Age is just a number

Chapter Seventeen: The Gates Open

Pacifica POV

"Oh no! Someone help! Someone help!" Dipper's voice echoes he turns into wood. That's it. This ghost has gone too far, and I'm not going to let him continue. I work up a lot of courage before yelling "Hey ugly! Over here!" He turns his head, "Want me to let in the townsfolk? Because I'll do it! Just change everyone back!"

"You wish to prove yourself? Pull that lever and open the gate to the town. Fulfill your ancestors promise." The ghost replies.

I see my dad pop his head out of our secret door to the basement. "Pacifica Elise Northwest, don't you dare pull that lever. We can't let the townsfolk see is like this! We have a reputation to uphold! We have enough mini sandwiches and water to last you, me, and a butler for a week." He then leans towards me and whispers "We'll eat the butler." I sure hoped he was kidding.

It took a lot for me to avoid the urge to go into the basement with my parents, especially when my dad began ringing the command bell. However, I stools strong.

"Dingaly, dingaly," my dad said while ringing the bell, "is this bell broken?"

"Our family name is broken, and I'm going to fix it." I gave a big yank to the old lever, and just like that the gates opened. The townsfolk rushed inside quickly.

The ghost was ecstatic. "My heart once as hard as oak, now grows soft like a birch or something," he began, "Pacifica, you are not like the other Northwest's. I feel ghostly justice."

The phantom began to rise up, as all of the guests returned to their non-wood selves.

I saw Dipper grab his journal and walk towards me. I wonder if he'll finish his sentence from before the ghost interrupted us (after the kiss).

"Hey Pacifica, can we go outside and talk?" He asks me

"Sure," I say, as we begin to walk outside.

"I see you opened the gates! That's awesome! You saved us, you know?" He says

"Yes I know," I reply, "I needed to show I was unlike my parents."

"Well you sure proved it to me!" He replies, "But the real reason I wanted to talk to you was about before... when you, um, kissed me..." He struggles to get to the point.

I feel myself blush as we sit next to each other on a bench in the garden, under the stars. This will be a great conversation. I wonder if he'll ask me out now, or if he'll wait.

"Ya" I begin, trying to hide my excitement, "what about it?"

"Well, you see, all this time before tonight I thought you were just a heartless bully out to pick on my family. However, tonight you changed my mind. To be honest, tonight I started feeling a little awkward around you. Not in like a 'you use to be my enemy' kind of way but more of a 'I kinda like you, don't mess up' kind of way."

"Go on..." I urge him to continue, smiling because I like where this is going. He notices my smile.

"Dang it!" He says under his breath.

"What?" I ask him, shocked and confused at his sudden mood swing.

"This is what I was trying to avoid." He says

"What was?" I ask

"Making you smile, and blush, and think that I'm about to ask you out. I have to get right to the point now, so it'll hurt less. I have a girlfriend." He says quickly

"Wait! What!!!" I yell, a bit too loud, "You mean this whole night, you were just toying with my emotions?" I can feel myself coming close to tears.

"Pacifica, no I wasn't trying to. I like you, actually, but I'm dating someone else who I like too."

I knew it was too good to be true. Of course he has a girlfriend. Why wouldn't he? He's smart, sweet, cute, and very brave. I should've known. At this point I'm in tears.

"Pacifica, I know you like me. I'm sorry,
I'm trying to make this as painless as possible but it's not working very well. I'm sorry." He leans towards me to give me another hug.

"Stop," I say, grabbing his arms, "I can't be toyed with any longer. It hurts too much."

I look into Dipper's brown eyes, now glossy as well. He looks so sorry and sad.

"If we're both so sad over this, maybe you should break up with your girlfriend." I suggest

"I can't do that, I love her." He replies.

"Well you have to choose, who will it be? Me or your current girlfriend?" I ask

"Pacifica, I can't break up with my current girlfriend. I'm sorry. I'm going to go now, and rethink tonight." He says, "Bye."

He begins to walk away, but I run up and hug him one last time.

"I understand. Don't choose, keep your current girlfriend. Just give me a hug goodbye." I request, and he does. It's the best hug I'd ever had. But once it was over, my heart was in pieces.