Chapter Two- Stan

"Goodbye! Thanks for wasting your money!" Mr. Pines shouted out the door, before swinging around the OPEN sign to the CLOSED, LATER SUCKERS! side. As he turned around, chuckling as he ran his fingers through the wad of cash in his hand, a hurried knock on the door stopped him in his tracks. "What the-"

He swung the door open once again, looking down to be met face-to-face with a girl. She looked about the same age as Mabel, or... Dipper, yeah, Dipper. His memory was getting better, but it clocked out sometimes. "Can I, uh, help you?" He questioned as she stared back at him.

"Um," She replied, staring at him both in confusion and frustration. "Did you not... have you... " She kept trailing off before she shook her head and looked him straight in the eyes. "Did Mr. Jones never call you?"

"Uh, I don't know a Mr. Jones." Stan replied, equally shocked. "Look, um, kid, are you-are you lost or something?"

The girl stared at him with wide eyes, now looking more frustrated then ever. "Noooo... Mr. Jones should've called you about this. I mean, you did offer to do the foster..."

"Foster?" Stan said. "Listen kid, I have no idea who you are, and I haven't had a phone call from anyone in ages-" He was abruptly cut off by the message box on the phone next to him.

"Messages full." It chimed. The girl looked to the receiver, before glancing back to him with an eyebrow raised questioningly.

"You were saying?" She replied. As Stan groaned, she stepped inside, pressing a button on the receiver.

"What are you-" Stan began before the girl held a finger up, silencing him as she dialed a number. The phone buzzed for a moment before a woman's voice came onto the other end of the phone.

"Hello, Mr. William Jones' office speaking. Who are you and what business do you have with us?" The voice said calmly.

"Hello, Mary," The girl grumbled. "I need to speak to Mr.Jones."

"Oh, you're that girl who William keeps moving around. Raven, is it?" The girl- Raven?- blushed in embarrassment, before the woman continued. "Yes, I'll get him on the phone."

"You-You're a foster kid?" Stan asked as Raven's clench on the phone tightened, her knuckles growing white.

"Yes..." She growled, looking away. "My aunt and uncle sent me up here because you apparently signed up for summer fostering. They hate me, and will do anything to get rid of me."

"Geez." Stan seethed through his teeth. "Sorry they ain't the best folks. But, hang on, I don't remember offering to foster you for the summer. Sorry kid."

"Well, technically you didn't." Raven replied. Stan raised an eyebrow, before she continued with, "You were told you could win a bunch of money, but you got roped into doing this. Scams, scams, scams."

"Oh." Stan grumbled before a deeper voice buzzed through the phone.

"Hello. William Jones speaking." The phone droned. "Is this Mr. Pines?"

Stan grabbed the phone, Raven rolling her eyes. "Um, yes. How- who are you?"

"William Jones, as I just mentioned." The man replied. "I'm assuming Mrs. Howards has arrived at your house."

"Mrs. Howards?" Stan was now even more confused.

The man over the phone sighed. "Raven. Raven Howards. The kid."

"Oh." Stan turned back to Raven, who was now glaring at the phone as though her eyes could melt it. "Um, yes, she's here."

"Good." The voice buzzed in his ear. "I'm assuming you received our voice message, seeing as how you never called us back."

"

Uh, well..." Stan stuttered. "I didn't exactly.... um..."

Mr. Jones sighed once again. "Sir, two weeks ago you were selected to foster a child for the summer, and Raven was selected to go to your establishment. You are to provide for her until September first, when a bus will return to bring her back to her aunt and uncle."

"Uh, what?" Stan turned from Raven, whispering into the phone. "Listen dude, I can barely provide for the people already in my house. I don't know if I can afford it."

"Believe me sir," Mr. Jones said calmly. "Raven is a resourceful girl. She's been able to survive through a lot of things, and you were one of the safest homes available. Goodbye, Mr. Pines."

Author's Note

lol

Reviews

[Efxaris Arampatzi]

I really enjoyed this chapter, Alice! You’ve nailed Stan’s chaotic yet hilarious personality while showing Raven’s resourcefulness and determination. The foster care mix-up was a smart way to bring some real emotional weight into the quirky Gravity Falls world. I can already tell their dynamic is going to be a lot of fun to watch unfold. I’m really excited to see how they handle the rest of the summer together. Great work!