It was a typical Saturday at the Mystery Shack, or so I thought. Mabel had somehow decided that today was the perfect day for a “bonding activity,” which she announced with her usual enthusiasm. I had hoped it would involve something fun and carefree, but of course, Mabel had other plans.
“Dipper, Pacifica,” Mabel called out as I was reading in the living room and Pacifica was sprawled on the couch with her phone. “You two are going to have a fun day together! I’ve planned out the ultimate scavenger hunt for you.”
Pacifica looked up, clearly unimpressed. “A scavenger hunt? Seriously?”
“Absolutely!” Mabel said, her eyes gleaming. “And no backing out. It’s going to be amazing. You guys need to work as a team and have fun!”
I sighed. “I guess there’s no getting out of this, huh?”
Pacifica rolled her eyes. “This is going to be a disaster.”
Mabel clapped her hands together. “Great! Off you go. I’ve hidden clues all around the Shack. And remember, no arguing—just teamwork!”
As soon as Mabel left us to it, Pacifica and I exchanged glances. She stood up, folding her arms. “Alright, partner, let’s get this over with.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible.
We started our scavenger hunt, which was really just Mabel’s way of making us spend time together. The first clue was hidden in the attic, which meant climbing up the creaky stairs.
“Why do I always end up in these situations?” Pacifica muttered as we reached the top.
“I ask myself the same thing,” I replied, “though I suppose it’s better than hanging out with Philipstein.”
Pacifica’s expression darkened a bit. “Don’t start.”
“Sorry,” I said quickly. “Just making an observation.”
As we searched the attic, Pacifica found the next clue hidden in an old chest. She snatched it out with a look of triumph. “Got it. Let’s move.”
We proceeded to the next location, which was the backyard. As we were hunting for the next clue, Pacifica’s phone rang. She glanced at it and rolled her eyes. “Ugh, it’s Philipstein. Give me a second.”
Pacifica walked a few feet away to take the call, leaving me alone in the backyard. I was halfway through deciphering the next clue when I noticed a girl approaching. She was pretty, with a bright smile and a friendly demeanor.
“Hey there,” she said, flashing a charming smile. “I couldn’t help but notice you’re looking a bit lost. Need any help?”
I was taken aback. “Uh, sure, thanks. I’m Dipper, and I’m trying to solve this scavenger hunt.”
“Nice to meet you, Dipper,” she said, leaning in a little too close for comfort. “I’m Jessica. Maybe I can help with the clue?”
“Oh, um, sure,” I said, feeling a bit flustered. “That would be great.”
Jessica leaned over to take a look at the clue. “You know, you’re actually kind of cute when you’re concentrating.”
I felt my cheeks redden. “Uh, thanks. I guess.”
After a few more minutes of chatting and solving clues, Jessica gave me her phone number with a flirty smile. “It was fun helping you out. If you ever need more assistance, just give me a call.”
I stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the piece of paper with her number. “Uh, thanks. I—I’ll think about it.”
Jessica walked away, and I stood there with a goofy smile plastered on my face, still processing what had just happened.
Pacifica, having wrapped up her phone call, walked back over, her expression shifting from irritation to something more complicated as she saw me still standing there with the phone number.
“Who was that?” she asked, trying to sound casual but failing to hide the jealousy in her voice.
“Oh, just a girl I met,” I said, still grinning like an idiot. “She helped me with the scavenger hunt and gave me her number.”
Pacifica’s eyes widened. “Seriously? Just like that?”
“Yeah,” I said, shrugging. “I didn’t really catch her name, but she seemed nice.”
Pacifica’s jaw tightened, and she quickly changed the subject. “Well, we should probably get back to the scavenger hunt.”
I nodded, still oblivious to her feelings. “Sure thing. Let’s go.”
As we continued with the scavenger hunt, Pacifica was quieter than usual, clearly preoccupied. I, on the other hand, was still basking in the glow of unexpected attention, completely unaware of the impact it had on Pacifica.
We managed to find the last clue, and Mabel greeted us with her usual excitement. “Did you guys have fun? Did you bond?”
“Yeah,” I said, “it was... something.”
Pacifica managed a smile, but there was a tension in her demeanor that I didn’t quite understand. As we wrapped up the scavenger hunt and went inside, I couldn’t help but feel that something was a bit off, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
Mabel was satisfied with the day’s events, and as she went over the scavenger hunt results, I glanced over at Pacifica, still trying to figure out why she seemed so out of sorts. But for now, I was too preoccupied with my new phone number and the curious, fluttery feeling it left me with.
