"Okay, Isabella, you can do this! Tell him how you really feel."

Isabella took a deep breath as she walked up to the Flynn-Fletcher yard. She opened the gate, and said, in the way she had been doing for years, "Whatcha doin'?"

"Just waiting for my best friend to show up," Phineas replied. He had gotten up from his spot next to the tree, and the others in the gang (you know which one) had followed suit. "Now that you're here, we can get started with trying to figure out what we're gonna do today."

"Are you sure she doesn't want to be MORE than your best friend?" Ferb asked his stepbrother.

"Huh?"

"Oh, nothing. Just...nothing... heh heh..."

Phineas shrugged and went back to the tree, pondering about what their activity should be so furiously that he didn't notice Isabella pulling Ferb aside.

"Not cool, Ferb. Not cool," she said.

"But it's true!" Baljeet said.

"The nerd is right," Buford added. "You've had that crush on him for years."

"I want to tell him that," Isabella replied.

Buford and Baljeet looked at Ferb, who gave a quiet nod of approval.

"I guess the time has come," Buford said, grinning. Turning to Isabella, he said, "Go for it!"

"Thanks Buford!"

Phineas had gotten up by then and was now pacing the yard. Isabella walked over to where he was currently, ready to tell him the truth.

"Um, Phineas?" Isabella asked, rubbing her left elbow nervously. "About being your best friend - I kinda secretly li-"

"Hold that thought," Phineas said, spotting his parents coming out of the house. They were wearing dress clothing. He headed in their direction, intent on finding out why (especially considering it was 80 degrees out, which is certainly not suit weather).

Isabella groaned. Her efforts were thwarted again. Why does the universe hate me? she thought.

"Hey Mom, Dad, why the fancy outfits?" Phineas asked.

"Your father and I are going on an anniversary tour of the city," Linda explained. "Candace will be in charge until we get back."

"That time of year again, huh?"

"Not to worry, Phineas," Lawrence said, "I remembered what day it was this time, so you won't have to reunite any old bands."

The adults got into their car and drove off. Phineas watched the station wagon until it disappeared out of sight. "So, Isabella, what was it you were going to say?"

"Forget it," she replied angrily. She stomped into the Flynn-Fletcher house and slammed the door behind her.

"What's with her?" Phineas asked.

"I never really understood girls," Buford fibbed. He knew exactly why Isabella was mad - she hadn't been able to tell Phineas she liked him for what had to be the 4,000th time. He didn't know the exact number; maybe Baljeet did, considering his obsession with math, though he hadn't moved in until Phineas had already known Isabella for two years.

"Hm. Well, I think it's great that Mom and Dad have been together for so long. It's nice to see people find true love and...that's it! Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today. We'll make a device that can find true love."

"Wow. That was fast," Ferb quipped.

"Now if only we knew what to call it."

"How about Cupidtron?" Baljeet suggested.

"Cupidtron it is."

Silence.

"Hey, where's Perry?" Phineas asked.

"Don't look at me," Ferb said.

No one had noticed Perry slip away to his hideout while they were talking about their new project.