The Quiet Kid

14. Acknowledged

Before they left for Gravity Falls, Bill had to stop at his house, Dipper decided to come inside so he could properly thank Preston, as he had paid for Dipper's hospital bill.

Once they got there Bill quickly went up to his room. Dipper decided to stay in the main entryway at the bottom of the stairs in hopes to possibly catch Preston.

After several minutes of awkwardly waiting around, looking at the decor in the room he heard a voice from behind him,

"Ah, you are feeling better I presume?"

Dipper turned and saw Preston Northwest walk in the room.

Dipper nodded, then raised his hands to sign, but realized he didn't have Bill to translate.

"I do know some sign language," Preston said.

Thank you for paying for my hospital bill...though if you don't mind, may I ask why? Dipper signed slowly so that Preston could understand.

"It may seem that I dislike my nephew, I do not. I care a great deal for my nephew's happiness and well being. Since he met you, I haven't seen him happier." Preston said.

"I also understand you will be traveling to Gravity Falls," Preston said.

Dipper nodded. Preston pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Dipper.

"Give this to your great uncles when you arrive please." He said. Dipper nodded, took the envelope, and slid it in his pocket.

Preston nodded to him, before leaving the room.

A few minutes later Bill came back down with a backpack on his back as well as a new eye patch. His new eye patch was in the shape of a triangle with the faint outline of an eye in the center.

When Bill noticed Dipper's confusion he laughed.

"My old one was boring. This one was from an old Halloween costume." Bill explained.

What kind of Halloween costume? Dipper asked. Bill waved off the question.

"Don't worry about it," Bill said, "Let's go."

The two boys walked out and got in Bill's truck.

Are you sure you can drive with your eye...you know... Dipper asked.

"I'll be fine. If I can drive to San Francisco drunk, I can drive to Gravity Falls half blind." Bill said.

Drunk!?

"Oh, it was one time. And we were fine. Pyronica dared me!" Bill said.

Dipper rolled his eyes.

Bill tossed Dipper his phone.

"Here, you're DJ for the next ten hours," Bill said. Dipper nodded and scrolled through Bill's playlist until he picked Without Me by Halsey.

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Dip Skip
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Two hours in, the two boys stopped for food.

They pulled into the parking lot of an IHOP and got out.

IHOP? Dipper signed, confused.

"It's a pancake place. They're really good." Bill said.

My Great Uncle used to make my sister and I pancakes. He used to call them Stan-cakes. Dipper signed, doing his equivalent to a laugh.

"Well, I don't know how they will compare to Stan-cakes, but they are pretty good," Bill said.

The two boys walked in, the host showing them to their table.