Chapter Text
“Alright, Ferb!” Phineas said enthusiastically from under his latest invention, working on the final touches. “Pass me the circuit board!”
Still welding the metal shell, Ferb slid the circuit board toward his brother without looking up. He was used to multitasking. These days, it was usually just him and Phineas in the backyard.
“Say, where is everyone?” Phineas asked his brother. Today was the third day that they were working on a single project. Usually, with help from their friends, they’d be done in just a few hours. He thought of better times—when they’d finish by lunch, and they could have fun for the rest of the afternoon. Whether it be bouncing around Danville in gecko gear, building a giant roller coaster, or even traveling to another dimension. Now it was taking considerably longer than usual.
Ferb put up his welding helmet. “Well, Baljeet is teaching summer classes, Buford is doing that theater camp he was remarkably excited for, and Isabella…”
Ferb thought for a moment.
“I can’t quite put a finger on what Isabella is doing today. You know her, busy busy busy.”
“Yeah, with all those extracurriculars…I haven’t seen much of her these past few days.” Phineas murmured, unable to hide the edge of disappointment in his voice.
In truth, it had been weeks since Phineas had even seen Isabella, let alone talked to her. In fact, he hadn’t seen her since school ended, and now it was mid July. Phineas felt like summer wasn’t the same without all his friends gone (besides Ferb.) However, he was determined to keep working on his latest project.
“If we had more help, this would’ve been done by now.” Phineas said with a tint of remorse.
“Well, it was YOUR idea to make such a complicated wiring system.” Ferb smirked at his brother, who was still under their machine.
“I know you’re giving me that look, Ferb.” He let out a chuckle. “Okay! That should do it!” Phineas slid out from under their latest invention, The Thought Translator 2000. Sure, they’d made a Thought Translator before, but this one had quantum upscaling , mind-mapping filters, and even a thought narrator. Totally different. “I know! How about we test it out on Perry?”
Phineas walked over to their turquoise semi-aquatic pet, who was sleeping soundly under the big tree in the middle of their backyard. “Hey Perry…” Phineas whispered. Perry’s eyes opened immediately. “Want to be the first to test our Thought Translator?” He picked his seemingly clueless pet up from the ground.
“Alright, Ferb!” Phineas exclaimed while placing Perry down in a seat. “Ready?” Ferb gave a thumbs up, ready to flip the switch on their latest invention.
For Perry, this wasn’t good. This had the potential to reveal his secret to the boys when he thought about an evil pharmacist. That was not on his plans for today. When Phineas was walking back towards Ferb, Perry bolted. He ran as fast as he could out of the backyard.
Perry ran across the street and then stopped dead in his tracks on the sidewalk when he spotted a certain neighbor getting out of her car.
“Perry!” Phineas yelled. He ran after his squirmish pet.
What’s going on with Perry today? He thought. Usually he’s cooperative with these sorts of things.
“He’s suspiciously agile for a mammal with flippers.” Ferb quipped.
Across the street, Isabella was coming home from work at Nosh Ole. She was lucky to have only the afternoon shift, since she wanted to get a head start on some student government planning for next year. She was just getting out of her car when she saw a familiar platypus sitting in front of her on the sidewalk.
“Perry?”
He let out a comical chatter.
“What are you doing here?” Isabella chuckled, she hadn’t seen Perry in a long time. Not since she’d stopped coming to the Flynn-Fletcher house a few years ago.
Isabella decided that she was long overdue to get over her crush on Phineas. Eighth grade was the year she decided to stop talking to him. It wasn’t without remorse though, she worried herself sick thinking about how Phineas would react to her suddenly becoming more distant. Her undying crush was taking a toll on her mental health, and she needed to focus on her schoolwork as well. In fact, she surrounded herself with extracurriculars to stop thinking about Phineas. Soccer, debate club, student government, even putting in extra hours at her mom’s restaurant, all to occupy her mind instead of thinking about the boy she loved.
But, that all came crashing down when she saw Perry’s owner running across the street.
Phineas skidded to a halt. Sweat started beading down his face. Not just from the sprint across the street, but also when he spotted his neighbor dressed in a very stylish and cute Nosh Ole uniform. She looked towards him and they locked eyes.
“Hey Phineas!” she said. “Whatcha doin’?”
Phineas’ stomach filled with butterflies after hearing those words for the first time in years . A wave of familiar warmness filled his body. Like something was unlocked deep within him. It felt like he got something caught in his throat. He didn’t know why it was so hard to talk to her! I mean, they were best friends a couple of years ago. Wait, were they still best friends? Phineas hoped so. He didn’t know if he could even get his words out.
The best he could do was, “H-h-hey, Isabella.” Nice. Real smooth.
“I believe that Perry was paying me a visit! He surprised me when I was getting out of my car!”
“Oh—yeah,” Phineas laughed, too quickly. “Y’know, platypuses usually don’t do much… But, uh, I guess Perry has a lot of energy in him today?”
“How did he end up here, anyway?” Isabella had a curious look on her face. The way she tilted her head and looked at Phineas with those deep, blue eyes made him blush.
Man, why did she have to be so cute? Phineas thought.
“Well, it’s a funny story. Me and Ferb were building a Thought Translator and we wanted Perry to be our first translation! After all, we always wanted to know what he was thinking…” Phineas rubbed the back of his neck, sweat rolling down his cheek. “After we put him in the chair, he just ran! I’ve never seen him move that fast before.”
“Scared of a translator, huh?” Isabella asked with a smile, petting the platypus softly on his back. “Guess he’s got secrets.”
Phineas stiffened. “Heh. Yeah. Don’t we all…”
An uncomfortable silence filled the air as the two (and the platypus) stood there. Both were slightly nervous talking to each other for the first time in a while. It was like some sort of invisible barrier was put up between them. It was Phineas who decided to attempt to break it.
“Hey…Isabella, since you’re here, wanna come help with the translator? Just like old times?” Phineas had that familiar optimism in his voice.
Isabella thought for a moment. A part of her— a big part—wanted to follow Phineas into that backyard and seize the day by testing an elaborate gizmo just like they did when they were kids. But…a more sensible part of her knew she needed to start working on fundraising for their class government.
“Sorry, Phineas…” she started, “Not today, I need to get started on some work for the student government. It is going to be our final year in high school this fall…maybe another time?”
Phineas’ stomach dropped.
Isabella made a slight smile at her neighbor, whose expression changed into a solemn one. It hurt, no more than hurt, stung to let down the boy she once loved. She convinced herself that it was for the best. She needed to stay away from Phineas in order to get over him, even if her heart was screaming to follow him.
Phineas stared at her for a moment, then put on a smile. Her hardworkingness is what made him look up to her after all!
“Yeah, no prob,” Phineas replied. “It was really nice to see you again, Isabella.”
“Yes. Yes it was.” Isabella started walking up the steps toward her home, ”I’ll see you later, Phineas.”
Phineas turned away from her and started walking away. He turned around and watched her take one step up the stairs before something tugged at him—maybe bravery, maybe desperation.
“Wait!”
Isabella turned around.
“You said ‘maybe another time.’ Is… there a slight possibility that might be soon?”
Isabella stared at Phineas. Thoughts were racing in her head. There was no WAY that she was going to let him down TWICE.
“Of course, Phineas.” She started walking back towards him. “What day did you have in mind?”
“Let’s see… how about Friday?” He had an excited smile on his face.
“Oh… Friday I work the closing shift. Uhm–uh, how about-”
“That’s okay!” Phineas said quickly. “I’ll pick you up after your shift. It’ll be a surprise! I have so many ideas already…oh man!”
Isabella chuckled. He had that goofy grin plastered on his face. She loved it when Phineas had a plan set in his mind. It was something she missed dearly. Listening to him ramble on and on about the crazy inventions he had planned made her feel happy. She could listen to him for hours.
“Alright then! I’ll be waiting for my professional chauffer.” She said with a fancy accent.
“I will see you there, madame .” Phineas laughed and proceeded to bow in front of his escort.
“Oh Phineas! You’re such a gentleman.”
“You’ll be the lady of honor!”
Perry looked up at the two star-crossed lovers. He was glad to finally see Isabella again, and he could tell Phineas was too. He let out a delighted chatter.
“I think Perry is just as excited as I am!” Phineas said, looking down at his pet.
Isabella giggled to herself, feeling like a kid again.
With the sun setting, and the skies flashing brilliant pinks and oranges, Isabella checked her watch. “Oh wow, it’s getting late. I really gotta get started on that work now…” She pulled her purse up to her shoulders and smiled at her neighbor. “I can’t wait for Friday, Phineas.”
“Me neither. You know it was really nice to see you again, Isabella.”
Isabella chuckled. “You already said that!”
Phineas scratched the back of his neck. “Well, now you know it was EXTRA nice to see you.”
“I can agree with that.”
For a second, they just stood there, grinning at each other. Neither quite sure what to say next. Then without thinking, Isabella wrapped her arms around Phineas, pulling him into a warm hug.
Phineas started to blush, his cheeks turning bright red. Luckily Isabella had her eyes closed so she didn’t see it. Phineas then responded by wrapping his arms around her as well.
After a few precious moments, they painfully let go.
Isabella walked up to her door, and before opening it, she looked back at Phineas. He waved and smiled at her, before walking backwards and pointing at her.
“You won’t be disappointed!” He yelled.
“I know I won’t!” She yelled back, before opening her door and walking inside.
Phineas burst through their backyard gate, causing Ferb to drop his book.
“Ferb, I know what we’re gonna do this week!”
As soon as she closed the door behind her, Isabella rushed up to her bedroom, grabbed a pillow, covered her face with it, and let out a squeal of pure joy. It was like she was 10 years old again. Always thinking of Phineas and dreaming of getting a chance to spend time with him…and here was her chance!
Wait.
Isabella stopped for a moment and stared off into space. Was this…good for her? To be falling for Phineas again? She didn’t want to torture herself over the acute boy she liked for over a decade. After all, trying to get over him was more challenging than she thought. She had to surround herself with constant work to preoccupy her mind from thinking about Phineas.
Pinky the Chihuahua came running from across the hall and into the bedroom to greet his owner.
“Hi, Pinky!” Isabella exclaimed, kneeling down to pet her giddy dog. “Did you miss me? Oh yes, I bet you did!”
While scratching her (now flipped over) Chihuahua on his belly, Isabella grew a somber expression on her face.
“Oh Pinky…what am I going to do?” She stopped scratching him and sat down, resting her back on the side of her bed. Pinky tilted his head. “I just talked with Phineas! For the first time…in a long time. I couldn’t help myself! He was running over to get Perry and I asked what he was doing and it just…went from there.” Isabella wrapped her arms around her legs and put her head down.
“I know that I promised myself that I would get over him, it’s just…I didn’t think it would take this long. I mean, he’s so sweet, charming, enthusiastic, positive, encouraging–mmmphh!”
Pinky squeezed through her legs and started licking Isabella’s nose. She perked her head up and started laughing, as well as crossed her legs so that Pinky could sit in her lap. As she was stroking Pinky’s back, Isabella took a look around her room. Piles of schoolwork and supplies were stuffed in drawers and stacked on her desk. Her computer was glowing, ringing with messages from clubs, college advisors, and admission reminders. Her bed was unmade, the trashcan was overflowing, and her makeup stand looked like a mess. Her room was weirdly unkept for a girl who once prided herself on her neatness.
“Oh gosh…maybe this constant work strategy isn’t the best idea…”
Pinky barked as Isabella got up. She started making her bed, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Namely, on Phineas.
Her mind replayed that hug numerous times. During that embrace, she felt…at ease. Isabella hadn’t felt that way in what seemed like forever. She always focused on clubs, schoolwork, AP tests, SATs, college applications, everything that burnt her out in one way or another. When she hugged Phineas a few minutes ago, all of those daunting tasks seemed like they slipped away. That moment felt dreamlike, where all Isabella’s fears were gone.
Oh no, I wasn’t in Phineasland again, was I? She thought.
Isabella looked out the window and saw the Flynn-Fletcher house glowing in the dark of night. Her heart fluttered when she saw Phineas in his room, looking out his window as well. Was he... looking at her?
She smiled and waved at him, Phineas did the same. Nope, she was definitely not in Phineasland, this moment felt all too real.