Chapter 7

Pacifica placed the drink tray down on her nightstand. "This is it." She thought to herself as she picked up Mabel's glass of diet soda and turned to meet her smiling face.

"Hear you go, Mabel." The blonde girl smiled as she handed her friend the tainted beverage. "One diet soda, fresh from the fridge."

Mabel graciously accepted the drink. "Thanks a bunch, sweetie."

"Step one complete," Pacifica sighed with relief. "Now for Dipper."

Pacifica turned back to the tray with the remaining two sodas. Her plan was going smoothly. All she had to do is give Dipper his drink, and everything would be ready to go. She looked down at the two glasses of cola . . . Except there was only one glass remaining on the tray.

The glass had a blue straw inside it.

Pacifica twisted her neck just in time to see Dipper lift the clean glass of soda to his lips.

"NO!" She shouted before she could even realize her mistake. Dipper and Mabel jolted to attention, their eyes going wide at Pacifica's outburst.

She couldn't believe it! Just as everything was going so well, one simple mistake threatened to ruin her plan. Like a deer in the headlights, Pacifica froze.

"Um . . . I mean . . ." She looked back and forth at the two Pines siblings, trying to regain her composure. Finally, she picked up the remaining soda.

"This one is yours." She said with as straight a face as possible, placing the glass into Dipper's empty hand while ripping the clean drink from the other. "I made this one a diet, too." She said as she took a sip from the straw.

Dipper stared at Pacifica as she turned and walked back over to the tray before turning to look at Mabel. She was still sitting on the bed, the glass of diet soda clutched in her hand. Dipper looked down at his own drink, confused over what had just transpired.

"She couldn't have . . ." Dipper thought to himself.

He began to smell the contents of his glass. It smelled . . . different, not like a usual glass of Pitt Cola. Dipper couldn't put his finger on it, but something was definitely not right with this glass of soda. Suddenly, a wave of concern crept over the young man, not only for himself, but for his sister.

"You know what? I'm not really thirsty." Dipper said, placing the drink down on the vanity table. "I don't think Mabel is, either."

Mabel turned to look at her brother, a nervous look of confusion on her face. She knew something was wrong, but didn't fully understand the situation. Dipper walked over to her, pulled the glass out of her hands and handed it back to Pacifica.

Pacifica's eyes went wide. Her breathing became heavy. She knew she had been caught, and didn't know what to do next. Hands shaking, Pacifica placed the diet soda back on the tray.

"If you want something else, I can-" Pacifica started, only to be silenced by Dipper's outstretched hand.

"I think we should go. Come on, Mabel," Dipper said, grabbing his sister's hand and yanking her off the bed. "We're leaving."

"Wait! Dipper!" Mabel shouted as her twin brother pulled her by the wrist. "You don't have to-"

"Don't go! I . . . I'm sorry." Pacifica yelled, gripping Dipper by his free hand.

"Sorry? Sorry for what? For ignoring us all year? For forgetting we even exist, or how about inviting us here just to serve us drinks with God-knows-what inside?"

"You don't understand! I was just trying to-"

"To poison us? Seems pretty obvious to me!"

"Just let me explain."

"Forget it!" Dipper shouted. "I'm sick of listening to excuses. I'm sick of letting you play with our emotions. There's nothing you could say that could make up for this. Not only did you try to hurt me, but Mabel, too? What the hell is wrong with you!?"

Pacifica eyes began to flood with tears. She was at a complete loss for words. There was no way she could explain her actions to Dipper in a way that would make sense. If she couldn't say the words before, what good would it do now? If only she could show him why she had to . . . That's it!

She had to show him how she felt.

With tears streaming down her face. Pacifica let go of Dipper's wrist. Before he could walk away, she wrapped her hands behind his head . . .

. . . and pulled him into a kiss.

Dipper's mind went blank as the Northwest heiress pressed her lips against his. For the longest time, he dreamed of a moment like this. Like a small spark igniting a giant inferno, Dipper's desire grew exponentially, and as the kiss became more intense, his grip on Mabel's wrist began to loosen, until Mabel's hand slipped from the young man's grip completely. Finally, Pacifica pulled herself away from Dipper's embrace, looked into his eyes, and said the words she had been dying to say for almost a year, but simply couldn't.

"I love you."

Mabel stood there, half-shocked, yet, at the same time, un-surprised by what she had witnessed. Slowly, she forced a smile onto her face.

"I guess it was only a matter of time." She thought, trying her best to swallow the pain swelling up inside her. No matter how happy she felt for her brother, the pain of losing Pacifica to him was starting to build. She knew if she stayed and watched any longer, she would start to break.

"I should go." Mabel finally said, walking to the door. "I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about."

"No, wait!" Pacifica shouted, reaching for Mabel's hand, only to have it swatted away.

"No, it's okay." Mabel said, trying to fight back the tears. "I'm very happy for you. You two will make a great couple." She sighed, "Somehow, I always knew you would end up together."

Indeed, Mabel did always know that the two of them would end up together, that Pacifica would choose Dipper, leaving her to deal with her grief and heartbreak all alone. Ever since Mabel first realized she had feelings for Pacifica, she knew exactly how things would play out.

Which is why she was surprised when Pacifica suddenly grabbed her, and, just like with Dipper, pulled her into a deep kiss.

Mabel's eyes bugged out and then slowly glazed over. This was it, the moment she had been hoping for for nearly a year. Pacifica's soft, pink lips pressed against her own, sending waves of pure bliss coursing through her body. She knew Dipper was watching, probably as shocked and confused as she was right now, and honestly, in that moment, with Pacifica pressed so close to her . . . she didn't care!

"I didn't know how to tell you. I couldn't find the nerve to just say the words." Pacifica said as she reluctantly pulled away from the Pines girl.

"I love you both . . . I want you both!"