The Chameleon's Grin ll Camilo Madrigal

Chapter 9 : Heights

Carmen's pov:

Now, I don't want to be mean... but Camilo can't decorate to save his life, but it was endearing in a weird way to see the popular school dude be humbled by cinnamon frosting.

When we had finished, it looked a little blobby, but still edible.

"Ha yes we did it!" Camilo exclaimed, a streak of frosting on his temple.

"Just in time too, it's almost dinner."

While we waited for the cake to bake, we put the cake pops together and stuck the support sticks through them. During the construction of them I explained how to decorate properly, and he listened intently.

Clearly everything I had said went in through one ear and out the other. But nonetheless, I'm still glad that we made that last cake, I could tell it meant a lot to him.

The women of the house filed into the kitchen with dinner ingredients just like they had last night, kicking us out of the kitchen altogether, but Julieta thanked us and said they looked amazing.

"You know, you're working for free." I informed Camilo.

He shook his head. "No, not free, I'm working for experiences. I can say I've baked and decorated a cake now." He mimed checking a box. "The twins could never." He added cockily, running a hand through his curls.

I chuckled and we walked into the dining room.

"Hola Carmen." Dolores said in her hushed tone.

"Hello Dolores, have heard of Diana?"

She nodded and tilted her head up. "She and Antonio are in his room right now."

I nodded. "Thanks."

"Hey, we have some time to kill," Camilo pointed out. "Wanna go scare Diana and Antonio?"

I grinned evilly. "Let's do it."

He turned around and together we walked into the main part of the house. "Casita, a staircase please?" He asked.

Quickly the house formed stairs leading to Antonio's door.

Patting the railing he thanked la casita, and we climbed up to the second floor.

Camilo opened the door, and we both sneaked in. I closed it quietly, and I heard voices up above.

Crap. I thought to myself, craning my neck to see the tall branches where our siblings were talking. I hate heights.

"What," Camilo whispered, elbowing me teasingly. "You're not scared of a little climb are you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Of course not."

"Great, lets find them." He said, and he was about to go forward, when he paused, and turned back to me. "I'm gonna be honest, I've never explored this place before, so I don't really know what I'm doing."

"Well that's concerning."

"Eh," Camilo shrugged, waving me off. "We'll be fine."

***

We were definitely not fine.

We had only made it half way up the tree, and I'm pretty sure we hit every dead end possible. We now stood at the beginning of the last trail up, and it looked like a cliff. It was about as thick as my foot was long, so we had to go one at a time.

"Uh..." I gulped, "Ladies first! Camilo, go ahead."

"Nuh uh!" He jumped behind me. "You're the one not scared of heights!"