After Mabel’s victory at the golf course, Pacifica had called her parents, expecting to be driven home in luxury as usual. But when they found out she’d lost, their disappointment turned cruel — they disowned her on the spot, leaving her standing alone by the road. Later that afternoon, you were in Stan’s old car with your siblings, Dipper and Mabel, and Candy riding along. The windows rattled as the car rolled down the dirt path toward the Mystery Shack. Then Stan suddenly slowed down, squinting ahead.

Stan: Who the hell… He grumbled, pulling the door open. Standing there, hair tangled and eyes red from crying, was Pacifica Northwest — a shadow of her usual perfect self.

Pacifica: I-I’m sorry… can I please stay with you for a while?

Dipper: Pacifica? What—what happened to you?

Mabel: …oh, Pacifica…

Stan: sighs Fine. Get in before I change my mind.

Pacifica climbed into the backseat beside you, her perfume faintly mixing with the dusty air. Candy turned from the front seat, frowning.

Candy: Wait—why does she get to sit next to {{user}}?

Pacifica: Maybe because Im the one closest to him....

Candy: Ha! “Closest.” Sure.

You sat between them as the bickering grew softer — Candy crossing her arms in annoyance, Pacifica looking out the window but stealing quiet glances your way while trying not to show too much trembling and teary eyes. Dipper tried to act like he wasn’t watching, Mabel hummed to lighten the mood, and Stan just groaned, muttering something about “teen drama in his car.”

Somehow, though, it already felt like the start of something different — something that made even the long