The first thing he remembers is passing out.
The second thing he remembers is Pacifica.
He particularly remembers the baton wedged between her heart. Particularly remembers the blood covering her new outfit, one she was excited about showing him just earlier that day. Particularly remembers the face she made when she saw him, wide eyed, almost in disbelief. They were both wondering the same thing in that moment; did that really just happen?
His eyes watered at the thought and quickly slipped his shoes on, deciding against changing out of his pajamas, when did he change into those again? He ignored his bed head and smell and grabbed the keys to the old truck he and Mabel shared during their times in Gravity Falls.
He ran downstairs, ignoring Mabel's worried questions, ignoring Stan and Ford's unmistakable arguing, and running straight for the door and then straight for his car. He reversed sloppily and gunned for the Northwest Manor.
He reached the manor quickly, running stop signs and going over the speed limit almost the entire ride. He was lucky the sheriffs of Gravity Falls were far too busy with their own relationship to bust him for speeding. He parked messily in front of the manor's gate. He panted and rang the bell by the gate, something that he did almost every day.
"Name and who you are here to see, please." He recognized the familiar voice of Maria, Pacifica's personal maid.
"Maria! I need to see Pacifica. It's-It's Dipper. Please." Dipper knew it was a lost cause. Everything that happened yesterday, there's no way Pacifica is ready for visitors or even survived for that matter-
"Ms. Northwest will be down in a moment Mr….ah, Dipper, was it?" Maria called back.
Dipper perked up. "S-She will? Thank you!" Dipper decided to ignore Maria's lack or remembrance on who he was. Well, she is older right?
Dipper noticed Pacifica coming down the driveway and his heart stopped. She was okay! How was she okay? He decided it didn't matter for now and instead thanked whatever higher being there was for making her okay.
"Pacifica!" He smiled wide. "You're alright! I can't believe you're-!"
Pacifica stood on the other side of the gate and crossed her arms. "Do I know you?"
"Pacifica? Did you hit your head? Or maybe some type of amnesia spell got cast on-?"
"Look, weirdo, I have enough going on without creeps like you coming to my door uninvited. Did you come here for something?"
"I-I-I wanted to make sure you were okay…"
Pacifica spun herself around and put her arms out. "Thanks for the concern, but I'm fine. You can go now." She rolled her eyes.
"But Pacifica-"
"That means leave. Like now." She spun on her heel and stomped up the hill.
"What the hell is going on…" Dipper whispered and suddenly felt very lightheaded. The last thing he felt was a crash to the ground outside the Northwest Manor.
"Pine Tree, what's up? How's it going?" Bill appeared in the darkness.
"Bill? What- where-?"
"I've created a space for us to talk, Pine Tree. I saw you were struggling out there and I have to say even I felt bad." Bill laughed.
"What the hell is going on?" Dipper yelled. "She's acting like we have never even met!"
"Well, yeah. That's how you act to someone you have never met." Bill twisted his cane.
"I know you did something. Tell me, now." Dipper grit his teeth.
"I didn't do a thing except help you out." Bill replied. "That was the deal."
"Deal?"
"It would be easier to just show you." Bill sighed and waved his hand. A TV screen popped out of nowhere and began to play a familiar scene.
Dipper was clutching onto an obviously dead Pacifica, crying. "I'm so sorry…" He said. "Please don't go…"
"Pine Tree, looks like you could use a miracle." Bill appeared next to Dipper now. "Your girlfriend looks…how should I put it? Dead." Dipper swung his fist as the triangle, but Bill managed to warp away in time. "Take it easy! I'm here to help, after all."
"Why would you help me?" Dipper said, teeth gritting.
"You know how I work, Pine Tree. It's a give…and a take."
"You want my life for hers? Do it." Dipper yelled. "I'll do anything!"
"Anything, you say?" Bill lit up. "Pine Tree, I like you. I don't necessarily want you dead…yet. But you are going to have to pay for blondie's life somehow."
"What do you want?"
"While I don't want you dead, seeing you suffer is a fun past time." Bill laughed.
"Get to the point."
"I'll bring her back, good as new, but she might not be exactly as you remember. Or more so, exactly how she remembers." Bill sat himself down. "I'll bring her back but she won't remember you. You will be a complete stranger, your relationship, and your memories together, gone! In fact, you will be the only remaining person around to remember those times."
"You aren't exactly gaining from this. This is unlike you." Dipper stated.
"I told you, kid. Messing with you is all the gain I need." Bill sat back.
Dipper gripped onto Pacifica tighter. "I am the reason this happened maybe…it's better if she never met me…"
"Tick tock, kid. I'm powerful but the bringing back the dead process does get more risky the more we wait…"
Dipper looked at Bill then at Pacifica. He shut his eyes and took Bill's hand. "Deal."
The screen went black and Bill waved his hand and it was gone in an instant. "As you can tell, you willingly agreed to this just yesterday. Well, your yesterday. Her yesterday was filled with piano lessons, tutoring, and a dinner party. No room for life threatening monster hunting."
"She…won't remember me…" Dipper said mostly to himself.
"Duh." Bill sighed. "Great, well, now that you are despairingly aware of how utterly hopeless your situation is. My job is done for today. Take it as a lesson, whatever you love always ends up disappearing or dying or forgetting you ever even meant anything to them!"
Bill faded away and left Dipper in the complete darkness, going over what happened. He was keen on staying in the dark void forever until he heard a faint voice.
"Um, Dapper?" A voice said. "No, that isn't it…um…Dasher?"
Dipper groaned and opened his eyes to see Pacifica shaking him.
"Are you okay uh….?" Pacifica started.
"It's Dipper." He sat up. "Dipper Pines."
"Pines?" Pacifica perked up. "Are you related to Mabel Pines?"
Dipper felt all too odd introducing himself to the love of his teenage life. "I'm…her twin brother."
"Twin brother? How come I've never heard of you? She's practically my best friend…" Pacifica muttered, looking somewhat embarrassed.
So Mabel and Pacifica are still close. Well, that makes sense, I wasn't the reason they met or even became friends. "I…don't know." Dipper lied.
"Did Mabel send you to make sure I was okay or something?" Pacifica questioned. Dipper knew it wouldn't be long before she questions kicked in. She never believed anything too easily.
"I-uh…" Dipper stuttered. "Yeah…she did. She was worried, you um, you had a bad time at some dinner party yesterday?" Dipper acted as if he wasn't aware of the horrid parties she had to attend and thanks to Bill's info about Pacifica's day yesterday, he had a perfect excuse. He noticed her puzzled look and knew what she was thinking. "She didn't come herself because she isn't feel well. And she lost her phone." He added in a stupid smile and hoped for pity.
Pacifica gave him a long stare once again as if analyzing him. Then, as if he decided that was the only plausible answer was his, she shrugged and sighed. "Then tell her I'm fine."
Dipper watched her face and body movements. "Are you sure you're fine?" He knew the answer; she was never fine after those dinners. She was barely ever fine as it is.
She huffed and flipped her head the other way. "I'm fine." He knew this look too, annoyed. As if it wasn't obvious. He wanted her to talk to him but…
"You're right. Sorry. I don't meant to…pry. Just…if you aren't okay, I wouldn't hate listening to-"
"I said I'm fine." Pacifica stared him down now. "And you are prying. And I don't know you. I think it's best you tell Mabel my message now. I have enough to do as it is." Her angry tone turned into a mixture of sadness and annoyance.
Dipper finally picked himself off up the ground (no wonder it felt like she was buildings taller than him) and brushed his pants. "Right. I'll just….do that." He turned to walk away and turned his head once more. It was odd leaving her without a hug or a kiss. "I'll see you around."
She had already pulled out her phone now. "Yeah." She said half-heartedly.
All Dipper thought before he left was how much Bill must like to see him suffer.
a/n: help I started a new story and I love it but where does it go? no no im kidding I know where this is going…kinda. I'd been wanting to start a new longer story since Why Not? ended since I LOVED doing that but getting into writing is hard. This one is a lot less organized. I know where the story is going but instead of pre-made chapters like my previous story had this one is most likely going to be a 'the next one will be out when I feel like it' which is awful I know. Here's the first chapter tho! Review if you like it! I love those reviews yo. Also sorry for any mistakes. Gonna be honest here, I was too lazy to edit this. I think I'm mostly fine but idk. May be looking for some beta readers on this one too….