Chapter Text
You had a hard time sleeping, your thoughts kept wandering back and forth between the time you and Ford were in the lab, the soft moments you shared with him over sandwiches, and what Mable told you.
You groan and toss over, you could feel that your alarm was about to go off, and sure enough it did.
Sitting up you rub your eyes as you try to regain your consciousness. You really could use that coffee, and perhaps an energy drink to top it off. You slowly slink out of bed walking over to the bathroom while you fix the clasps around your chest.
Hovering over the sink slothishly you look at me yourself in the mirror. You were also going to have to talk to Ford about this…but how or when. You still arnt sure if the guy is even interested in you that way or maybe he would see you differently…
You didn’t know if you could handle it if that was the case. It had always been a struggle trying to gage whether or not you wanted to share who you were to certain people. Sometimes you’d be met with kindness and understanding, other times there were questions or unpleasant comments made and often times these people didn’t understand just how unpleasant these statements were. All of it could send anyone into a spiral when faced with the decision to tell or not to….You trusted Ford thought, but maybe you needed a bit more time.
“I hate dating-.” you groan as you finish up your morning routine of brushing your teeth and fixing your hair with water.
Wandering over to your closet you get dressed trying to not think about it too hard, but that is nearly impossible. All you can do is just hope today goes well at this point and maybe lay down some subtle hints…maybe.
After your morning crisis you get in your truck and start heading to the diner. You have your timing pretty down so you might be five minutes early.
-
Ford didn’t sleep much either, but that wasn’t uncommon for him, even with this older age. He had always been a night owl. He spent the night working and fine tuning the equipment he was going to use to catch these little green men…definitely needed a better name.
When morning came he probably had gotten a few hours, he lifted his head from his work bench and stood up with a painful grunt. Ford slept on nearly every muscle wrong. However, that wasn’t going to stop him from making it to the diner.
Ford changed into a cleaner pair of clothes and freshened up before heading out. He’d be borrowing Stanley’s car…the term borrowing being used loosely since he didn’t ask, but he knew he’d be back before Stanley would notice or even be awake.
-
You pull up to the front of the diner and park your truck when you see Ford was even earlier than you were, just patiently waiting outside.
You can’t help but smile as you climb out of your truck to meet him on the deck. “I’m getting déjà vu. Have we been here before?” you’re tone was flirty in a subtle way, hinting at just yesterday when they had happened upon one another on a porch.
“Not particularly.” Ford looked at you confused, seeing as the joke went over his head you just chuckled and walked up the stairs “I’m just playing poindexter.” You stand at his level now and nod “Good morning.” your voice is a bit warmer this time.
Ford still doesn't get it but he doesn't think too much longer about it when you reach him on the porch. “Good morning.” His voice still had that lingering confusion but you could swear you heard a softer undertone.
“Come on, I need like five cups of coffee.” you wrapped your arm around his shoulder and guided him to the front doors of the diner with you, before holding the door for him so he could pass first.
Ford looked over at your arm and followed after, he’d never had someone so close to him all the time like this…it was nice, the warmth. He didn’t realize just how little of that he had prior to you being around, and now he was starting to get used to it a little. But only a little, something about it made his face heat up.
You were trying your best to act as normal as possible, but you would be lying if you'd said that you weren’t nervous to be this close, ‘maybe I am doing too much…but this is just who I am…’ .
“Ah look at who the cat dragged in, come in you.” Lazy Susaian called over from the other side of the counter.
“Hello ma’am.” you give a small wave and the both of you tuck into a booth sitting across from one another. “So, walk me through your game plan.” you said, giving Ford all your attention.
The older man dragged out a map from his pocket, it was one of the entire town. “We will be headed to the bowling alley, since it’s not opened yet and we don’t want to be there with people getting in the way…”
He goes on to detail plans of action when you both get there. A little braking and entering never hurt anyone. Ford also goes over what places to potentially track them to and the gear you both were using to trap them for about 20 minutes, giving brief pauses for questioning and concerns.
You listen tentatively, when your mind wondering a lil, getting distracted by Ford's features, god the things you’d do to get under that turtle neck. Something about him being in his element was speaking to you.
“What can I get you boys?” Lazy Susan made her way around to the two of you, snapping you out of your delusions and back to reality, you feel a bit ashamed that you were thinking that kind of thing. If Ford had some sort of mind reading machine he would have been over with.
“A cup of coffee please, and a pancake.” You spoke up and Ford's order followed. “I will get a cup of coffee and some toast please.”
“Alright, I’ll have your food up for you in no time.” she said before wandering back into the kitchen.
You sit back comfortably in the booth to look outside the window. “I haven’t had much time to process all the supernatural stuff that happens here. All the creatures, I mean I grew up on cryptids and ghosts…this is just so different, partly because I am facing it head on and it is actually real.” you looked back over to Ford seeing he was readjusting his glasses to look at you. “If this at any point becomes too much for you, you can tell me.” He offered.
Shaking your head you reply. “I’m grown up enough to face it, I am sure I will be fine.” you brush off his concerns.
Ford looked a little confused. “That’s not…” (what I meant) He was going to finish his sentence but decided it wasn’t worth awkwardly trying to decipher what that other person meant.
Thankfully Lazy Susan came back around and gave them both a way out. “Here you two go. It’s always good seeing a few friendly faces around. You two stay out of trouble.” she said softly before she scuttled off to another table. It was almost like she knew.
Ford glanced over to you, seeing your wide grin as you looked at your pancake. A small smile tugged at his lips, hiding it behind the coffee mug. “You were into the paranormal as a kid?” he tracked back slightly.
“Oh yeah. It really started when I saw one when I was eight or nine. It scared the shit out of me, but I kinda wrote it off as a one time thing. I didn’t think I would face anything like that ever again.” you took a big bite of the sweet pancake and washed it down with your black coffee.
“You saw one? outside of gravity falls?” he prodded.
“Yeah, I grew up in different states all my life. But as I remember it, the vail might be extremely thin here, but it can be in other places. Especially places with a darker history, those kinds of negative energies and emotions impact a space.” You explained your voice trailing off quieter towards the end as you realize your rambling about ghosts to a supernatural expert. “Sorry, I am sure you know all this already .” you can feel your face beginning to heat up with embarrassment.
“No no, it’s actually nice to hear others talk about the paranormal and believe it. I used to get odd looks or wellness checks called on me in college whenever I went on rants about my research.” Ford noted the slight pink on your face and a smile tugged at his lips.
“My family definitely had a few words to describe me whenever I nerded out to them. Most of the time their go to was weirdo or nerd.” You both share your experience and chuckle over them, it was nice being able to see a part of yourself in someone else, it was a level of understanding that was hard to find, you appreciated it a lot.
“That would make two of us.” Ford finished his coffee and you after alongside your pancake. “Well we should hit the road, don’t want to keep the green dudes waiting.” you joke, stacking all the plates and cups neatly.
Lazy Susan came back around with the check and before Ford could even think to grab it you take it off the table and stood up to follow Susan to the register. Ford sat astonished for a moment then stood up to follow after the both of you.
“Kid, let’s at least split the bill.” he called after before catching up. “It's two coffees, some toast and a pancake. Trust me I got us covered.” you nudge his shoulder with yours and you both leave the diner together.
—-
“Do you just want to take my truck? We will be easily spotted with two vehicles parked, it would be better to take one and hide it in the back.” You mentioned tugging your keys out of your jean pocket.
“I am getting the feeling that you’ve done this before.” Ford gave you a furrowed brown and curious glare.
“Maybe…Once or twice..” you shrug at the confession. “No one was letting a teenage boy run around haunted buildings willingly…I had to get creative.”
Ford didn’t know whether to be impressed or concerned. “Then we will take your truck.” he nodded, trusting your call.
You pump your fist in a silent victory as you both climb into the truck and make your way to the alley.