Never Been So Happy

By Alex Martin

Alright Isabella, it's time. You have to tell Phineas how you feel about him. You're sixteen for crying out loud! You need to grow up! But, what if he really doesn't feel the same way? What if he feels so awkward around her that he never wants to see her again? What if Isabella confessing her feelings ruins their friendship? Rejection would definitely hurt, but rejection plus losing her best friend of eight years? That would be unbearable.

No. Phineas wouldn't do that. Isabella knew their friendship was strong enough to survive anything. She took a deep breath to gather courage before knocking on the door.

The door opened to reveal a smiling Phineas. "Hi, Isabella!"

"Watcha doin?" Isabella said, maybe a bit too cheerfully, trying to hide her nerves.

"Just working on some blueprints. Want to come in?"

Of course he was working on blueprints. Phineas Flynn always had something up his sleeve. That was why she loved him though, among other reasons. "Yeah, but can we talk about something in private? It's important."

Phineas looked concerned as he let his dark-haired best friend in and said, "Of course. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay," Isabella responded with a smile, touched by his concern. Yet another reason she loved him. "Just need to get something off my chest."

As they walked through the house, Isabella saw Linda, Lawrence, Candace and Ferb, who greeted her warmly. Phineas lead Isabella to the backyard, and they sat under the tree.

"Candace visiting for the weekend?" Isabella asked.

"Yeah," Phineas replied. "Law school is stressing her out."

"How are her and Jeremy doing?"

"Good! They just went out last night!" Phineas was obviously happy for his sister. "So… what did you want to talk about?"

Isabella looked at Phineas smiling at her expectantly, opened her mouth but nothing came out. The courage she gathered before entering the house vanished. "I-I…" She trailed off before putting her face in her hands, shutting her eyes tight. "I can't."

"Yes you can," Phineas encouraged her.

Isabella just shook her head, face still in her hands. She couldn't risk hurting their friendship. She didn't want to hear the pity in his voice if he rejected her.

Suddenly, Isabella felt her hands being pulled away from her face. She still had her eyes closed, but felt Phineas' warm hands holding hers.

"Isabella, open your eyes, and talk to me," Phineas stated gently, squeezing her hands.

Isabella finally opened her eyes, looked into the redhead's misty eyes full of worry for her and it almost broke her heart seeing him like that. It was torture not knowing if he saw her as just a friend or more than that. She decided to come over and tell him today because she was tired of the emotional torture, and now, she was torturing him too. This had to stop.

Isabella looked at their connected hands, took a deep breath, looked into his eyes and said, "I like you, Phineas."

"I like you too, Isabella," Phineas responded, seeming unfazed.

Unfazed? Weird. He should've had some kind of reaction. She decided to find out more before getting excited. "You do?"

"Of course." Phineas smiled. "You're my best friend."

If Phineas wouldn't have been holding her hands, Isabella would've face palmed. Of course he didn't get it. He was so oblivious. She was going to have to make this as clear as possible. She loved him, but she was afraid saying that so soon would scare him. She would have to say it so he would understand, though. "Well, I more than like you." Isabella took another deep breath. "I'm in love with you." He couldn't be oblivious to that right?

The triangular headed boy looked shocked, jaw practically on the ground. Isabella tried to wait patiently, but the longer he just starred at her, the more afraid she became. Was it really so shocking that she would be in love with him? Maybe he didn't feel the same way and didn't know what to say. If he did feel the same way, wouldn't he have said something by now. Isabella's heart ached, and tears began running down her cheeks.

"Don't cry!" Phineas suddenly shouted. "I'm just surprised. I never thought you would feel the same way. I thought I was in the friend zone."

Wait. Was he saying what she thought he was playing? "Are you saying.?

Phineas nodded with a grin. "I'm in love with you too, Isabella! I want to take you to prom, I want to push you on the swing, I want to ride a Bicycle Built for Two with you, I want to go to the beach together, I want to hold the door for you, I want to share my umbrella, and now I'm rambling," Phineas laughed nervously.

And, he was blushing too! Isabella had never seen him nervous before. Cute. She giggled. "Oh, Phineas."

He smiled. "And, I want you to be my girlfriend. What do you say?"

"Yes!" Isabella squealed. " I would love to be your girlfriend!"

"You would?" Phineas asked again, hopeful.

"Yes, yes I would." Isabella thought for a moment before continuing. "So, about that list of things you want to do together… Is there anything else you want to do?"

"I…" Phineas trailed off, looking into Isabella's blue eyes. "want…" He started leaning forward. "to…" He puckered his lips and continued to lean forward with half lidded eyes.

Isabella met him half way and kissed him. The touch of his lips electrified her entire body, and millions of butterflies fluttered their wings in her stomach. Kissing Phineas was even better then she ever imagined. She freed her hands from his and wrapped her arms around his neck. He stiffened from shock but quickly relaxed and wrapped his arms around her waist.

When they finally broke apart , they smiled at each other. Then, Phineas stood up, surprising Isabella, pulling her up as well. Then, he smirked and walked toward the gate.

"Where are you going?" Isabella asked, confused.

Phineas stopped and turned back toward his girlfriend. "To rent a bike."

"Why?"

"We have to go on our first official date, right?" Phineas grinned.

Isabella returned her boyfriend's grin and ran to him. He spun her around before setting her down and giving her a quick kiss. Isabella had never been so happy.