Mirabel's Doppelganger

Chapter 5: Aftershocks

"AGHHHHHHH!" My screams startled a couple of birds from their perches within the trees. Throwing another rock into the lake I was quite sure any animal nearby had fled the area.

I had come here after storming away from Mirabel. It was a forgotten paradise close to the mountains that flanked Encanto, a clear, blue lake. It had been my safe place for a long time. I had only discovered it when I was around 10, but since then I had come here often. No one else seemed to know of its existence.

I stood on its shore shaking, my rage beginning to calm. The screaming and rock-throwing seemed to be helping somewhat. Now my sadness was beginning to creep in. Startling me slightly, a frog hopped from the reeds by the shore, staring curiously at me.

Sighing I slumped down onto the soft ground. Resting my head on my knees as I pulled my knees to my chest I stared out over the water.

"Why do I give a fuck what Abuela thinks anyway. She is an old hag." I said softly to myself.

"That's what I want to know."

Whipping around I scanned the area startled at hearing someone else speak. There wasn't anyone there. Just that stupid frog still looking at me strangely.

"Who is there?"

My eyes landed on the odd frog again, as I awaited an answer. It tilted its head as if confused at the question.

"Who do you think?" It asked me, it looked strange for a frog's mouth to twist around those human words.

My jaw dropped in surprise.

A frog was speaking to me?

The frog writhed as it changed shape into a teenage boy with curly dark auburn hair wearing a yellow ruana. He stretched out his legs, before looking over at me, one side of his mouth turned upwards into his trademark grin.

I blushed, it was Camilo. I really hoped he couldn't see my face in the dark.

"Uhhh, since when can you..." I trailed off as I looked over at him.

He chuckled and leaned back onto his hand, waving his free hand dramatically.

"What this?" Where he sat a second ago that frog blinked back at me once again. Before I could blink again he was back, looking completely comfortable in his current position.

"It didn't occur to me before this year that maybe I could turn into animals. But when I tried, it came pretty naturally after that."

I blinked back at him for a minute, still processing what had just happened. When I finally broke out of my shock, I shook my head and turned away from him.

"If you haven't already figured it out, I came out here to be alone."

I peeked over at him, secretly hoping he would stay, yet also wanting him to leave me be.

He chuckled softly, "I never would have guessed that in a million years." He said sarcastically, chuckling under his breath.

"Nice screams, by the way. I think you should do it again, there might still be some birds you haven't scared away in the area."

I rolled my eyes and grumbled. Picking up a small flat rock beside me I flexed my wrist and let it go, watching as it skipped across the lake's tranquil surface. I had changed my mind, he needed to leave.

Throwing a glance my way, he must have seen my expression...that or the red embers floating around me.

He sat up and turned towards me, silently apologizing for making me more upset. "I just really don't understand how you can let my Abuela get to you so much. I love her dearly but she also judges easily."

I pulled my knees closer to me, making myself smaller.

"You're right you don't understand, there is no way you possibly could," I whispered.

He looked like he was about to speak, but thought better of it and started to scoot closer to me. I froze, realizing I had been crying and probably looked like hell, and he was here looking at me.

A wave of embarrassment went through me.

"Hey! Where did you go?"

I looked up at him and realized that it once again seemed as if I was looking through a two-way mirror.

"Fuck this stupid power!" I yelled, startling him.

Standing up I walked to the edge of the water, once again seething, but this time it was at myself.

He got up slowly and approached me as if approaching a dangerous animal.

"Please just go," I said softly, looking back at him.

He stopped and looked in my general direction for a minute. He must have only been able to guess my location based on my footprints in the soft ground.

He opened his mouth again, but like before seemed to think better of it.

"Go," I whispered softly.

He took a half step forward before his shoulders slumped and with another glance at where I stood, he turned slowly and walked away. At the tree line, he stopped again, looking back but after hesitating disappeared into the trees.

I stood at the edge of the lake gazing out at the calm waters, and eventually, my gift once again dispersed. I knew it was gone again when the water became sharper under the moonlight, the white light reflecting off of it brighter.

I once again sat further up on the shore, and laying down onto my back I looked at the stars.

Abuela Madrigal had once been like my own Abuela, and that made her hatred for me hurt that much more.

I couldn't change it but perhaps if I waited long enough...

If I helped the townsfolk out even more...

If I continued to mostly avoid her family, maybe she would see I wasn't what she thought I was.

I ran my hands over my face. I didn't know what else I could possibly do other than that. Her hate was my fault so the least I could do was show her that I hadn't meant to take Mirabel's gift away from her.

Maybe one day she could forgive me for it.

"I hope she can," I whispered to the moon.

All I had ever wanted, after all, was for her to like me, for her to be proud of me.

But that is all I had ever done in the past, and it had done nothing. I had no idea what else I could do, even me just existing seemed to upset her.

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If you relate to this chapter I sincerely apologize. People have not been so kind to you and I'm sending hugs your way!

I know seeing the color yellow always boosts my mood. Maybe clicking the star at the bottom will help?