Bittersweet Tragedy (Reverse Falls/ Dipcifica/ DipperXPacifica)

- 2 -

It's obvious they won't find me here, they'll never expect me to stay somewhere like this.

I've scrambled my way through the whole town, it's small, no one should know who I am, or who I left behind.
It's dangerous though, I can feel it, I'm highly alert from the time I spent in the woods, trying to make it out one day at a time.

I know I've just made it, by this much, I hike through the side of the highway and follow it to the town.
Thank god I knew where this place was.

-

'Oh my god! Pacifica is that you?' I heard someone shout in my direction.

My first reaction, I run. I try to, but my legs are frozen in place, like they want to stay instead. I just wrapped my arms around myself and hoped that my instincts didn't betray me.

A boy, who looked around my age, ran out to me and wrapped me in a tight hug. I took the chance to take a better look at him, he had white hair and wore a hat with a tree on it.

'Gideon?' I mutter to myself, hoping that he would answer if he heard me and ignore if he didn't.

'You remember me after so long?' The boy looked at me with bright eyes.
I smile, even though my lips hurt, from the dryness.

I nod slowly, since I am still doubtful, but then I feel myself nodding faster, I am sure this is him.

Gideon hugs me quickly and ushers me into the house he previously came out of. He sits me down at the brown couch that awaited me in the living room, after passing by a series of jars and other odd souvenir-looking key rings.

'What brings you here Pacifica? It's all so sudden, we didn't get any information that you were coming! I mean, it's not that we don't want you to stay, wait not, I mean tha-'

'It fine, I understand, I didn't know I'd be coming either.'

Gideon ran into the kitchen and came back out with a mug in his hands, he handed it to me and I cupped it below my face, letting the steam rise to my face. Feeling the warmth. I missed it.

'Then what brings you here?' He asks again.
'Well, my parents and I got into a fight again. You know, same old same old.' I leave it at that. Luckily, he doesn't pry, I'm happy that we're talking like best friends, not distant cousins who haven't seen each other in so long.

I finally sniff the scent that rises front be mug. Hot chocolate, delicious.

Gideon shows me a room that he cleared out in a quick 20 minutes. I settle in and he feels me were going shopping for clothes.

I sit on the small bed he offered me, reflecting on what happened in the past few days:

My parents and I, stood in the living room, each defending our own option, standing on our own lines, marked ferociously by the way we are stood.

'...Pacifica! Calm down this instant! This is no way to speak to your mother! We raised you better-'

I cut my dad off and continue to shout at my mother. 'Mom! This is unfair, for me! Please! Just let me go to the school! They've accepted me!' I clutch the acceptance letter to my chest, 'You promised! You said you wouldn't come between me and the school if they accepted me! I don't want to waste my life's hard work for a stupid arranged marriage! It's pointless! Can't you see?'

My mom is holding onto herself, holding onto my dad, to catch her breath. It's the third time this month we've argued about this. I understand the marriage is in tradition. But a promise is a promise.

They've disappointed me one time after one time, I can't bear being the one who gives in every time.'

'Pacifica! Please! Just sit! Let me try to reason with you!' My mom says to me calmly, I can tell she's scared, but she hides it so well, I wish I could do that too. It's what this type of life makes you. You can't choose how you are, the traditions always beat you to it.

Before I say anything else, my body is already moving to the door handle, my hand twists it violently and I run.

I ignore my parents' shouts as they try to run after me, they aren't as fast as me. I know they'll never catch up.

-

I lie in the bed after a warm shower. My wet tangled hair lying around me.

One day, I know my parents will find me, and force me back into what I longed to escape. They don't think I'll be able to find love in college, of course they don't. Even if I do, they may not even approve of him. The only way for them, to marry rich, is to be paired with someone.

But that's not love.

I take the slightly crumpled envelope from the inner pocket of my hoodie. I open it, I feel tears rushing to my eyes, but I don't try to hold them back.

This was what worked so hard for, all these years, as my parents urged me not to worry about these small things. I finally made it, I reached my goal, but why isn't anyone celebrating with me?

All that charity work, all those extra curriculars. For nothing?

I got accepted into Stanford for crying out loud.

'Pacifica?' I hear Gideon shout from downstairs, I let him come to me, I'm still tired.

I think back to the first and previous time I saw him, we were about 11, around 6 years ago? His father was still running this place, a 'tourist trap' Gideon called it. I still recall.

Now Bud has gone, probably to live somewhere more quiet, at least he won't bother Gideon anymore. Bud can't bully Gideon anymore, for that I'm happy and glad. Gideon opens the door after a few knocks, 'Ready to go find some stuff to buy?'

I look up, and nod, smiling, my lips don't hurt now, and my smile comes naturally. Unlike the ones my parents forced me to wear at big events and balls.

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