HAT: Okay, so big things are coming soon and I'm hoping that things go smoothly from now on (have to redo the plot a little, but... yeah). This may be a short chapter, but there's gonna be a much longer chapter next.
Disclaimer: I don't anything but the plot.
"Pep, hurry up! Do you want me to steal your-"
"I'm coming, Uncle Ford!" Pacifica calls back down and then pulls on her running shoes and grabs her bag. As she runs downstairs she sees Dipper standing there with a smug smile. "What?"
"You just called him Uncle Ford," Dipper teases.
Pacifica glares at him. "Shut up."
"We got to you."
Pacifica punches his arm. "Oh, shut up. Most people call him Ford anyway."
Dipper laughs and rubs his arm. "C'mon, let's get to that track meet."
"Whoo! You're gonna knock 'em dead," Stanley says as he enters the living room, leaving the children in there staring in shock at her.
"W-what're you doing?" Pacifica asks, staring at her dad.
He's not wearing a shirt and has his entire body covered in paint of the school's colors and he had her name written on his stomach- or at least the nickname he and Stanford had given her when they adopted her into the family.
"What?" Stanley asks. "Too much glitter? That was Mabel's idea."
"This isn't football, this is track," Dipper insists. "Please- for the sake of everyone, put on a shirt."
"Okay, okay, fine," Stanley grunts and then puts on a shirt with Pacifica's face on it.
"I'm doomed," Pacifica groans while covering her face.
"Stanley, go put on something else, you're gonna embarrass her," Stanford deadpans.
"C'mon, I'm supporting my daughter!" Stanley insists.
"Please support me in your regular suit," Pacifica begs, face still covered.
Stanley heaves a long groan. "Fine."
She smiles up at him, relief flooding through her system. "Thanks, Papa."
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbles while ruffling her hair and going back to his room.
"Thank you, Uncle Ford," she says to him after she hears Stan's door close.
"I did it for selfish reasons," he reasons.
She punches his side lightly and says, "You know you love me."
"Scientifically speaking, yes. Yes I do," he agrees while pulling her into a one armed hug with a smile.
Pacifica rolls her eyes with a smile. "C'mon, we're gonna be late."
"How about I give you a ride and the rest of you dudes come and catch up?" Soos offers.
"I don't see why not," Stanford shrugs.
Hat lets out a sigh of relief and says her goodbyes to her family and then walks out with Soos and gets into his truck.
"Nervous?" Soos asks.
Pacifica shrugs. "Eh? The race I'm not nervous about- all I really gotta do is run... my family on the other hand..."
Soos laughs. "Yeah, family's kind of embarrassing, but it's no fun if they aren't, ya know?"
Pacifica laughs quietly. "Yeah you're right."
She looks out the window and smiles to herself- it seems that things are finally getting to be a bit normal. Sure, it's a bit cramped in the Shack with six people living there and Mabel's still dating that Chester guy, but it's still a good normal. The normal drama instead of the supernatural where Dan tries to kill her and her family.
Maybe he's given up?
Hopeful thinking, but that's probably not the case.
As they pull up to the school Pacifica takes deep, calming breathes. She just has to get in her zone- it's gonna go well. She's gonna do fantastic and she's gonna be at least fourth place and she's gonna go home with her family and have a victory dinner no matter what place she gets. Her aim is that victory dinner with her family so she'll run with that in mind.
Do it for the food, she thinks as she stretches and then notices Soos and Wendy sitting together with spots open for the rest of the family with a sign that says "Go Pacifica" with exclamation points all over it. She can't help but smile and mentally add, And my family, too.
She readjusts her ponytail so that it will stay without giving her a headache and then grins to herself. She's gonna get a metal and that's all there is to it.
Her family is soon to arrive and she gets one last drink of water before going to the starting line.
3...
2...
1...
The gunshot and they were off.
"Victory meal!" Soos cheers as they enter the diner.
"Dude, you did awesome," Wendy says with a grin.
Pacifica grins proudly from her place on her dad's shoulders with a silver medal around her neck. "Thanks. There were a lot of fast people this running."
Stanford picks her up and places her on her feet so she can get in her seat. "They practiced just as much as you did. You were only out practiced by one, that's something to be proud of."
First place went to someone from a different school named Madison- since she was so sweet, Pacifica was kind of happy she lost to her of all people. They exchanged numbers and promised each other they'd hang out sometime.
"Whaddoya want, kid?" Stanley asks.
"Let us have steak!" Pacifica sheers.
"Steak from here? I can grill some at home for cheaper," Stanley complains.
"... to the Shack!" The teenagers cheer.
"Alright, alright, but this is taking up a lotta gas," Stanley grumbles and leads them out of the diner.
The excitement dies down in the buying of steaks at the store and Pacifica sighs.
"Why couldn't we wait in the car?" Dipper asks with a groan.
"Because we said so," Stanley grunts.
"That's not a valid answer," Pacifica argues.
"Because it's safer for you to be with us while we're shopping instead of waiting in the car," Stanford answers. "We don't want you to get kidnapped or anything like that."
It was nearly asked who would bother to take them, but a heavy silence hangs in the air. Lots of things and people could try to take them while they're away from their guardians. Whether it be supernatural or unnatural- this is something that was a constant worry for adults in this day and age (especially in this town).
After about thirty more minutes they're back at the Shack having a barbecue and they have a good time eating steaks.
Why can't most days be like this? Pacifica wonders idly while eating her salad.
Because all good things must come to an end.
Hat: Whoo! We're getting closer and closer- some things will probably be irrelevant now that things are moving in such a way- maybe one day I'll redo this story and improve it... that day is not today. Today we're keeping this train going!
Stan: What've you got planned?
Hat: Noooothing... say it, please?
Stan: Review... now wha- WHAT IS IT WITH YOU AND RUNNING?!