The weight of Pacifica’s confession lingered in the air, leaving me grappling with my own swirling emotions. I watched as she walked out the door, her figure disappearing into the night. The sudden silence was broken by the sound of rain beginning to fall, tapping against the window in a steady rhythm.
Without a second thought, I bolted outside, the rain hitting my face as I ran after her. “Pacifica, wait!” I shouted, my voice nearly drowned out by the downpour. “I love you too!”
Pacifica, already drenched, spun around, her face illuminated by the occasional flash of lightning. “No, you don’t!” she shouted back, her voice full of frustration and hurt.
Confusion and desperation surged through me. “What are you talking about? I do love you! I’ve just been too afraid to admit it!”
“Then why have you been so distant? Why haven’t you shown it before?” Her voice cracked, the rain mixing with her tears.
“I’ve been scared, okay? Scared that I wasn’t good enough, scared that I’d mess things up,” I said, my voice breaking as I fought to be heard over the rain. “But that’s no excuse. I should have been honest with you. I'm sorry but I love you.”
She shook her head, stepping further away from me. “You can’t just say you love me now and expect everything to be okay. Words are easy, Dipper!”
I couldn’t let her walk away. I took a deep breath, gathering my resolve. “Pacifica, please! I know I’ve messed up, but I’m trying now. I’m trying to fix it.”
“I don't believe you!”
In a sudden burst of determination, I grabbed her arm, spinning her towards me. Her eyes were wide with surprise, and the rain streamed down her face, mixing with the tears she’d tried to hide. I didn’t give her a chance to say anything more.
I closed the distance between us and kissed her, my lips meeting hers in a rain-soaked, desperate embrace. The world seemed to fade away as our kiss deepened, the rain creating a surreal, intimate backdrop to the moment.
Pacifica hesitated for just a heartbeat before she melted into the kiss, her arms wrapping around my neck. The tension and pain of the argument dissolved in that instant, replaced by the warmth and urgency of our connection. I could feel her heartbeat against mine, and for the first time in what felt like forever, everything felt right.
When we finally broke apart, both of us breathless and soaked to the bone, the rain continued to fall around us, a soft, constant reminder of the emotions that had just been laid bare.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face. “I should have told you how I felt sooner. I was afraid, but I never should have let that get in the way.”
Pacifica looked at me, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and lingering hurt. “You’re not the only one who’s been scared. I’ve been afraid too—afraid that you’d never see me the way I see you.”
“I see you, Pacifica,” I said softly, holding her close as the rain continued to fall. “I see you, and I love you.”
She nodded, a small, genuine smile forming on her lips. “I love you too, Dipper. I just needed to hear it.”
As we stood there in the rain, wrapped up in each other, I felt a renewed sense of hope. The storm around us mirrored the storm inside, but together, we found a moment of calm amidst the chaos. The rain kept falling, but for the first time, it felt like the world was falling into place.
