Chapter 4: Reversal

For the next few days, Dipper and Pacifica had gotten along much better than normal. Dipper continued to help Pacifica be a regular kid, and was doing a lot more stuff with her.

Mabel was so happy to see Dipper and Pacifica getting along so well, it was pretty amazing actually. With how antisocial Dipper usually is, he's really opened up more over the summer.

However, her happiness for Dipper went from high to low, when she became more skeptical. Why'd Pacifica want to come here? The more she thought about it, it didn't make any sense. That is, until she considered the possibility that Pacifica is just playing Dipper out to get something from him.

"That's silly," Mabel said out loud, trying to quell her skepticism, "We don't have anything that Pacifica would want! ...But we might have something her parents want…"

Mabel decided she'd confront Pacifica about this, so she left to go track her down.

It didn't take long for Mabel to find Dipper and Pacifica, she saw Dipper showing Pacifica some of the entries in the Journal in the backyard of the Shack. Mabel hid behind the Totem Pole to eavesdrop…

"...This book is full of crazy stuff. Why'd you take any of it seriously?" Pacifica said, flipping through the pages.

"I just had a feeling… Oh, this one is pretty neat, you might like this," Dipper said as he flipped to the page of Bill Cipher.

"What's this?" Pacifica asked.

"His name is Bill Cipher, he's this crazy Triangle guy who enters your mind, and can do whatever he wants there." Dipper explained.

"Sounds cool!" Pacifica said, looking at the drawing. She couldn't help but feel like she's seen something like him somewhere else...

"Really? cool? My sister just thinks it's 'Nerd stuff'..." Dipper sighed.

"I think it's cute, how you get so involved with crazy paranormal stuff." Pacifica responded.

Dipper blushed, "Ah, O-okay, let's just move on to the next page..."

"Hey, Dipper!" Mabel called out to the two.

Mabel looked at Pacifica, and stated flatly, "Pacifica."

"Mabel." Pacifica responded.

"Hey, Mabel, you need something?" Dipper asked.

"Actually, yes. Can I talk with Pacifica… privately, please?" Mabel asked.

"Uhm… yeah, I guess. I need to get some Water anyway, it's hot out here!" Dipper exclaimed.

"Maybe if you didn't wear that puffy vest…" Pacifica mentioned.

Dipper smiled, "You're one to talk, Ms. Wears-A-Jacket-Everywhere."

"...Alright, you got me there." Pacifica smiled back as Dipper headed off.

"Alright, Pacifica, what game are you playing?" Mabel growled, glaring down Pacifica from the other end of the table.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Pacifica asked, fumbling a bit.

"Don't play innocent with me, I know you're up to no good! Why else would you come here?" Mabel stated angrily.

"I came here because I had nowhere else to go!" Pacifica defended herself, "If I could've gone anywhere else-"

"You could've! You're a Northwest, you could go to ANYWHERE in Gravity Falls, and you chose your least favorite place in the whole planet!"

"You don't understand, I… I can't explain, but I…" Pacifica worried, she couldn't tell Mabel the real reason she left her mansion.

"Yes you can! Tell me, right now, why did you leave your family? Why did you come here? What's your plan? ANSWER ME!" Mabel roared, shaking Pacifica aggressively.

"Mabel, what're you doing!" Dipper's voice called out from behind Mabel.

Mabel quickly arranged herself, "Oh, uhm, nothing! I was just… talking calmly to Pacifica!"

Pacifica was shocked. She had never seen, or expected, such an explosive reaction from Mabel. It came out of nowhere, and it all happened so fast that she honestly had no idea how to react.

Mabel tried to laugh it off, and walked away slowly, but it was obvious neither Dipper nor Pacifica were having that great a time.

Dipper came back inside a while later, and noticed Mabel laying on the couch.

"What was that all about?" Dipper asked, a bit irritated.

"I don't know! I guess some of your wild paranoia rubbed off on me, and I just snapped." Mabel explained.

Dipper sighed, "It's fine, Pacifica said she needed a few minutes to process what happened, I think she'll be fine as well."

"That's the thing, Dipper!" Mabel stated, "Why do you care so much about Pacifica recently?"

"I thought you were happy for me, Mabel. Just a few days ago, you could barely get to sleep, and now you're asking questions?" Dipper wondered.

"That was before I thought about it deeper. I think Pacifica is using you for something." Mabel explained.

Dipper laughed, "I don't think so, Mabel. What do we have that she wants?"

"It's not what she wants, it's what her parents want. Maybe this is all just some kind of setup!" Mabel worried.

"Mabel, you're acting as crazy as I was a few weeks ago. Pacifica doesn't want anything to do with her parents." Dipper explained.

"How do you know that?" Mabel asked.

"Because, during the Party at the Northwest Mansion… Well, let's just say she's convinced me."

"How do you know she's not just saying those things just to butter you up, or something?"

"Look, Mabel, you need to stop worrying about this. If something really WERE fishy about this, I'd be the one with a panic attack, not you!"

Mabel sighed, "I guess that's right…"

Later that evening, Dipper and Pacifica were watching a movie in the Living Room. Both were right next to each other on the chair.

Mabel still wasn't sure about Pacifica, she still had the feeling Dipper wasn't doing the right thing. She had to do something about this, but what?

She then recognized the phone right next to her, with a Sticky-note that had Pacifica's Parent's Phone Number. It was so that they could remember to call her parents on Friday. It was Wednesday today, so by Friday it may be too late.

She had to call Pacifica's parents, but when she reached for the phone, she thought of if what Dipper said was true, that Pacifica really changed. But what if he was wrong, Dipper can make mistakes sometimes, and Pacifica was very manipulative.

She could just wait until Friday, but what if Pacifica makes Dipper leave with her?

"Maybe that's her plan," Mabel thought, "But she could just be trying to be nice…"

"But she's not nice, you know that, Mabel!" She continued to think, "But we couldn't hurt Dipper's feelings by calling her Parents, how would he feel?"

"Who would know it's you? Just call anonymously," Mabel was still in deep thought, "But Dipper would know, who else knows Pacifica is here?"

"You could just claim to be someone who saw her nearby there," Mabel was convinced now, "But how could I live with the guilt?"

"Dipper will thank you for it later, but this has to be done."

Mabel picked up the phone, and began to dial the Northwests Number. The phone rang, and the Butler answered.

"Northwest Manor, how may I direct your call?" The Butler asked.

"Yes, uhm... " Mabel coughs to change her voice to a more gruff, low tone, "Yes, I'd like to give some information on the location of Pacifica Northwest."

"Very well, Sir. I shall alert Mr. and Mrs. Northwest immediately." The Butler put the phone on hold while he left to get the Parents of Pacifica. Mabel felt a bit weird being called 'Sir', it just didn't sit right with her.

The phone was taken off of hold after a few minutes of waiting, and the Father of Pacifica was on the line, "I heard you know where my Daughter is, well spit it out."

"Yes, uhm, I think I saw her a few days ago walking up the path to the Mystery Shack. She may be there." Mabel said, in her altered voice.

"Well, we'll go have a look at this Mystery Shack right now. Thank you sir, what is your name?" Mr. Northwest thanked.

"Uhm… Norman." Mabel responded.

"Norman, we thank you for your help, and hope you live a life as wealthy as ours one day." Mr. Northwest thanked her again, and then hung up.

Mabel wiped away some sweat, walking away from the phone. She passed by the door, and hid behind the wall to look over at Dipper and Pacifica

Pacifica was cuddling up against Dipper, and they seemed so happy together. Mabel pushed her back against the wall and slid down it slowly.

"Oh, no… what have I done?"