Love, Hate, It's All The Same

Chapter 1: Mystery Soup

"Please tell me this is Room 2-B." She breathed.

"You must be the new student. Yes, this is Room 2-B." The teacher smiled at her. He turned to face the rest of the class. "Everybody, please welcome - um -"

"Pacifica Northwest." She waved to the class. "Sorry I'm late. I got lost in the hallways. My family just moved here."

"Yes, well, I suppose that's why Dipper over there-" Sir Williams, the teacher, pointed at Dipper, who was still intently focused on his drawing "- will be helping you get familiar with the school grounds. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to show you around. Isn't that right, Mr. Pines?"

Dipper glanced up. "What? Oh ye-"

Dipper stared at the new girl. He knew this girl. He wasn't sure how, but he knew this girl. She stared at him, as if thinking the same thing. Finally it clicked.

"You!" They said in unison. 

"You're that girl who ran into me and bolted!" 

"Well, you were in my way! At least, I apologized!"

"You nailed me on the nose with your elbow!"

"I already said I'm sorry!" 

"I'm bleeding! 'Sorry' isn't gonna stop me from bleeding!"

The class watched Pacifica and Dipper's back-and-forth as if it were a tennis match. Dipper was standing up now. Pacifica had her arms crossed. Finally their teacher broke the silence

"So, um... I suppose you're already well acquainted." Sir Williams cleared his throat. "Erm, Pacifica, why don't you take the seat at the back over there?"

The two continued to glare at each other as they both took their seats. The room was quiet except for the scraping of the two's chairs against the tiled flooring of the classroom. When the teacher spoke, all eyes in the classroom immediately flicked to the front of the room.

"Well, then. I guess I don't have much more to say, so, I don't know, go wander the halls or something."

* * *

"If you can't stand being around me, then why do you keep following me?!" Dipper demanded during one of their spats.

"I'm not following you around, Dipstick." Pacifica snapped. "I have most of my classes with you and everything. So as much as I hate it, I don't have a choice but to be in the same room as you 90% of the time."

Unfortunately for them both, that was indeed the case. So naturally, it began to raise some suspicions and inspire some rumors.

"Dude, seriously. What's up with you and the new girl?" Leo asked him before homeroom.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dipper scrunched his eyebrows at his bestfriend.

"You two spend more time together than we do and we've been friends since kindergarten." Leo pointed out.

"I'm supposed to show her around school remember?" 

"Yeah, but that was like, two weeks ago."

"Quit being a vague prick and just ask me what you're trying to ask."

Leo sighed. "Are you two going out and stuff?"

Dipper blinked. 

"Why would I go out with her of all people?!" Dipper suddenly turned defensive. "She's annoying as hell, she's incredibly- "

"Woah, chill man. I'm just asking what the people are asking." Leo interrupted.

"People-? What could possibly make 'people' think we're dating?! All we literally do is argue!"

"Well... someone supposedly saw you two, um- apparently, you were feeding each other food?"

"You're telling me if someone randomly took a bite of your burger, you wouldn't take a bite of theirs?"

"No, I wouldn't."

"Ridiculous."

"You guys walk home together."

"Her house is on the way to mine!" Dipper huffed. It sounded as if he'd never been more insulted in his life. He sighed. "I have got to talk to her about this. C'mon, let's get lunch."

"Oh actually, I was gonna go get lunch with Toby today. But I'll see you after school right?"

"Oh sure, sure." Dipper muttered and absent-mindedly waved at Leo. 

I can't believe anyone would think I'd go out with that blonde brat. Dipper thought as he walked down the hall. Although, that would explain why the guys are being even bigger jerks lately.

Dipper put a hand on the cafeteria door and pushed it open. What happened next didn't make much sense to Dipper. When he opened the door, he felt his body automatically move towards where Pacifica was sat. Next thing he knew, there was something cold, thick and chunky running down the back of his neck.

A girl was standing next to him, with an empty bowl in one hand. He was hunched over Pacifica and had a pool of gunk around his feet. Dipper was, no doubt, covered in the school's mystery soup.

"Oopsie." The girl touched her index finger to her lower lip. "Sorry, Dipper."

She smiled innocently up at Dipper before turning around and walking away. Dipper took this as his cue to turn to the blonde behind him, who had stood up and stepped away from the puddle of gunk.

"Gross, it got on my shoe."

"I'm covered in mystery soup and you're whining about your shoes..?" Dipper said in a steady voice despite how angry he felt. He set down the bowl on the table closest to him(he didn't even notice it was handed to him).

"That's soup?" Pacifica asked with a disgusted face. "What on earth do they put in it?"

"It's called mystery soup! Nobody knows what its made of!" Dipper said with a louder voice.

"Mr. Pines! Ms. Northwest! Do I need to call you into my office again?" 

Dipper whipped around to find one of their teachers at door of the cafeteria. 

"No, Mrs. June." The two answered simultaneously. She nodded at them.

"Ms. Northwest, please accompany Mr. Pines to his home for a change of clothes."

"What?! But-" Pacifica began to protest but was stopped dead by the stern look Mrs. June was giving her. "Yes, Mrs. June."

"Thank you. And make sure to come back in time for your next class." She said before walking out of the room. The two stood still for a while until Dipper spoke.

"Let's just go."

They headed for the doors. Dipper had his hand on the door handle when a voice called out.

"No detours you two!" The comment was followed by scattered giggling and chuckling. Dipper glared in the direction of the voice. Pacifica looked annoyed.

The two continued on their way to the Pines' home.