The Chameleon's Grin ll Camilo Madrigal

Chapter 33 : Luisa

Just a quick warning: Mentions of body decomposing in case that bothers you, though it's not a graphic description

Carmen's pov:

With the help of Mirabel, I was able to dodge Pedro for the day.

On the bus we ignored Pedro when he sat behind us. He had tried to make conversation, but we simply talked to one another, paying no attention to him.

I even through in a laugh so he felt left out enough to leave.

When we got back to the Casita, we immediately ran into my room to talk. Just as I plopped down on the ground, there was a knock on the door, making the both of us jump.

"Uh- who is it?"

Camilo opened the door. "Not Pedro."

"Good, come in."

He closed the door and sat at the foot of my bed.

"So to address the elephant in the room," Mirabel started, "Pedro is following Carmen for reasons I think we can all imagine."

I nodded. "So I need a way to protect myself."

"We could work on your levitation skills." Camilo offered.

"That's what we were thinking, too. The only thing is that Carmen can't master that in a few hours."

"Maybe not, but it can still be improved in that time frame." He said, and hopped onto his feet, turning into Pedro. "Alright Carmen, make me float."

***

We spent the majority of the night trying everything we could so I could get better.

It worked, for the most part.

Usually when I made one person float, the rest followed.

We also tried hurling objects, but that failed miserably.

"Okay." Camilo said, putting his hands on his narrow hips. "That's all we're going to be able to do today, but we made good progress."

"I agree, we'll be ready if he tries anything." Mirabel said, and we all left for dinner.

This time Luisa was setting out the plates, and she sent a smile my way when she noticed me watching. "Hola Carmen, having a good day?"

I nodded, plastering on a grin. "More or less, you?"

"Oh yeah, it was quiet today so I helped in your old neighborhood. After dinner, I think we should talk, is that alright?"

"Sure." I pushed down the dread of what she had to say. Obviously it wasn't pleasant, by the way her expression morphed into something strained.

The rest of the family filed in, along with the delicious plates and bowls of dinner.

I sat down in my usual spot at the head of the table, and Camilo joined me there.

On my other side, Diana was seated, notebook in hand.

"Di, put the notebook down, we're about to eat." I told her, and she put it on the ground.

Once Alma ran through what needed to be done tomorrow, the table began eating.

I elbowed Camilo. "Do you have any idea what Luisa would want to talk to me about?"

He shrugged. "No idea, does she want to talk in private?"

"Mhm, and I can't understand why. She was acting strange."

"It's probably nothing too bad." He said, returning to a normal volume, seeing as mostly everyone else were talking among themselves. The shape shifter shoveled more food onto his plate.

"I guess so."

Luisa's pov:

The smell was putrid, and the neighbors had begun to notice it too.

The old Cortes house was beginning to reek of decomposition.

Carmen and Diana's mother was still sitting there, waiting to have a proper burial.

I'm not sure if Carmen remembered or not, though I doubt she did if Mrs. Cortes was still laying there on the ground.

The funeral director of the town had bumped into me, and asked about the deceased woman, more than willing to have a team take care of her for the funeral.

I'd be meeting him tomorrow to give him Carmen's answer.

It was a hard topic, and I had talked to Mamá about it in case the new addition to our family needed comfort that I could not offer.

I was now watching Camilo glance my way while Carmen whispered in his ear.

His face had taken a light pink blush, and I assumed it wasn't because of the heat of Colombia.

Carmen looked worried, with a small scrunch forming between her eyebrows, but mi primo didn't look bothered by whatever she had told him.

"It's probably not too bad." He spoke up, and even though she agreed, the girl beside him didn't look reassured in the slightest.

He looked at her expression. "Does it really worry you that much?"

Slowly, she nodded.

Camilo nudged her. "If you really need, I'd be happy to be there for you. And if not, we can talk about it after if you'd like."

A small smile tugged on her lips. "You'd really do that? You don't have to."

He grinned flirtatiously, which was something I had never seen before. "Anything for you, bonita."

I myself couldn't help but chuckle at my younger cousin.

He seemed to know what to do with Carmen, which was strange because they haven't known each other for very long at all; only a few weeks have passed.

Even so, I understood why my sister and Dolores were rooting for them so much.

They would be chaotic, but cute.

"Okay, maybe we can talk about it after if it isn't that bad."

"And I can laugh at you for being so worried."

She rolled her eyes. "And that, yes."

Camilo's pov:

"Bonita?" I knocked on the door of her room for a third time, but still, there was no reply. "Carmen, you can tell me whats wrong."

After dinner, Luisa, Tia, and Carmen had left to go into the sitting room, and once the conversation was over, she closed herself in her room.

"Nothing is wrong, I just need time, Camilo." She said, and her voice hitched.

"O-okay, then. Just swing by my room when you're ready, I'll be there."