A/N: Quick note before I begin this, I will be replacing each old chapter with this rewritten version as they come out. This version will probably deviate entirely from the first version, so I would NOT recommend reading past the rewritten portion of the fanfic.

On The Road to Isabella : The Hollywood Calamity

Hollywood was once again on the prowl. Under the pretense that it was looking for new up and coming talent, several directors had gone across the nation holding contests and enticing many to send in audition videos of a talent of their choosing. It drew on the hopes and dreams of many young people, including from a certain girl from Danville – Isabella Garcia-Shapiro. Of course, many thought she had the talent to reach the filming sets of Hollywood; after all, she had the singing and acting abilities that few could compare to. She was envy of many, and Hollywood directors took advantage of this.

Inevitably, movie producers and directors made their way into Danville and held their auditions at the Googolplex Mall. For contestants to be considered, one needed to submit their audition tapes to be reviewed first, only then would they announce the times and contestants for their live audition in front of the wandering crowds of the mall. Isabella was one of the lucky gals to make it through the initial phase and was set to perform on the last day of auditions.

No one doubted what Isabella could do. No one was surprised when Isabella made into the final round of auditions. In reality, most of Danville even rallied behind Isabella, rooting for her, and wishing her the best. She had become the face of the city, someone who the city could make an example of. No other person from Danville made it out of the initial stages. Out of almost a hundred Danville applicants, only Isabella was considered.

Out of all the support, perhaps the most ardent people to rally behind Isabella were the Flynn-Fletcher family, including the boy that held the most apprehension to all of this. See, Phineas knew that Isabella would make it all along. He had witnessed Isabella's singing prowess first-hand. There was no way that he couldn't support what Isabella was doing, but he did take issue with what her win would entail. Phineas wasn't comfortable with the reality of her having to move away from Danville to accommodate for the new life in California. Isabella, being the person he grew up with, Phineas wasn't ready to let her go. He wasn't ready to quell the faint fantasies that would pop up in his head from time to time – often depicting both him and Isabella in romantic settings.

Still, Phineas stood beside his family at the Googolplex Mall, watching Isabella impress the directors in front of her with her acting. Then came the singing portion of the audition. Phineas dismissed this challenge, he knew that the directors were in for a treat. As Isabella grabbed the microphone from its stand, Isabella actively searched the floor for Phineas. She stalled for time until she could spot Phineas's fiery red hair. They locked eyes. And for a brief second, Isabella gave him a soft, warm smile.

Keeping her eyes locked on Phineas's, she uttered into the microphone, "This song is meant for someone extremely special to me. I hope you all like it."

All throughout the song, it seemed as if Isabella was actively seeking something from Phineas, some kind of sign, feeling, or action. She wanted him to show her what he felt for her. For Isabella knew what winning this competition would mean, she just wanted him to give her a reason to stay.

"Please, give me a sign," the thought of desperation ruminated her mind throughout the song.

But that sign never came. As much as Phineas had grown and matured, he hadn't overcome the romantic ignorance that came with childhood. For a current seventeen year old, he had little clue what romance and love were, much less was he able to truly recognize what his own emotions for Isabella were. He'd been told that it was love, but he never accepted it for what it was. Throughout the song, Phineas simply showed expressions of friendly approval, leaving Isabella with a longing and broken heart by the song's end. She completed the audition soon after. The final decision would be posted the following day.

That night, neither Phineas nor Isabella could find enough peace to fall asleep. The two of them would end up lying in bed, counting the small imperfections to the ceiling paint, thinking about what life could be without each other. While Phineas struggled to think about what he would do, Isabella felt as if enough was enough. The ordeal at the mall was an attempt made out of desperation, she couldn't get any more evident with her emotions without straight out telling him how she felt.

"I don't get it. How can anyone just not get the hint?" She was evidently frustrated, her voice growing with each passing word.

"Oh Phineas, you're such an amazing guy, but so clueless," she paused, quickly shifting her body to her other side, "I can't continue living like this."

Isabella was right. The reality was that she couldn't continue to let her emotions for Phineas dictate how she lived her life. At some point, she needed to learn how to carry on without him. It was all part of growing up. And to Isabella, winning the chance to make it big in Hollywood was her first step in becoming completely independent, giving her an opportunity to reach her most ambitious goals. There was no way that Phineas could determine what her life would look like. Not anymore.

"I'm sorry Phineas, I can't continue like this," she whispered to herself, a long sigh escaped her lips, "If my name is on that list… I'll have to leave you behind."

Across the street, a cold shiver ran down Phineas's body. It was going to be a long night.

The following morning, the results were posted and the city had gone into a frenzy. Isabella had been chosen as the next upcoming, rising star to the world of cinematography and music. The local press had surrounded the Garcia-Shapiro household, eagerly waiting to obtain Isabella's take and reactions to what had just happened. Almost immediately, she received the celebrity's treatment. People were lining up in front of her house, waiting to attain a signed autograph. Girls from across the Tri-State area scoffed in jealousy. Guys quickly flocked to attract her attention. Phineas, with nothing more than four hours of sleep, arose from his slumber to the sight of his worst nightmare. The volume of people outside indicated that Isabella had won. He turned a sickly colored white as he stared the scene in horror. A sharp pain in his left-side chest quickly knocked out any physical protestations he might have had. Phineas couldn't believe what was happening.

Isabella would never abandon him, right? Years of constant friendship surely meant something to her. Right?

It did, but it wasn't enough.

He ran to the nearest phone and dialed the only person who could put this entire nightmare to rest. As the phone rang, Phineas could feel his body clinching, wincing at any thought of Isabella leaving. With each passing ring, his mind grew restless and heart violently pounded, until there was a loud crack on the other end. His heart dropped.

"Isabella?" Phineas's voice almost seemed desperate.

"Hi Phineas! What's up?"

"I see hundreds of people outside of your house," he paused, his pause almost too long for comfort.

"Yeah. I guess the entire city is in a craze ever since the judges announced my selection. It's a little annoying."

"I'd bet. Either way, congrats. I always knew you'd be able to make it."

"Thanks Phineas! Really means a lot coming from you," now it was Isabella's turn to pause, "You know, leaving this life behind will be hard. I'm really going to miss you Phineas." This was Isabella's final attempt to illicit some kind of clue from Phineas. One response, and she will draw hope from it, enough for her to stay for him.

Phineas didn't know how to respond. He was stuck at a crossroads. Should he just let Isabella know how he felt? It might be too risky to place their entire friendship on the line – for just a single moment. Or should he stand aside and hope that Isabella chooses him over her new life in California? In his mind, he would never be able to guess his own value in Isabella's heart. After all, if she really cared and loved him the way that he loved her, she would stay.

"I'll miss you too," another pause, "I… I hope this is exactly what you wished for." He immediately hung up on Isabella. Unfortunately, like many times before, he drew little from Isabella's clues and relented to his own fears. He admitted defeat and was ready to give in to the thought that he'd never stand a chance over the new guys she'll meet. His heart dropped at every single depiction he could think of, all of them without him alongside her.

"I can't do this…" the two said in unison as if they were in the same room. Both threw themselves onto their beds and wondered what their lives might have been if things had gone so right. The horrible emptiness that persisted in them began to overwhelm them. This was it, there was no turning back anymore. A small tear fell from Isabella's eye as Phineas forcefully covered his face with the pillow beside him.

Over the course of the week, preparations for Isabella's departure were already underway. The press that initially surrounded her had dwindled off as moving trucks began to make a frequent appearance in the Garcia-Shapiro driveway. What made it worse for Phineas was that the process was long and arduous. Every single time the trucked pulled up, he was reminded of what was inevitable. And every single time, he responded by locking himself in his room, closing the shades, and laying on his bed with earpieces flooding him with music. Thankfully, the entirety of the Garcia-Shapiro family had come to help with the move, or else he would have been left to job. He already felt bad enough, he didn't need to be physically there to ease their separation.

Finally, after weeks of wait, the day finally came when the Garcia-Shapiros had locked their front doors for the last time. By late evening, the moving process was complete and everything was already on route to their new house in the greater Los Angeles area. This was perhaps the lowest moment that Phineas had reached in his entire lifetime. The day that he feared the most was upon him and he wasn't ready to accept a new life without Isabella. Still, regardless of the position he was in, he had to at least say goodbye to Isabella for the last time. He owed her that much. Forcing himself out of his bed and out of his locked room, he made his way out the front door to an Isabella already hugging and kissing her family and his family goodbye. He walked towards them, completely lacking the will to regard for his safety as he crossed the street. He slowly approached her, an evident sadness radiating from him.

"So, I guess this is goodbye." Phineas spoke softly.

"I guess so." An uncomfortable silence followed as everyone else had moved on to wish Vivian a goodbye as well.

"You know… I'll be honest with you, I never thought that after all of our years together, we'd be in a position like this."

"Yeah. It's crazy to see how everything plays out." Isabella took a deep breath, "I'm really going to miss you. There's really no replacing someone like you."

"Say for yourself. How could I replace someone as talented and amazing as you?"

Isabella attempted to hide her ever-reddening face. "Please stop," a sense of giddiness ruminated from that response, "Promise me that you'll keep in touch. I'll try to find time for you."

"I'll make sure of it."

"I'd really like that." A flash courage suddenly hit Isabella, a thought that she might have considered to be insanity just a few moments ago suddenly became something natural. She stepped closer to the boy and looked at him in the eyes. "Thanks for everything, Phineas." Without waiting for his response, she seized on the emotional moment. She stared into Phineas's yearning eyes with her own pleading look. The two stared into each other as if either of them could picture their own futures beyond them. Isabella, blown away by the sentimental moment, saw Phineas taking her hand, leading her toward a field peppered in flowers, only to lead her to dance in middle of it all. Phineas, entranced by the moment, saw Isabella guiding him toward an empty patch of grass beneath the moonlit sky just to lay in each other's arms, taking note of each passing shooting star.

The two were in love. Yet, neither knew how to break out of fear. Phineas, nor Isabella, was willing to put everything on the line, especially since this could be the moment that will never fade from memory. This might have be the last time they see each other and no one wanted this moment to become a tragic memory. Isabella closed the gap between the two of them and took one last moment for herself. She puckered her lips and kissed Phineas's cheek. It was a quick, but a deep and passionate kiss. "I have to go."

Phineas was on the verge of breaking down at this point. He didn't know how to respond but still wished to show Isabella how much he wanted her to stay. The only thing he could do is wrap her in an embrace, as tender and loving as anyone could give. He pulled her close and refused to let go of her. "I… I hope you find everything you want," his voice wavering, "If you ever need me, I'll be here for you."

"Don't forget about me when you make it big."

"I won't, Phineas."

He let go of her and watched her store the last of her things in the back of her car. Both Isabella and Vivian climbed into the car and they shared their final moments together before the car began to speed down the street, towards the ever setting sun. A small tear shed from Phineas's eye as he watched his childhood friend and his memories simply walk out of his life. It was all consumed by the crimson glow of the evening sky as it slowly enveloped the red car that the two Garcia-Shapiros rode in. In just a few weeks, his life had completely changed and as long as Phineas knew, he had just lost Isabella forever. Still, a small sense of hope was embedded within him. While it might not be soon, perhaps one day, he might have the chance to see her again. But until then, there was little he could do but hope.

"I hope to see you again."

A/N: A little late to release this, I'll admit it. Had computer issues and had to start this chapter from scratch once the first draft was completed. Either way, super excited to revive this fanfic. Maybe this time I'll actually write it with competence and an actual plot. Hopefully some old peeps who were around to see this fic originally come out would take the time to read this new version. It may take some time to finish the next chapter since my final exams are around the corner, as soon as they are done I will devote my entire time to completing this fanfic.

Remember, just stick to the rewritten version, since this version will likely really deviate from the old version. The chapters will be replaced as they become available.

Until next time, happy reviewing!