Chapter Text
Mirabel knew that she shouldn’t be keeping secrets from her family, but she also knew if they found out, she may break her freshly mended relationship with them. And of course, it wasn’t as though she wanted to keep it a secret, but after fixing her relationship with her family, she just couldn’t risk it again.
Besides, she found Inez Flores to be irresistible, so she would spend a lot of time in her house, and they would exchange letters to avoid the attentive ears of Delores. There was no doubt that Mirabel was happier than she had ever been, but of course, that had to come to a halt.
Honestly, Mirabel was aware that she should learn to be more careful, but, alas, she didn’t think.
The morning started like any other, with Mirabel heating up a pot of coffee, and pouring some in her cup. She heard the loud chatter of her family behind her, as her heart started beating quickly in excitement, at the thought of seeing Inez today.
“Mirabel, did you finish last night’s homework? If so, can I copy yours?” Camilo called across the dining room.
Unlucky for him, Félix had just walked in, “Camilo! Stop using your cousin to cheat!”
Camilo groaned, as Mirabel rolled her eyes. Her and Camilo shared the same class, which was understandable. Camilo and Mirabel were the same age, Camilo only being a few weeks older than her, yet they were very different. Mirabel often wondered how close they would have been had she gotten a gift… would they be as close as Isabela and Delores?
Mirabel sighed. I guess we’ll never know.
***
At school, Mirabel walked towards Inez’s desk, handing her a letter, as she took a seat next to her girlfriend, immediately holding her hand. She felt Inez’s hand stiffen at her touch, causing Mirabel to frown. That’s strange.
What was even more strange was the look sprawled across her face when her eyes gazed through the letter. It looked… confused? Angry? Hurt? A bit of both? Mirabel felt a pit in her stomach- did she say something wrong? Was Inez going to break up with her?
But then, before she could even question the look, she saw… Inez, another Inez, makes her way to the desk. Oh no.
“Thank you for saving my seat, Camilo, I don’t know what I would have done if I was caught out of my seat!” The second Inez said, cheerfully.
Mirabel gasped, loosening the grip on Camilo’s hand as he changed back to himself, sending a hurt glance to both of them. Mirabel felt her heart drop. What is he going to do? Disown me? Tell Abuela?
Her heart was racing, but not in the same way it was earlier when she thought about Inez. This was fear, it was a feeling that she was going to lose everything she got.
***
School went by in a blur, but Mirabel couldn’t focus on her work, instead, her mind kept going back to Camilo. He read that note… he knew. The note briefly talked about how she wasn’t going to come out to her family, how she was scared of being looked down upon once again. It felt embarrassing that Camilo read all that.
After school, she tried her hardest to avoid Camilo, but of course, he came and found her. He walked beside her in silence as Mirabel tried to walk faster.
“You weren’t going to tell us about Inez?” Camilo said. Mirabel was shocked that she didn’t hear any anger in his voice, instead it was a hint of sadness.
“I-uh.”
Camilo sighed, “I’m sorry you didn’t think you could come to us… that you feel that you’d… lose us if you told us.”
Mirabel felt herself getting uncomfortable. “I didn’t want you to find out like that.”
Camilo sighed, “Listen, Mirabel, I get it if you don’t want to come out, but no Madrigal is going to stop loving you because of who you love.”
Mirabel felt tears clogging up her vision, as she watched him walk in the house, followed by a soft, “I’ll be here if you need to talk.”
What was she going to do now? Would things be the same between her and Camilo? She felt lost, not knowing what to do. So she went outside, trying her best to avoid her cousin.