The Chameleon's Grin ll Camilo Madrigal

Chapter 30 : A Secret

Camilo's pov:

When Mateo and I came back to where the girls had been, Carmen wasn't there.

"She went back home." Mirabel said, reading my expression. "She didn't want to be bothered."

That worried me. Usually when she didn't want to be bothered, she actually just didn't want to bother other people. She put space between her loved ones by force of habit.

I started walking back to Casita.

"Camilo! No, she probably needs a break!"

I kept walking. "But she could also need help right now. She has a lot of pressure on her shoulders with this whole 'save the poor neighborhood of the town' plan. I'll come right back if she doesn't need me, but with that being said, I think I'll be gone for a while."

I approached on the beautiful house I had the pleasure of living in.

When I walked in, there were sounds of a voice coming from the kitchen.

Everyone was out and about right now, so there was only one person it could be.

The song she was singing was gentle, and delicate. Her voice sounded like it could brake at any point.

It was like she was trying to sooth herself.

I stayed around the corner for a while, listening to her singing. I believe she was baking too, with the clattering of pans as if she was digging through the cupboard to find just the right one.

"What're you making, bonita?" I asked nonchalantly, coming around the corner and leaning on the door frame.

She jumped, and stopped singing. "Go away, Camilo. I need some time to think."

"I could help you-"

"No helping."

"-with sorting your thoughts." I batted my eyelashes. "And I also have a real knack for cooking. I can decorate a pretty mean cinnamon cake."

She rolled her eyes, though a corner of her lips perked up.

"Please." I added, putting my hands together as if I was praying and getting closer to her. "I don't care what we make, I just like... this."

"This?" She cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I like baking, and I like doing it with you." I confessed. "It's almost... therapeutic, in a way."

She blinked. "You really think so?"

In response, I nodded.

"Well, I like it too. That's why I'm making something right now." She pointed to the ingredients she had laid out on the counter. "I was making chocolate chip cookies, I guess you could join-"

"YES!" I celebrated, throwing an apron on. "Um, could you tie this, por favor (please)?"

She snorted, and had me turn around so she could knot it again.

"What do you think of the apron Mirabel made you?" I asked after she had finished the knot.

Carmen looked down at it, and the only expression on her face was pure gratitude. "It's perfect- and look!" She stuck both her hands into massive pockets that swallowed her entire forearm on each side. "She even added pockets!"

I chuckled, enjoying the innocence of her obsession.

***

We worked together to make the dough, and while rolling it into balls, I popped a few raw pieces into my mouth.

Carmen looked up at me, suddenly confused.

I pressed my finger on the worry wrinkle in between her brows surprising her. "What's the matter, don't like raw dough?"

Without an answer, she began to float again, and I grabbed her hand before she touched the ceiling, so we were both drifting in the air. "What's on your mind?" I asked her, this time a little more concerned.

"Could you name the people in your friend group?" She didn't give context, but something about the intensity in her stare was telling me that was a question for after.

"Uh sure, let's see... We've got the twins, Manuel, Ruben, Elian, and Adan. That there's Nina, Blanca, Sancha, Ramira, Ana, and Cleo. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering," Carmen shrugged it off, but she was still deep in thought, and considering the fact we were floating, obviously something was up- besides us.

"If you were just wondering, we wouldn't be in the air." I pointed out.

"Nevermind the reasoning. It's nothing important."

We hit the ceiling.

"But I think it's important," I insisted. "I like knowing what's going on in that head of yours."

She didn't seem to know what to do with that comment, but she tried for a strained smile. "Well, it's not as interesting as you think."

Well know I know she's hiding something. But nonetheless, I let the subject go. It was important to Carmen that it stayed a secret, so I wouldn't keep pressuring her. "Okay, sorry, I didn't mean to press."

With the tension it the room dropping, so did we.

Slowly, we drifted to the ground.

That confirmed it.

Carmen was hiding something, and I wanted to know why.