Bill's POV

I finally decided to get up and leave Pine Tree alone. It was probably the strangest thing I had felt in my entire life. When I looked at him, I saw one word.

Friend.

I never thought I'd think of someone like that ever again. I thought that when my friendship with Ford died that I would never be friends with someone ever again. But why did it have to be Pine Tree? This would all go tell hell, I knew it. I could feel it. This would somehow backfire on me majorly.

I leaned up off of him, awkwardly looking away as I ran my fingers through my hair. "Um...thanks for staying with me."

Pine Tree stretched, arching his back off the bed. "Yeah, whatever. You looking like you were going to fall apart so it was the least I could do."

"Sorry I was hugging you." I added, my lips thinning into a line.

"Doesn't matter. I get to tease you about it now." He chuckled and rubbed his eyes.

I growled, but ended up smiling. Yes, I was pissed about being friends of him. But maybe this wouldn't be bad? Maybe this wouldn't go down in flames...? I shook my head. Stop thinking like that.

I crawled over him and got off the bed, brushing out my suit. Why did I even bother getting all spruced up for a talk with Arrow? She didn't even care for me anymore... It wasn't even worth it... I let out a long sigh.

What if she eventually warmed up to me? No...

I stomped my foot down, forcing myself to wake up and get out of my head. "Want to go out and congregate?" I asked, pulling at my bow tie.

"Meaning?" He asked.

"With your folks." I informed him. "You know, Mabel, Vanessa, Keith."

Pine Tree hugged his knees, frowning angrily. "I don't know... My parents are still pissed."

"They'll have to warm up." I pulled him off the bed.

"Can't you quit the act since Eleanor doesn't want to be with you?" He whispered and I stiffened up, drawing my hand away.

"No. I am not giving up. Never." My smile vanished from my face. He wasn't getting away that easily.

Pine Tree dropped his gaze, nodding. "Kay, let's go out then."

I sighed annoyed. He was always looking for a way to escape, wasn't he? "You should throw a party sometime." I told Pine Tree, nudging his arm as we walked to his door.

"Why? I'm not much for hosting them."

"Well I am. Let me tell yah, I'll throw one for you one day. It'll be amazing, I promise you." I opened his door and stepped out, pushing the whole Arrow situation behind me.

He shrugged nonchalant. "Ok, fine." 

"Are your parents home?" I asked and walked to the living room, flopping down on the couch.

"They'll be back soon. They had to go do a bunch of shopping."

"What about-"

"Oh. You're back."

Pine Tree turned around while I looked over my shoulder from the couch to see Shooting Star looking disappointed.

"Yes, I am." I said huffily and faced the TV and reached for the remote.

"Mabel, can you give this guy a chance. You aren't usually so cold hearted." Pine Tree asked her, an exasperated tone coloring his voice.

Shooting Star clenched and unclenched her hands into fists. "I tried, Dipper. But he hasn't been that nice." 

"Yes...he has..." Pine Tree cast me a glance.

Ha, no I have not. I thought to myself while I flipped through the channels.

"Why do you let him embarrass you so much? I mean, when you guys were in your room-"

"Were you stalking us?!" His face turned bright red.

Shooting Star inhaled sharply, blushing. "W-what?! No..." She fiddled with her sweater.

"Yes you were!" Pine Tree kept looking over at me, begging for assistance, but I pretended I didn't notice. "Mabel, I am fine. Stop worrying. I appreciate your concern, but this is taking it way too far."

Shooting Star lowered her head shamefully. "I don't want you getting hurt. There's something fishy about him, Dip."

"You're just letting this get to your head." Pine Tree rested his hands on her shoulders. "Where's the fun and loving Mabel that was obsessed with guys and stickers and unicorns?"

She smiled for a second, before it faltered. "That was a while ago..."

"No it wasn't. Chin up. Have some fun and humor, won't yah?"

Shooting Star finally managed to smile. "I guess you're right." She sighed. "You sure this Bill guy is ok for you?"

He hesitated before responding. "Of course."

"Well, then come on down and watch some TV, will yah?" I called him over and Pine Tree gestured to the couch for Shooting Star. He sat down beside me, not as tense as he usually was earlier.

Shooting Star didn't sit down. Instead she asked, "want some popcorn when you pick a movie?"

I smiled and nodded. "Absolutely!"

Shooting Star went off to cook some up.

"You're a real good actor, Dipper Pines." I complimented him quietly and ruffled his hair.

He frowned and shook his head in response. "It's what I have to do. Besides, I'm starting to get used to it."

"Good. Because that's the point." I continued to scroll through the channels, but nothing appealed to me.

Shooting Star came back with the popcorn in the bowl and sat it in the middle of us and snatched the remote. "You take too long to choose something to watch." She went down a couple channels before hitting select. "Perfecto! I love this movie!"

I felt my whole body go ridged as I saw the movie Titanic appear on the screen. Oh crap... I looked away quickly, my heart racing. That brought back memories - vivid memories - of Arrow and I. How she kissed me without reason, when I made her dress me and I teased her. I had been having the time of my life.

And then it ended.

I closed my eye, not even being able to bare to watch it.

"What is it?" Pine Tree asked.

"The...the movie." I whispered by his ear. I knew what scene this was. I remembered it clearer than I couldn't recollect the others. The most famous scene in the movie. Arrow and I had reenacted it on the balcony of my castle.

I could feel my heart breaking. Why did you have to go...? I loved you... I thought painfully.

"Something wrong with the movie?" Shooting Star leaned over and asked.

I took a deep breath. Pull yourself together. I sat up, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "Oh, nothing's wrong. I'm fine." I took a handful of popcorn and shoved it in my mouth so I had an excuse to not speak.

She shrugged and leaned back into the couch. "You guys are weird, you know that?" She said out of the blue.

Pine Tree side glanced at her. "Why do you say that?"

"Well, first off, Dipper, you act sometimes like you'd rather die than have Bill lying next to you in bed." She started.

"So you were spying?!" Pine Tree said triumphantly.

"I might as well admit it since you know." Shooting Star said, shrugging, and popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth. "Anyways. And then, next thing you know it, you're making out on the beach."

I saw his face turn a shade pink and he looked up at the TV, away from her. "Your point is, Mabel?"

"My point is, is that you guys have, like, a bipolar relationship." She sat up a and rested her elbows on her knees so she could prop up her head. "Is that really stable?"

"Yes." I said angrily, sitting up as well. "Why are you questioning us?"

Pine Tree looked at me at the corner of his eye, surprised at the anger in my voice.

"Because it seems sort of set up to me." She said casually

How the hell is she just assuming everything and it's correct?! Is she physic or something?! I swallowed a lump in my throat. "Set up?!" I echoed and waved a hand. "Please. It is not set up. Love isn't set up."

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "You can fake it, though."

Pine Tree sat uncomfortably in the middle of us, not liking where this was heading at all.

"Eleanor told me about the beach thing, how you kissed him right when she showed up. Coincidence?" She smirked and played a piece of popcorn in her hand. "I don't think so..."

I leaned over Pine Tree so he had to press back into the couch. "Hey! Stop it! Stop jumping to conclusions. You're wrong." I glared at her, but she kept smirking. She had guts. A lot more than her skimpy brother did. "There have been plenty of times where you walked in on us-"

"Guys, guys, calm down." Pine Tree said agitated.

"I'm defending our relationship." I told him firmly. The last thing I needed was Shooting Star finding out that this thing was a total sham.

He rolled his eyes. "I can see that, Bill."

"See!" His twin pointed out. "He's tired of you, lying, Bill!" She started laughing lightly at the end.

I started to grow angry. Why isn't she giving up? Our lie isn't that obvious! She can't be so sure! "Did you get knocked in the head or something? What makes you so entirely sure that our very real relationship is fake?"

She paused and tapped her chin. "Hmm... I don't know exactly. I'm the world's greatest match maker and you two...just..." She exhaled. "Just, no."

"Don't be rude." Pine Tree finally spoke up.

"It's the truth!"

"You once tried to make a badger and a snake make out, Mabel. I think we are the most normal paring in your life." Pine Tree crossed his arms and chuckled at his childhood memories.

Shooting Star nodded. "Can't argue with that. But I was twelve then." She faced me, her brown gaze hardening. "There's something up with you."

I frowned. "You are being very rude to me right now, Mabel."

"Yeah, I know. I tried being friends with you before, so this is what you get. The scraps of a dead friendship."

I pouted. It somewhat reminded me of me and Ford's friendship. I tried being friends, failed, and then only got the remainder. "If that's the best I'm going to get, then I'm going to take what I can get."

She smiled a small smile. "I'm fine with that."

Pine Tree sat up, cutting us off. "Ok, you guys are done arguing. Let's just watch the movie now." His face had an annoyed look on it. "I swear, Bill, you and my sister fight more than me and her ever do."

"Natural instinct." I muttered and crossed my arms.

Shooting Star was getting way too close to the truth for my liking. Way too close. Was she really that good at observing? How could she see right through my lies? I had to pick up my game and quick before she came to a solid and one hundred percent conclusion...