Turning back the clock a bit…

(Isabella's POV after getting out of school)

I left the school in a hurry and caught up with Ferb.

"Hey Ferb, wait up!"

He just gave me a stare and shrugged.

"I guess if you really want to go Isabella, you can, just don't break his, oh nevermind."

"What were you saying Ferb?"

"NOTHING. Let's just get going."

"Seriously Ferb, how have I harmed Phineas?"

"No, you haven't yet, now let's get going.

I have a nagging feeling somehow I hurt Phineas, which might explain why Ferb and he are so edgy lately, but right now, I just want to visit Phineas. My phone vibrated in my pocket.

Dennis: Hey Isabella, want to meet up at your pool again later?

I had to think a little hard here; have a chance at a good time or seeing if Phineas is ok…

Flashback on Saturday evening

After playing around at the pool and getting tired and soaking wet, we just sat around enjoying the dusk. His hand crept over mine and I gripped it, eliciting a smile from him. I scooted closer, and he started to blush. One thing led to another, and soon, we were kissing and I was left breathless in bliss.

End Flashback

On the other hand, what other boy on this Earth can seize the day like Phineas? Yes, he may be oblivious, but I should have given him more time, after all, I will most likely marry him in the future. I don't know what happened that Friday night, but seeing Dennis somehow made me want to kiss as passionately as possible and be with him. I guess I shouldn't let my feelings get in the way of my life. I know what to say now.

Isabella: Sorry Dennis, got to visit Phineas.

Dennis: What happened? Actually, let me call you.

Isabella: K

"Hey Ferb, you hold a sec, Dennis is calling."

He just nodded and we sat on a bench that happened to be there. My phone rang and I answered it.

"Hey Dennis."

"Hey Isabella, so what's up?"

"Right now visiting Phineas at the hospital."

"That sounds sad. That means you can't go right?"

"Yeah, sorry Dennis, maybe next time."

"Ok, but how about we meet at the park in about 15 minutes?"

I looked to Ferb and he just shrugged.

"I guess that's fine Dennis, but you better be there by then."

"I will Isabella."

The conversation ended, Ferb just said, "I'll be at the hospital."

(Ferb's POV)

It was not surprising for me to hear that Isabella would be considering Phineas' health over spending time with Dennis, but still, I wonder what Dennis wanted to say to Isabella that was so important that he had to meet with her face to face. It is not normal for me to spy on anyone, but again, who said these circumstances were normal? I scroll through the apps on the watch and pressed the ghost like icon. That should do it! I tried to look at myself, but didn't see anything and satisfied at being invisible, I followed Isabella. No, I don't intend to jump her, I am just umm… making sure she is fine. Ok Ferb, that's a lame excuse, still, isn't this for the benefit of your brother? Who knows, maybe Isabella has a change of heart and will break up with Dennis. I have about a couple seconds left, and here is Dennis! I leaned against the tree and got myself a good hearing position to listen in.

"Hey Isabella."

"Hey Dennis."

"I know this is odd, but umm the only reason why I dated you was… was that my real girlfriend was out for two weeks on some emergency."

WHAT THE F?! So this guy was just using her? I bet Isabella is thinking the same thing.

"Wait, what Dennis? S-So what y-you said you n-never meant it?"

At this point, Isabella's voice was starting to crack up.

"No, no, I know it's strange, but…"

"Dennis Miller, what the hell are you doing with the lead cheerleader of Danville High? I thought you said you would remember me THE Veronica of your life?!"

I see a blonde girl a year older than us come with the word rage etched on her head.

"No, no Veronica, umm, she is just a new friend I met."

"NEW FRIEND?! What about all that kissing and the pool huh? You thought I was on vacation, but I saw everything that you did. You never really mean it do you?"

Isabella now was also on the verge of rage, "Wait, what? Dennis, you didn't tell me about Veronica!"

"No Veronica, please! I will do anything to keep you!"

"If you want to really talk, come by my house later. Until then."

Veronica left in a hurry and Isabella was running away and crying. I didn't care about what Dennis is doing right now, he set himself up for this, so boo-hoo for him. Right now, my brother's friend is in need of comfort. Oh crap, she's heading for the hospital, and I'm nowhere near there… I got it! The transporter app! But I can't let Isabella just walk all the way. Here goes nothing… I appear a couple steps behind Isabella.

"Isabella, are you alright?"

"Ferb! What are you doing here? I thought you said you were going to the hospital."

"Just seeing what happened."

"Oh... That."

"Yeah, I'm truly sorry about it, maybe we can both visit Phineas now."

"How? It's about another hour walk away."

"Remember the transporter app we made?"

"Oh yeah, let's go!"

"By the way Isabella, next time, choose a better boyfriend and do your research. A couple clicks and you could have saved yourself some trouble."

She just looked at me weird and I told the app, "Go to Phineas."

A whir and we appear at Phineas' bed at the hospital. A bedcover covered most of his body and his triangular head stuck out of it, snoring slightly. Of course, the difference was that his head was all bandaged up, a cast adorned his left arm, and there was medical equipment hooked up to him. I really wonder who did it.

"Ferb, I don't know who did this, but they are going to PAY for hurting my boyfri-best friend!"

I just nodded and walked out to leave Isabella alone with Phineas. I smiled inwardly at her hurried fixing of labeling Phineas. Maybe this is the beginning.

(Back to Phineas' POV)

She sobbed still and spoke, "Phineas, I know you are probably still sleeping so I need to tell you something I should have told you a long time ago… Next time you wake up, I'll try to ask you to be my boyfriend and tell you what I failed to all these years.. I love you. I really do. I just didn't know why the last few days I was so hopelessly enamored with Dennis. That b_ Dennis was a nobody and I should have waited for you after being able to wait all these years."

Wait what? She loves me? I thought she loved Dennis, wait, Dennis was cussed out by Isabella? Does that mea-? OWWW! Pain shot through me so much that the next thing I know, everything is black once again.

(Ferb's POV)

I secretly smirked at what Isabella had to say. I guess two heartbreaks will eventually equal a whole heart. Rather cheery knowing that everything is falling back into place, I then heard Isabella scream. I ran in and Phineas' face was more contorted than last time and his heartbeat was slowing down drastically. I immediately told Isabella, "Quick, get the doctors!" She ran off and I started to use a defibrillator nearby (hey, it's my brother!). I see him convulse to the first shock I gave him, but his heart rate did not pick up. Another shock and it still didn't budge. On my third try, his heart rate was picking up and stabilizing. By then, the doctors finally arrived to see his heart rate back to normal.

"Son, are you a little young for using medical equipment?"

"Yes, yes I am."

"Good! Anyways, we'll take it from here."

He shooed us outside and we just made ourselves comfortable sitting on standard metal chairs outside the room. Mom and Dad left already hours ago to check out some antiques and Buford and Baljeet are at the mall with their "friends." An awkward silence hung in the air as Isabella and I waited. Isabella decided to speak first.

"So Ferb, you really don't know what happened?"

"No, no I don't."

"He got his left arm is in a cast, his face is a bandaged heap, and who knows what is under those covers? That got to be quite a lot of pain."

"Yeah, also his heart."

"What?"

"Nevermind."

"Ferb, did you listen in earlier?"

I shuffled my feet and mumbled a response

"Ferb Fletcher, under the pain of death, you are not to speak of what I said in there. Do you understand me?"

I nodded and bit back a laugh at her threat. Not that I don't think she's a threat, she doesn't know that he would be happy to reciprocate the feelings, although he doesn't even know what those feelings are, he'll get it the point one of these days. Speaking of romance, I got to touch face with Gretchen after so long. My brother can wait; after all, the doctors are tending to him. Before I can even touch my watch, Isabella took my arm and pulled it away from the watch.

"Ferb, you got to answer me on this truthfully. Does Phineas love me?"

I was naturally stunned she would make a bolder move like this. For the second time in my life, I really didn't know what to tell her. I know he cares for her, but I don't think he wants me to tell her yet. He hasn't really got his feelings straight yet, so I'll let him learn.

"I don't know Isabella, but what I do know is that deep down he cares for you. If he didn't, would he bother making the haunted house? Or the ice cream sundae? Making rainbows and finding unicorns? Probably not if he didn't really care about you."

Isabella just tapped her finger on the armrest on the chair in wrapped up in some thought. A minute or so later, she simply replied, "Thanks Ferb, I better go home before I get in trouble with mom." She stands up and walks away.

Finishing that conversation, finally I get some alone time with Gretchen (not physically of course, but holographically). I pressed my watch and waited a couples minutes for her to appear, but nothing. Maybe I really wanted need to see her in person after all.

(Phineas' POV)

Ugh… the pain was too much. This time I didn't see any apparition or dreamland, I just felt pain. After a while, I started regaining my sense of touch and smell, and soon, I started to open my eyes. Again, I was still in the hospital on the bed. Looking around, I saw no one else. Looks like Isabella and Ferb already left. I wonder what time it is… 10 PM? I was out for that long! I got too much rest now, but obviously, I won't be able to get out of this bed anytime soon. I sat back and remembered what Isabella said, replaying it over and over; savoring every syllable that issued from her mouth. I don't know, what it a dream or reality? I swear that is her voice, but I don't want to offend her. Maybe she's still with Dennis and boy would I look odd.

Imaginary flash forward

"Hey Isabella."

"Hey Phineas."

"You know, umm, a couple days ago at the hospital…"

"Yeah…"

"I remembered that you said that you loved me right?"

"No way, how can I love a dork like you! In your dreams Flynn!"

And she huffs away, I never see her again and the world explodes.

End imaginary flash forward.

Nah, I think that's a little overblown, but I'll make a note of it. First objective I need to complete when I get home: review our adventures and see what I missed. This is of course after I finish my pile of homework and wait… come on! I only went to school today to find out who Juliet is and now I end up here. So much for all the effort to go today and I end up worse off than yesterday. Now that I think about it, I wonder who did this? I guess I'll leave that for later, now I want to call Ferb first. Luckily, they didn't confiscate my phone that was in my pocket. Some beeps later…

"Hey Ferb, what's up?"

"Not much, you alright?"

"Yeah, in a little pain, but I'll live." I chuckled a bit at the end.

"I can see. Why are you calling though right now?"

"Just got bored after sitting here half a day. So how is Isabella?"

I heard him hesitate a tad, "She's fine."

I decided to play around and see if what Isabella said was true.

"So is Isabella and Dennis going along well?"

He really had to wait a bit here and whispered to somebody, "Umm.. Phineas, they broke up."

So it seems like I didn't dream that at all. I guess it might be just a coincidence.

"Is Isabella there?"

"Yes."

"Crap, I can't break into a number. Even if she wasn't there, I'm still too much pain to bother singing."

Ferb snidely remarked (in a joking way), "Yeah, yeah enthusiastic Phineas, now get some sleep before you die of happiness and I can't see you tomorrow."

"Alright Ferb, have a nice night. Oh yeah, tell Izzy that I told her good night also."

"Who's Izzy?"

"You know who."

"Phineas, really, who is Izzy?"

"Dude, she's here! Don't talk about it here!"

Seriously, Ferb you've got to be kidding? Did he remember what I told him?

"Hey Phineas, who is this IZ…"

"SHUT UP FERB!"

"Just joking bro, now hang tight and we'll see you tomorrow morning. Don't let the happiness bugs bite. By the way, I'm in our room, so Isabella didn't hear anything. Maybe Gretchen did though." He immediately ended the call.

I groaned and just shook my head. One of the many reasons why having a brother is so great and yet can be so god damn annoying. At least that helped me take my mind off of my aching body. I really wondered where I got hurt. Hmm, let's see here, a minor concussion, an obvious broken nose, a broken arm, and a couple of cracked ribs. I guess I fared better than I thought. At least I can still walk and talk! Ok, not really, I can't really do anything with my left hand out of the way for the next 2 weeks. Since Isabella wasn't with Ferb, I guess I'll give her a call. More monotonous beeping later…

"Hey Iz-Isabella."

"H-Hey Phineas, whatcha doin'?" Isabella sounded a little lighter than usual and didn't have her usual confidence.

"Watching grass grow."

"Ok… really whatcha doin'?"

"Just sleeping on a hospital bed and looking at the stairs." A/N: Yep, the stairs, not the stars.

"Cool, I guess you can't do much in a white room."

"So how is it going with Dennis?"

"What? Oh him? Don't say that name again while I am still living and breathing. YOU HEAR ME!"

Maybe I didn't dream after all, but her sharp voice in contrast with her earlier lighter tone was a little shocking to me, "Ok Isabella, no need to get offended here, it was just a question."

I waited for about half a minute before I got a response.

"It's alright Phineas, I shouldn't have hollered at you, it was just sudden."

"What's so sudden?"

She really hesitated before answering, "He a-already had a-another and j-just *sniff* u-used me."

At this point, her voice was cracked up and I could hear a sniff.

"That's alright Isabella, just calm down. Hey it's not the end of the world right? At least you're in a home and walking around while I am restrained to a hospital bed for a couple of days. I can't even get tacos; they only serve green eggs and ham."

She giggled a bit, which is what I wanted.

"That's what I like about you Phineas, you're so positive even when everything is crumbling."

"Hey, don't forget when we got stranded on the island!"

"Yeah, yeah, but still, you're right. What's done is done and I need to move on. *Yawn* I feel I have enough for today."

"Goodnight Iz-Isabella, by the way, who got to be Juliet?"

"We are going to need your vote, so we don't know yet."

I groaned at this. After this entire conundrum, I STILL don't know who Juliet is. She must have read my mind though.

"Don't worry Phineas, if I get picked, I won't bite, speaking of which, where's Perry?"

"Don't worry about him Isabella, he'll show up eventually."

"Cool, goodnight Phineas."

"Goodnight… honey."

"What did you say?"

"Oh, I just saw some honey here I didn't notice earlier. Goodnight Isabella."

I pressed the end button on the touchscreen and shut the phone down. I could swear that she face palmed herself when I said that. Hey, that's cool. For now, I got to lie low and don't disturb anything. After all, I got two and a half weeks, probably down to two considering I can't do much for the next couple days. If I want to let her know, I don't think this is the best time considering she just broke up with Dennis. When did having friends be so complicated? Before all of this, I haven't really thought about my relationship with Isabella. Yeah, she's attractive, she's smart, and she's my best friend. After this particular dance was advertised though, somehow in particular, I wanted to go to the dance, but only with Isabella. What the heck? What harm can a dance do? But now as I put more thought into it, it actually is a symbol for something! I think it's… crap I really don't know. It just doesn't feel right to like like your best friend. I just feel so confused! One moment I really want to be with Isabella; the next, I just like her as a best friend. Whatever it is, it's getting really late and all this thought was starting to give me a headache. I got two and half more weeks to figure it out though, so I think I'll just let sleep take me over. Before that though, Isabella's voice kept echoing in my mind, "…I love you..."

A/N: So what do you think? Read and review and thanks for the fifth review! This part was longer than I thought, but I couldn't break this into two parts because it was too short to make into two parts. I should be able to update sometime tomorrow, and probably in 2-3 more chapters, I will have a little Perry and Doof.