Seventeen-year-old Ferb was sitting in the coffee shop working on a term paper. He took a sip of his now-cold coffee and winced. He looked into the cup, drained it and checked the length of the line at the counter.
The female barista took pity on him and brought him a coffee. He was in often enough and she knew his order; coffee black, with one sugar and a biscotti.
The door to the coffee shop opened and Isabella entered. She turned to look at Phineas through the window. She saw the red-head make a shooing gesture and with a nod, she turned and smiled at Ferb.
Isabella took a couple of tentative steps forward and stopped. She couldn't do this. She couldn't talk to him. This was wrong, so wrong.
Ferb was aware of his neighbour standing in the middle of the coffee shop, looking lost. He glanced up and motioned her over, indicating she could sit with him.
"Hey Ferb." Isabella started and he nodded.
Isabella sat in the empty chair and seemed more uncomfortable than ever. Ferb raised an eyebrow, "You have something you need to say?" He inquired.
Isabella let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding. "Yes. I need to ask if you're planning to go to the school dance next week." Ferb's eyebrow shot into his hairline.
The colour rose up Isabella's neck, it was obvious she was uncomfortable. "You see, Phineas can't go and... " She trailed off a moment. "I'm asking as a friend."