"AMARILLO" (A Camilo Madrigal Fanfiction)

Chapter 13: Roaring Flames

The skies were growing dim with an orange hue. The shadows began to lurk and slowly devour the dense woods, and the windows of the houses in the distance began lighting up in a golden glow.

"So? Is that a yes or a no?"

She looked at him and smiled, "I told you... I can't promise anything. What if she finds out?"

"You managed to escape during the day, it would be a lot easier to escape in the night! She won't see you in the dark." He replied.

Camilo's birthday celebration is only a few hours away. Three years of friendship and still, neither has met each other's families. He was laying on her lap as she stroked his hair gently, watching the sun disappear from the mountains beneath a tree.

"Didn't I already give you a gift?" She asked.

He kept fidgeting with a small sunflower crown and replied, "I wanna introduce you to my family. Abuela still thinks you're an imaginary friend."

She chuckled and started teasing him, making a claw with her hands and grinning at him. "Woooooo I'm a figment of your imagination and you're craaaaazy...."

"...Or maybe I'm a ghost! Haaaauuuunting youuuuuu."

He smiled and reached for her nose before pinching it long and hard.

"OW!" she exclaimed.

He sat up and leaned in, mocking her with his grin. "See? Ghosts don't feel pain from humans pinching their noses like that."

The two began to tease each other with playful little tickles, rolling around in dried leaves as their laughs echoed, piercing through the now thick sound of crickets chirping in tall grass.

"Camilo?"

"Camiloooooo...."

They both stopped and listened. Someone's been calling out to him in the distance. The voice drew nearer and nearer in their spot.

"It's getting dark out! Where are you hiding? Your friends said they haven't seen you all day!"

They looked at each other for a moment, then he spoke, "That was my prima Mirabel."

"Well, you should go then... It really is getting dark. I have to get home too before they suspect anything." She responded by gently pushing his back closer to the source of the voice.

He sighed, looking at her with pleading eyes, "You will come, right?"

His eyes shimmered even in the dark, batting it sweetly with his lips pouting and hands held together, trying to guilt trip her with this adorable pup-like plea. She rolled her eyes and smirked.

He asked, "Is that a no or...."

Luna suddenly leaned in and reached for his face. His world slowed down as she pressed her lips on his soft, plump cheek, hearing the soft peck coming from her before it gently brushed off him and left a warm permanent mark. He stood stiff as a board, with his cheeks glowing red as roses. She smiled at him and slowly stepped back, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

He whispered, "I'll take that as a yes."

Suddenly, Mirabel jumped behind him, making him gag as he yelped in surprise.

"Primo! Time to come home! It's already dark out!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know... Sheesh! You had to pounce on my back like that?"

"Yeah, I was gonna surprise you."

"Pfft! You surprised me alright... Come on, let's go."

He rolled his eyes and grabbed Mirabel's hand, dragging her home with him without uttering another word. Meanwhile, Luna walked home alone for an hour as usual. Only this time, it's much darker. Yet clever of her to leave unlit lamps in certain places by the trees, so whoever may find themselves lost, will always have light. That is... If they happen to have matches in hand like her.