A/N: This chapter does get a little more heated between our fav couple, and even though I know the kinds of inappropriate things I was doing at 15/16, I will still be keeping this story rated T. Doesn't mean it's not gonna get good though ;) thanks for all of the feedback and follows, it really does help keep me inspired. Enjoy!

A thunderous bass bounced throughout the halls of the Mystery Shack— the wild, upbeat array of pop music played loudly enough that the storm outside was muted temporarily, its only respite being the few seconds of silence between the change of songs. Soos, clad in his reclaimed maroon fez and a floral t-shirt, was captain of the keyboard, ensuring each song he played would keep the throng of teenagers dancing energetically. Melody sat near his side, changing out the colors in one of the light fixtures for maximum disco quality. It was nearing a quarter before seven, yet the party was already raging, a full crowd gathered inside. Mabel clung to Grenda and Candy's sides, feeling completely surrounded by several of her ex-suitors— Gabe, Gideon Gleeful...was that Jeff the gnome hiding by the punch bowl? Although she chose to keep her distance from her old summer acquaintances, she was still intrigued by the changes some of the guys had gone through. Gorney, once the pudgy kid who was swallowed by the Summerween Trickster, was now a 6 foot drip of water. Gabe, who Mabel dodged a bullet not dating thanks to Bill, was suddenly a greasy-faced teen, still lugging his puppets with him everywhere he went. Gideon looked the same, though if anyone asked, he would proudly state that he was "several inches taller".

Almost the entire old "teen gang" had showed up, as well, huddled in a small circle near the stage. Robbie had since outgrown his emo phase in favor of a more hipster look, complete with man-bun and thick rimmed glasses. Tambry had picked up an affinity for fitness, her once purple streaked hair now a vibrant bleach blonde, pulled into a tight pony tail at the crown of her head. Nate was nearly covered in ink, both of his thick arms tattooed with a unique story. The bigger shock was Lee, who had adopted a stereotypical frat-boy persona in his "Reagan-Bush '84" t-shirt and backwards hat. Thompson was apparently in Europe for the summer after being accepted into a prestigious study abroad program, although rumor has it that he was almost unrecognizable. Wendy had also made a remarkable change, although still donning a casual flannel look, her once long ginger locks were chopped into an edgy pixie cut, showing off the tattoo behind her ear of the ICE bag from the Weirdmageddon zodiac. She decided to linger around Soos and Melody, hoping to help guide them into playing only the best dance songs.

Stan sat near the entrance to gain the best vantage point, tapping his feet rhythmically to the beat. He had agreed to play chaperone for the evening while Ford stowed away in his old lab. For the first time since Stanley had moved to Gravity Falls, he actually wasn't charging money to enter the Shack. Today was a special occasion and this one was on the house!

Using the toilets would cost extra, though.

Dipper was busy adjusting his collar in the bathroom mirror, ensuring he looked as elegantly disheveled as possible. He attempted to roll up the sleeves of his Hawaiian-inspired shirt, but he was never great with styling himself. He released a huff of air before settling on unbuttoning the tropical top altogether to reveal his vintage Saturn t-shirt. He felt more comfortable like this anyway. His attention was then drawn to his hair; sans hat, he struggled to keep his mop controlled. Most boys his age seemed to have this effortless swoop grazing their forehead, but his just matted and curled. He tried to comb his fingers through the mess and found he was only get caught. How did Mabel, who had the same texture of hair, resist shaving her head completely?

"You really should just leave your hair alone. You're only gonna make it bigger and you'll look ridiculous. Trust me." His sister appeared behind him in the mirror.

Dipper chided, "Trust you? The girl wearing a mermaid tail?"

Mabel took her tropical theme very seriously, opting for a purple crop top and a makeshift "tail" sewn from a maxi skirt. She always managed to make her outfits weird but adorable.

"The mermaid tail should give you even more reason to trust me," she insisted.

Dipper chuckled, finally admitting defeat against his locks and turning to leave with his twin.

"So...it's a big crowd out there?"

"Pacifica hasn't arrived, yet, no." Mabel assured, unnerving Dipper at just how well she could read him. Maybe they did have that twin ESP junk people claim exists.

"That isn't what I sa—"

"Ok, Dip Dop. I think I know what you meant, though." Mabel smiled victoriously, "C'mon! Let's go dance! I'm sure she'll be around soon."

She took her brother's arm and forced him out to the packed dance floor. Mabel suddenly froze in her tracks, falling back into Dipper.

"Oh my gosh." She gasped.

He followed her line of vision to see Candy grinding on Gideon, of all people. Dipper was disgusted, still not being a huge Gideon fan despite his redemption after Weirdmageddon. He searched Mabel's face, waiting for her to respond to the scene in front of her. Would she be repulsed or thrilled?

"I LOVE IT!" She yelled, frantically shaking her brother's shoulders, obviously choosing the latter reaction.

"Shh, don't call attention to them! You might ruin it!" Dipper cackled, steadying her slightly. Before he knew it, Mabel sprinted off to find Grenda, leaving him alone.

He wasn't particularly interested in partaking in the party, really only attending to have time with Pacifica. Instead of joining his old friends on the dance floor or gossiping with Grenda and Mabel, he made a beeline toward Wendy and Melody who seemed a bit disinterested as well.

"Dipper! How's my fav guy?!" Wendy exclaimed, tossing an arm around his neck and ruffling his hair. How did he not pick up on these obvious platonic vibes when he was younger?

"It's good to see you, Wendy! I'm totally digging the hair cut, by the way. It suits you." He spoke earnestly, finding it so much easier to talk with her now that his childhood crush was over. He almost wasn't used to feeling so calm around her, but he welcomed the settling of his nerves gladly.

"Not into dancing, Dipper?" Melody asked sweetly.

"Oh, well, you know, ha ha...not... now?" He stumbled over his words, wringing his hands together as his anxiety bubbled back to the surface. So much for being calm.

"Does that mean you're just waiting for someone special? Who is it? Give me the details!" Wendy nearly shrieked, her eyes shifting around the room as she dug an elbow into his side.

"Ha, no, I mean, yes? I mean, she's not here yet." He could feel himself start to sweat under her scrutiny.

Wendy and Melody exchanged glances.

"I see. Well, you don't have to tell me, but I'm sure I'll figure it out when she gets here." She cooed, unaware that at that very moment, the front door was swinging open. The moonlight from the outside brought with it the silhouette of Pacifica and Melissa.

Dipper felt his stomach somersault.

Wendy noticed his face twist and turned her head toward the door. A smirk spread along her lips as realization hit her, however, she remained silent, not wanting to unnerve Dipper any further.

Pacifica caught Dipper's eye almost immediately, tossing a nod toward Missy before skipping excitedly toward him. He panicked for a moment, watching her bounce in his direction, her long blonde locks trailing behind her. Was she going in for a hug right away? With everyone watching?! Why was this making him so nervous?

Instead, Pacifica brushed right past him and into the arms of Melody.

"I didn't know you'd be back in town!" Pacifica squealed, hugging her tightly. Dipper was dumbfounded, amazed that Pacifica was actually willingly hugging someone! In public! Not to mention that someone being Soos's girlfriend.

"Yes, Soos and I got in last night. I texted you! Is something wrong with your phone?" Melody securely held Pacifica's forearms, a knowing tone in her question.

She frowned, "It's out of commission, if you know what I mean. I've, like, basically been communicating through carrier pigeon." Her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

"Girl, I have an old go-phone with minutes still on it! You know I'll always hook you up!" Wendy interrupted, scooping Pacifica into a bear hug.

"Wendy, I missed you and all, but if you break me in half I'll sue you." She huffed as the red head chuckled and placed her back on her feet.

Dipper cocked his head, his eyebrows furrowing as he failed to comprehend the scene in front of him.

"Are you two...friends?" He finally coughed out.

The two girls looked him over, Pacifica trying to stifle a nervous laugh.

"Yeah," Melody jumped in, "Wendy still works part time at the Shack during the summer. Soos and I tried to tell her she'd make more money elsewhere, but the girl is dedicated to mystery, apparently."

"I do love me some fake hybrid animals!" She added.

"But you...and you...you're, like, friends?!" He repeated, still not sure if this was all a big joke.

"What did you expect? They were technically coworkers after all."

Dipper's jaw all but unhooked from his face.

Pacifica felt her mouth tug downwards as she shrugged. She knew she had some explaining to do and fast.

"Hey, you wanna go take a seat somewhere?" The blonde offered, stopping Dipper before he could question her further. He struggled to speak, feeling like he just had the wind knocked out of him, but he followed obediently as she laced her fingers in his and guided him toward the couch in the corner. He took one last look at Wendy who was sharing a laugh with Melody, tossing him an enthusiastic thumbs up.

The two walked hand in hand to the other side of the room, the thumping of the music the only sound between them. She flopped herself on the couch promptly, yanking him down nearly on top of her. Dipper felt a familiar heat rise up in his body.

"Alright. Time to do some talking." He finally prodded, gaining a bit of his confidence back now that they were more isolated. He even mustered up the courage to wrap his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in closer so he could hear.

She exhaled dramatically.

"Ok, so the summer of my freshman year I took an intro business course and part of the class was to ask a parent or friend what it's like to work in business. Obviously, I had, like, zero interest in asking my dad, so I went to Soos and Melody. I mean, they've dedicated their entire lives to the shack ever since your Uncles started traveling," she inched her face near his, her breath warm on his cheek, "and that summer was, like, ultra boring anyway. So when Soos and I got to talking, it turned out he needed some help sewing a few of the attractions together, and I'm basically a goddess with a needle so he sort of...employed me for a summer?"

Dipper pulled away from her in shock, "So you became friends with Wendy? You! Of all people! And never told me!"

She sheepishly turned, mimicking his body language, "It wasn't exactly glamorous, and I was a little embarrassed. Plus, at first I never brought her up because I wasn't sure how you felt about her. I didn't want to make things weird since you were, like, in love with her for so long. Then the subject just never came up again and I kind of forgot."

Dipper quickly leaned back into her, his arm acting as a shield for their private conversation, "I guess it's just kind of crazy. You used to hate everyone in this town, and now you've adopted all of my friends! I mean, who would have ever guessed? You're actually the most popular girl in town now. How do you except me to be equip to handle that?"

She blushed a dark red, only barely visible under the party lights, looking up at him through her long lashes, "I guess you'll just have to wing it, nerd."

As those last words escaped her lips, she adjusted herself so she was almost completely on his lap, sliding her legs across his and bringing her upper body close. The space around them dissolved as their foreheads touched, eyes locking. They felt the air crackle and thicken, forgetting momentarily that they were surrounded by friends and family. In that instant, there was no Mystery Shack, there was no party, there was no one—just Dipper and Pacifica.

Stan, who had been watching the scene from a safe distance, made his way through the gyrating teenagers, waving like a lunatic in Soos's direction. He finally caught his eye, motioning for him to come over. Soos nodded affirmatively before pointing at Melody, who excitedly jumped to the keyboard in his absence.

"What's up, Mr. Pines?" Soos asked once in earshot.

"Hey, so uh, should I be chaperoning that?" He pointed a finger toward the quiet, dark corner where Dipper and Pacifica were intimately intertwined on the couch.

Soos did a double take, blinking hard to make sure what he was seeing was real.

"Huh. Did not see that coming dude."

"I was prepared to physically toss some looney, hormonal boy out of here if he tried anything funny with Mabel, but I feel a little wrong throwing a lady out on Dipper's behalf." He chuckled, and added, "Should I go break them up? Is that what a responsible adult would do?"

Soos smiled, placing a hand on Stan's shoulder, "Nah, there's no trouble there. Pacifica is a good dude. She's like a little sister to me, or some sort of distant cousin or an estranged daughter or something."

"That sounds pretty weird, Soos."

"Heh, maybe," he paused, "So, are you telling me you aren't a tiny bit proud of the little dude?" Soos teased, nudging Stan with his knuckles.

"Are ya kiddin' me?! Usually he can barely talk to a girl without sweating through his shirt! I feel like he's really growing up. And ya know, it's not like they're doing anything crazy! A little cuddling ain't a big deal."

The two looked as if they were having a very quiet conversation, whispering back and forth, their mouths a breath away from the other. As if magnetized, their intimate chat quickly turned into lips on lips, Dipper snaking his arm around her back. Pacifica tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling on his messy locks as she guided the motion of his head. He couldn't help but worry she would get her fingers stuck like his did earlier, but his thoughts were dismissed when she easily removed one hand to place on his chest, trailing down to his stomach. His body tensed up at the light touch of her fingers, heat boiling to the surface with every playful graze. He was still unsure if he was kissing correctly, but he followed her lead as her tongue swirled around his mouth. A few times, Dipper could swear he heard her moan under her breath, making his insides twist.

Stan stared slack-jawed at the sudden escalation of intensity, muttering, "That's...a little more than cuddling."

"Yikes." Soos breathed out.

"I can't break that up, I don't want to embarrass them! I don't think the kids realize they aren't alone. I feel like I just need a way to distract them from their teenage hormones..." Stan added as an afterthought.

"Mr. Pines, that's it!" Soos snapped his fingers, "I think it's time for the karaoke contest! Pacifica slayed it last time, and she would never give up an opportunity to be competitive. I'll go grab the mic, you wait here."

"Wait, Soos!" Stan followed after him, taking one last look at the teens and grunting, turning away in disgust.

Soos took to the mini stage in the center of the room before Stan could catch up, microphone in hand.

"Who's ready for karaoke?!" He bellowed, drawing the attention of all the teens. They circled around him excitedly, several members of the crowd volunteering to sing first. Mabel was up on stage before Soos could finish spouting off the rules.

Soos' booming voice shook Pacifica and Dipper violently from their kiss, snapping away from one another instantly. Pacifica hopped to her feet in a panic before realizing that no one had noticed their absence. She breathed a sigh of relief, turning back to Dipper to find the same reprieve on his face.

"It's a little crowded in here," she mentioned, her heart galloping in her head, "should we, like...go somewhere else?"

Dipper's breath hitched in this throat, opening his mouth to speak but releasing a gasp for air instead. He managed to cough a bit, clearing his airways to make room for some sort of diction.

"Where do you, uh, have in thought?" He stammered, cursing himself for butchering the phrase.

Pacifica rolled her eyes over to the hallway leading upstairs, a twitch of a smile playing at her lips.

He gulped, biting his lip anxiously. He had no idea what her intentions were, but he was well aware she was far more confident than him, far more experienced than him, far more beautiful, far more social, far more intelligent. Suddenly, he felt like he was in over his head.

When he took too long to respond, she took his hand in hers and heaved him off the couch, pressing herself close to him.

"We can join the party or we can go upstairs," her voice was soft yet commanding, "I'll do whatever you want."

Her words were meant to be comforting, but the subtle innuendo did not go unnoticed. Dipper vacillated between his options for a moment, wanting to have alone time with her, but worrying more and more about his insecurities. He glanced back at the commotion by the stage and then back to Paz's eyes. He felt lightheaded, the room spinning slightly.

But he surprised even himself when he grabbed her hand, smirking as he nodded his head toward the staircase. Pacifica's lips curled mischievously as she followed him into the dark.