DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from Elena of Avalor! They belong to their respective creators. I only own the idea for this story.
Enjoy!
"More Important Than a Meeting"
Chapter 2
Elena's eyes opened to sun streaming into her window. Feeling someone stir beside her, the night's events came floating back. Sitting up, Elena stretched. Pushing the covers away, she stood. Turning back, she made sure Isabel was warm enough. Bending down, she kissed her sister's forehead.
"I love you, Isa," straightening up, she went to get ready.
Entering the dining room, Elena was surprised to find Naomi sitting at the table.
"Beunas Diaz. What are you doing here?" she sat across from her.
"I wanted to have breakfast with you. Besides, I don't have to be in school until ten," Naomi grinned. "Where's Isabel?"
"She's still sleeping," Elena answered. She and Naomi talked amongst themselves until Elena's grandparents, as well as Esteban entered the room. Elena gave her grandparents a hug and kiss before sitting back down.
"Where's Isabel?" Francisco inquired.
"I'll go see if she's awake," Elena stood. She was halfway to the hallway when her forementioned sister joined her. "Hey, I was just coming to see if you were awake yet."
Isabel nodded. Wrapping her arms around Elena's waist, she buried her face in her stomach.
"I love you too," Elena assured her. Hugging back, she ran a hand through her sister's hair. Frowning when Isabel didn't let go, she grew concerned. "Isa? Que pasa?"
"My stomach hurts," the nine-year-old whimpered.
"Let's see," Elena gently pried her sister's arms from around her waist. Kneeling down, she checked her sister for a fever. "You're not warm. Maybe eating breakfast will help."
Isabel shook her head.
"Come on, you can sit next to me," with that, Elena lead the way back to the dining room. Taking her previous seat, she smiled when Isabel made herself comfortable on her lap. Wrapping her arms around her, she kissed the top of her head.
"She really missed you," their grandmother commented.
"I know," elena sighed. Turning her attention to Isabel, she added, "Isa, I know you're comfortable, but you need to go sit down."
Isabel whined, snuggling in more.
"Isa, come on now. Es necesario sentarse."
"No!" Isabel protested.
Isabel…" elena forewarned.
"Elena, por favor, I wanna stay here!" she cried.
"You can stay with me until the food's served," Elena relented.
Isabel sighed with relief.
"I'm not hungry!" she protested. "I don't feel good!" with that, she buried her face in her sister's chest.
Naomi frowned in concern at the nine-year-old's actions.
"Maybe she really is sick. I know you two are close, but I've never seen her this clingy before."
Elena frowned in thought. She realized Naomi had a point.
"That smells delicioso!" Louisa commented as the cook set the food down in front of them.
"Isa, Usted necesita sentarse," Elena gently reminded her. Isabel shook her head, but eventually got off of her sister's lap. Sitting down next to her, she picked up her fork. Eating a few bites, she stopped. Putting her fork down, she took a few sips of juice.
"I'm done," she announced.
"Are you sure?" their grandmother asked.
"Uh-huh," Isabel glanced at her grandmother, "may I be excused, por favor?"
"Of course, sweetheart," Louisa replied.
Isabel stood and left the dining room.
"I'm gonna check on her," Elena stood as well. She was halfway to the stairs when her grandfather called her back.
"Elena, don't forget you have that meeting with Senior Elcirano," he reminded her.
Elena groaned inwardly.
"I know. I won't forget," with that, she ascended the stairs. Checking Isabel's room first, she found it empty. Going to her own, Elena's heart broke at the sight. Isabel was lying in her bed, tears streaming down her face. "Isa, what's wrong?"
"Elena, it hurts! It really hurts!" she sobbed.
"What does? You have to tell-"
"My stomach!" Isabel sobbed.
"Okay. Can I check?" Elena sat down next to her sister.
"Uh-huh," Isabel breathed.
Elena gently placed her hands on her sister's stomach.
"Does it hurt in one spot or all over?" she asked.
"Everywhere!" Isabel cried.
"Okay, I'm gonna take care of you. I'm sorry I didn't believe you earlier."
"It's okay," Isabel hissed as more pain shot through her stomach. Swallowing, she squeezed her sister's hand tightly.
"I'll be right back," Elena kissed Isabel's forehead, stood and left the room. Returning, she ran a hand through her little sister's hair. "Let's see…" with that, she put the thermometer underneath Isabel's tongue.
Isabel, for her part, moved closer to her older sister.
Taking the thermometer out of Isabel's mouth, Elena took a look at it. Frowning, she put the back of her hand to Isabel's forehead. "You don't feel warm."
"I don't feel good!" Isabel whimpered.
"I know, Isa. Eschuche mi. I'm gonna go talk to abuela. I'm going to try and convince her to let you stay home. If she says no, I'll come and pick you up early."
"Okay," Isabel hissed as more pain came.
"I'll be right back," Elena kissed her sister on the cheek, stood and left to find her grandparents. Entering the dining room, she found the both of them in conversation. "Excuse me?" she broke in.
Luisa looked up and smiled when she saw her eldest granddaughter. She frowned when she caught sight of the expression on the sixteen-year-old's face.
"What is it, mija?" she asked.
"Isabel's sick. Her stomach's really hurting her. I can see it in her eyes."
Luisa nodded.
"Did you take her temperature?" she asked.
"Yes…" Elena knew the next question would decide her sister's fate.
"And…?" her grandmother asked, not unkindly, but expectantly.
"It was relatively normal," Elena answered honestly.
Luisa exchanged a look with Francisco.
"Elena, you know our stance on missing school," he gently reminded her.
"But you let me stay home the time I got food poisoning when I was fourteen," she protested.
"That was because it started the night before and you had a pretty high fever," her grandfather reminded her.
Elena nodded. She sighed in defeat.
"Also, it was your Papa who had final say," Luisa added.
Elena squeezed her eyes shut at the mention of her late parents. She missed them every day, but days like this made the ache worse.
Without a word, Luisa stood. Going over to Elena, she pulled her in for a hug.
"I miss them too," she whispered into her left ear.
Elena blinked hard against sudden tears. Pulling away, she forced herself to focus on Isa.
"I told Isa that if she does have to go to school, I would come to check on her around lunchtime. If she wasn't doing better, I would bring her back home."
"That's a fair compromise," Luisa consented.
"Gracias, abuela. And gracias for…" her voice trailed off.
"You never have to thank me for loving you. You and your sister mean the world to us," Luisa assured her.
Elena saluted her grandmother as she left the room. Entering Isa's, her heart broke. The nine-year-old was half asleep. Taking a deep breath, Elena went over to the bed. Sitting down, she ran a hand through Isa's brown hair. Letting her sleep for another ten minutes, Elena leaned over and started whispering in her left ear. "Isa, come on. You need to wake up."
"Huh? Wha-what's…" Isabel swatted at her sister's hand as her brown eyes slowly opened.
"Isa, you need to get up," Elena gently told her.
"What did they say?" she mumbled.
"Since you don't have a fever, you have to go to school, but I'm going to come and check on you before lunch. If you're not feeling better, I'll bring you home."
"Why can't I stay home?" Isabel whined.
Elena tried not to let her sister's reaction bother her. This was a sure sign her little sister was sick.
"I'm sorry, Isa. There's nothing I can do."
"Yes there is! You promised Mami you would protect me!"
"I know, but this isn't that type-" Elena was cut off by her sister's next words cutting into her heart like a knife.
"Forget it! Just leave me alone! You can help, you just won't!" Isabel accused. Turning away, she sat up. Standing unsteadily, she made her way to the door.
"Isa, espara. Let me help you," Elena reached her side in seconds.
"You've already helped enough," Isabel mumbled. With that, she made her way out of her room, her backpack dangling from one arm.
Elena blinked hard for the second time that day. This wasn't fair. She had to do something. She made to go after Isabel, but the sound of arriving carriages made her rethink her plans. Reaching the entry way, Elena was just in time to see a man with green eyes and brown hair stand to greet her. He was wearing a business suit and carrying a folder in his right hand. He bowed and Elena did the same. "Bienvenida to Avalor, Senior Elserano," Elena greeted.
"Gracias, princesa Elena. I trust you're ready for the meeting?"
"Yes," Elena replied. With that, she led the way into the dining room. "But first, ore'derves."
The king nodded.
Sighing, Elena prayed she would be able to focus on the task at hand.
*****
"What do you think, Elena?"
Elena blinked to clear her head. She hadn't been paying attention to the conversation around her at all. Hard as she tried, she couldn't get Isa off of her mind. She felt like she had betrayed her.
"Que? What did you say?" she frowned. "I'm sorry?" she asked.
The king frowned in concern.
"I'm sorry, You're Majesty. I just have other things on my mind-" her sentence was interrupted by the arrival of Gabe.
"Elena, we need you. It's Isabel," he informed her.
Elena stood immediately.
"I'll be back. I'm so sorry. My sister needs me," with that, she followed Gabe out of the room. Gaining the hallway, she didn't waste any time. "Gabe, what's going on?"
"We got a message from the school. Isabel's in the infirmary. She's running a fever."
Elena frowned.
"How high is it?" she desperately asked.
"I'm not sure. Senorita Marisol just sent a messenger to ask if you would come and get her," Gabe informed her.
"I should have fought harder for her to be able to stay home. This is all my fault. Mama and Papa tasked me with protecting her before they died…"
"Elena, this isn't your fault. Kids get sick, it happens. The important thing is, you're going to her now," Gabe counseled.
Elena sighed.
"Thanks," she sighed. She just prayed Isabel saw it that way.
