AT: Christmas stuff outside of Christmas... *shrugs* Well, gotta do what you gotta do. Enjoy!
(Edited)
Disclaimer: You know... if I owned Gravity Falls I probably would've had Dipper- for one episode- get turned into an old man or baby... hey, that's an idea!
The rest of the walk is uneventful. Travis is too nervous to talk without stuttering so he settles for walking in silence- much to Pacifica's relief. His stuttering annoyed her if she were being honest, but she's learned to deal with it at a young age and so it didn't bother her as much as it could have. Her aunt started to stutter and talk a little slower than she used to after her stroke so Pacifica quickly got used to it so as not to be rude and shame her parents by being rude to family, but she made fun of others her age. Now she tolerates it and barely notices it.
Travis holds the door open for her and follows her in. "This is where he works, with his sister."
"What're their names?"
"Crystal and Dre," he answers as he walks forward. "Hey, Dre! Crystal! I gotta friend here that wants to see you."
"What for?" A older girl's voice calls.
"Tryinnaget some Christmas presents without going over her budget!" Travis calls and then leans against the counter and watches the door.
"Was'er budget?"
"Twenty-five," Travis answers.
"What?" Pacifica whispers in confusion.
He winks at her. "Tryinna save you some money. Take out twenty-five real quick and put it in the other pocket."
She does as told. "You've done this before?"
The black haired boy shrugs. "Gotta save some money sometimes. Besides, you gotta save your money for a rainy day."
"Thanks," she murmurs just as the door opens.
Standing there is a tan young woman that's about sixteen with short wavy dark brown hair and brown eyes wearing a red shirt with the store name on her left side and her name tag saying Crystal. She's slightly short for her age and is a bit more heavy set, but not fat at all. Next comes out a boy looking about a year older than Pacifica and Travis and very similar to the girl that walked out, but he's her height and has an athletic build and has a scar under his left eye.
"Pacifica N- Pines is your new friend?" The boy asks incredulously.
Travis glances at Pacifica. "She's not a friend yet, but I'm working on it. So could you help her out, guys?"
"Sure," Crystal says. "Whaddoyou have in mind, sweetie?"
Pacifica's taken aback by the kindness, but accepts it nonetheless. "Um... I dunno, Travis brought me here... whaddoyou have?"
"We make a lotta things out of wood and other things. Depends on what you want," Dre answers with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Well, I'm getting Christmas presents for seven people, but I don't have much money," Pacifica explains.
"Okay then... what do you want for each person?" Dre asks while leaning against the counter with what could be a flirtatious grin, but also could be one with mischievousness.
"Um... a piggy bank for my papa," she says without any hesitation- she knew what she was getting him as soon as she realized how much money she would probably save. "And for my uncle... I think a dreamcatcher necklace would be cool..."
"Why?" Crystal asks.
He has nightmares sometimes and I want to keep Bill away from him, Pacifica thinks. "No real reason... and a unicorn necklace for my cousin and a..." She pauses and thinks about something for Dipper before she remembers something she read on the internet. "A whale tale necklace for my other cousin... a werewolf sculpture for a friend and a coffee mug with multi-colored question marks and saying 'World's Best Handyman' in rainbow colors, too... could you do that for me?"
Crystal smiles with a hint of mischievousness in her features as she finished writing the order. "What can't we do?"
"You want them before Christmas Eve right?" Dre asks and when Pacifica nods he says, "Don't worry, we'll get it done. It'll all be ready in a week."
"Thank you guys," Pacifica says.
Travis grins. "You guys are the best."
"We try," the siblings say in unison.
"You said twenty-five dollars? Sure you don't have anymore? That's a lotta stuff," Dre questions gently.
Travis frowns as Pacifica pulls out twenty-five dollars and ands it over to Crystal. "André..."
"You know I'm just messin'!"
"You're good," Pacifica assures, finding the both of them to be charismatic and she can respect their want for more money for all that she's having them do for her.
"Do you wanna get everything at once or do you wanna get everything bit by bit?" Dre asks.
"Bit by bit, please? It'd be hard to smuggle everything in all at once to wrap them," she admits.
"Alright, you'll get 'em as we get 'em done," the brunette boy replies.
Travis gently pulls Pacifica by the arm to turn towards him to walk out, but smiles at his friend and his sister. "Thanks, Dre. See you later. Grandmamma still cooking the ham?"
"Yeah, we'll be bringing it to... we'll bring it to Travis and have him bring it to you," Crystal says.
"Thanks," Pacifica says.
"Bye," Travis says.
"Bye," the reply.
Pacifica allows herself to be led by Travis out of the store and after walking out of the store and out of its sight does he drop his hand back to his side. He seemed to be really eager to get out of the store from people that seem to be his friends, but then again it's not her business... but he wants to be her friend so she should be entitled to a little questioning.
"What was that all about?"
He shrugs. "They're my friends- family more like it- but they have a habit of talking too much and keeping you there for a while... and they have all the embarrassing stories on me."
Pacifica smirks in amusement at the thought of staying longer to hear the embarrassing stories about the boy walking beside her. "That's what all families have."
Travis kicks an empty water bottle across the floor and glances up at her. So- uh- do you wanna go shopping with the last of your money?"
"No, not really," she admits.
"Wanna grab something to eat? It's about lunch time," he says.
Her stomach doesn't growl, but it does tighten and make her want some food immediately. "Yeah... I can go for some food."
Without another word the two start the walk toward the food court. This is when Pacifica starts to notice looks towards Travis. They range from anger to disgust to shock and Pacifica doesn't really know why Travis is ignoring al of them. He makes it seem so easy to ignore them because all he does is walk with his eyes towards his destination or turn to check on her or make eye contact with her when he speaks with her. Pacifica's spent years ignoring people and months ignoring the ridicule and hatred of these people but as far as she knows this is his first time.
"How do you do it?" She suddenly asks.
He makes a face that is a mixture of amusement and confusion- a smile tugging at his lips while his eyebrows lower and come together. "What do you mean? Look so good?"
He isn't ugly, but he isn't handsome either. He's kind of cute and the reason that she would say that is because he has the makings go becoming a handsome young man. He has high cheekbones, a strong jaw, and a straight nose and he has broad shoulders, but he's still got that baby fat that makes him only cute.
She rolls her eyes. "No, not that... ignore them."
"Oh, that," he murmurs before shrugging. "It's easy, I guess. I mean, with my friends I never gave 'em a care before... why start now?"
Pacifica blinks in surprise before smiling a little at that comment. Maybe he's friend material after all? They walk up to the counter of the pizza joint in the food court and Travis orders a meat-lover's pizza and Pacifica orders herself a regular pepperoni pizza. Pacifica moves to take out her money to pay for her pizza when Travis holds a hand out to her.
"Hold on, I've got it," he assures, handing the money to the cashier and getting his change. When he notices her slightly annoyed and confused look he smiles in amusement. "It's only right for me to pay for you- after all, I'm the one trying to beyour friend."
She nods and allows it with reluctance. "You're way too nice to be true."
"Not everyone outside of your family are mean and manipulative... just a lot of them I guess," he murmurs while sitting down at a table.
Pacifica takes a bite of her pizza to gather her thoughts and when she swallows she says, "Guess that's why you're on a trial period."
Travis smiles and then merrily digs into his food.
They eat and not much else is said. Soon they're left with their drinks and their trash and soon enough Pacifica's beckoned by another... and by "another" she means Mabel and by "beckoned" she means dragged. Travis moves to grab her hand, but stops when Pacifica doesn't protest.
"Pacifica! We've been looking everywhere for you!" Mabel says while her twin walks forward.
"I thought you were going Christmas shopping, not on a date," Dipper says.
"It's not a date," Pacifica snaps before crossing her arms. "And I did go Christmas shopping."
Dipper rolls his eyes. "Well, Grunkle Stan says it's time to go."
"Okay," Pacifica replies and then turns to the black haired boy. "Bye, Travis."
"Bye, Pacifica," he replies with a wave and holds out her drink. "Don't forget that."
"Thanks."
As the twins lead her away they grin mischievously and ask in sync, "Got a boyfriend?"
Sapphire eyes roll. "He's not my boyfriend. He's not even a friend."
Dipper frowns. "He seemed pretty friendly to me. You were acting like he was your friend-"
"Or boyfriend," Mabel teases.
"You're the boy crazy one, not me. Have at him if you want," Pacifica scoffs, though feels kind of bad after saying that, knowing how... forceful Mabel can be with boys that she likes.
He can survive Mabel... I think, Pacifica thinks.
They walk into the parking lot where Stanley stands twirling his keys and catching them repetitively like he always does when waiting for someone.
"What took you kids so long?" Stanley demands.
"We found Pacifica on a date," Mabel says.
Stanley raises an eyebrow at Pacifica since he knows how Mabel exaggerates things and when Pacifica shakes her head he shrugs. "Let's go."
And the Pines family clambers in the car and drive home, all with Pacifica being teased by Mabel.
HAT: I haven't decided whether or not Pacifica and Travis should be a future couple, but for now I'm working on making them friends, but whether or not they get together in the future, I figured Mabel would tease her about it.
Mabel: It looks like a date to me!
HAT: I know it does, but- *sighs* Never mind... wait, I thought Waddles was supposed to be here.
Mabel: Grunkle Stan's giving him a bath.
HAT: *snorts and laughs* How'd you talk him into that?
Mabel: Let's just say I have my ways.
HAT: *giggles* Stickers?
Mabel: *nods* Stickers.
HAT: *snickers and then falls over and all out laughs* Oh- oh my gosh! I can only imagine how that'd go.
Mabel: *turns to camera* Review pretty please with sprinkles on top!