Chapter 38: Distracting Nightmares and Oblivious Redheads

If Ferb had thought it had been difficult to work without Genderra around, then working with him was impossible. And in many ways, it was.

Nearly every few minutes, he would bother the British-born young man with random questions. Everything from "What is your least favorite memory?" to "How do you feel about being my host again?" It was very distracting, but eventually he managed to get the ship back in working condition again. A short three days later than it would have taken.

About a week after the Freedom had returned to the skies, Isabella decided enough was enough: he hadn't made a move yet, so she figured it was about time she made one herself.

So when Phineas requested a light dinner but didn't know what he wanted, she remade the 'romantic-dinner-for-two' smoothie (sans zucchini), and served it up with a smile.

Going over to clear tables, Isabella kept an eye on him as she worked briskly.

As he sipped the unfamiliar-tasting drink, Ferb gave his brother a look.

Phineas quirked his head curiously. "What, Ferb?"

The green-haired young man gave him the look again, this time a little more insistent, as well as blatant.

Phineas sighed. "What, Ferb?"

"Phineas." The British-born young man said impatiently.

The redhead furrowed his brows together in sheer confusion. "WHAT FERB?!"

"Isabella is going to come over here and ask you if you want to do something with her. And you are going to say yes."

Phineas blinked. "Why?"

Ferb sighed. "I really don't want to be the one to have to spell it out for you, bro." He picked up his food and dropped in the food bin, where it would be broken down to be used for food in future use. As he walked away, he whispered to him, "Good luck, Phineas."

Sure enough, minutes after Ferb had left the mess hall, Isabella bounced slightly on her way over to talk to him. He was almost finished with his smoothie.

"So Phineas, how's the smoothie?" Isabella asked with a smile.

"It's good, thanks, Isabella." He smiled brightly back at her and took another sip. "What is it, anyway?"

"Romantic-dinner-for-two, of course." She giggled softly.

Phineas blinked. "I don't taste any zucchini."

Isabella laughed a little. "'Course not, there wasn't any zucchini in it." She smiled a little wider then, her gaze hopeful. "Want to take a walk with me to the observation deck?"

Phineas looked confused. "But we're already in the observation deck, Isabella."

Isabella looked frustrated to the point where she might break something. "Oh I give up!" Isabella exclaimed irritably, and stormed off in a huff.

"What's up with her?" Phineas wondered aloud, then shrugged it off as he gave his glass to Ginger and Adyson, who were both glaring at him as well.

Wincing but still unsure why they were making such faces, he slid into the elevator.

Seconds later, Nova materialized in the small enclosed space, startling the redhead.

"Seriously? Are you blind?" Nova bellowed, her face extremely close to Phineas's own.

"No, I can see you quite well." The redhead replied, uneasily.

"What are we going to do with you, Phineas?" The unicorn sighed as she backed up slowly. "What are we going to do with you?"