Trope Bingo: wager (free square, wildcard)

Partial inspiration from Lowrider (FFN)'s Summer of Love and outtabreath (AO3)'s The Wager.

Many many thanks to Sabrina06 (FFN) for advice on Canada Day.

This is a fairly short piece, but it breaks nicely into four chapters.

Timeline: Phineas/Ferb/Isabella are all fifteen.

Ferb turned the calendar to July. The July Fourth party was just a few days away. It was getting to be time for drastic action.

Phineas wandered into the kitchen, looking for breakfast. He filled a bowl with cereal, added milk, and sat next to Ferb. "Any ideas for today?" he asked between swallows.

Ferb shook his head.

Phineas sighed. "Do you think Isabella will come over today?"

A smile slowly crept across Ferb's face. "Why do you ask? Are you...interested in her?"

Phineas started, looking at Ferb. "What? Why...how...I..."

Ferb raised an eyebrow. "I've seen how you've been noticing her this summer."

"Have I been that obvious?"

Ferb nodded.

Phineas looked at him like a trapped animal. "But...what do I do about it?"

Ferb pondered for a moment. "I'd been figuring you were just about to kiss her. I'd bet you're going to before Friday, at the rate you've been going."

"Friday? That's the Fourth. Why by Friday?"

"You've seemed close to it several times recently. I would bet money you kiss her before the party on Friday, if you haven't already."

Phineas's eyes narrowed. "How much money?"

Ferb shook his head. "I couldn't take your money. I know you can't afford to lose any right now."

Phineas snorted. "Oh, it is on, Ferb. How much money are you willing to bet?"

Ferb sighed. "I need another ten for the Space Adventure game that's coming out next week."

"Okay. Ten dollars that I don't kiss Isabella before..."

"The party starts at 3, but nobody ever shows up on time, so we'll say 5pm on Friday."

Phineas held out his hand. "It's a bet."

Ferb kept the smile off his face as he shook on it.

This is going to be the easiest ten dollars I've ever made, Phineas thought. I've spent the last ten years not kissing Isabella; what's three more days?

"What'cha doin'?"

Phineas looked over at the gate, and started to respond, "Hi..." before he was dumbstruck. Isabella had grown up, he'd known that. She still had long black hair, and riveting dark-blue eyes; puberty had given her some rather enthralling curves as well. She'd dressed up a bit today, it seemed - a clingy blouse and a nice - but short - skirt. And suddenly her beauty hit Phineas like a brick. He'd known she was attractive for years, but he'd never really been at the point where he was ready to do anything about that...but now the idea of getting her alone and kissing her seemed more tempting than anything he'd ever known.

"I...we...haven't figured out what we're doing yet," he managed to stammer. "Why are you dressed up today?"

She smiled at him, and said, "I just felt like it. I figured there must be something to celebrate today. Do you like it?"

Phineas nodded, not trusting his voice.

From off to the side, he heard Ferb say, "It's Canada Day today. Perhaps we're celebrating that?"

Phineas latched onto this idea. "That's a great idea! I know what we're going to do today! Je sais ce qu'on va faire aujourd'hui! Où est Perry? Where's Perry?"

They'd decided to do a small fireworks show and mini-parade for Canada Day, but Phineas kept getting distracted by Isabella. He found himself just watching her instead of working on the float, until Ferb cleared his throat.

Phineas shook his head. "Sorry. Just distracted."

You've known her for years. Why is today any different? He watched her long black hair get caught by a small gust of wind and blow over her shoulder; she brushed it back with her hand unconsciously. His hand twitched with a desire to run his fingers through it.

Ferb cleared his throat again.

"Sorry, sorry. Let's get this finished."

At the end of the parade, they'd all gathered in the back yard for cake and to watch the fireworks. Behind them, the float mysteriously disappeared just before Linda could see it. Isabella drifted over by Ferb, still dressed in his Mountie uniform.

"What's up with Phineas?" she asked. "He's suddenly paying a lot more attention to me today. I didn't dress that differently, did I?"

Ferb smiled. "I think he's starting to realize he may have some feelings for you. Give him a little time to sort it out, and I think he'll surprise you."

Isabella smiled brightly. "Really? You think...really?"

Ferb nodded.

"Should I keep dressing up?"

Ferb smiled and nodded.