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At first, Maria likes Michael. She likes him a lot. She even thinks she might be able to make him fall for her. But she realizes that Michael is too smart for his own good, and she knows she may have to do something terrible to keep him quiet. She becomes focused on putting on an act meant to dissuade him from suspecting her. When she realizes this act has been unsuccessful and that Michael has figured her out, she begins to hate him. She would take any opportunity to have her revenge against him.
Michael considers Maria a friend at first— for a fleeting moment, there’s even a point where he thinks he might be able to love her. He later realizes that this was a psychological cop-out. He had hoped he could “replace” Andrew, as he knew Andrew would hypothetically have to leave the world of the living.
Eventually Michael learns the truth— that despite her act, Maria is nothing like Andrew. And at that point, she becomes one of the only people he has ever truly despised. He is also genuinely afraid of her. He doesn’t understand what could drive a person to become as cruel as she is.
Andrew was somewhat frightened by Izzy when he first met her, but he felt that he understood her anyway. and that she was likely only doing what she felt she had to do to protect her brother. He eventually admires her quite a bit and is impressed by her emotional fortitude. They develop a friendship full of teasing. After he decides to stay with Michael, he’s flustered by her decision to refer to him as her brother-in-law, but welcomes it and returns the favor whenever possible.
The first time Izzy meets Andrew, she literally assaults and threatens to kill him if he somehow causes her brother any pain. She later apologizes for her behavior and eventually grows to see Andrew as a friend. After Andrew decides to stay in the world of the living with Michael, she starts referring to him as her brother-in-law and considers him part of the family.
Izzy is Michael’s younger sister. Though they were close when they were younger, they have drifted apart a bit. This is intentional on Michael’s part, as he has secrets he doesn’t want her to learn and doesn’t want to burden her or their mother. Though one would expect an older brother to be protective of his little sister, it’s really the other way around— since Michael spent a long while bedridden as a child after a near-fatal incident, Izzy considers herself responsible for protecting Michael. Despite the complications, Michael dearly loves his sister.
Michael is Izzy’s older brother. She admires him a lot, and when she was younger wanted to be like him. Now that they’re older, Michael’s occasional recklessness and refusal to spare any thought for himself cause her a lot of stress and frustration. Still, she loves him and would do anything for him.
Michael is Andrew’s boyfriend/husband.
Andrew felt drawn to Michael the first time they met. Michael is his only friend for a while, but Andrew realizes early on that his feelings have developed into something else. He loves Michael and considers him his soulmate. He wishes that Michael could see his own goodness and potential. Andrew chooses to stay in the world of the living so that he can be with Michael until it is time for them both to go to the other side together.
Andrew is Michael’s boyfriend/husband.
Michael felt a need to keep an eye on and look out for Andrew shortly after meeting him for the first time, and quickly began to consider him a friend. He considered this a “professional” interest due to his role as a seer and his knowledge of Andrew’s ghostly state. Eventually, he realizes that his feelings have grown into something far greater. He loves Andrew and is very happy that they can continue to be together, even if it’s not a traditional or ideal arrangement.
Andrew’s twin sister, Maria, is technically older than he is. He feels nothing but love and admiration for her.
Maria’s twin brother, Andrew, is technically younger than she is. She has secretly despised him for years.