You're still going to visit next month, right? ^ u ^

Of course, as long as dad doesn't change his mind.

You don't think he will, do you? ; 3 ;

It's anyone's guess. He's been getting especially grumpy whenever I mention it.

Then quit mentioning it, dummy! :I

Alright. I'll keep you updated on his mood swings. Class starts soon, so I have to go.

Ttyl~ X3

I sighed and clicked my phone's sleep button, allowing the screen to go dark. It had been getting more and more tiring to send upbeat messages to Dipper as time went on. I felt more than obligated to keep him as happy as possible. Dipper's messages were always pretty matter-of-fact, so I could never get a read on how he felt at any given time. So I assumed he was doing as poorly as I was.

"Why the long face, Mabel?"

With the sound of mom's voice, I returned to the real world. This just unfortunately happened to be the kitchen table in an apartment in some dumb town in Utah. "What long face? You're hallucinating," I stated.

Mom put her hands on her hips disapprovingly. "We both know that's a lie, young lady. You know you can talk to me if something is bothering you."

"You already know what's bothering me," I said, huffing my breath.

She sighed in response and sat down in the chair across from me. Though she looked tired and weary, it was obviously all an act. She hadn't worked a day since the move, and the stack of untouched boxes that still filled the living room stood as a testament to how hard she had worked at unpacking. "This is as hard for me as it is for you, Mabel," she told me. She reached across the table and cradled my hand in hers. "Divorces are as hard on parents as they are on the kids… I miss Dipper as much as you do."

I resisted the urge to glare at her, knowing it would only land me in a pot of trouble. "It's not just Dipper, and you know that."

"Is it school? I know you're worried about making new friends, but you don't need to be. You've made friends in new places plenty of times. What makes now any different?" she asked in a disgustingly sweet tone. "A little shooting star like you can make friends anywhere!"

This time, I did glare at her. "Don't call me that."

"I just don't get you anymore, Mabel… Where's my little girl that used to run around the house laughing and playing pretend all the time?"

I stood up, my eyes avoiding contact with hers. "Back in California with Dipper," I snapped before storming out of the kitchen and down the hall to my bedroom. Even though I had already unpacked most of my belongings, there was no way this room could ever feel like mine.

I closed the door behind me and locked it, even though I knew mom wouldn't try to follow me inside. She could act the part of worried mother all she wanted, but I wouldn't be so easily fooled. The naive little girl she had known four years ago had grown up, and despite Dipper's promises that they would do it together, she had had to grow up alone.

So this is just a little idea that popped into my head the other day. Whether or not I continue/finish it is still undetermined. This isn't exactly a great first chapter, but I need to establish a few things before we get the plot really moving.