Worth The Shot

Sacrifice Play

"But you did." Camilo was slouched on the door frame of the kitchen. With that awful smirk. "Didn't you?"

"Oh!" Mirabel exclaimed. "I forgot to introduce you, (y/n)!"

"We haven't met yet." Camilo reached out his hand, amusement in his eyes. Your inside joke. "Camilo."

"(Y/n)." You played along, taking his hand. His steady fingers wrapped around yours. A current of sugared adrenaline rushed through your hand when your skin touched. It was stupid, but you didn't want him to let go.

"Mirabel!" Alma impatiently called from the dining room. You swiftly slid your fingers out of Camilo's grip and followed Mirabel back out.

You gingerly stepped around Alma, very conscious of the water sloshing inside the pitcher.

And then you tripped.

Drenching the Madrigal Abuela.

She gave a startled, outraged gasp. Your heartbeat pounded in your ears like a metronome, slowing down time. She snapped her head around to condemn whoever had dared to spill water on her.

I'm screwed.

A flash of yellow streaked in front of you, ripping the empty pitcher from your hands. 

Camilo. What is he doing?

He roughly shouldered you out of the way. And morphed into an exact copy of you. 

"You!" The abuela seethed, fixing an incensed glare on your double. Her anger faded into confusion when her eyes settled on you. She glanced back at your shapeshifter twin, unsure. "Camilo?" 

Camilo melted back into a teenage boy, clenching his jaw and apprehensively watching his abeula. He'd framed himself. 

"Terrible boy!" She cried. "Why did you try to ruin our opinions of Maribel's poor guest?" 

"I don't like her," he lied. Livid, the abuela rose from her seat like a sea serpent, fury rolling off of her like saltwater. Camilo's hands started shaking, but he crossed his arms to keep them still. He tilted his chin up with a belligerent expression. 

He didn't look scared at all. He was such a good actor. 

The Abuela dug her fingernails into Camilo's arm. He flinched. Barely. She marched him up the stairs to his room and slammed the door. 

An uneasy silence coated the room, and you and Maribel shuffled back into your seats. The Abuela returned, smiling, and apologized for Camilo's 'unruly' behavior. Maribel's mother attempted to alleviate the uncomfortable hush by asking the guests questions and continuing the small talk. 

After dinner, you and Mirabel escaped to the nursery. The casita had already set up a second bed for you. 

"This is where I sleep," she apologized. "Since... you know." Of course. No gift, no room. Mirabel would be confined to sleep in the nursery, right next to Camilo's room. 

You flopped onto your bed. "Mirabel..." you tentatively started, "what's going to happen to Camilo?" 

Mirabel groaned. "I can't believe he did that! It's so unlike him!"

You shook your head. "N-no. He took my place." Mirabel looked confused. "I spilled the water," You explained. 

"Oh," Mirabel's tone softened. "Wow." She plunked next to you on the bed and hesitated. "I mean, I don't know... he'll probably just be grounded for a few days." You got the distinct feeling that she was hiding something, but you didn't press.

Then you heard it. The distinct smack of skin against skin. You tensed and started to stand. Mirabel clasped her hands together and stared at the floor.

 "Don't. You'll just make it worse." 

Alma was hitting Camilo.