WARNING:
This story deals with some heavy topics i.e. mental health, depression, mentions of suicide, physical abuse, as well as eating disorders. Please read at your own risk.

It was an early Saturday morning near the end of May, and instead of being at home with his family like he usually was, Preston Southeast found himself in a meeting with his boss; Klara Vogt. He always dreaded going to meetings with her considering her reputation.

The protégé of the previous boss, whom Preston had never met and he was very grateful for that, all things considered. She was tough as nails, a no nonsense kind of woman. If Preston was being completely honest, she struck him as more of a business woman than a top-notch psychiatrist, but he couldn't judge her for that.

What he could judge her for was her insistent pushing on the patients. She always seemed to want patients 'cured' as fast as possible, and never seemed to take no for an answer. So, that being considered, Preston was almost certain he knew what this impromptu meeting was going to be about.

When Dr. Vogt took her seat at the head of the table, Preston racked his brain in attempts to make his case to her. He had a solid one; Dipper was a fragile boy who needed gentle coaxing to get him to speak. Twisting his arm, so to speak, was not the way to go. That would bungle things, and Preston didn't want the boy to have to go through more when, clearly, he had gone through enough.

"Dr. Vogt," Preston attempted.

"Dr. Southeast, I think you know as to why I have scheduled such a meeting this morning." Dr. Vogt took a long sip from her teacup —a present from her predecessor— before staring him down with a single, blank look.

"Yes, I can assume." Preston glanced down at the table. He had brought Dipper's file and any notes he had made on the case. "It's about the boy, Dipper."

Dr. Vogt rose from her seat and paced the floor behind her chair. "As you know, this facility was brought up from the ground by my predecessor, he and I took this clinic and brought it from the ashes like a phoenix reborn. We, out of the entire nation, have the highest rate of check-outs."

"Yes, but, ah," Preston fiddled with his tie. "But these sort of things take time. Problems cannot just be solved within two weeks."

"It has been over a month since we've placed the boy into your care, and your reports show no progress." Dr. Vogt continued, standing facing the window, her back toward Preston. "Progress that was very much required."

"Yes, but this case is different." Preston persisted. "The boy —Dipper— he isn't a talker. He hasn't shown any progress simply because he believes there is no reason to change."

"And have you given him a reason to change?" She cocked a brow, turning on her heel and continued pacing. "A more, effective, coercion?"

Preston sat back in his chair, "you cannot coerce someone into changing their behavior if they see nothing wrong with it. As I've stated, this one is taking time because the patient has loads of trauma from his childhood. I am certain that it stems from childhood."

Dr. Vogt paused in her pacing and fixed a cold, dead-eyed glare on Preston. "Oh? So it seems you have made some progress after all."

"What? No, it's not so much as progress as it is a theory." Preston rubbed the back of his neck, feeling entirely too warm.

"Most forms of progress stem from simple theories, doctor." She grinned lightly, but there was something glinting there that Preston did not like. "Would you care to explain what this theory of yours is?"

Preston sighed and flipped open his notepad. Clearing his throat, he began. "Well, what I've come to realize is that he gets most defensive around the area of his family. Highly suggesting that whatever happened, whatever made him this way, came from way before he showed up at the orphanage."

"And?" Dr. Vogt prompted, her blank face staring at him with a certain emptiness that one could drown in if they were not careful.

"Well, he has trust issues. Major trust issues." Preston continued. "It's the only thing I can say with one hundred percent certainty. And, considering that he showed up in the system at the young age of six, the trust issues had come from before then."

"I see." Dr. Vogt nodded, and Preston was relieved that she hadn't seemed as angry as she was on the phone when she called him at the crack of dawn.

"Tied in with the family area that he always freaks out about —despite what he claims— it only makes sense that the trust issues stemmed from there. Being abandoned or tossed away by the people who were supposed to love him the most." Preston continued, all the words simply pouring out of his mouth now. He couldn't stop once he got them out in the open. "It's most likely why he is the way he is, why he will not open up, why he acts a certain way, why he does things in a certain way, it all comes full circle to when he was abandoned by his parents."

Dr. Vogt nodded. "I understand."

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation.

"I am in a meeting, whoever it is, it better be important." Dr. Vogt all but snarled.

"It's Stacey, I," Stacey, the receptionist at the clinic, said with a wavering voice. "I have Maris on line one asking for you."

Dr. Vogt sighed. "Tell her that I will take her call when I wrap up this meeting. Please ask her to be patient."

Preston, when he was certain that Stacey had walked off, cleared his throat and began again. "I've looked through Dipper's records, trying to figure out who his family is, exactly. The file only mentions a sister who's name is unknown, and the parents are undisclosed as well. Why is that, Dr. Vogt?"

Dr. Vogt sighed once more. "Personally, I am not aware as to why the file is constructed that way. I also am not aware as to why it doesn't mention his family, or the circumstances that led to his extended stay here."

"Do you know why that is?" Preston pressed, eyes still scanning through the file.

"No, unfortunately I do not." Dr. Vogt took another sip from her teacup. "The orphanage would not disclose any of the information that they deemed was 'personal' and 'unnecessary'."

"But it is necessary." Preston argued. "If you think about the implications! If we knew why he ended up there, we could backtrack to figure out where it all went wrong, and how to move forward from that point!"

Dr. Vogt went silent for a moment or two, pondering his words. Finally, she spoke, "if I find this information, I will share it with you as soon as I can. Until then, I request that you continue your work with the boy in hopes of success. That is all, you are dismissed."

Preston nodded, took his files from the table and walked out the door.

Dr. Vogt moved back over to her desk, leaving her teacup abandoned on the table, next to her own copy of Dipper's file. She had to admit, it was a heavy read, and there wasn't too much to go on.

Picking up her phone, she called the receptionist. "Get me Maris on line one. Now. It's urgent."

- — - — -

"Isn't this so exciting?" Mabel clapped her hands together as Pacifica spun around in her dress. "We're finally going to prom!"

Pacifica looked at herself in the mirror, smiling. The dress she had purchased with Scarlett was still just as gorgeous as the day she found it. She never considered herself a dress kind of person, but she was happy to wear them on special occasions.

Her phone buzzed from where it rested on Mabel's vanity table, and Pacifica immediately jumped, checking the message with hurried interest. She hoped it was Dipper reaching out to her. After their karaoke hangout, Pacifica had finally been able to coax him into texting her random things about his day.

At first she thought she was bothering him when she would randomly text him something about her day that she thought was funny, but it appeared that he enjoyed it just as much as she did.

Unfortunately, it was just a text from her cousin Gideon asking if he should have Mabel pick him up, considering he was a year younger than the lot of them. "Hey, Mabes?" Pacifica tilted her head in Mabel's direction. "Gids is wondering if we're coming to pick him up or if he should arrive separately?"

"Um," Mabel was staring at her reflection, adjusting her eyeliner which already looked flawless. "Well, I have Will as our chauffeur for the evening, so I'll just tell him to make a pit stop at. . .where, again?"

"The Mystery Shack." Pacifica replied with a single nod of her head. Her uncle and cousin ran what most people would call a tourist trap in Reverse Falls. She was offered a job there recently, and if things at her mother's job didn't pan out, then she would humbly accept the offer. She needed a summer job, after all.

"Oh, I've been there." Scarlett piped up, stepping back into Mabel's bedroom from the balcony. "My sister's ex-boyfriend works there."

Pacifica nodded, she knew him. Robbie Corduroy. He was a cool enough guy, really lax and fun to be around. "Yeah, I've been offered a job there."

"Gotta love blatant nepotism." Scarlett chortled. "Nah, I'm kidding. If anything, they'd prolly work you more than the other employees."

"That's what Gideon told me, too." Pacifica stated glumly. It wasn't like she wasn't a hard worker, Pacifica considered herself a diligent employee, however, that would leave her with less time to go off and explore and have fun with friends. She could always work around it, right? That's what Dipper did.

He, somehow, managed to balance school, therapy, work, and hanging out with his friends without even batting an eye. Pacifica meant what she had said at the karaoke bar; she wished she could be like that. She wished she could be more like him.

He always seemed so put together, yet, there was something in his eyes that said otherwise, and Pacifica could see it, and she saw it often. Pacifica wasn't one to judge others, but there had to be a reason he was in therapy other than what he had told her about other people's opinions of himself. He wasn't as put together as he held himself to be, and it worried Pacifica to no end.

He would roll his eyes and tell her that he wasn't worth worrying about, as he did once before, but Pacifica couldn't help it. She was a very empathetic person, and an even more empathetic friend. She could see what he wasn't saying, pick up on the emotions, and want to give him her warmest smile and help him through it.

"Are you guys almost ready?" Mabel prompted as she waited by the door. "If we want to get to the Mystery Shack, then the high school, and still arrive on time, we'll have to leave at about now."

Scarlett locked the door to Mabel's balcony and quickly strode over to the door in her ridiculous heels. Pacifica, herself, had opted to wear flats because she knew better. She also felt like an accident waiting to happen when she wore heels.

The three girls made their way to the front of the estate, where Will had the limo parked. Will was, in Pacifica's personal opinion, the best butler that the Gleefuls had. He was diligent, kind, and always allowed Mabel to go out when she wasn't really supposed to.

"Are you ladies ready to go?" Will asked as he waited by the limousine. He didn't really wait for an answer, as he opened the door for them.

"Tell me that you stocked some liquor in here." Scarlett grumbled, already raiding through the tiny cabinets.

"Scarlett!" Mabel hissed, flushing a light pink color.

"What? I figured that's why you wanted Will to drive instead of me." Scarlett shrugged, closing the cabinet after what she deemed a 'mission fail'. "So we could drink."

"And miss out on all the fun that prom will surely bring? No thank you." Mabel scoffed and took her seat. "Besides, the only person in here who drinks is you."

"What? That can't be true." Scarlett glanced in Pacifica's direction. "Yeah, okay, I can see it now."

Pacifica rolled her eyes and wanted to call Scarlett out, but that would mean she'd have to bluff. Pacifica wasn't the greatest at that. She knew who was; Dipper. Trying to keep her mind off of the devilishly handsome, genius vagabond was much more difficult that she had first anticipated.

It all went back to when she chickened out and didn't ask him to go to prom with her. She had her reasons for not asking him, but she regretted it nonetheless. What would it have been like if he were here with her right now?

Would he be stiff and awkward around her other friends? Would he just be talking to Mabel or Scarlett because, in his eyes, they were more interesting or prettier? Would he have even paid her any mind at the dance, anyway?

Of course he would. Pacifica felt as though she knew him better than that. He hadn't gotten bored of her, he enjoyed hanging around her. What would it be like if she introduced him to her other friends? Would they, in no offense to them, steal him away from her?

Too many variables to deal with, so Pacifica came to the conclusion that she didn't enjoy the thought of Dipper meeting her friends. It was entirely selfish, and Pacifica truly felt bad about it. But the outcome was better.

It was all she thought about on the way to the Mystery Shack to pick up Gideon, and all she thought about on the way to the high school. Pacifica was finally able to push those thoughts out of her head when they stepped into the gymnasium-turned-ballroom.

It was crazy how different the place looked.

"You know, the school board asked my parents if they could host prom in one of our various ballrooms." Mabel leaned over to tell Pacifica this. "But, it coincided with when they had to go out of town, and my parents trust no one, so they said no."

"Well, can you really blame them?" Pacifica asked, jerking her thumb in the direction of a bunch of teenagers passing around a water bottle, that Pacifica was certain was not full of water.

"No, I suppose not." Mabel murmured, shaking her head. "Although, I also think it's because they've got loads of secrets they don't want anyone to find out about. Like—" she immediately cut herself off, blinked a few times before clearing her throat. "Never mind."

Pacifica wanted to pry, asking Mabel what she was going to say when it was painfully obvious that something had instantly come to mind. Pacifica was a curious person at heart; curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.

However, both Scarlett and Gideon came up to them, pulling them onto the dance floor.

Pacifica wasn't sure how much time had passed, but judging by how sweaty she felt from the intense heat of the room, an hour had at least gone by. She spent her time dancing with Scarlett, Mabel, Gideon, and even Cody when he showed up.

"You look really nice, Paz." Cody smiled as he walked up to the water fountain. "Pink suits you."

Pacifica tried not to laugh too hard at that. Cody could be such an awkward guy sometimes, but he meant well. "Thanks, Codmeister."

Cody made a face. "I told you I don't like that nickname." But the expression on his face declared otherwise. The light smile on his lips, his eyes shone with a certain happiness that Pacifica adored to see in everyone's eyes.

"Uh-huh, sure." Pacifica took a long drink of water, trying to breathe a little more comfortably. The air in the stuffy gymnasium felt thicker and heavier than usual, tied in with the fact that she was wearing what most people would consider a ball gown, of course she was sweating.

"I think they're about to announce homecoming king and queen, but after that, maybe, did you wanna dance?" Cody asked, gesturing toward the dance floor with his cup.

"Yeah! Of course! I'd love to." Pacifica grinned as the loudspeaker went on, telling everyone to go sit at their table so they could announce the king and queen.

Now, Pacifica, like most people, already had a good idea on who the prom queen was going to be. Mabel Gleeful. She was pretty, she was kind, she was likeable. It only made sense for her to be queen. Pacifica knew that she herself would not be prom queen, but that wasn't something she cared about. It was just a title in high school, most likely something that wouldn't matter in ten years.

Sitting down next to Scarlett and Mabel, Pacifica paid close attention to the guy on stage who was going through a whole run-down of theatrics that Pacifica couldn't help but roll her eyes at. The guy on stage reminded her so much of Dipper.

Dipper always did stupid theatrics that Pacifica couldn't help but laugh at. Never saying ten words when one hundred would do. It was quite amusing, and something that Pacifica had grown used to in the month or so that she'd known him.

As she thought about the devilishly handsome, genius vagabond, Pacifica missed the announcement of the prom king, but when he went up on stage, Pacifica clapped and nodded. She didn't know the guy by name, but heard he was popular enough. He was also a German-exchange student. Marius, was it?

"And finally, the moment you've all been waiting for," the guy on stage drawled. "This year's prom queen is no other than. . ." He trailed off for a drumroll effect. "Mabel Gleeful! Give her a hand everyone!"

The crowd roared with delight as Mabel rose from her chair, and even in the dim light, Pacifica could see the blush that had ran across her face. As she made her way to the stage, Pacifica couldn't help but cheer a little louder.

The rest of the court was called, but Pacifica didn't pay much mind to them. Instead, she was focused on the way that Scarlett was smiling and staring at Mabel. How romantic. Much to Scarlett's annoyance, Mabel did have to have one dance with the prom king, who was very gentlemanly.

Pacifica got out of her chair, making her way to the dance floor when she heard a familiar voice muttering off on the side.

"She only got to be prom queen because her parents fund the school."

Jolting in her tracks, Pacifica whipped her head to the side so fast she was certain that she could've gotten whiplash. The girl who had spoken was none other than Candy Chiu —one of her best friend's cousins.

Now, it was known that the Gleeful family helped with a lot of funding that the school needed, but there was no way that there would be such blatant nepotism. Pacifica herself had heard from Mabel that her parents never gave her anything.

Stalking over to Candy as fast as her legs could carry her, Pacifica placed her hands on her hips. She was far from a confrontational person, but when someone said something horrible about one of the people she considered the closest to her, Pacifica was not going to sit idly by.

"You have something to say, Candy?" Pacifica demanded, trying to keep her voice low enough so it wouldn't shine attention over to them. "Because, usually, when someone has something to say, they speak a little louder to make their words known. Almost like you're scared, huh?"

Candy glared daggers at her. "I don't think it's any of your business, Patricia."

Pacifica rolled her eyes at the use of a wrong name. "I think so, because you're insulting someone I care about. Someone who also happens to be your alleged best friend. It's almost like you're pretending to be her friend for status or something." Once the words came out, Pacifica found that she couldn't stop at all. All the things she had ever wanted to say to Candy's face were spilling out of her lips.

Pacifica never really hated anyone, even Candy, but there were some strong and negative emotions that she felt toward that girl. Maybe she just strongly disliked her? It was a pretty close line to draw, however.

Candy bristled, her hand clutching the fabric of her green dress —which was actually very gorgeous, but Pacifica would not be complimenting her for it— her face a little red.

The girl beside her, Grenda, who Pacifica wasn't too familiar with, took a step forward and looked as though she was about to deck Pacifica in the face. However, Candy pushed Grenda back, with a light warning. "I got this, Grenda."

Oh boy, what ever could that mean? Pacifica was used to Candy's rude comments, so it couldn't be much worse, right?

"Listen, Patricia," Candy stated. "I know you think you're doing something right here, but clearly you are just as naive as everyone depicts you as."

"Excuse me?"

"For starters, you think you know how everything works, but clearly you do not." Candy rolled her eyes, acting as if nothing truly mattered. "There's a certain hierarchy in this world, it starts from a young age. People like me are higher on that mountain than someone like you would ever be. I know how this world works, and I know you think you're being the hero, coming to argue with me about what everyone knows is the truth. Face it, no one cares what you think. If you dropped dead half the people in this room wouldn't even bat an eye."

Pacifica opened her mouth to reply to Candy's horrific comments, but she was swiftly cut off.

"Another thing, while we're discussing you." Candy started grinning like a shark. "I dunno why you thought it would be a good idea to come at me for something like this. It doesn't concern a basic bitch like you, now does it? Do everyone a favor, and leave, because your presence is just as annoying as the words that come out of your mouth, and no one cares about you."

Pacifica stared at Candy. Her words weren't supposed to get to her, that's what she kept preaching to herself as Candy rambled on about things that didn't even matter. The one thing, the one thing that she promised herself that wasn't going to get to her, Candy had said it. And it got to her.

No one cares about you. No one would care if you dropped dead. Annoying. Leave. Leave. No one cares about you. No one cares. . .

Pacifica bit her lip, trying to focus on the pain in her mouth instead of the sting of Candy's words. Without another word, Pacifica rushed from the gymnasium, she didn't run, just left with a quickened pace. And all the while she heard Candy and Grenda laughing at her.

Their laughter followed her through the halls of the school, and it didn't stop until she was outside the school, breathing in the cool night air. It was only when she was certain that no one was around did she let the tears fall from her eyes.

Candy's words weren't supposed to cut that deep, Pacifica thought she was stronger than that. Maybe she should've just listened to Candy's advice and not have gone up to her. It was Pacifica's fault that they argued. It was all her fault. It was always her fault.

Letting out a few more heavy sobs, Pacifica sat down on the curb, burying her face in her hands, not even caring if her makeup would get ruined. She didn't care. She needed to get away from everything. All the noise, all the laughter, everything. No one cared about her. No one cared whether she lived or died. . .

Without a second thought, Pacifica pulled her phone out of her dress pocket, still relieved that she was close enough to the school to still have WiFi. Wiping her tears away, hastily, Pacifica quickly pressed the dial button, and patiently waited.

One ring. Two rings. Three rings. Four, five, six! What was the point? No one cared. What was the poi—

"Hey, I was just thinking about you."

Pacifica let out a shuddered sigh of relief. That voice. His voice was able to pull her up from the deep end, until she could breathe the air again. "Dipper," she whispered as her voice trembled.

"Paz? What's going on? Are you alright?" His voice went from carefree to concerned in about three seconds flat.

"Aha," Pacifica wiped a stray tear from her eye. "Well, no. I uh, I'm not feeling the greatest right now. I just. . .I need to get away."

"Where are you?" There was a shuffling from over the phone.

"I'm at Reverse Falls High, prom." She muttered, picking at the sparkles on her dress.

"Stay where you are, love. I'll be there in less than ten minutes." The jingling of keys along with a few mutterings, signalled that he was already moving.

"Hey, Dipper?" Pacifica asked, hating how anxious her voice sounded.

"Yes, Paz?" A pause.

"Do. . .do you care about me?" Pacifica clenched her eyes shut, not wanting to see anymore. "Would you care if I was still around?"

"Paz? What the hell has gotten into you? Of course I care. I do. I swear. I promise, what's going on? Please, just listen." He rambled, sounding so very nervous, the first time Pacifica ever heard his voice waver in that way. "I'll be there in less than five minutes."

Pacifica laughed, a wet sound that made her cringe. "You said ten minutes. You better not speed or anything."

". . .wasn't even my plan. Shit."

Pacifica laughed again, a majority of her tears drying up in her eyes. "Please drive safely, Dipper. Seriously, please."

"I promise. I will."

The call ended and Pacifica let out another sigh of relief. Well, it was nice to know that Candy's words were just words. She knew Dipper cared for her, it was very clear with his tone matched with his words. Man, he really was a special one, wasn't he?

"Ugh, seriously? Are you really sitting out here crying?"

Pacifica looked over her shoulder and frowned at the sight of Candy, standing with her hand on her hip near the main doors to the school. Adjusting herself, Pacifica stood up and just stared at Candy. "Why are you out here?"

"Just getting a breath of fresh air." Candy grinned, sauntering up to where Pacifica stood. "Although I'm not sure how fresh it'll be since you're out here."

Pacifica sighed and turned away from her, not wanting to engage anymore than she already had that evening.

"What? Lost all your spunk because you don't have an audience anymore?" Candy spat, rolling her eyes. "Or have you finally realized your place? That's good! See, progress can be made!" She clapped her hands together in such a mocking way that Pacifica wanted to say something back, but she knew better than to. It wouldn't do any good.

Candy laughed and laughed, as if it were the most hilarious thing in the world while Pacifica just stared up at the stars in the sky. They were so calming, so she hoped they would manage to calm her down even a little bit.

That calming atmosphere only lasted about ten more seconds because the roar of an engine jolted Pacifica's gaze away from the sky and to the street where a sleek, black car was accelerating toward the front of the school. In a swift motion, the car pulled up to where Pacifica stood and the driver's door swung wide open.

Lo and behold, Dipper strode up to where Pacifica was. "Five minutes." He said cheekily.

Pacifica was too upset to say anything back to that, and despite what she knew about Dipper and hugs, she rushed toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She knew she shouldn't have done it, considering how he wasn't a big 'touchy-feely' kind of person, but his reaction surprised her.

Dipper just slowly put his arms around her waist, pulling her a little closer as to protect her from dangers unknown. She felt him stiffen slightly, his head rose to glare at the person behind her. "Who the hell are you?"

"Excuse you?" Candy snapped.

Dipper released Pacifica from the tight embrace and quickly stepped in front of her. Pacifica could literally feel the anger radiating off his body. It would've been frightening if the anger was aimed at her. Pacifica made a mental note not to get on Dipper's bad side, because, clearly, he had one.

"Judging by the surrounding atmosphere, I can wager a guess that you did this to Paz." Dipper began, his voice cold and heartless. "Do you get off on hurting others?"

Candy opened her mouth to speak, but Dipper instantly cut her off with the wave of his hand. "That was a rhetorical question. The answer is painfully obvious. I dunno what you may have said or done, but I suggest that whatever it is, you refrain from doing it from this point on. You won't like the outcome if you continue."

Candy looked flabbergasted. Whether it was from the way Dipper was verbally attacking her or just because Dipper was an attractive person in general, Pacifica did not know. She truly hoped it was the former rather than the latter.

"Paz, get in the car." Dipper slowly instructed, still not taking his harsh eyes off of Candy.

Pacifica realized it was probably a good idea to listen to what he was saying. Plus, she didn't really want to be around Candy anymore for the night, so she walked over to the passenger side and slipped inside.

"Who are you, exactly?" Candy's voice held a flirtatious note to it that Pacifica had to physically stop herself from throwing up. So, it was the latter, huh?

Pacifica didn't hear Dipper's response, if he even gave her one before he walked briskly to the driver's side, slammed the door, and already put his foot on the gas.

Neither spoke until Pacifica couldn't see the school in the rearview mirror. Letting out a shaky sigh, Pacifica slumped a little further in her seat, relishing the safe feeling that being in Dipper's presence often brought.

"Paz? What happened?" Dipper asked lightly, his eyes glancing at her for a split second. He looked as though he had calmed down immensely, which Pacifica took as a good sign. The last time she saw him that off the rails was when he punched the wall at Gadget's house because he 'saw a bug'.

Yeah, Pacifica knew that was a lie, but at the time she wasn't going to press him further. They weren't close friends.

"Paz?" Dipper rested a hand on hers, jolting her from her thoughts.

"Sorry," Pacifica murmured.

"If you don't want to talk about it, I won't push you." Dipper whispered. "I understand that more than most people."

"It's just Candy." Pacifica groaned. "She's just a rude person in general, I shouldn't have let her comments get to me. I'm sorry for dragging you into something unnecessary."

Dipper was quiet for a moment, eyes on the road. He finally spoke when they stopped at a red light. "Is that why you asked me if I cared about you?"

Pacifica nodded, not wanting to risk speaking, lest she started crying again. She didn't want to cry in front of Dipper.

"Fuck her." Dipper shrugged as he spoke offhandedly. "As a practicing psychiatrist, I can tell you that she only wants to tear you down because you're happy."

Pacifica laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"I meant what I said, you know." Dipper murmured, his voice so soft and calming to hear.

"About what?" Pacifica dared to ask. "Because you said quite a few things."

"That I cared about you." Dipper repeated, although it sounded as though it was hard for him to say again. "I do care about you, Paz."

Part of her knew that that's what he was talking about, yet the selfish part of her just wanted to hear him say it again and again and again. "You do?"

Dipper sighed as they pulled up to a relatively old looking building. "Paz, I care about you. Your wellbeing always concerns me, and it's like you said," he shut off the car and turned to look at her fully, in the dying light of the car, "friends care about their friends. I signed up for exactly this, and I do not regret doing so."

Pacifica was so very grateful for the fact that it was now nearly pitch-black in the car, otherwise Dipper would've seen her blush.

Opening the car door, Dipper stepped out and gazed at her, expectantly. "Well? What are you waiting for? A kiss on the cheek?" He teased, and Pacifica's heart nearly exploded. A month ago, the boy before her would've never teased her so openly, never smiled so openly as he did that night. It was something so beautiful to behold. And she was the only one who saw it.

"Where are we?" Pacifica asked as soon as she stepped out of the car, doing a three-sixty spin to get a full view of their surroundings, her dress swishing in tandem.

"What? Did you really think I was going to just take you back home and leave you alone for the night?" Dipper sighed and opened the door to the old building. "I'm wounded that you think so little of me."

"It's not that I thought that!" Pacifica protested as she followed him into the building. Even though the outside appeared old, the inside was neat and tidy. Pacifica chuckled, amused at how the phrase 'it's what's on the inside that counts' was really put out there.

They walked up the stairs, Dipper explained that he wasn't too fond of elevators, to which Pacifica shared in his fear of those dreadful things.

"Wait," Pacifica realized as soon as they stopped in front of a door on the farthest end of the building. "Is this place. . ?"

"Yes." Dipper opened the door for her, allowing her inside. "Yes, this is my place."

Pacifica was awestruck as soon as she stepped across the threshold. The place was relatively small, but she could see one person living here and enjoying it, maybe two at maximum. It was extraordinarily tidy, which Pacifica was also expecting, because she knew Dipper well enough by now, save for what appeared to be a pot of something on the stove, left alone.

She immediately felt guilty. Had Dipper dropped making dinner for himself just to go see her for her own selfish needs? She wilted in place, trying to ignore the guilt spreading like wildfire in her chest.

"I know, it isn't a lot." Dipper spun in a half circle, chuckling to himself as if it were humorous. "However, I—"

"I love it." Pacifica turned to face Dipper, smiling despite her previous feelings of guilt. Dipper didn't seem to mind that she was here, unless he was better at hiding his feelings from her now. "It's perfect."

Dipper's cheeks seemed to tint a light pink and Pacifica nearly lost it again. How could he be so ridiculous adorable all the time?

"Ahem, ignore the mess, I had company over." Dipper scratched the back of his neck, clearing his throat all the while.

"You did?" Pacifica winced. "I am so sorry!"

"Relax, Paz." Dipper shook his head, casting a glance in her direction once more. "It was just Gadget."

"Right, the guy who kinda looks like you who's house we broke into." Pacifica nodded, thinking back to that guy. He seemed a decent fellow.

"Ding ding, that's the one." Dipper walked into the kitchenette and looked into the pot. "If you're hungry, I've only got a few more minutes on the pasta."

"Had something before, thanks for offering." Pacifica walked into what looked like the living room, and noticed a bottle with a note attached. "What's this?"

Dipper rolled his eyes and strode into the living room as well, plucking the bottle up from the coffee table. "Present from Gadge," Dipper muttered. "He knows I don't drink but, you can't fault him for that."

"You don't drink?" Pacifica raised a teasing eyebrow.

"Alright, alright." Dipper placed the bottle back down and held up his hands. "I do, but on the rarest and most special occasions."

"What was this occasion?" Pacifica hummed, taking a seat on the couch next to the table.

Dipper seemed to hesitate for a moment, almost as if he didn't know what to say. "He called it a housewarming present. Even though I've lived here for at least a year."

"Well, it's still a nice thought. It's champagne?" Pacifica eyed the bottle once more, taking in the very light coloring in the liquid.

"That's my guess." Dipper shrugged, inching toward the hallway opposite of where Pacifica sat. "Now, you sit here for just a moment, I will be back in less than five minutes."

Pacifica laughed aloud, "what's with you and your whole 'less than five minutes' bit?"

"Because I don't enjoy wasting people's time, especially people whom I care about." Dipper stated, staring directly and so deeply into her eyes that Pacifica had to avert hers. "Just wait here a moment."

Pacifica nodded, still not looking up until she heard a door click closed. Sighing, Pacifica leaned back against the sofa, just letting herself sink into the plush fabric. Prom had been a nightmare, all thanks to Candy Chiu.

Pacifica felt a few tears prick the corners of her eyes. She hadn't even gotten a chance to slow dance with a boy, much less actually enjoy her time at the dance. What a waste of money. When would she even wear her dress again? Sniffling, Pacifica quickly wiped her eyes, trying not to smudge any more of her makeup. What a disaster.

Closing her eyes, Pacifica just tried to relax and count to ten in her head as she calmed herself a little bit more.

"You're not asleep, are you?"

Jolting up from her slouched position on the sofa, Pacifica snapped her eyes open and her mouth fell open so fast and far that she thought her jaw was about to drop off her face.

Standing at the entry of the living room, was Dipper dressed in a suit and tie, looking crisp and formal and handsome. He seemed to notice she was staring, because he ran a hand through his hair and mumbled, "too much?"

Pacifica shook her head rapidly. "N-no! I just. . .wow."

"I know, I clean up nice, don't I?" Dipper laughed and strode across the floor, stopping a foot before her. From there, he held out his hand, much like a prince would to a princess, a lovely smile on his face, his eyes alight. "Well, you dressed beautifully for prom and didn't even get to enjoy the entirety of it," his hand faltered for a second. "What I'm trying to say is; wherever you want to go tonight, we'll go. Whatever you want to do tonight, we'll do. Whatever you say goes."

Pacifica reached out her hand to clasp his lightly. What did she do to deserve a guy like Dipper? Had the universe looked down on her and realized that she needed an angel? As she was pulled up from her seat, she nearly stumbled into his arms, but restrained herself.

"Where do you want to go, Paz?" Dipper whispered as he stared down into her eyes, with something laid in his that Pacifica was too shocked to correctly identify.

Pacifica only stared up into his, she was certain her eyes were still bugging out of her head, but she didn't let that ruin the moment. "Um. . .I'm not really. . .uh, sure." Wow. Very smooth.

Dipper let out a huff, which Pacifica discerned as a light chuckle, and he shook his head. "Well, if you haven't any idea, I do know a place."

"Really?" Pacifica leaned a little closer.

"Of course," Dipper took her hand and began pulling her toward the door. "I'm sure you'll love it."

Pacifica didn't doubt that statement.

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Yeah, so I really have to take into account that once I get Dipper and Paz talking that they will not stop. They just don't stop. Another very long chapter, to which I couldn't find a place to cut it in half without it being very awkward. I hope you enjoy it! Yes, there was angst in this chapter, and we're only tumbling further down the hole of despair. Please enjoy ;)