MAKING THE BED ★

7: Brat

"YOU THREATENED her with a knife, again?" Her mom eventually found out— Miguel couldn't keep a secret. Carmen raised her voice, "After everything that has happened!"

Isabella sat in silence on the couch, opposite her mother and Johnny, who had gotten a bit too close recently. Sensei didn't say much, but she couldn't tell if he was disappointed or proud. Carmen, however, was the most furious she'd ever been, yet sadness still laced her voice.

The truth: Isabella didn't know why she felt the need to use a knife. She was just so exhausted and she was afraid that Tory wouldn't stop hitting her. Isabella regretted it since the moment she grabbed the piece of cutlery. She just wanted it all to stop. She just wanted to feel safe.

Isabella wasn't a psycho. She didn't want her friends to be afraid of her.

Carmen scoffed, "Do you have anything to say for yourself?" She looked at her daughter, then at Johnny for help.

The man took a breath, "Look, kid. We just wanna know why you felt the need to get a knife involved."

"Because I had to defend myself. What else was I supposed to do?" Isabella questioned sarcastically, "Give up and let her kick the shit out of me?"

Carmen sighed, "You could've hurt her, Isabella."

"But, I didn't." The girl shot back.

"But would if you did?" Her mom retorted, "You need to think before you act, Isabella."

She argued, "I did think. I was thinking that if I didn't stop her, I'd end up in the hospital... like, Miguel—"

"Do not get your brother involved." Carmen said sternly.

"He got me involved!" Isabella exclaimed, "He forced me to go to the LaRusso's house. I wanted to go home." She scoffed, "Who's side are you even on?"

Johnny replied, "Your side, kid."

"Then defend me for a change." Isabella stood up angrily, before storming towards the front door, ignoring the calls from her mother.

The door slammed behind her, and Isabella was calmed by the breeze of the evening. She didn't understand why nobody understood her; she only used the knife as a precaution. She wanted to scare Tory, not hurt her. Isabella wasn't capable of that.

"Belle, wait." The bodiless voice of Sensei travelled behind her, as she heard her front door open and then shut again. Footsteps followed behind her, as she attempted to leave the block of apartments. Johnny insisted, "Get in my car."

She replied, "Just leave me alone—"

"Stop acting like a brat. Get in the car." Sensei repeated, causing Isabella to stop storming away. The girl turned around, staring at Johnny as he sat inside his car and waited for the girl to join him.

Reluctantly, Isabella sat in the passenger seat, slamming the door behind her on purpose. She sighed, "What are you doing?"

"You're burning off that steam." Johnny retorted, as he reversed his car out of the space and started driving down the street.

After a silent car journey, Johnny and Isabella had arrived at a familiar abandoned metal works factory. Within the darkness of the building, there was a pile of karate equipment that Johnny had left here from his last visit. The man picked up karate pads and held them up in front of his body.

"Hit me," Sensei nodded; Isabella took a breath, before throwing a punch at one of the pads that was gloved to Sensei's hand. The man scoffed sarcastically, "Is that all you've got?"