MAKING THE BED ★

16: Define You

ISABELLA SPRINTED to the medical room when she heard her brother had gotten hurt; she had recognised his scream from miles away, plus her mother had grabbed her from the changing rooms on the way to the medical room.

Isabella asked impatiently, "Is it bad?"

"Good news," The nurse said, examining Miguel's back, "Looks like it's just a pulled muscle. It may ache, but you'll be fine."

Carmen took a breath of relief, "Oh, thank God."

"So, does that mean I can keep fighting?" Miguel asked curiously.

"They've given you thirty minutes to recover." The nurse exclaimed, "So, let the pain guide you. If it's telling you to sit this one out, I'd listen." She paused, "I'll get you an ice pack."

Johnny asked curiously, "How does it feel now?"

"Not bad, just a little sore." Miguel explained, "Don't worry, if something feels off, I won't fight."

Carmen nodded, before looking at Johnny, "Make sure he's okay, we'll head back." She turned to look at Isabella, "Are you staying with Miggy?"

"Yeah, I'll stay." Isabella nodded. She looked at her brother kindly, "I'm sorry I wasn't there. I just don't—"

"I understand," Miguel smiled, "Well, I don't understand, but I understand."

Johnny said, "Alright, we've got half an hour. Show your back who's boss."

Miguel's smile faded, "Sensei, I don't know if I can do this."

"Yes, you can." Johnny nodded, "You can do whatever you want if you want it bad enough. You've got the heart of a champion. It's time to show the world what you're made of. We're not gonna get another shot at this. It's now or never." He paused, "If we lose, I'm not your Sensei anymore. You want that? Show me you're not a little kid anymore. That you're ready to be a man."

"Yes." Miguel replied flatly, "Sensei."

"Good," Johnny smiled, "Rub this on your back. I'll see you out there later." He closed the door behind him, leaving the twins in silence.

"That was... harsh." Isabella mocked him, trying to make her brother laugh, "Be a man, Miguel. Blah blah blah." She looked at him, "You didn't believe him, did you?"

Miguel shrugged, sitting down on the medical bench, "I don't know. Kind of." He explained, "He's right, I mean, my whole life has been preparing for this moment. I need to win so we can still do karate."

"Look, if the worst happens, we can always just join Cobra Kai." Isabella reassured, though her brother gave her a look. She added quickly, "Kidding."

She grabbed the muscle cream from Miguel, before lifting his gi and rubbing it into his back. Miguel asked hesitantly, "Do you ever think about dad?"

Isabella paused, before carrying on applying the gel to his back, "Uh, yeah, sometimes. Why?"

"Just a question." Miguel shrugged.

"No, it's not." Isabella corrected, "Tell me what you're thinking, Miggy."

"I don't know," Miguel exclaimed; but he did know, Isabella knew he just didn't want to talk about it. He added, "I just wanna find out who I am."

"And you can't do that without finding our real dad?" Isabella questioned curiously, before pausing, "You know who you are?"

Miguel turned around to look at her, curious. He asked, "Who?"

"Firstly, you're the biggest asshole ever." Isabella chuckled, then continued, "Secondly, you're my twin brother— my built in best friend, no matter how many times you snitch on me to Ma. You're a son, a friend, a student, a stranger, a champion. You're not defined by one thing, you're defined by many." She paused, "You don't need a dad to realise that you're a good person."

Miguel smiled slightly, before squinting his eyes at her and pulling his gi back over his back, "You're being nice to me. Why?"

"Because... I'm the best sister." Isabella joked, before taking a breath and sitting down next to Miguel, "And, because I'm accidentally mean to you when I get pissed off."

Miguel agreed, "You were pretty pissed off today."

"I'm sorry," Isabella apologised, "I was just so fixated on winning. Like, I couldn't think of anything else. I haven't slept since mom gave me those sleeping pills the other day."

"I know," Miguel nodded, causing the girl to frown in confusion. He explained, "You woke me up in the middle of the night when you were practicing karate at 4am."

"Sorry," Isabella said, "My brain can only focus on one thing at a time. And, when it finally does, I get so absorbed that it takes over my life. Then I get pissed off."

"Like last years school project?" Miguel asked curiously, "When the only thing you ever spoke about was that homework project. And when your project didn't get a prize, you ripped it up, and crashed in your bed for the weekend."

"Exactly," Isabella smirked slightly, "Both times I was off my medication."

Miguel urged, "So, you're gonna start taking them again?"

"Yeah," The girl nodded slowly, "Even if it makes me tired, it will help in some ways, I guess."

Miguel smiled, before noticing his sister fiddling with the ring on her finger. He reassured, "Belle, you don't have to sit in here if it's killing you. You can take a walk, I'll still be here."

"Really?" Isabella stood up quickly, "Thank God. This fucking uniform has been itching me since I put it on." They both laughed. She added, "Stay here, Migs, I'll be right back."

***

She wasn't right back. In fact, Isabella had fallen asleep on the bench in the changing room. On the positive side: she needed this, she hadn't slept in days. Negatively: she probably missed the boys tournament.

Isabella flinched awake at the sound of the door suddenly opening, as she looked confusedly around at her surroundings. It took a moment to realise where she was, before the panic set in that she missed everything. Was Miggy okay? Did he fight? Did he—

Tory Nichols walked into the changing room, holding a massive trophy, which gave Isabella all the answers that she needed. Tory looked at the girl, and Isabella was expecting a sarcastic comment or remark, but nothing. The girl just minded her business, which confused Isabella even more. Was she dreaming?

Isabella hesitated, before sitting up slowly, "Cobra Kai won?"

"Yeah, your brother didn't show." Tory replied, as she grabbed her bag from the wooden pegs. She paused, avoiding eye contact, "I didn't mean to elbow you in the face, honestly."

"You don't have to lie," Isabella deadpanned, "You got what you wanted. You won. We won't ever see each other again because Eagle Fang will be shut down."

"That was a stupid deal," Tory replied, and for the first time ever she wasn't being horrible to Isabella. She added, "I'm sorry. You're actually—"

"Stop trying to make yourself feel better," Isabella rolled her eyes, as she grabbed her own bag and shouldered it, before walking out of the changing rooms to find her family.

a/n:
miguel and belle scenes make me sob.

ALSO TORY AND BELLE CONTENT THAT DOESNT INVOLVE THEM FIGHTING?? (they're in love)