Empty Apartment: Chapter 37
Authors Note: So I made an edit last chapter. At the beginning of last chapter I originally had Ferb ride with Buford to the party, but that was a mistake on my part. He even said last chapter he'd just follow them. Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys that I fixed it to where Ferb followed them, and also thank those of you who pointed it out because I doubt I would've noticed. I really should have caught that things didn't match up though.
Also, thank you guys for over 200 reviews! I love reading your feedback, good or bad!
Ferb had barely made it out of the house when Gretchen appeared beside him.
"Django's going to follow us." Gretchen told him as she followed him toward his car. He assumed Django was already on his way to his own car.
"Whatever." Ferb said before he fished his keys out of his pocket and handed them to her.
They walked in silence after that until they finally made it to Ferb's car. There were cars parked all along the road so it had taken a little time.
Gretchen unlocked the doors and got in, with Ferb mimicking her actions. Then she turned to look at him.
"You didn't have any trouble finding your car." Gretchen said, and Ferb noticed that she was looking at his bottle of vodka when she said it.
"I'm not much different when I'm drunk." Ferb explained, answering the question that she didn't really ask.
It was true though. Ferb really wasn't much different. He was slower. He didn't think as quickly. He was more upfront when he was drunk, and possibly a little more emotional. But really that was about all that was noticeable.
He didn't slur his words, or lose his balance. He didn't say things he didn't mean. He managed to keep control of his motor skills for the most part. He was the kind of drunk where you just really didn't know if he was drunk unless you'd seen him drinking.
"I see." Gretchen said with a smile.
Ferb thought she might say more when they noticed a car driving slowly down the strip of road where all the cars were parked. Gretchen saw it immediately and honked her horn. It didn't take long for Ferb to realize it was Django.
The car honked back and stopped not far behind them, signaling for them to go first.
Gretchen quickly started the car before she pulled out onto the road.
"You're going to have to tell me where you live." Gretchen told him as she began to drive.
"Live on the same street as Phineas," Ferb told her. "Half surprised you didn't know that."
Gretchen didn't take her eyes off the road for a second when Ferb spoke; she kept her eyes forward and focused.
"Why would I know that?" Gretchen asked, her tone sounding light and normal.
"I've seen you watching, like at the dance. When we got here tonight you were doing it too. What is it that you're trying to hear?" Ferb asked.
If he wasn't drunk he wouldn't have asked. He would have thought about it first before confronting her, if he decided he needed to. He probably wouldn't have said a word or done anything.
But he was drunk. He had noticed Gretchen at the party when he and Phineas had went to get drinks. She'd smiled at him in an almost reassuring way, like she was mentally telling him that everything was okay.
It brought him back to the Valentine's Day dance, where he'd noticed her right after he'd talked to Phineas. He wondered why she was listening in, if that was in fact what she was doing.
"I'm not trying to hear anything." Gretchen replied easily.
Ferb didn't care enough to tell her that he didn't believe her, so he remained quiet.
"Why? Is there something that I shouldn't hear?" Gretchen asked a few seconds later.
"I don't care what you hear." Ferb replied simply, and he meant it.
He honestly didn't care what Gretchen had or hadn't heard. He didn't care what she knew. Even if she knew he had slept with Phineas, Ferb wouldn't give a damn. Phineas' cheating was his own secret, not Ferb's.
Ferb didn't say anything because doing so didn't benefit him in anyway. It would just put him in a path of unwanted high school drama. However, he was hardly willing to go to far lengths to keep it a secret. He'd slept with Phineas, and it wasn't something he was trying hard to hide.
Gretchen nodded, not seeming to have any follow up questions, which was fine with Ferb.
It was a few minutes later when Ferb told Gretchen they'd reached their destination. Gretchen parked in the driveway, with Django's car pulling in behind them.
Ferb and Gretchen both got out, and Gretchen handed Ferb his keys.
"Goodnight, Ferb." Gretchen said before turning to get into the car with Django; Ferb didn't respond.
Instead he waited until the two teens drove away before he got back into his car.
Ferb's fingers quickly moved to a switch on the dashboard, that once flipped revealed a small screen that had originally been a simple GPS. Ferb waited a few seconds before he heard the small screen speak.
"Where is your destination?" The machine asked in a male British voice.
"The Turnpike Tavern." Ferb replied before the car started moving on its own.
Ferb had developed the auto drive on his car mere weeks after he'd gotten it. It had stated as a GPS, but Ferb had mortified it until it was able to drive to any location on its own. It'd taken some toying with, but Ferb had worked out all the bugs pretty quickly. The car was less likely to get in an accident than any person.
It was one of the few things he'd ever made that was out of the ordinary.
He would have told Django and Gretchen that he'd had it, but he hadn't felt like proving it worked. Instead he'd taken the easier path and let them take him home.
But now he was on his way to the Turnpike, and it felt good to know he could skip the drinks and skip straight to the sex.
Phineas and Isabella didn't have to walk long before they heard the screaming that signaled Buford and Baljeet.
Buford's car was quite a ways away from where Ferb's had been despite getting to the party at the same time. Finding a place to park had been tough.
"Buford, would you just listen to me?!" Baljeet shouted.
"No, Buford's done listening!" Buford yelled, already in the driver's seat.
"It is not my fault that she is coming!" Baljeet screamed.
"Then why'd you lie about it?!" Buford bellowed.
"Because I knew you would react like this no matter what I did!" Baljeet answered, clearly frustrated.
"Yeah, well if I'm so hard to deal with then I'll just leave!" Buford shouted, clearly upset by Baljeet's remark.
"Buford, you know that is not what I meant!" Baljeet screamed, but it didn't matter. Buford had already shut his door and started the car.
"Buford!" Baljeet screamed in frustration as Buford's car pulled out of its space and sped off toward his house.
Isabella immediately ran to Baljeet's side.
"Baljeet, are you alright?" Isabella asked.
"Yes, I am fine. Buford and I are just having…. a misunderstanding." Baljeet said, the anger in his voice disappearing.
"Why didn't you tell us that Mishti was coming?" Isabella asked as Phineas walked up beside her.
Baljeet sighed before he answered.
"Because of what you just saw; he always acts like this." Baljeet huffed.
"I'm sure he's just hurt you weren't honest with him," Isabella tried, but upon seeing the look on Baljeet's face she continued. "Or not. Either way, he'll get over it."
"Yes, I am sure you are right. I think I just need to try to talk to him again." Baljeet told her.
"Do you want us to drive you to his house?" Isabella asked gently.
"Yes, I would greatly appreciate that." Baljeet replied.
The group of three then silently began the walk towards Isabella's car.
Phineas was still feeling his buzz as he walked to the car. His body felt warm and his mood was light, although he kept reminding himself that he shouldn't share that with anyone.
The group was still silent when it reached Isabella's car. Phineas took the front seat while Baljeet slid into the back with no complaints.
A minute into the drive Isabella spoke.
"So when will Mishti get here?" Isabella asked.
"I do not know, probably in a week or two. Her family is sightseeing." Baljeet explained, not sounding too excited by the idea.
"Sightseeing is fun. I really like Mount Rushmore." Phineas said with a smile on his face.
Baljeet half laughed at the comment, as Isabella giggled. Phineas ended up laughing simply because they were.
No more was said until Isabella reached Buford's house.
"Do you want us to go in with you?" Isabella asked.
"No, I think it will be best if I talk to him alone. Thank you for driving me." Baljeet said politely as he opened his door.
"Good luck, Baljeet!" Phineas called louder than he needed to.
"Thank you, Phineas." Baljeet said while shaking his head before he got out of the car.
"Call me if you need anything!" Isabella called out her window before she waved goodbye and pulled out of Buford's driveway.
The ride back to the party was much less solemn as Phineas turned on the radio and began fiddling with it. He eventually settled on some rock station and began air guitaring the notes.
Isabella giggled as he did it, but he only took that as a sign that he was doing well.
It wasn't until they parked that she said anything about it.
"You're so funny when you drink." Isabella told him affectionately.
"I'm funny all the time." Phineas said as he started headbanging while still playing his air guitar.
Isabella laughed and soon Phineas was laughing with her. When they stopped Isabella smiled at him.
"I'm glad we don't fight like they do," Isabella said as she took his hand. "I don't think I could stand it."
Even in his state, Phineas knew she was referring to Buford and Baljeet.
"I don't think you could yell that loud." Phineas responded cheekily.
"I love you so much." Isabella told him before she kissed him deeply.
Phineas kissed her back as he wrapped his arms around her, as she did the same. Soon things began to heat up, and Isabella found her way onto Phineas' lap. Phineas only kissed her harder and pulled her closer.
It was funny how much easier it was to pretend when he had a little bit of alcohol in his system. Normally he could only think about Isabella and how he was lying to her, but when he was drinking it was easier to ignore that.
At the moment it was very easy to pretend it was Ferb who was kissing him. That Ferb's hands were the ones feeling up his chest. He deepened the kiss as he imagined the British teen on top of him, kissing him hard, while his hands roamed Phineas' waiting body.
It wasn't until Isabella let out a light moan that Phineas was able to pull himself out of his fantasy and remind himself that he was with Isabella and not Ferb.
He quickly pulled away from Isabella, his cheeks flushed and his breathing hard. Isabella looked about the same.
"You're supposed to be on stage." Phineas reminded her.
Isabella sighed upon being reminded.
"I'd much rather be with you," she confessed as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I know, but they need you. You're the best part of the act." Phineas complimented her as he ran his hand through her long dark hair.
Phineas felt Isabella smile into his neck.
"I don't know what I ever did to deserve you." Isabella said sweetly before she opened the door and got out of the car.
'Me either.' Phineas thought sadly as he followed her.