Logan's POV

I wake up the next morning and sit up, forgetting at first what happened last night. Then it hit me. I was in a house of someone that I just met in my grade. I get up, going to freshen up in the bathroom. I look around, seeing that Diego was still asleep in his room. I went to the kitchen where a charger waited for me. I plug in my phone and just sat there, tuning my guitar as I tried to get my thoughts in order. When my phone was charged and my guitar was completely tuned, a hand placed itself on my shoulder.

"Hey, Logan! Do you think it'll be open now? That place that you wanted to go?"He asks

I look over to see Diego already dressed in new clothes beside me. He was using the fact that I was sitting to his advantage so he could lean as if he was taller than me. I look at my guitar, seeing it glow again.

"Yeah...I think so."I say

"Let's go to Starbucks first! Some good breakfast helps!"He says, pulling me along

I get my shoes and coat on again as he drags me out the door. I sling my guitar over my shoulder once attatching it to a strap. I open my messages and quickly see my friends and family were looking for me. I messaged my father so he doesn't have a panic attack, apologizing and explaining that my phone died before I went with a friend. He said okay, just grateful that I wasn't hurt. I sent a similar message to my sister but she was pissed at me.

I found myself eating in Starbucks with him a few minutes later. I was just absent-mindedly playing some notes on my guitar, continuing as we went through the streets. I saw a flower shop and pause, quickly going in and buying a bouquet. I walk out with a grin, holding it in one hand.

"Soo...Where we going?"He asks

"I'm planning to see my mother. Today's her birthday."I say

"Oh cool! Where?"He asks

"The cemetery."I say, gesturing to it

"Oh! Let's go!"He says, running ahead

I strum a bit, doing a few tunings. Then I see him run into the street's crosswalk to reach the cemetery gates, nearly getting hit by a car. I run forward, tucking the bouquet under my arm.

"Diego!"I yell, reaching for him

And in doing so, I released the guitar string, feeling the guitar knock into my side with the strap snapping to my shoulder as it released a powerful note. A beam of light struck down and a shield of blue blocked the cars from hitting us, causing the cars to hit it instead.

"What the...?"I say

"Woah..."He says

I see my guitar glowing, specifically the engraved message. We run off of the street into the cemetery before the damages build up. We get inside the cemetery and the gates shut behind us.

"What was that? That was amazing!"He says

"Umm, yeah...Things certainly haven't been the same this year. Especially after a chemical accident earlier this year that doesn't let me hum anymore..."I say, pointing to the To Love and To Protect message

"Wicked cool! So...Do you know where she's at?"He asks

"Like the back of my hand. I'm sort of a frequent visitor."I say

"Understandable. The Day of the Dead does tend to get packed or busy so my family visits our abuelitas more frequently too."He says

I walk along, going up a hill and spotting the maple tree marking her spot. I march up there and smile, seeing her cherry-red headstone engraved beautifully with her name and information. Evelyn Seamore. My father took her last name when they married. I smile, seeing the picture of her engraved into the stone at the center as well as the flowery designs along the edges. At the bottom I saw the details of a guitar and a necklace surrounding a heart. That was new for me to notice but I smile when I thought about it. My sister has been wearing a necklace lately and I have a guitar, so it could be a symbol of her love for both of us.

"Hey, Mom. Happy birthday."I say, setting the flowers in front of her headstone

My guitar glows. I look up and smile.

"That tree seems to have been sheltering you....I'm sorry I haven't come lately but I got busy with school...I miss you..."I say

Diego walks over, kissing the top of the headstone.

"Pleasure to meet you, Señora. Feliz cumpleaños!"He says

I shrug it off. He was at least being sweet.The ground rumbles as if upset by his action and giving a warning.

"I'll...Let you both talk."He says, backing away

"Mama...That was Diego. He's a new friend of mine. Sorry I didn't introduce him before....Has Marilyn visited you recently? If not, I'd be happy to update you on what's happening...But first let's celebrate your special day. I learned how to play your favorite song..."I say, getting my guitar into my lap

I smile, strumming a bit.

I can do this. Just like I practiced...

I start playing away.

"We'll do it all...Everything..On our own..We don't need...Anything or anyone! But...If I lay here..If I just lay here...Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"I sing as I strum to keep my place

"I don't quite know...How to say..How I feel....Those three words...Are said too much...They're not enough.."I continue, then strum more

"If I lay here...If I just lay here..Would you lie with me and just forget the world? Forget what we're told....Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's burstin' into life!"I sing, laying down

"Let's waste time..Chasing cars..Around our heads! I need your grace...To remind me...To find my own.......If I lay here! If I just lay here! Would you lie with me and just forget the world? Forget what we're told! Before we get too old! Show me a garden that's burstin' into life!"I continue with a smile

My guitar begins glowing more.

"All that I am....All that I ever was..Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see! I don't know where....Confused about how, as well....Just know that these things will never change for us at all!"I sing, strumming more before slowing down

"If I lay here...If I just lay here...Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"I finish

I continue playing before stopping, glancing at her headstone. I gently brush my fingers along the edges.

"I hope you like that, Mom..."I say

Then, my guitar strings start playing more as it lifts itself off of me. Then I get blinded by a bright light, shutting my eyes from the light. When I open them, I didn't seem to be in the cemetery anymore. I was in a small bedroom with a crib. The walls were painted a light blue and dolls or pillows lay around. I see strange lights shining in through the windows, then a familiar face run in to the resulting cries of a baby. I recognized my mother, looking just like her pictures as she picked up a baby boy.

Wait...That's me....

"Shh....Shush shush shush...It's alright. It's okay."She says

I smile happily, seeing this memory.

"Oh dear...Who is going to love you when I'm gone? I really thought all this was done....*Sigh* It doesn't matter...I'll love you all like it's all I have. I know it'll kill me in the end, but I don't want to think about that. I want to share love with my family. You're going to be a great boy one day, Logan."She says, bouncing me and cradling me to soothe me

I couldn't help but notice her worry. She knew she was going to die...? What...?

"Mama?"A little voice says

I look over, seeing a younger version of my sister coming here.

"Is my bro okay?"She asks in a cute lil voice

"Yes, our lil poet just got scared."Mom giggles

Some music takes me out of this strange trip to the past and I find myself laying by her grave again. But before I could question what happened, my guitar started playing and there was an audible giggle. I glance over, seeing the spirit of my mother playing my guitar.

"Hello my little boy. You've raised quite the concern in the afterlife and here...This freshman year of yours has been eventful, hasn't it?"She says

"Ma...."I say softly

"I've heard plenty about you from your sister within the time we've caught up...I'm sure you are catching onto the fact that neither the guitar or necklace are normal. I enchanted them for your protection...Now, tell me, how have my children been doing from your perspective?"She asks

"Uhh...Classes are good. We have a good group of friends...I honestly suspect the new boy Hugo of having a thing for my sis. He kept staring at her during the last dance like she was a jewel...Waiting for a chance to talk to her...Did I mention he talks to animals? And not in the usual ways. He knows what they're saying and communicates with them...Next thing ya know he will be transforming..."I say

"Watch him...He seems good but I don't want your sister to go through another relationship like her last one...Stick together and please keep your father from overworking himself...But..."She says as she strums away

I nod.

"We had made a plan in case something like this ever happened. I honestly think it may help you or your friends and sister given the circumstances better than the current high school. A whole schedule and everything so you'd still have a life and visit home. I have a friend working there and it's all set, she's just waiting for you guys to show up with this letter."She says, snapping her fingers

A letter appeared out of flames, landing in my lap. She strums and a little orb appears. I look into it, seeing a completely different school. Students had tails or different scales and traits, sparring on towers or casting spells. It looked amazing...

"Hey Logan."A voice says

My mother jolts and the sneak peek ends. I tuck the letter away and glance over, seeing Sloane come out from behind the tree.

"Sloane! What are you doing here?"I ask

"Looking for you. All our friends are worried. My sis said that you left with a Diego dude and so it was easy to track your movements. His social media posts about your date were telling."She says, holding her bat over her shoulder and showing her phone

In a picture it shows my back to Diego as I played my guitar and my mom's headstone as he took the selfie. It was captioned:"First date with this cutie and already meeting the Mrs!"

It's not a date! I literally just met him! What the heck, Diego?

I feel my face burn. But it only got worse when my mother spoke.

"Son, are you gay?"My mom says, making Sloane jump

"Gah! Is this a normal tradition?"She squeaks, looking at my mom

"This is the first visit that it's happened....No, Ma, I'm not."I say

"Oh! Is that not the right term? Are you pan, aro, or maybe ace? Aroace? I once had a bi friend....There's a lot of terminology...Hmm...I'd love you regardless, darling!"Mom says

My face burns more when she mentions bisexuality...Knowing what I've been considering in the back of my head. She smiles.

Then she looks at Sloane.

"Ah, you must be the soldier accompanying my poet that I've heard about."She says

"Soldier?"Sloane asks

"Don't think too much into it. She loves a song called Soldier, Poet, King. Nicknames come from it she loves it so much. Mom, this is Sloane."I say

"Oh yes I know. I've watched over you both and had my own talks with your sister. It's nice to meet you, Sloane."Mom says

"Nice to meet you too."Sloane says

"Son, before my visiting time ends, I have one last gift to give."She says, then whistles

A blue jay flies down, but certainly looked different than normal birds of its kind. It had eyes that seem to glow and streaks on its feathers as if carved out of wood. It lands on my shoulder.

"This will be your new guardian to look after you even when I can't. He can help you in any way that you need."She says

"Oh...Happy birthday, Mom. I love you."I say

She smiles, then fades away. I look to the blue jay as he climbs onto my guitar.

"I'll come up with a name for you..."I say

It nods, then shuts its eyes and its color fades, becoming part of my guitar. I glance around, seeing Sloane beside me.

"So umm...Sorry that I caused such an alarm...It's just a tradition that I try to keep...And around this time nobody at home wants to talk about her."I say as we begin to walk away

"Huh...That makes sense..."She says

I look around, spotting Diego. I march over to him with a frown.

"Diego, why are you making those posts?"I ask

He looks at me and his face pales.

"Y-You saw?"He asks

"I dunno why you thought it would stay hidden. It is the internet after all. I literally just met you properly at that dance. I'd call us friends, but your phrasing is a stretch."I say

"Love at first sight got in my way I guess."He says

"Whatever. I'll see you at school I guess."I say, walking away

I walk out of the cemetery and Sloane walks beside me.

"So...What now?"She asks

"I'll probably get killed by Marilyn. She's probably pissed at me..."I say with a nervous chuckle

"She really does look after you...No surprise with her being the mother of the group."She says

"Yeah...Did you ever hear about the Kindergarten Incident?"I ask

"No, why?"She replies

"Well, when I was little I didn't understand the conept of my mother going away....For the longest time I had my sister mistaken for her and if not for the pictures around the house, I wouldn't know the difference. Whenever I thought of Mom, Mary came up in my mind with how much she cared for me. So one day in school there was a shop in the gym to prepare for Mother's Day. I bought a pair of heart earrings and a thermos with a Love Mom symbol. As my kindergarten teacher took us back, my sister's class walked by and I chose that time to give it to her....I confused the teachers so much that day."I explain to her

She smiles at me.

"Does she know this?"He asks

"I mean, when being handed Mother's Day gifts for a few years by your sibling, I kinda think it's hard not to catch on. It just went without saying so you're the first I've told this to...She even wears the earrings every now and then."I say

Then I see a fire hydrant get blasted off of its spot, spilling water everywhere.

"How the heck did that hydrant-?"She begins, then hops back when the water aimed at us

My new blue jay opens its eyes and with a powerful chirp ringing out, a shield blocked us from the attack.

"Looogaaaan!"I hear the furious voice of my sister shout

"Welp, I'm dead. It was nice knowing you, Sloane."I say with a nervous chuckle

I see the water suddenly shoot up, avoiding my sister as she marches over. And the rage was like a burning flame in her eyes.

"Don't you eve-!"She begins

"Since when could you bend water, Marilyn?"Sloane asks, cutting her off

Marilyn's eyes widen and the water drops. The fire hydrant fell back into place, locking things away from the outburst before.

"Shoot, I didn't even realize that was happening...Umm...It's a work in progress....There's more to why I was late to come in at that dance."She says, suddenly being the nervous one instead

"You absorbed radiation or pieces from a weird asteroid of some sort that crashed out of nowhere."I say

"How'd you know?"She snaps

"You're my sister so of course Hugo warned me of how he found you. He was very concerned for you. And it wasn't too hard to catch on once your behavior changed."I say

She frowns, crossing her arms.

"Speaking of school parties, you better not use one to scare us and sneak out again!"She snaps

"I know.....But we have plenty to talk about."I say

Sloane gets a call and moments later she starts running off.

My sister comes beside me and we walk home. I sigh, knowing that things are going to change.

TBC