Setting
I could keep you safe forever
You held on to me
A beautiful scene
I still remember
Twenty years after 'The Accident.'
It had been twenty years to the date since that ever fateful day in the local woods that outlined the small town of Gravity Falls. Twenty years since a group of children had discovered the remains of, what could only be assumed to have been their friend, Sam Mathers. Twenty years since six children were left scarred for life by whatever they saw and experienced out in those woods, and one child who wasn't allowed to grow up. And twenty years since a heavy weight fell over the town. Almost as if a curse had befallen the people who lived there. But that's just stories, right?
The skies above this small forest town were just as grey as they had always been, sunshine being a rarity but never an unwanted sight to be had. The air was blanketed in what could only be described as a heavy fog as it drifted down the streets. Giving it a somewhat eery appearance. Due to it still being rather early in this small town, life hadn't exactly kick started itself for the day just yet. As stores were slowly beginning to open their doors for the day. Students and workers walking down the stretch of side-walk as they made their commute, whatever it may have been for. But the energy that this day seemed to always hold was equally as heavy as the fog that hang about the air. Seeing as it was the twentieth anniversary since 'The Accident'.
An accident, Eden mused to themself. A god damn accident doesn't eviscerate a child. Anyone and everyone who was in the woods that night knew it wasn't a god damn accident. Whether they wanted to admit it or not. An accident doesn't cause a child to be nearly torn to pieces, and be enough cause for a closed casket to be needed for a god damn eight-year old. It was some sort of fucked cover-up on the police's end, and everyone knew it. The cops in this damn town cared more about saving their own asses and sweeping it under the rug, than bringing the dark truth to light. The truth that what happened that night, wasn't normal nor natural. That something had caused a child to die a brutal death like Sam Mathers had. And something or at least someone had to have been responsible for what happened to the others. Kids don't just become unable to control themselves. Kids don't all just have a panic attack and all go unconcious all at once, like some kind of hive-mind mentality. There was no logical explanation.
Yet, the cops swept it under the rug and treated it like any other investigation. They were nothing more than children who needed real help. Psychological and mental help. Not just a pat on the back and an 'It's gonna be okay'. That doesn't help repair a broken mind of an impressionable child. And the fact that everyone in this town, had gone back to their old ways within a few months. None of it made sense, not even to the ones who were literal children at the time. The remaining kids knew it was wrong. That something was wrong, but they were more or less silenced. And for what? Cuz they knew the truth? None of it made sense...
Eden stood alone as their eyes looked almost glazed over. Tears having since long stained their cheeks. Eden rubbed their face once more, finally wiping away their nearly dried tears from their darkened, hazel green eyes. They were kneeling down in front of a small headstone that was under a medium sized pine tree, a bit off from the rest of the headstones that littered the cemetery. Their eyes scanned over the carved lettering into the old and gray stone:
In Loving Memory
Samantha Lily-Rose Mathers
1993-2001
Eden could feel that all too familiar burning sensation start up behind their eyes once more as their hands trembled as they were down by their sides. It wasn't right. Sam should have been here beside all of them. She should have been allowed to grown up. She should have graduated like the rest of them. Should have been able to have been to fall in love and experienced life. Even for all of the shitty aspects of life, they were all worth it. It wasn't fair that one of them wasn't here, while everyone else was still alive, wherever they may have been. Eden felt their chest tighten as tears streamed down their eyes once more, tightening their fists once more. Taking a deep breath as they slowly tilted their head upwards, the sun shining down on their pale skin as the sun peaked out from behind graying clouds. "You de-deserve to be here, Sammy..." Eden mumbled softly, keeping their eyes closed as they felt a soft gust of wind scrape across their skin. With a heavy intake of breath, Eden retrieved their black sunglasses from their jacket's pockets and put them on, slowly looking around as they could once more sense as if someone was watching them.
But like usual, Eden braced themself as they turned to face whatever was spying on them from afar, but there was nothing there. "It's fine, E-Eden...It's f-fine." they reassured themself, rubbing their hands together in the cold October air. Eden glanced down at the headstone once more, gently pressing their palm against the cold stone, closing their eyes once more as they said a few silent words to themself and got back up to their feet. Nearly towering over the small grave, shaking their head as they let out a sigh. "'Till ne-next year, Sam..." they said softly. Clicking their tongue, and there was a chirp as a small, brown form bounded towards them, rubbing against their leg. "Let's get some br-breakfast hm, S-Seb?", Eden questioned the small otter that was on a lead, and turned on their heels, heading back towards the entrance of the cemetery. But not before seeing a few familiar faces at the front gate of the cemetery.
Eden stopped and paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as they looked at the family, "I-I hope you've be-been well." they stuttered out. A nervous tick that they still hadn't ever been able to break. Even after all these years, Eden was never able to break their stutter when talking to other people.
The older man within the group gave them a kind smile as he stepped forward, gently enveloping Eden in a soft hug, "We have, Eden. Thank you. How have...How have you been?" Ezekiel asked with a kind smile, stepping back once the hug came to an end. Eden returned his smile with a small one of their own. "I'm alright. Th-thank you, Mr. Ma-Mathers." Eden sheepishly dug their shoe into the partially frozen dirt below. The younger male who was standing next to his father gave them a gentle smile, "It's good to see you always, 'Ed. You could come 'round the house sometime." Kyle commented, "-But, there's no pressure. Just letting you know you can always stop by, if you ever needed anything, of course." Alexandra smiled at her son's comment, "What he's trying to say is, there's no need to make a stranger of yourself, hun. You're always welcome to our home. Always have, always will." the woman reassured with a warm smile that met her eyes.
Eden smiled nervously as they dug their hands into their pockets, nodding slightly in response. "I app-ppreciate it. Th-thank you." Eden began to turn to leave, but stopped half way before turning back to face them, "I might t-take you up on th-that sometime. I'll l-let you get back to your v-visit." Eden nodded once more, the family simply nodded and gave the young blond a gentle smile and carried on about their day as they parted. As Eden walked away, they took a deep breath. That small voice whispering in their ear begining once more. Eden needed to get their mind off of things, but before they could do that they knew they'd need to get something to eat and headed off in the general direction to where the local diner was. They didn't have work as they always got this day off from it, for obvious reasons. Something they appreciated about the Mathers. They gave everyone that worked at the store the day off. They'd need time with things today, just like they always did every time this day came around for the past ten years. Today was like no other, or at least that's what Eden thought. But for now, Eden planned to get some food for them and their roommates, and head back home. Where they'd do nothing at all for the rest of the day, if they were lucky and didn't get roped into their roommates usual bullshit...
cause a scene like you're supposed to
they'll fall asleep without you
you're lucky if your memory remains
Town had hardly changed since the last time he'd been home. Hell, it had hardly changed since he'd left. He was sure that it was a comfort to some, but it just left him feeling uneasy. Things were supposed to change. His neighborhood on the outskirts of LA seemed to change every time he left for a tour. But here he was, home for the longest time in seven and a half years, and nothing had changed. Except him, he reminded himself. He didn't have to be the same person he'd been back then. He wouldn't be that person.
He'd never been able to sleep on planes, and even though his flight was an overnight one, that didn't change. He'd rented a car and driven up himself, so he knew he should have been exhausted by the time he was dumping his bags on his bed. He should have been ready to pass out. But instead, he felt wide awake, too anxious to even think about sleeping. Was this a good idea? Had any of this been a good idea? He tried lying down on the bed in the hope his body would win out over his brain, but after ten minutes of staring at the ceiling, sleep feeling as far away as ever, he figured it was futile. So, instead, he decided to go for breakfast.
The diner had always been the best place in town to get breakfast after a long night, and while the unchanging nature of Gravity Falls freaked him out a little, that was the one thing he hoped hadn't changed. As he approached the diner, he spotted a familiar figure a short distance away. Somebody he'd only seen over screens for the past year and a half, since he'd managed to avoid coming home last Christmas. He grinned and began making his way over to them. They hadn't spotted him yet, by the looks of things. He had some witty comment in his head, ready to say to catch their attention, when, at the last moment, he spotted the animal they had on their leash.
"Is that a freaking otter?" he said as he reached Eden, almost without realising it. Then he grinned at them. "Hi."
gunpowder, gelatine
dynamite with a laser beam
guaranteed to blow your mind
Eva clicked the stop button and groaned, stretching. The first episode of Orbiting was supposed to be coming out the next day, and Eva was still trying to get everything recorded and edited. Because she had plenty of experience in editing and putting shows together, she'd volunteered to do the bulk of the editing as well, with her producer doing any final tweaks and touch-ups. It had possibly been a little too much work to take on, but she wasn't backing down now. It just meant several early mornings and late nights. She, at least, had all of the interviews she needed recorded, it was just scripting and recording her own thoughts.
She'd already been at her desk recording takes for almost forty minutes, and she needed food. Being told, she didn't entirely trust the bed and breakfast's breakfast offerings, so instead, she sent a text to Vi.
To: Vi
wanted: recommendations for the best breakfast in town. reward: i buy you breakfast in return.
She'd been so glad when she'd arrived into town to discover Vi was also around. Knowing just one person in town made it so much easier to settle in and start to find out information. It meant that she got all the best insider knowledge and gossip, as well as having someone to grab a few drinks with in the evenings. Her phone buzzed with a reply from Vi.
From: Vi
âBest breakfast is a place that doesn't normally sell it! La Cocina de Serrano, I will meet you at the front door, I have connections ;)â
Eva grinned, grabbing her bag and slinging it onto her shoulder, before heading out to meet Vi.
I could keep you safe forever
You held on to me
A beautiful scene
I still remember
Doing the same old shit, every god damn day. Never going anywhere, never progressing. Always in the same old cycle. It was like no matter how hard they tried, they were stuck in some endless sort of limbo. Being how they were wasn't exactly helping either, and Eden knew it. Never breaking out of their shell, keeping to the same group of people. Hell, it was even a miracle that they ever interacted with Ashir. Then again, it was only because he was their newest roommate. But that wasn't to say Eden had anything against the guy, rather the opposite. However unexpected his arrival was, it wasn't unwelcomed. If anything, it was a pleasant surprise. Someone that didn't know who Eden was, didn't really know their past. And they preffered to keep it that way. Then again, news travels all too fast in a small town, so it was only a certain amount of time until word got around to the guy. Oh well, not much that they could do.
Eden was only shaken out of their thoughts when they heard someone call out to them. It took them a few moments to process not only the words, but the voice. That sneaky son of a bitch, were the only thoughts before they turned on their heels, and sure enough. There he was. In all of his god damn, blue-haired glory. "You be-beautiful son on a bi-bitch-" were the only words Eden got out before they had practically flung themselves at Elliot. Embracing him into a tight hug, which would have otherwise taken them both down to the ground if Elliot hadn't been expecting it. This was more or less routine for them at this point. Elliot showing up out of nowhere, and Eden tackling him with a hug.
After taking a moment to take in the moment, Eden finally broke away from the hug, taking a few steps back and patted down their clothing. Blinking for a moment as their brain took a moment to process what was asked. Looking down and quickly scooping up the small creature, "His na-name is Se-Se-Sebastian. Th-thank you ve-very much." Eden teased, before gently placing a kiss on the otter's head. Scratching under his chin for a moment, before turning on their heels as the two of them started to walk again. Eden paused for a moment, looking at Elliot. "Should have t-told me you'd b-be co-coming. Would have d-done somethin' sp-special." Eden smiled gently, turning back ahead of them.
Eden nodded in response after Elliot spoke, eyeing him up for a moment. If they could venture a guess, he was beyond tired and clearly hadn't eaten anything in hours. If they could place a bet, he arrived to town and didn't do much before running into them. "Br-breakfast, is o-on me. C-come on then, Ell. No Arguments." they gestured with their head, indicating the way that they had both been heading to anyway. Eden mindlylessly fidgeted with the rings that they had on their left hand. "How...Ho-how have yo-you been? I kn-know you'be be-been worki-ing on an al-album, right?" Eden already knew the answer to that. They had been keeping up with his social medias and everything in between for years. But they were more or less desperate to keep the awkward silence from sticking around for too long. Anything to keep their mind and ears off of those damned voices would help.
xxxxxWednesday Jones
xxx The Theorist | Outfit | #D16120
xxxxxWell, I guess I made my bed
xxxxxNow I gotta lie in it
xxxxxLike a suicidal kiss
xxxxxI got a guilty conscience
Wednesday trudged through the muddy leaf-covered path that borders their backyard. Making their way to the townâs park, going this way would spit them out into a more secluded part of it. Once at their usual picnic table they quickly sent a text to Isla, something that has become a habit of checking in on her in the morning. As they hit send they got a message from Vi, as she had sent them a plethora of memes, videos, and texts to try and cheer them up. Wednesday chuckled a little and a small smile formed on their perpetual stone-like face, they texted Vi back "thank you" before sliding their phone back in their bag and pulling out a laptop strewn with various stickers. They rubbed their cold hands together before getting ready to write, in a futile effort to try to forget the incident.
Just as Wednesday was starting to lose themselves in the grove of their writing, a piercing voice broke their concentration. 'Wendy, you back here again?" asked Wednesday's sister, as she slithered out from the thick trees that usually block this part of the park from the townies. "What do you want, CeCe?" they asked without taking an eye off their writing. "Ugh no need to be so testy, Wendy." said CeCe with a smirk as she knew how much that annoyed her sibling. "All I wanted to know was how you were doing. Now I'm being punished for just being a good sister." she said with a dramatic flourish. Wednesday rolled their eyes "I'll tell you again like I always do, I just need to be alone on this day." CeCe slid down across from them and started drumming on the table. Wednesday tensed up trying to focus on their writing, but with a constant stream of distractions coming from across them, it was an impossible task. "Can you please leave me be? I'm just trying to get some writing done." Wednesday asked with a sigh. "It's a park hun, I can sit wherever I want, you don't own this area." CeCe replied as she propped her feet up on the picnic table slightly kicking the laptop. "God be careful!" Wednesday snapped back at them. CeCe rolled her eyes before closing Wednesday's laptop with her foot. "You do know you're never gonna find out what happened to that kid Sam right? I don't understand why you keep trying, it's been 20 years, and you're not any closer." CeCe stood up brushed her legs. "If I were you I would let this little obsession die off." CeCe chuckled before turning to leave. "Well, it's a damn good thing I'm not you." Wednesday said before they watched their sister leave.
Now too upset to continue Wednesday packed up their belongings and started making their way to La Cocina de Serrano, to get some food.
It reminded him everyday that there was something out there in Gravity Falls, but he never could figure out what or why it went after Sam. Not many other incidents like it have ever been reported, so the question kept lingering around in his head, Why Sam?
He groaned as he got out of bed. He got ready for the day and just automatically turned off his phone not wanting to deal with it. Almost as if it were autopilot he made his way out to the edge of the forest to stare at it for awhile. What was it about Gravity Falls? What made it easy for people to come crawling back? Miles sighed as he tried to peel back the layers of the forest to maybe get some sense of clarity, but that would never happen. Part of him wanted to go further into the forest and just sit at the spot where they found Sam.
His fingers moved in a way that made him want to wrap around the a cylinder container, but there was none on him. The itch and the crave to have something was there. Miles felt extremely irritated now and just began to walk away from the situation, decided to get some coffee and a breakfast bagel before he had to head to the school.
His walk wasn't too long and it was rather peaceful. When he got up to the diner doors, he opened then and walked in. As he placed his order to go, he couldn't help, but see two familiar people sitting at a booth together. Eden and Elliot. He walked up to the two of them with a big goofy grin on his face.
"Yo, wassup guys! I haven't seen either of you for a hot minute." Miles said same grin continued to be plastered on his face, "How's the Mystery Shack, Ed? Also sick music bro." Miles spoke and near the end he lifted up a closed fist towards Elliot. He understood it may not be Elliot's thing, but it had been so long the guy was just excited beyond words.
He shrugged as Eden said he should have said he was coming. âTruth be told, I⊠donât think I was fully sure I was coming until I stepped onto that plane, and maybe not even then,â he admitted. âOnly reason I even told Mom and Steve was so they wouldnât move the spare key without telling me,â he added, laughing. The offer of breakfast was greatly appreciated. âI dare not argue,â he replied.
He shrugged as Eden asked how he was. âOkay. Our last tour was amazing but, holy shit, did I crash hard after,â he said. âI think I slept for about twenty hours when I got home and was like a zombie for a week after.â He nodded as Eden asked about the album. âYeah, itâs in the early stages. Thatâs⊠actually why Iâm back. Iâm gonna spend a few weeks here, get some writing done, get some demos recorded. LA is great, but this felt like an album that should be written here, you know?â He said.
âHow about you? The Mystery Shack is still as weird and as overpriced as ever, right?â He asked with a grin.
Eden nodded back in response as Elliot said he wasnât even sure if he was gonna be coming back to town, which, honestly Eden couldnât blame him. Gravity Falls hadnât exactly felt like home in years, among countless reasons.
A small chuckle escaped their lips as Elliot went on to explain why he even told his mom and her fiance, which reminded them about the wedding. Eden had almost forgotten Elliot told them about it months ago.
At the mention of the bandâs tour, Eden gave another nod, they had kept up with everything through twitter and instagram. If they werenât at work, Eden was most likely stalking their friendsâ social media. Vicariously living through them, if they had to be honest, which was a bit pathetic, to admit that fact.
âI-I thought I re-remembered ri-right.â Eden chuckled a bit, keeping their eyes forward, away from Elliot. There was nothing more that Eden wanted, was to be able to look Elliot in the face, and truly be able to see him in person. But yet, the only way they even really had a proper way of knowing what he looked like, was through pictures and videos online. And while he was standing directly next to them, Eden couldnât look at him for barely a few seconds before having to look away. Eden didnât know what was worse, not being able to even look your friend in the eye when you spoke to them, or only being able to do so across a screen. Pathetic, honestly.
Eden shook their head at his question, a small chuckle escaping their lips before speaking, âAlways.â Eden retorted. âA-and of c-course, same w-with me.â Eden pointed at themself. âWeird a-as ev-ever.â Eden gently nudged Elliotâs arm for a moment, before looking up and realizing they were already at the diner, stepping up and opening the door, âA-age before bea-beauty-â they teased and gestured for Elliot to enter the diner.
Elliot smiled as Eden confirmed that things had hardly changed and that things were as weird as ever. âHonestly, I think Iâd be kinda disappointed at this point if it wasnât,â he admitted, laughing a little. He raised an eyebrow as Eden indicated for him to enter the diner first. âIâm younger than you, asshole,â he joked, but stepped inside.
âWhatever-â Eden playfully pushed him through the door and walked in after him. As it was still rather early and a Friday, not many people were out just yet. Which was a good thing. Meant less possible voices they could avoid today. Thank the gods.
There werenât that many people in the diner, and their usual booth was free. He slid into the booth. They hadnât been there that long when a familiar voice reached them. He glanced up and grinned as he saw Miles. He hadnât seen Miles in years, and it was good to see him again. He seemed to be doing well.
âThanks, dude. Good to see you,â he said, bumping Milesâ knuckle with his own.
They both took a seat at their usual booth they had been using for years. All the way back in high school, theyâd always sit in the back-most booth, beside the window. Rarely ever did the diner get so full, theyâd usually be left alone so they could talk openly and not be overheard by anyone they didnât want listening.
It was only a few minutes later that Eden heard a familiar voice, barely taking a glance to look at him. Eden didnât know why but whenever they looked at Miles, he was surrounded by shadows. It never sat right with them, and still didnât.
Eden glanced up quickly at Miles and gave a simple, âH-hi Miles.â before looking back down. Clearing their throat before taking a sip of water. Eden raised their eyebrows at that old childhood nickname for them. They honestly hated that one in particular the most. âIt-itâs good. The usual.â they gave a small shrug of their shoulders. âD-day off so, y-ya know...Hope y-youâre doing w-well.â they looked up at him for the briefest of moments, and immediately a chill went down their spine. Eden averted their gaze from Miles once more, and hoped that Elliot would get the hint to hopefully distract him.
After being friends for this long, Elliot hardly even noticed the fact that Eden couldnât quite meet anyoneâs gaze or even look them in the face any more. It was just another thing that made them âthemâ, as far as he was concerned. But when it came to Miles, even Elliot could tell that they seemed to be struggling to as much as glance at Miles. Not wanting an awkward silence to settle in and make Eden more uncomfortable than they already were, Elliot turned to look at Miles again.
âSo, dude, itâs been a while. What are you up to these days?â He asked.
Venus
#519cc2
Eva
#ebb13a
Wednesday
#D16120
Isla
#9E555D
x
xxxxx
they say time heals all wounds, but that presumes the source of the grief is finite
x
Venus Matthews never seemed to be a morning person, but anyone who had that initial thought would know that it was false. Venus Mathews wakes up at approximately 7:30 am every morning. Now one thing to note is that she will usually crawl back into bed at 10:00 am unless she has errands to run. Vi has always been diligent on waking up early to get any necessary things out of the way such as working out, having a shower and then making breakfast. This makes it so sheâs going into the front of the Mystery Shack by 9:15 -9:20 in the morning and sheâs usually feeding the staff breakfast and hanging out.
Today was not like other days though, she did not go through with her morning routine, instead she decided to sleep in after she had played a drinking game for her YouTube channel. Every now and then she liked to post content on there aside from recordings of her streams that she did.
The nearly empty bottle of gin sat on her desk with the cutting board of lemons and limes, the room was filled with her light snores until she was abruptly taken out of it with a text message. Vi could feel the sticky warmth of the alcohol trying to leave her body and groaned as she moved her hands along the bed linen and then under her pillows with no luck of finding this phone of hers. Rolling onto her side her hand slapped down on the night table until her finger tips felt the object and pulled it closer to herself to check it.
It was her friend Eva from college. Eva had just moved to town not too long ago, so Vi was happy to help. Sending Eva a message back she got up and swore she could hear thudding, what was Ashir doing up in the attic? She wondered as she made her way to the bathroom, so she could shower. Turns out the thudding was her own head.
---
Venus had made it out of the house, she was wearing a pair of black leggings, black tank top, with a blue flannel button up that was a little oversized and left unbuttoned. Her hair was done up in two half space buns with the rest of her hair flowing down past her shoulder blades. On her face she had a pair of black sunglasses on to shield her poor eyes and head from the light. To finish off the look she normally wore she had her black converse on with her light mint sushi socks poking out.
She walked up to the familiar brick building that held one of her favourite restaurants. It was by no means a breakfast place, but Eva had to try it. That and Vi liked to give business to Islaâs family, she knew at times they struggled, and Vi was good at supporting locally owned businesses, especially ones closer to her heart.
âHey Ev.â Vi said sporting a good olâ peace sign for good measure. She honestly couldnât explain why she did half the things that she did. âReady to go inside? I know I could use food and quickâ
Eva grinned as Vi approached and threw her a peace sign. It was good to spend time with Vi again, they hadnât properly spent any time together since they both graduated, even if Eva was a frequent viewer of Viâs streams and they frequently promoted each otherâs various projects on social media. âAbsolutely, Iâm starving. So, whatâs the deal with this place? Anything in particular youâd recommend?â
âFriendâs family owns it.â Vi said simply stating with a shrug, âbut it's one of my favourites regardless. Customer service is top notch.â The blue haired girl said as her hands made the âokayâ sign that for one reason or another seemed to be popular with the kids.
With that Vi knocked on the glass doors, not wanting to just waltz in there and expect service. If they werenât up for breakfast today, then theyâd go somewhere else. âAnything they make is good, I usually just ask them to surprise me.â The girl said as she waited for someone to come to the door, unsure of who was in the restaurant this morning prepping.
Wednesday was making their way to get some food, in a futile way to keep their mind off of their sister and Sam. They were too immersed in their music to see what was in front of them and ended up crashing into Vi. âShit! I'm Sorry, You good?â They asked while turning off their music. âGood to see you're not dead.â Wednesday squinted at the person waiting outside with Vi. âHey, I'm Wednesday.â They said with a quick nod and smile.
Just as Vi was peering into the restaurant to find some semblance of life she felt her body jolt. Instantly the thudding headache was hitting her harder than usual again and her body almost wanted to throw up almost as if she were seasick on a boat. Taking a deep breath in, she laughed a bit hearing Wednesdayâs voice. âI think Iâm a walking corpse some days.â She said with a shrug.
Eva was peering into the restaurant to see if there was any motion when somebody collided with Vi and apologised. Eva nodded as they introduced themselves. âIâm Eva, itâs lovely to meet you.â
This had always been a difficult day for Isla; ever since she was a kid, the anniversary of Samâs death left her with a lot of complicated feelings, so despite her parents both offering to take over the morning prep for the restaurant, she insisted on doing it, and doing it by herself. There was something therapeutic in throwing herself into work, no matter how much she may not have wanted to do it.
So when she heard knocking on the doors, she was immediately in a bit of a sour mood. Of course, everyone in Gravity Falls knew the hours of the restaurant, but she was still used to dealing with difficult customers in LA. âWe open at eleven!â She shouted, but when she actually looked up to see Venus and Wednesday there, she very visibly changed her mind, rushing up to the doors and opening them, âNever mind.â She shot her childhood friends, and the other woman she wasnât sure sheâd met, a dazzling grin, âFor you guys, weâre always open. The owners insist.â She winked and ushered the group, locking the doors behind them so no stragglers got the wrong idea and came wandering in. âI think I needed some friendly faces this morning. Sit wherever youâd like.â She gestured vaguely to the restaurant, âThe chairs closer to the kitchen are more comfortable, Mom and Dad just replaced the cushions.â She eyes the mystery woman there with Vi, âWe donât have a breakfast menu, but I can make you just about anything. You like coffee?â She raised an eyebrow at Venus; they hadnât seen much of each other since they both left town, but they were here now, and Isla hoped Vi would catch the hint and introduce them.
Vi didnât give up hope when she heard that the restaurant didnât open until 11:00 am. She knew that someone would have to see who she was first before deciding not to let her in or maybe that was just her confidence and nauseated stomach speaking.
When Isla came to the door, a sense of excitement and happiness overwhelmed her a bit. âI believe I come with the friendliest of faces.â Vi said tuting her own horn just a little bit and then after Isla had spoken Vi turned to her, âIsla, this is Eva. Eva this is Isla. Isla is one of my main friends from childhood and Eva is one of my college friends who has just recently moved to town.â The blue haired girl felt a sense of accomplishment in terms of introductions. It went smoother than she imagined it would have. âI will let you pick where we sit, Eva.â
Eva nodded as Vi explained what the situation was with the restaurant. She loved finding small, locally owned spots like this, and when she was with a local who knew all of their insider tips, it was even better. She grinned as they were ushered into the cafe by Viâs friend. The girl was pretty and seemed friendly, giving them tips about where to sit.
Eva waved a little as Vi introduced her. âNice to meet you, Isla. This place looks great. Iâm dying for some good local food instead of whatever cereal the bed and breakfast has today,â she said with a grin. She glanced around as Vi said she could pick where they sat. âCool, I guess we should test if those new seats are as comfy as suggested,â she said, nodding roughly towards a table.
When Eva commented on how great the place looked, and how it was nice to meet her, Isla just smiled and nodded, âWell, you clearly have good taste.â She shot Eva a wink, âYou guys get settled, Iâll go start some coffee.â And with that, she hurried on back to the kitchen. Sheâd only be gone a minute- their coffee maker worked fast. Isla had never understood the appeal of having coffee available for every meal, but sheâd learned that no matter where you are, people asked for it whether it was on the menu or not.
She returned soon after with three cups of coffee and a plate with a sampling of conchas, both vanilla and chocolate. âIâve been experimenting a bit with the idea of selling more sweets. Trying to win Dad over on it. How he expected to get a baker to move back into town to help him run his restaurant and not try to add more sweets to the menu, Iâll never know.â She flashed a smile as she distributed the cups to the group and set the plate down between them, âThe cost of these is convincing my dad itâs a good idea when you see him next.â She put a hand on her hip and looked between the three of them, âDo we have anything specific in mind, or are you going to give me some artistic liberties?â
Venus just wanted to get some food in her belly, and she really had no specific craving. She began to sip on her cup of coffee and grabbed one of the conchas. âIâm always up for a surprise and giving you artistic liberties.â Then she looked to Eva and Wednesday to see what they were interested in.
Eva gratefully took one of the cups of coffee, added some sugar and some cream, and took a sip. At the question of if they knew what they wanted, Eva instinctively glanced at Vi, deciding to take her lead on things. So when she said that sheâd let Isla decide, Eva nodded. âIâm with Vi, surprise us!â She said.
Isla smiled as the consensus to let her work her magic was reached, âAlrighty then,â She said, shooting a grin and a quick wink across the table, âGive me a coupleâa minutes.â
âGlad to hear youâre doing well. I am good, got some theatre kids to teach in about thirty minutes. Not a day off for me yet sadly.â He said with a bit of a chuckle before looking between the two. Maybe Miles had intruded on them, but he wasnât going to dwell on it, was he?
âAs for what Iâm up toâŠâ Miles trailed off a little before he was thinking about it and then answered. âHonestly? I have just been teaching for the last few years at the high school. I babysit for my sister sometimes when she needs some time off, but other than that not a whole lot. You two have any plans later in the day? Maybe I can catch up after work.â Miles suggested and then his hand went into his pocket trying to pick his phone out.
He extended it out towards the two, âIf one of you puts your number in, I can text you and if anything comes up, Iâd be more than happy to hang out.â He said, shining a smile.
Once one of them put their number into his phone, he started to wave. âI should get going before Iâm late, but it was nice to see the two of you!â He said and with that he turned on his heel exiting the diner.
They were just able to look up as Miles seemed to come to his end of catching the two of them on things. Blinking a bit, Eden nodded, not fully understanding everything, but they werenât going to ask him to repeat it. Last thing they wanted was to come across like some asshole who ignored someone who used to be such a close friend when they were children. It took Eden a moment to see that Miles had his hand extended, a phone being offered. They understood enough that he was asking for at least one of their numbers, and Eden nervously reached out, offering an awkward smile as they took the phone for a moment. Quickly typing in their cell-phone number, under the contact of âEddyâ, seeing as Miles liked using that one so much for them.
Offering Miles a gentle smile, Eden returned a brief nod and wave of their own, eyes trailed down and away from his face as usual. It was only when he finally walked away after last minute formalities, that Eden could feel like they were able to breathe, just barely. âI uhm, I...E-excuse me-â Eden said with an awkward nod of their head in Elliotâs general direction, before quickly stumbling out of the booth and towards the direction of the bathroom. Eden practically stumbled into the push door, just barely being able to support their own weight as it opened to the single room. Turning, Eden locked the door behind them and made their way to the sink. Supporting themself against the structure as they looked up finally. Their hazel eyes scanning their face in the mirror. You look like shitâŠ, Eden thought to themself. They should have just stayed home, going out today wasnât a good idea after all.
With a shaky hand, Eden reached into the pocket of their trench coat, and retrieved a small bottle. It had been years since they needed any, but they always carried some around on the off chance the emergency would ever come. Eden somehow managed to remove the cap and poured two small white pills into their palm, and down them dry. Anxiety pumping through their veins as every heart-beat seemed to make it all worse. Breathe, Eden..Breathe.
Elliot mightnât have seen Eden properly for a few years, but he could still tell when something was wrong with them. It distracted him somewhat from the conversation with Miles, but he still tried to focus most of his attention on him. Elliot had always felt kinda bad about how theyâd grown apart and had fallen out of touch, so he sure as hell didnât want to seem like some asshole who wasnât even listening.
âUh, no, I donât think weâve any plans. I literally just got into town this morning so⊠recovering from the drive and catching up with things around here, you know how it is,â he said. âSure, a catch up sounds good,â he said. Part of him was a little glad when Eden reached out to put their number in. âIt was good seeing you, man. Weâll definitely catch up at some point, yeah?â Ell said, before Miles said his goodbyes and left.
It was at that point Eden practically bolted to the bathroom, with only a mumbled apology by way of excuse. Ell hadnât seen them this bad since he was in high school and Eden had dropped out. Or maybe heâd just never been around long enough to notice. He deliberated for a few seconds about whether or not to follow them, before his concern for his friend won out, and he got to his feet, following them towards the bathroom.
The door was locked. Of course it was. He knocked gently on the door. âEden? Itâs me, bud. Are you okay?â He called softly. He sighed a little. Back when they were kids, this was always different. Elliot had always been in as much of a state as Eden had been. Edenâs need to look after Ell had won out over everything else at times. And Ell needed to return that favour.
âDo you wanna come back to mine? The house is empty, itâll just be us. We can⊠blare some music and talk shit or⊠whatever you wanna do. It might just be a bit less overwhelming,â he offered through the door. There was a sudden wave of anxiety as the reality, and the reversed familiarity, of this situation entered his head. He shook it off. âJust let me in, Eden.â
The sudden knock on the bathroom door caused immediate panic to shoot through Edenâs veins. Instinctively, they were about to yell that the room was occupied, but that all too familiar voice sounded softly from the other side of the door. A heavy sigh escaped their lips, realizing it was only Elliot. Who probably came to check up on Eden after they bolted.
Eden paused for a moment, trying to decide on what to say, they just didnât know how they were going to excuse the sudden up and run like they had. Even though, Eden knew all too well that they wouldnât need to explain. It was just instinct by now to have an explanation for every odd little behaviour that they had acquired over the years. Eden blinked when they heard Elliot ask to be let in. Should they?, they considered for a moment. There was a solid minute of silence that came from within the bathroom, before the sound of a soft click and the door was unlocked.
Eden was standing back next to the sink, looking themself over in the mirror. Trying to get themself to calm back down again. One. Two. Three. FourâŠ, Eden counted silently. With each breath they took, theyâd count. It was a simple exercise they had been taught in therapy and it worked, sometimes. Turning around nervously, Eden kept their eyes down low and picked at their finger nails as they began to speak, âI-Iâm s-sorry.â they stuttered. âI-I donât k-know wh-what happ-ppened b-back th-there.â
Turning back to look at the mirror one more time, Eden splashed some water on their face, trying anything to keep them composed. âUhmâŠ.N-no plans t-today so...Wh-whatever yo-ou wa-wanna do.â Eden said with a shrug. They just wanted to be anywhere but here. Thankfully, they had a joint in their pocket and a lighter, if they really needed to chill out later, they at least had it with them.
The silence from the other side of the room made the seconds drag, until he eventually heard a click. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing the door behind him again. Eden looked like shit, and he could tell that today was an especially bad day. He also knew that they would never admit to that. He shook his head as they apologised. âNothing to apologise for, my dude,â he said softly with a smile.
He thought for a second. The Mystery Shack was home to Eden, but he also knew that it was busy and seldom quiet, and he wasnât sure that was right for them right now. He wrapped an arm around their shoulder, giving them a gentle squeeze. âHow about we go back to mine, yeah? Chill out, listen to some music, catch up properly. I canât guarantee I wonât fall asleep though, so youâll have to forgive me for that.â Elliot said gently.
Eden gave a small smile and nod as Elliot reassured them there wasnât anything to apologize for. They didnât feel that way but, they knew better than to argue, Elliot would win in the end anyway. He normally did. Keeping their eyes down, but occasionally looking up and then back away, Eden absentmindedly picked in their nails. It was a bad habit they picked up over the years, but it was also an uncontrollable tick they had formed from their anxiety.
They simply gave a shrug, truth be told, Eden didnât care where they went. Anywhere was better than here, and being alone. S-sure. I-I got s-stuff on m-me.Sh-should be f-fine. L-long as y-y-ou donât c-care if I-I s-smoke later.â Eden joked slightly. Their tone was still holding a bit of defeat, but was somewhat lighter.
cause a scene like you're supposed to
they'll fall asleep without you
you're lucky if your memory remains
Rather unsurprisingly to both of them, he ended up falling asleep, sprawled across his bed around Eden, the still unpacked suitcases, and the instrument cases. When he woke up, it was afternoon, and the reminder of what awaited them that evening suddenly seemed to hit hard. They both pretended not to dwell on it; but of course they both did. There was no question that theyâd go. There never had been and there never would be. But the feeling of apprehension was still there. Twenty years later, and it still wasnât easy.
Twenty years later, and he still had no freaking idea what to wear to something like this. Admittedly, he had attended less and less in previous years, but he had always taken a moment to remember Sam wherever he was and whatever he was doing. A suit felt wrong on so many levels, not least because Eden wasnât getting changed. But most of his clothes still felt too⊠wrong for something like this. In the end, and after consulting with Eden, he decided to just wear something that he thought Sam would have thought was cool. A quick comb of his fingers through his hair, and they were good to go.
Neither of them said much as they made their way back into the town. A small crowd was already gathered, with familiar faces dotted around the place, along with a few unfamiliar. Maybe things changed more than he thought in between visits. âSo do we⊠wanna talk to people or just lurk at the back and hope nobody sees us?â
gunpowder, gelatine
dynamite with a laser beam
guaranteed to blow your mind
Going out without her podcasting equipment for the second time in a day felt strange. Part of her wished sheâd used breakfast as an opportunity to get some more information, but she also knew that today probably wasnât the day to go barging in and asking too many questions. Instead, she had her trusty notes app on her phone to take typed notes that she could record in the morning for the podcast.
She made her way to the town square, having changed into something she felt was hopefully more appropriate to the occasion without making her stand out too much. Knowing that the fact she was a stranger would already make her stand out more, she hung back at the edges of the crowd, scanning the crowd for familiar faces and to get a read of the general energy of the crowd. As expected, everyone was somber and serious, a quiet respect settling over the assembled crowd.
But she could only stay occupied with business thoughts for so long. Isla hadnât been in town on the anniversary of Samâs death in so long. The last memorial sheâd been to had been before she transitioned, and now she felt a little stuck. What was appropriate to wear to something like this?
She showered- always fighting against the impermeable smell of a restaurant kitchen, touched up her nail polish, and went about picking an outfit. She didnât want to stand out, not at this event, so something understated was definitely the right choice.
Walking everywhere in town like sheâd done the past two weeks sheâd been in town reminded her so much of her childhood. This entire day reminded her of her childhood. None of them had ever been able to escape the looming shadow of Samâs death since that fateful day. It felt like the memory of what happened haunted the entire town, weighing everyone down. Isla was reminded of why she left in the first place.
Damn familiar guilt, bringing her back here to such a sad place.
Thankfully there was already a small crowd assembled by the time she arrived. Most of the town would attend, probably. Thatâs how it always was in the past, and if Isla knew one thing, it was that things didnât change in Gravity Falls unless someone came in from the outside and forced that change. She looked around, spotting some familiar faces. There was Eden. Should she talk to Eden? A part of her said yes, but Elliot was there, and all the guilt and regret and sadness from what had happened between them in high school overrode her desire to catch back up with old friends. Still, she tossed a soft smile and an awkward wave their way, though she was fairly sure they wouldnât really recognize her. Maybe she should have tried harder to stay in touch.
Heâd arrived in town a few weeks after the anniversary of Samâs death the year before, so he wasnât sure what to expect from this event, but he did know that both of his roommates had been friends with Sam when they were children, and attending with them would probably be a nice thing to do. Show some support. There was also the fact that the people who owned both the place he lived and worked were the long-dead childâs parents. It felt like it would be weird if he didnât go. He didnât know anything about the formality of the event, but it hardly mattered. He didnât have any nice clothes with him here- those were all packed up neatly back in his parentâs attic- just clothes with tons of paint stains, clothes with a few paint stains, and clothes with little to no paint stains. He opted to go with as few paint stains as he could manage and hope that he wouldnât be dressed wildly inappropriately.
Heâd established a calm familiarity with most of the folks in town by now, and recognized most of the faces in the slowly growing crowd. He mostly found himself sticking close to Venus, though, as if being there with her increased his legitimacy for being there. He absently picked at the blue nail polish that Vi had applied just a few days prior, already it was chipped nearly to oblivion by Ashirâs nervous nature. âOh, thereâs Eden,â He announced, pointing them out in case Venus hadnât seen, âYou know that guy with them?â[/b] He looked really familiar, but there was no way he was who Ashir was thinking he was.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, mostly to force himself to stop picking at the nail polish. He wanted to be there for his friends, really, but he also wanted to give them some space, and goodness this town was ridiculously inspiring. âHey, Iâm just gonna,â[/b] He said, pointing back out of the way. He didnât wait long before he made his way out away from most of the people, pulling a small notepad and a pencil on itâs last leg of life out of his pocket to sketch out some things that were coming to mind, take some notes on lighting, add too many little notes about the mood and the way all the colors even feel muted somehow.. Heâd revisit some of it later, toss some of it out. Well, most of it wouldnât make it past the drawing board, but he was always working on something.
The blue-haired girl had no idea what really happened that night. Her mind won't let her remember for the rest of her life, it's like she stored it in the depths of her brain and chained it up. It still made her uneasy to come to these things though, so it was nice that Vi ended up heading there with Ashir. He was not a part of their original friend group, but she felt comfortable enough around him to be able to have some solace in his presence.
It wasnât long before he spotted Eden though and began to point her out. Viâs eyes looked up from her phone and scanned the general direction Ashir was pointing in. He had asked about the boy who was with her, and Venus gave a soft smile not realizing Elliot was in town.
âThatâs Elliot. Those two have always been inseparable. Iâm fairly certain theyâve been together in all their past lives.â Venus said with an upbeat tone. It wasnât long before Ashir had left and part of her was sad, but she knew she should try and be closer with her friends.
Venus slowly made her way over to the other two, but on her way, she noticed Isla and walked up to her instead. âI swear these things throw me back in time.â She said in a more somber tone and offered a small smile to her friend as she took a stand next to her.
He had been relieved to see his friends at the restaurant during his morning routine, it helped stabilize his mood throughout the day. He didnât make any snide comments to his students like he did last year when he called Tommy Miller a bastard child. Yeah, that did not help his reputation and his job stability when he was already on thin ice some days.
As he was leaving through the school field, as his house was near the backside of it, some kids were playing football toss with each other. Then he heard a voice coming from the biggest douche in school, Ronnie Savage.
âHey, Mr.Stevens!â He called and as Miles turned around there was a football spiraling for his face. âThink fast.â He said chuckling with his friends, as the football hit him square in the face.
Miles was stunned and didnât know what to say or do for a minute, but his blood was beginning to simmer and only continued to rise as the laughter from the teenage shits engulfed his brain. Without thinking about it he picked up the football and walked a little closer to Ronnie and deliberately spiked it in his face.
âThink fast,â Miles said in a mocking tone and the corners of his lips turned down, nose scrunched. Fuck this douche canoe. âPull that shit again Ronnie, and Iâll bang your mom.â He said and did a motion like he was gonna go after Ronnie, before turning and heading home.
Miles was stressed to shit and didnât want to go to this funeral service but he could feel his heart swell at the idea of missing it. He was in town, and he owed it to Sam. He had to go. Hopefully, Ronnie wouldnât be there, or if he was his mom better be there. Miles would make good on his promise.
Somewhere Miles had ended up at the service, the crowds were forming but he stayed on the outskirts. He could see Vi and Isla over to one side and Eden and Elliot to another. He was closer to Eden and Elliot and he just offered a wave, not being as chatty as he was before.
I could keep you safe forever
You held on to me
A beautiful scene
I still remember
But, once Eden got to the house with Elliot, it was like everything from their teenage years came back to them all at once. Everything was practically the same. And it was all too easy to fall into routine again, like no time had passed. And since it was only them, Eden didn't have to stress too much. Except for the obvious reasons. Figures occasionally tarting around corners, or those whispers in their ear. But thankfully, with Elliott being around, Eden had a means of distraction. At least it was until he inevitably fell asleep. They were both laying on the bed, just there and talked, for a few hours. And nearly mid-conversation, Elliott passed out. Just like old times indeed.
Eden let Elliot sleep, and took the time to go out on the back patio, and decided it was a better time than any to take a smoke break. Retrieving the blunt they had tucked away. Eden had been outside for roughly thirty minutes before they went back inside. The voices and shadows were gone as always, whenever their mind was clouded by the affects of cannabis. It just made things easier, and Eden didn't know why. Maybe they really were crazy?
Eventually though, Elliot woke up, and in the meantime Eden had even cooked up some food, and the two shared a small lunch, just catching up for a bit again. Eden's mind clearer now than it was a bit before. That was until the conversation veered to what they'd be doing this evening. It was the annual anniversary for the night Sam died. Only difference, it was now twenty years later, and still no answers. Elliot had asked for help from Eden with what to wear, Eden didn't give too much help seeing as they wouldn't be changing, it'd be fine. And with what Elliott decided on, it was good enough. No one would care.
As the hour began to close in, the two decided it was best to start heading over to the city square, where the ceremony would be held. Eden went every year, and it never stopped making them feel the same way. Like they failed her. They should have been able to have found answers to this by now, but here they were. All grown up, and nothing had been pieced together, and that was the worst of it. As Eden and Elliott made it over, there were already a few groups had already gathered.
A small smirk creased on Eden's lips when Elliott asked where they wanted to go, "L-like you e-even need t-to ask-" they joked, taking him by the arm as they both stood off to the side, but up close enough to be able to see the Mathers when they arrived. They did come here for their daughter and best friend after all. As they waited for it to officially begin, a few things caught their eye. Well, more so people did, than anything else. Oddly during these services, Eden never experienced seeing things. And it never made sense, but they weren't going to question it, less things to stress about the better. But, this time, there were some faces in the crowd Eden didn't either recognize at all, or a few they did.
The first one was that pod-caster who recently came into town, Eva. She was cool in Eden's opinion. They weren't friends by any means, but Eden did recognize her from their past, scattered conversations around town. Mainly when she'd ask about some of the local rumors around town, and Eden would as always awkwardly do their best to explain, but it would always be passed off to someone else who didn't stammer throughout the whole ordeal. But, even through the awkwardness, there was something comforting about her presence to Eden, but they weren't going to think about it too much. All Eden did was give her a small nod of their head, and slight wave of their hand before looking around more.
Next Eden managed to see Ashir, one of their roommates. They gave him a small nod, but watched as he went off to the side, taking out a small notepad. Couldn't blame him, even the town square managed to be a pretty sight, all things considered. After looking around a bit more, Eden scouted out Venus, and gave her a small smile and wave, but paused as they saw her talking to someone Eden didn't recognize. Leaning over to Elliot, "Y-you know wh-who Vi is t-talking t-to? I-I d-don't." Eden asked with a shrug. Not putting too much thought into it, Eden looked around once more, managing to see Miles standing off alone. They gave him an awkward smile and turned back to the main part of the square. Seeing as the Memorial Service was beginning now.
The Memorial Services were always hard for everyone in Gravity Falls. Not because they had personally known Sam, or knew the story about her anyway, but because of the overall tone and atmosphere. It was nearly palpable. It was just as depressive and heavy as the gray skies that were a constant in this town, and just as thick as the fog that often filled this town in the mornings and evenings. When people weren't giving their speeches, there was a heavy weighted silence that filled the air. Not even the chirp of a bird or the wind could be heard. It was the small things like that, that made this whole ordeal feel weird. But that's not saying much in a town like Gravity Falls.
Sam's parents and her older brother gave their usual speech about Sam, and how much she was loved and missed. The usual things parents would say after losing a child this early, even if it happened so long ago. Whether people believed it was something that was simply a tragedy, or knew there was something more to it, they listened. After a few more speeches were given, the town's own Mayor, Quinnlan Simms came up to the podium to give the closing speech. It was drawn out just as ever, some people even beginning to yawn. Which, was a total shift in attitude than it had been earlier to the family of Sam herself. Finally though, the old man finished his speech, with hopeful parting words to the crowds. How this is what Sam would have wanted, and it was for the best they always came to pay their respects.
Finally, the Memorial Service came to an end, and people began to part ways and disperse. Eden simply looked at Elliott, giving him a an awkward smile. It was only then, in the dispersing crowds, that Eden spotted something that stood out from the rest. It was a man in a pure black suit, with dark hair, which was jelled back tightly to his head, he had dark eyes, that seemed transfixed on Eden, and Eden alone. After a moment, Eden leaned over to Elliot as they glanced at him, "E-Elliott, did y-you see th-that-" they started, but by the time they looked back, the man was gone. Eden took a deep breath, shaking their head. "N-nevermind.." there was a tone of defeat in their voice as they spoke. Not wanting to give it more attention than it deserved.
Giving a small shrug, Eden didn't know what to do now. They could go get some dinner with Elliot and the others if they wanted, even if Eden wasn't in the biggest mood of social interaction. Looking around a bit more, Eden froze. The feeling of anger and annoyance building up, "W-why's he h-here?" Eden muttered aloud. Looking off to the side, there was a man that they did recognize. It was that new officer in town, Mason Cartwright. He was poking around in Sam's case, and Eden didn't like it much. So, the fact he was here now, watching the whole Memorial Service, and clearly having been taking notes as he was busy writing things down in a damned notepad.
Eden looked back at Elliot, with a look he'd know all too well, and they began walking over to the officer in question. A clear annoyed and upset look on their face all the while. "Wh-what are y-you d-doing here?" Eden started as they approached the man. Their eyes surprisingly locked onto him, finding a bit of courage in the moment, or just anger, really. "Y-you're n-not supposed t-to be here." Eden said with a cleat tone of anger. They would have continued questioning him, until they felt someone grab Eden by the end, pulling them back before they could make things worse. Eden was nearly seeing red, all they wanted was answers as to why he was here out of all places, and taking notes during a Memorial Service? He couldn't have waited until he got back? It just felt like a slap in the face to Eden, and they weren't having any of it.
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