Return to Falls

Chapter 23

Shortly following Mabel more-or-less dragging Pacifica back to the Mystery Shack, Dipper continued to stand in the middle of the woods. He noticed how little in control he was of himself when he realized he was still smiling at the thought of kissing Pacifica Northwest. His cheeks developed a subtle shade of pink. He was quite possibly the first non-rich person to ever have an intimate moment with a Northwest person. Dipper wasn't sure if she had a first kiss yet; he certainly hadn't up until then.

He gently slapped himself on the cheeks before walking in the opposite direction as the girls. At the base of a nearby oak tree was a pile of broken sticks, leaves, rocks. Dipper promptly moved them aside, not before making sure nobody was around. Underneath it all was a slab of obsidian engraved with a pine tree insignia.

Checking one last time for any witnesses, Dipper reluctantly sliced the palm of his hand with a pocket knife. The blood trickled down onto the obsidian and filled the indent shape of the pine tree. When filled completely, the slab opened up, revealing a locked chest. Dipper undid the chains and blew dirt off. Inside the chest was one of the most dangerous pieces of literature the world had ever known: Journal 2.

After a moment filled with nostalgia, fear, and anxiety, Dipper calmed down. He was ready to find the others.

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"Pacifica. . .Pacifica!" Mabel shouted from inches away. Pacifica didn't realize she was completely zoned out. She didn't even realize they made it back to the Shack.

Mabel's face brightened when she didn't receive a response, "Ah, I know what you're thinking about. You're still thinking about the kiss! It's so cute — instead of the knight in shining armor falling in love with the princess, it's the ghost hunter and princess! Someone should write a fan-fiction about that. . ." She said as she looked off into the distance with a smirk. Her eyebrows danced.

Pacifica followed her eyes, but there wasn't anything or anyone there. "Uh Mabel, what are you looking at?"

"Nobody. Come on, let's go!"

Once again, Mabel had no qualms about grabbing Pacifica by the wrist and dragging her upstairs. They passed by Stan on the way up. Something told the blonde he hadn't moved since she last saw him.

The book, you idiot! The book! The voice in Pacifica's head returned, this time more demanding and painful. Something similar to a pulse of a migraine. It was beginning to frustrate her. The pain she could handle, it was the unfamiliarity of the voice that annoyed her. Who did it belong to? Not knowing was driving her crazy.

"Earth to Pacifica. Geez, you must really be in love."

Pacifica felt like she was, but it wasn't why she kept dozing off. She didn't even know how or if she should reveal anything about the voices. They finally made up and she didn't want things to get worse. Unless she told them and they forgave her. Neither of them seem capable of hating.

Before she could decide, Mabel leaped onto her bed and landed on her stomach. Pacifica giggled at her childish behavior; it was something she missed seeing. Instead of repeating her actions, Pacifica walked over to Dipper's bed and sat on the edge.

"So, since Dipper's meeting with Gideon, you can use his bed." Mabel said.

"Gideon?"

"Yeah. The town psychic, remember?" Mabel said, blushing slightly.

"Oh. How do you feel about him?" Pacifica teased.

"I don't." Mabel said plainly, quick to dismiss any feelings for the white-haired boy. Pacifica felt the urge to dig deeper — the roles were reversed.