It Started With a Partnership (discontinued)

ten: the agreement

It had been a week since my run-in with Not-Dipper and nearly twice as long since my run-in with the real Dipper. 

So far, I had nothing. No new leads on mystery boy number one, and I really didn't want to think about mystery boy number two. 

I sat at the edge of my backyard, a legal pad and pen in hand. I wrote down everything I knew about Dipper. Which wasn't that much. 

1. A year or two older than me
2. Shows up whenever a ghost or monster attacks
3. Maybe hangs about Greasy's Diner
4. A complete mystery

There wasn't too much to him that I knew. It would be much easier if he just told me a little something, a little more than just his name. 

Guess I didn't have to wait that long. 

As I wrote things down, I heard a twig snap from just inside the woods. My head jolted up, and I couldn't help but ask, "who's there?" 

"Behind you, Barbie. Heard you were lookin' for me." 

I turned around and nearly fell off the log I was sitting on. A hand reached out to keep me steady and I decided that I had enough. 

I got up from my sitting position and glared at Dipper. "Okay, you need to answer some serious questions, mister! For starters, how did you know I was looking for you?!" 

Dipper grinned, shifting his weight onto one leg. "I have connections."

Even as he spoke I realized that he didn't have an accent like Mason Gleeful did. So Dipper really was a whole other person. 

"You have some explaining to do." I continued. "I need to know why you look exactly like Mason Gleeful." 

Dipper snorted, and took a seat on the log, looking entirely too nonchalant. "I get that a lot. And, let me tell you, I've often thought about pretending to be him sometimes." 

"Why do you look so similar?" 

"I dunno, Barbie, a ton of people have dark hair and blue eyes." He ran a hand through his tousled hair. "Perhaps we were twins separated at birth." 

I snorted. "Yeah, I guess. But Mason is ten times more good-looking than you are." I exclaimed before I truly thought about it. What was I saying? 

Dipper raised a brow. "You think Mason Gleeful is good looking? Isn't he kind of an arse?" 

"Oh, most definitely." I nodded in confirmation, chuckling alongside the mystery boy. "Also, who goes to London for an exchange program?" 

Dipper simply shrugged. "Afraid I've never been outta the country before, so I wouldn't know. I understand the appeal, however; getting away from your family for awhile." 

"Anyways," I continued trying to get back to the matter at hand all the while trying not to think about the attractive jerk. "We need to talk. You can't just ask for my help with the supernatural and then keep me in the dark about it! Also, how come you disappear all the time? And how come you're always conveniently there when a monster attacks me? Also, why did your eyes glow that night at the store when you made the candle light itself?" I rattled off. 

Dipper rolled his eyes very theatrically. "Okay, Barbie, I'll bite. I keep a low profile for my own protection. There is no one I value more than myself. Second, I call those incidents simply coincidental; I had no idea that you would be near a place like that and, to play devil's advocate for myself, you're lucky that I was because otherwise you would've ended up just like your friends, so really you should be thanking me for saving your life again. And my eyes? Barbie, you wouldn't even believe me if I told you." 

"Once again, it's Pacifica, not Barbie." I scoffed. "Now, please tell me. I think after everything I've witnessed, something else couldn't be more shocking." 

Dipper heaved a sigh that made him sound a century older. "Pacifica," he said actually using my first name for once. "The creatures that hang around Reverse Falls aren't the only ones who have magic." 

I huffed out a laugh. "What?! You have magic?!" 

Dipper frowned. "I told you so. I knew you wouldn't believe me." 

"Okay, y'know," I sucked in a deep breath. "I hate to say it, but I should've seen it coming. I mean, a guy as mysterious as you are, it makes sense." 

Dipper nodded wearily. "Look, Pacifica, I think the two of us got off on the wrong foot." 

"What do you mean? We've hardly had a conversation before." I wrinkled my nose. 

"Look, I hate to insult you anymore than I have already," Dipper began slowly, "but you seem to get into trouble with monsters quite often." 

"Yeah, I know." I rubbed my arm awkwardly. Wait, had he insulted me prior? "So, what about it?" 

Dipper turned to regard me, finally hopping off the log. "If you want, I can give you a few pointers that may actually save your life so I don't have to go out of my way to do so." 

"Gee, thanks." I muttered. "But I don't think that a few pointers will help me." 

"Do you want to know about this town, Pacifica?" Dipper asked me. 

"More than anything."

"Well, I believe the smartest choice that the both of us can make is," he paused for what I discerned as dramatic effect, "to become partners." 

"Partners?" I echoed. 

"I can teach you all that I know and, that way, you don't need me to save your life every five minutes." He smirked. 

"I do not always need your help!" I yelled and rose from the log.

"Face it, Barbie, you're hopeless without me." He chuckled a little bit more before his tone completely changed. "It's simple, really," he took a step closer to me, "we're partners." 

"Partners?" I wrinkled my nose. The word didn't sit right. "Why would I want to work with you?" 

"Because despite everything you're curious. You want answers. Answers only I can give you." He shrugged. "You want to know, and help the people around here, right?" 

"yes," I glanced down at my feet. "I do." 

"So, partners?" He stuck out a hand for me to shake. 

I took a deep breath. Should I trust him? I didn't have the entire answer figured out just yet, but I shook his hand regardless. "Partners." 

And my fate was set in stone.