Daughter of a Scientist, Soulmate of a Demon

Chapter 2

***

All day Dipper and I trailed Mabel around town, but he wasn't able to get the evidence he needed. I knew that "Norman" was a creature from the forest, and I had a couple of ideas about exactly what he was- none of them being a zombie -but part of me was having fun spending time with my nephew. Wait, would it be nephew? Or technically a first cousin once removed? I don't care enough to correct it.

Also it's weird that Mabel and Dipper are my niece and nephew.

When Mabel got home, Dipper ran up to their room and dragged me behind him.

"Mabel, we've got to talk about Norman."

"Isn't he the best? I don't think I could have found a better summer boyfriend. Look at this giant smooch mark he gave me!" Mabel turned so we could see her cheek that was now a bright pink. Dipper screamed, and I think I threw up in my mouth a little.

She just laughed. "Gullible. It was just an accident with the leaf blower. That was fun."

"I don't even want to ask," Dipper said with a shudder.

"I second that."

"No! Mabel, listen! I'm trying to tell you that Norman is not what he seems!"

Dipper pulls the journal from his vest, but Mabel gasps before he can show her the page. "You think he might be a vampire? That would be so awesome!"

"Don't you dare go all Bella Swan on me," I say sharply, earning strange looks from the twins. "I was young and it was a phase, shut up. Also Wendy and the others dragged me to every show to make fun of it."

"What I was trying to say is this!" Dipper shows her the journal page about gnomes, and she lets out a scream. "Oh, wait. I'm... I'm sorry. This!"

The page he lands on is the one for zombies. Wait, the gnomes... Is it Jeff?

"A zombie? That is not funny, Dipper."

"We're not joking! It all adds up: the bleeding, the limp... he never blinks! Have you noticed that?"

"Maybe he's blinking when you're blinking."

"Mabel, remember what the book said about Gravity Falls? "Trust no one"!"

"What about me, huh? Why can't you trust me?"

"Mabel! He's gonna eat your brain!"

"Listen to me. Norman and I are going on a date at five o'clock, and I'm gonna be adorable, and he's going to be dreamy." She starts to push us out of the room, and as much as Dipper and I try to argue, she doesn't let up. "And I refuse to let you ruin it with one of your crazy conspiracies!"

Dipper leans against the door and sits with a sigh. "What are we going to do?"

"Look, I wouldn't normally say this, but we are going to crash your sister's date."

"But how?"

"Follow her, duh. Wait a minute before doing so, but see where they are going. And if it turns out we are wrong, we apologize, but if we are right- and we are to at least some degree -we will be there to do something about it."

He nods. "Sounds like we have a plan."

I smile and help him up, then my face falls. "Am I going to lose cool aunt friend points for this?"

Dipper shrugs. "Probably for less than an hour. Mabel likes you."

My smile returns. "Great. Who's ready to watch footage until five o'clock?"