It all started with a Mariposa

Tension and Forgiveness

SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Happier - Marshmello, Bastille

Your POV

Mirabel, Agustín, Dolores, Camilo and I all came into the dining room at the very same time. I noticed Camilo looking at Mirabel, who had this really guilty look on her face. Slight confusion was plastered across Camilo's face but one glance at me and he shrugged it off.

I felt guilty. I know that Camilo was trying to ease my worries by that joke but it really freaked me out. With Casita, anything was possible. And now he was avoiding any reason to worry me again. Even though I was the one who overreacted.

I let Camilo guide me into the dining room, staying behind him to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention to myself. I could tell by the silence in the room that Alma really wanted everything to go smoothly, and I didn't want to be the one to mess that up. The other family members were already sitting down in an uneasy silence. 

I heard Senora Alma laughing with Senora Guzman as they came in the house, and everyone scrambled to their seats. I also noticed an extra chair next to Camilo's. I guess he assumed that was my chair. I think that's why he lead me towards it. Just as we sat down, Alma, Senora Guzman and Mariano entered the dining room. 

The silence grew more and more uncomfortable with each passing moment, but both Senoras shook it off and continued to talk to each other as the rest of the family put on fake smiles. 

Isabela's smile was unusually big. 

...It was creepy. 

"...The Guzmans and the Madrigals together will be so good for the Encanto." Alma gushed. 

"Yes!" Senora Guzman agreed. "Then let's hope tonight is nota horrible disaster." 

Who jokes about that? I got a sickening feeling in my stomach. Like I knew that something was going to happen. And it wouldn't be good. 

Alma raised her glass for a toast. "To a perfect night. Salud!"  

"Salud!" Everyone else repeated. 

I took a deep breath and brought the cup to my lips. Everyone erupted into composed conversation, obviously trying to ease the tension. 

I looked around the room absentmindedly when my gaze locked onto Mirabel right across from me. She didn't notice me staring because she was staring at something else. 

Someone else. 

I turned my head to see Dolores on my right nervously returning Mirabel's stare. She looked so uncomfortable. 

I extended my hand from under the table and tapped Camilo's knee. Camilo followed my gaze. 

I turned to him. "What's going on?" I mouthed. 

He shrugged then looked at Mirabel. So did I. Mirabel's eyes never parted from Dolores'. Dolores looked like she would be grateful for just at least one second where Mirabel's eyes would be off of her. But Mirabel maintained her unwavering eye contact. 

I looked around. Besides the Guzmans, everybody looked tense. Even Alma. Luisa was looking down at her lap, Agustín was shaking, and it looked like it was taking Pepa everything she had to avoid creating a cloud. Even Julieta, who was normally the most composed out of all of the Madrigals, seemed worried.

At that moment it felt like the Madrigal family was distant from each other, as if they were each fighting their own battles and not bothering to go to the others for help and protection.

And then...

A bowl passed in front of Mirabel, blocking her view of Dolores. 

That's when Dolores took action and leaned in towards me. I flinched but stayed put.