Chapter 2: The Second Time Is No Fun

As Candice left the room, Phineas wiped his eyes again. He had begun to take up a habit of staring at her again…

"Phineas. Stop."

Phineas looked up, seeing his brother giving him a glare.
"What do you mean? I'm not doing anything." Phineas glanced back at Isabella's sleeping face.

"Stop doing THAT. She'll wake up when she wakes up. For now, you need to calm down some more."

Ferb glared down at his brother. Phineas glared back, but not for long. He soon backed down. He sighed loudly,

"I can't, Ferb…" he looked at Isabella's face again, "I have to wait. I have to see her smile, Ferb. Don't take that away from me. Please. I have to see her…"

"She'll be here for you, Phin. Just go sit in a chair and watch her from there, or something, okay? You need to rest."

"No, I'm fine where I am." Phineas laid his head down on the bed, not taking his eyes off his friend.

"Phin…"

"I said that I'm fine."

"I'll tell them that they should cut her visiting hours, and not let you in here until tomorrow." Ferb was very stern, and glared down at Phineas, waiting for his reaction.

Phineas didn't look up.

"You wouldn't. Because then YOU wouldn't get to see her."

"I happen to know that she is in very good care with this hospital. I'll be able to see her tomorrow."

Phineas stood up,

"You would just leave her here?! Are you really that heartless?"

Ferb rolled his eyes.

"At least I'm not the one that caused this all to happen."

Phineas' face went completely red. His eyes were wide, and he thought to pounce at his brother. But he knew just as well as anyone he knew that he wasn't like that. He didn't get mad easily. He wasn't violent, either. He just needed to calm down.

"You're right…" he said, and slumped into one of the chairs. He put his face in his hands, "I can't believe I didn't help her enough. She trusted me…and I hurt her."
"Phineas, it was an accident. You need to get over this." Ferb sat down next to him, looking at him contently.

"But I couldn't save her! I was supposed to!" Phineas started sobbing, but tried to hold it in as much as possible.

Ferb blinked, not saying anything. He didn't feel it was time yet. Instead, Ferb thought about what had happened. He condoled with himself about Phineas' reaction. It seemed…uncommon, or at least absurd when compared to the rest of their family. But then something clicked in his mind. Something Phineas had said earlier.

"I have to see her smile, Ferb. Don't take that away from me. Please."

I get it now. This all makes sense…It took so long…I mean, we are in eighth grade, for Pete's sake! And we've all been friends for…so long…

How could I have not seen it?

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