Dipper P.O.V

I wake up the next morning to see Bill is not with me. I am confused as to why he is not here until I see a note on my nightstand. I pick it up and read it.

My dearest Pine Tree,

I hate to leave you without a proper goodbye, but I have some urgent business to attend to. I will return to you as soon as I possibly can, but until then just remember that I love you with all of my demonic heart.

~Bill.

I smile to myself as I read the note. The way Bill speaks is very formal and sophisticated. It makes him seem very classy. I enjoy it very much. I find it to be attractive.

I set the note down on my bed and get up. I figure my uncles are probably already up. I am dreading going downstairs because I know it will turn into a lecture about the dangers of Bill.

I throw on a red T-shirt and some jeans and reluctantly travel down the creaking wooden stairs. The whole building seems to go silent as I enter the kitchen. Both Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford are there, drinking coffee.

I pour myself a cup of coffee and load it with caramel flavored creamer. I have never been a fan of black coffee. It is too bitter for my tastes.

I know that Stan and Ford are both staring at me. I hop up onto the counter and drink my coffee, keeping my gaze on the floor. I would prefer that last night remained an unspoken event, but of course, it won't be.

"Dipper," Stan starts before pausing. "I know that you're probably going through that phase where you're, uh, curious and all, but me and Ford,-"

"Ford and I. Grammar, Stanley," Ford cuts in, correcting him.

Stan glares at his brother before continuing. "We would just prefer that you be curious with someone else; anyone else really," he finishes.

"What Stanley is trying to say is that we're worried and we're only trying to do what's best for you. Bill is dangerous and will do anything to get you to trust him, even fake emotions. We don't want you getting hurt in multiple ways because he's back in town. We want you to keep your distance," Ford adds, explaining what Stan was trying to say more clearly.

I set my cup down on the counter and sigh. The fact that Stan is summing this up to me being a curious teenager is a bit frustrating. I know that they only want to keep me safe, but I know what I'm doing.

"I know what I'm doing. I thought that I was going bat shit crazy when this whole thing started, but I gave it a chance. I wanted to figure out what was really happening. This is real. Bill has changed. Even if neither of you wants to believe that, it's true. I am not going to do anything stupid," I reassure them.

"Dipper, he's using you to get what he wants. Can't you see that? You have a brilliant mind and you have outsmarted Bill many times. Please, open your eyes and realize that he's only manipulating you. We don't want to lose you to his tricks," Ford tells me, grabbing my shoulders.

I sigh and look up towards the ceiling. "Look, maybe you're right. Maybe this is all just Bill trying to get in my head. But this seems real for the time being and I am going to treat it as such. Now if things start to go south then," I pause, "then you and Grunkle Stan take him out."

They both smile weakly. Ford pats my shoulder and heads back to the table. I can tell that they aren't ecstatic about the plan, but it's the best they're getting.