There he was, standing off to the side in the crowd of the dance that the Gravity Falls city council organized every summer. He'd grown well-over six feet since the last time Pacifica had saw him, a bit of a tan had begun to linger on his face, and he'd grown out his hair a bit, though it was still curling ridiculously to cover that constellation-shaped birthday he was so ashamed of. She never quite understood why he was so ashamed of it, she thought that he was even more attractive with it, more unique. That was the first time in four years since Pacifica Northwest had seen Dipper Pines.
She wanted to go get a better look at him. So, she did.
They talked for quite a while and eventually the music shifted into a slow melody. People paired up and made their way to the floor. Pacifica watched them, something in her heart clutching itself tightly.
And then she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned towards the direction of the tap to find Dipper raising his eyebrows at her.
"Want to dance?" He asked.
"Sure." She responded, perhaps a little too quickly.
And so, they danced together, Dipper's hands resting on Pacifica's waist, her hands finding their home on his neck, swaying as they looked into each other's eyes. They didn't speak much, but it was clear their expressions were speaking more for them than their vocal cords could.
But, of course-like all good things-the dance came to an end and Dipper and Pacifica went their separate ways.
When Pacifica got home, she lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling and lying on the covers, and for some reason, she couldn't stop thinking about Dipper. It took a while for her to put her finger on WHY she couldn't stop thinking about him, but it became clear eventually: Her feelings for him were coming back.
Considering their past, she felt she should've hit herself in the head with a board until she fell unconscious at the mere thought.
Pacifica and Dipper had dated the last time he was in Gravity Falls for the summer, but a month into their relationship, Dipper told her he loved her. This made Pacifica panic, and, in her haste, she broke it off with him because of the statement.
A week later, she told him what had happened, thus mending their relationship and getting back together again. However, his sister, Mabel, and her two friends, Candy and Grenda, took it upon themselves to disapprove. They told Dipper that Pacifica was no good for him, that she'd break his heart. They must've gotten the best of him, because a week later, he dumped Pacifica over the phone.
And after that, he returned home and never came back.
Until now.
Pacifica decided that none of that mattered to her. She wanted to know Dipper again-befriend this now stranger.
So, she decided to take a walk and "just happen to pass by" The Mystery Shack, where she knew Dipper worked/lived.
She walked by the crumbling building, turned on her heel, passed it again, and repeated the steps once more.
All Pacifica wanted was to go up to the door and knock, but she was so scared. What if Dipper thought she was some sort of stalker? A freak?
She gathered her courage, headed up the walkway, and rapped her fist against the door several times.
As soon as she pulled her hand away from the wood, she greatly regretted it. What if Dipper answered? She wanted to turn and run. But, she held her ground anyway.
Footsteps from inside signaled that someone was coming to answer the door, and soon it was opened to reveal Dipper standing on the other side of the frame.
"Hi," squeaked Pacifica.
"Hey," said Dipper, looking at her like she had three heads and a thumb that was too big for her left hand. She noted that his voice no longer cracked like it did when they were twelve.
They stared at each other, both of their minds reeling to come up with a remark or statement to withhold a conversation.
Finally, after a few minutes of staring, Dipper reached up and scratched the back of his neck. "Soooooooo..." He began.
Pacifica interrupted him, speaking fast and anxiously. "Do you want to go for a walk?"
"Uh..." Dipper glanced back into the shack. "Sure." He said, grabbing his shoes and slipping them on. "I'm going out!" He called to whoever was in the house, probably Grunkle Stan. And just like that, the door was shut and they were walking down the road together.
He and Pacifica talked about just about anything to keep a conversation alive. They discussed the journal Dipper was still attempting to find the mystery of, drama class, ice hockey, Pacifica's parents, and their lives since he'd left. Apparently, Dipper had won the science show at his school and Pacifica had squeaked a B in social studies, despite failing her final exam.
Eventually, they found themselves at a local playground.
Pacifica stopped at a jungle gym and turned to face Dipper, curling a hand around one of the many poles as she looked up at him, leaning against the cool metal of it, a grin spreading over her face. "You know," she teased. "I still have all those letters you sent me via paper airplane through my window."
"Really?" Dipper's entire face clearly lit up at the mere thought of her keeping them all. "I still have all yours."
"No kidding!" Pacifica said in shock. She'd always thought of her hoarding as sentimental, maybe even weird. It was oddly comforting to know Dipper had done the same.
That's when she felt his hand close to hers on the pole. She glanced down to look at it, then met his eyes briefly, a look of bewilderment in her eyes. He let his other hand linger on the small of her back. It all happened in a flash and hit her in a wave of emotion: he was kissing her.
Now, she's been kissed before, but never like this. It had to be the most impulsive thing he'd ever done. She could feel the gentle pushing of his lips as they fought for dominance, electricity pulsing through her body. She let him win the fight. They just stood there, kissing like nothing has ever happened between them. After a full minute, he pulled away.
As she did the same, she whispered so quietly only he could hear, "Nineteen more."
When they'd been an item, he'd given her a small certificate good for twenty kisses. Neither of them ever used it. Perhaps because he was scared of kissing or her. Or maybe even both.
Dipper didn't need Pacifica to explain. He just smiled widely and leaned in to kiss her again.
