The Chameleon's Grin ll Camilo Madrigal

Chapter 8 : First Day On The Job... For The Both of Us

Carmen's pov:

The bus stopped at Encanto, and Mirabel took my hand and we ran out.

"Quick, let's get a head start before the group comes." She said, meaning the people who huddled around Camilo.

"They all live around here?"

"No, just the twins and a few girls, but I still don't want to be around them."

I weighed out our options, concluding she was right. "That's fair." I said admittedly. "But what about Antonio and Diana?"

Mirabel pointed ahead of us. "They ran ahead, Antonio knows the way, c'mon let's go!"

Once the bus stop was out of sight, we stopped to take a quick breath. "If we're going to be going this everyday, I'm gonna need to cut back on all the cake I've been eating." I gasped with my hands on my knees.

"Next time we'll just go the long way." Mirabel panted.

"Good, I like that option much more."

"I did too, but I didn't want you to be late on your first day of work."

"Oh!" I blinked. "I had forgotten all about that! I need ingredients!"

We started walking back to La Castia. "Don't worry about it, someone can get them for you."

I shook my head. "I think I'd like to go into the market, though. Either way I wouldn't be able to bake anything. Plus when I'm in there I can choose what flavors I want to make based on what's available."

Mirabel nodded, "I like your independence, but I think in that case someone should go with you. Just to make sure we can buy all of the ingredients, instead of you using your own pocket money because you're stubborn like that."

"It seems I've become predictable." I muttered, and the Madrigal laughed.

"Na, don't worry your still a wild card." She elbowed me.

I swung me elbow right back at her. "Thanks."

She grinned. "But of course."

The had been walking for another 10 minutes when I heard running and yelling behind us.

"Prima! Bonita! Mira! Carmen!" The voice shouted.

Mirabel looked behind us and covered her mouth, trembling while trying not to bust out laughing.

I stopped and turned around myself. "Oh for the love of-"

Camilo, was running towards us as -you guessed it- me.

Various fruits hung out of the pockets of his skirt. And he had bags of fruits in his hands. He looked frazzled to say the least.

"What do I even say?" I asked Mirabel, who was still laughing. I myself was doubled over, trying not to look at him, but it had been a while since I've laughed that hard.

"Don't get mad Carmen! You just have so many conveniently placed pockets!"

He ran up to us, finally reaching where me and Mirabel were.

"Here, let me help." I offered, about to take a few bags off of him. "I have more pockets."

He held the bags out if my reach. "Ah ah ahhh, 'no helping'" He teased. 1

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help but grin. "I guess if you wasn't to carry those heavy bags all the way back to la casita... suit yourself." I began to walk, but I knew I had won even before he said anything.