Chapter 11:

(Isabella POV)

- 2 weeks later -

Caleb was still no closer to leaving Encanto than he was when he came here but, today things were going to be different. Today was his first day working for Señor Enrique. No one takes that position unless they are absolutely desperate for cash which enough people are that he constantly has a full workforce on the fields he manages. Tío Felix worked for him for years and a few other poorer families in town do too or people who are just trying to get jobs in town. I heard that Papa almost worked for him too but Señor Enrique wasn't hiring at the time. He ended up doing deliveries in town. I talked to the family about this and Tía would just stay on the opposite side of the fields as him.

- 1 week ago -

"He did raise a good point that he is going to need money at some point if he is going to stay here," Mariano said. Everyone angrily glared at him and he shrunk back into his chair. Dolores just rubbed his arm and I knew that she agreed with him. I smirked leaning forward, "Look everyone wants him out of town, right?" I asked and them seemed to grumble in agreement. "What is the absolute worst job in Encanto? A job that has been known to underpay, under appreciate and lack of concern for the people who work there." Tío Felix looked at me, "You want him to work for Enrique?" I nodded my head. "Look he is the worst manager of any field in Encanto. We all know that, but Caleb doesn't. I think that it would be the best job to get him to want to leave."

Abuela straightened her back, "What about you Tía Pepa? She uses her gift out there many times." I nodded my head and looked at Tía, "Do you think that you can position yourself on the opposite fields from what he is working?" She nodded her head, "Yeah. I'm sure we can work something out." I looked around the table, "Her gift is the least detectable of all of ours. Not to mention having him work in the fields would prevent anymore close calls." I looked at Luisa and Camilo who both had been almost caught." Mirabel looked at me, "But what are you going to do? You are supposed to keep an eye on him?" I smirked, "I'm going to make his job even more impossible. He will be running out of her by the end of the month."

- Present-

Caleb came out looking at me. "Get ready, I got you a job," I said. His eyes widened, "Wait really?" I nodded my head, "Yeah you are going to work out in the fields. It is the only place that would hire you. I'd change into something that you don't mind being completely covered in dirt and some work gloves." He nodded his head, "Yeah. Are you going to show me where to go?" I nodded my head, "And I will take you into town after. Maybe you will actually talk to someone today?" He rolled his eyes but, I saw him smirk, "Maybe."


(Caleb POV)

I went back into the shack and I was really surprised. I thought that I wasn't going to be able to get a job for a while and now Isabella was giving one to me. I grabbed my bag and I was ready to go out there. Then a thought dawned on me, why was she helping me? She made her apathy towards me really well known. She has been trying to convince me how boring life here was. So what was going on? I skeptically made my way out and followed her as she guided me to the fields.

There was a bunch of people who were already working and Isabella walked me over to the man who was watching over all of them, "Caleb meet Señor Enrique your new boss. Señor Enrique you remember Caleb from the town meeting." He rolled his eyes and looked me over, "You'll do. Go to fields 2, 4 and 5. I'll let you know if I need you to cover anyone else. You are taking the morning shifts for right now and will get off at 3 in the afternoon. You are already late today and will be deducted accordingly. If you don't complete your fields you will be deducted. If you leave early you will be deducted, do you understand?" I nodded my head.

I was suddenly understanding why Isabella got me this job, "Is it a problem that I'm not from Encanto?" I asked. He shrugged, "Why would I care? You are just working the fields as long as you don't cost me business I don't care." I didn't have anything to say and he looked down at his clipboard. "Today you are seeding field 2 and weeding fields 4 and 5. Any problems talk to the guy next to you. Is all of that clear?" I nodded my head, "Yes Sir." "Sir, I like that. Get to work kid," He said. I turned to Isabella, "I'll show you where the fields are and I will pick you up at 3." I nodded my head and followed her.

She showed me where the fields were and some man was in the fields in between us, "Isabella Madrigal?" She looked at him, "Oh Hi Marco." "Have you thought about what I asked?" He said and she rolled her eyes, "My answer is the same as last time. No, I'm sorry but I'm not interested." He nodded his head and moved to the other side of the field. I looked at her, "What was that about?" She just shook her head, "Don't worry about it. See you at 3. That one is Field 2 and these are 4 and 5. Get to work." She walked off towards town and I went to work.


(Isabella POV)

I hid behind the tree line careful that he couldn't see me. I watched as he began to weed the fields. As soon as he was halfway done with one field I began to make more weeds start to grow in place of the ones that he had just picked. I spread more and more weeds across the field. For each one he picked 3 more grew in. I smirked as he turned back to look at the field he thought he just finish only to find it completely covered in weeds again. He just went right back to work.

Over and over again he combed the fields over and over again. Sometimes I gave him a break on one field just so that he can move over to another field, but when he looked back there would be a few more fields speckled through them all. I was going to break him. He was going to be annoyed, the work is long and hard. He was going to want to quit. I stopped for a moment when I saw Señor Enrique came over. I could here him yelling from my hiding spot, "WHY AREN'T YOU DONE YET? YOU ARE WASTING MY TIME YOUR TIME AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE EVEN STARTED!" I peered and looked at Caleb. He was as cool as a cucumber. He was just nodding his head and went back to work when he walked away.

Why wasn't he more upset? Enrique has been known to bring grown men to tears so why was it like he couldn't affect Caleb at all. Caleb just went back to work and I kept up the work with making more weeds grow. I spread them out farther and farther from each other and I kept watching. I stopped growing anymore at 2 though and he quickly finished up before I made my way through. "Hey you ready to go into town?" He was drenched in sweat and I thought that he would be out of breath or something but he just nodded his head and threw on his bag.

I looked at him as we made our way into town. He never took off his gloves. I don't know when I noticed that or why I did but I thought he would after they got all dirty. "So how was work?" I asked. He just shrugged, "It was work." I looked at him, "Well I mean if you need a job here that job you have that brought you here can't be paying you a lot." He didn't say anything. I rolled my eyes and we walked into town together. I looked around and then I saw that he seemed tired. Not an obvious tired but like he was starting to slow down. I put my hand on his shoulder, "We should probably get you home. Enrique is expecting you tomorrow at 7:30 am." He nodded his head and we were heading home when I ran into Victor. "Isabella, can we talk." I closed my eyes before opening them, "Of course. Caleb please excuse me a moment."


(Caleb POV)

Isabella went over with this guy Victor. How many guys have approached her since I arrived in town? I pulled out my notebook and added Victor's name to the list. I counted it out and in the time that I was around Isabella 17 different men approached her and she would bring them over to the side and talk to them and they always seemed to leave disappointed. Why did she talk to them though? She could have just said no there. Why didn't she just talk to them in front of me? I shook it off, why did I care? The less I knew about her the better it would be in the long run. Isabella came over to me. "What were you talking to him about?" I asked. She just shrugged, "Nothing." "Like all the other ones in the last 2 weeks were: Nothing," I muttered. No this wan't important.


(Isabella POV)

Caleb was going to be gone soon enough. He didn't need to know anything about me beyond what he already did. We walked together to the shack when he looked at me, "Isabella, why did you get me that job?" I turned to face him, "Well. Truth is the people in town don't rust you, but Enrique doesn't care about any of that as long as you do the job he'll pay you. It is a terrible salary but one my Tío lived on from when he was 13 to 22. I figured it could work for a year for you at least." He seemed surprised, "Felix worked there?" "You walked to my Tío?" He shrugged, "He showed me the shack that first day. He looks...familiar." I nodded my head, "Well Good night and good luck tomorrow. I will come and bring you to work." I went to turn away, "I can get there myself Isabella." He called out but I turned around, "It is my responsibility. I will be here in the morning after... I will be here in the morning." "After?" He asked but I shook my head again, "Don't worry. See you tomorrow."


(Caleb POV)

I went into the shack and leaned into my bed. I could already feel myself becoming more and more sore. Why did I keep missing all of those different weeds today? I looked in my bag and took out my cloak. I traced my fingers over the insignia. This was my job. This was what I had to do. This is what I was born to do. I was made for this job and I knew that I couldn't let myself get any more attached. "7 months and 2 weeks," I whispered to myself. I let out a breath and just fell asleep before I could even think about getting something to eat.


(Isabella POV)

- 4 days later -

Caleb and I were walking through town after his shift and I was surprised that he lasted this long. Enrique was definitely going hard on him and my sabatoge wasn't helping but he never complained. I think that he might even be talking to some of the people he works with. This wasn't good. He can't like it here. He needs to leave. "Caleb," I started as he jotted something down in the old notebook of his when suddenly he heard glass break, "HELP!" Someone yelled and we ran into the residential area in town and I don't think any of us were prepared for the sight.