Camilo x Reader -Broken Reflection

Chapter 3 (Camilo)

"Hi," you said lamely. "Nice ruana," you added, gesturing to the orange and white clothes he wore. He glanced down at it and then looked back at you.

Was it just you or did his cheeks flush a little?

"Thanks," He said, and then looked down at his plate. You watched as he slowly popped a slice of mango into his mouth.

By then the conversation at the table had resumed. You appreciated how the family went about their normal conversations and didn't seem to mind that you were there. Apparently, Dolores was dating Isabela's ex. You wondered how that was perfectly okay to the both of them. While the adults spoke, Mirabel turned to you and whispered, "Camilo's being so weird. He's usually really loud and talkative."

You glanced at him only to see him looking at you. His gaze flicked away when your eyes met but when you looked away, you felt his eyes on you again.

"Maybe he feels bad about yesterday," Mirabel said mostly to herself. You'd completely forgotten about the night before. He ran into you while he was chasing Antonio and didn't apologize. You were too tired to care all that much and you didn't mind then. More than anything, you felt uncomfortable with his silence. Occasionally he'd lean over and say something to Isabela, only for her to push his face away and roll her eyes.

Finally, as you finished eating, you glanced up to see Camilo watching you again. This time when your eyes met, neither of us looked away. As others rose from the table and carried their plates to the kitchen, you held your gaze. He ate another arepa. His face was completely neutral and you couldn't figure out what he was thinking or feeling.

Usually, you had an idea what people were feeling or thinking just by looking at their faces- you'd developed that skill from living with eccentric parents. Camilo's face was a blank canvas.

You watched as his eyes observed you from the top of your head to your elbows, where the table cut off his line of view. Finally, his eyes slid up to look at your again. You saw something flash from behind them but he said nothing. Now only Mirabel sat next to you. She was saying something but you weren't listening.

Is Camilo challenging me or something? You wondered. You dared to cock your eyebrow. He finally looked away and you stood from the table with a satisfied grin. You followed Mirabel to the kitchen where you helped her wash the dishes. Everyone else had gone to freshen up and set out to do their daily chores.

Mirabel was always stuck cleaning the dishes because she didn't have a gift. You could tell how happy she was that she finally had someone to help her.

"I'm gonna get more soap," She said to you and dried her hands. You nodded and stepped aside to let her pass before lifting a heavy stack of plates to put away in the cupboard.

"You're gonna drop those," said a voice. You turned around quickly and felt the dishes wobble. Whoever said that could have been right. You peered around the plates to see Camilo standing in the doorframe of the kitchen with his empty plate in his hand. As he leaned against the doorframe and watched you, you turned and lifted the dishes, wishing they weren't so heavy. Despite their weight, you refused to put a few down because of your pride.

You heard a heavy sigh and then the plates were out of your hands and in Camilo's.

"Did you really think you could reach the cupboard?" He asked. You pursed your lips and watched as he effortlessly lifted them and slid them onto their respective shelf.

"Are you saying I'm short?" You asked, wondering how Camilo was able to lift the dishes if his arms looked no stronger than yours.

He turned to you and leaned on the counter.

"I'm saying that you're gonna drop the dishes," He said and closed the cupboard door. You stared at him with your mouth open and a completely baffled expression on your face. You knew you were new in town but did he have to be so rude? You started to say so, but then he looked at you with that weird empty expression again.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" You asked, a hint of impatience creeping into your tone. Camilo flashed you a grin but there was nothing kind about it.

"No matter how much I look at you," He said and leaned down so that we were at eye level. "Your glasses somehow look even rounder and more gigantic than Mirabel's."

You furrowed your brows and stepped away.

"What's that got to do with anything?" You demanded. Camilo chuckled and shook his head. He stepped closer to you and closed the gap in between the both of you so that your back pressed againt the counter. The teenage boy smelled of warm vanilla and cloves and you couldn't help but lean in a little. Quickly, you snapped out of whatever trance you were in. You would have pushed him away if he didn't say, "don't worry about it, Orchid-head."

"What did you just call me?"

"Orchid-head. Like the Cattleya Trianae."

When you furrowed your brows, Camilo heaved another sigh. "You had the flowers in your hair last night along with a whole lot of mud and leaves. You looked like an idiot."

At that moment, you had enough of talking to Camilo. You were not sure what you would have done if Mirabel hadn't entered the kitchen right then.

"Found it," She said and placed a bottle of bright yellow dish soap by the sink.

"Who were you talking to?" She asked as she turned on the tap.

"Camilo. He's right here," You said, gesturing to him. Maribel gave you a puzzled look.

"Where?" She asked, but when you looked in his direction he was already gone.