The girl gave you a nervous smile, tilting her head to the side, she gave you a shrug.  "It's probably the magic in you."

What?

You stared, unblinking. There was a pause, a large and heavy one. "I- I." You struggled –  "I don't have magic."

"Oh?" She hummed, leaning forward. "Of course you do!"

You shake your head, a mixture of confusion and anxiety fills you, a sudden whirlwind of thoughts  spinning in your mind. "N-no, I don't." You said, more confident in your answer. "If I had any sort of magic in me, why haven't I noticed anything?" You asked, then scoffed. "Besides, only The Madrigals have magic." -- and last time you checked, you weren't related.

"Well." The unnamed girl began, crossing her arms, her face scrunched up. "Your magic isn't like theirs." She lifted her hand, and made a circular motion, gesturing to all of you. "It's different."

"You say that – but what magic do you think I  have?" You were getting tired of this. Magic. She keeps saying. What part of you was magical? Everything about you was average, at best.

She groaned, leaning her head back. "I'm not good at explaining!" She muttered with a whine, looking back at you with  puffed up cheeks. "Yours isn't like a gift kind, it's uh, more like a blessing, yeah, a blessing. It's been with you since you were born, and pretty sure it's. . .  unstable."

You let out a deep breath. "So, believing that I do have some sort of magic, it's what, just like there? I don't get any cool powers – none at all?" To have magic but not get a gift; would be a disappointment, and that was already putting it lightly. "Couldn't I have gotten like flight? Moving things with my mind?"

The  stranger raised a brow, but said nothing, watching you with curiosity.

"Still." You began. "This isn't exactly answering why I could see you but not Antonio – he's probably got way more magic than I do." If I actually do have some.

"Like I said, it's different." She muttered. "The first thing you gotta know about magic is that it's weird. It's not straightforward, it's complicated. It doesn't do what you want, or what you expect, but in the end, it does what's best for everyone."

You looked at her. She doesn't seem like much, hell, you don't even know what exactly she is but she seems to know about the magic, plus she's lit up like a lantern, with that familiar warm and bright glow.  "Do you know alot about magic - about the miracle?"

"Well." Her eyes looked off to the side, giving you a half shrug. "I guess." She muttered, voice laced with uncertainty.

"Do you know how I can get home?"

"Oh." She exclaimed in surprise. "First you turn around, head straight for a few minutes then turn–"

"No." You interrupted, trying not to lose your patience. "Not directions. I know this is gonna seem impossible - but I'm from another world, it's kinda like this one, well, it's almost exactly like this one, but there's differences; names, attitudes, events, shifts. I know it sounds crazy but please can you help me?"

She stared at you for a moment, then sighed. "I wish I could, but. . .  I don't know how."

You're seemingly one clue, that small  sliver of hope you had - scattered right in front of your eyes. You glanced down at the ground, just staring motionless, everything growing quiet. ". . . Can you just tell me something, anything. How did I get here?"

"That's only something you can answer." She said, "Did you go through any strange doors?  Through any gaps?"

"Gaps?"

She nodded. "There's. . .  certain gaps in The Encanto that lead to other places, I'm not sure where, or if it even goes through other worlds but it's magic, so you know."

"No, I didn't. . .  I just woke up–" You stopped. Did I? You thought, trying to rack your brain for any memories before you landed here, it was all murky, faded. "I, I don't remember anymore."

"I really wish I could help you, but I don't think I'm supposed to interfere . . with whatever's happening."

"Do–" The words were hard to say. "Do you think I'll ever get back home?"

She smiled, and walked towards you, reaching out to a hand, she placed it on your shoulder, a strange feeling coursed through you, a small jolt. You looked down at her, now only realizing she was younger than what you had originally thought. "I think whatever's meant to happen, will happen. In the end I think it'll be your choice."

Before you could ask her what she meant, - she disappeared, and you were left alone, with more questions that you previously had, nothing answered.

"Magic."  You scoffed.

____

"You can't just stay locked in your room forever." Your mother said, her voice slightly muffled by the door, but not enough for your liking. "Dios mio! You haven't left the house in days. You need some sunlight."

"I can and I will!" You exclaimed.

"Too bad." She said, "Get dressed - There's an engagement party going on, and surprise - you're going, all of us are. The whole town is."

You threw the cover off of you, almost jumping to your feet as you raced to the door, swinging it wide open, startling your mother. "Finally–"

"Engagement party for who?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Mariano and Dolores - I know, I'm surprised it's taken them this long too. I guess I lost that bet I had with Senora Evita."

You smiled, wondering what kind of proposal was done. Knowing Mariano, it was probably a big romantic gesture, with lots of singing and . . . poetry.

"What are you standing around for?" Your mother asked, getting impatient. "Get ready." She sighed. ". . . You don't have to stay long, just say congratulations and you can leave if you want to."

You nodded, with a slight smile, and gently closed the door.

She was right about the whole town being here, then again, each Madrigal celebration always seemed to end up involving the whole village.

You made your way through the crowd of people, almost zigzagging. You stopped, seeing the man and woman of the hour - though your plan to say a quick congratulations was halted as they were currently swarmed with people.

You glanced off towards the kitchen, quickly deciding to eat while you waited for the cost to clear. Walking into the kitchen - Julieta came into view, utensils clanging, her eyes lit up as she saw you, she called out your name in relief. "I'm so sorry dear, I'd ask someone else but they're all busy, Can you do me a favor?"

"Oh, uh, sure."

"Can you get Carlos?" Julieta asked. "He's been stuck in his room for a while now, and we could all use his  help down here."

Ugh, Carlos. Always him. You nodded, pushing up a smile. "I'll get him."

"Thank you, dear." She flashed you a warm smile, before going back to cooking. You wanted to help her, but you weren't exactly good in the kitchen, you'll probably mess something up if you tried.

You took another glance around the room, eyeing the freshly made pan de yucas, before walking out, the courtyard less crowded, most of the party seemed to be outside.

You climbed the stairs, hand firmly around the handle. Upon reaching the second floor - you took a swift turn and made your way towards his room.

You knocked. "Carlos." – two more knocks. You placed your hand against the door, it opened slightly. You looked around, everyone too preoccupied with themselves to notice you, glancing back towards the door, you pushed it open before quickly stepping inside, closing it behind you, unsure of what came over you to do such a thing - you weren't exactly so snoopy.

You blinked, trying to adjust to the dimly lit room, taking a step forward you hear something crunch, lifting your feet - you see broken shards; your reflection staring at you.

As your eyes finally adjust to the darkness, now aware of all full-length mirrors, shattered, frames thrown across the ground.  All of a sudden - you're pinned against the wall.

Carlos stared, his expression twisted, he grinned. "Don't you know it's rude to invade someone's personal space?" He repeated to you.

You felt your heartbeat quicken, his arms on each side of you, trapping you in place. Whatever you were about to say at that moment faded away the moment you saw his hands covered with blood. "Jesus! What did you do?"

Carlos laughed, as if amused by your worrying. He pulled away, but still stayed close to you - he brought his hand up to his face, blood dripping down his arm, cuts;  deep and jagged,  too many to count.

"I punched some mirrors." He stated as if it was no big deal. Both of his hands were covered in cuts, bruised and bloodied knuckles.

"Go down and eat something!" You shouted, surprising yourself with the urgency in your voice. When did you start caring about him? You gulped, uneasy at the sight. I'm just worried about him because he looks like Camilo, that's all.

He rolled his eyes. "No."

"What do you mean 'no' – jesus, Carlos, look at yourself! I think you might have broken a metacarpal or whatever it's freaking called!"

"Do you want to ruin Dolores' day?" Carlos asked. "If I go out there, bloodied, you think my family won't ask questions?  My sister doesn't deserve to worry about my bullshit, especially today."

You looked away, eyes drifting towards the ground. "I - I'll get you something." You sighed, and didn't wait for his reaction before walking away, opening the door - stepping out, you pointed a finger at him. "--and don't you do anything stupid while I'm gone!"

You shut the door.

You kicked the door open, hands full. One with a plate of food, the other hazardously gripping onto a broom and dustpan. You walked in, and closed the door with your feet.

Carlos glanced at you, as he laid down on his bed, hands placed on top of his stomach, definitely leaving a stain on his shirt.

You leaned the broom and dustpan against the wall, and placed the plate on a nearby nightstand - swiping one pan de yuca and promptly shoving it into his mouth. Payback. You thought, though unlike you he didn't seem to mind, at all. He sat up and munched on the snack, without a care in the world - his injuries beginning to disappear - finishing it off, he smiled.

You groaned, rolling your eyes, before you picked up the broom and began sweeping away at the shards and debris on the floor. 

"What are you doing?"

"Cleaning your mess, now shut it and be grateful." You muttered." – and don't go around punching any more mirrors because." You counted the broken mirrors. "You already have thirty five years of bad luck from these alone."

He hummed, tilting his head slightly.  "You're here in my room - giving me food. I don't think that's bad luck at all."

"You're impossible." You sighed.

"But you love it."

You lifted the broom, pointing it in his direction. "Don't make me slap you with this. You might mistake me for someone that's above that, but I promise you I am not."

Carlos chuckled softly, watching you with an unreadable expression.

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Thank you for reading! Hope you guys liked this chapter! >3 ♡

Ah, being pinned against the wall. If that's not love, I don't know what is.

Carlos, bloodied; *exists*

Most of us, probably:

-- and i will be drawing the scene when we hit 10k tee-hee hahaa--