One Hundred Broken Mirrors| Camilo Angst | Encanto

Hoodwinked Friendship

"Why the hell did she have a knife...?" Camilo appeared as frightened, running his hands over the clear blade.

"I- I don't know... but it can't be good- from the way she was acting, this is not good." Mirabel shot a worried glance at the knife.

Camilo could feel his vision blur the longer he gripped the knife, a drop of sweat sliding down the sharp, clean blade. "Yeah.. I don't want to know anymore-" He thrust the knife onto the counter, barely having the desire to deal with yet another problem.

"This is... this is too overwhelming, I can't deal with another problem today.. I'm gonna take a short walk." Camilo vigorously shook his head as to try and distract himself from the knife he left behind.

"Okay—but be quick."

He ignored the last part, drowning out any more words that he couldn't deal with. Too much was happening too fast, and his mind couldn't wrap around it.

"Okay... just- don't think of it.. don't think......" Camilo released a short breath before stopping at a thick tree near the Casita. It was nothing to enthuse about, just a simple, plain oak tree. Camilo's favourite spot to unwind and set his aggravating thoughts free. He slipped behind the tree and took a seat on the dry grass, letting his thoughts run free before disappearing into nothing.

"Fucking hell-"

He paused.

A pale girl sat across him, shaken. Her cracked hands clutched an obsolete book, it's spine barely keeping in place. Desaturated ginger locks fell to her elbows amidst her callous, grey eyes. Her sunken face alone was enough for Camilo to recognise that he'd clearly disturbed her.

"Oh—sorry... was I bothering you?—"

"Uhh..." The girl pierced her lips, fidgeting with her amber dress. "No... no, it's okay. It's just that—I didn't expect there to be someone else here, where I usually go.. to relax and everything."

"Hah, what a coincidence. I'm here for the same reason, some shit's happening with my sister and she's been acting really strange lately.." Camilo gently laid his head back against the trunk of the tree, a dry expression painted across his face.

The girl all of a sudden perked up, really beginning to examine Camilo up and down. "Would your 'sister' happen to be someone by the name of... Dolores?" She smiled.

"Hm—? How'd you know?" Camilo's eyebrows creased his forehead in suspicion.

"Isn't it already well known? I mean, it's a fairly small town after all. Only takes about a few hours to get around the whole place, in fact. The whole town worships you." The girl marvelled, setting her book aside.

"Ah, I suppose that's technically true," He let out a dry laugh yet again, the emotion lost.

The silence between them for the next few seconds was unbearable.

"So... what's on your mind?" Camilo tried breaking the sudden awkwardness.

"Hm—?" Her shoulders flinched. "S-sorry... well, nothing too interesting. My family's struggling a lot..."

"Oh, I probably shouldn't have asked then." Camilo shuffled in his position.

"It's fine."

Camilo's eyes locked onto her book, feeling like he'd seen it before somewhere. "What book is that?" He sat down next to her, much to her unexpectedness.

"Oh, uh.. it's just a story my mother used to read to me, before she died."

Camilo's mouth hung open, suddenly not so concerned about the loss of her mother as much as he was worried about how calmly she had said it.

"Uh- wow, uhm... I'm so sorry..." He sputtered, confused.

"Oh it's fine.. happened a long time ago anyways, I was only little so I don't remember much of what happened—anyways, the book.. what about it?"

Camilo shook his head, focusing his attention back to the thin novel. "It's the exact same book I used to read when I was younger." He smiled softly.

"Really?" She finally looked at him, smiling back. "Well.. to get our minds off of what was happening before, wanna read?"

"Uh—yeah sure, why not.." He blinked, inching a bit closer.

The girl dropped her smile, clearing her raspy throat. She opened the book, feeling the paper's soft surface.

Camilo felt a wave of nostalgia spread through his body as he could recall all the times he and Pepa would analyse this very same book. Each page turned felt like an old friend shaking hands with Camilo and it brought him relief. The girl would make sure that Camilo had finished the page before she flipped to a new one, being the slow reader he was, and before he knew it, the girl had closed the covers, setting the book aside.

"Phew... well, that was rather refreshing." She breathed.

"Yeah, I feel better already. Uh.. Hey, thanks for reading it with me." Camilo gave her a genuine, soft smile.

Only for her to flash a dry one back.

"Well—I should probably get going!- Haha..." Camilo awkwardly laughed and tore his eyes away from her, embarrassed.

"Oh... well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Camilo." The girl gripped the book, rising to her feet. Camilo stumbled to do the same, using the tree as his balance.

"Oh- likewise.. hey, how did you know my...... wait, nevermind." He stifled another awkward laugh.

The girl fidgeted for a moment, picking at the books rough cover as if it wasn't falling apart already. "Maybe... we'll see each other again some other time? If you're up for it, I mean." Her voice never wavered this time, as if she'd lost her shy demeanour.

Camilo brushed the thought off, nodding. "Yeah, you seem like a nice person!"

"You too, thanks for talking with me." The girl smiled, lifting her pale hand to wave.

"No problem!" He took a step out of the clearing, but retreated. "Oh- one more thing."

The girls head turned to him, and she raised her eyebrows. "Hm?"

"I never asked for your name." Camilo let the gauche laugh slip out for a second.

The girl finally gifted him a soft smile, letting her shoulders loose.

"Lily."