-Matt-

I was in my room studying when I heard screaming and jumped out of my room in a fighting stance until I saw Mel and Maggie talking.

"Jeez, ladies. Scare the freakin' shit outta, why don't you both." I told them.

"Sorry, Matt." They both said to me.

"It's okay." I said then looked at the boots Maggie was wearing. "Mags, why are you wearing Mel's boots?"

"A little military themed party Kappa's got going on tonight." She said.

I rolled my eyes. "How you talked me into tolerating you rushing that sorority, I'll never know." I said.

"Why are those parties themed, anyway?" Mel asked.

"Thank you, Mel." I said then looked at Maggie. "Ever thought that they're psychologically pretending to be other people?"

"Thank you!" Mel said.

I shrugged with a smirk.

"No, because I like to have fun." Maggie said.

"Whatever you say, cuz."

We soon heard Marisol, my aunt and Maggie and Mel's mother, speaking with someone on the phone before she ended the call.

"What was that about, Mom?" Mel asked.

"Thaine's protesting his suspension and Angela Wu can't testify." Marisol said.

Professor Warner Thaine had recently been accused of sexual harassment and Angela Wu was the student who reported it.

"Cameron's been trying to get me to join him and other guys who want the suspension lifted. I told him I'd stand by Thaine when Hell freezes over." I told them.

Cameron Russo, one of my classmates, was probably the most sexist dude on campus. I also thought he was a bit misogynistic.

"What did he say after that?" Maggie asked.

"That you three have brainwashed me." I said as I rolled my eyes while Marisol sat on her bed.

"You okay, Aunt Marisol?" I asked.

"I'm okay. I promise." She told us then looked at Mel and Maggie. "Look at you both, my beautiful girls."

"Mom, did you have a glass of wine?" Maggie asked.

"Just one. Come here, you two."

Mel and Maggie sat on the bed with her.

"I'm lucky to be the mother of two special young women like you two. In such different ways. Remember that. You are better together, your differences are strengths, and nothing is stronger than your kinship. Nurture it." She told them.

"We're all over it, Mom. Don't worry." Mel said then Marisol turned to me.

"And you, young man...you're just as special as your cousins. You share a strong bond with them. And you don't let anything try to destroy it. Your mother would be as proud of you as I am." She said.

I smiled softly. "Thanks, Aunt Marisol." I said. "So...can I go hang with some friends at the Haunt? I've finished studying."

"Can we head out too, Mom?" Maggie asked.

Marisol smiled. "Yes, go."

The three of us leave the house then go our separate ways.

A little while later, I had a glass of whiskey in my hand while leaning my back onto the bar, my friends, Scott, Danny, Luke, and Anton, with me. I heard the door open and looked then groaned when I saw Cameron walk in.

"You cool, Matt?" Danny asked.

"Russo's here." I told them. "Likely gathering supporters for Professor Creep."

Cameron walked to me. "He's not a creep, Vera. Open your eyes and break through the fog your family has put around you!"

"One, You're no preacher, Cam. Two, my aunt and my cousins haven't done anything to my brain. And three, in case you didn't notice, I'm trying to enjoy a night with my boys. So, am-scray, dumbass."

He scoffed and walked away.

I sighed. "Guy's really annoying." I said, knowing my friends wouldn't say anything and I was kinda glad for that. They were no bigger supporters of Thaine than I was, but knew talking about it would make me mad and ruin the night.

"So, you ask out the Williams girl yet?" Scott smirked and I instantly felt the heat in my cheeks. "Dude, you've been crushing on Vanessa since freshman year. Take a leap of faith and ask her on a date."

"Shut up, Scott!" I hissed then got a text from my aunt, telling me to come home quick. "Marisol needs me back home, boys. I'll catch you later." I told them then headed out.

I arrived at the house then saw Maggie and Mel arriving. "You too, girls?"

"Yeah." Maggie said as we walked up the steps.

"That better not be vomit on my boots." Mel said.

"Maybe."

"I'll give them a wash in a little bit." I told Mel.

"Thank you." Mel said as I opened the door. The three of us ducked down as crows flew out of the house.

"...Okay, I know Aunt Marisol isn't starting an aviary. So, why were those crows in the house?" I asked.

"No clue." Mel said.

"Why is it cold?" Maggie asked.

"Mom?" Mel called.

"Girls, I've got a bad feeling about this." I told them.

They both turned to me.

"Really, Matt? Star Wars?" Maggie asked.

"What? It's a classic line." I said then remember something. "Oh! Hang on." I told them then walked to the bookshelf near us and pulled out a knife. I turned to the girls and saw their brows furrowed in confusion. "What?"

"You seriously keep a knife in that bookshelf?" Mel asked.

"Yeah. I also have a machete in my room." I said and their expressions stayed the same. "What? I can't help it if I'm paranoid!" I told them then we heard a door squeak and close upstairs, so I headed to the staircase then looked at Mel and Maggie. "You two coming or not?"

With that, the three of us headed upstairs to the attic. We saw one of the windows was broken and ran to it. That's when we found Marisol dead on the ground outside the house. We ran to the body, and I placed two fingers on her neck. I looked at Mel and Maggie with my eyes watering. "She's dead..."

-3rd person-

Three months had passed since Marisol was found dead and Mel, Matt, and Maggie were coping in their different ways. Matt's was a little more self-destructive. He'd spent most of his days in a drunken haze and his friends, as well as his cousins, were getting worried about him. He currently sat on the couch in the Vera household, a half empty bottle of bourbon in his hand. Mel soon walked in the house.

"Mel, you hit someone?" Maggie asked.

Matt sighed and stood up with a slight stumble then moved to the back patio...until Maggie turned to him.

"Stop right there!" She said.

-Matt-

I sighed. "Mags, I'm fine."

"A three-month bender says otherwise, Matt." Maggie said. "You two are exactly why I'm rushing Kappa. I can't live here anymore!" She told us then turned to Mel. "You're always angry!" She then turned to me. "And you're drinking yourself to death!"

"At least we're not moving on like nothing happened, Mags." I said.

"That is not fair."

"Yeah, well, who said life ever was fair? I lost my mother at 2 years old and now more than 20 years later, her sister dies! On top of all of that, my scumbag father found me at the Haunt last night! So, forgive if there are a few fucking things in my life that I'd rather not remember!" I snapped at both of them as there was a knock on the door. The two of them looked at me. "No, I didn't invite a random girl or guy over. I'm not that drunk."

Maggie went to answer the door and when she did, we saw a woman with black hair at the door.

"Hi. I'm Macy Vaughn. I just moved here and-" The woman started.

"I'm sorry, but this isn't the best time." Maggie said as Mel and I both crossed our arms.

"Wait, please." Macy said then looked at Maggie and Mel. "I think you two are my sisters." She revealed then showed a picture of Marisol outside of the house with a baby girl in her arms, shocking the three of us.

That's chapter two

So...it has been a long time since I've made any progress with this story. But now that I have the first three seasons of the show, maybe progress will steadily increase. Lol

Also, I'm likely gonna have to split this chapter into at least three parts. I'd like it to be just two, but if I have to, it'll be three parts.

Anyway, review, favorite, and follow for more chapters