Work Text:
After the party winds down, Mabel retreats up to her and Dipper's room. She pulls out her phone, and lets her finger hover for a second before pressing the number.
The line rings five times.
"Hello?"
"Hey."
After a moment of only breathing on the other end, Pacifica clears her throat.
"How's the party?"
"It would be better it wasn't missing one of my best friends—or if she at least had the decency to tell me she wasn't coming."
Her words are pointed, and the silence between them is thick with tension in a way it hasn't been since they were twelve and didn't know any better. Didn't know each other any better.
Finally, Pacifica responds.
"I'm sorry. I was gonna go I just—" She pauses, like she has something to say but she's holding it back. "I don't know." is what she lands on. "I didn't think it'd make a big difference. I didn't really think you'd notice I wasn't there."
Her voice is small and uncertain; it's so… not Pacifica. She doesn't like it. She wants to ask Pacifica where Mabel's cute, confident, unflappable friend went.
"I always notice when you're not around." She says instead.
"Oh." A pause. "I thought, maybe—maybe it might be weird if I was there. That your family, and everyone, really, didn't want me there. Some of them still don't like me very much. I thought it might be easier this way."
"Well that's bullshit." It comes out of her mouth automatically, loudly, and Mabel winces, hoping none of the adults downstairs heard. "It's my birthday. If I want you there, they have to deal with it."
Pacifica laughs softly.
"I'll remember that next time. Do you want to come over tomorrow? I can make up for it."
"I'd love to."