(( bill ))

When I arrived in school, I went straight to the basketball court, where most of my teammates were waiting for me.

"Hurry Bill, the match is starting in less than half an hour!" Louis urged. I nodded quickly and went to change.

I look at myself in the mirror. I saw how uncertain and worried I felt. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. When I looked again, I saw a smile.

I trained so hard. I can do this.

---

"And the winning title goes to Team Yellow! What a victory!"

I took in a big gulp of air. My ears were ringing with the cheers and applause of the stadium. I was shocked. Surprised. Overjoyed. I couldn't believe it- we've done it.

"Way to go Bill!" Nathan ran up to me, almost swooping me up. His face was flushed, beaming.

The other teammates gathered around us, shouting cheers of delight and a lot of other stuff I couldn't make out. I didn't reply them, I was still in disbelief.

As the crowd dispersed, my heart stopped pumping as furiously and I finally caught my breath. I followed the others as we got our isotonic drinks. There, I saw Bridgette waiting for us. Just as I was about to say hi, I was enveloped by a hug. I blinked twice, not knowing what to do. I decided to awkwardly place my hands around her.

Why did she suddenly hug me?

Then, our eyes met.

It was Shooting Star, carrying a cupcake, staring at me with a mix of shock and anger, also disgust.

The cupcake fell to the ground.

My mouth was agape, as I saw her glare.

Then, she turned to run away.

"Bill, congrats- hey where are you going?"

My instincts took over. Without even looking back at Bridgette, I ran in the direction Mabel left.

There was still a crowd, and I almost lost sight of her. I would recognise that long brown silky curls of her anytime. I also saw the vanilla cupcake with white frosting, and I remembered the day we went to the bakery together. I remembered I liked the taste of that particular cupcake.

Now away from the court, I stopped in my tracks. She was nowhere to be seen. I panicked.

Just then, I heard my name.

"Bill! Wait!" Bridgette came running over, her hand outstretched.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, with a tinge of coldness. I couldn't help it, I wasn't thinking straight.

She looked slightly hurt and taken aback by my voice.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean that. It's just, I'm feeling really stressed and everything right now, and-"

"Why?" she asked, looking concerned.

"Well, my girlfriend is missing. She was there just now, and she left upon seeing me. I'm really worried for her and I do not want anything bad to happen."

"Okay. I will help you find her. She's Mabel Pines right, twin of Dipper?"

I felt a sense of gratitude.

"Yes, thank you so much for helping me."

She nodded and smiled, before running off.

---

(( mabel ))

How could you do this to me? Do you even know how insecure I feel? Every time I try to assure myself it is okay, you do something that makes me feel uncertain. How would you feel?

How would you feel?

I sat at the corner of the back of the canteen, where no one would see me.

My face was already wet with tears and I almost choked from the amount of tears I had. I gasped for air to control my hiccups.

I just can't.

I can be shaken, I am not weak. But once you hit the limit,

I just crumble and break.

Bill, how could you do this to me? What happened to last time?

My sniffling must have been really loud.

"Is there anyone there? Mabel Pines, is that you?"

I instantly kept quiet. I tried, but I couldn't stop hiccupping.

A figure stood in front of me. I didn't dare to look back at this person.

"Look at me."

I didn't want to.

"I said, look at me."

I met her eyes.

It's her.

Bridgette.

My eyes welled up with more tears of anger.

"Listen you pathetic bxtvh, you better stop being so weak. What type of bxtvh behaves as lowly as you do? Do you think you can still be Bill's girlfriend? He doesn't even care anymore, you bxtvh. Now, you better get this straight. I like Bill. And I will get him to like me. No matter what. You little bxtvh, you aren't even competition. I will win, just like I always do. You better understand this and it would be better for you to get out of my way."

I was shocked.

How could she call me like that? Ridicule me, shame me like that?

I wanted to fight back, but I knew it would be a futile attempt. I am too weak.

Finally, the monster reveals her true colours.

I have always known she was like this.

And I will not take her insults lying down.

"Shooting Star, are you here? Can you hear me? Where are you?" came his voice.

Bridgette's eyes widened. She looked around, before taking off and running away.

Coward.

Bill arrived, seeing me in the exact same spot, in the exact same awful state.

I looked away immediately, burying my head into my knees.

I don't want him to see me like this.

My sobbing got more uncontrollable, and my gasps for air were more and more frequent. I felt a hand wrapped around my shoulder. I could feel someone sitting next to me.

"You don't have to say anything. Although I do not know what happened, but I know you need time. I know you don't want to talk now. But, you just need to know that," he paused, "I'm always here for you"

My thoughts were not even of him anymore, it's like all my anger towards him has vanished. It was replaced by Bridgette.

And from the way she talked, I knew Bill was innocent.

He didn't do anything to let me down.

I leaned my head on his strong shoulders, crying, and he stroked my head gently.

The old Bill was back. The old Bill never left.

---