Love, Hate, It's All The Same

Chapter 2: Langstons Come For A Visit

"I feel bad for whoever's gonna clean that." Pacifica said after a while of silence.

"Yeah, feel bad for the janitor and ignore the guy soaked in gunk." Dipper muttered. Pacifica rolled her eyes.

"You didn't have to do that." She glanced at Dipper.

"I know." Dipper replied. He kept his gaze fixated on the path. "You don't get it do you?"

"Get what?" Pacifica watched her feet as she walked.

"You're the new girl."

"So?"

"Let me rephrase that. You're Miss Rich and Perfect. The hot new girl who most of the boys have a crush on. The girl who the popular girls are jealous of." Dipper counted on his fingers.

"Ugh, I hate stereotypes. They're so cliche."

"You're missing the point. The girl earlier? That was Chloe. One of the popular girls, cheer squad captain. What would you do if some random girl showed up and stole your spotlight?"

"I don't know but I know I won't pour mystery soup on them." Pacifica replied, now examining her fingernails.

"You're so dense. Besides, that's not your only problem."

"Didn't really think the first one was a problem but ok. What's the second one?" Pacifica turned to Dipper, who looked uneasy.

"Apparently, people are under the impression that- that we're... dating." He said the last word slowly.

"I know."

"What? And you're ok with that?" He asked perplexedly. He couldn't understand why she wasn't freaking out like he is.

"Oh God, no." Pacifica said quickly. "It's just... when you live under the Northwest name, you eventually find that you can't really control what people say about you. I learned that the hard way."

Dipper stared at Pacifica. He was surprised by how insightful her response was. But also by how sad she sounded when she said it.

"Hey, don't be weird. Stop staring." Pacifica nudged his head so that he was looking straight ahead. "Anyways, your house is too far. We won't make it back in time if we go all the way there, so just change at my place."

"You have guy clothes?" Dipper raised his eyebrow. "Are they stuff your ex left behind or something?"

"Don't be stupid. It's just the Gravity Falls merch that the mayor gave us when we first got here."

"Oh."

A few minutes later, the two finally arrive at Pacifica's place.

"I knew you lived in this street but I didn't know you lived in the mansion here." Dipper said as he gawked at the massive structure.

"Why would you know?" Pacifica asked just as the door swung open, revealing a bald, mustached man.

"Ah, Ms. Northwest. Your father is out at the moment."

"That's fine, Alfred. We're just here because this idiot got soup all over himself." Pacifica jabbed a thumb in Dipper direction. He grinned and waved Alfred.

"Oh, well then, please come in." The butler opened the door wider to let the two pass. "But we do not have any male casual attire available in the mansion, ma'am."

"Just get him the merch." Pacifica said simply. Alfred seemed to understand instantly.

"Yes, the merch. I'll be back in a moment." He left the room and returned a minute later with neatly folded clothes and a plastic bag. He handed the items to Dipper. "I'll show you to the changing rooms."

"I can do that. I need to grab something from my room anyway. Thank you, Alfred."

The man nodded and left the room as Pacifica headed towards the stairs. Dipper followed suit.

"You can use my bathroom." Pacifica told Dipper as she opened a door. "I just need to-"

"Grab something. Yeah, I was with you when you said it." Dipper added, which received an eye roll from Pacifica.

"Just get changed already, you stink." Pacifica pointed at a door across from the one she opened on the hallway. As Dipper shuffled his way into the bathroom, Pacifica went into her room to get her chemistry textbook.

* * *

"What took you so long?" Pacifica demanded when Dipper finally came out of the bathroom.

"Well, I had to wash it off my hair, too." He replied matter-of-factly. "And, uh, can I borrow a towel?"

"There are spare ones in the cabinet under the sink."

"Thanks." Dipper went back into the bathroom and emerged a moment later rubbing his head with a towel. His eyes dropped to the textbook in Pacifica's hands, pointed at it and said "Chemistry's tomorrow."

"I know, I just need to return this to Leo. Mr. Myers swapped our books." Pacifica started walking down the hallway. Dipper followed after her. They were already at the stairs when Dipper realized he had left his soup-soaked clothes in the bathroom.

"I'll be quick." He said before dashing off back the way they came. Pacifica shook her head disapprovingly and started down the stairs. She noticed there were more people in the living room than when they arrived.

"Dad?"

The man in the suit looked up. "Oh, Pacifica! I didn't know you'd be home for lunch."

"Yeah, I didn't either." Pacifica muttered as she continued walking.

"You remember the Langstons?" Her Dad gestured to the two other guys with him. Man #1 seemed to be the same age as her dad. Man #2 was much younger but had a striking resemblance to Man #1, probably Man #1's son.

"Bill Langston and his son, Vince." Pacifica's Dad gestured to the Man#1 and Man#2 respectively. They smiled at Pacifica. "They're here to take care of some business."

"I trust you remember our agreement, Preston?" Bill turned to Pacifica's father. He nodded. "Great. So is your daughter currently romantically involved with anyone?"

"I'm sorry, what agreement did you say was this again?" Pacifica blurted out. The question had taken her by surprise. Preston cleared his throat.

"Could I please have a moment with Pacifica?" He asked as he pulled her to the side. Once they were out of earshot, Pacifica turned to her dad and crossed her arms.

"A year ago, Bill and I had made a deal. If you and his kid didn't have partners by sixteen, we'd have you two paired together so that we could combine both our families' fortunes." Her father explained panickedly.

"Why would you agree to that!? You never agree to combining anything with other people!" Pacifica whispered. "And I don't wanna be that prick's girlfriend!"

"I was drunk! And I thought you'd have a boyfriend by now!" Preston argued. "Can't you-"

"Pacifica?"

Pacifica and Preston looked up to see Dipper standing at the top of the stairs looking relieved.

"Finally found you! I got lost in the halls." He said with a grin, which almost immediately disappeared when he realized there were other people in the room.

"Who's this?" Bill pointed at Dipper. Pacifica turned to her father and was alarmed to see a smile spread on his face. Pacifica could tell he had just gotten an idea. She could practically see a lightbulb floating above his head.

"I apologize if I forgot to tell you, Bill." Preston gestured for Dipper to come closer. "But this-" He clapped Dipper on the back, "- is dear Pacifica's boyfriend."