37. Heartache
Phineas looked helplessly at his brother, and Ferb stared back impassively. This was Phineas' fault and he would have to fix it.
"Candace," Phineas said tentatively.
"Go away. I never want to speak to you ever again," said Candace, the usual vibrancy in her tone replaced with a flat, faintly quivering tone.
"Technically, you're speaking to me right now," said Phineas, peeking his head into Candace's room.
Even from his position on the other side of the door, Ferb could tell Candace was glaring at their younger brother.
"Candace, it was an accident," said Phineas. "We…I didn't mean to…please don't be angry."
No sound came from outside the room, and Ferb inwardly sighed as he pushed Phineas further into the room with a less-than-gentle nudge.
"I didn't mean to invite Jeremy. It just happened, and I don't really know how Vanessa and him got under the kissing tree thing that Isabella came up with but…but really it wasn't as bad as it looked."
"Phineas, they kissed for fifteen whole seconds, and then they left with huge smiles on their faces."
"So? That just means they enjoyed the Greatest-Valentine's-Day-Ever party," said Phineas. "Not everyone had a good time. Isabella looked rather down leaving the party."
"That's because you were too busy with the party to dance with her," said Candace flatly. Ferb rolled his eyes at his brother's confused face.
"But she danced with Ferb and several other people," said Phineas. "And the whole party was her idea."
"I bet it was," said Candace, her voice slightly above a mutter as she opened her door fully. "Look, Phineas. Just go away and don't come back."
"But Candace—"
"I just need some time, okay?! Is that really so much to ask!" she nearly screamed. Ferb flinched, though he was glad she had restrained herself.
"Okay…," Phineas whispered, the point of his nose inclined downward. Ferb watched as the anger melted from Candace's face and shifted into something more tired and dark. Candace let out a whispering sigh and bent down to matched Phineas' gaze. Phineas' dark blue eyes glittered as they linked with their sister's. "Candace, I really am sorry. I just wanted everyone to have a good time. I know that—"
"No, no you don't know," said Candace. She looked Ferb square in the eye. Ferb gave Candace a small, shaky smile, assuring her he was fine or rather he would be. And she would be fine too. An equally shaky smile formed under Candace's shadowed eyes. They returned to Phineas as Candace reached up to ruffle Phineas' red hair. "And hopefully, you never will."