Love, Hate, It's All The Same

Chapter 9: Blondie

"Hey, you know what?" Leo spoke through his mouthful of burger. "I've never seen you two actually kiss. I mean, I've seen Pacifica kiss your cheek that one time but that's about it."

"This again?" Dipper complained. Of course they haven't kissed! They aren't even a real couple! But how would Leo and Mabel know? As far as anyone at school knew, Dipcifica was as legit as it gets. Dipper sighed. "How many more times are we gonna have this conversation?"

"Until I'm satisfied with your answer." Leo answered brightly. Mabel voiced her agreement.

Dipper and Pacifica looked at each other. Leo and Mabel just keep bringing this topic up. They've brought it up so much that Dipper and Pacifica have actually been thinking about telling them the truth. And they seemed to have just reached an agreement right now. 

Dipper raised an eyebrow at Pacifica, as if to say "Should I tell them?". To which Pacifica replied with a subtle nod of her head.

"Fine, you want a satisfying answer? How about this: We're not dating. We never did." 

Dipper expected some kind of dramatic reaction from the two. As in loud gasps, protests, maybe even a declaration of war or something. But what Dipper got was very, very different from what he expected. Nope, all he got was a grin from his bestfriend and another from his sister.

"There it is!" Mabel exclaimed. "He finally said it!"

Dipper and Pacifica stared at the two, confused beyond belief.

"Wait, what?" Pacifica looked back and forth between Mabel and Leo. "You knew?"

"Ages ago, lady! Honestly, how long did you think you could hide it?" Leo laughed.

Dipper blinked. "And how long ago was "ages ago"?"

Leo thought for a moment, tapping his chin with a finger. "Right around when Mabel spread the news."

"But that was right from the beginning!" Pacifica exclaimed. She felt like she'd just been bamboozled. Which, technically, she was.

"You let us think we had to keep this lovey-dovey act when you're around." Dipper said incredulously. "Why the HELL would you do that?!"

"Can you blame us for taking the opportunity to make you uncomfortable?" Mabel grinned. "It was right in my face! How could I possibly resist?"

"I hate you." Dipper shook his head. "I hate you so much."

"Love you, too, broseph."

"Who else knows about this?" Pacifica asked cautiously. They'd be toast if this spreads to the school.

Mabel thought for a second. "No one else that I know of. Leo and I just kind of figured it out. I didn't even tell Candy or Grenda!"

"Well, at least I don't have to pretend around these morons anymore." Dipper gestured to Leo and Mabel.

Suddenly there was a sharp ringing sound emanating from Pacifica's bag. Pacifica rummaged through her bag, then produced her cell phone.

"Excuse me." She muttered before quickly walking away with her phone to her ear. 

"I have literally never seen her lunge for her phone like that." Dipper pointed out.

Mabel shrugged. "Must be really important. Who do you think was it? Her dad? A friend? Ooh, what if she has an actual boyfriend? Like, a real one who isn't faking their relationship?"

"Would you keep it down?" Dipper whispered frantically. "It's like you want the whole school to know!"

"Yeah, Mabel, don't tell everyone that Dipper and Pacifica aren't actually dating." Leo joked, receiving a glare from Dipper. He nodded at something behind Dipper, which Dipper found to be Pacifica walking back to their table. 

"You ok? You look like you've just seen a ghost." Dipper asked her with furrowed eyebrows.

"I wish." Pacifica said it so quietly, Dipper almost didn't catch it.

"What?"

"Hmm?" Pacifica looked up with mild surprise dancing on her features. "Oh, nothing."

"No, you said something just now." Dipper urged. "What do you mean, 'I wish'?"

"What are you talking about? I didn't say anything." Pacifica denied. Dipper opened his mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by the lunch bell. "C'mon, let's get to class."

* * *

Ringgggggg.

Dipper woke up to the sound of his phone ringing violently on his desk. He groggily snatched it up and turned it on to find that someone had left him multiple messages and several missed calls. He checked the time and saw that it was currently a bit past 2 am. Who on earth would be calling at this ungodly hour?

The caller ID of the previous calls popped up into the screen.

Blondie.

Dipper read the caller ID a couple more times to make sure his sleepy brain wasn't playing tricks on his eyes. What could she possibly want this time?

Dipper groaned as he swiped his screen to answer the call.

"Look who finally decided to answer."  Pacifica greeted.

Dipper yawned. "I'm sorry, I was busy trying to sleep. You know, like a normal person?"

"Sweetie, you are the furthest person from normal."

"Did you really call me at the crack of dawn just to insult me?"

"No, actually, I need your help."

"Interesting. It might be different with you rich people but normally, with us peasants, when someone needs help from another person, they don't offend the other person beforehand."

"Will you help me or not?"

Dipper groaned. "Can't it wait tomorrow?"

"Would I call you at this time if it wasn't urgent?"

"Yes, you would and you have. Multiple times before."

"Just get your ass over here."

"Seriously? It's like 2 am! Hello?" Dipper took the phone away from his ear and saw that Pacifica had already hung up. "Damn it."

15 minutes later, Dipper found himself staring up at one of the tall walls of Northwest Mansion. He activated the gloves and boots that he had used the last time he snuck into Pacifica's room. At least this time he knew which window to go to.

He approached the wall and placed his hands on its surface. Just as easily as he had done the first time, he slowly hoisted himself higher and higher up the wall until he reached the window, which was thankfully left open this time.

Inside he saw Pacifica in her pajamas sitting at the foot of her bed, with a bag next to her. She seemed to be deep in thought since she didn't even notice Dipper climbing in through her window until he hit the floor.

"Are you gonna tell me what this is about now?" Dipper stared at her expectantly.

Pacifica bit her lip. Whatever it is that she was about to say, she did not look very comfortable with it.

"Um... can I crash at your place tonight?"