Chapter 2:
(Isabella POV)
- 5 years later -
I had perfected everything about myself from the way that I walked to the way that I talked. My gift was an extension of who I was and I knew exactly what to do with each movement of my wrist. I practiced everything for hours each night to keep up this perfect image. When I went into town everyone smiled. I was the hope for Encanto. I was only 13 but I still knew that families in town were watching me, almost examining and I was not naive to the reason why. One day I would get married and I would have children who also had gifts. That was just going to be a part of my life.
Abuela constantly looked me over commenting how I was perfect and I was relieved that she felt that way. I kept up this perfect persona and everyone in town seemed to like it. Tonight was Camilo's gift ceremony and I honestly wasn't sure how I felt. I was the face of the family and I just wanted someone else to get a gift like mine just to relieve the pressure a little bit. I stood with the family as we watched Camilo get his gift. I smiled as he changed into Abuela and other people in town he was always someone I could have fun with. I hoped he liked it but as soon as his gift was revealed I was back to working the room until someone invited me to dance. I really did love to dance.
- a few days later -
We had all been caught playing hide and seek last night and I could tell from the look on Camilo's face that he was exhausted as we walked into town. He couldn't do that. None of us could. I felt so bad for him but, things would be worse if Abuela saw. She wouldn't be happy and when Abuela isn't happy the family isn't happy. I pulled him to the side and whispered, "Look, I know that you are tired but you need to act like you are completely fine. We can't let the people in town know that anything is different, ok? Just do whatever they want." He nodded his head and I sighed. I don't know why I hated telling him that so much. I really did have fun last night for the first time in a long time, but we had a family image.
I straightened myself up, painted on my best smile and made my way into town waving at farmers and people heading to work as they passed by growing flowers in every direction and having them bloom under my feet. This is what they wanted and this was what they were going to get.
- a few weeks later -
The party died down immediately when Mirabel did not get a gift. I kept trying to digest the fact that she was never getting a gift. She would never have to give everything she had to the community. She would never have to be the face of the family. She would never have to make everyone else happy. She could live a quiet life in town, free to do whatever she wanted and not have a care in the world. She would never have to be me.
I don't know why but that made me angry. The only thing that made the miracle worth it was knowing that my family and I were going through it together. That we all had to deal with every part of it for the rest of our lives and Mirabel just got an out. Why didn't she get a gift? Why was she never going to get a gift? To make matters worse the next morning Tío Bruno left. I knew that this life was hard on him, but it was hard on all of us. Why did he get to leave?
Abuela's eyes on me were sharper than ever. She needed the town to think that the miracle was fine and what better way that showing off her, "Perfect Floricita." My entire day was spent with her glued at my side reminding me of the right thing to say, the right way to act, the right way to walk. Wherever I was she was close behind me watching my every move. If I wasn't perfect or I faltered I could see her from. I was going to make Abuela happy again, because when Abuela was happy the family was happy.
My only salvation was the fact that Camilo was always with me in town too. The kids in town loved him, the adults found his imitations funny, he was even babysitting for different people in town. I beautified the community and he entertained them and this seemed to make Abuela happy.
- 2 years later -
It was my Quinceñera and everyone in town was here for me. The only problem was I made no choices or decisions about what today was going to be like. Abuela had enlisted the town tailor to make me a grand ballgown for my entrance and arranged for a full court for today. Abuela had picked Mariano to be my escort and asked him before she came in and told me the 'great news.' I knew that the town was pushing for Mariano and I to be together but, I didn't see it. We were friends, sure but we could never actually hold a conversation without Dolores being there.
I made my entrance with Papa and I hated the crowds and attention but they were a nuisance that I had learned to live with. The one good thing that came out of the night was that I got to dance for the entire time. I don't think I left the dance floor for a moment and it filled me with such relief. It was the one place where I could ignore the crowds around me. I still had to make sure I made the right steps and kept myself in control but, It was freer than any other moment of my life. As I danced with my court I heard the sound of my dress ripping and my blood went cold.
No, if my dress ripped then it wasn't perfect. If it wasn't perfect Abuela wouldn't be happy. If Abuela wasn't happy then the family wouldn't be happy. If the family wasn't happy then I had failed them all. I looked over to see what had happened and saw Mirabel holding the piece of fabric. Why, why did she constantly do this to me? She was free to do whatever she wanted. She didn't have a gift. Why did she also interfere with my life?
I took a deep breath and the fabric from her hands. Everyone in town was looking at us and I had to keep myself composed. I finished the dance with Mariano and the floor was opened to everyone. "I can fix it. If we just go to the nursery, I can sew it up. Isabella." Mirabel was talking but I just couldn't at the moment I needed to get this fixed and I just didn't want her to do anything else tonight. I kept a smile on my face, "Mirabel, you have done enough tonight." I excused myself as I went into a back room and tried to figure out what to do. Dolores came in and came up with an idea. I quickly used a vine to fix my dress before going back out there. Everyone had forgotten the minor hiccup and I was able to dance for the rest of the night without a care in the world.
- 2 months later -
It was Dolores' Quince and all the attention was supposed to be on her. I knew that I couldn't completely get away from it all I was a town favorite and a Madrigal but tonight was not supposed to be about me. Why did it always end up being about me? Abuela announced to the town that I was officially dating Mariano. I guess everyone forget to let me know about this decision. I knew it was what everyone wanted and I knew that it was going to happen eventually I just never thought that it would be today. Why today? Dolores didn't even look upset that I was stealing the spotlight yet again.
I couldn't say anything against it. I just had to smile and say thank you as people congratulated me. I felt myself being backed into a corner. It tried remembering Tío's vision that all of this was going to mean that I would be happy in the future but, I was having a harder time believing that, that was true. Mariano stood next to me holding my hand the entire time and eventually he invited me out to dance. We didn't speak to each other the whole time but it did make me feel less alone. There was this look in his eyes that made me think that he didn't want this either but it was probably my imagination.
- 3 years later -
Mariano and I were together for everyone town event pretty much paraded around for everyone to see two big town families coming together. We didn't talk much outside of those town events though he was always at work and I was always in town. Even when we were at these events I felt like I didn't know him any better from when we were kids. I knew that we would have to get along eventually and I mean... he was nice... he was sweet... he was handsome... I did like him, but I didn't love him and I knew that in the core of my being I probably never would, at least not the way that either of us deserved.
I went up to my room after a long day and I saw Camilo there. He shape shifted into me, "Haha Camilo. What is going on?" His eyes looked desperate, "Isabella I need help." I quickly let him come into my room. He seemed to be panicking, "Camilo what is wrong?" His eyes were focused on anywhere but me, "I-I can't go back to myself. I can't remember what I look like." I nodded my head. I knew that if he didn't calm down nothing would work, "Camilo you need to calm down." He took a breath nodding his head, "Do you have any recent photos of yourself?" He shook his head, "The last photos I have are from over a year ago."
I had an idea. I closed my eyes and thought about what Camilo looked like this morning. We walked into town together today like we did most mornings. I thought about his clothes, his face, his hair, everything. I then let out a breath as I looked at the hedge I had grown, "This is you." He examined the plant and slowly shifted back into himself, "Thank you." I looked over to my table and I saw the camera. I didn't need it anymore, "I used to use this camera to try to grow plants to look like people, I think that you need it now." He nodded his head and wrapped me in a hug, "Thank you." I nodded my head, "Anytime primo." "Can we not tell anyone what happened?"He asked. I wasn't going to say anything anyway, "Our secret."
I felt a ping in my chest as he left. I always liked how his gift was in town around everyone and kind of helped take the attention off me. It was something I had wished for, for a long time. But, seeing him like that. I didn't like it. I immediately felt guilty. I looked up to the sky and let out a breath. Perfection. Perfection. Perfection. I thought to myself it was the only way to survive.
Author's Note:
There is going to be one more part of the perfection section of this story. I believe that a lot of Isabella's storyline was thought out and discussed in the movie. I am just using these chapters to highlight her life before, however that is not where the focus of the story is but rather on the events after the movie. I am sorry if these chapters seem rushed but, they are really just an introduction into the story. Hope you enjoyed and thank you for your continued support.
Nicki
