Bad luck always seems to stick to Candace whenever she wants to bust her brothers. The invention of the day stays put like an immovable brick wall, but whenever Mom and Dad show up, it always disappears at the very last second. It never ceased to annoy the long-necked teenager.

But this one's got to be one of the most ridiculous ways. Mom will never believe her when she tells it.

"Well? Where is this slide", Linda repeats her question.

Candace leaves a big sigh and tells what happened, despite her knowing that her mom will never believe it. "Some giant robot man had destroyed the slide and cleaned up the mess he left. Then he and some pharmacist that lost his labcoat got chased away by the attendants of the slide."

After a bit of silence, Linda told her daughter: "You are aware that I'm not going to believe such wild fantasies, right?"

"I could hardly believe it myself", Candace said disappointedly, "But it's the truth, I swear."

Lawrence then said: "Don't worry too much about whatever happened. Did you have fun?"

Candace then lightened up and said: "Actually, yes. Yes I did. Phineas and Ferb too, they're over there". She pointed towards Phinas, Ferb and their friends.

Candace, Linda and Lawrence approached Phineas and Ferb as they were still talking about the fun times of today. Trixie's parents were also approaching the group.

"Oh hey Mom and Dad, hey Candace", Phineas said. "We had a fantastic time, and we made a giant water slide! But then some robot man destroyed it and got chased away. And, we made friends with some of the locals." Phineas gestured towards Timmy, AJ, Chloe, Trixie and Veronica. He also noticed Trixie's parents, as he said: "Oh hey, Mr and Mrs Tang. If you were wondering where our slide was, well-"

"We heard it", Mrs Tang interrupted. "We're only here to pick up Trixie. Are you all right?"

"Mother, I'm fine", Trixie said.

"Isn't that a coincidence", Lawrence said. "We're here to pick up our sons and their friends."

Mrs Tang faced Linda and Lawrence and asked: "So, you must be the parents of these young talents with the uncouth appearances."

Linda and Lawrence stared a bit awkwardly at Mrs Tang due to the way she worded their two sons, before Linda said: "We ARE Phineas and Ferb's parents, yes."

Lawrence then turned to Phineas and Ferb and asked: "Well, boys, ready to go?"

"Wait", Isabella said. "I um, first want to talk to Candace and Trixie, privately."

Everyone just stared at the mexian-jewish girl, as Candace and Trixie approached her with confusion.

"Yeah, there are some things I want to talk with them about", Isabella said. Then she whispered to Candace and Trixie: "Isn't that right, Trixtan?"

Candace and Trixie's eyes widened with shock. How did Isabella figure that out?!

"Why are they suddenly so shocked", Chloe questioned.

"I know right", Phineas replied. "As if Isabella knows one of their darkest secrets."

Timmy was silent on the subject. He actually knew one secret of Trixie, which was her love for comic books. But he only knew it as Timantha, which he turned into as an accidental wish. Plus, he has no idea how Isabella would know this secret, nor could he explain how Candace would fit in all of this.

Trixie quickly requested: "Mother, could you make it so no one can sneak upon us while we're away?"

Trixie's mom wasn't particularly glad that an unpopular seemed to know something about Trixie, fearing that Isabella might blackmail her daughter. However, despite the reluctant face she's showing, she snapped her fingers, as the bodyguard from earlier this day showed up. "Your bodyguard will protect you three", Mrs Tang explained. "And don't worry about him overhearing certain things, he's wearing ear plugs."

"Thanks, Mother", Trixie replied. The group was heading to the girl's restroom.

The rest of the group was sitting on a bench.

Then AJ remarked: "Hey, where's Veronica?"

"Nonono", Buford said. "It's 'Where's Perry', and he's right there". He pointed towards Perry, who was being held by Phineas, and then chattered.

"What I mean is, that Veronica's missing", AJ corrected himself. The group then noticed the lack of a cheerleader-dressed blonde.

"Maybe she went to the same place as Chester?", Timmy guessed. Then the group saw Chester returning, with his green vest slightly ripped. "What did I miss", Chester asked.

Veronica left as early as she saw Trixie's eyes widen. That means Isabella knows a secret Trixie holds dear! Honestly, she didn't want to spread any rumors about her friend around, but she was very curious how some middle-class girl, no, TWO middle-class girls (she remembered Candace was involved somehow), seemed to know something about Dimmsdale's most popular girl that no one else does.

Veronica hid herself in one of the stalls in the girl's restroom, as she guessed the trio would discuss this secret there. She didn't lock her stall as that would cause suspicion.

Her guess would turn out right as Trixie, Candace and Isabella have entered the restroom.

"Alright Isabella", Trixie started. "I'm pretty sure I didn't tell you about this Trixtan guy."

"There's really no need to be pretending", Isabella said with a smug face. "All three of us know that Trixtan is just you in boy clothes."

"Be quiet", Trixie worried. "You never know if someone else is snooping on us."

Candace spoke: "Besides, how did you even figure it out?"

Isabella revealed: "When I was calling Phineas at the gym, I saw from the corner of my eye that 'Trixtan' was holding an eerily similar phone as Trixie was holding before I confronted her about her behavior. Same rose gold color with the same diamond decorations. I noticed early on how similar Trixtan's face was compared to Trixie's and 'his' voice also sounded like Trixie trying to lower her voice. I basically put two and two together and concluded that Trixie was pretending to be a boy."

Candace and Trixie stared at Isabella, surprised that she was able to figure those things out as if it were child's play.

"I learned how to pick up on such things to get my Eagle's Sight and Bat's Hearing patches", Isabella proudly explained.

Trixie looked questioningly at Candace.

"She's a Fireside Girl", Candace explained. "They're girl scouts."

"But I'm not here to gloat in your faces that I know your secret", Isabella said, "because frankly, I actually something to ask about it."

"Ummm... go ahead?", Trixie said.

"Why did you even dress up as a boy", Isabella asked. "I mean, you could've just hung out with Candace as yourself."

"Umm, hello, Candace is the sister of a set of dorks", Trixie said in an annoyed tone. "And I didn't believe they could make amazing things back when I hung out with her. If I went as myself, my popularity would decrease."

"Sure, I believe that", Isabella said. "But I cannot help to think there's another reason why you dressed up as a boy. Something that lowers your popularity even more when known."

Trixie's eyes began to widen slowly.

"Also", Isabella added, "There has to be a reason why you wanted to hang out with Candace. I mean, like you said, she's just the sister of some dorks. Nothing special."

Trixie began to sweat, and grimace a little too out of worry.

"Plus", Isabella added, "I cannot help to notice that one of your bags, supposedly full of clothes, also has an awfully rectangular indention. As if, from a hard-cover comic book..."

"Alright, alright", Trixie interrupted. "I confess, I confess."

"Wait, Trixie, are you sure about that", Candace asked. "What if Isabella decides to snitch on you?!"

"Trixie has not to worry about me", Isabella said. "I won't tell anything to anybody: that's the scout's honor. And if someone else snooped on us and does snitch it out, it's gonna be bad news for them."

Isabella approached Trixie and continued: "Maybe whatever your secret is, you should probably confess one day, but until then my lips are sealed. So go ahead."

Trixie left out a big sigh, and said: "I... I'm actually a big fan of boy comics and video games. Skull Squisher is one of my all-time favorite comics, and today, a special 10th anniverary comic book album was released, which I really wanted to get. Incidentally, that's how I met Candace. She wasn't weirded out by my strange hobby, which is how we became friends. It, in fact, reminds me of Timantha, a girl I met right before my birthday. She also could say she liked both Skull Squisher and Kissy Kissy Goo Goo. I saw it back in Candace."

Trixie then held Isabella by her shoulders and pleaded: "Please, Isabella, don't tell this to anyone! My popularity will be basically nonexistant if anyone gets to know about this. Not even my own parents know this! Oh, please, please, please!" Trixie's eyes got all wet and misty.

Isabella then said: "Like I said, my lips are sealed."

Trixie then hugged Isabella, and said: "Oh thank you, thank you! I couldn't thank you enough!"

"However, you probably should tell someone else one day", Isabella said when she got released from her hug. "Right now, people only appreciate you for what you show them, but not for who you really are. Living a lie like that is going to hurt someday."

"Maybe you're right, but I'll be treated like dirt by everyone", Trixie said.

"Then everyone else is dirt", Isabella said. "You like to read comics, so what? Girls can read comics too, and if your clique of populars cannot accept that, then they're no real friends."

"You could always start small", Candace suggested. "Besides Timantha or me, you could ask your other closest friend."

"You mean Veronica?" Trixie asked. "I dunno, she seems to like me just for the side I show everyone..."

Trixie then realized something completely different. "Actually, it's really convenient that we're in a restroom, because I really got to go!"

She opened one of the stalls, and to her, Candace and Isabella's surprise, someone was hiding there.

Trixie uttered: "Veronica?"

Veronica heard about everything and had no idea what to think of it. Trixie Tang, the most popular girl of Dimmsdale and her BFF for life, actually likes to read comics targeted to nerdy boys. It's a bit hard for the cheerleader to let that sink in, since popular girls and comic books go as well together as chocolate and Brussels sprouts. At least, that's how she's been taught.

While it isn't the weirdest secret she discovered today (that would be the platypus being a secret agent), it is definitely one that rocked her world upside down. One that Veronica felt a bit ill about. It was much easier for her to deal with Perry's secret, because A: she only knew Perry since today, and B: secret agents are actually cool. But Trixie has been her best friend since Kindergarten, and now one of her most defining traits was nothing more than deceit. And the truth wasn't as cool as being a secret agent: it was being a comic nerd. She felt being lied to for half her life. She definitely wasn't ready for this.

It's quite clear that she wasn't supposed to know this yet and regretted hiding in the restroom stall.

And it looked like she wasn't going to get away with snooping on her either, as Trixie not only had to go to the toilet, but just so happened to pick the exact stall Veronica was hiding in, making the blonde regretting her decision even more.

"Veronica?" Trixie uttered. "What are you doing here?"

"Umm", Veronica stammered, while breaking out cold sweat and shifting her eyes. "Uh, I um, had to... go, too?"

"Do you think she heard everything we discussed so far", Candace asked.

"I think that was the entire point", Isabella concluded with a miffed expression. "She didn't lock her stall and we picked a room where no one is supposedly here, it's clear she was snooping on us."

Trixie asked: "Veronica, is that true?"

Veronica began to sweat even more, but after a moment, admitted: "...yes. The curiosity got the better of me, I'm so sorry..."

Trixie was a little miffed that her best friend was spying on her just to get something out of her. "I can't believe it", she said. "My best friend, my BFF, decided to snoop on me, and now she has possession of some of the biggest dirt that could ruin my entire social life in ten seconds flat! How could you, Veronica?"

"Wait", Veronica exclaimed. "I didn't want to spread dirt about you around! I was just curious, that's all."

"Sure", Trixie said. "I would actually believe that if you didn't just so happen to have a gossipmouth."

Veronica pleaded: "Trixie, I swear I'll keep it a secret. If I don't, I'll ruin my own social life alongside."

Trixie thought for a bit. "Alright", she said.

"What, you accept it just like that", Candace complained.

"Well, she's still my best friend", Trixie responded.

"Wait", Isabella realized. "Veronica overheard your secret, which may end your social life because it's controversial. Does she even still want to be your friend now she knows it?"

Candace, Trixie and Isabella looked questioningly at Veronica.

Veronica looked down as she said: "I have to admit that it's a hard to take in that my BFF, a popular girl, likes comics for boys, something which is frowned upon here in Dimmsdale." Veronica's eyes swelled with tears as she continued: "And to be honest, I feel, like, being deceived for half of my entire life, since Trixie never showed this side ever since we became friends... She, in fact, showed disgust towards comics..."

Trixie handed her friend a handkerchief to dry up her tears. Veronica took the handkerchief as she said: "So, yeah, it feels like everything I knew about Trixie suddenly shattered completely... but it got me wondering..."

She then stared directly in Trixie's face and asked: "How is that Skull Squisher comic, exactly?"

"Those girls sure are taking a long time", Timmy pondered.

"Well, you know girls", Buford said. "Always gossippin' for hours."

"Not all girls do that", Chloe complained.

The gang of friends, as well as Phineas and Ferb's parents and Trixie's parents, are still waiting for Candace, Isabella and Trixie (and also Veronica) to show up. While the kids still sat on the bench, Trixie's mom stood nearby while impatiently tapping her foot, and Candace's mom leaned on the bench's back railing.

Phineas checked the time on his cellphone. 5:50. "It's almost closing time", Phineas said. "I sure hope they're almost done-"

As Phineas said this, the bodyguard at the girl's restroom began to move, as the door opened and four figures popped out. Isabella, Candace Trixie and Veronica. All seemed to have a good time as they approached the group.

"We're so sorry it took so long", Trixie apologized. "Apparently Veronica snuck up on us. We had a little argument but everything's fine now."

"Sure looks like it", Linda commented.

"Hm, apology accepted", Mrs Tang said in a neutral tone. "But now we have to get out of here before the mall closes.

The whole group is outside now. Before they parted ways, Phineas asked: "So what are you guys gonna do once you get home?"

"Mom and Dad should probably be done cooking supper now", Timmy said. "And after that I probably got to deal with the meanest babysitter ever. Speaking of which, I should be going. I don't think my parents would appreciate it when I get home late!"

Timmy ran away quickly.

"Same for me", Chloe added, as she ran in the same direction.

As they disappeared behind the corner of the mall, Phineas swore he heard some 'poofs' from said direction, but figured it might be his imagination.

"Chester and I have to go, too", AJ said. "But luckily, it's not too far from here. Chester lives with his dad at the Happy Trails Trailer Park, and my house is across the railroad near the trailer park." With that said, Chester and AJ sped away after saying goodbye.

"I made some selfies when I was at that slide of yours", Trixie said. "I'll be posting them on Crazebook!"

"Hey, I also made some photos", Irving interrupted. "But I post them on my fanmade Phineas and Ferb Dumblr blog!"

Trixie cleared her throat, and Irving took a step back. "And then I'll be chatting with Veronica on Strype", the popular girl continued.

"Like, totally!" Veronica confirmed. "Hey, Candace, Isabella, d'you have Strype too? Maybe you can, like, join in!"

Candace, Isabella, Trixie and Veronica shared their Strype account names. Then Trixie and Veronica departed with Trixie's parents (Mr and Mrs Tang will be driving Veronica home on their own). This was the cue for Phineas, Ferb, Perry, Candace, Isabella, Buford, Baljeet, Irving, and the parents to depart back to the apartment.

"Sooo...", Phineas asked his mom, "How was your hunt for antiques?"

"Honestly, it could've been better", Linda said. "We couldn't find anything interesting today."

"We did meet a peculiar man that sold busted 'anti-fairy' devices, though", Lawrence said. "We managed to get a rusted pot for real cheap, which looks sort of antique, right dear?"

The van stopped a few streets further at the apartment.

Author's Note: The story's got a little longer than expected. This here is a merge between Chapters 22 and 23 of the original revision, and yeah, this one's pretty long too.

Next up is the final chapter, which were originally Chapters 24 and 25.

If you like the story, feel free to favorite, follow and/or review and tell me what you think.