This story is yet another random idea I had. I don't have an explanation. Somebody come up with one. I'm too lazy.
Hey, girl, open the walls, play with your dolls.
We'll be a perfect family.
Chew. Swallow. Clean my mouth.
It's a routine I've perfected in the past few years, to avoid talking to my parents. They blame me for what happened to our family. For us losing our fortune. Even though it was Dad's fault.
Now I'm living in this hellhole. If I can keep holding on for another year, I can escape to college, where I can be free to be who I want to be.
"Pacifica, we've been discussing your future," Mother says, putting down her fork. She hasn't been wearing much makeup lately. Too drunk to put it on.
"Yes," Father agrees. He has his phone out; he's probably texting his mistress. "We've decided to find you a husband."
"A husband? I'm only seventeen!" I protest, but that falls on deaf ears.
"We think Baron Marius Von Faundhauser would be a suitable match," Mother continues. She sips her glass of wine.
"Marius? But he has a girlfriend! Grenda!"
"She's not an heiress like you. I think you'll love Marius."
"I don't want to get married!"
"Pacifica Elise Northwest, you're being completely irrational."
"NO, I'M NOT!" I snap. "EXCUSE ME FOR NOT WANTING TO BABYSIT THE BOYFRIEND OF ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IN A LOVELESS MARRIAGE WHEN I'D MUCH RATHER GO TO COLLEGE AND ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL WITH MY LIFE!"
"IF YOU'D RATHER BE AN OLD MAID, THEN GO RIGHT AHEAD! HOW LONG WILL YOUR BEAUTY LAST?! JUST WATCH! YOU'LL BE BEGGING US TO MATCH YOU, YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE BITCH!"
I slam my fist on the table and run upstairs. Once up there, I pull out my suitcase and begin stuffing clothes into it. Only necessities, like t-shirts, jeans, shoes, socks, underwear, and the sweater Mabel made me, go in.
I finish packing and call the bus station, arranging a ticket to Piedmont, California. I have no idea where the twins live in that town, but I'll be damned before I spend another minute in this place.
It's late. Most girls my age are either asleep, out on dates/fucking their boyfriend, or at a party. Me? I'm at a bus stop with a full suitcase and a heavy heart.
Will Dipper and Mabel even help me?
I left messages for Candy and Grenda, so they know where I am. Mother and Father don't know, and I doubt they care.
The bus pulls up. I hand the driver my ticket and sit in the back. It leaves Gravity Falls.
The ride to Piedmont is long and tiring. I only wake up when the bus driver yells we're there. I grab my suitcase, thank the driver, and get off the bus.
It's been hours, and I haven't figured out where the Pines family lives. I sit down on a bench outside the mall and rest a bit.
"Like, ewwww!" I hear a girl shriek. I look up to see a girl with dark brown hair and a fashionable outfit (the kind I stopped wearing when we moved out of the mansion) staring at me. She's flanked by a redhead and a blonde.
Great, the trifecta, I think.
"She looks like she slept on the bus!" snickers the redhead. "How lame!"
"Weirdo!" agrees the blonde. I let their snide comments roll off me. It's a tactic I learned from watching Mabel.
"Oh, God! She's not offended!" the brunette grumbles. "She's just like that weird girl with all the ugly, baggy, cheap sweaters." I snap.
"What did you say about Mabel?!" I growl.
"Oh, she does speak! Yeah, Mabel's totally weird! Always playing with her stupid pig or knitting. What kind of hobby is knitting?"
"A great hobby!"
"Where you from, anyway?"
"Gravity Falls."
Before any of them can give me a retort, girly squeals come from the parking lot.
"He's here, Bianca!" the blonde hisses. Bianca (the brunette) pushes me and my suitcase into the bushes. I sit up and manage to drag my bag out. A whole gaggle of girls is gathered around somebody. I sigh and head into the mall so I can avoid the bitchy ones.
"PACIFICA!"
I turn just in time to be grabbed in a hug by a girl who can be none other than Mabel.
"Mabel, you're crushing me!" I laugh.
"I missed you! What are you doing in California?!"
"I… um… it's a long story…"
"No problem. Come to our place. Just let me get us a ride." She reaches into her messenger bag and pulls out a bullhorn. "ALL RIGHT, LADIES! IT'S TIME TO LET ME GO HOME!" The swarm disperses after she blares the siren, and a handsome boy I've never met is left standing by a van that says "Mystery Twins—Since 2012".
"Hey, Mabel!" he says, and puts on the hat in his hand. My heart beats faster. I'd know that hat anywhere.
Dipper.
"Pacifica?!" he adds in surprise, looking at me. I stare at the ground. Mabel puts my suitcase in the trunk.
"We can talk about why she's here when we get home! For now, let's go!"
I ride shotgun, while Mabel slides into the backseat and Dipper turns on the engine.
"We'll be home soon," he says to me.
Their house is a really nice two-story place. Mabel drags my suitcase inside while Dipper parks the van on the street and I follow Mabel.
"Who's this?" asks a woman who must be their mother once I'm inside.
"This is Pacifica Northwest!" Mabel announces, hugging me again.
"As in Preston's daughter?" their mother asks. "He never seemed like the type to let his daughter travel to another state by herself…"
"Well, he and Mother don't know I'm here."
"You ran away?!" Mabel gasps.
"Maybe we should let them know where you are… I'm Louise, by the way." She dials a number while Mabel and I lug my suitcase upstairs to her room.
"Thanks for letting me stay here," I say, hugging Mabel.
"You must have a reason for running away! You can stay here as long as you need to."
We head back downstairs.
"Yes, hello, Priscilla," I hear Louise saying on the phone. "I was wondering if you were aware your daughter is in Piedmont." She listens. "She said she didn't tell you. Do you have any idea why she might've run away?" More listening. "Well, I don't blame her! Arranging a marriage? We're in the twenty-first century!" Her face contorts in anger. "She can live with us! If you decide to be a good mother to her, she'll go home, bitch! Goodbye!" Louise slams down the phone.
"Um… Mrs. Pines?" I speak up after a moment.
"Oh, hello, Pacifica! You'll be living with us for a while, until your mother decides to actually be a good parent!"
"You know my parents?"
"I'm from Gravity Falls originally. I met Jason when he was up there visiting Stan while we were in high school, then I moved down here after we got married."
"You never told us!" Dipper butts in, looking annoyed.
"I didn't think it was important. I knew Pacifica's parents back then because we were in the same classes. Priscilla was definitely not friends with me. Preston was only interested in her after she won a beauty pageant." Louise makes a disgusted face. "I'm sorry you had to live with them. Your mother is transferring you down here so you can at least have a full education."
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Pines!"
"Call me Louise. Go on up and change. You look exhausted."
And so begins my new life in Piedmont.
This story is Dipcifica. I will be taking suggestions, but nothing too explicit. I will post a new chapter when I get five suggestions for the next chapter. NO LEMONS YET!
So long and thanks for all the fish!