Dipper must have fallen asleep, because the next time he opened his eyes, the familiar water tower signalled their impending arrival. Mabel was still sleeping, still on Dipper's shoulder. Gently, he nudged her awake.
"Mabel, you awake? We're here. You should probably get ready to get off."
Mabel quietly protested, batting away Dipper's arm. Gently, he persisted in shaking her awake.
"Look, there's the stop. You gonna get off?"
Grudgingly, she lugged her case to the front of the bus. The speaker system crackled, and the tired announcement played. The door shuddered open, and there behind it was their Grunkle Stan.
"Hey kids!" He laughed in his gruff voice, "looks like I've got another summer with you two knuckleheads. How are ya, both of you?"
As the trio shared a hug, Dipper remembered what he'd done earlier. He checked his phone, but to his dismay there was nothing. Still, he smiled and carried on, even if he was a bit let down.
As they turned towards the town, Dipper noticed a rather slender, blonde girl running at them. Suddenly, she dove at him and squeezed him tight.
"Dipper! I can't believe you're back!"
Pacifica Northwest's doe eyes stared straight into Dipper's.
"Uh, Pacifica, um, hey.."
"Yeah, I wanted it to be a surprise, I guess… "
Her eyes darted to both Stan and Mabel, who had frozen in surprise. She tried to say something, but no words came out. Instead, she panicked and dusted herself off.
"Can we… can we pretend that, well…" she whispered, "that never happened?"
The car ride to the Mystery Shack was rather awkward. I mean, it was rather an unusual way to greet someone you hadn't properly seen for three years. Dipper and Pacifica sat in the back, with the occasional glance or smirk between them. Mabel sat in the front, conflicted as whether to feel happy for her brother or slightly disgusted at the thought of her brother kissing her former rival.
"So, what're you up to tomorrow?"
Pacifica's questions seemed to echo in Mabel's head, as if she was frightened of something. Threatened, maybe.
"Oh, you know, not really anything. What about you?"
"Whatever you want to… I mean, um, not really anything."
Mabel rolled her eyes. She didn't know whether she'd rather listen to her brother's shitty music or Pacifica's shitty flirting. Pacifica really hadn't done this before, which made it somewhat adorable yet also somewhat gross. She just wanted the ride to be over, so she could crash onto that old bed in the attic.
As Mabel lay awake in bed, she glanced over at her twin brother. They'd grown apart over the years, but she could still trust him, right?
She thought about it. Dipper and Pacifica. Together. A couple. She didn't know whether she wanted to laugh or cry.
As she fell asleep, she smiled, thinking of all the teasing she was gonna do in the morning. And the afternoon. Probably for half the summer.
The next morning was definitely a slow one. Stan made pancakes, or Stan-cakes as he loved to call them; Mabel, despite her usual enthusiasm for doing whatever popped into her mind, seemed to be lazing in the armchair. However, Dipper was pacing outside. He knew something had clicked between them, he had felt it. The way she'd hugged him. The car journey; there was no need for her to join them, why did she? More importantly, did she have a crush on him?
His thoughts raced through his mind, along with the feelings he'd locked away three years ago. She was still beautiful back then, but he'd been too busy with Wendy to notice her feelings. Maybe that was why she'd tried so hard to get his attention; tried to get his affection. He racked his brains, wondering what it all meant.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed twice.
Hey dipper, kinda bored - wanna chill or something? Hit me back - Paz
He grabbed it straight away. Then he realised - if he wanted her to like him, he couldn't look needy. Would she like him for replying quickly? What would it tell her, that he cared? Or that he kinda wanted to fuck her? Dipper Pines cursed his anxiety as he thought through every potential scenario. Even the one where she turned out to be a llama. He knew that there was no chance it would go like he'd simulated, but he just couldn't stop himself.
Finally, he made a decision.
Yeah sure, I'd love that. Let me know what you want to do? - Dipper
The two of them sat up on the hill, overlooking the town. Pacifica was leaning on his shoulder, and his arm was wrapped around her. They'd had a pizza delivered, and despite her upbringing, she found she rather enjoyed it. Well, maybe not the shitty pizza, but Dipper. Still adorable and cute. The way she'd remembered him.
It was nice, sweet even. Still, she hadn't got everything she'd wanted. But, maybe, just maybe, she could.
"Dipper," she moved a strand of hair behind her ear, and turned to look into his eyes, "I kinda - just, well - I wanted to ask you something."
"Uh, okay, I guess, what's up?"
Pacifica made her doe eyes, long practiced for a moment like this.
"I was wondering… well, sort of…"
They both looked each other in the eye. In that instant, they both knew. No words needed. She wrapped her arms around him, and gently kissed him on the lips. Silently, she pulled back, smiling. She fluttered her purple eyelids, and they both giggled. Framed by the orange glow of the setting sun, she pulled off her light pink top to reveal her black, laced bra. Dipper grinned, and moved in to kiss her again. With their eyes closed, Dipper's hands moved downward from Pacifica's golden locks, gently caressing her smooth skin as if it was a precious painting. As his hands descended to the thin lace knotted on her back, she took her tongue back to her own mouth, whispering,
"I take it's a yes, then?"
She giggled as his clumsy hands struggled to untie the lace,
"Need some help with that, Pines? You know, I didn't pay all that money for you to rip this off me on the first time."
Dipper laughed, and retorted,
"Come on Paz, I know you're minted anyway."
"True, but I don't let everyone unhook my bra-"
He kissed her again, and his hands stayed around her chest. Pacifica reached around her back with one arm, unlacing it with ease. As it gently fell to the ground, Dipper pulled his own top over his head. Jokingly, he tackled her to the ground as she laughed and hugged him tighter. She rolled over, forcing him to lie on his back as she gently but swiftly ran her hands down until she reached the waistline of his jeans, a change from the usual shorts he'd worn last time she'd seen him. Her eyes darted upwards as she wore a cheeky smile, slowly unzipping his fly. Her hands reached in, massaging the fabric of his boxer shorts, as they kissed.
She slept down on his chest, with her arms still wrapped around him. The sky was dark red, as the last embers of the sun burnt out.
"Pacifica."
Silence. Well, nearly silence, since she snored a tiny amount.
"Pacifica. You awake?"
She mumbled something, probably telling him to fuck off.
"We should probably get going, people are going to ask questions."
"So what if they do?" She mumbled again, teasing, "Are you afraid of being my boyfriend, Dipper?"
"No, no - it's not like that -"
"Don't worry," she laughed, tidying her hair, "we should probably get back."
She fumbled around, searching for her clothes. Dipper handed her the bra, but she refused.
"Keep it, maybe you'll think of me next time you see it."
She smiled at him, and walked off into what little was left of the sunset.
By the time Dipper got back to the Mystery Shack, it was already dark. Someone had been barbecuing, and there was a burger with a note stuck to it on the kitchen counter -
DipperNo idea when you're gonna be back. You missed Wendy, she was cooking out front while you were gone. Try the burgers, they're pretty swell.Mabel.
"Oh fuck. How long was I gone?"
"Too long. Where have you been, broseph?"
Thank you for reading so far, please leave a review if you can.
There may be trouble ahead. Prepare to face music and dance.
