I stumbled down the stairs, still half asleep and rubbing my eyes. I could feel the cool air against my bare skin, and it took me a moment to realize I was shirtless. Of course, I had been hoping to find my shirt in the laundry basket before I ran into anyone.
“Mabel!” I called, my voice rough with sleep. “What did you do with my shirt?”
I blinked groggily, trying to make sense of the scene in front of me. Mabel was crouched by Waddles, our adorable but very round pig, who was currently wearing my hat and vest. My only clean shirt seemed to be missing, and Waddles was waddling around, looking like a mini version of me. Well, sort of.
“Look!” Mabel beamed, pointing to Waddles. “It’s Waddles dressed as you! Dipples!”
I groaned, too tired to appreciate the pun. “Seriously, Mabel?”
Pacifica was sitting on the couch, holding a mug of what smelled like freshly brewed coffee. Her eyes were fixed on me, her cheeks a rosy hue, lips slightly parted as if she were about to say something but couldn’t find the words.
The sight of her looking at me like that made my heart skip a beat. I suddenly became very aware of my lack of a shirt and felt a flush creeping up my neck. “Uh, morning, Pacifica.”
“Morning,” she replied, her voice a bit more composed than I’d expected. But I couldn’t miss the way her gaze lingered, just a moment too long, before she looked back at her coffee.
“Mabel, can I have my clothes back?” I asked, focusing on my sister to distract myself from Pacifica’s piercing gaze.
Mabel pouted, still petting Waddles. “But Waddles looks so cute!”
“Yeah, yeah, adorable,” I muttered, making my way back upstairs to grab a navy blue hoodie. I needed to cover up and regain some semblance of normalcy before things got even more awkward.
When I came back downstairs, thankfully clothed, the three of us heard a commotion coming from the kitchen. Stan and Ford were bickering again, their voices carrying through the entire Shack.
“I’m telling you, Ford, I’m the better Grunkle!” Stan shouted.
Ford’s voice followed, equally loud and insistent. “In your dreams, Stanley! I’m the one who taught them everything they know about the supernatural!”
Pacifica looked at me, her eyebrows raised. “Do they always fight like this?”
“Pretty much,” I sighed, plopping down on the couch next to her. “It’s like a morning routine.”
Mabel came over, abandoning her pig-dressing project to join us. “We should go see what they’re fighting about this time!”
We all got up and headed towards the kitchen. Stan and Ford were standing by the counter, both gesturing wildly.
“Okay, what’s going on?” Mabel asked, jumping right into the fray.
Stan pointed at Ford, his face red with frustration. “He thinks he’s the better Grunkle just because he has a fancy PhD!”
Ford crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. “And Stan thinks being good at poker makes him superior!”
I leaned against the doorway, exchanging a glance with Pacifica, who was trying not to laugh. “Grunkles, seriously?”
They both turned to us, seeming to forget their argument for a moment. “Hey, kids!” Stan said, grinning. “Want to settle a debate?”
Ford nodded, adjusting his glasses. “Yes, I’m sure you’d agree that my contributions to your education were invaluable.”
Mabel giggled, nudging me with her elbow. “Oh boy, they’re at it again.”
Pacifica rolled her eyes but smiled, clearly entertained. “I think you’re both great in your own ways.”
“Diplomatic,” I commented, giving her an appreciative look.
Stan and Ford seemed momentarily appeased by Pacifica’s response, but Mabel had a mischievous glint in her eye. “You know what this calls for?” she said.
“Oh no,” I groaned, knowing what was coming next.
“A competition!” Mabel announced, clapping her hands. “Grunkle Olympics! Winner gets bragging rights!”
Stan and Ford both looked intrigued, their competitive spirits reignited. “You’re on!” they declared in unison.
As the Grunkles started planning their absurd competition, I felt Pacifica lean closer to me. “You sure know how to keep things interesting around here.”
I smirked, feeling more at ease. “Yeah, it’s never a dull moment.”
The tension between us seemed to ease, replaced by shared amusement. Even if things were complicated, moments like these made it all feel a bit lighter.
