2012
"Open it the next time you miss Gravity Falls."
He sat on the bus, next to his sister. He didn't want to leave; he'd made friends here, good friends. Maybe he'd wished that some would have become more than friends, maybe it was just his brain in its sea of hormones. She'd told him nicely, and he didn't know whether he was hurt or relieved.
He opened the envelope. Inside, a piece of paper. He smiled, noticing all the friends he'd made over the summer had signed it. Wendy, Pacifica, Robbie, even Deputy Durland. In the middle, in large black writing, it simply said four words. See you next summer.
It was a long trip to Piedmont. Almost straight back to school as well. She'd pretended to be asleep, waiting for Dipper to sleep. She wanted to read his journal, since he'd been writing all his secrets there.
She flicked through the pages, before noticing one he'd earmarked. Pacifica Northwest. He'd been scribbling all over the page, conflicted feelings displayed for anyone to read. Her eyes were drawn to a sketch of her he'd made, which she found cute but also slightly creepy. Underneath, he'd crossed something out. That there maybe was 'some vibe between them'. She giggled. Who knows, maybe there was. Something else was there; he thought 'she looked kind of okay in an evening dress'. No wonder he'd crossed it out, it was surprising that he'd even admit it here.
She closed the journal, but not before she took a photo of the page. Sliding it back into the backpack, she saw the state line in the distance. They were on their way home.
2015
Every summer, Dipper and Mabel had gone to Gravity Falls. Every summer, Mabel waited for Dipper to tell Pacifica how he felt. She tried to subtly hint to him that it would go well, but she never found a way without telling him that she knew about what he'd written.
Still, that was three years ago. He should have been over it by now. Either that, or he really did have feelings for her. Holding out over three years, or given up long ago.
Maybe he was just nervous, not wanting to ask when he was so uncertain. After all, it would be a difficult relationship, with her life stuck between here and Canada. Her father had fled, following a look at his books by the IRS. He'd been fudging the books, evading his tax for years. The minute he stepped back into the country, he'd be arrested.
Despite this, Pacifica still insisted on spending her summers in the small Oregon town where she'd grown up. She was a Northwest, after all. Even if her family hadn't really founded the town, she still had a special connection to the place. The best part about it was that her parents were never there. She was free to do as she pleased; as far away from that wretched bell her father still carried in his coat pocket. Well, that, and all of her friends were here. The first true friend she'd made. Dipper Pines.
A high pitched tone rang in her ear. She couldn't hear anything other than it. Groggily, she tried to get up only to find her hands were bound. She'd been hit on the head, from behind. It still stung.
"Pacifica Northwest. We know who your father is. Call him."
She looked the hooded man in the eye.
"Here's your phone."
She spat at him, only to be slapped. Glaring at her interrogator, she picked up the phone. She dialed the number, smirking slightly when the contact came up with 'Pure Evil'. She pressed the green button, letting the phone ring.
"Hello, Pacifica?"
"Dad… there's a problem…"
"Why, darling? What's the problem?"
She moved to speak, but her phone was snatched from her hands.
"Two million Euros, or your daughter dies. We know you have the money. Cash."
He hung up, before removing the SIM. Dropping the phone, he crushed it under his heel.
"Hey! You piece of shit, that was my phone!"
She wriggled as he ripped off a section of gaffer tape, placing it over her mouth.
"Don't go anywhere." he said sarcastically.
She shot up in her bed. Her nightmares were getting worse; this was the second one in the same number of days. She got out of the bed, dressing herself in a monogrammed silk robe, trimmed with purple synthetic fur. Walking over to the en-suite bathroom, she opened the medicine cabinet. Opening a little orange container on the bottom shelf, she swallowed two pills, before washing it down with a bottle of mineral water from the mini-fridge embedded in the wall by her bed. As she waited for the drugs to take her from consciousness, she smiled slightly. She'd be in Gravity Falls tomorrow.
Mabel Pines had almost given up. Dipper, completely blind to her hints, had made no attempt to talk to Pacifica about, well, his feelings. She took out the piece of paper from their first summer there, propping it up against the wall. Leaving the UV light on, she placed it against the desk, so that Pacifica's hidden message was in plain view.
Dipper - when you find this, I guess you can consider it me asking you out on a date. You like coffee?
She smiled. She really had underestimated that girl. Of course, she'd found the message by chance; Dipper had left the light on one night, illuminating the corner of the letter where Pacifica had signed her name. With a heart, no less. She looked over at her sleeping twin brother, with his packed suitcase at the foot of his bed. He'd see it in the morning.
Dipper Pines woke up to find the flickering UV on the desk. The old letter lay beside it, and seeing the signatures brought a smile to his face.
"Fuck, must have left the UV on last night." he sighed, under his breath. Mabel, pretending to be asleep, swore quietly. It would just so happen that the light would die right before he saw it. It was almost as if something wanted her relentless attempts at matchmaking to fail. Still, she faked a yawn before getting out of bed; reaching under for her backpack. Rolling her eyes, she took her case and went downstairs. Maybe it was just fate, messing with every attempt she made to try and get him to notice. Either way, she'd just have to wait again.
The heat had been unbearable over the past few days. Just the other night, she could hear the thunder echo across the city; even so, the water shortage continued. Additionally, they had to put up with the rolling blackouts, which made three hours a night absolutely horrible. She could feel her clothes sticking to her skin. Their parents had dropped them off at the bus station; while they sat in the AC-cooled waiting room, looking for the ancient old bus which would take them up to Oregon. Looking up at the sky, in its morning pale blue, Dipper felt a knot in his stomach. Nervousness. He'd missed his chances over the past two summers; if she was there, he'd ask her. He just had to pray that she was.
A beat-up, frayed old bus sputtered into the station, with the familiar town on its crown. Pulling up opposite them, the old doors creaked open. The joints needed some oil, Dipper thought. He dragged the case up the rusted steps, punching the ticket. He helped Mabel up, taking her case. Taking his seat, next to her as always, he took his headphones out of his backpack. It was going to be a long ride.
Pacifica Northwest had booked a cab to the airport. Crossing the border, she always found it quicker to avoid the queues of truckers, not wanting to cross Washington in an old bus. Instead, she preferred the relatively luxurious journey by air, landing at Portland International. From there, it was a short hop to Gravity Falls. She'd be there within five hours of takeoff, assuming nobody fucked up. She looked at the slender Omega on her wrist, its purple strap adorned with a white face. Her name was on it in gold cursive, delicately laser-cut into the white steel. The sleek, steel hand daintily ticked away, counting down the seconds as a black car pulled up in front of the property. She rolled her eyes; she'd specified behind. Nevertheless, she took her bags down. Her parents had long fired the butler, given that with his frozen assets Preston could no longer have afforded to pay him. Still, despite this, the family had somehow maintained an element of wealth.
The car was German, sleek and elegant yet entirely functional. The leather seats were soft, comfortable even. They seemed to shift with her weight, changing shape to create the smoothest ride. She smiled, leaning back as the car quietly accelerated towards the freeway. The watch hands kept ticking away.
Surprisingly for a short-haul flight, there was an entertainment system on board. She'd been laying back, watching some show about some town in the East, where it turned out some rich kid drowned but was actually murdered. It seemed interesting, but ended up as High School Musical with added murder. She looked out, over the forests that stretched for so many miles. They were only just beginning to descend, and she'd be on the ground in what the captain had described as '30 minutes', but she suspected would be slightly shorter. She could see Portland in the distance, before the glare of the burning sun shone into her eyes. Laying back, she sipped the water she'd been given. She'd be home soon.
"Stand on the yellow line."
The automated system read out its instructions, while Pacifica scanned her passport. The camera descended slowly, focusing on her face.
"Step through."
She complied, dragging her case behind her. She walked into the hall, with her eyes searching for the driver she'd hired earlier. She noticed a board.
P. E. Northwest
Another black car, with tinted windows. Comfortable. Smooth. The watch hands kept ticking down.
The bus rolled into the town. He was surprised it had made it this far, in its state. As he got out, he noticed a black sedan cruising past. He saw the window open, with a purple sleeve resting on the doorframe. Smiling, he realised Pacifica was arriving the same day they had told her that they were. Maybe it meant something; that when he finally got the courage and opportunity to do what he wanted to, she would say yes. Then again, he didn't want to get his hopes up only to have them crushed again.
Mabel nudged her brother.
"Hey, bro-bro, you there? Are you just going to stand there?"
Stan pulled up in the old car, smiling.
"Heh, hey kids! How you been?" He hugged them, smiling. "Wendy said she'd be barbecuing over at the shack tonight, so I guess that's what you're having."
"Sure, why not." Dipper said, trying to sound enthusiastic. He pulled out his phone, texting Pacifica.
Barbecue over at the Shack - Wendy's cooking, she's pretty good at it :p - you coming?
He realised that he hadn't explained how he knew she was in town, but luckily she didn't pick up on it. Maybe she did, but if she did she didn't tell him.
Sure - be great to see everyone! We should catch up :p
Pacifica smiled. She hadn't seen any of them for a while, despite sharing the occasional text with Dipper. And already, he was taking her out to dinner. Well, not quite, but sort of? Did it count? She opened her case, taking out the dress she'd worn when she'd become friends with Dipper. Frowning, she put it down. Too formal; she wanted to look nice without looking like she'd made a massive effort, not like she was headed to a wedding. Instead, she found a gentle purple miniskirt, with a matching top. Wearing her white sneakers, and her old dark purple jacket. She thought about earrings, but decided against them. Looking in the face of her reflection, she swallowed two tablets before smiling nervously.
Pacifica walked up to the Mystery Shack, still attempting to embody the mean girl demeanour she'd mastered so long ago. She saw Dipper, momentarily breaking her act as she hugged him in greeting. She smiled, giggling slightly at the nervous look on his face.
Nobody would mention her family, but she knew they thought about it. She was a Northwest, after all. Sometimes she just wanted to have been born with a different name. No attachment, no prejudice. Wherefore art thou Pacifica? Maybe if her name had been Pacifica Corduroy; or anyone else, really. That name, Northwest… Nothing good ever came from it. Just a history of lies, murder and scandals. Her father had always drilled her on its importance, but what she had learned was not what he meant to teach. She'd always been forced to feel like the family disgrace; she saw it as being the only one with a conscience.
Still, the life of her family's black sheep wasn't all that bad. She had actual friends, not just satellites who wanted to climb up the social ranks. Her parents had made sure that she was never alone, but they couldn't stop her from feeling alone. Or from just generally being lonely. Lonely seemed to be dominating her life lately; it was all she seemed to feel, trapped in the complex in Vancouver.
Dipper broke her off from her deep thoughts, lightly punching her in the arm.
"You know, I didn't realise catching up meant you just staring off into the distance." He chuckled, looking out over the trees to the distant sun. He sighed. "I missed you, you know."
"What, you did?" she smiled. "I guess, well, I missed you too?"
"You can do better than that, Northwest." He laughed. She turned slightly red, before giggling.
"You can be a real piece of work sometimes, Pines."
Suddenly, a voice called from behind them.
"You two lovebirds going to come in for the stuff I cooked, or you just going to stay out here?" Wendy laughed as they both reddened, leaning against the doorframe. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you two were out here making out."
Pacifica glared at her, before giggling with her hand covering her mouth.
"I don't mind," she flirted, smiling at Dipper. "It's not like it's a bad thing, is it?"
"So, guess what I caught these two doing out back?" Wendy teased over the food.
Mabel screamed. "No way! Really, them two? It's finally happening!"
Wendy looked at Mabel as if she was mad. In fairness, she probably was.
"I'm joking? Didn't catch them doing it, anyway." She winked at the now blushing Pacifica, before whispering, "Don't worry, your secret's safe. Well, at least, until Mabel finds out. Then, you're fucked."
"He won't find out?" She asked, tentatively.
"Pacifica, Dipper's romantically blind as a bat. Just, flirt a bit more blatantly and he'll probably get the message." She beamed at Dipper, before addressing the table." What do you all think of the food?"
She was greeted with a murmur of approval, with some nodding. Stan looked up at her, grinning.
"I haven't had a cut this good since I robbed that restaurant in Portland!" He stuffed another piece into his mouth. "How do you get it so tender?"
"Oh, you know, family secret," she chuckled.
Yeah, Pacifica thought. At least yours are pleasant.
"You're sure you don't need a lift? It's getting late."
"Dipper, I'll be fine. It's Gravity Falls, not Detroit." Pacifica hugged him tightly, before turning to walk away. "That was fun, we really should meet up more."
"Yeah," said Dipper, under his breath, "I'd really love to."
She sighed as she walked along the road. It was a good feeling, being home. Unraveling the headphones she'd kept in her coat pocket, she looked up at the stars she'd grown up under, lost in the city smoke when she'd moved. Now, they welcomed her; made her feel comfortable again. For the first time, in a long time, Pacifica Northwest didn't feel alone.
She wandered through the endless forests, struggling to reach out. Looking forward, she could see the glimmer of light at the end; it seemed as far as it had been before. The fragments of light danced in her blonde hair, teasing her to move forward. She tried to advance, willing her body to move, but felt nothing. Looking up hopelessly at the sky, Pacifica noticed it had turned the shade of purple she'd always worn. Hands reached out from below her, grasping at her paralysed body. Slowly, they pulled. Dragging her, underneath the earth.
She woke up again. Following the usual drill, she opened the container and swallowed two. Opening the mineral water, she washed the bitter taste out of her mouth. Grimacing, Pacifica Northwest fell on her bed; returning to the world of the dead.
Dipper Pines couldn't sleep. Like most nights, he just felt like there was a barrier, keeping him awake and away from the rest he craved. He sighed, pulling out a container from underneath his bed. He shoved three in his mouth, downing it with the sip from a small bottle of water he'd taken from the vending machine. Insomnia was a pain, a curse he'd developed over the years. He'd wake up in the morning feeling like he'd never slept, because he hadn't. The pills kept it at bay, but it didn't feel real. He tried not to rely on them, but sleep evaded him without them. He fell back onto the bed, closing his eyes.
He still hadn't told Mabel. He didn't want her worrying about him, because he wanted to protect her from everything that was out there. If she spent her time worrying about him, she'd never be able to live her own life.
She woke up the next day, rubbing her eyes as the harsh red LED shone in her face. She'd woken up early; the sun was only just rising over the forest. She yawned, sitting up with the covers over her lap. Feeling a brief recollection of her dream, she shivered unconsciously. She tried to do everything she could to not feel lonely; she would spend her days with Dipper and Mabel, but she had nothing for her nights. Those, she would have to fight alone. For now, at least. In the future, who knew. Dressing herself in a satin robe she'd left on top of her case, she looked around at the place she had briefly called home. She'd never even had a chance to settle in; even the basic layout was a mystery to her. It was a small, modern affair, located roughly a kilometre from the Shack. That was the one statistic she'd bothered to memorise, despite it only being half a summer's worth. The year after Dipper had made her realise who she actually could be. That had been the first time anyone had offered her a choice in her future; her parents had insisted she carry on the family business, whatever that was, and every advisor she'd ever been made to speak to had said the same. Once, she remembered, her father had asked her to find a husband with a business mindset; he clearly didn't believe that she had what it took to run the firm. Either that, or it was just his outdated view carried around the older members of the GOP. They never seemed able to open their eyes to changing times; no wonder they'd accepted him as a donor before the incident.
She sighed again, before walking along the lobby landing to the kitchen. She'd brought a bag of coffee beans from home, but forgot to get any breakfast. She emptied the bag into the machine, before adding the milk carton she'd picked up last night. She pressed a button, waiting for the brown elixir of life to fill the disposable cup below. She walked back to the bedroom, dressing herself in jeans and a white tank top, before adding a purple jacket. Looking in the mirror, she brushed her hair back, smoothing out any knots and frays. Gently, she sprayed on perfume as she had always done in the mornings; before applying her trademark purple eyeliner. Walking back to the kitchen, she sipped her now perfectly cool coffee, before she walked out of the door to get the fresh air her mind so desperately needed.
Thinking back, it was a sort of ritual for her. Every night she had a bad dream, she'd go for a walk to clear her head. She often found morning air to calm her down, at the very least by making her complain about the freezing cold. Her life just wasn't the same as it had been when she'd been utterly clueless, and there was no way back to that place. However, it had its costs; all those times her father had humiliated her in front of everyone; as he'd indoctrinated her to hide and blush at the ring of his bell. The burning hatred she felt for him conflicted with her pity for his selfish, isolated life.
Still, she'd found a form of solace here. Despite his overbearing presence still in the very air here, there was no sense of his reach; no way for him to grab her and pull her back into his iron clutches.
She'd made it to the hilltop by the time her phone rang. She picked up, leaning on the tree to rest for a second.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Pacifica! It's Dipper."
"Yeah, no shit," she said sarcastically, "when your name popped up I thought Wendy would answer."
"Wow, thanks." He sounded genuinely hurt. "And here I was going to ask if you were planning to do anything today."
"Nah, I don't." She thought about flirting slightly, before deciding against it. "What about you?"
"Thought maybe we could go for a walk or something chill?"
"Nothing like one of your monster hunts to ruin my outfit." She giggled. "Sure, why not."
"Hey, at least you can just re-dye your hair."
"My hair is not fake!" She laughed slightly, knowing that he was only teasing. "I'm naturally blonde, Pines!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Paz. Anyway, I'll pick you up, just text me whenever."
He hung up, and she smiled under the tree. Loneliness wouldn't find her today. She turned, walking back towards the town. Thirty minutes had passed, and no doubt thirty more would follow on her return. Under the ever-growing heat, she couldn't wait to get back.
She turned the A-C on straight away, but it only spat out hot air back into her face. She sighed, knowing it would be a few minutes before it finally did its job. Taking a towel from the rack, she threw it over her shoulder before entering the bathroom. Taking off her jacket, she flung it out of the room, onto her bed. She did the same with the rest of her clothes, leaving them on the floor of the room. Reaching for her phone, she texted Dipper before stepping into the shower. The hot water cascaded onto her shoulders, steaming up the glass as she tenderly washed herself clean.
The doorbell rang.
"It's open, Pines!"
He walked in, searching the building for her.
"Upstairs!"
He walked into her bedroom, before noticing the clothes on the floor. Still, he didn't put two and two together until she stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a purple towel. His eyes were drawn to her slender legs, before he looked away.
"Cheeky," she giggled, "Trust you not to look."
She winked, biting her lower lip as she secretly hoped he would sneak a peek.
They walked back to the Shack, chatting. They were both exhausted from the night's encounters, but neither told the other what had happened. They could just see it in the other's eyes; that something had gone awry since that first summer. Still, they laughed and smiled through, because for once they both had someone to trust, and someone to talk to. While they talked in the gift shop, Dipper pulled two waters out of the vending machine.
"Here, it's kinda hot today." He handed her the bottle, before taking a sip of his own.
"Yeah. You sure you don't wanna come back to my place and watch movies or something? I just, well, don't really want to boil alive today." She smirked slightly, "I don't have any food, though, so that could be a problem."
Dipper laughed at the suggestion, knowing that that was exactly what he wanted to do anyway.
"Don't worry about that. I know just the thing."
It certainly wasn't what she was used to. Her parents had always made sure that she ate food prepared by Michelin chefs, but she never really enjoyed it. Now, however, she found simple joy tucking in to a pepperoni pizza as the two watched Austin Powers. After all, she saw that Dipper was happy, and that was good enough for her. As far as she knew, they were both having a fun time, lying on what has been her parents' bed with a greasy pizza box between them. She'd thrown off her jacket again, and was leaning on his shoulder as they watched. His arm was around her, his hand resting on her exposed skin covered by her hair. She hadn't done anything with it after she'd showered, and it was still a bit wet. He didn't mind, though. Well at least until she flicked it into his face.
"Really?" Dipper asked, trying not to smile.
"What?" Pacifica giggled, "Guess my natural hair got in your face. Oops."
He rolled his eyes, before looking the other way and smiling. This was what he was missing back in Piedmont, someone carefree and fun, someone to talk to. Of course, he could talk to Wendy about some things, and he couldn't say everything to Pacifica, but it felt good to know that someone had your back; especially since he knew that he had hers. Ever since the incident, anyway. No doubt some of her satellites had left her then; he was going to be better than that. Well, of he got the chance, anyway.
When they raised the blinds again, the sun had begun to set. The sky was the familiar pale blue, it's westmost fringes tinged with a gentle orange. A lone cloud drifted above, silhouetted. Higher, vapour trails scattered.
"Well, that was great. Thanks, Paz."
"Yeah, no problem. We should meet up again sometime." Hopefully sometime soon, she thought. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
By the time she got back to the house, it was already dark. She couldn't have spent that long at the Shack, could she? She'd only walked him there, before talking with Mabel and Wendy for a bit. Did it really take a full hour? She knew it felt like time went faster when he was around, but she didn't realise how much by. She walked into her bedroom, smiling at the anarchy of her clothes strewn everywhere. She wouldn't have been allowed to do that at home; then again she wouldn't have been allowed to have Dipper over at home. She undressed, before tossing on a nightgown. The wolves would be kept at bay tonight, she thought, swallowing two pills; falling back into the mindless sleep she unfortunately knew so well.
Dipper paced the attic. He was no psychologist, but her behaviour had to mean something. Maybe she was just acting out, venting everything she couldn't at home; or maybe there was actually something between them. Not a full-fledged two-way crush, but maybe some kind of vibe, a feeling both of them felt. Something that drew them to each other, made both of them feel a need for each other. He sounded crazy, he thought. Still, maybe he'd get some answers tomorrow; he definitely wouldn't get them tonight. He swallowed the pills again, and lay down on his bed. He closed his eyes, smirking.
She followed the same ritual as the previous day, despite having a relatively calm night. The morning skies were pale as she left, yet they'd turned the shade of blue she'd always associated with Dipper by the time she returned. She rolled her eyes; it was either her mind playing tricks with her like it always did, or fate. Pacifica Northwest didn't believe in fate, the first summer with Dipper had taught her that much. Things don't stay forever, she thought. She may have been a Northwest back then, but she didn't fit in with them any more. She checked her phone, to find a new message that hadn't been there when she left.
"Hey, it's me. Going up to the cliffs with Wendy and Mabel, tag along if you want. Meeting at Shack in 15."
Pacifica smiled, glad that he'd asked her to do something with him again, even if it was with his friends as well. Her friends, she reminded herself. They'd had differences in the past, but nothing they couldn't get through. Glancing at her watch, she noticed that message was sent twelve minutes ago.
"Fuck!" she exclaimed, sprinting down the road to the distant building.
The two of them stood in front of the building, waiting while Dipper sorted out his pack. He emerged from the building with a bottle in his hand, tossing it over to Wendy.
"Wasn't Pacifica supposed to be here by now?" Wendy asked, breaking the seal on the bottle.
"Yeah. Not like her to be late." He replied, as Mabel and Wendy giggled. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. Well, apart from the fact that she's late for almost everything except when you're there."
Dipper turned bright red. "That is not true!"
"Nah, totally is. Remember that time we invited her for coffee and it took her half an hour to get ready? We had to wait outside for ages."
They dropped the conversation when a panting mess in a purple jacket ran up.
"Sorry I was late; out on a run. Didn't hold you up, did I?"
Dipper moved to reply, to reassure her they didn't, but was interrupted by Mabel.
"You were running… In that?" she asked, indicating Pacifica's jacket and jeans."
"Uhm, yeah, totally." She turned slightly red, before glaring at Mabel.
"Told you so." Wendy whispered to Dipper, teasing. "It might just be me, but I think she's got a little crush on you."
She laughed, before shoving him next to Pacifica as the four walked along the road. She winked at him, before turning back to talk to Mabel.
"What was that about?" Pacifica asked, noting Dipper's uncomfortable look.
"Oh, uh, nothing. Yeah, nothing."
She looked at him, rolling her eyes. "Come on, Pines. It was obviously something,"
"Nope. Nothing."
"You know I'll find out eventually," she giggled as they walked. "May as well tell me now, or I could just ask Wendy. I'm sure she'd be happy to tell me."
Noticing the look on his face, she stopped.
"I'm only joking, Dip. I don't really care. It's just a laugh, if you really don't want to tell me that's cool."
He sighed. I do want to tell you, he thought, just not right now. Not yet.
"It's just, it's not something I wanna talk about just yet." He smiled slightly. "Maybe later, if you're still interested."
"Oh, definitely. Don't think I'm going to let you forget, Pines." She put her arm around him, leaning on his shoulder. "Whatever it is, you know you can talk about it, right?"
Yeah, just not with you, he thought. He didn't say it, though. "Yeah, I do."
She beamed at him, before running up the hill.
"Don't want to fall behind now, do we?"
He laughed, chasing after her.
The group sat together on the grass, overlooking the town in the valley. The air was calm, yet Mabel and Wendy's faces were rife with anticipation as Dipper and Pacifica sat together, his arm on her shoulder. They were definitely a couple in everyone else's eyes; even if they weren't in their own. Mabel had jokingly bet five bucks that they'd end up official in a few days, with Wendy countering with the estimate of one week. Still, whenever they did, and they inevitably would, it would certainly be an interesting couple; could be a power couple for sure.
They were interrupted as Pacifica got up, holding Dipper's hand. Mabel nudged Wendy, preparing to ask for the bet money; as she pulled out her wallet, Wendy sighed; even though they hadn't kissed or said anything to anyone, holding hands counted. They didn't say anything, knowing that it'd be a while before they saw each other again.
They were by a tree, sitting with their backs against it.
"So-" Dipper began, before she interrupted him.
"There's something I wanted to say to you, Pines. Something, well, something personal."
"Uh, sure, shoot."
"Well, I mean, when I first met you, I thought you were just some lame dork." She paused, looking him in the eyes. "But, now I've got to know you… you've made me see the better part of me. And, well, uh, I guess I kinda like you."
"Just to be sure - you are asking me out on a date, right?"
She laughed, punching him lightly. "Of course I am, Dipstick. What do you think, I'm asking you to review my credit portfolio?"
"I - I don't know, it's not every day I get asked out." He nervously smiled, which made her laugh even more.
"You're a dork, you know that? Still hasn't changed."
"Keep going that way, I might just say no." He teased, but she knew she had him hooked.
"My place?"
"Sounds like a plan."
Mabel and Wendy laughed at the distant giggling, while she handed over a crumpled five dollar bill. Definitely official.
They lay in her bed, watching a show Dipper had said was good. She didn't really mind; spending time with Dipper was what she was here for. She pecked him on the cheek, getting up off the bed.
"You want anything, Dipstick?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"Suit yourself." She opened a bag of fudge melts, hand-crafted in Switzerland and exported by her father, who stored them in crates in the garage. She had one in the old house, having it mailed to herself a few days earlier. Returning to the bedroom, she popped one in her mouth, smiling slightly. She leaned in towards his lips, giggling slightly when he jokingly pushed her away.
"Why would I want your second hand fudge?"
Feigning hurt, she retorted, "Why wouldn't you?"
He laughed, before leaning back in. "Want me to make it up to you?"
She leaned closer toward him, before teasingly kissing his cheek. "My fudge, Pines. Get your own."
She yelped as he tackled her, giggling.
"Maybe I'll just take it from you." He smiled, before the two finally kissed. For everyone else, it had been 'will they, won't they'; now at least both of them knew they would. He could still taste the fudge in her mouth, which made him smile. She noticed his tongue in her mouth, and pushed away, smiling.
"I told you - my fudge, Pines." She giggled, with her arms around him. "Also, your first, am I? I'm touched."
"Wait - what - how did you know?"
"You're clumsy, Dipstick," she teased, "No experience."
"And you -"
"Remember that guy at that party three years ago with the ghost?" She winked.
"What, the basic blonde kid? Weren't his grandparents Nazis or something?"
Pacifica laughed. "Probably, given that my parents arranged it."
They laughed together, before Dipper noticed the accusing lights of the red clock on the bedside table.
"Shit! I should probably get back."
He moved to get up, only for her to drag him back.
"Please, don't leave me." She said on instinct, before realising the gravity of what she'd just said. "I mean, uh, yeah, sure."
He looked at her. "Everything alright, Paz?"
"Yeah, all good, why?"
"You don't seem like you're okay." He sat down next to her, his arm around her. "It's okay, I'll stay tonight."
She smiled, before she walked into the bathroom.
He'd told Mabel to tell Stan that he was crashing at a friend's place, but she'd no doubt seen through his ruse and spread the word to Wendy. He sighed, before the door opened again. In front of him stood Pacifica, in a satin, laced nightgown. Smiling, he kissed her on the cheek as he smelt her still-wet hair, as she giggled before pulling him into the bed with her.
"Wait, you meant in the same bed?"
"Well obviously, I mean, we are dating, right Pines?"
"Yeah, I just wasn't expecting you to be the kind of person who puts out on a first date."
She slapped him, hard enough to let him know he'd overstepped slightly, but playfully enough to recognise that he'd been teasing. "You're a real piece of work, Dipper Pines." She laughed. "Anyway, get in the bloody bed, I'm freezing!"
She was in the forest again, but she wasn't alone this time. She wasn't lonely any more; that sting couldn't bite her tonight. They walked together, up along the cliffs that overlooked the town. The sky was clear, its pale blue light painting the lush green scenery. Where a harsh summer sun had shone, a gentle glow encompassed the region in soft, velvet light. She smiled, turning to face the boyfriend she'd wanted for so long; the one desire she'd had since that first summit, the one desire her father had tried to stop her from ever acquiring. Leaning in with her luscious, hot pink lips, she was speechless. Her eyelids fluttered, before she closed them; her hands reaching for his.
The rush of air forced her eyes open. She was falling, falling down away from the cliffs. He'd used her at her most vulnerable, taking advantage of her undying trust. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. As her neck snapped, she woke.
Gasping for air, she looked over. Dipper was looking at her, as if he'd seen everything.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, it's just… " she trailed off. "I get nightmares sometimes, bad ones. I didn't wake you, did I?"
He chuckled slightly. "No, I was up already. Insomnia; can't sleep easily. It's pretty bad."
They smiled, each able to empathise with the other's predicament. Silently, Pacifica reached for the orange container she'd hidden under the bed. She offered it to Dipper, who accepted two. In return, he offered a bottle of water, with which they washed down the pills in a morbid toast of sorts.
"Well, goodnight, Pines." She gave him a teasing kiss on the lips, before biting her own and falling back into the depths of the covers.
"Goodnight, Paz." He smiled, closing his eyes.
He woke up, thinking he was still in the Shack; that what he thought he'd experienced was just a dream. He opened his eyes, only to find that he was in fact still in bed with Pacifica. Her golden hair lay over her shoulders, her eyes still closed. Getting up, he threw on the orange hoodie he'd left on the floor, before texting her. He didn't want to wake her, but he needed to get back to the house before Mabel got up. He didn't need her speculation, that was for sure.
He snuck in just as she woke up, pretending to make himself breakfast.
She yawned, walking down the stairs.
"Hey, Dipper. Didn't catch you last night, when did you get back?"
His eyes darted to the left. "Uh, like, late. Three maybe."
She arched an eyebrow. "You sure? Your bed was still made-"
"Yeah, I, uh, slept on the couch."
"-and you're still wearing the same clothes as yesterday." She looked at him. "Dipper, is there something you want to tell me? About something happening last night?"
He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to. While Mabel may not have had the academic prowess of Dipper, she could certainly put two and two together; he wasn't really covering it up well. She pulled out her phone to text Wendy, before deciding against it. This was something she'd say in person, something she'd say when they met in a few minutes.
"You're certain he stayed the night?"
"Would I tell you if I wasn't?" Wendy looked at Mabel, questioning the accuracy of her statement. "Okay, yeah, but this time I really mean it. He came back in the morning, his bed was intact, he was wearing the same clothes."
She giggled to herself, as Wendy acknowledged the evidence behind the claim.
"Let's try talking to her; if he really did stay, she'd be jittery about it."
Mabel saw reason in the older girl's thinking, and nodded. "Operation 'Is Dipper Pines Sleeping With Pacifica Northwest' is a go!" She laughed," I need to think of a shorter name."
She pulled out her phone, dialling in Pacifica's number.
"Uh, hey Mabel-"
"Hey Pacifica! So we were going to get coffee or milkshakes or smoothies or whatever - you coming?"
"Yeah, uh, sure lemme just-"
"Great! I'll be there in a sec!"
She hung up, before taking Wendy's hand and practically dragging her along the road.
The three of them sat awkwardly in the diner booth, looking at each other. Each of them sipped their coffee in turn, without blinking, before Mabel finally broke the ice.
"So, Pacifica, what did you and Dipper get up to?"
She spat out her coffee, before trying to cover.
"Um, well, nothing, really, uh-"
"That," interrupted Wendy, "was the least convincing sentence I have ever heard. And I've had to listen to Dipper deny his crush on me." Leaning on the table, she looked into Pacifica's nervous, purple-shaded eyes. "So, Miss Northwest, what did you do with the other Pines?"
"We just watched a film together - nothing else!" Her perfect blue eyes darted between her two interrogators; one a gorgeous redhead, the other an overexcited brunette wearing a pair of faux glasses that somehow made her appear to Pacifica in a way she didn't recognise - attractive.
"Totally. You totally kissed him, and that's probably just the start." Wendy smirked, moving closer towards the nervous girl in front of her. "I'll ask one last time. What did you-"
"Alright, fine! He spent the night in my bed, but we didn't do anything else!"
Mabel laughed. "I knew it! When he came home in the same clothes, it was kind of obvious." She looked at the blushes on her cheeks, giggling. "You two make such a cute couple!"
Pacifica rolled her eyes. "Alright, whatever. Just, don't spread it or anything; if this gets back to my parents, and it could in this town, I'll be dead by daylight."
Wendy and Mabel looked at each other, knowing that they had her cornered. "Deal," they said in unison.
"Also, tell us when you have sex." Mabel added, as Wendy looked at her in a mixture of intrigue and disgust. "What? It's something I wanna know."
Dipper was plugged in as if recharging some kind of social battery when they got back. Pacifica had found something to take care of, occupying herself while she thought about whatever chemistry she really had with him; while Wendy and Mabel had made their way back with milkshakes. Opening the door, they giggled on sight.
"What?" he finally asked.
"Somebody heard about last night, Dipstick."
They smirked.
"Whatever it is, it's not-"
"Face it, man. You're head over heels." Wendy laughed. "Aw, man, this is worse than when Robbie and Tambry got together."
"Uhm, what? Since when was this decided? We just started dating, calm down!"
She laughed, turning to leave. "Whatever, dude. It's clear she's like that with you."
As she flicked her hair behind her, he smiled. Maybe she was. Just maybe.
"You're not going to screw this one up, are you, Dipper?" Mabel looked at him seriously. "Not like when you got a bunch of girls' emails, and they all found out."
"Yeesh. That wasn't fun." He grimaced.
"Yeah. Try not to do that." She smiled. "There's also your extensive list of flaws, not to mention your inability to socialise without embarrassing yourself. But yeah, you got this bro."
He sighed, staring off into space. "Yeah, I got this."
She sat on the terrace, her hair blowing in the wind. She rested her legs on the railings, her black and white tracksuit sliding down slightly to reveal her perfect skin. Her shoes matched the pattern, three white stripes down the side; her ankles barely covered by her white cotton socks. It was slightly cold, yet still she persisted. Why did she punish herself like this? Because she felt like she wasn't good enough for him? Because of her name? She opened the container, swallowing one. Her mind needed peace, which was exactly what those drugs - those meds - gave her. Sighing, Pacifica closed her eyes and listened to the slowly fading birdsong around her.
She woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing. Still exhausted, she picked up.
"What's up, Dipper? You're interrupting my beauty sleep."
"As if you need it." He chuckled. "But seriously, you need to turn on your TV. Now."
She complied, but all that came up was an old sitcom. "I don't see anything."
"Channel 152, or just anything nationwide with news."
She flicked, only to see her father's face among four men on the screen.
"Preston Northwest was among four men threatened today in the hack on NBC. It is believed that the former multi-millionaire was targeted for his ties to criminal activity and organised crime. We will play the video now."
Pacifica said nothing as an animated Monopoly Man took to the screen, before looking directly at her.
"Hello there, innocent people of the world. We're here to help you. Today, we have four guests - James Bauer, Sam Sepiol, Donald Frump and Preston Northwest. Each of them have a valid reason to be here. Mr Bauer has exploited children all over the world, forcing them to make his products. Mr Sepiol has been selling your personal information from his websites, including LifeBook and Twitcher. Mr Frump has claimed bankruptcy four times in order to avoid paying the tax that helps vulnerable Americans whom he claims to love so much. Finally, Mr Northwest. Even his own daughter can't look him in the eye. He's been organising hits on his rivals, using whatever method he could to establish his status. Right now, he's in Vancouver, trying to flee our watchful eye. But we do not forget.
Our conditions are that you each dissolve your corporations, donating your assets to charity. Debts will be cancelled, and the people in your grasp will go free. Or, we can dump this mass of files the NSA so kindly collected for us. These terms are non-negotiable. Goodnight!"
She stood in front of the TV in shock. Could that really have happened? Her father, brought to his knees in front of the whole world; the one thing he'd always feared. Was it the fresh start she'd so desperately wanted? The iron fist finally rusting; a chance to return home? Time would tell, but it did put a smile on her face. Maybe she did have a future with Dipper; one where she didn't have to worry about her family interfering. One where she wasn't lonely. One where she was happy.
The doorbell rang. Answering it, she saw the reassuring sight of Dipper Pines, smiling.
"Thought you could do with some company."
She giggled, "Well, if that company means you."
"So, about that thing…" Dipper asked nervously, "Do you want to talk about it?"
She smiled at him. "Nah. I think," she said, opening the fridge, "we should just celebrate. Together."
He smiled as she pulled out a bottle of champagne, and two flutes. "Drink?"
She sat on the carpeted floor, wearing a grey hoodie he knew she wouldn't be seen dead in outside. Her head was resting on his shoulder, as the end credits rolled up the screen. She turned to him, smiling.
"So, what do you want to do now?"
He turned to her. "Why don't we get to know each other a bit better?"
She frowned. "I thought we knew each other well enough; what's missing?"
"Well, somebody still hasn't told me their natural hair colour."
She giggled, shoving him lightly. "Blonde, obviously."
"I can see your roots are different!"
"They've always been like that! Why would I dye my hair blonde?"
He looked at her, jokingly feigning suspicion. "I don't know; maybe you didn't like being, say, redheaded?"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't try and project your previous crush on me. Anyway, what about you? Why does everyone call you Dipper? What's your actual name?"
He sighed, lifting his hat. Showing her the birthmark, she laughed slightly.
"Can't believe I never noticed that. Explains why you always wear hats." She snatched the hat from him, giggling. "It's cute, Dipstick. Anyway, your turn."
"Okay," he laughed, "how long did you have a crush on me?"
Her face went slightly red. "Well, uh… Roughly two years. Three if you count that time I awkwardly hugged you."
"Yeah, but you paid me to pretend that never happened." He smiled. "I guess you're going to ask the same thing; I wanted to ask you before you left for Canada. Never got the chance." She looked at him, knowing he'd had ample chance. "Okay, never got past the burdening anxiety of asking you out. It's just… You were the most popular girl in town, still, and I was just Dipper Pines."
She smiled, hugging him. "You know, Dipper Pines is more than enough for me."
"So, you have incredibly low standards?"
"You prick," she giggled, "Learn to take a compliment."
He laughed, before he noticed what was rolling on the TV.
"Preston Northwest has been arrested by Canadian authorities following the massive data dump which included countless emails detailing the disgraced businessman's dealings with many major players in the organised crime circuit. It also included extensive illegal surveillance on his daughter, and proof of extensive tax evasion."
He turned it up, as Pacifica watched nervously, reaching for Dipper's hand.
"If he is convicted, he could spend up to twenty-five years in a federal prison."
He turned to her.
"We can turn this off, if you want."
"No. Leave it there. He deserves to rot away for what he did." She sounded bitter, and tears were forming in his eyes.
He knew that she hated talking about her past, and he felt bad for merely guiding towards the subject.
"We don't need to-"
"Yes, we do, because if you want to date me, you need to know me, Pines." A tear rolled down her cheek. "It's something I don't normally talk about, but you need to hear it."