Mabel's enthusiasm was infectious, but even I was starting to get worried about her latest idea. She’d decided to host a sleepover at the Shack and, for reasons only known to her, invited Pacifica.
"Come on, Dipper!" Mabel bounced around the living room, clutching a stack of horror movies and a bag of marshmallows. "It’s going to be so much fun! Just like old times!"
I glanced warily at the door, half-expecting Pacifica to burst in and start critiquing our sleeping arrangements. "Mabel, you really think this is a good idea?"
"Of course!" She beamed at me. "What could possibly go wrong?"
As if on cue, Pacifica arrived, carrying an overnight bag that looked more expensive than the entire Shack. She gave a quick nod to Mabel before zeroing in on me.
“Nice to see you again, Pines. Ready for some real fun?”
I forced a smile. “Yeah, sure. Real fun.”
We gathered in the living room, with Mabel flitting around setting up snacks and arranging the sleeping bags. Soos was there too, eager to join in the fun and occasionally providing unwanted commentary on the movies Mabel had chosen.
“Okay, first up: ‘Attack of the Zombie Gnomes!’” Mabel announced, popping the DVD into the player.
Pacifica wrinkled her nose. “Really, Mabel? That old thing? Don’t you have anything more recent? This is so outdated.”
I couldn’t help but jump in. “What’s wrong with the classics? Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s bad.”
Pacifica rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because nothing says ‘cutting-edge entertainment’ like ten-year-old special effects and predictable plots.”
Mabel, ever the peacemaker, tried to diffuse the situation. “Hey, come on, guys. It’s just for fun!”
“Fun?” Pacifica said, turning to me with a challenging look. “What’s your idea of fun, Dipper? Counting tree rings?”
I bristled. “I’m sorry if my idea of fun isn’t designer bags and overpriced spas. At least my hobbies don’t involve treating people like dirt.”
“Guys, chill!” Mabel interjected, but it was too late. We were both in full argument mode.
“You think you’re so superior with all your nerdy little projects,” Pacifica snapped. “Newsflash, Dipper: not everything can be solved with a journal and a magnifying glass.”
“And not everything can be fixed by throwing money at it,” I shot back. “Sometimes you actually have to work for things.”
Pacifica’s eyes flashed. “You think I don’t work hard? You have no idea what it’s like in my world, constantly having to prove yourself to people who think they know you because of your last name.”
I was taken aback for a moment. There was real hurt in her voice, but I wasn’t ready to back down. “Yeah, well, maybe if you stopped acting like you’re better than everyone, people wouldn’t think that.”
Mabel stepped between us, her expression pleading. “Guys, please. Can’t we just have one night without fighting?”
We glared at each other, but Mabel’s words slowly sank in. I took a deep breath and backed off, sinking into one of the worn-out armchairs.
“Fine,” I muttered. “Let’s just watch the movie.”
Pacifica folded her arms and plopped down on the couch, as far from me as possible. “Fine by me.”
Mabel looked relieved and hit play. The movie started, and for a while, we sat in tense silence, the only sounds coming from the TV and Soos’s occasional chuckles.
But halfway through, Mabel, being Mabel, decided to instigate a pillow fight. It started with a harmless toss in Soos’s direction, but soon we were all embroiled in a full-blown pillow war.
“Take that!” Mabel cried, launching a pillow at Pacifica.
Pacifica ducked and retaliated, and before I knew it, she and I were engaged in a fierce battle, hurling pillows and insults with equal vigor.
“You fight like a girl!” I teased, dodging one of her swings.
“That’s because I am a girl, you dolt!” she retorted, landing a hit squarely on my shoulder.
Finally, we both collapsed in a heap of laughter, the tension from earlier melting away. Mabel clapped her hands, delighted.
“See? This is what I’m talking about! Fun and laughter!”
Pacifica caught her breath and looked at me, her eyes twinkling. “Okay, I’ll admit. That was kind of fun.”
I grinned, still panting from the exertion. “Yeah, it was. Maybe you’re not so bad at this whole sleepover thing.”
She smirked. “And maybe you’re not completely hopeless.”
Mabel wrapped us both in a tight hug. “Yay! Progress!”
As the night wore on, we found ourselves actually enjoying each other’s company. The arguing was still there, but it felt different—less hostile, more like a game we were both getting better at playing.
And maybe, just maybe, this summer wouldn’t be so bad after all. Even if it meant dealing with Pacifica Northwest.
