'Hey Pax! It's Mabel!' She cheered in to the telephone. Holding her cell away from her face, and wincing at the volume of her friend's greeting, Pacifica wondered at the source of Mabel's constant enthusiasm.

'Hey Mabel, what's up?' Pacifica said, carefully bring her phone back to her ear.

'Oh, I was just wondering if you wanted to come hang out; a bunch of trashy movies just came out on Netflix, and I've got some crafting to do, what d'you say? Help a sister out?'

Mabel could just see Mabel doing the motions to match sassy voice.

'I dunno Mabel; I've got some errands to run, and a whole bunch of paperwork to go through, rain check?'

'Oh c'mon, Pax! You haven't been over in AGES, and Dipper's out for a couple days. I'm ALL by MYSELF! Don't leave to DIE her, Pax, all by my lonesome!'

'Okay, okay. Fine. I'll be over in a few.'

'That was quick.' Mabel said, opening the front door for Pacifica.

'Yeah, I really needed to get out of the house; my parents are back in town, and it's driving me crazy.'

'I thought you had some errands to do?' Mabel said, raising an eyebrow.

'Oh, nothing that I can't do later.' Pacifica said, brushing off the matter.

'And the paperwork?' Mabel insisted.

'Same deal. I'll do it tonight or something.' Pacifica said dismissively. 'So tell me about these trashy movies.' She said, raising an eyebrow.

They spent much of the morning baking cookies and ice cream bread for the trashy movie marathon. Pacifica enjoyed working in the kitchen; food was something that everyone appreciated, and she got a great deal of enjoyment out of being artistic with it. Her father had barred her from the kitchens when he was in town, saying 'Northwests don't work with their hands.' But Pacifica managed to get some good learning time in with their chefs whenever her parents left town. An education put to good use for her movie marathons with Mabel. They were a bit of an odd pair; opposite ends of the socio-economic spectrum of Gravity Falls, but somehow they worked like sisters. Perhaps because Pacifica had never had someone who cared so little about her family's wealth, and Mabel had spent so much time without her actual sibling. Or perhaps it was their mutual love of trashy movies.

Mabel and Pacifica broke in to fits of giggles as the screen fell dark, and the 'The End' caption was replaced by a question mark. A plate of mostly crumbs sat on the coffee table in front of them.

'That.' Mabel began, only just regaining her composure, 'was amazing. I want to watch it again.'

Pacifica, who was only barely containing her laughter as it was, could hold it no longer, and burst out with a laugh reminiscent of a frightened goat. Both girls, startled, looked at each other for a moment, before collapsing in to another fit of giggles.

'Oh man, that was good.' Pacifica gasped. 'The part where the girl-' She stuck her tongue out and waved her arms in front of her.

'-and then the guy!' Mabel continued, laughing uncontrollably, she clasped her stomach, trying to contain herself.

They sat for a moment, breathing deeply, regaining their composure, as the credits rolled.

'Aww man. It has been too long since we've done this. We shouldn't wait so long again.' Pacifica said, smiling broadly.

'Well you're the one who never comes over anymore, what gives? Is my new deodorant not taking?' Mabel sniffed at her pits, causing Pacifica to start laughing again.

'Nah, I just... I dunno. I guess I never have time.' Pacifica said, looking out the window.

'Aww, c'mon Pax, what's the deal? You've barely come over since Dipper got home.' Pacifica froze, and Mabel trailed off, staring at Pacifica, a smile gradually coming over her face.

'That's it, isn't it?' Mabel said, a knowing look on her face.

'I have no idea what you're talking about.' Pacifica responded, crossing her arms, and continuing to avoid eye contact with Mabel.

'I thought maybe you two would have come to an understanding with the dragon-'

'Drake.' Pacifica corrected offhand.

'Oh my God, you nerds would be perfect for each other.' Mabel said, rolling her eyes.

'How could I miss this?' She continued, her smile becoming impossibly big. 'You've got a thing for my brother, don't you?'

'I have no such THING.' Pacifica responded vehemently, huffing as she resettled herself a little further from Mabel's piercing eye contact.

'HA! You totally do! Why didn't you say anything?'

'I do NOT.' Pacifica insisted. 'Plus,' she muttered 'It'd never work out.'

'What? Why not? I mean, Dipper used to have kind of a thing for you, don't you remember?'

'What?!' Pacifica snapped, whipping her head around to look at Mabel. 'No- no way. C'mon Mabel. Dipper? The only thing he's got a thing for is research.'

'Ugh, oh my God Pacifica, how do you not know this? He-' she sniggered 'he PINED for you!' Mabel burst into another fit of giggles. Pacifica just stared.

'Oh man, that will never get old. Seriously though,' she said, wiping tears from her face, 'you really didn't know?'

'I- uh, I mean, no.' A blush began to creep over her cheeks.

Mabel sighed. 'Really? He was really in to you for a while. You should go for it; you guys would be adorable together.'

'I mean, I'm sure he's over it by now.' Pacifica said, trying to sound dismissive. 'Plus, it'd never work out.'

'Please.' Mabel rolled her eyes. 'Dipper's one to carry a torch, believe me. And why would you say it'd never work out? The more I think about it, the more I think you guys would work out pretty well together.'

'No, that's not what I mean... I mean, my parents... you know how they are.' She turned away again, to stare anywhere that wasn't Mabel.

'Since when do you care what your parents think? You're grasping at straws, Pax.' Mabel scooted closer to Pacifica. 'Plus, if you look at it right, you could probably get your parents on board.' Mabel was grinning now.

Pacifica snapped back to looking at Mabel. 'How do you mean,' she said cautiously.

'Oh come on, Pax, he's a friggin' genius. With proper financial support, he could be like... Tony Stark meets Dr. Strange.'

Pacifica stared for a moment, but soon her expression softened. 'You know, he does look a little like Benedict Cumberbatch.' She smiled, 'Alright, I'm listening.'

'Bout time, girl, you might have missed him otherwise. You're not the only one with your eyes on him.'

Pacifica's eyes narrowed, 'What?'

'C'mon, Pax. He's not the awkward nerd he used to be.'

Pacifica quirked an eyebrow.

'Okay, so he's the same nerd, but nerdy is cool now. Get on the ball, kid.'

Dipper was exhausted when he came in the door. The seminar on the Inuit Shamanic Rituals and Languages had been fascinating, but he was glad to be home. He hung up his coat just inside the door, and called out to let Mabel know he was home, then headed for the kitchen. He was surprised to see Pacifica at the kitchen table, beer in one hand, magazine in the other.

'Uh... Hi... Pacifica.'

'Pax.' She corrected.

'Pax, right.' He smiled.

Pacifica raised an eyebrow, but smiled back. The silence dragged on for a moment. Dipper reached back and scratched his head.

'So, uh... what's up?' Dipper said, moving towards the fridge to get a beer for himself.

'Was helping Mabel with some gardening today. She's getting cleaned up. How was your trip?'

Dipper was momentarily surprised that Pacifica knew anything about it. He didn't see her all that often, and hadn't really told anyone about the weekend seminar in Paulatuk, except Mabel. He didn't know that many people who were interested in obscure occult practices.

'It was... uh, pretty neat.' Dipper still felt somewhat guarded around Pacifica. She was a friend, sure, had even been a pretty good one at one point, but he got the feeling he made her uncomfortable sometimes. There was also the trip to Franz Josef Land, he had enjoyed seeing Makar again, and getting the drake back to its own habitat had been a relief, but Pacifica hadn't been the girl he remembered from his trips to Gravity Falls in middle and high school. She seemed... quieter. It was unnatural.

'Hey, Dipper.' He looked up, for a moment, Pacifica looked uncomfortable again. 'I'm putting on a charity event for the Historical Society at the Manor on Pioneer Day, Mabel will be there, and Candy, but I was hoping you could come as well.'

Dipper was momentarily taken aback, he wasn't really one for formal parties.

'I... uh, well, uh, thanks, Pax, but, uh, your kind of parties, they're not really my thing and,' Dipper scratched the back of his head, and looked away from Pacifica hoping his face wouldn't betray his nervous excuses. 'Y'know, it's not really the kind of people I hang out with, I'd hate to be a bother.'

Pacifica's face darkened. 'What, you think you're too good to hang out with a bunch of rich SNOBS? Is that it?' She said quietly.

Dipper's eyes bulged and he waved his hands in front of him. 'No! No, not at all, I just don't think I'd really fit in with your crowd.'

'My crowd?' Pacifica said, advancing on Dipper like a predator stalking its prey. 'This about brains, Pines? Think you're too smart for the valley girl blonde and her party friends?' She had made it all the way across the room and cornered Dipper by the fridge. 'You listen to me, Pines,' she said, pulling him down by the front of his shirt so that they were nose to nose.

'Fine! Fine! I'll go to the party!' Dipper said, yanking his head back. Pacifica released him as soon as he agreed, and in trying to back up, Dipper smacked his head in to an open cabinet door behind him.

'Shit that hurts.' Dipper said rubbing his head.

Pacifica laughed, back to being as friendly as she was when he walked in.

'It's a period party, Dipper, so wear a costume.' She said, smiling as she walked out the door. 'See you around, Pines.'