I'm back. I don't have much to say so here it is. I'm sorry about the skip but I don't have many ideas to fill it with. I have filled the next one though, meaning I have a new chapter planed after this that wasn't int the original. And now to the reviews … or review.

Cute as a button22: I'm glad that you're not mad at the characters. And to answer your last question … you will have to wait and see but I don't plan for Phineas to break up with Rica … or do I?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone except Erick.

(Phineas's POV)

(A month and a half later)

It was Halloween day and the school day was almost over. Django, Ferb, and I were finishing up our group project in wood-shop which was a large wooden pumpkin. We were making it for Rustle's Halloween party tonight and it wasn't as spectacular as the rest of our inventions because we only had 45 minutes to work on it. But it was cool nonetheless; it was going to be used as a special disappearing and reappearing room that Rustle's family had rigged in this year's house. It wasn't painted yet though, that was going to be left to Ferb and Django, while Baljeet made the sounds for it. Ya that's right, this year Halloween fell on a Friday so Erick and Baljeet would be back in Danville to celebrate. I on the other hand had plans before the party so I would be unable to help finish the haunted pumpkin. What plans do I have you ask? I am going trick-or-treating with my girlfriend this evening before Rustle's party. Ya that's right Rica and I are still going strong, It's almost heard to believe that I only met her last month, the way we've been acting you would think that we were friends our whole lives. It's just something about her that seems so … I can't really put my finger on it but she just makes me feel … complete, like I lost something when I went into junior-high that she somehow filled with her presence, but let's be honest it's not like I really lost anything going into junior-high, well I don't see most of my friends as much, Erick and Baljeet are at a boarding school and can only come home on the weekends, Buford goes to Adjacent-Area junior-high now but I still see him sometimes after school, and then there's my oldest and closest friend Isabella, who I haven't seen since about two weeks before school started and haven't talked to since I told her about Rica, and who I used to think about every day when she would go away to camp for a week, and since she took her entrance exam up until Rica told me her name. So no I don't think Rica has really replaced anything major in my life.

"Alright so all the mechanical systems are in place so all we need are-"

"I get the ghost's all cut out Phineas." Django said walking over to Ferb and I. we originally planned on using holograms for the ghosts but decided to go with shadows instead so we wouldn't have to replace everyone's underwear again … ya that was embarrassing. "So Phineas, I hear you and Rica are going trick-or-treating right after school."

"Ya right when the bell rings we're going to get changed into our costumes and start trick-or-treating on this street and get as much done as possible before Rustle's party."

Ferb looked up from what he was working on. "Does it strike you as odd that have never been to her house before?"

I looked at my brother. "No not really, her house is too far away anyway." Ferb shrugged and we got back to work.

"You want to know what I find weird?" Django asked as he handed Ferb the ghosts, "Every day when Isabella was absent during last summer, You would always bring her up at least once. Now it's like we never hear you talk about her at all."

I put down my hammer and looked at Django. "What are you getting at?" I asked.

Django sighed. "Well it seems like … I don't know, like you're not upset that she's not here or something."

"Django! Of course I'm upset that she's not here. She's my oldest and closest friend, why would you think otherwise?" I noticed that Django started looking at his watch when I started ranting but just looked at me in confusion when I was done.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that."

"It's okay. Now lets get back to work."

(Django's POV)

I didn't need to be psychic to know what Phineas wasn't thinking about Isabella as much as he used to. Normally when someone would accuse him of not worrying about her when she was away, he would rant for exactly four minutes about how he missed her, and after he would be in such a bad mood that he didn't feel like building anymore. Judging by his short outburst and still optimistic attitude I assumed that he really did replace Isabella in his life and I for one didn't want to be the one to explain to Isabella that she was no longer as important to Phineas as she was before he got a girlfriend.

While Phineas was doing some work away from us I decided to talk to Ferb about it. "Hey Ferb?"

"I know." He said instantly, "I'll talk to him about it later."

(Phineas's POV)

(After school)

I finished changing into my costume (I decided to go Finky this year so I dressed as a wizard) and had already made my way out of the boy's locker room and into the lobby of the school where I was supposed to meet Rica. I was a bit early so I sat down on a bench and took out some homework that my history teacher decided to give us even though it was Halloween and a Friday. I had just finished with it when I heard someone call me. "Phineas!" I looked up to see it was Rica. She was dressed in a pixy costume with a red tint to it.

"Going as a fire sprite are we?" I asked.

"Ya I was thinking about going as a water sprite but it just didn't feel like me." She tilted her head a little and gave a weak smile.

"Well I think you look beautiful no matter what you wear." As I finished my sentence she pulled me into a kiss that lasted for about a minute and a half. If there was one thing she was not shy about it was kissing me.

"Thank you Phineas." She said as she pulled away blushing.

It was at that point that I noticed that Rica was still wearing her glasses, normally I would assume that she wouldn't ware them with her costume but I've noticed that she actually never took them off. "Hey Rica I've noticed that you always have glasses on but I never really asked what you need them for, sorry just curious."

She gave me another smile. "I only need them for reading but I read so much that feel uncomfortable without them."

"Okay thanks for sharing." I wrapped an arm around her waist. "Shall we?" I asked. She pushed me against a wall and we started making out. Needles to say we got a late start on our trick-or-treating.

(Phineas's POV)

(At the party)

Rica and I made it to Rustles party with more candy than we would be able to carry without my personal anti-gravity device. We were greeted by Rustle who led us into the main lobby of the mansion. "So where shall we start Rica?" I asked, "This might be a party, but it's a party in a haunted house filled with all sorts of stuff built by the top 4 inventors in Danville" Rica snuck her arm around the back of my neck and started pulling me closer until we were interrupted by some of our friends.

"Hey Phineas, Rica glad you could make it." Erick said as he walked toward us.

"Hi Erick." I responded halfheartedly as Rica and I slowly separated. I noticed that Buford and Baljeet were with him and I could guess that Ferb and Django were still setting up the pumpkin.

"You know I actually expected Girly and the half of the fireside girls that went with her to be here today." Buford said as the three of them approached.

I looked at Buford confused. "Why's that?"

Buford shook his head. "I don't know, I guess that I'm just not used to the idea that they aren't going to be here till thanksgiving."

"Yes it does not feel the same without them." Baljeet said.

I tilted my head again. "Really? It feels the same to me."

"I figured you would miss Isabella more than anyone else." Erick said while looking at me like I had three heads or something.

"Well ya I defiantly miss her but it doesn't really feel like that much has changed … you know aside from the obvious." I was staring at Rica as I said that last part.

Erick shook his head. "Well in any case, Ferb told me that he's finished setting up the giant pumpkin and wanted you two to be the ones to test it out."

"Sure, lead the way." Erick led Rica and I to the pumpkin that was fully painted, decorated and animated.

"So how does this thing work?" Rica asked.

"Well you see the giant door?" Rica nodded, "We walk in-" I led her inside, "and were trapped until we get too scared or a certain amount of time passes."

"What do you mean?" Rica asked walking back to the door "It's not locked or-" as Rica opened the door she quickly realized that the room she saw was not the one that the pumpkin was located in earlier. In fact it looked just like the room that we were in now: like the inside of a pumpkin only with four doors, one on each side. "Not one of these." She said scared.

"And there are surprises in some of them, not to mention when we do come out it can be in any room in the house." Rica looked at me like I just told her that we would be locked in here forever, I just laughed, "Don't worry, we can't be trapped in it for more than five minutes in real time so we will defiantly not miss the party."

"Real time?" she asked with a hint of fear in her voice.

After what felt like an hour of walking through rooms and encountering some like ones with false bottoms and ones with ghost shadows Rica looked at me with a concerned look "Hey Phineas … can I ask you something?"

"What is it Rica?" I asked looking at her.

"Well the thing is … who exactly is Isabella?" I was a little surprised by the randomness of her question, "I mean I talked to her once online but you've never really talked about her much so I don't really know who she is."

I smiled a little. "Isabella was – I mean is my oldest and closest friend."

"Really?"

"Ya we've known each other ever since … well since she was born I guess." I said as I scratched my head

"You guess?"

"Well I was born first and I don't really remember that far back so I only have my mom and her mom to go by and they said that we were good friends right from when she was born." Rica looked at me confused "I mean our mothers have been friends since before Candace was born so naturally Isabella and I have known each other for literally our entire lives." She continued looking at me confused so I decided to explain it to her. "When Isabella's mom was going threw labor, my mom was one of the people who was there. She brought me with her in one of those backpack things. When Isabella was born, my mother brought me in and she said it looked like I was trying to play with her even though she was still asleep." I smiled and let out a laugh, "After that day Isabella's mom brought her over almost everyday, whether it was because she needed someone to watch over Isabella or just a play date."

Rica gave me another confused look. "So you two have been friends your entire lives?"

"Yup."

"And in that time has she ever fallen in love with you." I was again surprised by Rica's question.

"I don't think so."

"And you've never fallen for her?"

It took me a second to answer her question. "No, no I haven't."

She gave me a smile. "Just wanted to make sure"

After a while we found the exit door and found ourselves coming out to see Erick talking to Katie about something that I couldn't catch before he noticed us.

(Erick's POV)

I was trying to talk to Katie about Jack and her relationship with him without … asking about Jack and her relationship with him, but before I could think up a solution to this insolvable dilemma the pumpkin appeared with Phineas and Rica walking out of it. "I gata say that was fun." Rica said. "Oh hi Erick and … Katie was it?"

"Ya, hello again Rica." Katie asked with with a strange anger in her voice.

"I don't think I've seen you since that lunch when you talked about-"

"It's nice to see you again after such a long time." Katie interrupted, "So Phineas tell me how this pumpkin works." she walked over to Phineas as Rica walked to me trying to avoid Phineas's attention.

"Hey Erick can I ask you a question?" Rica asked.

"Shoot."

"Well the thing is." she looked back to Phineas nervously. "Do you know if Isabella is in love with Phineas?"

At that point in time the one thing I wanted to do was turn tail and run as far away as humanly possible. The last thing I wanted to do was answer that question but I knew I had to if I wanted to get alone time with Katie, I looked to make sure that Phineas wasn't listening and looked back to Rica. "The only person who doesn't know about Isabella's emotions for Phineas is … well Phineas"

"That's not really the answer to my question but I get it."

"Good" I said looking back at Rica. "Now if anyone asks you then don't tell them it was me who told you okay? I really enjoy life." And without another word, I walked up to Katie while thinking about what to do.

I took a deep breath and decided that the only way I was going to find out Jack was if I come out and ask. "So Katie." I said getting her attention. "I heard a lot about this guy named Jack that you hang around with but you've never actually told me anything about him." Oh that was smooth. A voice in my head said statistically.

Katie looked at me with a sad expression for a minute before smiling. "Oh Jack … yeah … he and I are … he's my boyfriend."

(Katie's POV)

What did I just say? I thought. Jack's not my boyfriend, why did I just tell Erick that I'm seeing someone? The jealousy tactic is NOT something you want to use on a boy like this.

Erick looked at me with a bright smile. "Oh … okay … that's … good for you Katie."

I felt my heart rip in two as I saw the look of joy on Erick's face. I pulled myself together and decided to ask about Kristen. "So Erick, how has my best friend been doing in the dating department?"

He started to scratch the back of his head. "Oh well … yeah, it's … kinda complicated ..."

Complicated? If they are going through something then they might break up soon. That would be good right? I thought. "How so?"

"Well … you see ..." He started. "There is this girl that … I … started dating ..."

I felt downhearted. "What's her name?"

Erick looked away. "Her name … is Kristen."

I felt like crying right then and there, Erick really was dating someone else. I put on a fake smile and looked him in the eye. "Well congratulations." Erick laughed some and I looked over to the pumpkin. "Well, I'm going to try out the pumpkin before someone else does and it disappears." Erick looked at me like he was about to say something but I ran over to the pumpkin and shut the door behind myself. After a moment I opened the door to make sure that the pumpkin had really started. When I was sure that's when I started crying.

Why? Why did he have to find someone else?

(Phineas's POV)

(Later that night)

The party had ended, I walked Rica to the bus station, and I was getting ready for bed but there was one thing that really bothered me, did I tell Rica the truth when I said that I didn't have feelings for Isabella? I got into my pajamas and walked over to my bed, I mean we have been best friends for our entire lives, so it would make since. I shook my head and figured that I would think more about it later. I walked over to my bed and pulled myself under the covers. I looked over to my brother who was lying in his bed reading a book before going to sleep.

"Good night Ferb." I said before I turned off the lights.

"Phineas?" I heard Ferb say. "I need to talk to you about something."

I looked over in his direction. "Shoot."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "It's about Isabella."

I sighed, I didn't want to talk more about Isabella today, we still had one month before we saw her again and I've honestly had enough discussion about her today. "Look Ferb, I don't want to talk about Isabella right now."

"That's actually what I want to talk about."

My eyes went wide. "What do you mean?"

"I mean all you've done every night between Isabella leaving and school starting is talk about her and ways we can stay in touch with her or ways that we can bring her here during her down time."

"Well she said that she needed to stay on campus at all times, so I figured that-"

"You were also talking about her non stop when she was away at fireside girls camp."

I stared at him for a moment and shook my head. "What are you getting at?"

I heard him sigh. "I think you've replaced her."

"What?" I asked in a sarcastic tone, "Isabella's my best friend, always has and always will. I'll never replace her Ferb." I lied down and looked up at the ceiling. "I'm looking forward to when she will be back and I can't wait to properly introduce her to Rica."

There was some silence before Ferb spoke. "I was afraid you would say that."

"What?"

"You just spent exactly 14.81 seconds responding to my comment, and on top of that you didn't shout. This isn't like you bro, you really care for Isabella but now … when was the last time you talked to her?"

I looked up at the ceiling and thought. "I guess … when I told her about Rica … yeah, second Tuesday of school."

"That was over a month ago."

"So what?"

Ferb sighed. "I just want to make sure you still think of her as a friend. Not to long ago, if we accused you of not thinking about Isabella then you would lecture us for a good three minutes."

"Well maybe meeting Rica has just calmedme down." I looked over to my brother, "Lets get some sleep, we'll talk about this in the morning." and with that I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

So next chapter is not in the original story so I might be able to post it later today but I can make no promises. I do have other things I have to work on.

R&R