Author's Note: Can you believe it? Chapter ten! I really don't like this chapter, which is why I posted it so early. =P

Chapter Ten: J is for JOCOSE

Jocose: jesting; characterized by jokes and good humor

She wasn't really sure what kind of alcohol it was. Her best guess? Neither did Phineas.

Phineas' co-worker was to be married in a few months, so what was to expect? An engagement party for the happy couple, a gathering full of raving drunk men and women slowly losing their grip on reality. Isabella hadn't been expecting Phineas to be one of them.

She quickly learned it wasn't intentional. As soon as she found Phineas in the crowd, she notice the distant look inn his eyes. Her was still smiling, and still talking, presumably, so she hadn't realized initially.

"Hey," Isabella introduced, skirting up to Phineas and the young man with whom he had been speaking, "Mind if I borrow him for a moment?"

The man agreed, darting off into the sea of people, Isabella quickly losing sight of him.

"Who was that?" Isabella asked happily, turning to Phineas. Phineas smiled, a boyish grin that took up most of his face.

"Who was… what?" he mocked, tilting his head slightly. Isabella ruffled her brow, looking at him with confusion.

"Are you okay?" she asked first. Noticing an unusual drink in hand, Isabella questioned it. Simpering, Isabella touched his arm and ran her pale fingers down to his wrist. "Are you drunk?"

Phineas seemed surprised by this. He pulled a face and made a noise like a scoff, but he didn't answer for a moment. "It is quite possible," he finally stated, "That I just may be… slightly inebriated."

Isabella couldn't suppress a laugh. At first she was sorry, assuming Phineas would be offended. He wasn't, however, and Isabella was caught off guard by the sight of him laughing as well.

"Slight inebriated, huh?" Isabella repeated. "Can I see that?" she inquired, gesturing politely to the glass Phineas gripped.

He offered her the drink easily, lifting it up to her level. It looked like some fruity concoction, almost designed well enough to pass for a smoothie. And perhaps it had done just that. Isabella brought it up to her nose, pulling it away abruptly after sniffing.

"Oh," Isabella exclaimed, "Wow." She wasn't well informed enough to be sure what kind of alcohol she'd just been introduced to, but the scent was enough to tell her that it was there. And surely Phineas should have known as well.

"Where did you get this?" she asked calmly, leaning in a little so Phineas would be able to hear her. "Who gave this to you?"

"I may just have taken," Phineas began, but he didn't finish. Isabella felt her eyes widen, watching him expectantly. He was scanning the crowd, but after a moment he turned back to Isabella. "Drinks," he finished gleefully, "To be polite."

Isabella was silently thanking herself that she had caught Phineas at this point. He was still talking coherently, and still with his usual excellent vocabulary nonetheless. He seemed to be able to control motor function; his posture was as confident as ever and he held himself the way he always did. Perhaps it wasn't as bad as Isabella had originally feared. This wouldn't be too difficult, she decided. She could handle him just fine.

"To be polite?" Isabella asked, suddenly feeling like this was an interrogation. She seemed to lose Phineas' attention, his eyes drifting over her head and about to the people around them. "Hey! Hey," Isabella shouted, using her free hand to move Phineas chin in her direction. "How was taking drinks polite?"

"I was offered," he explained, his lips mocking a duck's as he waited for Isabella to remove her hand. As she did, he continued, "Richard," he began. Isabella assumed Richard to be the man he was speaking to before she'd walked up.

"Yes?" Isabella urged. "What about Richard?"

"He handed me the drink, so I… drank it. With him," Phineas finished, his words becoming strained and his sentences broken.

"You didn't have to do that," Isabella giggled, placing the nearly empty glass on the bar behind her.

"Oh, I know," Phineas said excitedly. "But I did." Isabella grinned at her boyfriend's sudden outburst, giggling at his excitement.

"I can see that," Isabella observed.

"Are we?" Phineas asked, his face almost seriously as he stumbled through words. "Can we? We should go home."

Isabella's face softened. She knew she would have to get him home safely, but she didn't think he's be so easy to ploy. "Okay," she complied. "Good idea."

Isabella took his arm, gently weaving through people, bidding goodbye to the people she knew as they passed them. Phineas kept quiet most of the walk, but he stopped short at the door.

Isabella turned around carefully when she was pulled back. Phineas was turning around in circles, seemingly searching for something. His expression was frantic and worried.

"Hey! Hey, hey, hey!" he shouted, eyes darting around the room in a frenzy.

Isabella embarrassedly pulled Phineas close to her. "Hey," she soothed. "Come on, what's wrong?"

Phineas' expression could make a sad puppy cry. He looked heartbroken and concerned as he anxiously inquired, "Where's Perry?"

Isabella stared at him, her face blank. She wanted to burst into laughter, not caring how loud she was or even if she snorted, but for the sake of Phineas and his confusion, she only shook her head.

"He's safe," Isabella assured. "He's at home. Come on, let's go."

"Home," Phineas repeated, pointing at Isabella. With a questioning look, she nodded.

"Yes," she verified. "At home."

"Like," Phineas chuckled, "Like, like at a house?" Isabella looked puzzled, but she nodded nonetheless. Apparently this was the funniest thing in the world to Phineas, because he almost doubled over with spontaneous laughter. The young man had tears in his eyes as a flustered Isabella ushered him out the door.

Getting Phineas into the car was easy enough. He seemed to have no will or desire to drive whatsoever, and handed the keys to Isabella instantly without her needing to ask. She was pleased when he hopped into the passenger's seat, buckling up immediately.

Isabella, satisfied with Phineas' ability to control himself, started the car and exited the parking lot.

Phineas was quiet for some time, seemingly preoccupied with everything that passed by the window. Sudden mumblings caught Isabella's attention, causing her to glance over in Phineas' direction. He was slumped in his seat, his feet kicked out, drawn and crossed at the ankles. His head laid against the window, his soft breathing leaving a soft fog on the glass.

"What's wrong?" Isabella asked, exchanging glances between the road and her boyfriend.

Phineas didn't seem to understand her question, but he most obviously heard her. He spoke suddenly, breaking himself out of his trance. He was bobbing his head, tapping his hands on his knees, seemingly amused with the pitter-patter of his fingers on his jeans. He didn't answer his Isabella's query, but he was louder now.

"But just because a record has a groove, don't make it in the groove! But you can tell right away at letter A, when the people start to move…" Phineas teetered off, Isabella giggling softly. Phineas seemed to notice this, turning his head to rest on a fist. "You'll sing, too?" he questioned.

Isabella blanched. "Um, no. I… I don't think so. Not this time." Phineas looked instantly unhappy, and Isabella could see. He pouted unintentionally, but nodded nonetheless.

The couple was quiet again for a few more minutes, Phineas appearing distressed and Isabella feeling guilty. Phineas' eyes looked distant again, peering out the window endlessly.

With a sigh of defeat, Isabella began. "They can feel it all over," she sang quietly, "They can feel it all over, people."

Phineas grinned, joining in gleefully. "They can feel it all over," the pair harmonized, slowly growing louder. "They can feel it all over, people!"

Isabella was given the job of presenting the next verse, which she did excellently. Phineas was contented, singing along to the next chorus as it came along. They reached the end of their little song eventually, both laughing mindlessly.

Phineas watched Isabella with loving eyes as she seemed to rock in her seat, glowing with happiness. His eyes narrowed, however, thinking.

Isabella noticed, tucking stray hair that had come loose behind her hear to get a better view of Phineas. "What is it now?" she asked.

"Did I…?" Phineas trailed off. "Did I write that song?"

Isabella laughed, her chest rumbling as she giggled against the steering wheel. She looked to Phineas with dancing eyes, kindly explaining, "Stevie Wonder wrote that song."

Phineas accepted this answer, though appearing crestfallen. He leaned back in his seat, thinking for a minute. His calculations seemed to come together, and he looked back at Isabella with hopeful eyes.

"Am I Stevie Wonder?" he asked in all seriousness.

Isabella's guffaws finally let loose, and she was thankful they were paused at a stop sign. She shot forward dramatically, leaning against the steering wheel for support. Phineas watched in amusement and expectation. Isabella attempted to throw herself together, wiping her eyes and clearing her throat. It was hardly nonchalant.

Isabella smiled, but answered honestly. "No," she clarified. "You are not Stevie Wonder."

"Oh," Phineas said, deflating minimally. He looked to the floor before looking back to Isabella. "Can I be?" he questioned.

Isabella had pulled into their driveway by then, and had just about lost her cool. With a deep breath, she replied, "Sure."

Phineas grinned, nodding accordingly. They entered the house without a fuss, and it appeared Phineas had forgotten what he was doing.

"Tired?" Isabella asked, to which she received a lazy nod. "Come on," she motioned, pointing him to their bedroom. Phineas recollected some things, Isabella observed, watching as he rifled through some of his own drawers, successfully locating a pair of pajamas.

"I'm going to clean up real quick," she informed him. "Just right here, in the bathroom. Will you be okay?"

"Yes," Phineas asserted, sitting down stiffly on the bed. Isabella responded with a nod and a smile, disappearing into the bathroom behind the closed door.

"Stay here, okay?" Isabella was glad to have a moment to herself. Admittedly, Phineas wasn't a bad drunk. He was mostly coherent and he could operate himself. He complied with all of her wishes and understood everything she presented him with well enough. He was a little more childish than usual, but not so much that she needed to worry.

The young woman washed her face just as quickly as she had promised, changing into her own sleepwear. Upon dropping her dirty clothes in the hamper and entering the bedroom, she was surprised to find that Phineas had disappeared. Nothing remained but his still-folded pajamas placed neatly on the bed.

"Phineas?" she asked into the still air. "Phineas!" she called, rushing about the bedroom.

An easy drunk? Yes, of course. Spoke too soon, she thought with humiliation.

Upon rushing out of the bedroom, Isabella was flung into the air, tripping and flying into the wall across the hallway. She made almost no sound, caught off guard enough to remain silent. She held her head for a moment, wiping away the initial shock. Upon flipping over to sit herself comfortably on the ground, she looked across the hall. And right there was Phineas, holding onto Perry protectively, stroking the platypus' fine head.

"Phineas," Isabella mumbled dumbly, realizing she must have tripped over Phineas' legs as he sat, leaning casually against the far wall.

"You fell," Phineas observed, standing up suddenly, still holding Perry affectionately in his arms. He offered nothing more than a smile before walking back into the bedroom.

"Phineas!" Isabella called from her position on the floor, looking up into nothing with wide eyes and a slack jaw.

Perhaps an under the influence Phineas would be a little harder to handle than she had anticipated.

Author's Note: I really don't like this chapter. It doesn't really have a point at all. Like, whatsoever. I do, however, love the song Phineas and Isabella sang. Which is, by the way, "Sir Duke," by Stevie Wonder. Or Phineas Flynn. You know. Same difference. And it is over two thousand words. But just barely. Anyway. Reviews are appreciated, although not expected. I will update inconsistently, but the story will be finished within the month, I'm certain. Look out for new chapters.

Coming Up Next: K is for KNAVERY