Hi guys - this is my first shot at a Phineas and Ferb fanfiction. It's a Coffee-Shop AU, so bear with me while I try to make it as good as I can. Enjoy!

P.S. Thanks a ton to Qoheleth for pointing out the factual inaccuracy! (And no, me not being from the States isn't a good excuse).

Isabella

I could get used to this.

Managing her mother's establishment for the summer had seemed like a Herculean task, but a few days behind the counter and she had become skilled at filling orders, cracking jokes and remembering people's regulars at once.

"Hi," Gretchen, her best friend since kindergarten trudged in on the snowy day. Danville wasn't prone to blizzards, but the freak storm affecting Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming had brought the small city to a halt.

"How is CalTech?" the former asked while making a mocha cappuccino. Gretchen's not-so surprising acceptance to CalTech (with a full scholarship) at the end of junior year of high school had caused the two to meet less. With Isabella in upstate New York studying Political Sciences and International Relations, and Gretchen in her second year for Aerospace Eng, she felt like the two had missed out on a vital portion of the other's lives.

"It's great; can't believe I'm done with half my college life." Gretchen, now comfortably seated in an armchair by the fire and To Kill A Mockingbird in her hands, smiled as Isabella set the hot drink down and took a seat - there wouldn't be many customers on a snowed-in day anyways.

"That means I'll be seeing more of you soon - come visit me in Ithaca when you're done." The spectacled girl gave a grin.

"Sure - I'll invade your apartment and make sure you eat properly. Your mom tells me you've become quite the conservative eater - staying fit for the guys, huh?" Isabella gave a half-hearted glare, then sighed.

"Nah - not really. Most guys in my course are grade-A nerds with no sense of fun and an unhealthy obsession for sweater vests." Gretchen repositioned her glasses, an eyebrow raised.

"Damn, son. Most nerds in my class, are The Big Bang Theory nerds with lives they wish were more socially active."

Isabella nodded sagely. "Speaking of socially active, have you gotten a guy yet?"

"Too-"

"Too much work," she glared. "Gretchen, that's been your excuse through middle school and the two years of high school you attended."

"But Izzy, I'm two years younger than the rest, and more involved too. I want to get my internship with JPL as soon as possible. Besides, the guys are cute but too fast for my liking, and the nice ones don't want to date." She was halfway through her drink.

"Hmm... " Isabella looked off into the distance, brought back to Earth by purposefully loud slurping sounds.

"Whose world did you get lost in?"

"No one's, actually. I was just wondering if that inventor guy would stop by."

Gretchen sat up straighter. "Inventor? Should I know about this individual?"

"Phineas Flynn - he's 19, goes to MIT, and used to occasionally stop by at the cafe - he's now a regular. Says he's visiting his parents and brother for the summer." She chuckled. "He's got flaming red hair, you know, and the most adorable pointy nose. He often gets whipped cream all over it when he takes his usual long sniff of the drink."

"Izzy…." The concern and warning were evident in her tone.

She sighed. "I know, I know - you'll tell me not to go too fast like I did with Alex, and not too slow like with Levi. Truth is, I don't even know whether he's interested in me. He just comes over and makes corny jokes while he waits for his drink."

"I wanted to say - don't get too lost in Phineas Land and remember to keep the loading bay open for deliveries. But this lesson you've learnt is a good one too."

"Gretch!"

"What?"

"Why didn't you remind me before? The loading kid must've left the coffee bags in the snow!" Gretchen allowed herself a laugh as Isabella ran out of the back door, coming in twenty minutes later with beads of sweat all over her face. "Done." The rest of the time was spent in comfortable silence till the cuckoo clock chimed nine, the sun now out and melting away the snow on the sidewalk.

"Wow - it's barely been an hour and quite a lot of snow is out."

"Yeah - bet the customers would be making their way here?"

"Give them time to clear their driveways, Chief!"