Industry (Part 1) - Completed

When school started again, Isabella felt like a new person. But not necessarily in a good way.

She was quieter now. More deliberate. She moved through the halls like a ghost, unseen unless she wanted to be. Before break, she might have tried to blend in. Now, she simply existed apart from the noise.

She and Alice had a new house, a new life. Their places with Martin were established. He gave, and he took. Isabella took, and she gave. That was how it worked.

But she still had to go to school. She needed her diploma.

"Just five more months," she muttered under her breath as she walked into the building. Five more months of classes, babysitting, the restaurant, Martin, and Alice. Then just the restaurant, Martin, and Alice. Then maybe she could start a certificate to become a chef. That would take 2 years. Then a better job. Then Alice would start school. Then she could work better hours. Then thirteen years to save for college.

One step at a time.

Isabella adjusted the strap of her bag and stepped into her first class—Foundations of Childcare. It was the same as before break, but everything else was different. No PE, which was a relief. She had access to a shower at home now.

But her last class of the day worried her: Principles of Citizenship. The only elective that fit. PJ was in that class. And so was the boy who had tried to steal from her—Andy, she thought his name was.

She kept her head down as she entered the room. Mrs. Foxley had the desks arranged in tables. Group projects. Of course.

Isabella slid into a seat at a back table before anyone else had sat down. This way she didn't have to choose her group. A moment later, PJ and Andy took seats across from her. She barely reacted, just met PJ’s gaze briefly before looking away.

“Guess we’re working together,” he said, watching her carefully. She didn’t respond.

Ashley, a girl Isabella recognized but didn’t know well, claimed the last seat in their group.

Mrs. Foxley explained the assignment: Create an ideal country and government they would defend in front of the class.

PJ, Andy, and Ashley launched into a debate.

"Socialism makes the most sense," Andy argued. "If everyone contributes equally, no one gets left behind."

"Yeah, except history proves that doesn't work," PJ shot back. "A republic is better—it gives people a voice, keeps power in check."

Ashley tapped her pen on the desk. "You're both thinking too small. A theocracy would ensure morality was actually part of the government."

Isabella listened. Not like she used to—waiting for a moment to interject. She listened the way she did with Martin. Carefully. Measuring every word, every motivation.

Eventually, PJ turned to her. "What do you think?"

She didn’t answer right away. The old Isabella might have shrugged, let them keep arguing. Now, she spoke with the kind of certainty that came from resolution.

“I think you’re all wrong,” she said simply.

Andy raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

She met his eyes, unflinching. “Because governments don’t fix things. People do. Governments don’t see what happens to people. People see what happens to people.”

PJ frowned, thinking. “So… what? We just ignore government?”

“No,” Isabella said. “I think a republic gives the people the best voice when making laws. But Ashley's right. We need to think bigger. What kind of culture do we want? If people are the ones who fix things, then how do we build a country where people actually do that?”

Ashley’s face lit up. “Oh, I love that.”

They started throwing out ideas. Traditions that encouraged people to serve each other. A culture that glorified those who worked without recognition. Small, simple things that made life better.

PJ took notes in his sketchbook, glancing at Isabella now and then like she was someone he didn’t quite recognize.

Andy watched her, too. Not in the way boys looked at girls, but in the way people looked at something they didn’t understand.

As PJ scribbled in his notebook, Andy leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “So what? We just trust that people will do the right thing? That’s naive.”

Isabella didn’t bristle, “It’s not about trust. It’s about expectation. People rise to what’s expected of them.” Her voice was smooth, measured. Not sharp. Not defensive. Just certain.

PJ nodded. “Yeah, like… if our culture rewards selflessness, people will want to be selfless.”

Ashley twirled a pen between her fingers. “But what if they don’t? What if people just take advantage?”

Isabella shrugged. “Then the people who do care still keep going. You can’t make people good by forcing them.”

Andy let out a short laugh. “That’s kind of depressing.”

Isabella tilted her head, studying him. She hadn’t really looked at him before, not really. He was a little rough around the edges, but there was something about the way he spoke, the way he challenged ideas—like he was looking for something solid to hold on to.

“You can think it’s depressing,” she said, “or you can see it as freeing. You do what you can. That’s it. That's all anyone can do."

Andy blinked at her, like he hadn’t expected that answer.

PJ grinned. “Well, I think we have a culture. A culture of… realistic optimism?”

Ashley laughed. “That sounds fake.”

The conversation moved on, Isabella went back to being a silent observer. She was comfortable with that roll. After all, it was what she was expected to be.