Return to Falls

Chapter 09

"Where the Hell have you three been? You left me here to get ready for the cookout by myself!" Grunkle Stan shouted as the twins and Wendy approached the Shack. Nightfall had fallen over the town over an hour prior.

"I was here, Mr. Pines!" Soos said with his usual joyful voice.

Grunkle Stan scoffed and went back to work.

"Sorry, Grunkle Stan. Oh my god, we had such an eventful day!" Mabel began. Her voice held the excitement of a child. "First, we went to the mall to eat, then we went to get food but this weird thing happened and—", she stopped herself when she realized where her sentence could lead. She glanced at Dipper then continued, "We saw Pacifica at the mall and Dipper spilled his food on her."

Stan grunted at the sound of the Northwest's name. Not a hint of pleasure came to his face. All though, Dipper assumed it was mostly because he didn't want to have to pay for a new outfit.

Mabel handed him a bag filled with supplies that were needed for the cookout. "Ah, thanks kid. You guys can turn it in for the night. I'll need your help in the morning. As for YOU, you're staying up all night to finish this!" Grunkle Stan pointed a plastic fork directly at Wendy who simply rolled her eyes and got to work.

Stan's mood was significantly worse than when the twins left early that day. On the way to their rooms, Dipper noticed his Grunkle continuously glancing towards him. And he was afraid to ask for the reason behind it.

———————————

"All right, what to wear?"

One piece of clothing fell onto the floor, followed by another, and another. Plaid, denim jackets, shorts, skirts—none of it worked. This was the first ever cookout at the Mystery Shack and possibly Pacifica's only opportunity to impress Dipper in his natural setting. It was hard for her, a Northwest, to be as casual as they were probably expecting for tomorrow, but it had to be done. And it wasn't like she had a choice in the matter. Her clothes came from stores like Old Navy. No custom-made anything anymore.

"Daughter, lights out. You have a big day, tomorrow!" Preston called out from the other side of the bedroom door. She was surprised he took the time to speak with her about plans. Plans that she didn't remember making.

"Wait, what's tomorrow?" She shouted back. No answer.

Pacifica shrugged the thought off thinking it was probably something stupid. Perhaps a family member was finally visiting. After losing everything, they'd cut off contact, so their company certainly would be something big. Her priority, though, was clear: Dipper.

While Wendy may have an advantage in terms of knowing the boy personally, Pacifica got him to open up. At the very least, the playing ground was even. But soon, she'd be standing viciously over the red-headed woodpecker.