Me and Louis go to the library, and everyone looks like a ghost just burst into the room.

"Louis?" America said.

"Confederate broke out of the shadow realm and we think he's going to cause trouble," Louis exclaimed. Everyone immediately panicked, but Maine let out a hum that quelled their fears to faint worry.

"Now what?!" California exclaimed.

"I'll tell you what... I think we need to keep the southern states somewhere safe," New York said.

"Are you suggesting locking us up?!" Virginia exclaimed.

"It's for all of our safety," New York said.

"New York... that's a bit extreme," America said.

"A bit?!? I'm not gonna be treated like some criminal for no good reason-,"

"'No good reason'?!? I'm looking out for all of us! For our home! And the least you can do is cooperate!" New York exclaimed.

"Really!? So what, you want us to just hang out in our rooms until you figure out a better solution?!" Arkansas exclaims. Georgia sighed.

"Everyone is very scared. We're letting our fear turn to anger, and it will lead to more conflict. Mississippi, you have the ability to morph your room the way you want to. Maybe, for the time being, you can morph it into a home for us to stay in while everything is being figured out? Not because were criminals, but just to eliminate some potential fear for all of our sakes?" Georgia said. Mississippi sighed.

"Yeah... I'll.... I'll go prepare the room... but New York... don't start pointing fingers ok? We're all scared sh*tless, we don't need to be blaming each other for everything," Mississippi said. New York glanced at America, and then me.

"I understand... sorry," New York said. Mississippi nods and goes to prepare their room for us to stay. Florida walks up to me and hugs me.

"You scared? Don't worry... I'm sure we'll be ok," I say. Florida hisses.

"You're jinxing it," Louis told me. Florida nodded, but seemed slightly nervous about Louis's presence. That's a first. I guess Florida is scared of two things; Louis and raccoons.

Soon, we move into Mississippi's room, which they converted into a large home for us to live in, each of us with our own personalized rooms.

"Thanks Miss, this is nice," Alabama said. Florida let out a screech, and I noticed his room was a lot emptier than the rest of ours, and didn't even have a bed.

"Sorry, I wasn't sure what you wanted," Mississippi said. I was about to speak up, but Louis cut in.

"Maybe he wants a decent, livable room just like the rest of us?" Louis said. Mississippi seemed scared, and immediately a bed and nice furniture popped up in Florida's room. Florida cooed happily. Louis smiled at Florida, who rushed into his room and hugged a stuffed alligator plushy Mississippi put in there for him.

"Texas... by the way, thanks for being so good to Florida," Louisiana whispered to me.

"Of course! He's a great guy!" I exclaim. Louis nodded.

"Us state weirdos gotta look out for one another, right?" Louis said.

"That's the truth," I say.

That night, we're eating dinner together, one that I graciously prepared in the kitchen Mississippi conjured. The weird part is, since Mississippi conjured the food in their room, it has actually no nutritional value and just turns to nothing after you swallow it. So, extremely good tasting food that doesn't make you fat! It's like a dream come true! Suddenly, our front door opens. Our door has been locked from the outside, so that means someone wants to pay us a visit.

"Cali?" I say. California smiles.

"Hey guys... um.... I just wanted to apologize on my boyfr- on New York's behalf... he's like... beyond scared sh*tless right now," California said.

"Is he still bothering you?" Georgia asked. California sighed.

"He needs me right now I guess...," California says.

"No! You could be there for him platonically! Don't stay just to make him happy!" I exclaim.

"The mans gotta point," Tennessee said.

"I agree!" Missouri said, trying to do a salute but accidentally shooting a hole in the wall. "SH*T!!... sorry," Missouri said. California laughed.

"Yeah, yeah... anyway, come with me Tex, let's be friends," California said.

"Um.... is that allowed?" Kentucky asked.

"It's whatever, let's just not get caught. I wanna catch up with you," California said. I smile.

"Alright, let's be extra sneaky though," I say. Me and California stealthy sneak to his room that was thankfully not too far away. We go in, and the tides are calm. The sunset is still fiery, and the delicate shells were now mixed in with rigid golden rocks.

"Your room is real pretty... you're pretty lucky," I say. Cali smiled.

"Thanks.... New York noticed it was different... he didn't seem mad... he just asked what happened and if it'll ever change back," Cali said. I chuckle.

"Will it?" I ask.

"Why? It's beautiful just the way it is," Cali said. I smile and nod. Since the tides are calm, and there are no waves, me and Cali skip stones and talk about literally anything other than the disastrous things happening. It's pleasant to know that California is a lot more than just 'Nuevas accessory'. He's actually really cool, and has a lot of interests, not only in music and television, but cooking, fashion, art, nature, and to my surprise he's super into gardening and agriculture.

"So, you practiced karate for a while?" I say.

"You sound doubtful," Cali says. I shake my head.

"What? No, I'm not...," I say, before suddenly hugging Cali. "Hah! I got you mr. 'Karate master'!" I exclaim. Cali laughs.

"I never said I was any good! You caught me off guard!" He exclaimed. He starts playfully trying to fight me off, so I hold him closer. We're just laughing and having a good time, when suddenly...

"Guys?" South Dakota said, casually walking in the room.

"South Dakota? What are you doing here?" California exclaimed. SD shrugged.

"North saw you guys sneak over here. Sorry to rain on your parade, but North heard New York is looking for you, Cali. And uh... I don't think he'll take seeing you with Texas too kindly, especially since it's outside of Mississippi's room," SD said.

"Sh*t... we gotta get you back before Nueva sees you-,"

"Too late, North is telling me that he's literally right outside your door," SD said. Nueva walked in, and then stared at me and Cali. I realized that me holding him in my arms is probably making matters worse, so I immediately let go. We all sit in silence for a second. "Uh... see ya," SD says, shuffling away.

"Cali... what the hell? Texas! You're supposed to be in Mississippi's room! What the hell is going on?!" Nueva exclaimed.

"S-sorry... Um.....," California stuttered. It's weird how California is so fiery and outspoken when Nuevas not around to hear it, but I guess I'll have to be fiery for him.

"Is it any of your business? We're just hanging out!" I exclaim.

"Why are you anywhere near my boyfriend?! Why are you two going against our agreement just to hang out?! Cali, you have some serious explaining to do!" Nueva exclaimed. The tides began to rise, and I saw the fury build up in Cali's eyes.

"YOURE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!! WE ARENT EVEN DATING! STOP PRETENDING THAT YOU OWN ME!" California shouted.

"Calm down! You're acting insane!" Nueva exclaimed.

"SHUT UP ALREADY! You know what Yorkie?! I've been holding back for too long! You always loved me CONDITIONALLY! If I was mad I was 'insane', if I was sad I was 'dramatic', if I was anxious I was a 'p*ssy', if I was anything other than passive and happy I wasn't good enough! You didn't want me to hang out with Ari, Tex, Florida, you name it! Because they weren't 'useful' or 'perfect' enough! We always did what you wanted! I became a full blown d*ck to all of my friends because I was so scared of not being good enough! And then Texas came along and reminded me that I'm perfect just how I am! Imperfectly perfect! When was the last time you told me something even remotely like that?! Never! So fine, I understand why you're upset about Texas not being in Mississippi's room, whatever... but don't even, for a SECOND, imply that I'm being insane, or I shouldn't be around Tex, or that I'm cheating on you or have to explain myself to you! Because I'm DONE WITH YOU!!!!" California shouted. We all stood in silence for a moment. The tides calmed, and Nueva looked... defeated.

"...come with me, Texas," Nueva said. We left without another word. I got back to Mississippi's room.

"Wow, that's a lot of emotions Tex," Georgia said as I walked through the door. I chuckle.

"A lot just happened," I say.

"Do tell," Louis said.

"Cali just called out Nueva for being a perfectionist, and I think he finally got the message that Cali is done with him," I say. Florida cooed happily.

"Good, I can tell that bothered him," Georgia said. "You seem proud, but also conflicted," Georgia added.

"Yeah, I guess," I say. Georgia nodded silently, obviously knowing why. I'm glad she knows how to keep a secret.

"Anyway, what's the piano for?" I ask. Louis smiles and sits down in front of it.

"Since Louis has been gone a while, we all started to get to know each other. And he's a jazz pianist, so we decided to see what he's got," Mississippi said. I smile and sit down, and Louis plays us a tune. Florida looks happy, and I recall him implying that he loves music. But suddenly, all of us are compelled to get up and dance. We're swinging and holding out our hands as if we had a partner dancing with us, but we couldn't see them.

"The spirits love dancing, just follow their moves!" Louis exclaims. He waved his hand, and the spirits appeared with a rather ghostly appearance. I was apparently dancing with a young girl. She smiles sweetly at me, and I pick her up and swing her around.

"Hello hon, what's your name?" I ask, letting her stand on my shoes to follow my moves.

"That's Little Lucy, she loves dancing!" Louis said. Y'know, at first I was a bit unnerved by Louis's friends, but after tonight, we all understood a bit more; Louis isn't a weirdo, and the spirits sure know how to party.