Chapter 9:

(Camilo POV)

- 7 months later -

I sat in the fields with Olivia in our own little limbo. It was my favorite spot to take her and her favorite spot to be. It was the one place where I could look like me and no one would see us and Olivia loved being outdoors. Being cooped up inside all the time was never her strong suit. She looked in my direction, "Camilo what do I look like?" I was surprised by the question, but I guess I shouldn't have been. She always wanted me to describe the world to her it was only fitting that she would want to know what she looked like in it. I already knew what she looked like and if I only had to think about it I could transform into her with ease by how I had memorized all her features, but verbally describing them. "You-uh.. your eyes are so... your hair its... I don't know if I can tell you," I admitted honestly. She looked a bit deflated. That was when I had an idea, "Wait." I transformed into her. It wasn't that hard to do and I took her hand, "I shapeshifted. Right now I look exactly like you. If you want me to explain any feature more let me know." She nodded her head as her hand meet mine. She made her way up my, her I don't really know at this point, arm.

As she made her way to my face she asked me again, "What do I look like?" I was curious by the statement, "What do you mean? I thought..." She shook her head, "What do I look like to you?" I transformed back into myself and looked at her, "I don't think I can Liv." "Why?" She asked and for the life of me, I couldn't think of the reason. I took a breath, "Your eyes are really big and wide. They are a deep emerald green." I spoke quietly. "What else?" "Your hair always seems to fall in big thick black curls." She nodded her head again, "Your smile has a certain twinge to it almost like something is preventing you from genuinely smiling."

My eyes fell to her lips. We were both leaning in closer as her eyes closed, "What else?" My eyes were closed to now as I could feel her breath on my lips, "Liv." I let out. She whispered, "It is ok. I want you to." I didn't realize how much I was waiting for her to say that as I leaned in closer and kissed her. Her hands stayed on my cheeks as she deepened the kiss. I couldn't imagine this being any better. She pulled back and smiled at me. It felt genuine and heartfelt, "Thank you." I cocked my head to the side not sure why she responded with that. She laughed, "I don't really know what I am supposed to say in this situation. I've never done anything like this before." I smiled, "Neither have I." She smiled at me, "So what do we do now?" I smiled, "Would you like to be my girlfriend?" She smiled, "Only if you'll be my boyfriend."

I smiled as we leaned back into the trunk of the tree. "Liv, can I bring you some of my Tía's food?" She shook her head, "It won't work. It didn't work when I was little and it won't work now." I sighed. I hadn't told her, but I had a theory that I wouldn't dare say out loud until I spoke with Tía. "Sorry, I just wish you could see the world around you." She smiled, "Well you are the only one who takes me out into the world around me just keep up with describing it and I won't know the difference."

- 1 month later -

I had brought her by the river today. The butcher in town went hunting yesterday and I knew that no one was going to be by here today. She was surprised by the new surrounding but Olivia always loved it. I helped her to sit down, "I missed you." She said quietly. I brought her hand to my cheek and nodded, "Yeah I missed you too." She then looked in my direction, "Do you ever think that you could visit my house." I was shocked that she would bring that up. It was not like the thought had never crossed my mind before. I was quiet as she continued, "My Papa is gone all day and I just am home alone and I..." her voice teetered off, "Never mind I don't know what I was thinking." I smiled at her, "I don't know if I would be able to sneak away more often then I already do." She nodded her head but a frown had come on her face. I knew I had to do something to fix this, "But I'll see what I can do." I said and she smiled as I kissed her forehead.

- 2 weeks later -

I knocked on her window three times before climbing in and making my way inside. Olivia was sitting like a statue on her bed. I always found myself surprised when I entered her house. She used to live in a house in town but now she lives in what can only be described as a shack. Her father's bed was on the opposing wall and there was a small kitchen area with a table and two chairs and a small bathroom tucked away in the corner. The more I examined it the more I realized how the church was in fact a major improvement from being stuck inside here all day. I looked over at her, "So I brought a book." She started nodding her head, "Please read it."

- 2 weeks later -

We leaned against the tree as I gave her another good from the bakery in town. I respected her wish about not eating Tía's food, but I still had to figure out how to confirm or disprove my theory. She sighed, "What is on your mind?" I shook my head, "Nothing, I am just glad that we got to do this." She smiled at me, "You saw me 2 weeks ago." I smiled, "Yeah but at least today we get to leave the confines of your house." She laughed, "I don't really know the difference." I smirked, "Yeah, you do." She nodded her head, "Yeah I do. It is starting to become a problem. You are spoiling me too much." I kissed her cheek, "Good. I like that you can tell the difference." She smiled as her head rested on my shoulder.

- 3 weeks later -

I knocked on the window three times and climbed inside where Olivia was waiting for me. I sat down next to her and she made her way over. She brought her hand to mine and started making her way up to my arm. She brought her hand to my cheek and planted a kiss on my lips. "I've missed you," she whispered. I nodded my head, "I know I haven't been able to get away. Everyone wants me to be their babysitter, or to help build there roofs or most recently to stand-in as them for a break-up" "How long can you stay?" She asked. "An hour maybe two," I said quietly. She nodded her head and leaned in to kiss me again. Not a lot of words were shared between us that day but I knew her a lot better than I ever though I could.

- 1 week later -

I saw Liv in the church and I couldn't help but smile. I knew that I was going to have to tell her about next month but at least I could still visit her house every now and then. She smiled as she sat down next to me but I could tell from the look on her face that there was something that she had to tell me. "Hey Liv." She smiled, "Hi Camilo." "You ready to go?" I asked she shook her head, "Do you think that we could talk here first?" "Of course," she let out a long sigh, "I don't think you can come to my house anymore." I frowned, "Why?" She sighed, "Papa saw you near the house the other day. He asked if anyone came by but he is a bit suspicious." I sighed nodding my head, "Then I guess we aren't going to see each other in a while."

She frowned, "Why?" "Next month is Antonio's birthday. His 5th birthday." As far removed from town Olivia was she understood what that meant. "Well you are going to have to tell me all about it." I nodded my head as she rested her head on my shoulder. I rested my head on top of hers. "What kind of gift do you think he is going to get?" She asked. I sighed, "I hope it is a good one. Something like Isabella's or Tía Julieta's or even Tío Bruno's." She sighed, "Why don't you want him to get a gift like yours?" I looked over at her, "You know why." She nodded her head, "Yeah I do. Still you must have some theories about what power he is going to get." "I usually do," I said jokingly. Neither of us left the church that day.


Author's Note:

I know that this chapter might seem a bit rushed but, in all honesty I've been having trouble coming up with more stuff to happen before the events of Encanto. This chapter was a way to bring it up to date a little bit faster. I also know that in the last couple of chapters Camilo hasn't had much interaction with anyone besides Olivia, that is mainly due to the fact that for Camilo every other day is pretty much exactly the same as demonstrated by an earlier chapter. I hope you enjoy this and I can't wait for you to see what is in store in the future for these two.