𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 | Isabela x Reader

Love's Ripple

"I'm sorry, I'm being selfish." Mirabel sighs as she wipes the specs she holds in her hands. She didn't even need them to see something brewing between you and her perfect sister.

She hated how easily you reassured her while also knowing you would never lie to her. But she was not feeling one bit reassured. She couldn't place what it was she saw in the air, acknowledging that it was probably because you weren't aware of it yet either.

You smile, getting seated next to her and patting her curls playfully, enjoying the way they bounced to the movement. "It's okay to be selfish every now and then y'know."

"But-" She starts to speak, but you cut her off before she could try and gaslight herself with the way she was feeling. You wanted her to be self-aware of it but she always did it unconsciously.

"No buts. We've had each other's back since the day we met, that won't ever change." She stays silent obediently, letting you finish speaking instead of cutting you off as you had just rudely done to her. "I won't ever let you feel lonely again."

Mirabel's young, she still had so much she could do with her life if no one was ever holding her back. If she wasn't holding herself back.

You didn't want her to ever end up the same way you did, unreliant to those around you and mistrusting. You didn't want her star to ever stop burning, because it scorched with much magnificence and compassion... Even if she had every reason to get burned out from those around her. She was the strongest person you knew.

She lets out a shaky breath, pulling you into a hug. "I can only ever really be a kid around you..." The emotional moments, the fragile representations, the vulnerability in her eyes; she could never show them to anyone else.

She always needed to be strong for her family, because she couldn't show any more weakness, any more fault. She knew they would simply be disappointed, and she couldn't handle much more of that. "You'll always have me. Cry or scream if you need to, just let it all out, Mira. You know I won't ever judge you."

She nods, her smaller frame pushing against you in comfort. She had loved her familia, but she hated feeling so different from everyone else. She hated how everyone would compare her to them.

A few tears slip out of her eyes as the past starts flashing in her thoughts. Moments mostly filled with sadness, but also with you having her back every single time.

She truly wanted to be selfish with you, to ask you to stop talking to Isabela. But that would mean she was letting herself become someone she promised she wouldn't ever become.

She didn't want to control your life just like Abuela did theirs. She wanted to be the best friend that would support you through and through, because that would show just how strong the bond between you would remain even as things start to change.

She pulls away, wiping her eyes roughly before wearing her signature bright smile. With a punch on your shoulder, she emphasizes her words. "You better not replace me, you doofus."

You snort, giving her head a playful noogie while you wrap your arm around her shoulder so she couldn't escape. "No one could ever replace the one and only Mirabel Madrigal!"

She paws at you, trying to get you off of her as she starts to look like her hair was hit by one of Pepa's tornadoes. "I don't mind whatever it is you share with Isabela. You look happier around her, and that's all that matters."

You smile gently, seeing Mirabel once again grow right before your eyes. For the first time since the conversation the two of you had with Isabela, sincerity was shining in her expression. "I just hope you don't get hurt..."

You start grabbing clothes from her closet, taking a can filled with fabrics and yarn. In her drawer, you take a container filled with needles and chalk pencils. "You don't have to worry about me. No one has the power to hurt me anymore."

It was a complete lie. Anyone could hurt you if you let them close enough. But somehow, it hurt you more when you pushed her away.

If you had a choice, you'd have pushed her far enough for neither of you to interact ever again. Because with the way things were right now, you were bound to get hurt.

Mirabel raises her brow at you with doubt clear on her face. "With love comes pain, you know that." She states as she moves to sit next to you on the floor, watching as you sketch your pattern.

"It's not love Mirabel, it's possible friendship." You remind as you tsk her, shaking your index finger in disapproval before continuing the sketch.

Grabbing two-colored corduroy fabrics, you pin the pattern, aligning them with how you wish for them to correspond as a button-down polo.

You start cutting the fabric with Mirabel's shears, making sure to handle them gently and place them according to their parts. "Friendship my ass. You're feeling something for her that's passed that and you know it."

"I know you said that-" she pauses, mouthing the word 'Dolores' before continuing. "is your type, but sometimes we get attracted to people who aren't exactly our type."

You snort once again, shaking your head in disapproval. You place the fabrics right under her sewing machine, sewing it perfectly little by little. "No one can be more wonderful than her."

"She has men lined up for her!" Mirabel argues, rolling her eyes at you. You were quite convinced that maybe she just wanted you to become her official sister by trying to set the two of you up.

And just a second ago she was crying about it. This girl had literal mood swings that confused both of you. "So does Isabela! And she has a boyfriend. Unlike mi cielo."

You grab the polo, stitching in a single pocket on the upper left chest area. You sewed it in a way that the right side and sleeve were black, the left side and sleeve white with a black pocket. You admired your handiwork while Mirabel pestered you.

Grabbing some linen and needles, you start stitching on the lower area, making sure not to forget to add buttons before you begin embroidering.

And while Mirabel continued to rant about you and Isabela actually having chemistry, you unconsciously start stitching flowers made with different colors and sizes, vines lined up at the hem of the polo.

You let out a groan, still amazed at how beautiful they turned out. She was now talking about the sexual tension whenever you argued. "Mirabel, look at what you made me do..." Your fingers brush them, imagining it was Isabela's skin instead.

Heat spreads on your cheeks as you catch yourself and stop those thoughts. You did not see her that way, you refused to. It merely crossed your mind because of what Mirabel was saying, that's all.

But every time you fought it, every time you thought about her having a boyfriend, the familiar feeling in your lungs return. "I think liking her would be the death of me... and maybe I'm already heading there."

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A/N: This took waaaay longer to publish than I thought lmao... Anyway, I hope y'all liked this.

Please vote <3 it motivates me a lot!