It all started with my bad habit of staring.
See, I live directly across the street from the infamous pair, Phineas and Ferb. I am also lucky enough to have grown up with those two, and we're close, close enough to walk into they're kitchen and join them for breakfast. But today wasn't let's go eat breakfast with Phineas and Ferb day, today was, Isabella needs to finish her history project day.
They were out planning in they're backyard already and it wasn't even nine yet. I know this because instead of writing out my report on The Night of the Long Knives I was gazing out my window down at the two teenage boys. Toiling away at their blue prints, their mom just stepped out and Candace, probably somewhere ogling over Jeremy.
I know this because I was staring at them. I wasn't really staring at them; I was lost in a day dream, something about horses and a lizard and taking down the Nazi party.
Oh, my homework got in there.
I blinked feverishly trying to get my head on straight, but before I could tear my eyes away on a certain fixated patch of grass somewhere near the base of the tree. I saw a sudden movement out of the corner of my eye, and they latched on the closest living creature:
Ferb.
He was standing above Phineas, head tilted back as if he was a little exhausted from doing something, clutching a few to six blueprints, rolled up in his arms and a hand lifted hesitantly up to about ear's height. He waved gingerly at me, his blank eyes watching closely for a simple reaction. I raised my hand and waved, smiling sweetly and he nodded a little as if to acknowledge my salutation. He looked down to Phineas and they continued on with their days' plan.
It's no stretch to say I was bored and was starting to miss spending my afternoons with them. But, stupid idiotic teenage girl insecurities were building up in my throat and I couldn't bring myself to leave my desk chair. I kept watching the two boys, work away and finally pull out a plan from the ever growing pile of "To-Do Lists". I sighed inwardly and slumped down into my chair. I should have been working, I should have had this report done already, I never procrastinate. But, lethargy was tugging at my nerves and I turned back to my desk, papers scattered from my research.
"This is boring." I mumbled bitterly, my arms felt like pools of water as I leaned over to glance out the window again.
They were working on the ground and talking amongst them selves, I could see Ferb, speaking a mile a minute and Phineas probably throwing in statements here and there. It must be so cool to hear him talk that much, but he never said a word when someone else was around. They say if you stare at someone long enough they can feel it. I believe it. Phineas turned his head, eyes trailing around the street before noticing me at my window. I grinned and waited as he glanced back at Ferb.
I'd go and help if he'd invite me.
I thought vainly, I didn't want to bother them. I felt better if he ju-
Phineas raised his hands and made a beckoning motion. I sprang from my chair and ran to my vanity. I forced my brush through my hair quickly and pulled on my sneakers. Running down the stairs I called to my mother, "Going out for a bit! I'll be at Phineas and Ferb's!"
And the door slammed shut behind me before I heard another word. Composing myself once again, I pushed the backyard gate open and smiled as the boys looked up. Phineas grinned, his eyes already ablaze with the marvelous outcome of today's project and lists and lists of how I could help. Ferb just glanced up for a moment, the way he always does.
"What cha doin'?" I cooed, walking up to the blueprint sprawled on the ground at Phineas' knees.
"We're constructing an aluminum frame, about three acres wide, where we'll elongate the peripheries of our carbon-based resilient layer and fasten them to the structure to create recoil when momentum is applied!" He stared up at me with an excited smile, his fists shaking in anticipation in front of his chest. I glanced at Ferb, "We're building a trampoline." He stated flatly as Phineas finally stood up and brushed off his shorts. "A really big trampoline! It'll span over four backyards! Rather large backyards!" I gave them both a wide approving smile, "Sounds cool! Any way I can help?" it was this moment, that instead of clasping my hands over my hip and tilting my head in the cute way I used to, while giving Phineas those big pleading-for-his-attention eyes, I looked directly at Ferb for approval.
I smiled burying my hands in my skirt's pockets and he immediately tensed up on the spot. Phineas hummed and hawed over the prints as he wandered over to the house to begin the gathering of supplies.
Ferb watched him trot off, a mutual understanding between him and I that Phineas, of course, did not hear a word. And I guess, if this was how it was when we were in grade school, I would have thrown a mental fit for him not answering my question, for fear he'd never truly hear me, as melodramatic as it were, or he was ignoring me altogether.
But, I didn't feel any of that.
That's what maturity does to you.
I blinked a little and tilted my head forward smiling still and watched as Ferb's eyes trailed from mine to look sideways at Phineas and slowly mumbled. "We would appreciate your help." His accent floating smoothly past his lips as his blank eyes were drawn back to see my decision. "Awesome." I beamed and chuckled a little at his uncomfortable expression before finally saying, "Let's go see what your brother wants us to get." he nodded and lead the way.