Chapter 1 "An Accidental Promise"
Phineas snickers in the second floor hallway as he prepared to do something mischievous with his stepbrother behind him.
"Get ready Ferb! We're closing in on the objective." He whispered.
Ferb, blankly expressing himself as always, turns on their latest design of a futuristic camera they named: ARChie (Assistant Robotic Camera). It activated its propeller and flew high above them. They were at Candace's bedroom door. Phineas pushed it a bit and it creaked open loudly. Phineas shut his eyes, waiting for her to wake up. There was murmuring inside the room and movement on the sheets but it only lasted for three seconds. He opened his right eye and peeked at the small opening to the room. Ferb was just watching him blankly the whole time.
Phineas grinned. "Okay! We're good to go! Come on Ferb! ARChie, shoot!"
The camera started to blink red. The boys slid through the narrow opening Phineas made. Phineas opened the door a bit more to allow the camera to fit through. ARChie entered the room and followed them. Phineas snickered while Ferb still masked his poker face. Phineas started to tiptoe towards the bed occupied by Candace, who's snoring quite loudly. Ferb followed suit. They arrived at the edge of the bed. The boys knelt down and observed Candace closely.
"Mmm…" Candace murmured. "Jeremy?... Is that…"
"Ferb!" He whispered loudly. "Are you getting this?"
Ferb pointed to ARChie which is now flying the boys' head-level. Mischievously Phineas pulled out some markers from his pocket.
"Operation: Prank Your Sister, has been initiated!" He whispered loudly.
Unexpectedly Candace grabbed Phineas's neck, much to the surprise of the boys.
"Mmm... Jeremy..." She murmured dreamily.
Candace passionately kisses Phineas's nose. Phineas was a found it weird but at the same time a bit ticklish. Phineas checked on Ferb's reaction. Ferb covered his mouth in an attempt to control his laughter. Phineas sneers at him, but is distracted by Candace's continuous pecking. He wasn't really sure if he's supposed to be annoyed at this matter anymore.
"Mmm…." She mumbled in satisfaction. "Your lips are so pointy and thin Jeremy.
"Eheh! That would be my nose Candace." He spoke loudly.
Candace finally stirred from her slumber. She opened her eyes a bit and caught a glimpse of her younger brother. Alarmed, she opened her eyes wide.
Phineas grinned sheepishly. "Good morning!"
Candace unleashed a house trembling shriek that last for a good ten seconds. Her parents woke up in surprise. Perry awoke, alarmed and posing for action but he went back to pet mode once he knew it was nothing to be alarmed about.
Phineas and Ferb storm out of the room.
"Run Ferb! Run!" He yelled, laughing along the way.
"Phineas and Ferb!" She hollered at the top of her lungs. "You are dead! Dead you hear me?! DEAD!"
She chased them angrily downstairs. Phineas kept laughing and running from Candace. Ferb already found a hiding place behind the couch. Ferb popped his head out once he knew he was safe and decided to watch the show. Phineas crawls under the dinner table and out on the other side to gain some distance from Candace. Candace ran to the side where Phineas was but he ran around the table to the other side.
"You will pay Phineas! You and your good for nothing stepbrother will pay!"
"Hey! He's your stepbrother too!" Phineas laughed.
Candace grunted.
"What's the matter Candace? I'm too fast for you?" He taunted. "Woah!"
Phineas tripped on a rug. Candace finally caught up to him and picked him up easily.
"Ha! I got you now you little menace! And now… You'll pay." She said evilly.
"No! Candace! No! Please! Not that!"
She brought him to the couch, and Phineas helplessly struggled on her lap.
"Yagh!"She said, as if she did a karate chop.
She stabbed his neck with both hands and wiggled her fingers. Phineas laughed uncontrollably and struggled to break free from her grips. Whenever he would be able to swat away an arm, she would transfer her hands to either his armpits or hips. Phineas just kept laughing.
"Stop! Stop!... Candace…. Mpfpff!" Phineas laughed some more. "I sub-mmmmhaha! I-Hahaha!"
"What? I can't understand you with all that laughing!" She said, as she continued to tickle him.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" He yelled.
She stopped tickling him. She gave him that "Had enough?" Look. She waited for Phineas to calm down on her lap. While he was giggling, Candace couldn't help but giggle a bit as well. Eventually Phineas calmed down. He remained lying on her lap. He looked at her and smiled cheekily. He poked her left hip playfully. Candace didn't react.
"Nice try pointy." She said, getting ready to tickle him again.
"No! No! I take it back! I'm sorry!" Yelled Phineas.
Candace giggled and set him down back on the floor. "Get outta here rascals."
Ferb came out of his hiding place and stood beside Phineas.
"Well, that was fun!" He giggled.
Ferb whistled as if he was calling a taxi. ARChie descended to his palm and deactivated its propeller. He gave the camera to Phineas. Phineas replayed the video that they took. Phineas laughed when it came to the part when Candace kissed his nose. Ferb managed to snicker.
"Well that takes care of that activity. What do you think we should do Ferb?" He asked.
Ferb shrugged. Perry chattered, signaling his arrival. Ferb picked him up and rubbed his back. They walked to the tree.
"Why don't you think about something for a change?"
"Well, as to how you Americans say it, It's not my thing." Said Ferb. "I mean, you're the brains of our projects."
"Oh… Couldn't we do something else… other than building?"
Ferb jumped in surprise to his comment. He stared at him. Phineas saw his reaction and sighed.
"I'm really sorry Ferb. It's just… I don't have it today. And to be honest… I was kinda dragged to make ARChie yesterday. But I was still glad to make this little guy." He stored ARChie in his pocket. "Today… I just don't have it."
Ferb looked more concerned now. Ferb decided to give him a little more time. He gave Phineas Perry. Phineas hugged him warmly from a brief moment before setting him down to rest on his lap. Ferb decided to watch the clouds a bit and to get his mind off the fear of not having any plans for the day. E knew Ferb checked on Phineas again. Phineas right now looked really bored, despite the previous activity they did. Ferb nudged him. Phineas's attention was caught. Ferb gave him the "Anything yet?" look.
"Nope. Nothing. None. Zero. And, it sounds weird, but I don't really care if I don't do anything. I'm just not in the mood today."
Something was wrong and Ferb knew that was obvious. He lacked the passion to do his work. He lacked… the motivation.
"Motivation…" Ferb thought.
If he knew his brother well then he knew what encouraged him to move. A snack would do… but it's too early for snack time. Also, snacks usually come out after their activities. It wouldn't feel right if they had snacks now. Pie!... No. Pie counted as a snack. Then there's…
Ferb smiled at the thought. He got up immediately and grabbed Phineas's arm.
"Hey! What're you doing?!" Said Phineas in surprise.
Ferb didn't respond, as usual. He ran out of the backyard through the back gate. He ran across the street to the Garcia-Shapiro house.
"Ferb! What're you… Hey! Isn't this Isabella's house?"
Ferb nodded.
"Hmm, speaking of the latter, I haven't seen her all week. I remember she said something about intensive patch collecting before she disappeared. I wonder how she's doing. She's… probably not home though. Wanna give it a shot?"
Ferb lightly pushed Phineas. Phineas was confused.
"You're not coming?" He asked.
Ferb shook his head. "For old time's sake. And… I almost forgot that I had a debate to attend to."
"Oh right! Right!" He turned back to the house. "Well, I guess I'll see you later then bro!"
They did a fist bump before Ferb ran back to their backyard. Phineas took a good look at the front door and was anxious. He wanted her to be there, available to spend some quality time. He'd be saddened to know that she was still busy. He exhaled and walked towards the doorbell. Hopeful that she's present, he rang it. He scratched his sneakers together as a habit while waiting.
Incoming footsteps were eventually heard. The door knob clicked as it turned.
Vivian Garcia-Shapiro peeked by the door. "Oh! Hola Phineas!"
Phineas smiled politely. "Buenos dias Mrs. Garcia-Shapiro! Is... Isabella home?"
He asked it anxiously.
"Ah! Si Phineas!..."
Phineas's face brightened.
"But... she doesn't want to talk to anyone today... for some reason."
"What?! How come?!"
"I don't know. She's just depressed. You should come back another day. Maybe tomorrow?"
"Oh. Okay then. Thanks Mrs. Garcia Shapiro!"
"No problemo amigo!"
Phineas turned around and walked away from the house. He waited until the door closed and clicked. When it did he immediately rushed to the window beside the door. He peeked through it and found out that the curtains were blocking the window. He focused a little more by using just one eye through the glass.
Isabella is still sobbing but not as much as last night since she's exhausted herself. Her sash hung on one of the bed posts and she sat beside it. She was facing the curtained window. She rubbed her sash delicately and looked at every patch with such passion while her hand touched them.
"I'm sorry..." She said to the sash in particular.
More tears welled up in her eyes. Her crying spell was interrupted by some tapping on the glass window. She looked at it and waited a few seconds for a follow-up noise. She ignored it, thinking it was a bird. This time there was knocking on the glass.
"Psst! Isabella!" Called out a familiar voice.
"Hmm?!" Exclaimed Isabella.
Isabella finally walked to the window. She drew the curtains and saw Phineas smiling at her. Isabella gasped. She hurriedly unlocked and opened the window.
"Phineas!"
"Hey!" He greeted and beamed.
Isabella grabbed his neck and sobbed. Phineas was definitely surprised by her but he quickly hugged her back. They broke after a few seconds.
"Sorry..." Isabella said.
"What's up?" He asked worriedly.
"It's kind of a long story..."
"I got time." He said as he grinned.
Isabella finally grinned as well. Phineas pushed himself up to cross over the window. Isabella went back to her bed, same spot beside her sash, and he sat beside her.
"What're you doing here?!" She asked cheerfully.
"Uhh, I think the real question is: what are you... doing here? I thought you were busy patch hunting?"
"Ahem! I was!" She lends her sash to Phineas proudly.
Phineas inspects the sash. "Wow! These are a lot of patches!"
"Count them all, and they're equal to four hundred ninety."
Phineas gasped. "Really?! That's so cool!"
"Shh! My mom doesn't know you're here." She whispered.
"Oh!" He whispered. "Right! Right!"
Isabella giggled. "Yeah it's cool... but that's just about everything that I'm going to hunt in this lifetime."
Phineas's happiness suddenly fell. "You... don't seem happy about it."
"Well..." She started to sob again. "Of course not! I mean wouldn't you feel sad if your dreams are... are..."
"Whoa!" He said softly. "Okay, why don't you tell me everything from the start."
She sobbed a bit more before calming herself. She grabbed her Fireside Handbook from under the bed and handed it to Phineas.
"Turn to the last page please." She requested.
Phineas flipped the book and opened it from the last end. The page was filled with a mini version of a beautiful fireside uniform, different from the regular once. It has a great looking scout's hat, and most of the uniform is colour gold. When he touched it he felt some sort of fabric.
"Did you design this yourself?" Asked Phineas.
"Yeah..."
"It looks gorgeous." He complemented.
Isabella smiled a bit. "Thanks... Enjoy it while you can. You won't see me in that uniform anyway."
Phineas was surprised by her pessimism. He continued inspecting the page and noticed below the mini design a text read "Senior Fireside Girl Uniform."
"Senior Fireside Girl?" He asked.
"You know what that title is?"
Phineas shook his head.
"It's highest honor that any Fireside Girl could attain. Wearing that uniform means that you are a fully accomplished Fireside girl, ready for any challenge, ready to help others and ready to make future Fireside girls succeed as well."
"That sounds like a big responsibility for a title."
"It is! And I want to show that I am responsible Phineas! To earn that title has been my dream ever since I graduated from the Lil' Sparks!... But I guess I'm running out of time. I'll never make it at this rate."
He looked at her sash again. "How do you become a Senior Fireside Girl?"
"Simple. You fill up your sash with five hundred patches." She said plainly.
"Only ten patches left! C'mon Isabella! It's only ten!"
"I know... But I just can't do it."
"What?! Can't do ten?! Pfft! If Candace could do fifty patches in one day then why couldn't an almost Senior Fireside Girl like you do it?"
Isabella smiled a bit but frowned again. "Those ten patches... aren't as simple as you think."
"Oh really?!" He said challengingly.
"Yeah... really." She said cynically.
Phineas frowned. He never saw Isabella like this and it pained him to witness it in person. Phineas crunched his eyebrows in determination.
"May I check your patches?"
"Sure. I already marked the accomplished ones on the handbook, so it wouldn't take you much time to figure which needs accomplishing."
He opened the handbook. There were big red checks marked on some of the patches. Just like what Isabella said, it didn't take him long. He basically just scanned through the pages of patches. Phineas grinned confidently. He shut the book and cleared his throat.
"Tell you what, why don't I help you get those patches? I promise you'll fill up your sash in no time."
Isabella chuckled. "I admire your confidence and optimism Phineas... but I highly doubt that. I'm sure you'd bail out in no time."
"Really? Who broke the world record of the largest bowling ball ever/Pinball set ever? Who could set up a concert in the morning and sell it out by the end of the show? And who built an airplane out of paper?"
Isabella giggled. "And... who managed to kiss me before?"
"Me! Wait... what?!"
"Page three hundred ninety four. You'll find the patch I'm talking about."
He hurriedly opened the handbook to the page she mentioned. There were a bunch of red checks there but there were two other patches that were left unmarked. One of them struck him a bit... "The First Kiss Patch."
He looked up to Isabella from the book and blushed. But in the process he was having a crazy idea formed in his mind. The right end of his lip curled into a smile. He looked at Isabella momentarily. Isabella was looking out the window, depressed. Quickly Phineas pecked her on the cheek and looked away bashfully.
"Well... I guess that's one down." Said Phineas bashfully.
Isabella was surprised and her eyes widened. She blushed really hard. She couldn't help it but slowly her smile turned into a beam.
"That was good... but not good enough sadly." She said.
Phineas jumped in surprise. "What?! I need to kiss you harder?!"
"No! No! I mean..."
She momentarily lost herself. She was about to squeal and her fists were clenched and she shook them in the air. Fortunately she had enough power to overcome the urges.
"The kiss has to be in lip-to-lip contact."
Phineas's eyes widened. He checked that page again that contained the patch he previously read. He swears that he felt his eyes pop out when he read that same patch in detail. He put the book closer to his eyes to make sure there were no tricks, that what he read was genuine print and not plagiarized. Slowly he lowered the book back to his lap and he stared at her, bewildered.
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." He said in epiphany.
She enjoyed his reaction quite a bit but her face fell back to sadness when she realized what was to come.
"I told you... But... it's okay. Thanks for the offer but... this is too much even for you to handle."
Phineas felt scared. The idea of kissing Isabella... mouth to mouth... It was shocking for him. He honestly never thought of that possibility happening in his lifetime nor did he expect that it could happen soon... given that he had the choice to do so. At the same time he felt sorry for Isabella. He knows that she could accomplish them herself but, given the circumstances, he has to be there for her in order for those patches to be achieved. He felt such a strong urge to help her... but helping her would mean... that... thing they are supposed to do. To put it simple, he had to choose. Either he could help her with those patches, one of them involves giving her a kiss, or to not help her at all, avoid that event from happening, and... leave Isabella depressed... probably for a long time. He felt like he was Atlas, the world-bearer in Greek mythology. But he knew that he had to make a choice.
"Why don't we... experiment on it?" Requested Phineas, looking more nervous and irritated now.
Isabella turned to him in surprise. "Experiment on... the kiss?"
He stuttered. "Y-yeah... l-let's... t-try it... j-j-just o-one..."
Isabella's eyes widened. "You sure?!"
"Just hurry up and kiss me!" He said hurriedly.
If Isabella wasn't so shocked she would've squealed. But she remained composed. Her hands were shaking now.
"U-umm... O-okay!" She said.
The two kids looked at each other momentarily. They closed their eyes, scared of what's going to happen, and the inched their heads closer. Phineas could feel himself inch towards Isabella closer. He puckered up his lips, ready for the impact. Isabella did the same. Unfortunately their attempt was interrupted when their noses touched. Their eyes opened in surprise. They couldn't help but notice the close proximity between them. They both immediately recoiled and they nervously chuckled.
"Fail..." He said while chuckling.
"Y-yeah..." She replied, also chuckling.
"One more try?" Requested Phineas.
"Oh... okay. But you have to move your nose up."
She gently pushed the tip of his nose until it pointed upwards.
"Well... O-okay! H-here... here goes n-nothing!" Said Phineas.
Phineas could swear that his entire body was trembling, and his heart rate was rising. One more time they closed their eyes and puckered p their lips. They inched themselves closer and closer. He noticed that it took longer for them than the last attempt but, determinedly, he urged himself closer. Their lips were only inches apart and they were about to kiss... until...
"Isa?" Called Vivian.
They both screamed in surprise. They immediately recoiled from each other and faced away from each other.
"Isa?! Are you okay?!" Asked Vivian from the other side of the closed door.
"Y-yeah mom! You just... scared me!"
"I scared you?"
"Y-yeah! I guess I was just thinking about something too hard that I was out of this world. I'm back now! Thanks for asking!"
"Oh! Okay... Is... Someone with you?!" Vivian decided to open the door to peek. "Oh! Phineas! I thought I told you-!"
"No! No! Mom it's okay! I actually... was glad that he came."
"How did you get in here?!"
"I let him cross the window. Sorry mom. I should've told you."
Vivian was about to make another excuse for Phineas to get out. Fortunately she let the issue go.
"Okay. Just behave you two."
"We will. Thanks mom!" Said Isabella.
Vivian then shut the door and walked away. The two best friends looked at each other bewilderedly. In the middle of their stare, they smiled, not able to control themselves. Eventually they laughed; the nervous yet funny kind of laugh. Phineas scratched his ear while Isabella combed her hair with her hands. They stopped after a fit of nervous giggles. Isabella then again resumed her depressed state.
"Thanks for trying Phineas."
"W-what?!" He reacted.
"It's too much... really. I'm not ready for this kind of thing... and neither are you."
Phineas looked sad now.
"Thanks for coming... and thanks for trying to cheer me up. You can go now. I'll be fine."
His mouth gaped in disbelief. "Isabella? Giving up?" His eyes now crunched in determination. Immediately he grabbed her shoulders. Isabella was surprised.
"No! I made a promise Isabella. And I'm gonna keep it!"
"Really?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yeah! Really!"
"So what you're saying is... you promise to dance in public by a fountain with me?"
Phineas chuckled at the thought. "Yes!"
Isabella looked surprised. She paused momentarily. "And you promise to... break a world record with me?"
"Yes!"
"You promise to exorcise ghosts with me?"
Phineas looked more determined now. "Yes!"
"And... you promise to date me?"
Phineas paused a bit. "Y-yes..."
Isabella's eyes widened. "And... you... promise to... kiss me?"
Phineas gulped but looked at her seriously. "Yes."
Isabella's eyes widened. "N-no! It's too much!"
"No Isabella! This is your dream! I don't want you to stop all because of one stupid kiss. I want to make it come true Isabella! I want you to be happy! And if it really means... to kiss... you... then so be it! I'm right here with you Isabella! Every step of the way!"
Isabella's eyes widened in disbelief. Finally she started to smile a bit.
"R-really?" She asked softly.
"Yes Isabella! Yes! I prooooomissee!"
All of a sudden Isabella was filled with overflowing energy. She placed her knuckles on her chin.
"I-Isabella?"
With one big burst of energy, she squealed. The house shook at Isabella's excitement, causing Vivian to drop her coffee and Pinky to duck for cover.
"You swear?! On that darn promise you swear?!"
"Cross my heart and I hope to die." Replied Phineas plainly.
Isabella squealed and tackled his neck. "Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank youuuuuuu!"
"Isabella!... air... I can't-!"
Isabella immediately let go in concern. He fainted on her lap, but she knew that it was fake. Pretending to panic, she looked for something that could revive her best friend. She looked at her palm, and figured out just what to do. She stiffened her palms as if she was forming two blades.
"Clear!" She said, as if she was about to use a defibrillator.
She stabbed her palms to his open neck. He woke up giggling.
"Okay! Okay! I'm awake!" He said while giggling. "That tickled!"
Isabella giggled. "You really swear?"
"I swear it on my pinky." He said confidently as he held his smallest finger in front of her.
She smiled warmly. She accepted his pinky by intertwining it with hers. Immediately afterwards she gave him a warm, cheek to cheek, hug. Phineas caught her by her waist.
"Oh thank you my best buddy!" She said slowly and cheerfully.
Phineas smiled even more. "You're welcome my best buddy." He said softly.
He got off the bed. "Now! What're we doing here?! Let's get started!"
"Right!"
"Are you ready Isabella?!"
"Yeah!"
"Are you really ready?!" He yelled.
"Yeeesss!" She yelled.
"I can't hear you!"
"YEEEEEEESSSSSS!"
"Isa?! Tone it down back there!"
"Sorry mom!" She said gleefully. "C'mon Phineas! Let's go!"
She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room. Hurriedly they went out on the streets, running together as a tandem.
"Hey! I know a place where I could date you!" He said innocently.
"Really? Where?"
"It's nothing much, it's just ice cream. But that ice cream parlour is out of this world!"
"Really?! Okay! Let's go there then!"
-End of Chapter 1-
