A/N: I have to admit that this is probably one of my favourite chapters. It was one of those ones that was written quite easily; it just flowed. Plus, the end of the chapter...well, you'll just have to see, won't you?


And all this stirring inside my belly

Won't quell my want for love...

.*.

Isabella was not exactly sure how long it took for everything to change again.

It was surprisingly easy to walk back into Phineas' life, albeit on the arm of his stepbrother. Though at first disheartened again that Phineas did not demonstrate any outward signs of jealousy, Isabella was soon content to just be spending time with him again. He was behaving as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and she supposed that she could not ask for more than that. The world had returned to normal, and she could enjoy the boys' company once more.

Acting as Ferb's girlfriend was not as difficult as she had anticipated it would be. She only had to be in close proximity to him at all times, sometimes wrapping an arm around him or snuggling up to his side. She had worried that Ferb would not live up to her expectations due to his half-heartedness, but he did not disappoint. He gave the perfect impression of a young man newly in love. Phineas was none the wiser.

Isabella had first made a point to spend most of her time chatting with Ferb, being over the top with her affections in hopes of provoking a reaction from Phineas. Though she gave up on the excessive lovey-dovey behaviour after a while, she still figured that devoting all of her attention to Phineas would give her away. It had taken much restraint on her part not to jump at everything Phineas suggested, or sidle up to him when he was at work to inquire as to what he was doing, or hang onto his every word. Soon, though, remaining at Ferb's side became natural, as though they had been together for ages. She believed that they exhibited the perfect act.

Sometime in August, the group of friends decided to have a horror movie marathon night, hosted by Baljeet. For most of the night, things went by as smoothly as they had for the past couple of weeks. Their friends had long since discarded their looks of moderate disbelief at seeing Isabella and Ferb as a couple; even Katie's outright shock had diminished to puzzlement after a time. It was now generally accepted that Isabella's long-standing crush on Phineas had somehow faded and she had fallen for the other stepbrother instead—though some were privately inclined to believe that she had merely settled for second best.

Isabella spent the first couple of movies cozied up against Ferb; she buried her face in his shoulder during any of the scary parts—which ended up being most of the time. If he minded her repeated cries of fright, he did not say anything; he only wrapped an arm around her shoulder protectively.

After the second movie finished, Isabella excused herself to the kitchen to retrieve a drink. Before she could return, she found herself ambushed by Katie.

"Okay, what's this about?" Katie demanded, planting on hand on either side of the doorframe so that Isabella could not slip by.

Isabella resigned herself to a heated confrontation during which Katie would accuse Isabella of stealing her man...only to not take him. Or so she thought. "Katie, I know it must seem unfair to you, but—"

She was stopped by Katie's raised eyebrows. "Unfair? Why would it be unfair?"

Isabella paused, dumfounded. Judging by the glares that she had received consistently when Phineas was still with Katie, Isabella had assumed that Katie would begrudge her for the breakup. And yet...

"You mean..." Isabella decided to backtrack and feign ignorance. "Sorry. I mean, what are you talking about?"

Katie sighed impatiently and rolled her eyes, as if Isabella were intentionally being dense. "Duh! You and Ferb! What's that all about? Everyone's been wondering about it, and I really wanna know...well, why?"

"Um...do I need a reason?" Isabella asked, unable to keep a slight edge out of her voice. So, people were still talking? She was curious to know what they were saying, but at the same time, she felt that she did not want to hear it.

"Well, I dunno." Katie leaned against the doorframe and twirled a piece of her straightened hair around one finger. "I mean, everyone always thought you wanted Phineas, but then you like, turn around and go out with Ferb...we're just like, what's the deal, you know? Why Ferb?" Katie's nose scrunched up, as if in disgust.

A flare of defensiveness sprang up immediately within Isabella. A tiny, rational part of her mind tried to say that Katie was most likely bitter, especially since she had been with Phineas for so long, but the voice was soon smothered.

"Because he's sweet, Katie." Isabella put as much contempt as she could into the name. "He's nice, and friendly, and smart, and I just...I really like him, okay!"

Katie's carefully-plucked eyebrows rose so high that it seemed they might disappear into her hairline. "Um, okay? No need to get all snitty, I was just asking..."

"Yeah, well, it's none of your business, is it," Isabella responded with a sneer. "Ferb's amazing, and if you can't see it, then I guess you're more hopeless than I thought." Pushing past Katie, Isabella stormed back to the living room, taking only a second to compose herself before striding over to the couch and curling back up against her faux boyfriend. Inside, she was still seething at Katie, but when Ferb looked over at her with a small smile, the fire diminished a little. She returned the smile and chose to forget about the encounter.

After watching the third movie, it was unanimously decided that the marathon be called off for the night. Baljeet and Buford had both fallen asleep beside one another on the couch, their heads lolling together. When they were awakened by Phineas, Buford gave a yell and promptly shoved Baljeet off of the couch.

Isabella was still giggling as she stepped into Ferb's truck. After assuring that Phineas could get a ride home with somebody else, they took off in the direction of Isabella's house. The ride home was mostly silent, and Isabella's mind returned to Katie and her look of distaste at the thought of dating Ferb. Really, Katie had been nothing more than genuinely curious, but Isabella still found herself glowering at Katie's attitude toward their relationship.

Ferb must have noticed, for when he pulled into her driveway and shut off the truck, he turned to her, inquiry in his expression.

She deliberated for a moment over whether to tell him, but she chose to let it be. It was not necessary that he know. Choosing instead to give him a grin, she said, "I had a good time tonight, didn't you?"

Ferb nodded; his was face still curious, but he did not broach the subject. He was silent, probably waiting for her to leave.

Isabella, however, felt that she did not want to leave. Not yet. "So, what are you guys up to you tomorrow?" she asked brightly, eager to keep the conversation going.

He shrugged. How would he know? Most times, anything that he and his stepbrother came up with was spur of the moment. She knew that the question was a feeble one.

Isabella was quiet for a moment, playing with the zipper on her windbreaker. For mid-August, the night was a bit chilly. She looked out into the night, and saw millions of stars. She reminisced painfully of the night on the beach with Phineas, how she had watched the stars through the blurry glaze of thick glass.

"Guess I should get going," she murmured, returning her gaze to Ferb. His expression was blank, revealing no trace of emotion. This was how they usually departed—together to give the proper impression, yet impersonal once they were alone.

Looking at him, Isabella was stricken with a sudden, terrible urge. She longed to brush the fall of green hair out of his eyes and—dare she even think it? Or had she been thinking it all along? She was reminded of the defensiveness she had felt at Katie's attitude. Why had she reacted so strongly to what Katie had said?

It was easy. It was clear. Something had changed somewhere along the line.

She did something then that she had never done before. She threw caution to the wind and closed her eyes, leaning forward ever so slightly. This was it. This was right. This was what she wanted, and if she felt it, then surely—

—but nothing happened. After a moment, Isabella reopened her eyes, only to see Ferb staring out the windshield. Her heart dropped like a stone. Again?

He sighed almost imperceptibly. What was that she saw in his eyes? Pity? "Isabella, no."

"I'm sorry," she managed, her voice barely audible.

"That's not what this is. I am sorry if you have developed the wrong impression."

Isabella could no longer speak over the welling emotion in her throat. She felt a fiery blush creeping up her face, and she willed herself not to tear up.

Ferb continued to avoid her gaze. "I think that you should go," he said quietly.

Not hesitating, Isabella flung open the door and stumbled out onto her driveway. As soon as she closed the door, Ferb started the truck and pealed out of the yard. Isabella staggered up to her front step and forced herself not to look at the receding vehicle.

Again. It had happened again. Why had she done something so stupid?

As she prepared to go to sleep and collapsed onto her bed, she continued to beat herself up for her foolishness. Why had it happened? What had changed? Why did she do it?

Yes, it was clear. Somewhere, at some point, between the false caresses and the phony words of affection, the line between the act and reality had blurred, and Isabella had fallen for Ferb. Compared to the candle she had held to Phineas for countless years, the flame that burned for Ferb was somehow more intense, more...genuine. Ferb was different. He made her feel different, in a good—wonderful—way. He was not oblivious to Isabella's feelings, and he made her feel special.

But it did not matter. None of it was real, and she had made the mistake of pretending for even a second that it was. Now it was over—Ferb was not going to be able to be around her anymore, and her time with the Flynn-Fletchers was soon going to come to an end.

Isabella clutched at her pillow, this time letting the tears flow.

It was all over.


A/N: The lyrics preceding this chapter are from Won't Want For Love (Margaret in the Taiga), by The Decemberists [an amazing song, might I add]. Reviews are amazing (as are you, Constant Reader). Hopefully you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!