Introduction:
Ever since that night in Northwest Manor with the lumberjack ghost and the secret room, something seemed a little weird. It seemed like Pacifica's parents were trying to hide something else from her, not just the fact that their entire family lied and cheated to a lot of people. Yes, Pacifica has more freedom now that her parents don't have complete control over her with that stupid bell anymore- and the fact that they work for McGucket since he bought out their house-but her parents are definitely hiding more than we think. It's been on my mind since me and Mabel's bus ride back to Piedmont. I didn't really have time to think about it since the whole Weirdmageddon business, or about where Pacifica stands now that her family is basically homeless. McGucket was kind enough to let them stay at his manor and let Mrs. Priscilla work as a maid and Mr. Preston work as an office aid. Pacifica goes to a public school now since they can't afford her private school anymore. But enough of that, today me and Mabel are on our way back to Gravity Falls and I want to enjoy seeing my family and friends before we have to start high school.
"BLARRGGG! Can you believe it, Dipper? Mom and Dad are really letting us go to high school in Gravity Falls! AAHHH, I'm so excited!"
"Mabel, stop yelling in my ear, I'm trying to write." I push her face away from mine.
"Dipper, you're always writing in that journal. Just because Grunkle Ford took his back doesn't mean you need to start one too." I quickly shove my journal back into my backpack before she can read it.
"This one's different….It's more like a personal journal than an awesome one with information about Gravity Falls in it." I turn my head stare out the window at the trees.
"Yeah, yeah, I already know it's your diary. Those are for girls."
"I've told you a million times to stop calling it a diary. Diaries are for writing down your feelings and stuff. I don't write about that, I write about what's on my mind." I reply without looking at her. Mabel can be really annoying sometimes, but she's still my twin and I love her.
"Same thing." She grabs Waddles excitedly and jumps up. "Hey, look! The Gravity Falls sign!" I turn to where she's looking just in time to read the new slogan at the bottom of the sign. It says "Never Mind All That!" The bus slows to a stop and we gather our bags and run to the doors. Once they open, we step off to find all out friends waiting for us.
"Dudes! I missed you so much!" Me and Mabel are wrapped in a giant bear hug from Soos.
"We missed you too, dude. Where's Great Uncle Ford? And Stan?" I ask as we let go.
"They're taking a little longer to get back from the Red Sea than they thought. They left you guys letters on your beds."
"Yeah, you guys get your own rooms this time. Girls' gotta have her privacy, ya know?"
"Aw, thanks Wendy." Mabel says as we both go to hug her. "I think I'm finally ready to have my own room in high school. Me and Dipper already talked about it."
"Yeah." I start rambling on about how me and my sister are ready to separate a little to Wendy and Soos while Mabel greets Candy and Grenda. I have to talk a bit louder to be heard over all the screaming. After Candy and Grenda run off with Mabel to help her set up her room, Wendy and Soos follow me back to the Mystery Shack and catch me up on what I missed from the past year. When we get into the gift shop, they disband and go back to work. I make my way upstairs to find my room. After discovering Mabel took over the extra room we found that carpet in, I open the door to our old shared room and collapse onto the bed.
A Bad Time to Fall Hard
I must have fell asleep for a few hours. When I woke up, it's morning. I crawl out of bed and look at my phone. 7:54 in the morning. I unpack my bags and take a look around. Huh. There's a lot more room since it's just me. I wonder if I can fill that side with facts about Gravity Falls. I let my mind wander and find myself thinking about the Northwest Manor again. I'll have to take a visit to McGucket and see if he's found anything suspicious about the Northwests while he was there for a year. I take a quick shower and head out the door. I walk slowly through town and take in what's changed since we left. We weren't able to make it back last summer because our parents were hiding the fact that we were going to start school here this year; they wanted to spend as much time with us as possible.
I find myself at the gates to the manor. I press the call button on the side of the gate and am greeted with a familiar voice: "McGucket Manor, please state your name and business"
"Oh, uh, hi Mr. Preston….it's Dipper. Dipper Pines." I scratch my head awkwardly. "I was wondering if Fiddleford was…around."
"Yes, Mr. McGucket is home. He's having breakfast right now. I'll let him know you are here." He hangs up and the gates open. I slowly step through and walk up to the front door. After a deep breath, I knock. The door immediately opens.
"Hello! Welcome to McGucket Manor! Right this way, Sir." I am greeted by Mrs. Priscilla wearing a maid outfit. She leads me through the foyer and through a hall into the dining room. There I am greeted by Pacifica Northwest, in her pajamas, sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal. She nearly chokes when she sees me.
"Oh, my god! Dipper Pines! I wasn't expecting you to be here, like, in Gravity Falls…or the manor." She stands up and walks over to where I'm standing in the doorway. She goes to hug me but changes her mind last minute and settles for an awkward handshake instead. She blushes and looks away.
"I wasn't expecting to see you…here. In the dining room. Eating cereal. I'm actually here to see McGucket, but it's always nice to see you, too." I wipe the sweat off my hands and look around. "I was told he was eating breakfast?"
"Yeah, he just finished. He went to his lab to work on some projects, he won't be around for a few hours. But I'll tell him you stopped by. I really wasn't excepting you to show up, why are you in town?" she asks with a curious glint in her eye,
"Me and Mable actually live here now, at the Mystery Shack. We're starting high school in Gravity Falls this year, and-" I was cut off by a squeal and a tight hug. "Oh, umm….I really wasn't expecting this." I can feel the burning in my cheeks as I blush. Pacifica quickly lets go and looks away, her face beet red.
"Sorry, sorry. It's just, after everything that happened with that weird triangle guy and my idiot dad making us bankrupt, I really look up to you and Mable and McGucket now. You and Mable helped save us all and McGucket took us in when he didn't have to. Just know that's not something that happens often, that hug." She turns away and returns to her bowl of cereal.
"Wow, Pacifica. I'm really flattered. I'm glad you've changed for the better." I turn and start walking away. "Well, tell McGucket I'll be back, just not anytime soon. School starts tomorrow so I'll be busy the next few weeks. I'll see you at school?" I turn around and ask at the doorway.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll be sure to find you. It's my first day of high school, too!" I turn around and walk out with a grin on my face.
When I return to the Mystery Shack, Mabel is making a new sweater for her first day of high school. Soos is giving a tour around the Shack, dressed in his suit and fez hat carrying around his cane.
"Dipper! Where've you been? I was gonna use you as model for my sweater. I had to use Waddles." She lifts up the half-completed sweater. "What do you think?"
"It looks great, Mabel. Your sweaters always look great." I don't even look as I pass by staring down at my phone. Before leaving the manor, I gave a piece of paper to Mrs. Priscilla to give to Pacifica. I wonder if she got it. I wonder if she even has a phone. I wonder if she'll just toss it away. Ugh, stop wondering things, you're stressing yourself out. My phone vibrates twice. I nearly drop my phone out of surprise. "No way!" I hurry to sit on the couch. I look at the screen 2 unread messages: Unknown. My heart skips a beat.
"What gives, Dip? Why you so jumpy?" I give out a little scream
"Mabel! You scared me." I quickly face my phone down in my lap. My hands start getting sweaty, so I wipe them on my jeans.
"Uh, I've been in this room all morning. You talked to me when you walked in. Who're you texting?"
"No one!" I quickly get up and run to my room. "I still have to unpack, I'll see you later." I shout on my way up the stairs.
I stare at my phone for an hour. Maybe two. It still says the same thing-2 unread messages: Unknown. Okay, you can do this. I finally unlock my phone and press on the message symbol that's been flashing for nearly two hours. Hey. What's up? I stare at the screen for a few minutes, not sure what to say. She actually messaged me. I reply back after contemplating what to reply. Just wanted your number. That's it. That's all I put. "Stupid stupid stupid." I bang my phone on my forehead and sigh. It's too late now, it was already sent. I put my phone on my nightstand and cross my arms over my face, which was burning from embarrassment. vrrt vrrt. I inwardly groan. I pick my phone up and unlock it. Cool, me too. See you tomorrow! :) I smile and add her number into my phone. I leave it on my nightstand and go downstairs to see how Mabel's sweater is coming.
