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     "MAMÁ, DON'T YOU THINK that you're going a little overboard with this? it's just a weekly gathering amongst the rest of the villagers", felicia stated.

"felicia, it's not just a gathering! you're going out with your friends, and practically the entire village is going to be there. you need to look presentable!"

     "then why won't you come with?", felicia whined.

     "because I have to take care of phoebe and penelope. and plus, you're a teenager. what teenager wants their mother hanging around them and their friends?"

     "me! I do!", felicia proclaimed, earning a chuckle from daniela.

     "alright, enough of your stalling. mirabel's still waiting for you", her mother reminded, ushering for her eldest to head downstairs, where their coffee shop resided.

     since there was only four of them, daniela had decided to place the café right below their personal living space. not only did it make it easier to access, but daniela could also check up on the twins from time to time.

     "alright...thank you mamá...", felicia muttered, her hand sliding down the railing, as that had promptly caught mirabel's attention.

"felicia! you look wonderful! come on, we've got to hurry!! I'm sure valentina and ana's already there", mirabel exclaimed with a bright smile.

"yeah...thanks! you look great too, mirabel. it's nice to see a change of colors on you", felicia softly replied.

though before felicia could say any more, the sixteen year-old was hauled by mirabel, towards the center of town, where tables of food and music was already present.

various townspeople had gathered into groups, loudly conversing and boisterously laughing at each other's jokes.

felicia's steps dragged behind mirabel's, though it was a futile attempt to slow them down, since the madrigal held a firm grip around felicia's wrist.

"FELICIA! MIRABEL!! OVER HERE!!", ana shouted with both her hands cupping her mouth.

mirabel aggressively waved, as felicia displayed a small smile, which instantly dropped as she noticed a few others standing behind her friends.

"hey felicia! how're you? I haven't seen you ever since dolores and mariano's engagement celebration", isabela greeted.

not only were all of the madrigal grandchildren present, but valentina's older brother and his friends had also gathered around.

felicia had briefly acknowledged everyone by glancing at everyone before nodding in agreement to isabela's statement.

     she then felt a tug on the hem of her skirt, allowing her to break eye contact from the older people and shift her attention onto someone much younger.

"hello felicia! I'm antonio madrigal, penelope and phoebe's friend. not to be nosy, but did they come with you today?", the five year-old politely asked.

     felicia kneeled down, as she definitely felt less intimidated talking to a child.

     "unfortunately they're at home with our mother. perhaps I can bring them next time?", felicia offered, giving antonio a more comfortable smile, as the youngest madrigal had replicated the expression.

     camilo, who was observing the entire interaction, had then flinched at the contact of his oldest sister placing her hand upon his shoulder.

"why don't you go talk to her instead of just staring?", dolores teased, causing camilo to raise a brow.

     "huh? what're you talking about? I'm just making sure our little hermano doesn't get swindled away by some stranger", the fifteen year-old defended.

     "mhm, sure~ don't think that I didn't notice you suspiciously sneaking off during my engagement party", the twenty-one year-old whispered, intimidatingly staring straight into camilo's soul.

     "I didn't—I was just—"

     "save it!", dolores shushed, "I could hear you stutter through your introduction from a mile away", she exposed.

     camilo cringed at the fact that his sister had heard his faulty greeting. to a teenage boy, there was nothing more embarrassing than his older sister finding out that he was tripped up by a girl's beauty.

"okay, and? why're you here anyways? aren't you supposed to be with your hunk of a fiancé or something?", camilo mocked.

this is what the madrigal boy pulled on occasions that he did not want the spotlight to be on him — which rarely happened.

dolores dreamily sighed, placing her hand against her own cheek in an endearing manner.

"he's staying home to take care of his mother. attentive, isn't he?", she smiled, earning a playful gag from her brother.

"yeah, whatever. well, I'm going to go—"

"oh you're not going anywhere, camilo. this is for all the times that you've hid my polleras right before my dates with mariano", his sister threatened.

"what do you mea—"

"felicia!! do you mind coming over here for a moment?", dolores softly yelled, successfully catching the sixteen year-old's attention, as she excused herself from her group of friends and walked over with antonio.

     "dolores, what're you doing?!", camilo harshly whispered, attempting to skid off, only to be kept in place by dolores clenching onto the collar of his ruana.

"nice to meet you, felicia. I'm dolores, camilo and antonio's older sister. I've heard a lot about you", the twenty-one year-old introduced, wickedly shooting camilo a side glance.

"ah, yes. congratulations on your recent engagement, dolores. may I help you with something?", felicia sweetly asked.

     "actually, yes! I hope I'm not being too straightforward, but I was wondering if you knew how to dance. I know you're new to the village and all, but I didn't see you dancing at my party", dolores innocently pouted, as camilo internally facepalmed.

     "o-oh...well, I...I'm not really a good dancer, so I'd rather not embarrass myself in front of others", felicia shyly admitted.

     "aw, well you know, our village is pretty big on dancing. if you'd like, cami—"

     "I CAN TEACH YOU!!", antonio interrupted, causing camilo to smoothly turn away so that he could restrict his chuckles.

     dolores's face was priceless, though she had quickly recomposed herself.

     "toñito, I was hoping that you could dance with me today! since you know, mariano's not here", dolores explained.

     "awww, but I wanted to dance with felicia...", the five year-old sulked.

     in any given time, dolores would've caved in, but not today — not this moment.

     the oldest of the four had swiftly swooped antonio up and placed a big kiss against his forehead.

     "felicia, my brother camilo's an amazing dancer! he'll teach you. isn't that right, camilo?"

now felicia's eyes had flickered onto the fifteen year-old madrigal, who seemed to wish to protest against his older sister's idea, yet still decided to agree for some reason.

"the best", he answered, his tone seeming a little strained.

dolores simply let out a victory "hm", as she skipped off with antonio in her arms still.

"so...umm..."

felicia prayed that mirabel, valentina, or even ana would come be her savior, for there was nothing more awkward than the silence between her and the shapeshifter.

staring down at the colorful tiles and her lavender shoes that her mother had instructed her to specifically wear, she saw a hand abruptly stick out in front of her.

     "well? I told my sister that I'd teach you how to dance. wouldn't want her to snitch on me to abuela for being a liar, now would you?", camilo grinned, hiding his internal screams with his pearly white teeth.

     "then...I'll be in your care", felicia responded, begrudgingly accepting the boy's hand, as camilo had forcefully tugged the girl forwards.

     'is mirabel not seeing this? where is mirabel? what is she doing?? is she really not going to come save me?', felicia cried, outwardly displaying a neutral expression.

     'dios mío! I need to wipe my sweaty hands', camilo groaned, as he started guiding felicia towards the center of the dancing area.

the two teenagers refused to make eye contact with each other, until a random adult had accidentally bumped against felicia's back, causing her to stumble into camilo's arms.

"ah, sorry!", the stranger apologized, before getting back to dancing with his partner.

camilo swore that dolores could hear his heartbeat quicken, because for just a moment, he could waft the thin scent of sweet coffee beans and feel the warmth emitting from the girl's fragile body.

"s-sorry! perhaps I'm really not suited for this. I'll just go—"

"woah, hold on, princesa! how can you just give up when you haven't even tried yet? come, take a deep breath in and out first", camilo commanded.

     felicia skeptically complied, as her mind was too anxious to notice the similar wordings.

     "now close your eyes", camilo demanded.

     the sixteen year-old was filled with doubt, but perhaps seeing absolute darkness was better than seeing others or looking at camilo in the eyes. hence, she obliged.

     camilo had then loosely held both of felicia's hands, instructing her to just follow his lead.

     it wasn't that felicia was completely clueless when it came to the salsa, but she just preferred not to put herself out there, like always.

     as the trumpets blared, felicia started to hone in on the music rather than the chattering around her.

     camilo ensured that the oldest diaz did not spin out of control or trip over her own feet. after all, all of his attention was on her.

as the song had come to an end, felicia's eyes leisurely fluttered open — a visible smile plastered across her face.

"well? how was it?", camilo asked.

"good", she simply replied, "thank you, camilo".

the curly-haired boy shrugged.

"well, how about another dance then?", he suggested.

felicia seemed to hesitate for a moment, back to her usual overthinking. however, when she noticed camilo's persuading smile, she was already drawn in.

"if you don't mind..."

"not at all, princesa; not at all!", he chuckled.

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