Always (2/3)

18: talk this out like civilized adults

18
Pacifica

    He said it. He said he loved me.

   I had been sitting in the Greasy Diner for the past half hour, thinking over everything that brought me to that point. I didn't want to go back to the Mystery Shack, but I certainly did not want to go back to Gleeful Manor, home of the handsome devil himself.

   I took a small sip of my milkshake. How was I supposed to get my stuff back?

   "I'll just text Mabel." I sighed.

   Ever since I arrived in Reverse Falls, nothing had went the way I wanted it to. First Dipper didn't see me, then he started hanging out with my best friend, and then he said goodbye.

   I looked down at my phone and saw I had a boatload of messages from everyone. Rachel, Janessa, and even Mabel.

   mabes: wth happened?!

   mabes: where r u?

   mabes: im coming 2 get u, wherever u r

   mabes: dipper sent janessa and rachel home, u still wanna stay over?

   rachy: what the hell? U just left. Whats going on Paz?

   nessa: yd u leave?

   rachy: dippers the guy from 3 years ago isnt he?

   My blood ran cold. Rachel had figured it out. I was toast.

   "Pacifica?"

   I looked up and saw Cody standing before me. "Oh, hey."

   He looked me up and down. "You okay?" Without even asking, he took a seat next to me. "You look upset."

   I shook my head. "It's nothing."

   "It's Dipper isn't it." He said suddenly.

   "What?" I choked in surprise. "Why would you say that?"

   He shrugged. "I dunno, it just seems like that."

   "For your information, it's none of your business really." I sighed. "Sorry, sensitive subject."

   "So it is Dipper." He nodded, taking a sip of his soda.

   "So what?" I groaned. "I really don't wanna talk about it, especially to you."

   "Hey, Pacifica." Cody sighed, "I was your friend once. Why can't you talk to me about this?"

   "Maybe because you hate Dipper." I stated. "Also, you and I broke up."

   "Right." He sighed. "Well--"

   "Pacifica!"

   I looked up once more and saw Mabel rushing my way. "Come, on!"

   Before I could react, Mabel grabbed my arm and pulled me out of my seat. "We need to talk."

   "About what?" I rolled my eyes. "The plan wasn't even gonna work anyways, Dipper already told me goodbye."

   She stopped dead in her tracks. "I don't believe him." She continued to pull me out of the Greasy Diner and unlocked her car as fast as humanly possible. "You shouldn't either."

   "Face it, Mabel." I tugged my arm free. "It's over. Dipper doesn't want to be with me, and I'm just gonna have to move on."

   "Are you really going to?" Mabel got into to the car, "are you coming with me?"

* * *

   Once again, I was back in Gleeful Manor, but all the lights were out from where I could see on . Mabel had already told me that Janessa and Rachel had left, so I felt a bit awkward being the only one there. But there wasn't anything I could do. I should have stayed away, but Mabel insisted that Dipper still wanted to be with me.

   "I know he loves you, Pacifica." Mabel promised as we pulled into the driveway. But then she squinted her eyes. "Who's car is that?"

   I looked where she was looking and racked my brain, but I didn't know. "I've never seen it before."

   "Yeah," Mabel mused. "Neither have I."

   That worried me, but only slightly. "Why am I even here?"

   "Because I am going to force you two to sit down and talk this out like civilized adults." Mabel gripped the steering wheel.

   "I dunno if I can do this anymore, Mabes." I sighed and leaned back in my seat. "Dipper's too complicated right now, and if he doesn't want to be with me anymore then it's fine by me."

   "He was complicated when you first met him." Mabel pointed out. "What changed?"

   "We both did." I stated. "It's been three years, Mabel. I haven't seen him in that long. And things are just too complicated."

   "He wants to be with you." Mabel confirmed for me. "I think he's just-. . ." she trailed off and looked at the steering wheel.

   "He's just what?" I asked, raising a brow.

   "I think he's just afraid that you'll leave again." She whispered. "He went through so much when you left and I just don't think his heart could take something like that."

   "I didn't mean to hurt him like that, Mabel." I whispered, my head hanging low. "If we'd only. . .if we'd only, realized how much we cared for each other."

   "I'm sorry, Paz." Mabel sighed. "Now, go in there and get your man."

   I nodded slowly, my confidence building slowly. I got out of the car and walked into Gleeful Manor, in search of Dipper. As I walked around the first floor of Gleeful Manor, I couldn't find him at all.

   He's probably just in his room, Paz I told myself. Just go get him.

   I walked up the spiraling staircase and headed in the direction I believed Dipper's room was in. I'd seen his room once before, when we first met, and if my memory was correct, I was heading in the right direction.

   As I walked down the long hallway, I prepared myself for what I was going to say and how I was going to say it. I had to keep my cool if I expected this conversation to go anywhere. That was step one. I'd knock on his door, walk in, explain myself, apologize for all the shit he went through.

   And we'd live happily ever after, hopefully.

   As I neared his bedroom door, I saw that the light was on. Good sign. But when I got closer, I heard whispers. First whisper was definitely Dipper's voice, but the second whisper sounded like it was another voice.

   It couldn't be Janessa, Mabel said she took her home. I thought, perplexed. So, I walked closer to the door to listen for a minute.

   "Thank you for this," Dipper whispered. "Shit's been going on and I just needed you."

   A laugh, definitely female. "Of course you did, can't get enough of me, baby?"

   "Tch, sounds like someone's overcompensating." Dipper chuckled.

   "What?" The girl laughed once more, and then her voice got quiet. Too quiet that I couldn't hear her anymore. But it was definitely a girl, and it showed that he didn't want me at all.

   Once Janessa had left, he had called on the next girl on his list. I wasn't important to him at all.

   One night stand? I tried reasoning with myself. Doesn't want to date anyone but you, so maybe if you go in there. . .

   As I walked away, I heard the door open. And when I turned around, it was Dipper standing there, eyes wide in shock.