The Chameleon's Grin ll Camilo Madrigal

Chapter 21 : Mentor

Camilo's pov:

Isabela managed to strap Carmen standing on the ground with vines. I stood there holding back my laughter. She looked ridiculous, but glad to be on solid ground.

Meanwhile, I still clung to the railing.

"Gracias, Isabela." She thanked the young woman.

"No problem, but is there anyway we can stop the levitating?"

"I've been trying, but nothing is working."

"Have you actually relaxed?" I asked her, and hint of a grin creeping on my face. I already knew the answer.

"...No."

"That's what I used to do so I could shift back into my own form. It was the only way to concentrate."

"So you're telling my that you'd actually be a good mentor?"

"No, I'd be a great one." I said with a flair.

Isabela rolled her eyes and walked outside the house, leaving the conversation as soon as she came into it.

"How do you relax?" Carmen asked in defeat.

Yes. I had won.

I snapped back into the right head space, recalling the steps I did.

Mami and Papa walked down the stairs.

"Camilo, what are you doing?" Mami asked me, as I readjusted on the thin railing so my butt wasn't towards her.

"Carmen can't turn off her gift, and now her and I are floating." I explained quickly, then gave my first direction to her. "Okay, only focus on yourself and my voice, I'd be best if you closed your eyes for the first time."

"I'm not-"

"Just do it, only once." I said. "It's close your eyes or be stuck with reverse gravity. Which one will it be?"

She sighed and closed her eyes.

"Next, think of what you want to become, so in your case, think of the ground, and the comfort of being secure there."

She did as told and slowly the resistance in the vines subsided.

Carmen was standing on the ground.

She opened her eyes, and looked down at her feet. "Oh thank god." She said putting her hand on her heart.

I released my death grip on the railing, and finished walking down the steps.

"Feel free to thank me too." I retorted, and she smiled, thanking me as well.

"Pero por supuesto(But of course)-" I was about to finish with the word bonita, but I stopped myself, remembering my padres(parents) were right behind us, still on the staircase.

She rolled her eyes, smiling a bit and walked into the dinning room.

Papa scurried over and elbowed me. "So..." He said, eyeballing the door Carmen just left through. "Her?"

"Papa!" I whispered indignantly. "Of course not!"

He looked at his wife, and they shared a look of disbelief. "You can tell us anything, hijo(son), you know that right?"

I nodded, trying to find a way out of this conversation. "Si, Papa. I'll let you know when I find 'el único'(the one)." I air quoted their exact words.

Apparently, it was a big deal for a Madrigal to have their eyes on someone, but I didn't see the importance. Obviously if we both liked each other and wanted to marry, it would be different, but this was not that situation.