher power, yet I'm atheist."

"I asked you a question, Hamlet." Mabel rolled her eyes and with a flick of her finger, the glass Dipper had disappeared. "Perhaps you've had too much."

"I haven't exceeded the adult weekly limit." Dipper argued. "I haven't even surpassed three units of alcohol, much less fourteen."

"Do you believe in soulmates?" She asked again, Dipper's glass appearing in her hand. She finished it off with a flourish.

"Why such curiosity in soulmates?" Dipper redirected. It worked on nearly everyone, to avoid answering such a question.

"In my Mythology class that I have taken over the last few months, we were reading about such a thing." Mabel admitted. "I, personally, have no opinion on the matter, but I must admit I'm quite curious to see what your perspective on it is."

"Soulmates." Dipper mused. "Two beings connected despite time and even distance. I haven't heard much study on it, but I do believe that most people never find their 'other half'."

"So you do believe in them?" Mabel raised a brow.

"I should say so." Dipper shrugged halfheartedly. What point was there in denying reality?

Mabel rolled her eyes once more. "You're thinking of you and Pacifica Southeast, are you not?"

Dipper closed his eyes and sucked in a breath. It was true that he loved Pacifica Southeast with all of his heart, she would have always been the one for him, but he would likely never see her again. "No." He even surprised himself by saying it. "I do believe that I am not thinking of Pacifica."

Mabel raised a brow. "Someone else caught your eye, hmm?"

"That's not it." Dipper muttered. "It is the connection aspect of it all." He glanced down at his plate, no longer feeling well enough to eat. "You've asked me a question, I think it only fair if I return the favor."

"I'm listening."

"Have you ever met someone just once and felt immediately drawn to them? It didn't matter the circumstances in which you met in, but the instant your eyes meet. It doesn't have to be romantic." Dipper spoke rather slowly, hoping to get his point across.

Mabel pondered the thought for a moment. "I'm sorry, I cannot say that I have. Have you?"

"Why do you think that?"

"You wouldn't have asked if something hadn't occurred to you." Mabel grinned slightly, only one side of her mouth turning up. "You're quite predictable when you ask questions."

He truly was predictable, wasn't he? Perhaps asking Mabel about it all wasn't the brightest idea he ever had. What point was there in lying now?

"Perhaps I have." Dipper murmured. "As I said before, it doesn't have to be romantic infatuation."

Mabel pursed her lips. "Perhaps it is magic. This being you met, they could possibly be a siren."

Dipper nearly snorted. He would've laughed if that were the case. "I do doubt it."

"Well, keep your eyes peeled, brother dearest." Mabel rolled her eyes once more, something common whenever she chatted with him. "I wouldn't know what to do if you passed."

"I doubt that." Dipper muttered just loud enough for Mabel to hear.

"You're right; the world will celebrate your passing." Mabel rose from the table and walked off, clearly not interested in helping Dipper with his problem.

Dipper chose to retire to his bedroom rather early that night. He had quite a few things to ponder over, after all.

He typically liked to walk around very close to dark to ponder those thoughts, but after Will's mysterious disappearance as well as the feeling of being watched, and not having to look for Pacifica anymore, he stopped that particular habit of his.

Dipper thought about typing it out once more. The strange occurrences that had continuously happened to him. And everything that she had brought to his life. It helped him sort it out, typically.

But now, he was just left with unsettling questions. That girl was, for lack of better term, amazing. She matched his wit better than Mabel ever could, the way she carried herself was a bigger high than whatever she smoked, she was —to paraphrase Stephen King— winter fire.

It only made sense that when he returned to Reverse Falls after his spring semester was finished that she would be there waiting for him. The only one who was.

They had kept their friendship a secret from most people. Perhaps as not to harm either of their reputations. It was an unspoken understanding between the two of them. And it took nearly sixteen years of his life to figure out how much he enjoyed unspoken understandings.

In the midst of his 'deep think', Dipper's phone rang rather loudly. The blare of My Darkest Days's Set It On Fire —her choice of ringtone, Dipper had no say in the matter at all, although he had to admit it was quite fitting— reminded him that she wanted his attention.

"Good evening." He said immediately, knowing that his rather blunt formalities always seemed to drive her absolutely mad.

"Dipper Alex Gleeful don't you dare speak to me like that." She threatened milliseconds after he greeted her. "When are you leaving for Washington?"

Right. She was always one to get right to the point, never one to spare a few moments for theatrics. At some moments he was glad for it, other times not so much.

"Two days." He replied, getting right to the point to match her dialogue.

"Anyways," she glossed right over it, "you're never gonna guess who has their license now."

"Well, the obvious answer would be you," he led out, a smile crossing his face, he couldn't help it, "so I'm going to guess your grandmother."

"Ha effin' ha, Dipshit." She sounded as if she were rolling her eyes at the notion. "I wondered if you wanted to go for a quick drive tonight."

"Where to? I do hope you aren't planning on murdering me."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Richboy." She snorted. "Is there fault in seeing my rich friend?"

"Almost seems like a quid pro quo." Dipper muttered nonchalantly. "To drive what do you want from me?"

"Sharp as ever." It sounded as though a grin had split her face. "I'll figure something out, Dipshit."

She surely did.

It took her ten minutes to arrive. Dipper stepped out of the cold manor into the warmth of the summer night, surprised to see a sleek red car waiting for him.

"Heya stranger." She grinned and patted the passenger seat. "I'm surprised you haven't gotten yours yet."

"I can drive, if you are insinuating that I cannot," Dipper rolled his eyes. "However, you turn sixteen in late October. How is it that you have your license?"

She turned up the radio, and sped out of the manor's driveway. "I never said I got it legally!" She yelled over the roar of Muse's Hysteria.

They drove, ignoring all looks they got from other drivers, and Dipper had to restrain her several times to not have a drag-race with every single car that honked at them.

It was nearly ten minutes later when she began to sing quietly. The music may have been louder than Dipper truly cared for, but he could hear her voice.

"When you came in, the air went out." She hummed, fingers tapping on the steering wheel, she turned toward the lake. "And every shadow, filled up with doubt."

Dipper rather enjoyed the way she sang. Her voice was a little husky to match the tone of the song, but her eyes stayed on the road ahead of them. Almost as if she had no idea that Dipper was even there. It was nice to be relaxed around someone that. . .wow just someone.

"I dunno who you think you are, but before the night is through. I wanna do bad things with you." She continued humming and drumming her fingers against the steering wheel to go along with the beat.

"Projection?" Dipper asked, raising a brow.

"I have no idea what you mean." She replied slyly. "What could possibly be projected with this song?"

"I'm quite sure you're able to put two and two together." Dipper replied equally as slyly. "After all, it's one of the reasons I like you."

She glanced over at him as she pulled into a parking spot. Shutting off the car, she pulled a bottle up from the cupholder. "One of the reasons? There are more?"

Dipper sucked in a breath and relied on his innate charisma and inner charms. "It's as you said; you're familiar. You intrigue me; nothing more, nothing less."

"I'm such a mystery, aren't I?" She chuckled and took a swig from the water bottle. Making a face, she passed the bottle over to Dipper. "Then aren't you tired of me?"

"That's where you are wrong," Dipper graciously accepted the spiked water bottle and followed suit, "I rather like unraveling mysteries."

"How challenging." She mused, chuckling at his expression. "I can put up a bit of a fight, y'know?"

"I'm counting on it." Dipper replied easily. "Wouldn't be much of a challenge if you weren't fighting?"

Her lips schooled into a smirk. "You talk big, Richboy. Let's see you put your money where your mouth is."

"How is it that they allowed you to check-in?" Dipper shook his head at the dimly lit room. "I thought you had to be. . ." He trailed off when she waggled something in his face. A fake I.D.

Of course she had one. It often surprised Dipper how easy she could pass for an adult at the age of fifteen (nearly sixteen, she'd say).

"I come prepared, Dipshit." She cackled. "It just shows that with all your connections in the world, even you can't pass with a fake I.D."

"I wouldn't need a fake I.D." Dipper resisted the urge to roll his eyes or kiss her. At that point, he had no idea. All of his thoughts were mainly fuddled. "Most people just give me what I want."

"And where's the fun in that?" She cocked a slender brow and placed her hand on her hip, jutting it out to the side. "After all, you just said you liked challenges."

"I think even you can put two and two together." Dipper smirked.

"You've always said I'm not as smart as you," she hummed, connecting her phone to a portable Bluetooth speaker. "You could tell me."

Dipper backed down from their little verbal battle, for once, and waited to see what kind of music she would play. The thumping beat and strange electric guitar solo told him that it was a song by The Black Keys.

"I must admit I can't explain any of these thoughts racing through my brain, it's true. But baby I'm howlin' for you."

"Sentimental, aren't we?" Dipper chuckled and took a few steps toward her.

She had her back to him, facing the window. At first, if Dipper didn't know any better, he would've assumed she were crying. When she finally turned to face him, she exhaled a puff of smoke in his face. "C'mon, Richboy. Sentimental? Me? Don't make me laugh," she added a posh accent to jab at Dipper's formal diction. A common normalcy.

"Just an observation. I'm quite good at those." Dipper continued, unperturbed by the waft of smoke in his face. "This song" —he pointed swiftly at the speaker— "was playing when we first saw each other —spoke to each other."

"I see." She mused, taking a slow and rather long swig of what Dipper had discerned as vodka. "Seems like you're being much more sentimental than me. I hadn't realized there was such a personal connection to this song."

She had to be bluffing. Above many things, she had a spectacular memory when she utilized it —and she utilized it often.

Now, he could call her out on her bluff, or he could just drop it. Dipper Gleeful was not one for dropping such things, but she was the exception. All it would do was ruin the mood they had between them. And he couldn't have that, now, could he?

They were close now, barely inches apart. Dipper was quite used to it. She was never one to back down from him, no matter what. She was intense and it made Dipper think back to her statement all those months ago.

"I wondered if you were as perfect as the world depicted you as."

Perhaps she wasn't as bold as the world depicted her as. No. He knew better than to get into anything that wasn't necessary.

"Hmm," she murmured, "this song isn't very danceable. Is it?" She snatched her phone from out of her back pocket and quickly scrolled through a playlist titled 'Best of the Best'.

It was almost instant, the old-timey, sounding as if it were recorded off a record player, Dion song.

She tossed her phone onto the queen-sized bed behind them and turned her green gaze back to Dipper.

"Each time we have a quarrel, it almost breaks my heart. 'Cuz I am so afraid, we'll have to part."

She scoffed at what must've been Dipper's expression. "Don't think too much. While the other song might have been projection, this one is far from it."

"Oh," Dipper mused as she placed her arms around his neck. "So you can admit it truly was projection?" His hands found their way to her hips as if he new the route by memory. He probably did.

"We're here now." She jerked her head to reference the fact that they were in a closed-off hotel room on the edge of town where barely anyone knew who they were. "I think it would take an idiot to figure it out."

"Is there any meaning behind this song?" Dipper asked as they swayed back and forth. It was almost strange and quite domestic for the two of them. "I assumed this wouldn't be up your alley at all."

She rolled her eyes in such a way that Dipper couldn't help but feel something tug at his heart. Broken it may have been, but beating it remained. "Well, assuming makes an ass outta you n' me."

"Never heard that one before." He chuckled, shifting a little so they were even closer than before.

"The meaning behind this song?" She tilted her head to the side, her hair was much shorter than it was way back in December. "I thought it was obvious with a title like A Teenager in Love."

"Are you saying that there isn't a connection? A personal one?" Dipper felt his entire body tighten. Was he hoping that she'd say there was? He wasn't sure. That was a frightening thought; him not being sure of something.

"I like old songs." Was the explanation she offered. "Were you hoping that there was?"

She'd be able to see right through his lies if they were even graced with the presence of air. "I'm not sure." He murmured.

They swayed back and forth until the song came to a rather bitter conclusion. It felt exactly like Dipper expected it to feel; domestic. Unlike them.

He initiated the kiss that time. With another more intense song blaring in the background (although quite faintly in his ears), the dim-lighting of the bedroom, the alcohol in both their systems, sparks were flying.

She held onto him tightly, threading her fingers into his hair, gripping equally as tightly. They fumbled around for a bit, trying to figure it all out, they were on the cusp of sixteen, after all.

Their kissing became messy, lazily clinking teeth against teeth, trying to keep no distance between them with gripping fingers.

The music was background noise, now. Even Dipper had a difficult time figuring out what song was playing when. But he was certain that he heard Bloodstream. Another interesting choice for a girl like her.

One by one, articles of clothing were dropped, discarded, and tossed in the air like a wanton confetti.

He awoke the following morning, quite early. It finally happened. It wasn't like he was waiting for it, per say, more likely that it was inevitable; bound to happen eventually and nothing would stop it.

From the very first glance all the way up to the scene in the hotel room, every single moment was bound to happen all in due time.

He half-expected that she would still be lying next to him, as she was the night before. So close, they hadn't been able to let go of each other. Alas, she wasn't there.

Dipper found her standing on the pathetic excuse for a balcony that the hotel had to offer (nothing compared to the one he had connected to his bedroom, but beggars cannot ever be choosers, as the saying went).

"It's early." He commented. So, he wasn't good at the post-one-night-stand talk. What a pity. "Even for my standards."

"Couldn't sleep." She rolled her eyes, her hair still damp from the shower she had taken the night before. "Insomnia, y'know?"

"Nicotine can't be helping that, now can it?" Dipper chuckled and slowly took her hand in his, hoping —no, praying— it wasn't coming off as romantic. He pulled the cigarette from her fingers and used his fingers to extinguish it. It hurt slightly, but he didn't care.

"'Suppose so." She muttered. "You slept like a baby, though."

"Are you telling me that you watched me as I slept?" Dipper asked, chuckling all the while.

"Your brow furrows more when you're sleeping." She commented, "not so perfect after all."

"Were you hoping that I am perfect?" He turned her body to face his, and once again her eyes never left his. "That no matter what happens to me I will remain, undoubtedly, perfect?"

"No." She stated rather firmly. "I was just overjoyed with the fact that I was the first to see it. I doubt you allow anyone to get that close to you, even if you wanted to." But her eyes told a different story. What was it Mabel had said? Using sarcasm to deflect any unwanted attention?

Dipper let go of her in that moment. "Well, you were the first."

Without missing any more than two beats she replied, "you, too."

Silence prevailed for a few moments, allowing the two of them to regard each other with the set of information they had each acquired.

She shrugged. "It doesn't have to mean anything. It can be exactly like Matt Walst said; strings will never be attached."

Despite everything that had just transpired, and despite everything that he felt, Dipper nodded and quoted, "it doesn't have to last."

She grinned again, "exactly. So, this can just be something we do, y'know?"

"It's definitely something to add to the list." Dipper chuckled.

All grin once more, "great. I'm gonna see if they offer breakfast. Then I'll getcha home. Now doubt your sister's probably losing her mind with your absence."

Dipper respectfully disagreed. "Oh, I don't think we have anything to worry about."

After the door shut and her footfalls long disappeared from the hall outside the hotel room, Dipper glanced down at the little table that sat in the corner of the pathetic excuse for a balcony. She'd left her lighter and pack of cigarettes.

With his body heavy, and mind weary with thought, Dipper reached out to it. His fingers shook a little when he finally grasped the lighter but he felt entirely confident after he lit the very cigarette that he had extinguished for her.

Bringing it to his lips, Dipper took his first inhale and, simply to save-face, didn't cough once. It wouldn't be his last.

ıllıllı 𝑅𝒰𝑀𝐼𝒩𝒜𝒯𝐼O𝒩𝒮 𝑀.𝒜.𝒢 ıllıllı

▌│█║▌║▌║ 𝐹𝐼𝐿𝐸 𝐸𝒩𝒞𝑅𝒴𝒫𝒯𝐸𝒟 ║▌║▌║█│▌

......
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ɪɴɪᴛɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴅᴇ-ᴄʀʏᴘᴛ?
......
......
ЯOЯЯƎ
.....
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ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ? ʏ/ɴ
ɴ
.....
.....
ЯOЯЯƎ
.....
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ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ? ʏ/ɴ
ʏ
.....
.....

▀▄▀▄▀▄  𝒮𝒯𝒜𝒩𝒟𝐵𝒴 ▄▀▄▀▄▀

𝔖𝔢𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔪𝔟𝔢𝔯 1𝔰𝔱, ❺10ᄅ
W—orDs c——not de—crib— the way I feel. There is so much to say. A —ry l0nel— Se—te——ber indeed. I l—eave t—s in——ead; 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚎—𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚏—𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘—u 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍.

f̹͎͔͎̩̗̠̖̊̄͑̃͆͆͜Ï̵̩̦͍͉̲̼͓̲̠̔͊̿̀̅͒͒̚͡L̰̱̘̜̼̖̈́̈͊̇̆̏̽e̵̡̛͈̤̻͕͔͋̃̈́̏̉͠ Ç̷͇̪̞̹̲̺̱̔́̓́̌͑͘͟͠͠͝ő̵͕͓̘̠̥͒̈́̆͑̿̒R̸̛͙͈̫̼̹̈̀̂̌̊̔̇̿͆r̢̛̩̼͙͎̱̤͆̇̂̀̓̆̓̀͘U̶̠̳͖̻̲͓̰͕͂̃̓̈̃̓̃͋͢͢P̵̡̛̗̠̺̂̓̈̃̈́͐͟Ţ͉̗̗̼̼̪͛̉̀̓́͂̕̚͢͡ẻ̛͓̲̗͇̞̥̒͑̎̇͞͡Ḍ̢̱̜͍͇̜̂̌͂͟͠͡͝ f̹͎͔͎̩̗̠̖̊̄͑̃͆͆͜Ï̵̩̦͍͉̲̼͓̲̠̔͊̿̀̅͒͒̚͡L̰̱̘̜̼̖̈́̈͊̇̆̏̽e̵̡̛͈̤̻͕͔͋̃̈́̏̉͠ Ç̷͇̪̞̹̲̺̱̔́̓́̌͑͘͟͠͠͝ő̵͕͓̘̠̥͒̈́̆͑̿̒R̸̛͙͈̫̼̹̈̀̂̌̊̔̇̿͆r̢̛̩̼͙͎̱̤͆̇̂̀̓̆̓̀͘U̶̠̳͖̻̲͓̰͕͂̃̓̈̃̓̃͋͢͢P̵̡̛̗̠̺̂̓̈̃̈́͐͟Ţ͉̗̗̼̼̪͛̉̀̓́͂̕̚͢͡ẻ̛͓̲̗͇̞̥̒͑̎̇͞͡Ḍ̢̱̜͍͇̜̂̌͂͟͠͡͝

ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ˢᵃʸ ʸᵒᵘ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ˡᵒᵛᵉ ᵐᵉ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ ᵈⁱᵈ

f̹͎͔͎̩̗̠̖̊̄͑̃͆͆͜Ï̵̩̦͍͉̲̼͓̲̠̔͊̿̀̅͒͒̚͡L̰̱̘̜̼̖̈́̈͊̇̆̏̽e̵̡̛͈̤̻͕͔͋̃̈́̏̉͠ Ç̷͇̪̞̹̲̺̱̔́̓́̌͑͘͟͠͠͝ő̵͕͓̘̠̥͒̈́̆͑̿̒R̸̛͙͈̫̼̹̈̀̂̌̊̔̇̿͆r̢̛̩̼͙͎̱̤͆̇̂̀̓̆̓̀͘U̶̠̳͖̻̲͓̰͕͂̃̓̈̃̓̃͋͢͢P̵̡̛̗̠̺̂̓̈̃̈́͐͟Ţ͉̗̗̼̼̪͛̉̀̓́͂̕̚͢͡ẻ̛͓̲̗͇̞̥̒͑̎̇͞͡Ḍ̢̱̜͍͇̜̂̌͂͟͠͡͝ f̹͎͔͎̩̗̠̖̊̄͑̃͆͆͜Ï̵̩̦͍͉̲̼͓̲̠̔͊̿̀̅͒͒̚͡L̰̱̘̜̼̖̈́̈͊̇̆̏̽e̵̡̛͈̤̻͕͔͋̃̈́̏̉͠ Ç̷͇̪̞̹̲̺̱̔́̓́̌͑͘͟͠͠͝ő̵͕͓̘̠̥͒̈́̆͑̿̒R̸̛͙͈̫̼̹̈̀̂̌̊̔̇̿͆r̢̛̩̼͙͎̱̤͆̇̂̀̓̆̓̀͘U̶̠̳͖̻̲͓̰͕͂̃̓̈̃̓̃͋͢͢P̵̡̛̗̠̺̂̓̈̃̈́͐͟Ţ͉̗̗̼̼̪͛̉̀̓́͂̕̚͢͡ẻ̛͓̲̗͇̞̥̒͑̎̇͞͡Ḍ̢̱̜͍͇̜̂̌͂͟͠͡͝

end of part two.
part three coming soon.

Songs mentioned:
Set It On Fire —My Darkest Days
Hysteria —Muse
Bad Things —Jace Everett
Howlin' For You —The Black Keys
A Teenager In Love —Dion
Bloodstream —Transviolet
Casual Sex —My Darkest Days
A Lonely September —Plain White T's