Chapter 17:

(Caleb POV)

I knew that she wanted to talk about the kiss, but the moment that we did I was worried that it would ruin everything. Still, I knew that we had to talk about it. "Are we going to talk about the other thing?" She asked and I knew that I couldn't avoid it anymore. I let out a breath trying to gauge where she was at, "Look the kiss was..." I started but I looked at her in the eye and stopped. It looked like there was something she wanted to say and I wasn't going to stop her. "I don't regret it," Her voice was soft but it was clear. "You don't?" I asked and she shook her head before looking up at me with her big, round eyes, "Do you?"

"Do you?" It hit me like a ton of bricks. One that she didn't regret the kiss and two that she thought that I might. I should regret the kiss. I can't be making attachments like this besides the General had warned me about this before... but I couldn't believe that Isabella was like that. I could see tears forming in the corner of her eyes and I realized that it had been a while since I responded. "No, I don't regret it." I looked her in the eye and what I said next nearly killed me, "But it can't happen again." The words hung in the air for a while.

We both knew that I wasn't wrong but I wished I was. looked at Isabella and our eyes stayed glued on each other. She looked so beautiful but so sad and I hated that I was the reason she was feeling like that. I leaned over to her and she leaned closer to me, "You're right, it can't happen again." My hand brushed a strand of hair out of her face and her hand landed on top of mine as I went to pull away. I could feel her breath hitting my lips and then I leaned in and we kissed again. With each moment we deepened the kiss and the world around us began to fade away and all I could think about was her.

God I couldn't be thinking like this. I have a job that I need to do. I have been trained for this since the moment that the General came into my life. He saved me, he raised me and taught me everything I needed to do this. I couldn't let him down. Not after everything. I was meeting him tonight and I had to have something ready to say to him. But, what was I going to tell him. NO. I know what I am supposed to tell him, I can't let myself get invested. But as I opened my eyes slightly and looked at Isabella I realized that I already am.


(Isabella POV)

I shouldn't have kissed him. He shouldn't have kissed me. I don't know how we ended up here again but, I did know that I didn't want it to stop. Why didn't I want it to stop? My mind was working in circles but I couldn't focus on anything but Caleb and I in the shack. My eyes fluttered open after a moment as I went to pull away but he pulled me in deeper as we continued. I don't know how long we stayed like that before I took a sharp inhale and rested my forehead against his, "So you were saying." I said breathlessly. He nodded his head, "This can't happen again." I nodded my head, I knew that he was right. Still I looked up at him, "Then we should probably give each other some space." I leaned my head back and took a scooted back on the mattress/couch.

He did the same and we looked at each other, "So are you still going to try to convince me to leave?" He asked. I looked at him, "It would be the best way to make sure this never happened again." He looked down and back at me, "Yeah, but I can't." I nodded my head, "There isn't much more you are going to find out now. You already know pretty much everything about the town and its miracle. 8 more months isn't going to tell you much more." He smirked, "I think that I should be the judge of that. Besides what are you going to do without growing weeds in the plots I'm working at?" My eyes widened, "You knew?" He shrugged, "I saw you use your gift with plants in that fire and the fact that weeds kept popping up over and over again only in my fields..." He quirked his brow. I bit m y bottom lip, "I guess I could have been more subtle." He laughed and I did too.

I looked at him, "What do we do now?" He shrugged, "I don't know." "Should I go?" I asked and he opened and closed his mouth. "Do you want me to go?" He looked at me for a moment, "I think you already know the answer to both those questions." I nodded my head and got up and went to leave. I turned around, "I'll see you in town Caleb." He smiled, "I'll be looking forward to the weeds." I looked on his counter and saw a mug. I smiled as I made a cactus pop out, "Not a weed but, still..." I said walking away.

The farther I got from the shack the more the gravity of everything that I had done was sinking in. If Abuela found out about this then she would kill me? The town wouldn't trust me anymore and possibly wouldn't even trust my family. I stopped caring what they thought about me a while ago but, my family didn't deserve that. It was a good thing that Caleb didn't want to take this any farther but, we also just kissed right after he said we couldn't do it again so I wasn't sure what to believe. My thoughts began to muddle the further that I was away from him and it was becoming more and more confusing.

I made my way into Casita and I could see everyone in my family as they were making their way through the house. All of them were so happy with their lives. I know that they weren't perfect but, they all seemed to enjoy them for the most part. Dolores had her growing family, Mirabel was born to be the Candleholder and to be the one to lead the family, Luisa had her 'friend', Camilo had Olivia and they were their own family, Antonio and all of the kids in Casita were actually having a pretty normal childhood. My parents, Abuela, and tios all seemed like they were happy. Everyone was happy with their lives in Encanto so why wasn't I. I tried to think about the last time I was happy and I hated the fact that it was back in that shack away from the rest of the world.

"Isabella," I saw Dolores waving me over. I came over and saw that she was watching over the kids while Antonio was bringing animals to play with them. "Hey are you alright?" I nodded my head, "Yeah." She leaned over and whispered, "You know my pregnancy hearing is a bit out of my control." I looked over at her, "Really, already?" She smiled at me, "I still have some control I'm just starting to lose control. Like when I heard my cousin talking to a certain outsider in the shack on the edge of town." My eyes widened as I looked at her, "What did you hear?" She looked over at me, "Well I heard something about him knowing that you were constantly planting weeds in the field he worked at and you asking if you should go." I nodded my head feeling relieved that she didn't seem to hear more, "Yeah."

She then looked at me, "It sounded like you two were pretty good friends." I shrugged, "I spend a lot of time with him. I'm the one who was asked to show him around and stuff." She nodded her head, "Yeah. You are also the single Madrigal who men in town have been trying to get for years. You have never given anyone attention in town but now," she trailed off. I let out a breath, "It is easy to talk to him ok." She looked at me confused and I let out a breath, "In town everyone is constantly waiting for me to go back to the old, perfect Isabella. None of them have actually ever been interested in talking to me. Caleb never met the perfect Isabella and he has been upfront with what he thinks about me since the first day I met him. Granted that was when he called me a Wild Woman but," "Wild Woman?" She asked. I laughed as I nodded my head, "Look we both know where the other person stands. I am still going to try and get him to want to leave town and he is going to try and stay throughout the year. After the year is up he is going to leave and I'm never going to see him again." Dolores just touched my shoulder, "Well I mean you never know. People in town kind of like Caleb, I don't think they would mind if he stayed longer." I shook my head, "No. He needs to go and I need to stay." The fact that that was the reality hadn't really sunk in before now.

Dolores looked at me and then I saw her smile to herself, "You like him, don't you?" I looked over at the kids, "No of course I don't." I could hear the smile in her voice, "Oh you so like him. It's alright your secret is safe with me." I rolled my eyes, "Caleb is just a friend." "So he went from outsider to friend." I nodded my head, "Yes he did, but please don't tell Abuela. She already thinks that I am getting too close." Dolores nodded her head, "Of course. But for the record, and I will deny this if you ever tell Mariano, he is handsome." I smiled at her as I looked over at her, "I never denied that." I walked away knowing that I had a lot to think over. I went up to my room and began to grow all the different flowers that I could think about.


(Caleb POV)

I looked over my notebook as I tried to figure out what I was going to tell the General. I should tell him everything. I have been here for 4 months and have 4 more months until they all come so I am supposed to make sure that they are all prepared but, something didn't feel right about that. I looked outside and saw that the sun was just starting to set. I would wait a few more hours for when the fields were clear and then I will head out and meet with the General.

I put my notebook down and went over to the cactus that Isabella had grown for me and I found myself smiling at it. I then let out a long breath. I couldn't believe that I was doing this. I put the notebook down on the bed and took out the box I had stashed under the bed taking out my cloak. My fingers brushed over the embroidered insignia on the back before pulling it on. This is who I was. I couldn't forget about that but, today I was going to protect her.

I made my way out in the shadows of the night. I worked my way through the woods before arriving at the cavern that I had come through when I arrived in Encanto. I saw all the vines that were there and they looked just as strong as the day I cut through them years ago. I had to be careful because if I did anything to the vines then Isabella would know that someone left or came into Encanto. I slipped over and under the different overlapping vines before I began to move down the cavern. I was meeting him a few miles away but, I didn't want to get lost on the way back and take another 4 years to find my way back. I took my knife and I marked the different trees on my path so I would be able to find my way back.

I arrived at the meeting point and looked around to see if they had arrived yet but it appeared that I was all alone. I let out a breath as I waited in the darkness. I suddenly heard a voice coming from the shadows, "Lieutenant." I stood up straighter as I waited for him to come into view, "General." He appeared in front of me, "It is time for your progress report." I nodded my head, "Yes sir. I have been living in the town with them for 4 months now. They have all began to trust me and are more open to answering my questions." He nodded his head, "Excellent work Lieutenant. Now tell me what you have learned about them." I let out a breath. "They have been isolated from the world for 60 years and have had no contact with anyone in recent years when they could have. They seem to be content with their community." The General nodded his head, "If it has been 60 years they must not be updated on what defense technology that we have access to." I nodded my head, "I don't believe so sir."

"Is there anything else about them that we should know about?" He asked looking at me. I kept my gaze straight ahead, "No sir." I lied. I never mentioned anything about the gifts or anything. He nodded his head again before patting my shoulder, "You are doing a good job Lieutenant. We will meet again in 2 months to go over everything." I nodded my head again, "Yes sir." I could feel a lump form in my throat and he seemed to notice, "Is something wrong Lieutenant?" I cleared my throat, "It's nothing. It is just they are not what I expected them to be." He looked me in the eye, "Don't let them fool you. They are dangerous. You know what they have done in the past and now that they have access to the world they will do it again." He gestured to my gloves and I nodded my head, "Of course sir." He nodded his head again, "Don't forget who you are Lieutenant. I will see you in 2 months." I nodded my head again, "See you in 2 months."