Pepa's POV
I sat with my baby, Felix, as we drank tea.
Watching Camilo play with Antonio in the front yard. Both of them running around with his animals.
They both looked so happy. It's been a while since I had seen my boy's real smile. He's always smiling but never a smile like this.
True happiness and joy.
Something must have happened to make him feel this way.
I watched them and laughed. Camilo was running around with Antonio on his shoulders, laughing together, cheerfully.
I love my babies, all three of them but I know Camilo has a tough time. When he first got his gift, he was so grateful and happy, making everyone laugh. Until, I noticed he shapeshifted a lot more often and he always felt the need to make others happy, even when he, himself, was sad.
I knew mamá always put so much pressure on the kids. Making them go out and do chores all day, to keep the town happy.
They hardly got any free time anymore and it was almost as if they had been robbed of their childhood.
That's why, Felix, Julieta, Agustín and I, always took them out to do fun activities whenever we had the chance.
Just a few days ago Camilo stopped coming with us but since yesterday, he's been so joyful and willingly playing with his siblings and cousins.
His energetic, wacky self was back. I wasn't sure how or why but I was happy.
We all were.
Anita's POV
Mirabel and I were in her bedroom, it was small but I liked how cosy and quiet it was.
She also showed me some of her books and I chose two to take home, which I was grateful for.
I tried to take her mind of the whole, 'destroying la casita', thing by talking about random subjects.
We made jokes, I did actually inform her about the new school project and we sang to music as well, to pass the time.
I was glad I finally made a close friend here, even though I had a few back in Australia, none were ever really as close as Mirabel was.
"It's getting a bit late, probablemente debería ir .(I should probably go)" getting up off the floor that we were sitting on.
"You can just stay, it's dark out and it might be dangerous. I'm sure mi familia won't mind you staying for dinner." She smiled and I thought about it for a few seconds.
"Papá might be worried about me and Abuela and him might also need help with looking after everyone." I rambled on.
"I'm sure they'll be fine, he looked after you in Australia with your mum so-" I glanced up at her, she was the only person I had told about my mother, "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean it in that way I just meant-"
"It's ok, really Mirabel." Placing a hand on her shoulder as she looked concerned and sadly at me.
"Lo siento Anita." She apologies looking down at the floor and I gave her a small smile.
"You're right, I'll just ask someone to tell papá that I'll be back late." Smiling at each other as she grinned and nodded her head.
"Your staying over Anita?" Delores asked with a grin as she opened the door, peaking into the room.
I chuckled, "I'm not sure about staying over but I'm staying for dinner, if that's alright with everyone." She made a quiet squeal and grinned, nodding and then racing downstairs.
Laughing, Mirabel got up as well and we walked downstairs.
""Oh dear, it's so great that you can stay over tonight." Pepa said, and cupped my face.
"Oh, well, I was actually just staying for din-"
"Anita! Your staying over tonight?!" Antonio screamed as he ran into the kitchen to hug me.
I laughed and hugged him back, crouching down to him. I looked behind my over to Mirabel and she shrugged, then I looked at Dolores and rolled my eyes.
"Well, I guess I can stay over, I just need to inform my da-"
"On it!" Julieta grinned and ran out of the room to call him.
We all laughed and I helped as they started to set the table.
"Who's staying over?" A voice asked as they walked into the room.
"Oh, Camilo, Anita's staying over tonight so no staying up and having dance parties with Antonio!" Pepa demanded and he rolled his eyes, looking slightly embarrassed.
I chuckled and he looked at me and smirked.
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed more plates that casita had placed on the counter for us.
The rest of the family, excluding Señora Alma, came down and helped set the table and Julieta came back later to finish cooking, with the help of Mirabel.
A few minutes later, Señora Alma finally came and we all sat down at the table. I sat in between Dolores and Mirabel, across from Camilo and Antonio, who was playing with his food next to him.
Camilo, sneakily passed the veggies, that he didn't like, to Antonio's leopard, who was lying under the table.
I noticed and rolled my eyes but he put a finger to his lips and told me not to say anything.
...
I looked between everyone, "Wow, Camilo. You ate all your salad really quickly." I started saying and everyone looked suprised as they saw his empty plate. "It must of been really delicious, here, have some more then." I grinned and passed him the bowl of salad as he glared at me.
"Wow, since when did you start liking spinach hijo? (Son)" Félix asked with raised eyebrows and I chuckled quietly.
Then, they had a heated discussion on how he still hates salad, but ate it really quickly anyways.
After eating and finishing a few conversations, we all had to get ready for bed, since we had school tomorrow.
Mirabel said I could sleep in her room, since she had a spare mattress.
Since I didn't actually bring any spare clothes, Mirabel let me wear hers, which were slightly big, since I was a bit shorter than her.
Still, I was able to brush my teeth, when casita brought me a new toothbrush.
I hopped in bed and said goodnight to Mirabel and the adults that came to say goodnight as well.
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep but something fury tickled my hand. I jolted up and looked at the bunny that had, somehow, gotten into the room and was holding a letter.
I shook Mirabel awake and she read the letter out loud.
🔆
Come to Camilo's room, pretty please.
:) Antonio
I laughed but we both crept silently down the hall, over to Camilo's room.
We ended up completely disregarding and ignoring Pepa's words from before, as we all ended up in Camilo's room that had shapeshifted into a really big dance floor.
All of us, being the only kids, along with Isabela, Luisa and Dolores, who joined, even though, technically, they were adults.
We danced the whole night and I even got to talk to Luisa, Isabell and Dolores about what they liked and get to know them better.
The night went on for hours as we had a blast. Snacks and lollies that I had bought for Mirabel today came in handy, when we all ate until we got sick and Antonio had a major energy rush.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." Camilo groaned next to me as we were laying on the floor against a wall, his head leaning on my shoulder.
"Don't vomit on me you nasty." I glared at him and went to move away.
"I would never bonita." He said and smiled, not looking at me though because he was actually feeling sick and leaning on my shoulder.
"Ahh, oh my gosh!" Dolores yelped as Antonio had vomited on the floor and was then lying next to it and making snow angels.
"Gross Antonio." Mirabel cried in disgust and picked him up so she could clean him and the floor.
After that scene, we all felt slightly better and then danced some more.
We even made a little theatre and did plays for each other.
"Princesa Ordelia, please don't leave me mi amor?" Luisa begged as she kneeled down on one knee.
"Lo siento, Sebastian, I cannot love a poor boy." I said and then Camilo came in wearing a skirt and blonde wig.
Grinning he ran in between us two, "Don't worry Sebastian. I will marry you." He sang and then they linked arms and skipped away together.
"And scene." I grinned and bowed to the audience, "Thank you, thank you. Oh stop it." I laughed and waited for the next performance.
~~~
After a long night of partying...
We ended up all sleeping in as consequence of the late night, so we were already an hour late to school.
I groaned and looked at the time, kicking Mirabel with my foot as she whipped her head up quickly, her hair a mess and falling over her face.
I sat up slowly when I felt something heavy lying across my legs.
I snickered at Camilo, who was lying horizontally across Mirabel and I's legs. One leg curled up and the other hanging off one side of the bed. His stomach was facing down and his hair hanging off the opposite side.
How did this even happen?
Rubbing my eyes and blinking a few times to clear my vision, I observed the large room that was full of the other Madrigals.
Luisa and Isabell were curled up on a beanbag on the floor and Antonio was on the other side of me, cuddled up against my arm.
Slowly, pushing him off me and sliding my legs away from Camilo, I climbed out of bed and rolled my eyes at Mirabel, who had gone back to sleep.
Making my way downstairs, I smelled a sweet smell coming from the kitchen.
"Julieta?"
"Oh, hello, glad someone's finally up." She grinned and mixed the bowl. "I can't believe you guys had a party and missed school." She laughed and I looked at her, silently apologising.
"Want a cookie, pancakes, anything?" I shook my head and thanked her, quickly getting a glass of water and then leaving, back upstairs, into Camilo's room.
"Buenos días hermosa." Camilo smirked at me as I walked in.
His hair looked like a mess and his cheeks were all red. He looked pretty tired but still had a smile.
"You should go back to sleep if your still tired."
"No, it's ok, plus, it's almost lunch time and we have a project to catch up on." Smiling and walking over to me quietly as we let everyone else sleep.
We walked downstairs and sat at a table so we could start working on the project.
"What are we doing again?" He asked and I rolled my eyes, telling him about the project and how we should start making our own notes on our families.
A few minutes later of writing all that we could remember, we heard a knock on the door.
Camilo opened it and was suprised when Sofía was standing there.
"Hola Cammy, you weren't at school today." She pouted and he rubbed the back of his neck, confused as to why she was at his house.
"Uhh, Yeah, slept in sorry."
"Well, I just came to give you the homework, I also need to talk to Mirabel."
I peeked my head towards the door at the mention of my best friend's name.
"Why do you need Mirabel?" I asked and she looked disgusted at the sight of me.
"Why is she here...?" Looking my up and down and then looking back to Camilo with an innocent smile. "Didn't she tell you, I'm her partner for the project silly...now let me in." Pushing past us both and looking around the house.
Camilo turned back and looked at me, annoyance displayed on his face.
"So you don't like her?" I asked and he looked at me as if I was joking.
"Of course not, she's so annoying." He rolled his eyes and whispered so she wouldn't here.
I laughed and put a hand to his cheek, "Well, I think she likes you Cammy." I mocked her and his face started blushing.
He rolled his eyes and glared at me, "Not funny." Grabbing my hand and dragging me back to the table, where we could work on our project again. Letting Sofía wander around and find Mirabel by herself.