smiling critters

chapter 22 - decorations & electives

Around late May to early June, Camila had decided to go over to Neil's house to check out his new room and see if she could do anything to help decorate since he asked. She walked up to the front door and gave three hearty knocks before Poppy answered the door.

"Good morning, poppy! Is Neil awake yet?" she greeted.

"I'm not sure, come in and I'll check really quick," Poppy smiled and waved her inside. She took the offer and decided to put down the bag full of art supplies and other decorations as she took off her shoes. After a few minutes, Poppy walked out of one of the rooms and grabbed onto the railing as she looked down at the horse.

"he's getting dressed, I told him to come out when he's done, do you want a snack?"

"Maybe not right now, but might need one later," she shook her head as Neil stepped out of his room.

"Hey cams, come on up!" he smiled as he waved her upstairs. She picked her bag up and went into his room with him.

"so, where did you wanna start?" she asked as she looked at the blank walls of his room. it was so bare compared to hers, since every single wall in her room was covered in paint and stuff she drew over the years, she liked looking at the progress she's made over time.

"y'know, I'm not sure. I was thinking you could paint a tarot card design on one of my walls. i already cleared it with Donna and Malachi, so you don't have to worry about me getting in trouble for you painting on the walls," neil answered. They decorated a bit, using dream catchers, old christmas lights camila's sister let her have, and other related stuff. Once they were done, they chose a wall for camila to paint.

"Ok, now onto what tarot card you want me to paint?" camila asked, pulling out the supplies she needed to start painting.

"Hmm, i'd say i trust your judgment, but i want a card that represents the journey of healing i've been going down for the past year, so how abooouut...the lovers?"

"ok! Is there a certain design you want me to paint?"

"Yea, gimme a second," neil pulled out his phone and scrolled for a bit before handing it to her.

"Alright! I'll start sketching. In the meantime, do you mind grabbing me something to eat? Also how would your family feel about me playing music?"

"Sure. and i don't think they'd care, just keep it at mid volume," Neil nodded as he went downstairs and grabbed some food before coming back up to billie eilish playing from camila's phone as she mindlessly sang along. He always liked her voice. It was like an angel's. It was so nice to hear her singing while she drew or painted. It was always so relaxing. He put the plate of food he made for her on his desk beside her box of paints. After a while, she took a break and they talked as she ate until she got back to work before having to go home. She kept working on it over the course of a few weeks until it was finally done, and neil would be lying if he said he didn't like it. Camila was really proud of it and took a picture of it to post on instagram.

~~~~time skip~~~~

Now it's around the end of 8th grade, and they were all at the local high school looking around and choosing electives. The group was sitting together as they chose, and neil and camila were having some trouble picking their last elective. Camila had chosen art related ones of course, and neil had chosen culinary and weight training, but the ladder had been encouraged by kai because 'he's all skin, fur, and bones.' Speaking of Kai, he noticed his friends were struggling a bit.

"Choir. choir. choir!" he quietly chanted, slowly pumping his wings. He kept chanting as hollie and bobby joined in.

"kids!" the teacher shouted. They went silent. Camila and Neil looked at each other.

"I'll do it if you do it," the horse whispered.

"ok, but you can't keep me in if you don't get in," Neil whispered back. They selected choir and submitted it before having to continue the school tour.

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