(Credit to Sabrinadraws on Tumblr!)

God almighty, when you opened the door to the Mystery Shack it took all your strength to not sprint all the way to the nearest heater. If felt like a warm haven in the Bahamas. A little bell dinged as you slinked inside, making your presence known to a certain brunette working at the counter.

"Welcome!" Her voice was very carefree and sincere, which matched her kind face. Round is always a good shape.

You stomped off any snow left on your shoes and stalked to the counter.

"Can I help you?"

Melody. You read her name tag. Cute name.

You give Melody a smile before answering.

"Just here for a visit, but uhh..."

How do I say this?? You took a pause to collect the right words to explain what just happened, your fingers tapping along the hem of your jeans as if that would help you.

"Is it normal for wormholes to appear and throw books into people's faces in Gravity Falls? Do you know anything about that? Or is it just me?"

Melody never broke eye contact with you, not even as she stacked the money and shut the register with a small ding! She didn't even blink.

You couldn't take the awkward silence and tried to shy it away, fidgeting on the spot. Looks like you don't need a heater because your cheeks are already feverish.

"Uh, you know what. I'm sorry," an awkward laugh crawls out of your throat, "I must be losing my mind. I'm just gonna, um, go look at some of the exhibits..."

God my voice cracked. She must think I'm insane.

Quickly you shuffled away from the counter, feeling Melody's eyes burn through your backpack.

"Exhibit entree fee costs ten bucks."

You stop in your tracks like a deer in the headlights.

"Of course it does," you mutter under your breath and trudge back to the counter, also making sure to keep your hood up and head low to avoid eye contact.

From your parka pockets, you weasel out a five and some ones, and even a few lint balls but those you shoved back in. Melody takes the money, stuffs it into the register, then slips a yellow ticket to you over the countertop. Just as you take it and ready yourself to leave, Melody speaks.

"And about the wormhole thing..."

You keep your head low, shoulder hunched as if she would hurt you, which was silly, but the fight or flight response in you was stronger than your mental reassurance.

Oh god. Here it comes. My age-old friends: ridicule and utter humiliation.

"...talk to Soos, he knows more about Gravity Falls than I do. Like the back of his hand actually," Melody sends you a wink and by god, you're about to faint on the spot from the amount relief washing over you.

Soos. Wait a minute. I've heard of him! Mabel told me all about him. Doesn't he run the shack now instead of—

"He's the owner of this place."

Bingo! Bag em' n' tag em' boys.

"He's out a with a tour group right now, but he comes back in around fifteen minutes. Think you could wait a bit? If you want."

"Sure!" You both exchange smiles, and she returned to her duties.

Stuffing the ticket into your pocket, you leave Melody at the counter and stroll to the exhibits area with the grin still on your lips.

Finally, something going my way for once!

▵▾▵▾▵

The Mystery Shack was named that for a reason. Certainly was very mysterious, in an almost hoax-y kind of way. Most of the exhibits were fake, which you could obviously point out because you weren't airheaded like some other people you saw ogling at the devil dogs, just a dog shaped frame completely made of stanky deviled eggs. Seriously though, who in the hell believed in that stuff?

Mabel failed to mention how phony these exhibits were...

Fifteen minutes passed in the blink of an eye and you walked into the Mystery Shack Gift Shop with chills running down your spine.

Just around the corner, stood Melody who leaned against the counter smiling at the people who just entered the Mystery Shack Gift Shop. She welcomed them with the same smile to you, still very sincere. You decided to stick next to her and wait for Soos. Through the crowd weaved the man you'd heard so much about from Mabel. He was tall, the fez even adding to his height, and you could it over the waves of tourists flooding in.

When he finally reached the two of you he was using his cane to part the sea of tourists.

"Whew, a bit of a tough crowd today Melody," Soos let out a single chuckle, then took off his fez, "but I think it was the wintry forest of Gravity Falls that froze them before my jokes could."

Melody, much like her name, lets out a melodious laugh, which sent Soos blushing. He hid his face behind the fez before joining her laughter.

These two are totally dating! It clicked in your mind, and a grin laced your lips.

"Still as funny as ever, Soos," Melody let her fit of giggles die out before introducing you.

"Anyways, this is (Y/n). She's a got a question for you—"

Cue the sound of glass shattering in the background. Melody's face faltered as everyone turned to where the noise came from.

"And I've got a date with the broom..." You and Soos watched as Melody ran after a fleeing tourist who let out a high pitched scream at her storming over to them.

"You touch it, you buy it!"

"They learn so quickly," Soos wiped a fake tear from his eyes then turned over to you.

"So, how can I help you, dude?" Him taking off the eye patch to reveal a normal eye throws you off and suddenly all the secrets of the universe are revealed to you. Soos was an open book.

This explains so much. Wow.

"Oh!" You feel a blush coming on and embarrassment throws an arm over your shoulder, "Well uh, it's my first day in Gravity Falls, and I gotta say it's honestly not the best so far..."

"Go on, go on," He perks his lips while stroking his chin.

The weight of embarrassment falls off, and suddenly you became the open book. What was this power of Soos's? It was unexplainable how you could just easily speak your mind to him.

"I got scammed by a con psychic this morning! I lost five bucks, five bucks! I could've gotten snickers with that money! And then I got lost in the woods with this scummy woodpecker who kept trying to crack my head open as if I was a pinata! Next thing I know the same woodpecker steals my map, like what kind of bird does that!? They don't even need maps!"

Sometime during the rant, Soos pats a comforting hand on your shoulder and nodded along to your string of anger. And for some reason, you felt comfortable sharing your struggles with this semi-stranger.

"And then—Oh and then this wormhole shows up and throws a freaking book in my face! Like what the hell is up with Gravity Falls!? Is that normal here? Do you know anything about that?" You throw your arms up at the sky as if the universe could see your tantrum.

"Not that I know of. But we've got this like bottomless pit here, kind of a wormhole...I think? Maybe some guy threw the book in and it got thrown back at you? Hmm, I dunno dude. What kind of book is it?"

"Some kid's diary! It's older than my grandma, I swear! Here, let me get it out---" You drop your backpack onto the ground and begin to rummage through to find the journal.

"Aha! See? It's so strange," You pawn the book to Soos, whose eyes go wide and face pale once he laid eyes on it. You notice the change in his expression.

"What is it?" You peer over his shoulder, the golden hand catching both yours and his attention.

"Trust me, dude, this thing is bad news, like bad mojo." He doesn't even have to turn around to face you for you to know something is up. The tone of his voice drops and gives you chills, "throw it away, or better yet, I can take it off your hands!"

"Why would you want it?" What makes this journal so important for him to want it, even if its bad luck?

Soos fumbles with his words before seemingly coming up with an excuse. Thankfully you can't see the nervous expression forming on his face.

"For attraction! People love, uh, creepy old journals! Ya know kinda like those ehh... polaroid pictures too!" He chuckled awkwardly.

You swore you heard a little "saved it!" under his breath, but you passed it for nothing.

"No, it's okay. Don't want you to bear the burden of bad mojo. I'll probably just give it to the library..." Your hand itched to take the journal away from Soos, "...or a goodwill."

"Fine by me, dude!" 

Soos hands back the journal a bit too quick, and you can catch the hesitation in his eyes before he looked away to the Mystery Shack. 

"I didn't catch your name b-t-dubs," Soos waves around his 8-ball cane while you are stuffing the Journal back into your backpack, also making sure you zipped it tight. Can't have anyone stealing it can't we?

"Oh, I'm (Y/n)! (Y/n) (L/n)." Something seems off about this...

After putting on your backpack you extend your hand to Soos, who takes it graciously and shakes a little harder than normal. Still, you appreciate his enthusiasm and smile through it. 

"Anyways, catch you later. Gotta run the counter while Melody is cleaning up!" 

Oh! I have to ask Soos if he's here! A split second goes and butterflies are swarming in your stomach. Gez, your crush isn't even here and you're getting weak knees just by thinking about him.

But you actually have to go out on a limb if you want information. Should be a piece of cake! Just ask Soos, no biggie. All in the name of love amirite? 

"Oh wait! You, um, don't happen to know where Mason is, do you?" 

The name tumbles out before you realize that Soos might not even know his name. Soos' eyes narrow a bit before giving a shifty glance.

"Mason? Who's—"

"Dipper." Right. 

Lights, camera, embarrassment! Cue the facepalm! 

A smile spreads on Soos' face when he understands, "Dipper Pines?"

You eagerly nod, eyes lighting up and heart racing. 

"No, bro, he's not in town. How do you know Dipper?"

Pale is the only word to describe your face. Wait, no, shattered was better. 

Not in town. All at once, Hell pours into you. Not. In. Town. 

It is suffocating, clogging your lungs with a smoke not even there. You find yourself short of breath and of mind. 

How could I be so stupid?

"Hey, you okay there dude?"

Soos' hand on your shoulder snaps you out of your trance. 

"Yeah..." You instantly wipe the solemn look on your face, "I'm okay. It's just that I traveled all this way to see Dipper and, and he's not even here. Mabel's a good friend and told me to come here to see him."

I can't believe this! I'm such a dummy. 

A heavy sigh leaves you, and the backpack on you feels heavier, "Soos, do you know the way back to town?"

"Dude! Any friend of Mabel's is a friend of mine!" The cheerfulness in his voice captures your attention, "Melody can take you into town!"

Upon hearing her name, Melody perks up from cleaning the shattered snowglobe. 

"Really? That would help a bunch!" You give Soos your warmest smile, which he returns. 

"Really!" 

Melody quickly cleans up before bounding over to the two of you, "What's up?"

"(Y/n) here is one of Mabel's friends! She needs a ride back to town." 

Melody's eyes shine like stars and she nods immediately to the task. 

"Totally! Golfcart's outside, I'll be there in a minute!"

Just as you begin to leave, Melody is pulled aside by Soos. Their mutterings are barely audible as a miniature Soos bobble-head distracts you. Melody and Soos both shared concerned expressions as they looked back to you leaving the Shack. Melody gives Soos a nod then trails after you. 

Meanwhile, you are twiddling your thumbs in the golf cart like a bored little child in dire need of caffeine. Melody comes out and the cold doesn't seem as bad as before. 

"Hey! Let's get going!" She slides in, straps her seatbelt, the cart sputters to life, and Boom! The two of you are driving far from the Mystery Shack and into the cozy little town of Gravity Falls. 

The drive wasn't long but boy you wished it was. Melody was just as charismatic as Soos and kept you laughing the whole time, but in the back of your mind plagued a certain journal. Behind all the smiles and laughter you felt someone other than Melody watching, which did not help the stress of the Journal nor how would you deal with the whole 'no Dipper' situation. 

Something is definitely up...You waved a goodbye to Melody as she leaves you and the shambly motel in the distance...And I'm going to figure out why, even if it kills me. 

— Chapter End —

Just in case you haven't read the summary, I will be updating on Fridays now! AND BILL SHOWS UP NEXT CHAPTER AHHHH. I am sO EXCITED FOR YOU GUYS.  

Oh, I also changed the temporary cover to something more permanent! Do you guys like it?