ABANDONING THE two boys to fight, Isabella had no choice but to sprint back to their vehicle, ignoring their calls of 'where the hell are you going?!'. She opened the backseat door with a struggle, before climbing inside; her body was trembling again— she hadn't felt like this since the All Valley. Was this another panic attack? No. Her mom had to be here if she had one. She couldn't get through it without her mom. She needed her mom.

Isabella gasped for air, her breath heavy, as her eyes swelled with tears. Shakily, she grabbed her phone from her pocket; her finger hovered over the call button. This would worry her mom. Her mom would tell Johnny about her history with panic attacks. He'd think she was weak— second place. They'd baby her, treat her differently like everybody else did. 

She sobbed louder; her body trembling with pure fear as she remembered the All Valley. She let everyone down. Isabella received second place, again. She couldn't fight, anymore, she'd lose. Isabella couldn't call her mother because Carmen would worry about her, but she was already worried about Miguel— she couldn't be scared for both of her children, that wasn't fair.

But she was dying! Isabella entered Messages, before texting shakily, 'S.O.S'. Now that she thought about it, Isabella should've texted her something that wasn't going to make her worry— but she was dying.

Isabella remembered what her mother did during these moments: counting and listing, to distract herself from the feeling of dying, but it wasn't the same without her mom.

Five things you can see. Isabella panted heavily, mumbling to herself, "J-Journal. Uh..." her eyes darted around frantically; the game was much harder when she had to think of the question and the answer.

Isabella curled herself into a ball on the backseats, burying her head into her body as she sobbed loudly. Her body ached, her heart raced, her breathing was out of control. She needed her mom. Right now. At the All Valley she had an excuse to have a panic attack... but, now? They'd think she was a baby. They'd treat her differently. She's be second place again...

Suddenly, the car door opened, releasing the hot air into the vehicle. Isabella remained curled up, her head buried in her knees and her body shaking. Her heart was beating too fast. She couldn't slow it in time. She was going to die. Did they know she was dying? Could they see?

"Whoa, hey," Robby's muffled voice was soft, though he was out of breath too. He placed his hand on Isabella's arm, which brought her back into reality, as she pulled away quickly. Robby reassured, "It's okay. You're okay. Can you hear me?"

Johnny asked in concern, from behind the boy, "What's wrong with her?"

"Dad, just go and get some ice." Robby insisted quickly.

"Yes, dad, ice." Robby stressed, "Quickly." Johnny's footsteps faded away, leaving the two teenagers alone as she ran to the nearby store. Robby reassured, standing in the open doorway of the back seats, "You're having a panic attack, but you're safe. It will be over soon, okay?"

Isabella could only sob in response, her body shaking in the tight ball she was curled in. Robby said softly, "Listen, Belle, you need to sit up. I know it's hard, but you need to breathe." He watched as Isabella uncurled herself, shakily sitting up.

Isabella spluttered, "I can't—"

"You're okay. Hey, look at me. Do what I'm doing." Robby reassured, as he breathed in slowly, his finger lifting up as he did so. He held his breath, his finger tracing along; almost drawing a picture in the air. He exhaled, his finger moving back down, before holding it again. A box. Robby drew the box again with his fingers, as Isabella attempted to match him. Over and over again.

Inhale, hold, exhale, hold.
Inhale, hold, exhale, hold.

Johnny jogged back towards the car, handing Robby a bag of ice; the man looked at Isabella, her face wet from sobbing and her body sweating buckets. Isabella was embarrassed and ashamed— was Johnny gonna think she was weak, now?

Robby had opened the bag of ice, before scooping a few out and placing them in Isabella's shaking hands. Robby explained, "Just hold these in your hands and keep breathing like I did, okay?" He suggested, "We can leave you alone if you wanted—"

"Stay." Isabella took a deep breath, "Please, stay." She closed her eyes, focusing on the coldness stinging the palms of her hands as it melted.

"Kid, your mom's calling me." Johnny frowned at his phone in confusion, "Should I answer?"

Isabella sighed, still getting her breath back, "Shit. I-I texted her. Yeah, pick up."

Robby asked calmly, "What did you text her?"

"S.O.S." Isabella replied shamefully; she felt like an idiot. It was a stupid fucking panic attack. Why couldn't her body handle things like everybody else?

"Hello?" Johnny paced back and forth on the phone, "Yeah, she's okay... yeah, she's with us, now... okay, hold on." He passed the phone to Robby, because the girl's hands were filled with ice, as the boy put it on loud speaker so Isabella could hear.

"Belle? Hello? Belle, are you okay?" Carmen's voice was filled with worry through the speaker, and Isabella could imagine her pacing the kitchen with her Grandma. She added quickly, "I saw your message and I tried to call you but you didn't pick up and—"

"I'm sorry, Ma. I-I'm okay." Isabella replied, the burning sensation at the back of her throat was making it harder to speak.

"What happened? Belle, why did you text S.O.S?" Carmen worried, "Did something happen? Did you find Miguel?"

Isabella made eye contact with Robby, who was holding the phone for her. The girl didn't reply, as he eyes filled with tears again— Isabella was embarrassed; she couldn't even say it. She shook her head, closing her eyes and letting a few tears run down her cheeks.

"This is Robby," The boy cleared his throat, before replying for her, "Belle's okay, Ms Diaz. She just had a panic attack, but everything's sorted now."

Isabella muttered, tears streaming down her face in shame. Her voice broke, "Sorry, Ma."

"Oh, mi amor." Carmen comforted, though relief in her voice because she probably thought 'S.O.S' meant somebody had died. She added, "You're so brave. Do you remember why you had it? Or, was it sudden?"

Isabella knew why she panicked, but she also knew that Carmen would be straight on the phone with her therapist after this call.

Isabella lied, avoiding eye contact, "I don't know. It just happened, I think."

"Have you been taking your pill?" Carmen asked curiously, "Every morning, remember?"

Isabella looked down into her lap, as she mumbled in embarrassment, "Yes, Ma."

"Okay," Carmen took a breath, "Well, just hang in there, Belle. You'll be home soon. Can you pass me back to Johnny, please?"

Robby took Carmen off of loud speaker, before passing it back to Johnny, who walked away as he spoke on the phone.

Isabella dropped the ice out of the car and onto the floor, before wiping her cold hands on her face. Robby hesitated, "You know why you had that panic attack, don't you?"

"I said I don't know, Robby." Isabella lied, "I don't wanna talk about it."

"Okay," Robby said calmly, "Okay."

a/n:
robby and belle's friendship makes me SOBBBBB