58
Dipper

   After discovering the fact that I may or may not have had my magical abilities regardless of how I had destroyed my amulet, things really went back to normal.

It was splendid that my parents left when they did, because I was growing weary of their continuous antics. Before I had joined the rest of my friends(?) in the library, I had gone to speak with my parents.

It was mainly my father who did the speaking, telling me that despite everything, I was growing into a fine young man (his words exactly) and that if I had plans for my senior year to cancel them to study abroad in Paris.

Studying abroad in Paris, the entire notion sounded utterly ridiculous. Yes, while my French was impeccable, I didn't see much of a reason to study there. Until I realized my father's ulterior motives.

He, most likely, was hoping I would meet some fancy French woman and drop Pacifica for said Fancy-French-Female. Like that would ever happen.

After that lovely discussion, they bid me farewell all the while demanding that I at least think it over and think of the business opportunities it would present.

It took everything I had not to explain to them that I didn't truly desire to follow in my father's footsteps. In fact, I wanted to work in the law department. Prosecuting attorney, to be precise. And with my parents's connections, especially in Western European countries, it would be easier and easier for me to practice that profession.

   It was something I wanted to put on the back burner for the time being, I wanted to spend as much time with Pacifica as I could before the end of the summer.

   Over the next several weeks, I had managed to forget a lot of the more intense feelings I was dealing with. Or at least pretend not to care about them. I spent more time with Paz, Mabel, and Gideon. The 'RevFalls Gang' as Gideon so eloquently called us.

   All the while making sure the magic was still temporary. Nothing had happened since the Glass-Breaking-Incident of '85 as Gideon also (unhelpfully) called it, but I wasn't ready to brush it aside as a one-time-thing.

   Near the middle of August, I had come down from my bedroom to find Mabel sitting in the darkness of the sitting room. Carefully perched on the settee, her eyes stared blankly at her phone.

"Hey, what's going on? Is there something wrong?" I hated the fact that I was more in touch with emotions than I used to be. It was a blessing and curse at times.

She startled when I placed a hand on her shoulder, and blinked furiously, hiding the screen of her phone. "Oh, Dipper! Don't scare me like that!"

"You're not so easily frightened, Mabel." I murmured. "Might you be hiding something?"

Mabel frowned, eyes all in a glare that would stop everyone except the one person who could mirror it; myself. "Why would that be any of your business?"

"As your brother, it seems right for me to check up on you." I explained, taking up the empty space next to her. "I can always tell when something is wrong."

"And you'll make a wonderful therapist." Mabel rolled her eyes. "Sorry, I'm not used to this."

"What's the issue?" I checked the clock on the wall. I was meeting my beloved Pazzie for dinner at six, so I had less than a half hour to spare. But I'd still do it.

"I dunno if you're the person I could talk to about this particular piece of information." Mabel mused, switching the ringer on her phone on and off.

   "Do you wanna talk to Paz?" I offered. If it was something girl-ish I figured calling Paz would help.

   "I dunno if that's such a good idea either." Mabel admitted cautiously.

   "I'm heading out with Paz in a little bit, if you don't want to talk to either of us, I can spare five minutes to drive back here with Gideon." I offered, which was my final solution.

   "Oh never mind." Mabel shook her head. "I just, I'm just trying to figure out how to respond to this."

   "This?" I echoed, not feeling particularly smart about it.

   Mabel sighed, turned her phone screen to me and let me read what was displayed on the screen;

scarlett😣: yeah I'm free tonight

me: That's great. I was wondering if perhaps you wanted to hang out. Watch a movie, perhaps?

scarlett😣: yeah sounds like a blast

scarlett😣: what time?

me: Well, I shall have the manor to myself from 6:10 until perhaps 10. Are you available?

scarlett😣: for you hun, anytime 😉

Mabel looked at me, waiting for my response. "Well? Do you get it?"

I sucked on my bottom lip for a moment before carefully considering what to say. I had sneaking suspicions that whatever transpired weeks ago between Mabel and Scarlett wasn't over, despite what they told everyone. "How do you feel about it?"

Mabel shrugged. "At first, I didn't really see anything. Nor did I feel anything. It was a great night, the one we spent together, but it wasn't necessary to be anything else than a one time thing, y'know?"

"I see." I murmured.

   "The more we texted, and the more I saw her, it just, Dipper, it just feels right." Mabel expressed. "I just dunno if what I perceive as 'flirting' is really just her. You're the Scarlett expert, is that how she is?"

"I think asking me is maybe not the best choice." I rubbed the back of my neck, "hell, even I dunno if she was just flirting with me always or not. But regardless, it's worth a shot to give it a try?"

"What if I'm wrong? Or worse; what if I think this is what I want and then I find out it's not and I've led her on?" Mabel dabbed at the corner of her eyes, ducking her head down a bit to divert attention from her tearing up.

"Hell, I thought the same thing with Paz." I wrapped an arm around my sister and rubbed her shoulder in the most comforting way I could. "It's definitely frightening, especially when you dunno what the other person is thinking. But the best thing you can do is to simply try. What do you have to lose?"

   "Potential friendship." Mabel declared.

   "I turned Scarlett down twice and we're still. . .friends." I coaxed. "Everything will be alright, just give it a shot, Mabel."

   She rested her head on my shoulder and sighed. "Why are you so wise about relationships when you fuck up so many?"

   "Past experience, Mabes." I shrugged. "Now, if you need time to think anything through, I can stay away from the manor for awhile. Perhaps I'll crash at Pazzie's tonight. That way you can have all night to figure out what to say. I know you can do this. You are one of the most confident people I know, Mabel."

   "Thanks, Dipshit, now please, leave. You're going to be late and Scarlett's going to be here any minute!"

* * *

   "You seem out of it, is something wrong?"

   I glanced back over to Pacifica who sat across from me with a concerned expression on her face. "I promise you, I'm quite well, just thinking."

   She frowned, but her eyes displayed all kinds of amusement. "I thought we weren't going to think tonight."

   "If the both of us don't think tonight I believe there will be something to worry about." I teased.

   "When did you become the parent of the group?" She asked. "Because I believe you don't like children, isn't that right?"

   I took a slow sip of the water I'd ordered. "That'd be correct, Pazzie."

   "What are you thinking about?" Pacifica tilted her head to side in the most adorable way I had ever seen.

   "If you must know, I'm worried about Mabel." I admitted. "There is something happening in her life and she is trying to comprehend it."

   "Oh, I see. Is she alright? Is it serious?" Her eyes widened in nervousness.

   "I'm sure she'll be just fine. I'm sure she'll be fine," I amended. "I've given her some advice and it's up to her how she handles things henceforward."

   "Aren't you nice." Pacifica grinned.

   "Ugh, no I am not." I shook my head so fast I thought I was going to get whiplash. "And I'd appreciate if you didn't blurt that out loud in a crowded restaurant."

   "Ah yes, wouldn't want to damage your cold-hearted reputation." She rolled her eyes and reached a hand out across the table. Her fingers grazed against mine for the briefest moment, but it felt like hours in my head.

"Just being around you damages my ice-cold persona that I've worked so very hard on." I rolled my eyes and then locked them with hers.

After a few seconds of intense and seductive staring, Pacifica cleared her throat and looked off to the side.

"Now something tells me that there is something on your mind, sweetheart." I finished the rest of my water in a single flourish. "And I don't need to be psychic to figure that out."

   "Well, if I'm being honest," she tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, "there is something on my mind."

   "Care to share with the class?" I cocked a brow and waited patiently.

   "Well, unlike the last time I was here, I'm so happy we got back together as early as we did this time." She started. "I know there were bumps and mishaps all the way through, but at least it didn't take us a little over two and a half months to date, y'know?"

   I nodded, staying silent so she could explain herself and where she was going with it.

   A waiter came by with the bill which I graciously took, eyes never leaving Pacifica's.

"I'll explain later." She shrugged. "Let's just get home."

I nodded, not feeling particularly well mentioning that she had just called the Mystery Shack 'home' and implied that I lived there. I was better off not mentioning it.

   When we arrived back at the Mystery Shack, Pacifica started walking up to her room.

   "Hey, Paz?" I called after her. "Weren't you going to explain something to me?"

   She walked very slowly down the stairs and pulled me into the sitting room. "I don't mean to make you nervous." She smiled but it didn't quite meet her eyes. "I was just feeling rather melancholy."

   "Melancholy?" I took the seat next to her, pulling her hands into mine. "Care to explain?"

   "I was just remembering how the last time I left here," she sighed, "and it. . .it was just so difficult to drive away and then forget about everyone here. I don't want to forget anymore."

   It was all coming out of nowhere and all at once, and it took a second before I understood what she was talking about. "You have to go back soon, don't you?"

   Pacifica bit down on her lip and nodded very slowly. "I know summer isn't supposed to last forever, but I can't help but be afraid of forgetting this place again. Forgetting about you again. Going through the rest of my life without ever coming back to this place."

   I squeezed her hands in mine. "Pacifica, I would never let that happen. I care about you too much. And now, even after all the time we thought we had, nothing has changed. We still found each other. Was it when we wanted? No, no it wasn't. But we're here now, and isn't that all that matters?"

   "How romantic." Pacifica sniffled.

   "I could be a whole lot more romantic if you'd let me." I pulled her frame closer to my chest and just relished the feeling. My heart was thumping like hummingbird wings, but I felt calm nonetheless. Quite the oxymoron.

   "Gross," Pacifica rested her head on my shoulder and sighed in content. "Feelings are yucky, right?"

   "Most of the time." I agreed. "But aren't they a necessity?"

   She shrugged, a bubble of laughter erupting from her lips. "Maybe."

   I held her just like that for a little less than an hour. We didn't speak, we just laid there, breathing in and out, enjoying each other's company.

   By the time the clock struck eleven, Pacifica had fallen asleep, her breathing soft and quiet against my neck.

   Being extraordinarily careful not to wake her, I slowly scooped her up and began the semi-long trek up to her bedroom.

   As soon as I closed the door to her room, she stirred in my arms, blinked a few times and glanced around. "Oh, did I fall asleep?" She asked, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

   "What, no, of course not." I rolled my eyes and set her carefully down onto her bed.

   "You can't expect me to sleep in these clothes, can you?" She gestured very lazily to the jeans she was wearing. "Jeans are not very comfy to sleep in, Dipper."

   "Okay okay, hold on. Where are your pyjamas?" I asked spinning around in a circle to get a good view of the entire room.

   "I can get them myself, but thanks." She hopped off her bed despite being asleep only two minutes prior. She walked over to the dresser in the corner of the room, opened the top drawer and pulled out a pair of shorts and a white shirt.

   I recognized the shirt almost instantly. After all, it had been in my wardrobe only three days before. "You stole that from my wardrobe!" I protested.

   "I was wondering how long it would take you to notice." She chided, "now, close your eyes or leave. Up to you."

   Obediently, I shut my eyes and waited. Less than thirty seconds later, I felt a peck on my cheek.

   "You can open your" —a yawn— "eyes now, y'know?"

   I chuckled as I opened my eyes. "Alright, will you get some rest now?"

   Pacifica climbed into her bed and settled into the blankets. She sighed once more.

   I pressed a kiss to her forehead and moved to take my leave.

   "Where are you going?" She asked, one eye opening.

   "Oh, well, I," how did I explain it? "I wasn't aware you wanted me to stay."

   "Get in the bed, Dipshit." Pacifica tossed (very lightly) a pillow in my direction, laughing the entire time.

   I picked it up from the floor, because of course she didn't even come close to hitting me, fluffed it, and set it back down on the bed.

   I pulled off my shirt because there was absolutely no way in hell I was going to sleep in such formal attire (simply for the fact that it would get wrinkled) the slacks came off as well.

   I didn't even realize that Pacifica had sat up, her eyes bore right into mine, unblinking. I let out a short huff of laughter. "No, you need to get some sleep. Now is not the time for such things, Pazzie."

   Flustered, she began stammering over her words. "What? N-no! I wasn't—"

   I slipped into bed next to her, wrapping my arms loosely around her. "Right, you absolutely were not gawking at the merchandise."

   "I was not!" She protested, her face reddening with each passing second.

   I kissed her lips, trying to quiet her. "Shush, go to sleep."

   She rolled her eyes and settled against me. "I love you, Dipper Gleeful."

   "And I love you, Pacifica Southeast." I closed my eyes for a moment before something hit me and hit me hard;

   I had a little less than two weeks before she had to leave again. Sucking in a breath, I reached for my phone, which I had conveniently left on her nightstand, and quickly typed out a message;

   me: Alright. I created this chat because we are definitely and absolutely planning Pazzie's going-away party. It shall be held at Gleeful Manor, I trust you two explicitly to help me. Any ideas?

mabes🙄💙: let's talk tomorrow. I'm busy

me: oh? So everything worked out alright?

mabes🙄💙: yeah. Night brother dearest

gideon🤦‍♂️: dipper are you with paz rn?

mabes🙄💙: stay safe, you two!

me: keep your minds out of the gutter!

me: Regardless, we have a little less than two weeks to plan this, please do not let me down.

mabes🙄💙: awe, he said 'please'

me: MABEL

mabes🙄💙: you do not need to worry, we're with you

gideon🤦‍♂️: yup! You can count on us!

me: oh God, I hope so

I placed my phone back on the nightstand, cuddled closer to Pacifica, and was out like a light.