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Phineas sighed and put his phone in his pocket.
“What’s wrong?” asked Isabella.
“I’m just not getting any matches on this dating app I downloaded,” he replied. “Not one person has liked me.”
“Well, c’mon, let’s see your pictures,” Buford demanded, holding out his hand for Phineas’ phone. Phineas reopened the app and handed it to him.
Buford scrolled through Phineas’ profile. “Ya got any pictures where you’re not facin’ front?”
“I feel like I look even weirder from the side,” Phineas confessed, scratching the back of his neck. “I mean, my head is literally a triangle.”
“That’s literally the most adorable thing about you,” Isabella interjected.
“You don’t have to try and make me feel better, Isabella,” Phineas sighed. “I know I’m not repulsive to look at, it’s just… I’m not the type of guy anyone could see themselves with romantically.”
“What are you talking about?” Isabella exclaimed. “You’re Phineas Flynn! You’re smart and creative and talented and kind!”
“Yeah, but there’s plenty of guys like that with normal-shaped heads,” Phineas pointed out.
Isabella bit her lip. Suddenly, she had the sudden urge to see what kind of girls Phineas was into. She knew it would only break her heart, but the curiosity was overwhelming. “Lemme see that.”
Buford passed her the phone and she clicked on Phineas’ like history. Row after row of dark-haired girls filled the screen.
Isabella furrowed her brow. She hadn’t expected them to look like…
Her eyes widened.
“Just keep at it,” she said, passing the phone back. “I’m sure someone will match with you soon.”
Phineas made a dubious noise and put his phone back in his pocket. “Well, I gotta get to class.”
As Phineas headed off towards the science and technology building, Isabella leaned over to Buford and said, “Hey, what’s the name of that dating app?”
After several days, she approached Phineas in the library. “Hey Phineas! Whatcha doin’?”
“Studying for midterms,” he replied, flipping the page of the book he was reading.
She sat next to him. “Sooo… did you ever get any likes on that dating app?”
“Huh?” He glanced at her. “Oh! I deleted it.”
Isabella’s eye twitched. “When exactly did you delete it?”
“Pretty much right after I showed you guys my profile,” he replied nonchalantly. “I’m done with dating. I don’t need a relationship to be happy.”
Isabella bit her lip very hard. “Okay, if that’s how you feel. But maybe you should check it again, just in case someone liked your profile.”
“I had that thing for weeks and nobody liked my profile,” Phineas said. “Nobody thinks I’m attractive. No big deal. Why get my hopes up?”
She gripped him by the shoulder, turning him to face her. “I love you, Phineas Flynn, but you can be such an idiot sometimes.”
“What do you mean?” He furrowed his brow.
“I mean that maybe you don’t need some silly dating app to meet someone who wants to date you,” she said pointedly.
“Yeah, exactly,” Phineas nodded. “I’ll just let it happen organically. You know, whenever that’ll happen. Probably won’t be till I’m like, forty-five, but…”
“No, stupid, I’m talking about now.” She gripped his face in her hands. “I want to date you. Me.”
Phineas’ eyes widened. Then he sighed. “Look, Isabella… You’re a really good friend. I appreciate what you’re trying to do. But I don’t want someone to date me out of pity.”
“ARE YOU KIDDING M—” Isabella remembered she was in a library and forced herself to calm down. “Phineas. I have had the biggest crush on you since we were in kindergarten.”
He cocked his head. “Uh…”
“You can ask literally any of our friends,” she insisted. “I have been trying to get you to notice me for years.”
Phineas blinked. “Huh. I thought you weren’t interested. ‘Cause you… never said anything.”
Isabella took a deep breath. “We’ll talk about that later. Do you want to go out with me?”
Phineas nodded vigorously.
“Good. Text me.” She kissed him and walked away, rolling her eyes. If she’d known she could’ve done that years ago…
Phineas sat in stunned silence for several minutes before pulling out his phone. hey Ferb, did you know Isabella had a crush on me?
The selfie Ferb sent back told him everything.
Phineas chewed his lip. how big of an apology bouquet should I bring to our first date?