The clock stops for love
Four years, ninety-six days and twelve minutes since I had last seen Phineas. Four years, ninety-six days and twelve minutes since we said our last goodbyes and we left to go to our new house across the country, due to a job offer my dad had gotten. Four years, ninety-six days and twelve minutes since we had left Danville, my heart broken. And now, four years, ninety-six days and twelve minutes later, we decided to come back.
I was overjoyed, but at the same time scared. After all this time away, everything had probably changed. Except for my feelings. I tried to push them as far down as I could, knowing that Phineas probably wouldn't even remember my name, he probably wouldn't even recognize me. I was just some girl that he used to know.
As we made the long drive from the airport to Danville, I tried to imagine what everyone would look like after four years. It was hard, considering I had their ten-year-old faces burned into the back of my brain.
By the time we finally made it to our new house(our old house had been bought shortly after we moved) it was nearly ten at night. But, letting my heart get the best of me, I walked the extra block to Pineas's house.
I didn't exactly know what I hoped to find. That Phineas had never forgotten me, that he had been awaiting my return ever since I had first left? Highly unlikely.
When I came to the house, I stood outside for a moment, just staring. All of the lights were off, as far as I could tell. I walked up the driveway and along the fence which hid the backyard.
Oh, I remembered the summer when we were ten. Phineas and Ferb would invent something new every day. I was right there beside him every day.
I stood on my tiptoes and peeked over the fence, expecting to see nothing but bare grass. Phineas sat under the tree, facing the other way. As soon as I saw him I quickly ducked back behind the fence, proceeding to hit my nose due to lack of brains.
"Who's there?" I heard him call. His voice had gotten deeper. I could hear the soft crunch of the grass as he moved towards the gate. I sat there on the concrete covering my nose with my hand.
"Who's there?" he called more forcefully. I heard the familiar creak of the gate door as he opened it. I let my hand fall away from my face as he turned to towards me. His face instantly displayed a look of shock.
A wave of sadness instantly washed over me. I forced myself to smile and wave a hand. "Hey," I said. "Long time no see."
Phineas still looked shocked. "Isabella?" I nodded and stood up. So he did remember me.
I wanted to tell him that I missed him, but it seemed like such small words to describe how much I had wanted to see him and talk to him for the past four years. I opened my mouth, ready to pour my heart out, when he pulled me to him in a tight embrace.
"I missed you so much," he said. "God, I can't believe I'm finally seeing you again, after all this time." He hugged me tighter.
I felt years welling in my eyes, and I silently scolded myself. I will not cry in front of him, I thought.
"You remember me?" I asked quietly. He nodded against my shoulder. "How could I not?" He slowly pulled away. "Isabella, ever since you left I've felt like something was missing. When I look back on that summer, I realize that I..." He trailed off.
"That you what?" I asked, even though I knew what he was going to say.
Phineas reached up and brushed a piece of my now-longer black hair behind my ear, then leaned in and kissed me. It was my turn to be shocked. He pulled away and smiled, and I returned it.
"Is it too cliché to say that I've been waiting four years to do that?" he asked, still smiling.
I laughed and shook my head.