𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 || Camilo Madrigal

⋅ʚ-❁ 3: Y/N

I bet
You think I either moved on or hate you
'Cause each time you reach out there's no reply
I bet
It never ever occurred to you
That I can't say "Hello" to you
And risk another goodbye
And I just wanna tell you
It takes everything in me not to call you
And I wish I could run to you
And I hope you know that every time I don't

I almost do
I almost do

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"ʜᴇ ꜱᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴜQᴜᴇᴛ?"

"Yeah, and he told me to tell you that you've done a good job before the ceremony starts." Isabela swept her hair behind her as maintained her lazy smile. You could see why she was called the flower of the Madrigal family, she was as graceful as a swan and beautiful like the rising sun. Both men and women admire and sometimes sought after her, alas, she was engaged to Mariano Guzmán.

In contrast to her, you weren't as beautiful or as sought after, but you didn't mind. You helped Abuela around with your brain, not your face. Besides, one suitor was enough, though you were hesitant on what to tell him... "Isabela, how is...life being in a relationship?"

The question obviously took her by surprise from the way white flowers bloomed atop her head. Seeing as Abuela has done it so many times, your hand itched to pluck them off- but why? They were beautiful anyway. Seeing your gaze, Isabela took them off herself as she hesitated on what to tell you.
You were young, only a few months younger than Camilo, nearly the same age as Mirabel. Isabela never had a good relationship with her, nor could she find a reason to. Mirabel kepot messing things up for her, so she couldn't afford to hang around her. She needed to be perfect- the most perfect Madrigal of the family!

Was she happy?
She didn't know if she was or if it mattered. Abuela was happy.

Seeing your patient smile had her continuing her role as the perfect Madrigal, "life is happy." There were no other words because she didn't know what else to say, so she asked a question instead "you know, I remember when we were younger...you and Camilo were insufferable together, but now it's just Camilo. What happened?"

You didn't answer, not right away at least. After a while of thinking, you finally spoke, "do you know why Hugo keeps sending me jazmíns? They used to be my favorite, and well, I like it's scent." You hesitated once again, not quite knowing how to continue. Everyone in Encanto knew about it already, at least anyone who was old enough to know did. Why you lived alone in your Abuela's house, why your parents were never around. "After...that happened, I had to grow up quickly. Nevertheless, I still wish they were here. I wish I could actually...you know. But it can't happen."

Isabela understood that more than anything.
Perfect, perfect, perfect.
So what? She did something right and now she always has to do something right? She was sick of it. She was sick of only growing flowers. She wanted something new, to test her abilities, to see her limits. She wanted to grow as well. "I get that." More than anyone, especially Mirabel and Abuela would know. "And it's alright, we can...we can get through it together. You're still part of the family after all."

It was then when you smiled, the feeling of loneliness somewhat going away now that you knew she felt it too. It was an impossible dream to get your Ma and Abuela back, to be friends with Camilo again, but nevertheless...

"Do you know what blue roses symbolize? Well, other than unrequited love, it's attaining the unattainable."


...


So far so good.
It was a tense moment for everyone to see her lead Antonio to his door. Everyone has been worried that he might not get a gift as well, that the magic was dying out or something. It was a wrong thing for them to do, but after seeing how they treated Bruno before, they were perfectly capable of regarding Mirabel as a desgracia too.

You couldn't say you didn't think of them as such, especially not after the prophecy Bruno gave you, but you knew Mirabel well and she was not a desgracia at all. After all, how could such a loyal and kind person be one?

"Y/N!" You turned to see the very person you've sort of been trying to avoid. Not because you didn't like him or you're uncomfortable with him, but because all your feelings for him were platonic and you were working up the courage to reject him. The problem with it is that you hate confrontation and you mostly saw him at the public events the Madrigals host because of how busy you were. "Hugo," you smiled at him "thank you for the jazmíns and the message. It means a lot to me."

"No problem, Y/N." Hugo looked somewhat akin to Mariano, but in a much more mild manner. He didn't have his muscles and bravado, but they did have similar facial features since they were cousins. "You're too focused on helping, it doesn't hurt to rest every now and then."

"I know, but I can't help it. My Abuela was best friends with Abuela Alma so I just sort of wanna make her proud by helping."

Hugo gently took a flower from the bouquet that you awkwardly held in your hands and gently put it in your hair. "I'm sure she'd be proud of you either way."

You bit your tongue again.
If only you didn't feel things for Camilo instead of him. But what was the point either way? You can't get close to Camilo only to have him leave you too. You could tell he really wanted to be with you, and you did as well but then again, who doesn't think the worst of every situation? Especially when it comes to people you care about.

That was the problem.
You deeply care about him. So you had to draw away from him all the time.
It took everything within you to avoid him, to not wreak havoc with him.
And he was your everything.

"Hugo, I need to tell you-"

"Y/N!" Camilo cut in, taking your free hand, "what are you two still doing here? Antonio's room is ready! You're gonna miss the party!" He dragged you along only to pause and grin at Hugo, "well, if you wanna stay here, I don't mind. Adios!"
Your surprise only lasted for a second before you tried turning back to talk to Hugo, "Camilo! Can't you see I was in a conversation with him?"

"I'm sorry but Abuela will get mad at me if she sees her little assistant just doing work when there's a celebration! Besides, she gave me permission to whisk you away once everything was done." Finally you entered Antonio's room. You had expected it to be amazing, but it was beyond it. It was a mini jungle with some sort of treehouse at the heart of it. Animals of all kinds roamed around and didn't seem to have any intent in attacking.
The picturesque view along with rhythmic music only made it even more awestrucking.

That's when you noticed everyone was dancing.

"Hey!" Hugo rushed towards you both. He gave an annoyed glance at Camilo, "you shouldn't just take someone like that! Y/N, what were you saying again-"

"That she needs to check if everyone's rides are in order. What are you waiting for? Let's go!" Camilo cut in again, whisking you away. Sighing at this, you gave an apologetic glance at Hugo mouthing "sorry."

Once outside, you glared at Camilo, "you're being rude to him."
"Aren't you gonna praise me for thinking of a better way to get rid of him? The party's inside so he can't follow us out unless he's going home. And I struck a deal with Casita to make him stay."

Despite yourself, you couldn't help but smile at how he thought it through so well. "That's actually a well thought out plan."
You watched as his eyes widened at your comment, not expecting you to actually praise him. It wasn't much, but it was a step.

"Well, what did you drag me out here to do? The party is inside so clearly you didn't think about it well enough."

"I wanted to dance with you without any Hugos coming to distract you." You raised a brow at him, "I was talking to him first and since you took me out here, clearly you're the one distracting me."

He grinned leaning close, "am I distracting you?"
You raised your hands in exasperation, "ay Camilo!"

"It's fine, I understand. I know I was charming, but not that charming. Clearly you still have feelings for me."

You start walking away from him preparing to head home. "Okay, okay, I'll stop! But you owe me a dance."

"Since when?"

He blocked your path once again and gently took your hand to stop you. "Since you promised me."
Once again, you were mesmerized by him just as you were this morning, noticing every little detail of him from the loops of his curls to the dimples in his smile. You adored him. "But there's no music."

The bastard shifted into Dolores.

"You do realize you don't inherit her gifts and even if you did, I wouldn't hear the music ."

"Fine, fine." He shifted into Hugo once again, annoying you a bit. "Mi amor, though the beat and melody are not present and silence encompasses us instead, would you still honor me with a dance as we listen to the orchestra of nature and our heartbeats as one?"

"Fine." Just as he took your waist to begin dancing, you stopped him. "I don't want to dance with Hugo."

"It's a good thing I'm not him."

"Exactly, so stop shifting as him." He looked confused. "But...but I thought you preferred him. You don't hang out with me anymore. I thought maybe...I'm not who you want to be with anymore..."

"No!" You pulled him close as he shifted back, "No one will ever replace you. You'll always be my favorite."

"Then why-"

"Do you want to dance or not?"

He did. He really did.
You both did.
You could feel it in your bones, in your heart, in your very soul that you missed him. What you couldn't tell him, you hoped your soul whispered it to his. You missed his touch, his mind, his heart. Everything. He was your everything and all you had left.

For now, you let go of your fears, none of them mattered in this moment.
And you danced and danced and danced. 

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