Chapter Text
It was commonly known that if there was a party, Pacifica Northwest would either be the hostess or the center of attention. Tonight, however, she had taken a back seat, standing in a dark corner while taking sips of her drink every so often. She watched as everyone around her talked and danced, with people already making out aggressively. Just as she was about to call it a night, something - more like someone - stopped her.
"PACIFICA NORTHWEST, IS THAT YOU?"
Pacifica suddenly felt herself being squeezed tightly. The person pulled back, and it was none other than Mabel Pines. It had been a few years since she last saw her. Usually, her family would send her away for the summer, with hopes that her enrollment in numerous different courses and camps would eventually help her rebuild the Northwest name.
She looked at Mabel, smiling. She still had that wide smile, the smile that lit up the whole room. She was in a neon tube top and blue flares, her hair having several streaks of neon in it.
"It's been a while, huh?" Pacifica said, smiling gently as she realized she had just been staring at Mabel for the last few minutes.
"TELL ME ABOUT IT! God, it's been like three years? ANYWAYS, how have you been?" Mabel asked enthusiastically, dragging Pacifica to a random couch and grabbing a cup of the spiked punch on the way.
"I've been okay. You know how my parents are," Pacifica said with a sigh, looking out at the crowd.
"Enough about me, though. What brings you here tonight?" she asked, bringing her gaze back to Mabel, smiling as she took a sip of her drink.
"Funnily enough, I'm here to support—"
Suddenly, Mabel was cut off when the sound of a microphone being tapped on filled the room.
"Is this thing working? Anyways, HELLO GRAVITY FALLS!"
Pacifica recognized that voice, but from where? She got up and started walking towards it, making her way through the crowd that had formed.
"My name is Dipper Pines, and we are the Mystic Realms!"
Pacifica's eyes widened as she reached the front of the crowd.
Dipper was on stage with the girl she believed was called Wendy and Mabel's friends Candy and Grenda. Despite the unusual group, they looked good together, with Wendy holding a shiny red bass, Grenda on the drums, and Candy on the keyboard.
Pacifica brought her eyes back to Dipper. He had a black electric guitar draped across him, his hands holding onto the microphone stand as he spoke. His hair had grown longer, with a black beanie replacing his signature Pine Tree Cap. He was in black baggy jeans and a white vest, a chained belt holding them up as he wore some sort of dog tag. His hands had a silver ring on, the number 3 seeming to be engraved in it, with an earring of a book in it.
Pacifica could feel her face heating up as she took in the new Dipper, snapping out of her trance as she heard the sound of drums beginning to lay down a beat.
This was going to be fun.
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Dipper was exhausted.
"THANK YOU! COME BY THE MYSTERY SHACK IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE!" he shouted as he gathered up his instruments and picked up his black hoodie he had thrown over to the corner.
Dipper, at 14, had picked up the electric guitar. He doesn't really know how it happened, but it filled up his free time when he needed a breather from the paranormal his life contained. However, it had been Wendy's idea to start a band.
Despite being the lead singer and guitarist, he had to be convinced to even get on stage. But with the help of peer pressure and the promise of assisting him on his next monster hunt, Dipper was whisked away by Mabel to get "stage ready." By the time she was done, he was out of his usual flannel and shorts and was wearing Mabel's creations.
He stepped into the cold night air, pulling out his phone to check the time. It was just 2 a.m.
He sighed, his head falling against the brick wall of the house. He took off the beanie Mabel had given him, feeling his hair poof up. God, he needed a haircut.
"Well well well. If it isn't the former nerd of Gravity Falls turned into an emo heartthrob."
Dipper glanced up to see none other than Pacifica Northwest.
"Pacifica?" he said, smiling as he turned towards her. God, it had been years since he'd last seen her. She still had her signature blonde hair, now in loose curls around her shoulders. She wore a purple crop top, a sparkling silver skirt, and heels that made her shine under the night sky. Despite the heels, she was only a few inches taller than she had been at 12. Dipper figured he was at least a head taller than her now.
"Miss me, Pines?" she said, a playful tone in her voice but a genuine smile on her face as she looked up at him.
"God, it's been ages. How have you been? I don't need to get rid of any more ghosts for you, do I?" he said, matching her teasing tone, his eyes meeting her sapphire eyes.
"No, sadly. I've been busy abiding by my parents' wishes of trying to amend the Northwest name," she said, sighing as her gaze left Dipper's and focused on the stars above them.
"But enough about me. Since when do you play guitar? And why can you actually sing?" she continued, a smile returning to her face as she looked at him again, an amused look on her face.
He chuckled lightly, leaning against the wall again.
"I started around two years ago. It was a much safer hobby that I could do when I didn't feel like risking my life. It was Wendy's idea to form a band, though. I had to be dragged here tonight by Mabel," Dipper explained, fiddling with his ring as he spoke.
"Well, I'm proud of you, Pines. You finally have a chance of not dying a virgin, though I doubt it," Pacifica replied, a smirk across her face.
"Ha-ha, very funny. I thought girls liked musicians?" he said, tilting his head slightly, a small smile forming as he spoke.
"I mean, you're not wrong, but once you know that behind this bad boy persona there's a massive nerd, it's hard to fall for you, Pines," she continued, her tone sarcastic as she spoke, wrapping her arms around herself as she felt the cold night air against her skin.
Dipper laughed.
"I'm sure one day, when I'm busy researching for one of my 'nerd' activities, you'll be knocking on the door of the Mystery Shack and confessing your undying love for me," he said, his gaze meeting Pacifica's. His face suddenly felt warm as she looked up at him, pink dusting her cheeks.
"I-in your dreams, Pines," she said, breaking the silence, turning her gaze away again as she wrapped her arms tighter around her body.
Dipper chuckled lightly, looking up into the night sky, the stars illuminating the ground.
"Hey, I gotta go find Mabel and everyone else since I promised I would be the designated driver tonight. Will I see you around?" he said, breaking the silence as he picked up his guitar and started looking for his car keys.
Pacifica pondered for a moment.
"Yeah. I'll see you around, Pines," she said, smiling softly at him.
Dipper returned her smile, throwing his hoodie at her.
"And wear this! I can't have you getting sick and spreading it to me later!" he shouted back, sending a playful look at her before returning inside.
As Dipper stepped inside, he was immediately met with a very drunk and hyperactive Mabel.
"HEY BRO BRO! I SAW YOU TALKING TO PACIFICA! ISN'T SHE SO PRETTY NOW? DO YOU STILL LIKE—" Dipper muffled his sister's shouts, looking around to see if anyone was listening.
"Shhhh, Mabel. She's literally outside. Now come on, I have to get you and everyone else home before they end up spending the night here," Dipper said as he began to gather his friends, his face warm as he pictured Pacifica in his hoodie, hoping that she would make good on his word and actually come see him.