After Pacifica made her threat to Dipper, she expected him to retaliate with a simple you're fired, not actually take it.

Maybe he was mulling it over, and found out that if he fired her over a revenge kiss, it would prove that she still got under his skin.

And that would mean he was admitting to losing.

As far as Pacifica knew, Dipper Gleeful hated losing. He'd do anything to win, literally anything.

"What time did you get back?" Pacifica heard Mabel ask. It wasn't directed at her, rather the egomaniac who was perched on the settee reading a novel.

"Late." was his reply, as icy as a glacier.

"Why'd you go out in the first place?" She asked incredulously.

"Quit with the incredulous tone, Mabel." Dipper scoffed. "I simply desired to."

Pacifica hardly looked up from the book in her lap. Was there a part of her that secretly hoped that Dipper was left rattled by their earlier conversation that he had to leave at midnight?

Yes. Yes there was. A small fraction, but a fraction nonetheless.

"Well, where did you slink off to?" Mabel took a long sip from her teacup. "Hopefully nowhere dingy."

Dipper finally looked up from his own book, annoyance splashed on his face. "I went to get a drink, Mabel, shall I, from now on, print out an evening itinerary of my plans? Would that soothe you?"

Mabel snorted. "Oh hush, I was simply asking. You seem more defensive about this bar, care to elaborate?"

Dipper furrowed his brow. "I got a drink."

Pacifica tried not to be interested in the conversation. However, Dipper was truly being evasive. What exactly happened?

"And?"

Dipper stared at Mabel, his eyes meeting Pacifica's for a brief second. "I met someone."

Pacifica hated to admit it, but her heart certainly deflated a little. He met someone? Who?

"Oh?" Mabel grinned. "Who is this mystery person?"

Dipper sighed and leaned back in his chair. "She was quite the attractive woman, a sweet name, heavy drinker, young."

Mabel rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Great, an alcoholic, just what we need in the family."

Dipper glared head-on at Mabel. "Excuse me, do you think I'm even interested in her?"

"You would have never mentioned her if you weren't interested." Mabel commented, all tooth and grin. "Her name?"

"None of your concern." Dipper frowned, shaking his head. "I don't think my romantic life is any of your concern."

Pacifica snorted. "Romantic?" She wished she hadn't.

Both Gleefuls looked at her. Mabel looked shocked with a mix of appalled, whereas Dipper simply regarded her with a cool expression.

"I beg your pardon?" He asked lightly.

"I'd hardly call your life a 'romantic' one." Pacifica couldn't help but continue. "But if you're fine with lying to yourself, then by all means, go for it."

Dipper appeared unfazed by her sudden comment. He chuckled to himself and turned his attention back to his book.

Mabel rolled her eyes and placed her teacup on its tray with a little too much force causing quite the cacophonous sound.

Dipper audibly winced, shutting his book once again. "Is there something you would like to say, sister dearest? If you're frustrated, please refrain from taking it out on our French sets."

Mabel placed the French set that she had apparently abused onto the table. "I'm sorry but the two of you clearly cannot be in the same room together. I haven't felt this much tension since I walked into my ex-boyfriend's room and saw him with another girl."

Pacifica paused at Mabel's strange phrasing, but she understood her point. And she was right, of course she was. There was no way Pacifica and the egomaniac could peacefully coexist in the same room.

Dipper frowned. "I'm afraid it isn't me who is instigating. Rather, it's Pacifica."

Pacifica mirrored Dipper's frown.

Mabel sighed. "Don't make me do this. I will willingly lock you two in the closet together. Just so the rest of the people here don't have to deal with your arctic antics."

Dipper cocked a brow. "Arctic antics?"

"Yes because you both are being unreasonably cold to one another, and I'm getting chilly." Mabel rubbed her arms to prove her point. "So, y'all better talk this out relatively soon."

"We both know that talking about feelings isn't Dipper's strong suit." Pacifica rolled her eyes.

"Paz, come on." Mabel sighed. "Do not make me lock you two up together. You know that I will do it."

"Do not underestimate my sister." Dipper murmured. "As soon as she threatens someone, she usually means it."

The room went quiet for a few minutes after that. No one had anything left to say which made Mabel frustrated. After all, she wanted them to solve their issues.

Pacifica looked over at Dipper momentarily. She couldn't help it. Dipper hadn't even looked up at her, his eyes trained downward to the book he was reading.

She had to admit, maybe getting locked in a closet with him to 'solve their issues' would be the best idea for them. She would never admit it out loud.

"There now." Mabel stated. "Are you two done jabbing each other with pointless insults?"

"Clearly." Dipper sighed. "Are you quite finished playing 'matchmaker'?"

"That's not what I'm doing." Mabel bristled. "I couldn't care less whether you two got back together or not. It doesn't matter to me, as long as you guys aren't Cold War-ing each other. It's annoying."

"Mabel," Pacifica tried. Why explain everything that she had already explained before? It was exhausting.

"Mark my words, I will lock you guys somewhere." Mabel frowned. "So you guys better work things out right now." She walked off after that, leaving her teacup on the table, untouched.

Pacifica sighed, running a hand through her hair to calm herself down. She never enjoyed being in Dipper's presence longer than what was necessary.

"Right, then." Dipper murmured over the lip of his teacup. "Personally, I wouldn't appreciate being locked in a closet. Or anywhere she desires to place us. So, shall we discuss?"

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Hey y'all! It's been awhile with this story, hasn't it? I mentioned putting this one on hiatus until I finished Always, and with that finished, I feel fine working on this one again!

This chapter goes out to everyone who asked about this book being updated. I hope this is worth the wait! Stay safe out there and keep smiling my lovelies!

-Kaori Miyazono <3