Caught in the Stars: Chapter VII
A Gravity Falls Fanfic
Mabel dropped a stack of books on the table beside Pacifica. “Hi!” She dropped into the seat across the table.
“Hi, Mabel,” Pacifica muttered without looking up from her book. When no one else arrived, she looked up, frowning. “Where’s Dipper? I didn’t think he would pass up a chance to go to the library.”
Mabel laughed and pointed at the doors where he stood with Christy, who was grinning shyly and talking. “He got sidetracked.”
Pacifica rolled her eyes and turned back to her book, but the other girl’s too-loud laugh drew her attention. She glanced up to find the redhead twirling her hair around her finger and grinning at whatever Dipper had said.
“Doesn’t it bother you that your roommate is so obviously flirting with your brother?” Pacifica asked.
“Nope! Not at all.”
Pacifica watched the couple for a moment, then turned back to her book. “Whatever. I mean, it’s not like it’s going to last long, so I guess you have nothing to worry about.”
“What do you mean? What won’t last long?”
“Her crush,” Pacifica said, as though it were obvious.
“Why not?”
Pacifica sighed and closed her book. “All he cares about is that journal of his and supernatural stuff. Any girl who wants to date him would have to be really patient to listen to all his rambling about time-travel and whatnot.”
Mabel gave a mischievous grin and leaned forward, steepling her fingers. “You mean like you were when you listened to him talk about gnomes for two hours yesterday?”
“I did not!”
“Did too! I timed it!”
Pacifica’s brow furrowed. “You timed how long I listened to your brother?”
Mabel rolled her eyes. “No, silly. I timed how long he talked about gnomes. You just happened to listen the entire time.”
Pacifica blinked. “He actually talked for two hours?”
“Yep!”
Pacifica folded her arms and looked away. “Whatever. I just listened cause I had nothing better to do, and gnomes are the most interesting thing in his journal.”
“They’re really not,” Mabel said, grinning and resting her chin in her hand.
Pacifica frowned and opened another book.
“Have you ever had a nickname?” Dipper asked as he and Pacifica were studying one day. Mabel had been studying with them, but she had left for class a few minutes before.
“Um, no,” she said without looking up from her notes.
“Never? Not a single one?”
“Nope.”
He leaned his chin on his hand. “Not from friends, or a distant cousin, or even a great-aunt?”
She looked up and raised an eyebrow. “How long have you been awake?”
He glanced at his watch. “Twelve hours. Why?”
“You should go to bed early tonight. You’re obviously tired.”
He stuck his tongue out at her, and she rolled her eyes and turned back to her book. He went back to his notes and tapped his pen on the table. “But I think you should have a nickname. Everyone should have at least one nickname.”
“I don’t need one.”
“Of course you do; you just don’t know it yet.” He studied her and chewed on his pen. “Pa-ci-fi-ca,” he said slowly. “Sissy?” She glared. “Yeah, no.”
“Does Mabel have a nickname?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah. Our parents are all about nicknames and gave us each about a dozen.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “Let’s see, Bell, Princess, Bee, Star. She doesn’t like that last one anymore, though. There were a lot more, but those are just the ones I can think of.”
“What about you?”
“Buddy, Mace, Ollie, um, now that I’m actually thinking about it, I can’t think of any more . . . . But those were all when I was really little. Now they just use Dipper or something similar.”
“Ollie?”
“Yeah, cause my middle name’s Oliver.” His eyes widened. “Oh, hey, what’s your middle name?”
“Elise.”
He leaned his elbows on the table. “That’s pretty.” She kept her eyes on the notebook and said nothing. He was quiet for a moment, and she thought he had finally gone back to studying.
“Elle!”
She jumped. “What?”
“Elle. Short for Elise.”
“Don’t you need to be studying?”
“You didn’t say no,” he proclaimed with a grin.
“Be quiet and let me work.”
The next day, when Dipper and Mabel came into the dining hall, he spotted Pacifica walking towards their usual table.
“Hey, Elle!”
She turned around, and he waved, grinning broadly. She rolled her eyes and sat down.
Mabel glanced at him. “What was that about?”
He grabbed some food. “I told her she needed a nickname.” Mabel raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.
When they sat down with Pacifica, Dipper grinned at her. “You turned around.”
“I turned around because I heard you yelling something.”
He tapped her foot with his. “Admit it, you like the name.”
She rolled her eyes, but one corner of her lips quirked up.