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Rufus
After the impact, I can feel the life draining out of me- not that I'd had much left anyway. Mateo’s voice is still the only thing I can hear, and I can slightly see a puddle of blood beginning to grow around me. It doesn't hurt, I just feel sleepy.
Someone comes and kneels beside me, their mouth moves but I can't hear them over Mateo's singing. I have no idea how my phone is still playing, or how my earbuds stayed in my ears. Maybe it's a final gift from my love before the end. I manage to open my mouth, and I can't hear myself when I croak out, “I'm a decker.”
The person purses their lips, and then sits with me, brushing my blood matted hair from my face and wiping the blood away while my eyes slowly close. Eventually, Mateo's voice fades away, and I know I'm dead.
…If I'm dead, I shouldn't know I'm dead.
…
I open my eyes. Then I immediately close them. It's far too bright, wherever I am.
After a moment, I manage to peel my eyes open just enough to make out where I am. I'm lying on dirt, the sky is bright, because I'm staring at the sun. I turn my head to the right, and see a familiar figure hunched on the ground, drawing in the dirt with a stick.
“Mat…” I croak. The boy turns to me, same glasses, same shirt- no burns anywhere. I have to be dreaming. Mateo smiles, then frowns, then looks puzzled. “You're here already?.. I guess I knew it'd happen- I waited for you after all, but… should I be happy you're here or sad?” I blink hard- my eyes are not tearing up. This isn't real.
“Mateo?” I force out. I sit up, and take in our surroundings. We're in a park, not one I know though. There are trees a few meters away, surrounding us.
Mateo nods. “...yeah. We're in the afterlife- but there are no movie theaters.” I laugh weakly. “...are we all alone here?”
Mateo shakes his head. “There are others everywhere- this is where you arrive. There's cities and everything, beyond the trees. But I thought I'd wait.” I feel touched, despite knowing we promised to meet up so Mateo would have been a dick if he didn't wait.
“...How long has it been?” Mateo asks. "The sun has stayed in the same place for ages here, so I have no idea what time it is.” I hesitate, I have to think for a moment. “Maybe two hours? I can't exactly remember…” All I really remember is the suffocating feeling of losing Mateo, even though I had known from the start that he was going to die.
“...did you…?” Mateo hesitates. “You didn't do anything, right?” I shake my head immediately- I'm not that typa guy. “Nah, I.. I didn't kill myself or anything. I got hit by a car, I think.” Mateo winces.
I get up without much struggle. I feel in perfect health- though I suppose if Mateo isn't burned, we must have been restored to full liveliness and health or whatever before getting to… heaven? Just the afterlife?
Mateo stands too, and shuffles closer to me.
Mateo
Death was agony. I'd always hated getting burned- even when it was just hot glue on my fingertips as a child, I hated it. Even worse was the parts of my body that didn't hurt, which I knew meant the worst type of burn, where the fire destroys the nerves so you don't feel anything. I remember hoping this was it- I've heard of awful recovery processes, infections and everything.
I'd just lay there in the fire, and my own lack of motivation to escape reminds me of Rufus’ story of his family, the way they just stayed there and let it happen. Then two hands grabbed my arms and dragged me out. My first thought was dad. But it wasn't my dad. It was Rufus.
He was coughing and stumbling as he dragged me out of the kitchen. He turned me over and my burned back screamed in pain, but his words were all I focused on.
Wake up, Mateo, wake up, wake up. Why'd you get out of bed… we, we said we wouldn't get out of…
I heard someone tell Rufus I was dead, and agreed. But Rufus kept begging, then everything went silent. I'd opened my eyes, and started bawling in the dirt, almost the same spot Rufus had appeared a few minutes ago.
The only thing I've been thinking since I got here was “I shouldn't have left the island.”
Regret gnaws at my gut, and I'm a bit guilty that I'm happy I died first. I don't know what I'd have done if Rufus died right in front of me. Nothing good, I suspect. So I've sat here, waiting for him so we could see each other like we promised. And then a while after- long enough for me to draw like thirty structures I'd wanted to build in life- Rufus had appeared, and I waited for him to wake up.
After he got up, I followed and inched closer. I wanted to leap into his arms and kiss him forever, but he might be angry- angry that I left the island, and angry that I died before him. If I'd just stayed in bed…
So I don't touch Rufus, but stay as close as possible. As we begin to make our way towards the city I saw when I got here, Rufus grabs my hand. I look at him, and he smiles at me. My heart races. I can't control myself- I grab his face and kiss him, I don't want to part from him ever again, but he pulls back to breathe, because for some reason we still need to do that.
“I'm sorry.” I gasp out. “I don't know what I was thinking with the tea-” Rufus squeezes my hand. “Hey. You're alright, we're together now, aren't we? You can't avoid death cast. All that matters is us now.”
My heart skips a beat at his overwhelming compassion- I've known he's been so sweet for hours, but it always comes as a surprise- especially now, when I made a mistake that cost me my life.
Somehow, our feet take us to my apartment, same as it was before the fire. I can hardly look at the kitchen. Instead, I walk to my room- the books are sorted like they'd be normally, even though me and Rufus had left them in no particular order, we'd been more focused on getting them back on the shelf.
It's a nice sight, it reminds me of the past. Then Rufus climbs onto my bed, the one rusty spring near the end screeches under his weight. I turn to look at him, and a billion words like up in my mind. We only knew each other for a day, but I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Well, I wanted to, now we're dead.
Instead of any of the words I'm thinking, all that comes out is “I'm hungry.”
Rufus blinks, then puts a hand on his gut. “...same.”
“I don't want to cook.” I don't think I could bear turning on the stove again.
“...neither.”
We stay there in silence, then Rufus gets up. “Shall we explore this city? Let's see if it's the same as it was.”
I nod, and grab Rufus’ hand, taking us back out my apartment, down the stairs, and outside.
Then, a thought occurs. If we're dead, are the other dead people here? Namely, Rufus' parents and Olivia, and my own mother?
Rufus
As we make it to the sidewalk, Mateo stops walking. I think maybe he's still nervous about roads- maybe remembering that I died on one, but then he turns to me and speaks. “Do you think your family is here? And my mom? And everyone else we know who's dead?”
…i had actually thought about that. I squeeze his hand. “Do you want to see? We could find your mother-” Mateo hesitates. “...I.. I'd offer to find your family first, but I'm not sure if they will be here, and I don't want to give you false hope..”
Mateo
Me and Rufus make our way into the city, and in the middle, come across a large screen. It has large words saying “find anyone dead! All people entering the afterlife are documented here!” Perfect. I rush over, and tap the screen, and type in Rufus' last name. Emeterio. Up pops a few people, Only one of which I know, Rufus himself. I look to Rufus to see who he knows.
His hand hovers over the screen, and then he clicks on Olivia Emeterio. “My sister.” He says. He reads the address, date of birth and death, cause of death, and the lost close family members. Then he closes the search, and grabs my hand again. “You found them?” I ask.
Rufus nods. “Let's go.”
Rufus
When we arrive, the lights are on. Mateo stops me. “Wait. You came out to them right? What are we? Am I just your last friend, or-?” I hesitate. “My… Boyfriend?” I ask. Mateo flushes bright red, then nods mutely.
Then I knock on the door.
I hear people walking around, then Olivia, ageless and perfectly healthy, opens the door. Her mouth drops open at the sight of me- she has to look up at me now-. “It's Rufus.” I say, just in case she can't recognize me. She nods, and then grabs me and hugs me inside. I accidentally yank Mateo, and he squeaks, making Olivia stop, and look at him. “Who's he?”
I squeeze Mateo's hand. “He was my last friend. I'll… tell you the details. Are mom and dad in there?” Olivia nods, and pulls me inside, less forcefully so Mateo doesn't trip again. She's no doubt caught on, the way I'm holding his hand tight is enough of a giveaway for her sharp mind.
“Go to the living room.” Olivia instructs, and I do. She goes to one of the other rooms, getting out parents.
Mateo sits so close he's practically on top of me, I think he's nervous to meet my family.
My mom and dad walk in, and Mateo lets go of my hand so I can get up and hug them. I feel tears coming on, and for once, I let myself cry. No one here will judge me.
I grab Olivia and drag her into our hug, and sniffle and shake into my mom's shoulder.
After a long time, we break apart, and I sit back down next to Mateo. My parents sit close, alongside Olivia, who sits on my other side.
“Tell us everything that's happened.” My mom begins, and I tell them- the aftermath of the crash, the orphanage, the Pluto's, my foster family, Aimee, and Peck, and the phone call, then I stop to let them think.
After a few of my father and mother's questions are answered (“Who took you in?” “You managed alright?” “How are they?”), Olivia nods towards Mateo, who's sitting quietly, listening and holding my hand tight. “Tell us about your end day- and him.” Mateo flushes.
I begin talking again after the phone call. Calling Aimee, the interrupted funeral, finding Mateo on Last Friend, and I briefly explain seeing his father and Lidia, not sure how much he wants my family to know.
I tell them about the activities we did, me helping Mateo be brave, Mateo helping me deal with grief, posting everything on Instagram, and then I get to the club, and Mateo goes pink again, no doubt knowing exactly what I'm about to tell my family about.
“You're okay with me saying?” I ask him, he nods. So I continue.
I tell them about the singing, adding that Mateo is great at it-even if he doesn't have the best pitch, then I hesitate when I get to the minute afterwards when Mateo pulled me off the stage and kissed me. Olivia says it for me.
“And then you two kissed, right?” She says, folding her arms. My parents blink in surprise, and I nod, my face a bit warm. “Yeah. Then we kissed.”
I explain the gang with no name's attack, and tell them how Mateo saved my life -for a few more hours at least- by punching that bastard Peck, then our escape to his apartment.
Then Mateo droops a bit as I tell them about the fire, and how Mateo died right in front of me. My family all look incredibly sympathetic, which I expected. Then I explain what I did after- talking to Mateo's father, leaving a note, talking to Lidia, then Mateo turns to me.
“I didn't know you did that.” He says quietly. I nod. He smiles “thank you.” He murmurs.
Then I explain listening to the recording, and crossing the road. Then I quickly and briefly explain arriving here, with Mateo waiting for me.
My mother smiles in Mateo's direction. “You seem like a sweet boy, I'm sorry your death was painful like that. Thank you for being with Rufus on his end day.”
Mateo nods, giving my mother a grateful smile. “I'm the one who should be thanking anyone- if it wasn't for Rufus, I would have spent my entire end day all alone, in my room playing video games. He's perf- ahem. He's great.”
My mother smiles, then my father addresses us both. “You two see to be in love- Of course I accept you, but my only concern is the fact you spent only one day with each other- though I am so grateful that my boy didn't spend his end day alone..."
I nod, and Mateo speaks, “That's right, we did spend only one day together… but I feel like I know Rufus more than maybe I deserve to, even in a day I feel like I could spend the rest of my life- like I would love to spend the rest of my life with him. If we were still alive I'd… but nevermind. We're here now. I'd gladly spend the rest of… existence with him.” My face feels warm, and my heart beats a bit quicker.
My mother smiles even brighter. “As long as you both are happy.” Then her smile dims a bit. “..so you won't come live with us?” She asks. I shake my head, I can't leave Mateo. “No, I think I'm going to live in Mateo's apartment.” I look to him for confirmation. He nods, smiling brightly.
My mother nods, smiling. “Okay hun. We have all the time in the world to catch up now.”
Just then, my stomach growls, Mateo laughs. “Oh boys, are you hungry?” My mother hums. “I was making tea before you two came over- and we can have some cookies too!!!”
Me and Mateo look at each other in horror. Mateo doesn't have the heart to refuse, so I just weakly mumble, “maybe no tea…?”
My father covers his mouth, no doubt realizing. My mother realizes a bit later, and shoots Mateo an apologetic look.
___
Mateo
Over biscuits and juice, Rufus tells his family all the details of what happened when they were apart. Then, to my surprise, his father turns to me and asks about my life. I tell him about my father in his coma and Lidia and Penny.
He asks about my interests, and I tell him everything- Scorpius Hawthorne, video games, helping out with Penny and Lidia, talking to my dad, watching the Scorpius Hawthorne movies… he nods along and adds a few things as I speak. He's so kind, he reminds me of my own father. I hope life isn't too horrible when he wakes up. If he wakes up.
Then, Rufus' father asks something that makes me pause- “forgive me, but is your mother in the picture? You haven't mentioned her at all.” I blink, then smile. “She passed away during my birth.” I tell him softly. He offers his apologies, then turns to his wife. “Love, do we know anyone with the last name Torrez?” He asks.
She thinks for a moment, then goes “oh!” And nods, my heart leaps. “There's that nice woman who lives a few blocks down- she died in childbirth I'm pretty sure… is that your mother, honey?” She asks. I nod.
Rufus squeezes my hand, “we'll go see her if you want?” I hesitate, then nod. I want to know what she's like, aside from how my father described her, though I'm sure she won't be far from it.
??:??pm
After a few more hours with Rufus’s family, we decide to leave. It looks to be about evening now, but all the clocks show different times for everyone- the time they died.
Rufus’ mother gives us my mother’s address and kisses us each on the cheek, telling us to be careful and to enjoy ourselves.
We wander around for a bit, looking at the city. It's exactly the same as it was, except everyone around is dead. Rufus talks to me, and I don't add much, half of my mind is worrying about my mother- what will she be like? What will she think of me? I find it hard to believe she'd be awful, because my father would never speak so highly of a cruel person. I console myself with the idea that if my mother doesn't like me, at least I have Rufus and his family.
______
Rufus
After maybe an hour of wandering around and saying hi to dead people, most of whom neither of us know, we arrive at the door of Mateo’s mother and father's old house. Where they lived before Mateo was born. Mateo rings the doorbell, and after a moment, a soft voice calls out “one minute!”
So we wait, and then a woman answers the door, and it's striking, the resemblance she has to Mateo. They have the same thin build, and the same smile. I can tell immediately that she's kind.
“...hi…” Mateo says meekly. “....I'm your son, Mateo.”
The woman freezes, and her eyes well with tears. “...but it's only been eighteen years.” She says softly. “I thought I’d have to wait longer to meet you, honey.” she pulls him into a huge hug, making his hand slip out of mine. I don't mind.
She invites him inside the house, then looks at me. “...are you his friend?” She asks. Mateo nods. “Can he come in too?” He asks. She hesitates.
She probably wants to be alone with her son, and I'm about to offer them privacy and go back to my family or Mateo's apartment, when Mateo speaks up again. “... he's actually… my boyfriend? He was with me on my last day.” His mother nods. “Death-cast, right? Last friends?... I've heard of that from some friends… okay honey, come inside. Make yourself comfortable.”
I follow Mateo and his mother inside, feeling the urge to cling to his hand. She leads us into a small living room, and she sits on a lazy boy. Mateo and I squish together on a small couch.
Mateo
I grab Rufus’ hand when we're sitting down, and brace myself for what will probably be an awkward conversation, as me and my mother get to know each other.
“So, how is Teo?” my mother asks, her voice softening, full of love. I jump. “Ah- dad? He's… he's…” I feel the urge to start crying, and hold myself back.
“....He was in a coma the last time I saw him.” I say in a small voice. My mother covers her mouth. “O-oh. He…” I nod. “...He missed you though. He told me stories…” I trail off. She smiles lightly.
“I miss him too, honey. I… I hope he doesn't come to see me soon.” I nod in agreement. The atmosphere is still tense, and I don't know what to say. Neither does my mother, it seems, because we sit in silence for a long time.
“...say, what year is it? What date… did you…” my mother trails off. I jump, and stutter, before righting myself. “...2017. September 5th.”
My mother doesn't really react to that news, instead she speaks again in a soft tone. “...you look like Teo.” I swallows nervously “...I know... I've been told so."
“...I wonder how he'll cope when he wakes up.”