Chapter 11

Saturday night! And the twins were excited: from her barista job Mabel had heard from her friends and customers that the party would be sick with music: not one but three bands taking turns! "Kung Pao's" parents lived at the end of a cul-de-sac with plenty of room between neighbors, and on a long street with plenty of parking. And even better: his parents were best friends with the closest neighbors and they had all four gone a cruise, ergo the party! The neighbors on the other side were already told about the party in advance and seemed OK with it.

Dipper clocked out from work at nine PM, and quickly drove home to change from his store clothes to his party swag. He walked in the door and as he started down the hallway he was greeted by Mabel, smiling.

She was smiling because she loved how she could always impress him: his mouth dropped open like a freshman in high school seeing senior girls for the first time.

The first thing he noticed of course were her eyes, sensuous eye shadow and full lashes. Her hair was up in a tight Asian style bun in the back with what looked like black glossy chopsticks with gold trim, leaving free small, spiraling locks on either side of her rosy cheeks. Medium sized gold hoop earrings dangled behind her locks.

This hairstyle of course revealed her deliciously inviting neck, normally covered by her thick tresses, but now he could imagine kissing her there, and it helped that she was wearing a low scoop neckline too, courtesy of a jet black sleeveless tank made from an expensive looking sheer mesh material. It was trimmed on the sides with tiny gold tube like sequins in symmetrical vertical stripes on each side. They went from below her armpits down to her waist in a loose fashion, but then…her very short skirt was anything but loose, hip hugging and made of matching material, with the gold tube sequins continuing, sewn into matching downward arches, one fanning out in front of each hip, sparkling as she shifted her hips from one side to the other as she changed poses to lean against the other side of the door and put on a show for her brother. She looked almost Egyptian.

He then looked down at her legs, exposed from mid-thigh on down: tanned and devastatingly emphasized by her black stiletto heels. If she was dressed to kill, it worked, because he was like stone for a full thirty seconds as he stared with unabashed ogling. Mabel giggled.

"Hey Dip. Ready to party? *I* am heehee!"

"Uh…yeah…I can see that…oh yeah!"

"Well? Get goin'! Get dressed bruh!"

"Oh. Yeah! Yeah, kay!"

He slowly walked past his sister sideways, staring down her cleavage as he passed sideways, and she smacked the side of his butt. "Keep it movin', keep it movin', come on! It's already 9:20!"

Smiling he turned and ran to his bedroom and started changing. In less than five minutes he was out wearing a new all black tee with a large Diamond Supply Co. logo (a diamond of course that covered practically the whole shirt, the diamond facets in thin white lines superimposed on the black background), army drab jeans and white Nike shoes with black logos. He grabbed his Pine Tree hat (it still fit him although a little worn ) and then pulled on a black hoodie over the cap.

Mabel checked him out as he came out, a pink polished fingernail on her lower lip.

"Hey good choice broseph, we match!"

He didn't stop, and as he walked past her, he spanked her tightly skirted bottom.

"Ow! OK OK I'm comin' I'm comin'!"

She put an arm around his as they walked out the door to the car, her heels clicking on the pavement.

…

The first band had just finished playing and it was now mid-band break as the second group hooked up their equipment, but it was still loud from all of the talking and laughing people packed into the split-level mansion. It was actually three stories but they were staggered side to side so a full flight of stairs was not needed to go up and down between the levels. Living room and kitchen and guest bathrooms were in the middle entry level, bedrooms, balconies and more bathrooms upstairs, and then a large entertainment room area downstairs, altogether over five thousand square feet. The backyard had a large circular fire pit made of brick (with a large fire already blazing), a large pool with an embedded Jacuzzi, and plenty of patio space and outdoor seating with tables.

Ken Paul ("Kung Pao") was grabbing a second brew from the large stainless steel refrigerator when Josh from Dipper's work walked up, still in store clothes.

"Bruh! Glad you made it! Came straight from work eh?" They grabbed hands and hugged shoulder to shoulder.

"Yeah no sense going home first, I am off for the next three days so if you puke on my clothes I have time to do laundry ha!" and he punched Ken in the shoulder.

"Not funny bruh, I can hold my liquor, besides I always stop after three anyway."

Josh looked around, nodding to a few friends he recognized, and then turned around to check out a couple of girls who just walked in the open front door. They briefly spoke to one of Ken's friends who seemed to be on watch at the door. He turned to Ken and then tilted his head towards the tall dark haired boy.

"Is he looking out for them?"

"Yep! Mike knows their car. Man is this gonna be great! Hannah is gonna be ready with her phone to capture the looks on their faces when it goes down!"

"Haha! So everyone here is cool with what's going down?"

"Yeah, everyone has been doin' a great job keeping it on the down low all week!"

Josh grabbed a beer and then looked around as he opened it.

"This is already a record party bruh, excellent! What is there to eat?"

Ken swung his arm out towards the patio door.

"See for yourself!"

The two walked out and Josh smiled.

"Yeah! Baaaaaaby back ribs!" He turned to Ken and gave him a high five then grabbed a plate. Ken went to one of the table benches and stood up on it, and started clapping loudly

"HEY! HEY EVERYBODY! ATTENTION PLEASE! HEY!"

Everyone turned around and the chatter lowered.

"Thanks. Now before the band starts up again, I want to make sure we are all cool here with what we're gonna do to the twins! Does anyone here not know what the situation is all about? About Dipper and Mabel?"

A few whispers and smiles.

"OK good, good. Are we ready to do this tonight? Bust it wiiiiiiiiiiiiiide open?"

"YEAH!" Huge cheers and whistles went up. Hannah was in the back holding up her camera, waving it.

"Great! Then let's do this! Remember, when the band stops playing and you see me grab the microphone get ready to BRING IT! YEAH!"

And everyone cheered and whistled.

…

"Wow Dip, everybody in town must be here! Look at all the cars!"

"Yeah, hope you can walk a ways in those shoes."

"Oh yeah, they won't kill me until two or three hours haha!"

"They were killing me just lookin' at em! You look so hot tonight babe, I am gonna have a hard time keeping my hands off you."

"Haha! Right, well you better, or you may have to keep your hands to yourself permanently heehee! Now, let's go over it again: If some guy also thinks I'm hot and starts talking to me…"

He rolled his eyes and frowned. "I…leave it to you. To GET RID of him!"

"Very good! And if some girls starts winking at you…?"

"I don't turn her off too quickly. Otherwise…" and he squinted his eyes. She had to finish for him.

"Otherwise they'll think you're gay haha! Don't worry brobro, I won't get jealous. Unless I find you two in the coat closet." And she punched his shoulder.

"OK OK don't overdo it, I get the idea. Here we are, last turn."

He pulled up the cul-de-sac but it was obvious there was no parking left. He pulled into one of the driveways to make a three point U-turn.

As he did so, Mike the lookout man saw them. He turned around and cupped his mouth to shout towards the backyard.

"HEY! THEY'RE HERE! THEY'RE HERE!"

Josh and Ken ran in from the backyard, and looked out the front door.

"OK everybody, remember, when I grab the mic!" He pointed to the second band. "Play!" And they started with some loud and heavy bass and electric guitar.

And everyone started trying to act "normal", dancing, drinking and smiling and laughing, but it wasn't all from partying.

…

With a gentleman's touch Dipper opened the door for Mabel and helped her step from the car. He almost drooled over her thigh as it swung out of the car and she stepped onto the sidewalk.

"Wow Mabes, you look so amazing tonight, especially in the night!"

She lowered her eyes and smiled, then looked around. Then she quickly gave him a peck on the cheek.

"That's all for now Dippingsauce." Then she leaned into his ear and whispered. "You'll get more after."

He smiled and then let go of her hand as they started walking up the cul-de-sac walkway towards the party, without touching each other.

…

The large and expansive front yard had a long and weaving walkway entrance to the front door from the sidewalk, which gave door watchman Mike as well as other party goers who were hanging outside in front plenty of time to admire Mabel as she strutted up to the party. Hips swiveled and healthy legs stepped in a cute prance that held everyone's attention, and when she and her brother approached the front porch the porch light made her eyes sparkle and her smile shine, gold hoop earrings glinting.

"Hi Mike! Haven't seen you in a while! You know Dip right? My br…cousin?"

"Yeah, sure! Hey Dipper." And the two boys bumped fists. "Drinks in the fridge, or in the ice chest out back. Help yourself!"

It was a crowded walk to the kitchen, but something was different: Dipper couldn't quite put his finger on it as he pulled out a Heineken beer for himself, and held the door open for Mabel to pull out her favorite: a bottled strawberry daiquiri. He closed the fridge and then they walked out to the backyard where the band was playing their loud and electric version of "R U Mine" by Arctic Monkeys. Mabel started swinging her hips and snapping her fingers to the beat as she stepped outside holding her drink in her other hand, nodding her head in time as the singer shouted, but even while letting loose and relaxing Dipper could sense something was different. His over thinking went into high gear.

Usually when she looks this hot the guys are all over her. This time…they seem to be… stepping out of our way. Maybe they remember me being too…possessive…last time?

Mabel noticed it too. Everyone is smiling politely, but…somehow…fake. Something's not right here. Eh…maybe I just need another drink. She took a couple of big gulps.

The twins glanced at each other and nodded. We should separate for a while. Dipper slowly walked to the fire pit, and Mabel walked over to the band. Dipper smiled at the others standing around the fire and then looked over his shoulder at Mabel as she moved closer to the band. She had no trouble at all. Usually for a live band with this many people she would have to squeeze past everyone already dancing, but even from this distance across the yard he could see people parting for her.

What, do we have cooties or something? Or have we finally earned some respect around here or…or what?

Then finally, a guy walked up to her, it was Mike from the front door. He reached forward and then Dipper realized that his sister's bottle was empty, and he had brought another one for her.

Humph! Well, could be worse. At least now things are more or less normal, now that at least one guy is hitting on her…But then Mike waved at her and left after giving her the new bottle. His sister turned to face the band again and started dancing.

"Hey Dip!"

Dipper whipped his head around in surprise. It was Josh from work.

"OH! Hey Josh! Great party bruh!" And they grabbed hands and bumped shoulders.

"Yeah, you should taste the ribs man!"

"Yeah, maybe later." He turned around and saw in between the crowd of dancing people that a smiling Kung Pao had found Mabel and was talking to her, and then with a beer in his hand he was pointing towards… him! Mabel turned around and was smiling as she looked across the yard at her brother, but in a sort of embarrassed kind of way, and in her facial "twinspeak" he could tell she was uncomfortable about something. I better get over there. Why would he be pointing at me?

"Hey uh, Josh, I gotta go check something out, uh…I'll be right back."

"No worries bruh, let's go."

I can't have work knowing anything if …if something is going badly…

"Uh, no that's ok, really Josh, just hang out here please and …"he handed Josh his beer. "Hang on to my beer for me please? I'll be right back, promise."

Josh held his beer and Dipper's with a puzzled look on his face as he watched Dipper quickly walk to the dancing area.

Dipper approached the crowded dance patio through the loud thump thump! of the bass and drums and guitars, and then smiled as Ken turned to see Dipper walking up.

"Dipper! Glad you and your…cousin…made it!" and he bumped fists.

"Uh thanks Ken, props man, great party! Thanks for inviting us!"

Mabel leaned towards him and whispered "He called us siblings again, then changed back to cousins."

When they both looked up at Ken he smiled and held his hands up.

"Hey look, sorry both of you, I don't want to make you uncomfortable. Listen…I was going to wait until later but…well this is as good a time as any since you are both here together." He turned and with a slicing motion of his hand across his neck he signaled to the band to stop. He stepped up and the singer handed the microphone over to him, and the crowd became quiet.

"Hey everybody!"

"HEY!" the crowd cheered back, whistles and clapping. Now Dipper noticed everyone crowding around him and Mabel, very close. This is more normal, but…why now? What is he going to say?

Then he suddenly got a bad feeling, and grabbed Mabel's hand and nodded towards the door. She silently nodded in agreement and they tried to sideways penetrate the crowd but everyone now refused to budge and kept them locked in!

"Everyone, thanks for coming, and I want to especially thanks Dipper and Mabel for coming!"

Now the band spotlight was shining on he and his sister, and through the blinding light he could make out phone cameras here and there. The twins both thought the same thing: OH NO! They smiled but still kept on trying to crab walk sideways out of the spotlight, but now people were actively pushing them to keep then front and center.

Ken looked at them both in the eyes, back and forth.

"Dipper? Mabel? You guys are great, you're fun, and you're great friends, whether we work together or party together!" Cheers and whistles went up from the crowd.

And then Mabel and Dipper both recognized Ann and Richard were there too, they had worked their way through the crowd to get next to them, and so had Josh, who was still holding Dipper's beer.

"And not only are you great friends and coworkers, you're also close." And he smiled and looked around. Everyone grew quiet. Mabel and Dipper looked at each other and smiled but the panic was plain in their faces.

"And I want you both to know that you two are too close for cousins, even kissing cousins! Let's be honest! You're…siblings! Right? Am I right?"

Now the twins each face palmed, hiding their faces, but while Mabel still looked down, Dipper looked up, angry. I will stand by Mabel no matter what!

"Ken, you…I'm gonna…"

"Whoa! Hold on Dipper! Hold on buddy! It's OK!" and he slowly and gently reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. Dipper angrily shrugged it off but then…he heard murmurs from the crowd, whispers. "Yeah! It's OK!" and then suddenly he felt other hands on his shoulders and pats on the back. Mabel felt them too and she looked up. Ann moved closer to her and placed a warm arm around her shoulder. Then Ken spoke into the microphone again.

"Dipper and Mabel, we want you both to know that we don't care! It's OK!" then he climbed onto one of the chairs by the amplifiers and looked around at the crowd and shouted.

"WE DON'T CARE, RIGHT? LOVE IS ALWAYS OK! ISN'T IT FOLKS?" and he waved upwards to the crowd, who began shouting and cheering.

He nodded again at the crowd. "That's right!" and he then looked down at the twins.

"LOVE…is GOOD! And we don't care that you're brother and sister. You still make a hot couple! Right people! Amiright?" and the crowd cheered again. Mabel smiled now and reached for Dipper's hand.

Then he turned to the twins one last time before handing the microphone back to the singer.

"Dipper and Mabel, you are our friends and we want you to be yourselves, and be yourselves with us. It's OK!"

And everyone cheered. Ken gave a thumbs up to the band and they then started playing an electric grunge version of "Shutup and Dance" by the Walk The Moon.

The twins couldn't believe it. Everyone around them started dancing, but it wasn't until Ann and Richard grabbed their hands and started swinging their arms back and forth that Dipper and Mabel finally relaxed and started dancing too, but now they were dancing with each other, arms around each other, and by silent agreement, they leaned forward and kissed. The crowd went wild! Cheers and whistles and clapping was almost deafening! And then Josh handed Dipper his beer back to him.

…

On top of the point overlooking the city, one car of a dozen parked in a row of cars along the cliff, Dipper and Mabel gazed out at the city lights. They looked over at a mustang parked on their left and the couple inside smiled. Then they looked over at the BMW parked on the right and the couple inside smiled back too. Then Dipper and Mabel looked at each other, kissed briefly, and then nodded to each other, and said the same thing at almost the same time:

"Let's go back to the forest!"

And they started the car.