*bump-bump* Ah, hello again. Thank you sincerely for returning, I promise this chapter will be much easier on the eyes as opposed to the last one. Something I wanted to mention before we begin is that love does not always bloom in the most ideal environments. Love can happen anywhere at any time and in fact some of the most pure love stories begin in the most tragic situations. For example; I met my girlfriend during her freshman year of highschool. She was trying to get anyone's attention because she was having trouble finding the girl's bathroom. I stopped and started laughing. She asked what was so funny so I pointed behind her. She was standing in front of the bathroom door. Enjoy the story.
Chapter Two:
Rain and Shine
In fairly short order the lives of Dipper and Mabel Pines had returned to the boring normalcy that they were used to. When school began the two picked up right where they had left off. Mabel reconnected with her school friends she had been out of contact with all summer and Dipper buried himself in his studies to help pass the time. Other than the introduction of puberty into their lives nothing really had changed since they were gone, and though they found that rather boring they were still happy to be home.
Meanwhile, back in Gravity Falls everything was different. Stan and Ford were off sailing the seas in search of mystery and treasure, Soos and Melody were in charge of the shack, Wendy and all of her friends were back in high school, and Pacifica was doing what she could to adapt to her new lifestyle. With Gravity Falls now completely devoid of twins and tourist season over weird things only happened now and then by chance instead of being a nigh daily occurrence.
Though her parents thought it far beneath her Pacifica was trying her best to be nice to the people around her. It made her feel good to know that she was taking Dipper's lesson to heart and really changing. The change, however, did not yield very good results. All of Pacifica's friends had abandoned her, letting her know beforehand just how lame she was since she went soft. That didn't bother Pacifica too much; she had known she would have to stop being friends with them anyway if she wanted to keep changing for the better. What had really bothered her was the fact that no one seemed to take her efforts seriously. At school no one would bother trying to talk to her or sit with her during lunch because of how intimidated they were by her. The other kids always assumed she was being condescending when she offered anyone a seat next to her, as if she was saying 'Rejoice, for the generous and humble Pacifica Northwest doth offer you meek peasants my company.'
So there she was. All alone. Which was just as well for her. She knew she couldn't ask for better friends than Dipper and Mabel and if seeing them again next summer meant having to slog through an entire school year by golly she was going to do it. She thought back to the times when the twins had shown her hospitality. Even through all the torment and humiliation she had put them through they still managed to become friends. She couldn't buy them with money or use her last name as influence over them. They had simply become her friends because they wanted to be, and that was more than enough to sustain her.
Her father, Preston, had been swift about rebuilding his business empire and within three months they were back in the lap of luxury, not that they ever had left it. Their new manor was built in a much more modest way compared to the last, however considering how vastly extravagant their previous home was it didn't say much.
It had been another boring day at school for Pacifica. She was placed into a lot of advanced courses and had to see her personal tutor after school every day, so she normally didn't get home until sometime after five o'clock. When she arrived she was immediately greeted by her butler, Jaime.
"Ah, I am glad you have arrived safely Lady Pacifica." He said with his eyes closed and his nose pointed upwards. "Your father wishes you would join him in his study post-haste."
Pacifica sighed, "Very well, thank you Jaime. Take my school bags up to my room if you would please."
"Right away M'lady. Is there anything you desire of me before I depart?"
"That will be all."
With a quick bow Jaime took Pacifica's bags and entered the Manor. After a moment of quiet contemplation Pacifica started towards her father's private study. She entered the study and closed the door quietly behind her awaiting her father's direction. The room had tables lined with various trophies and scrimshaw, walls adorned with mounted game heads and portraits of exquisite landscapes, and a single chair before a fireplace where sat Preston, a glass of apple cider swirling in his hand.
After a silent moment he began, "Pacifica dear, I've been told by your teachers that you have been quite unsociable as of late. Why might that be?"
"Simple father, the other children don't like me. The fools I called friends abandoned me and no one else is brave enough to approach me."
Preston chuckled. "As they should be. Fear is an essential tool. However, I can't abide you being so antisocial. It paints a poor picture of our family. So I arranged a date for you a week from today."
Pacifica gasped in shock. "A date!? With whom and why? I can get a date by myself I don't need it set up for me!"
"Tsk! I would have you watch your tone!" Preston said loudly, the hint of anger trailing in his voice. "I am doing this for your own good. If you are going to shun all those around you there has to be a reason for it that the media would accept. What better reason than young love?"
Pacifica's face went red with anger but she did her best to keep her voice level and calm. "Father. I implore you don't send me on a date with some stranger."
"He isn't a stranger, you've met him before. It's Maxwell Aviles, you were acquainted during our last Christmas business party.
"Him!? He's nothing but a snobby know-it-all who spent the entire party talking about his vast knowledge of snakes and poisons." She pleaded to her father, hands balled into fists and eyes set in a determined defiance.
Preston, his voice now an absolute force explained, "And he is also the son of one of my most prominent business partners. You will go and have dinner with him. You will either have a good time or pretend as such. You will thank him for taking you out and you will keep a smile on your face the entire time. The Northwest name has been dragged through the dirt and filth enough for one year, I won't have some half-witted news outlet making my daughter the newest hot topic with the headline 'Antisocial Heiress Stands Up Billionaire's Son.' Have I made myself clear." He spat the last words out as a statement and not a question. He knew he had made himself clear as crystal.
Pacifica felt like shouting but she instead hung her head and let out a soft, affirmative, "Yes, Daddy."
"Then it is settled. Leave me to my study if you would." Preston said, back turned and posture authoritative and resolute.
Pacifica left the study and started down the hall to her room. She had enough dealing with everyone at school, she didn't need to deal with some pompous jerk she had only known for five minutes before deciding she hated him. She plopped down on her bed and screamed into her pillow.
It isn't fair that I should be punished for trying to be a better person. She thought as she laid on her back taking calm breaths. I should just give up and go back to how things used to be. At least then I could pick who I wanted to be around instead of having it forced on me. Thoughts like these plagued Pacifica for the next hour, but she knew she could never go back to how things used to be. She had been a jerk to Mabel with no other reason than that Mabel was different. But at least Mabel was happy being different. Another thought always crept into her mind when she thought of going back. What would Dipper think of me? If next summer he comes back and I was right back to being the stuck up jerk I always had been?
Pacifica sat up in her bed, brows furrowed. Why would I care what Dipper has to think? She thought furiously, trying to come up with any reason for that wayward idea. I was always a jerk to him and he knew how to dish it right back to me. We hated each other. I couldn't stand being within ten feet of him and neither could he… Then the answer struck her. But at least he had a reason. He didn't hate me because I was rich and he certainly didn't become friends with me for it either. He was there for me when I needed it because… because he would have done that for anyone. Because he's genuinely a nice guy, I guess.
The evening was getting dark as Pacifica sat by her lamp finishing up her school work. Math always helped her get her thoughts straight. It was like a puzzle, every piece of it is there you just have to figure out how it fits together. When she was done she stared out into the night sky and started counting stars. She stopped when she noticed a particular constellation shining clearly through the glass. With a heavy sigh she dropped her face into her hands. I miss Dipper. She concluded, thinking about all the arguments they had together and all the times where they had put their differences aside to help one another out. Life had certainly not been simpler when the Pines twins were around, but she would trade every moment of calm serenity away if it meant having them back.
