Chapter Text
It always felt colder back in California. Sure, it doesn't quite add up, but it's true. Oregon was her home. Mabel didn't have any friends here. It was so lonely. Sure, she had Dipper, but he was always busy. He spent so much time studying, they didn't really hang out anymore. Sometimes, though she would never admit it, she was afraid. Afraid that they'd end up just like the last set of Pines twins. Dipper was so very smart, and he used it. He would go to college, and then where would she go? Back to Gravity Falls? She would have nowhere to stay even if she did. Soos and Melody took over the Mystery Shack, Grunkle Stan and Great Uncle Ford don't live there anymore, and she absolutely refuses to intrude on Soos' family. Crying herself to sleep, yet another thing she'd never admit to, was some of her only consolation these days.
The day the postcard came was probably one of the best days of her life.
Mabel and Dipper Pines, 6678 Westwood Drive, Piedmont, California, 94611
Hey kiddos. Still ain't got a phone, don't need none of that fancy high-tech junk. Soos and them are goin on vacation this summer, so I get my house back. Come on down and stay with us again why don't you?
Grunkle Stan & Great Uncle Ford
She practically jumped out of her own skin when she pulled it out of the mailbox. She then nearly died on her trip up the stairs, running to tell Dipper the news. His shouting at her for not knocking soon quieted once he finally read the note. The smile that pasted itself on his face was unmistakable. The two then immediately ran back downstairs, nearly falling through, into the Kitchen.
"MOMMM!" Mabel's voice rang through the house almost obnoxiously as she slammed the postcard down onto the kitchen counter. The grumbled acceptance that came from their mother was enough to send the twins running to pack. Summer started in a week after all, and they needed as much time as possible in Gravity Falls.
The bus ride was quieter than anticipated. Mabel had barely slept all week, and as she drowsed on her brother's shoulder, he quietly read. But, the energy rose as they approached their stop, and Mabel practically busted through the doors of the bus running over to her Grunkles, before crushing Candy and Grenda in the biggest hug possible. Then, there was Pacifica. She looked like she was doing well, despite having sold her mansion, though it was always hard to tell much considering the probably illegal amount of makeup she wore as a thirteen-year-old.
Still, Mabel thought she was beautiful. As a friend, of course. I mean, sure, she was amazing, but Mabel didn't like her like that. She rushed over to her next, squeezing her. Maybe they had used to be enemies (rivals?), but Mabel missed her just as much as the others, if not a little more, for reasons she didn't really want to delve into.
"Paz! How have you been?" Pacifica's feigned disgust is so very transparent, and the pink dusted across her face seemed to be visible to everyone but her and Mable. They were stuck in their own little bubble as they chatted, until Dipper yanked Mabel away. "Sorry to interrupt your little "girl talk", but we need to get our things unpacked." Mabel would swear that her little lovestruck wave was purely platonic as Dipper dragged her away by the nape of her sweater.