The InBetween

Thirteen Orange Glasses (Miguel's POV)

Miguel downed his tenth orange glass that morning as he conversed with his relatives. All and all, not bad for a first day of the afterlife. His great aunt commented on how many glasses he had since he woke up.  Miguel just joked about how good it was as he poured himself an eleventh glass. It wasn't a joke though, this orange juice tasted so much sweeter and purer than anything he ever had when he was alive.

His grandpop practically bounced down the stairs to where Miguel was "Miguel! We've got to go on that walk this morning, remember? To see your mama?"

Miguel poured his twelfth drink and finished it a second. "Oh yeah, sure. I'll get my shoes....and new clothes too I guess."

"That's my boy, I'll meet you by the door." His grandpop smiled. He wore a summer vest with cargo pants and slide-on shoes.

When Miguel looked through his closet he decided he wanted that same look. He replaced his old striped shirt with a floral hoodie. He changed his sandals to simple sneakers and headed back downstairs. As he bid the rest of the family 'good-morning' and 'see-you' he snagged one last glass of that irresistible orange juice and headed out.

"So, this place..." he asked his grandpop - who's name was actually José.

"Yeah?" José asked.

"I'll be able to see my mama, and Carlos?"

"Yeah. It's quite magical. In fact, watching you all from up here was how we assumed Mari-Posa would be next."

"Did you watch us ALL the time?"

"Not all the time, but whenever I could I'd visit here and look down on you all in pride."

Miguel thought back to moments on the toilet, or moments of shame where he picked his nose or something. Let's hope those weren't during his grandpop's free-time.

"Here we are." José said after a while of just strolling and taking in the view. It was a pure landscape of clouds and people poking holes in it, looking down at their loved ones on Earth. Some hills were near by with dirt roads splitting down the middle and leading toward this cloudy sight. Miguel ran along the foggy lane, truly wondering if he would fall through. The clouds felt just the way they would in dreams, soft, fluffy and even a little bouncy.

"Wait up, boy!" José jogged up close behind him, pausing a moment to catch his breath. Miguel knelt down and punched a hole in the misty floor. A clear image of Planet Earth appeared and slowly zoomed in closer and closer to a specific location. Then, an image of Miguel's mama coughing in bed appeared. Carlos came into the picture and tried handing the woman water. Her shaky hand couldn't take the glass though and Carlos ended up tilting her head slightly upwards for her to take the drink.

"Mama, are you okay? Do you need your medication?"

"No, mi amor. I already took it."

From what Miguel could see from the window, it was sunset. The sky was violet and the street lights were turning on. "How differently does time pass on Earth compared to Heaven?"

"Unable to tell. Sometimes it's really slow, and other times faster than lightning. When your here for eternity, time becomes more of an illusion."

"Will I go out and look for him?" Carlos asked. "Because I swear, that little punk never said he'd be THIS late."

"He's at a party, remember? Maybe they are having a sleepover. He'll be here in the morning."

"He would've said something though..."

Mari-Posa chuckled "Why are you getting your feathers in a bunch? Do you MISS him?"

"WHAT? No! Miss him? I'm just curious."

"Oohh, you're WORRIED then, huh?"

"Mama!" A phone rang from another room "I'll get that."

José laughed "Even if it's the slightest jab, nothing's funnier than watching her get under Carlos' skin."

Miguel chuckled in agreement. But was still put off by the time-passage and the inevitable moment his mama finds out he's not coming home. "Hang on," he said "I need to see something else."

If his family was still oblivious, what did the rest of the party think? With a swish of his hand, a new image appeared. It was at the party, a while after laser tag. Logan Ruxton took center stage, as he and his father yelled back and forth at each other while the remaining party members looked around confused and worried. He noticed Rocco looking especially pale as he watched the argument go down.

"Do you realize how much trouble I'm in if we can't find those kids?" Logan's dad bellowed at him.

"I don't even remember inviting them, it's like they showed up out of nowhere and you want me to act like that's normal?!" Logan yelled back.

"You DID invite them? Now where did they go, son?"

"Maybe they realized they weren't welcome and went home?" Logan suggested, forcing his crew to back him up through a series of 'mhms' and 'uh-huhs.'

Miguel took a moment to put two and two together. Nobody had found their bodies yet. His mum thinks he's having a sleepover. Logan's family thinks he went home. He swished his hand again and saw Tyrone's family on the phone. "Hello, Mari, has Miguel come home yet? Tyrone hasn't been seen since he left for school!" Ty's mother stressed as she pushed loose strands of hair from her face.

A few seconds of nothing but muffled talking from the phone and Ty's mum instantly calmed down.

"He, Miguel and Jacob are having a sleepover there." she sighed, relaxing against the wall. Ty's father did the same.

One last swish and he was at Jacob's house. It was just as chaotic as usual. His little sister's messing up the place as the eldest was once again having a screaming match with her mother about...what was it this time? How the earth was made?

"Why can't you respect that you have your opinions and I have mine?" The goth yelled.

"Because as long as you live in MY house, you will share MY beliefs!" The mum yelled back.

"Where is Jacob?" The dad asked, picking the toddler off the curtains.

The goth shrugged. His little sisters laughed and claimed through giggles  "He disappeared! I made him vanish with my magic!"

"He's in his room, I think." The mum replied, everyone seemed happy with that answer before mayhem ensued once more.

So basically, NOBODY knew where they really were. Their bodies were likely still in the river and if he had to guess, the only person down there who knew that was Rocco. And like hell he was saying anything. 

"See why we thought your mama would go?" Miguel was half-startled by José. "You guys did your best with her, really. But there's only so much children can do. Who knows, we might see her this weekend. Whenever that is."

"I can't stay here." Miguel said with a low voice.

"Pardon, boy?" José asked

"I can't stay here, knowing that Jacob and Tyrone's family won't see their sons ever again. Knowing that Connie's family is....wherever they are looking for their daughter. We haven't been gone that long, either. We might have a second chance for as long as our bodies are above ground."

"Miguel, that's ridiculous! You were shot, it would take a miracle for you to get a second chance."

Miguel turned and looked out into the sky. There, stretching above all other towers stood the golden and sliver castle. The boy turned to his grandpop and hugged him tightly. "It was lovely meeting you and everyone else. But neither me or my mama will be joining you for a while."

"Miguel-"

"I have an idea. Goodbye!" He pulled away and ran across the landscape of clouds, leaving his grandpop to watch Jacob's family wrestle over the remote and make-shift globes.

By following the great tower in the sky, the boy found himself standing in front of the grand double door and removing his shoes for the guards beside them. "Kid we didn't even say you could go in-"

The boy threw his sneakers at them and burst through the house of the Lord, calling out for the one person who could help him. "Life! Life please, I need your help!"

As he jogged upstairs, multiple guards marched down toward him yelling "HALT!"

"Wait, please! I'm here for-" The boy began before a golden wisp lifted him off his feet and glided him above the guards heads towards upstairs.

He had no control over his floating and just let the gold wisp take him to wherever he needed to go. He landed in front of the bronze, familiar doors of a deity. The doors swung open and Life stood right there, sipping on another strawberry smoothie. Or the same, who really knows. "Get off the floor." He demanded. Miguel stood right up and walked in, losing all his confidence immediately. It wasn't that Life scared him, he was just desperate for this plan to work and he needed his help for that to happen.

"If you want me to help you with this plan then it's best you tell me what it is." Life walked down towards his window. He was wearing a silk white jumpsuit with a golden belt that had different symbols inscribed on it. He wore a daisy necklace and a daisy clip in his curly hair. "Can you read my mind or something?" Miguel wasn't expecting a serious nod as an answer.

No way he can.

"I very much can." Life replied. "What's up? You realize your trespassing right now?"

I have a plan on how to save my friends. I need you and Connie's help.

"Why just us?"

If you have another accomplice feel free to tell me. But right now I NEED this. Please. I'll never be able to enjoy this new life knowing that people who made my old one less of a living hell are now IN hell.

"That's...awww that's so sweet!" Life's eyes shone brighter as a smile of purity stretched across his face. "I'm all for giving souls like yours second chances. As long as my...better half doesn't find out."

"Your better half?" Miguel said out loud "What is that-"

"SO, Miguel, lets' get your heaven friend, then we'll break down the plan on saving your hell ones. Deal?"

"Deal!"