A/N – Prepare for a twist! (*Evil Laugh*)

Chapter 10: Least-Likely-Inating

Phineas felt Isabella's breath roll over his face and indulged himself in the feeling, the feeling that he was hoping to get a lot more of. He gazed deep into her eyes and almost lost himself in them until he shook himself and reminded his brain of the reason he was doing this.

"Phineas?" Isabella asked unsurely, staring hard at her best-friend. A million thoughts and explanations were racing through her head right now, as she tried to select the one that best explained what Phineas was doing. This definitely wasn't normal friendship behavior. Perhaps it was just Phineas trying something different, he always was; but no, something about this situation seemed different to Isabella and she was sure that wasn't it. Could it be that these motions were unconscious? That Phineas was acting on deeper impulses? This was an enticing thought to Isabella, but Phineas seemed very aware of what he was doing.

Could it… could it possibly be than… that… that Phineas was returning some of her feelings? This thought filled Isabella with happiness, not only because it was what she dearly wanted, but also because it seemed to fit the best.

She was just about to jump about for joy when a fourth possibility occurred to her. What if… what if she had dozed off some time and this was simply a dream? Isabella shook her head, this explanation seemed even more likely than the last; but Isabella didn't want it to be true. She pinched herself hard in the back (so Phineas wouldn't see) and braced herself to wake up at any moment, she did not.

Just about to shout for joy again, her mirth died in her mouth as Phineas began to speak, getting rid of all her actions except listening to his sweet, therapeutic and downright dreamy voice confess whatever it was he wanted to confess. Instantly, Isabella was riveted.

"Isabella… we've been friends… best friends" he corrected himself, "for almost thirteen years now"

Isabella nodded, it had been a long time that they were friends, every minute of it had been one amazing adventure and each day was a gift of unappreciated richness. Though her life had never been boring with Phineas Flynn and, quite soon after their friendship, Ferb Fletcher, her friendship with the former had never been completely satisfying regardless of how much fun she had had during that day. Isabella had always felt that she wanted more from their relationship, even before she was (or knew she was) in love with him.

"and we've always had fun together. Since the moment we met, I felt I had a special bond with you, something that could never be broken. All these years I've called you 'friend' and acted accordingly, yet I never stopped to ponder at why 'friend' never felt like a meaningful enough word for you"

Isabella pinched herself again, this time much harder. It was partly because she couldn't believe he was saying this, partly because she wanted to get rid of her sudden lightheadedness and partly to get rid of the massive amount of shock she was experiencing. She had dreamed of this moment coming in so many different ways for almost ninety-percent of her life. It was quite a shock to find it actually happening.

For a brief period of time, after she had punched herself, Isabella's shock and lightheadedness would ware-off and she would regain control of her body. As soon as she did so, however, her mind would race into overdrive at Phineas' words and the shock and tension would return in full strength to be followed by an even harder pinch.

"always, I loved being around you and I never knew why. All these years you've been the closest thing to me I've ever found. All these years I've made mistakes about my feelings and confused myself to no end. All these years I've never been able to stop thinking about you and I never asked myself 'why? Why is this occurring?' All these years I've wasted and, until yesterday, I never realized why."

Isabella was having to calm and cool herself down at ferocious pace by this time and was trying to stop herself hyperventilating her lungs out. She could feel her heart beating in her elbows, as well as everywhere else, and could swear her eyes were popping out of her skull.

"why? You may wonder. Why? What happened yesterday? What epiphany did I have this time? I did have an epiphany, it was the most important realization of my life. With everyone gone, I was finally given time to ponder the question, 'what does Isabella mean to me?' It was hard, very hard. The hardest thing I've ever done. Finally, I realized what I was feeling. Finally! I knew why I felt different around you. Finally! I understood what these feelings meant."

Isabella's chest was heaving heavily now. Any minute, any minute! Any minute he was going to utter the words she had been dying to hear her entire memorable life. Any minute, he would utter the words the would seal herself and him together for eternity. Any minute he would proclaim the most important thing in his life. Any minute, he would make Isabella's complete.

"I was so excited. I knew what I had to do. I had to let people to know. I had to sort this issue out then and there. I had to tell Ferb the revelation that would change my life forever. And, soon after, I plotted to tell you. You are my best-friend" he smirked at the words and how wrong they were as well as how badly they would be contradicted in his next few sentences. "you are my best-friend and you were the one whom I needed to tell the most urgently. You are the one, whom I am in love with"

He had admitted it, he showed no fear and no hesitation. He showed no sign of reservations and showed no sign of falsehood. He looked at her proudly, his gaze becoming stronger than that of a hundred men and leaned in close to her ear.

"Ma chère, Je t'aime" he smiled, then added, "or, if that wasn't clear enough for you: Isabella, I love you"

The last words echoed in her brain and bounced off her skull. 'I love you, I love you, I love you' were the words. The words that had sent the girl to the point of fainting with shear happiness. The words that she had waited to hear for so long; persevering through heartbreak, crisis, flood and anything that lay strewn across her path she had waited, continuing to put one foot in front of the other and never looking back.

Many a time she had lain in bed, sobbing her eyes out over one of Phineas' many failures and wailing and despairing over the possibility that these same words might never issue from his mouth. Many a time she had felt sure that he did not love her in any other way than 'as a friend' and would destroy herself over it.

Many a time she would tear herself apart over one shortcoming or another of the boy's that 'conclusively proved' he did not love her at all only to cheered up and rejuvenated the very next morn by the very same boy. Many a time, she had told herself that she was over the boy and would act as such, but no matter how hard she tried, she would end up swooning for him and only him. She would travel to malls, when she wasn't with Phineas, with her friends and surround herself with boys hoping that she would become attracted to one who noticed her feelings. But she never did, every time it was the same story. None of them were right for her, none of them were her man, none of them were Phineas Flynn.

She sighed with joy, lifted herself up, to get a better look into his eyes, and was about to utter words 'Oh Phineas, I do love you' before giving him the most passionate and meaningful kiss a fourteen year-old could give when a stray green beam arched across the festival and hit a mirror in the pretzel stand, diverting it from its original target (Phineas) and hitting Isabella instead.

All the love she felt instantly vanished and retracted. It felt as if it were being sucked back to her brain through her veins. Slowly, she leaned up even more, glaring at the love-drunk boy with anger. He loved her? He loved her? Who did he think he was? Of course the feeling wasn't bloody-well mutual! How could he expect someone to still love him after causing them so much heartbreak? Was he crazy? Yes, yes he was.

Phineas' smile would have dissipated by now had he been in his normal state and he would have been downright terrified of this very, very angry Isabella. But Phineas wasn't in his normal state, he was in his love-drunk, Isabella centered state.

"Phineas Flynn!" she shouted, causing several people to look up from their stalls, this girl was clearly very angry with this loopy boy. "who the hell do you think you are?" she screamed, her nostrils practically belching fire.

Phineas sat and grinned at her, "but, Isabella my sweet, you know I'm Phineas Flynn, you said it yourself." he pointed out. Isabella looked as if she could have ripped someone's head off, this boy wasn't getting the point, his love was one-sided! How did he not realize that?

As he grinned at her, thoughts of doubt nagged him in the back of his mind as to why Isabella was doing what she was. Phineas disregarded them however, he was too hyped-up on hormones to think clearly, let alone rationally. This annoyed Isabella even more and so she did the only thing that would get him to realize: she pulled her arm back, swung it and hit Phineas as hard as she could straight across the face.

"Isabella!" he cried in pain as it reached his head. Isabella stood and glared at him furiously. "what do you mean you love me?" she hissed, the amount of venom in her tone not apparent to Phineas. "I love you, Isabella. I would do anything for you. I would do anything to make you happy, I would go to any length to stop you from being sad. I'm completely happy as long as you are. I could be doing anything and it wouldn't matter so long as you're there. Isn't that what love is?"

Isabella's eyes narrowed, "no" she spat. "you wait until now to return my feelings? Now? Well, Phineas, now is too late."

Phineas frowned, this didn't seem right, this didn't seem like Isabella at all. Meanwhile, Isabella was getting desperate, she couldn't control her legs, arms or body in general and the worst part was: her mouth was ruining her relationship with Phineas before her very eyes and was surely about to break his heart, 'shut up, mouth!' she demanded, 'shut up! Shut up! Shut up!'

But, sadly, it continued. "for years I was in love with you Phineas, years. Everything about you was dreamy and perfect about you. Oh, Phineas' eyes are the same shade of blue as toilet cleaner. Phineas' bed feels like oatmeal. Phineas' can create a unicorn for me. Phineas has rainbows flying out of his butt. Phineas can grow a second head. Oh, wouldn't it be cute if Phineas grew a wart?" she mocked at how in love she had been while Phineas looked on in horror, he was finally having some of it penetrate through.

"every single event that we went to you spoiled. At the play, when we were seven, you insisted on having someone else kiss me on the cheek instead of you. When we were eight, you insisted on taking Ferb to the beach too when I made it clear that I just wanted it to be us. When we were nine, you never went to anything I invited you to without someone else. Every single playground endeavor, trip to the pools, trip to the beach, going to concerts, going to the movies, coming over to my house, coming for sleepovers, coming for dinner… everything! Everything was an opportunity to spend time alone together and you spoiled every one! Throughout our entire friendship I wanted you to utter those words"

Phineas was becoming horrorstruck and very angry at himself for causing her so much pain, of course that was what that meant! How could he have not noticed Isabella's love for him? Of course she wanted to spend time alone with him and he had ruined it for her. Now he was paying for it through consequences he wouldn't dare to believe were true.

Isabella was getting tears in her eyes now, "even, on the first day of summer, when we were nine, you rudely told me that you were too busy to hang out with me and value our friendship or possibly deeper relationship. Then there was the Comet Kermillian, which you failed to watch with me. And when we built the golf course, you spent the whole time dancing with Stacy instead of me! And then, you ignored me so many times as I tried to ask you to the dance that I almost gave up; and, when I finally did ask you, you decided to crush that idea of mine by bringing Ferb along! How about that, Phineas? How's that supposed to work, you're the one who should have been asking me!"

Phineas was getting scared now and traces of tears were beginning to form in his eyes. He knew worse was still to come and he was violently repenting for the mistakes he had made, praying that Isabella would stop soon, he knew he was too late, but he didn't want to hear any more from her mouth about it.

"and, of course, you never thought of having dinner with me when you built the restaurant, did you?" Phineas shook his head sadly, "And then, how many times did you imply that I wasn't cute when Meap was here? The island, the 'romantic cruise,' the future, the wedding, the Beak, Paris," she hissed, "the island, the after-party, the second rollercoaster, the bio-sphere, the movies, your own birthday, the transporter… do you want me to continue?"

Phineas shook his head, his mind racing into overdrive before it had a complete meltdown at her words. She was going to say it, the words that he hoped he would never hear, the words that would destroy him and leave him alone forever.

"my point is, Phineas, you caused me so much heartbreak, so much, and never tried to make up for it. My heart ached to no end and you didn't care. Well, seems the tables have been turned, you're in love with me? Well, guess what! I don't love you! At all, ever, never again, zip" she motioned violently to indicate how 'over' it was. "in fact, I think I like you less than that, I'm not mildly attracted, I don't think I even like you as a friend anymore, in fact, I think, I think I hate you, Phineas Flynn! I don't want to see you again, I don't want hear you, I don't even want to smell you, let alone be with you! You thought that we might get married? Happily ever after? Sure! Not with you!" she laughed at this, throwing her head back, "be with you! Ha! Who would want to be with you?"

Phineas blinked in shock and pain, she had said that she hated him, it was over. His mind went blank and numb, the only thing penetrating it was the sound of her laughter, laughter at his pain. What did he have to live for? He clutched his head, jumped up from under Isabella, ran to his bike, strapped his helmet on and rode off in such a hurry that he scraped the skin off his leg. As he rode, he could still hear her laughter ringing in his ears until he heard her shout from behind him, "and good riddance!" came the call. Phineas rode harder, fighting back tears.

Back at the fair, Isabella felt her body go weak and the effects of whatever ray that had hit her ware off. She collapsed on the ground, the love-induced hormones flooding back into her body. But she didn't feel any love at the moment, none at all. And why should she? Her love wasn't happy, so neither was she, and it was all her fault. She didn't know what power had come over her, but what she did know was that she had just permanently ruined any chance of a happily ever after for herself and for Phineas.

She sighed heavily and heard the soft crunch of the grass behind her. She turned and saw Ferb standing behind her, his strong gaze roving around her face. He opened his mouth to say something, but all that came out was "why?" and he was gone, biking home, to Phineas, to his step-brother, to the person whom the person he had just talked to had crushed.

All Isabella could do was reach out her hand, willing Phineas to ride back. But he didn't. And Isabella wept, she wept bitterly. What had she done? What could she do? All she thought of was how sorry she was. "Phineas, I'm sorry" she cried out softly, her arm extending to the horizon he had just vanished on.