Taking Cover | Gravity Falls

Taking Cover

Gravity Falls saw its fair share of festivals and holiday parties. Valentine's day was no different. A nice carnival with heart-shaped...everything.

Couples roamed the grounds. A few were boarding the ferris wheel. The bandage on the side went unnoticed by a few. Others were tossing horseshoes. Mainly the married couples who knew how to play. But there was one game everyone was observing. Or rather, taking bets on.

"Ok folks!" Stan Pines cheered, "Little Dipper's in the lead but his girlfriend is close behind! Who's gonna win!?"

Dipper had popped 13 balloons so far. He was about to claim a 14th until Pacifica's throw tied them up.

Dipper groaned, "Grunkle Stan, you're distracting me."

Pacifica chuckled, "Oh, is that your excuse?"

The two teens threw another pair. Dipper's missed by an inch. Pacifica's went into Old Man McGucket's shirt. Why he was standing next to the booth, neither of them knew. Then again, it was Old Man McGucket after all. He didn't even respond to the dart stuck in his shoulder.

The most he did was a confused, "Someone say my name?"

"Congratulations. You punctured the elderly," Dipper teased.

"I'll puncture you if you keep it up."

Stan collected more of the crowd's dollars. Writing down the calls. Gleefully laughing as his pockets weren't able to keep all the bills in.

Dipper & Pacifica had one dart each. All bets were now closed. A sudden hush fell over the crowd. The only noise was the music from other attractions.

Dipper bit his tongue as he aimed. Pacifica narrowed her eyes, drawing back. Stan counted his haul, not even paying attention to the outcome.

The two let fly! Pines had spent years living up to his role as Ford's protege. Northwest had gained excellent hand-eye coordination from her multiple-time mini-golf championship wins. So with a little concentration, their darts hit.

Specifically, both their darts hit one another. Somehow, they were aiming at the same balloon. Well, not really 'somehow' as the two winked to each other upon accomplishing their part of the scam. Leaving Stan to let the audience know the result. Happily let them know.

"Oh! It's a draw! Meaning everyone loses! Except me! I win...all of your money! Later!"

The only thing faster than Stan's explanation were his legs. Neither Dipper nor Pacifica got a word in by the time Stan was out of sight. Luckily, Dipper was used to his grunkle's scams enraging people.

"And now we run," Dipper said. He grasped her hand and took off opposite of Stan. "Come on!"

"Hey! Careful! These bracelets are platinum!"

The two sprinted away from the few townsfolk chasing them. They stayed close, looking for a spot to give them a slip.

Ducking behind a ride, the two watched their pursuers run by. Dipper kept hold of Pacifica's hand as hid inside the structure. Not that Pacifica minded.

"Why'd you wear bracelets to a carnival?" Dipper asked.

Pacifica, now 16, stood at 5'3. Puberty helped define her cheekbones and had given her an hourglass figure. But it by no means hit her the same way it did Dipper.

He was the same age but was easily 5 inches taller. A larger frame as well with broad shoulders and chin stubble. Dipper wasn't as massive as his great uncles. But he certainly wasn't 'little'.

"Uh, because they match my earrings. Why didn't you get more dressed up?"

Dipper peeked outside their hiding spot, "We're gonna have to lay low a bit." Looking back to Northwest, "Also, I am dressed up."

Pacifica wore a pink dress shirt and sparkling lavender skirt. Previously mentioned bracelets and earrings along with a necklace, and you'd think she was going to a 5-star restaurant. Dipper had a flannel shirt tucked into jeans. Sure, he combed his hair. But his head wasn't full of products like Pacifica's.

"Whatever, let's go inside there."

'There', being the ride across from where they were hiding. A ride that made Dipper almost turn as red as his flannel. He almost thought it was a joke.

It was the 'Tunnel of Love'.

"Seriously?!" Dipper asked. Pacifica smirked hearing his voice go up three octaves.

"What? You heard Stan. I'm your 'girlfriend'." She crossed her arms and leaned against the roller coaster sign. "So, what's it gonna be?"

Dipper raised a brow. Yes, the 'girlfriend' line was just Stan mocking them. Yes, he found Pacifica incredibly attractive. And yes, he'd love to see if this opportunity led to something more.

No, he didn't want to go on a corny ride. No, Stan would never let him live it down if he spotted them on a mechanical swan. And no, he didn't think Pacifica wanted to actually go on.

Why? Well, there was a sweat drop on her forehead. Her foot was tapping. And she couldn't keep eye contact for more than five seconds.

Calling her bluff, "Sure. Let's go."

Dipper could almost hear Pacifica internally screaming. If anything, her enlarged eyes told him he was right. Now, it was just a matter of her conceding.

"Yeah?" She whimpered. "Uh, ok then. Let's go."

Now, Dipper really was blushing. Both of them were. All the way to the tunnel. They even held hands like a real couple.

But, real couples wanted to go on this ride. Real couples were happy to be standing in line for this, what Dipper thought to be, overhyped attraction. Not one of the couples in front of the two were dreading the entrance.

Pacifica was the only person gripping the hem of her skirt like a child gripping a teddy bear. She was the only girl red like a tomato. She was the only 'girlfriend' hoping the ride would be shut down by some miracle.

"You wanna go back to our old hiding spot?" Dipper asked.

Pacifica couldn't pull him back under the roller coaster fast enough. She exhaled hard after getting out of sight. Dipper tried not to laugh. And failed.

"What's so funny? Troll boy?"

Dipper, still snickering, "You're such a fancy girl. You walk into a room, and all eyes are on you. Beauty and grace. I didn't think P.D.A would scare you so much."

Northwest side-eyed Pines. She was gearing a good insult. Something to wipe that smirk off his face. But what she realized was, he complimented her.

"You think I'm 'beautiful'?"

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her full face was lit up by the nearby lights, showcasing her make-up and pretty lips. Eyes bright like the distant stars. Dipper's ability to form a sentence was tossed into the next state.

"Well, I just. Ya know! Beauty is...attractive. It's not like, uh. Valentine's day. Ya know?"

Pacifica scoffed. She stood up completely. And she stood toe to toe with a redwood Pine. She wasn't exactly back to her normal skin tone either. But her heart rate had recovered enough.

"You wanna try that again? In English?"

Dipper looked down at her. Wondering how such a smug face could be so pretty. Wondering what she might be up to this time. Wondering if he could spend more time figuring it out.

"Yeah," Dipper said. "It's Valentine's day and I'm with a beautiful girl. Let's find something to do."

Pacifica raised a brow, "I dunno. This seems fine. Talking with a hot guy."

Dipper didn't hesitate to mirror tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. Pushing air instead of his brown locks.

"You think I'm 'hot'?" he impersonated.

She playfully pushed him, "Shut up!"

No one noticed the two talking under a roller coaster. Talking about each other and aspirations. Talking until the carnival closed for the night. By that time, it had been the best first date either had ever had.

Stan meanwhile, spent the night at the station for illegal gambling.

END