Camila Cabello was many things. For starters, she was very wise. She was very good at Math, and she excelled in both Spanish and English.
She's also crazy.
And when she told me that we should become cops, her and I had two different ideas in mind.
Camila explained it in a simple way: We go to a drug cartel party dressed AS cops. That way, we can evacuate the premises in order to be able to find Shawn.
I'm starting to doubt her intellect.
"Why do we always have to be dressed up to go places and sabotage things?" I asked, carrying a package from Camila's car into her house.
"I guess I just watched way too many cartoons as a kid." Camila replied, shutting the door.
"I don't know if this is a good idea, babe."
"His parents want nothing to do with him, and his brother sent him to Miami so he wouldn't have to deal with him, and suddenly he's working for an international drug cartel. He doesn't know who he is. We should be getting him some help." Camila told me, holding me close as I set down the package on the table. "If it was you, I would buy a plane ticket to Miami in a heartbeat."
"You hate planes."
"I don't care."
"You hate loud party music."
"I don't mind."
"If I was like him, I wouldn't know who you were." Camila stopped in her tracks, looking at me.
"Then I would spend every day falling in love with you from day one again. I would do it all over, as long as I had the chance to call you mine again."
"Kiss me if I'm wrong, but you love being called Karla, right?"
Camila chuckled, wrapping her arms around me and connecting her lips with mine.
"You're so beautiful." I whispered in her ear as she pointed upwards to remind me that we were standing under mistletoe.
"Well, since we're under mistletoe..." I leaned in to kiss her again, but the doorbell rang.
"Wonder who that is." She thought out loud.
"I have a hunch." I said, opening the door to find Nate, Dinah, Ally, and Lauren. Each came in carrying an excessive amount of presents.
"MERRY CHRYSLER!!!" Nate yelled, fitting a Santa hat on my head.
"You KNOW I wasn't gonna be late to the gift exchange." Dinah told me, setting down her stack of gifts. "Everyone, to the tree!"
"Someone's a little demanding." Lauren teased, walking into the house with Ally.
"Normani couldn't come?" I asked Dinah.
"She just got off of work." Nate revealed. "We told her to take her time; She had four parties today."
"Oh my god. All the laser light shows." I laughed, hearing a subsequent doorbell ring. I opened the door to see Normani in her black and purple uniform, looking like she just woke up. Her visor and phone charger were tangled in one of her hands. She smelled like egg rolls.
"I didn't know twenty three year olds loved Hibachi Jose's so much." She said through gritted teeth. "Dinah, help me get the gifts."
Dinah ran out to the car, as Nate watched Ally from the door.
"Does she know about Spring Break?" I asked him.
"I told her we were going to Miami, but she doesn't know about... y'know..."
"We'll tell her, I'll help you, alright?"
Normani ran in with her present, wrapped and ready. Dinah ran behind her, panting and carrying a platter of food.
"Let's get to it." Normani told Nate and I as we headed to the living room and got into a huge circle. Camila was on my left, and Dinah was on my right. I peered over her shoulder to look at what she was texting Jarryd. However, I made the mistake of coughing, and she heard me and hid her phone.
"Okay!" Ally clapped her hands together. "Let's begin. Dinah, I got you this."
Ally handed Dinah a square package, which she tore into instantly.
"A karaoke machine!" Dinah revealed. "Oh my gosh, is this because I made you go up at the restaurant and sing Kesha? Thanks, Ally, but you should be thanking me because I have never seen you get that lit."
"You're welcome, Dinah." Ally giggled. "Who'd you have?"
"I had Lauren." Dinah reached over the circle to throw her present at Lauren, which was surprisingly light.
"Thank you, Dinah- wait, a hoodie from Santa Ana?"
"Yeah! Because each day during band camp, it was really windy so you'd borrow my hoodie! Now, you have your own." Dinah stated, looking very proud of herself.
"Thank you so much, Dinah!" Lauren gushed. "So, for my secret Santa, I got Nate. I'll let the present explain itself."
Lauren gave Nick his present, which he slowly unwrapped to reveal a table top drum set.
"Awesome, and very thoughtful. Thanks, Lauren." Nate smiled. "I got Normani, and I know it's really big, I apologize."
Normani opened the package excitedly as her jaw dropped.
"THE Beyonce onesie?! From the Beyonce store?! Nate, you shouldn't have! Thank you!"
"You're welcome! Who did you get, Normani?"
"I got Camila." Normani said excitedly. "You'll like this!"
Camila's face lit up as Normani handed her a wrapped gift. As she opened it up, her curved smile turned to an 'o' as she tore off the paper to reveal what it was.
"A GRYFFINDOR CARDIGAN?" Camila yelled. "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!"
Camila gave Normani the biggest hug.
"Camila, who did you have?" Ally asked.
"Oh...um...well, this is gonna sound cliche, but I got Y/N."
My ears perked up as I turned towards her.
"That sounds so suspicious, honestly." I told her, as she grabbed her present from behind her.
"Shut up and open your gift."
The gift was wrapped in navy paper and accented with a maroon bow. I should've known by the colors it was for me. I opened it carefully, looking at every fold, every crease. Everything was carefully and deliberately put together- even the folding of the wrapping paper.
As I tore through the paper, I was presented with another box. Camila handed me the scissors, her eyes begging for me to open it. I took the scissors, cutting the tape as I opened the box slowly.
My jaw dropped as I took my gift in my hands- it was a scrapbook of Camila and I, wrapped in a Mulligan sweatshirt. It was perfect in every way, shape, and form. I opened the book, looking at goofy sophomore year pictures, which evolved to sophisticated senior year pictures. Some were pictures she had taken, and some were pictures that other people had taken of us. She loved me so much, and even though she and I had been through a lot, she always reminded me of it at the end of the day. I found a note on the back.
Mi amor-
This section is for all the adventures that we shall have the rest of our time together. You are my world- my sun, my moon, my stars, my heart.
Love always,
Camila
"So, wait. Does she like it?" Nate asked.
I didn't answer. All I did was turn to Camila, look at her unwavering stare, moved a piece of her hair behind her ear, and kissed her softly. She put her arms around me, as I smiled into the kiss.
"OKAY SO NEXT ONE!" Dinah yelled. "WHO DID YOU GET, Y/N?"
"I got Ally." I beamed. "Here, Ally."
I gave Ally her present, which was very fragile.
"Apple pumpkin pie? Oh, Y/N, you are too sweet!"
"I'm not the sweetest one here." I said, looking at Camila and grabbing her hand.
"So, it's cake time, now, right?" Nate asked Dinah.
"YES! Everyone come to the kitchen, Nate and Ally made a cake for us!"
Everyone filed out, but Camila and I stayed behind for a while.
"I didn't know if you wanted to still go to Mulligan, but I know I couldn't give you your gift now, so I decided to do something cute and sentimental-"
"Camila, honey, you're incredible." I told her. "I love you."
"I love you too, baby." Camila kissed my cheek, looking outside at the newly fallen bed of snow. "What I would give to spend a day cooped up inside with you."
"I would love that. Maybe one day." I chuckled, kissing her forehead. We cuddled on the couch until Ally barged in.
"You know, hot cocoa is only good when it's warm.." She laughed.
I smiled at Camila, taking my cardigan off.
"I'll race you."
Camila and I sprinted to the kitchen, joining our friends, showing off our cool gifts, and the incredible food.
I couldn't believe how lucky I was. Thanksgiving had passed, but I never stopped being thankful for my life. And my family. And my friends. And, especially, truly, honestly, Camila.