I'm wondering if maybe it was easier to be Ginger at this point. To scream "I HATE EVERYTHING!" at the wall and bitch to your sister and burn pictures of your ex. Ok, that literally sounds like the worst thing ever. But, she was acting like a bitch and I totally did not care and was giving her a total pass. Ginger's heart was absolutely broken. And I think in the worst way too. If Baljeet was with Mishti, that would at least be a legit excuse, but I don't know what the fuck kind of situation we were in right now. It really made me appreciate the fact that I had my boyfriend.

I fluttered my eyes open and sat up. I glanced next to me. It was rare that I would wake up before Ferb. We didn't even have sex last night or anything. I guess I was too antsy to sleep. He looked so peaceful. Don't call me selfish but… thank goodness he didn't snore, ha. I'd keep him even if he did. He was breathing very softly. I remembered the nonsense I had thought about before… if we ever got married. I ran my nails gently through his hair. Oh, was I becoming one of those girls? I probably always had been, with Phineas. But Phineas and Isabella were a planned romance… Ferb and Isabella were not. He was so cute. We can't get in big fights… there can't be other girls or guys… what Phineas said, this can't happen again.

Ferb slowly lifted his head and blinked a couple times. "Hi baby." I said softly. He rolled a little and sat up. I gave him a quick kiss.

"Huh." He said, rubbing his eyes. "You're awake?"

"Couldn't sleep." I replied.

"Why?" He asked.

"I dunno."

"Oh Mother Hen," He sighed. "You need to worry less about everyone else. It isn't good for you. And it leads to you overstepping your boundaries and meddling in their lives."

"Ferb." I pouted. I rested my head back on his chest. "Hmm, we probably need to get up, yeah?"

"Yes." He replied, but we still didn't budge.

"Did we like, really mess up the group like this, Ferb?" I asked.

"I don't know."

Initially, we had been lying to everyone. Then, the friends-with-benefits concept had made us become a total joke. Then… we broke up. Like this. But, it wasn't angry. It was depressing. We would fake laugh and not make eye contact when in the group. I would go home and absolutely fall apart. Ferb wouldn't talk to anyone, not even Phineas. And the gang was giving me advice the whole time… they were trying to fix it, like I was now. God, it was such a mess.

"But, it all worked out, baby." I said. "I love you."

He shook his head. "Love isn't the problem, Isabella. Baljeet and Ginger very clearly love each other. Maybe… you don't always get to be with the person you're in love with."

I sighed and swung my legs over the sides of the bed. "Alright. Let's change."

"Phineas said he would 'fix everything' last night." Ferb said.

"Really?"

Phineas had a knack for fixing the whole world, you know. He was the one who smacked some sense into me and brought me back to Ferb, fixing I guess, the first group fight. I know he was angry with Baljeet, but if he really went to apologize, then, maybe it would all work out. Or, he might have gone to tell Ginger about Baljeet's confession that he loved her. Or… I'm not sure what he was going to tell Mishti. A Phineas plan might be crazy, but it generally worked out great for everyone.

"Let's go over there then!" We strode over to the other apartment and walked right in. "Phineas, it's us!" I called. "I thought you said he'd be home?" I turned to Ferb.

He shrugged. "He's probably still asleep."

"It's almost twelve." I gaped. "It's PHINEAS. Phineas slept till twelve? What time did he get home?"

"I don't know." I swear I almost hit him. "Something was wrong with him." He continued. "He was all testy and irritated and ran out of here after you left and never came back. But his same coat and shoes are right there, I know he's here."

"Well, we need to check on him!" I exclaimed. I marched to Phineas' room. The hallway was dark, but the door to his room was cracked open with a tiny sliver of light coming out, and… voices.

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed. "Oh my god!" We both frantically looked back and forth at each other.

"Mmm…" A female voice lightly giggled.

Ferb mouthed, "Who…"

"Who do you think?" I whispered loudly. "He said he was going to fix everything!" Ferb shrugged desperately. "Oh my god!" I turned back to the door. I HAD to know what was going on and what happened last night.

"No… No, I refuse to spy on him." Ferb stated.

"But…"

"No!"

"Oh, well, go make us brunch then, baby." I kissed him. He sighed, but walked away. I had to turn my attention back to the door. I know, I'm a horrible person. Phineas was laughing.

"No, no, Phineas, I'm ticklish." She protested. Yup. That was Mishti. "No… Phhhinn…" She purred in pleasure. Um, what was he doing? WHAT WAS HE DOING? She was still making purring noises.

"Umm… Is Baljeet going to quote unquote 'kick my ass'?"

I legitimately almost had to stuff my shirt into my mouth to keep from laughing at that. I mean, he said it in complete earnest. Mishti did start laughing a lot. She's a real giggler.

"Stop it!" Phineas exclaimed.

"I… ha, ha, Phineas, quit it… Phineas… mmm…" Mishti let out a long, erotic moan. Then, so did Phineas. OMG.

"Oh…" He sighed. "You look so pretty." He said sweetly. Aww. There was the undeniable sound of lips smacking. I knew because I had made that sound with Ferb many times before.

"Alright, mera dil." Mishti laughed. "I think it's time to go back to real life." She said.

"Just a few more minutes." Phineas whined.

"Just a few more minutes of what?"

"Of this…"

I gasped. Because I'm pretty sure I just heard Phineas Flynn GROWL. Mishti was giggling again. Stop spying on them, Isabella. I backed away as quietly as I could.

Back in the kitchen, my Ferb was actually making brunch. "I love you." I sighed.

"I appreciate that." He grinned.

"Ferb… Oh my god, Ferb." I covered my face. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. I was right, (like always). Phineas, stupid oblivious Phineas, had it bad for Mishti Patel. Not just sexually but emotionally too. I don't know which of those felt more implausible, but oh, listen to him! Listen to them! They were so cute! "Did he say anything yesterday, Ferb?" I whispered. "After I left?"

"I think it hit him that… she's going to go back to India." He said quietly.

"Oooh!" I gasped. I guess his desires were driving him crazy, and when he realized she wasn't going to be here that much longer, he lost it. "So, he…"

"Obviously he went to her and they ended up over here at some point while we were dead asleep over there." He stated. He glanced at me. "Do you remember that one night when I showed up at your place REALLY late after we accidentally saw each other in the club and-"

"Ferb!" I exclaimed. "Ferb, HE did THAT to her?"

"Well," He turned knowingly. "He was kind of acting like that."

"Oh, Ferb…" I pouted. "No! Ferb! Phineas is falling for her." He gave me a wise nod.

Right then, he walked out completely casually, and unaware of his surroundings, and I just couldn't help myself. "Phineas!" I crowed.

His hand went up to cover his eyes. He hadn't known we were home. "Shit." He said, almost silently. And I just exploded laughing. Ferb was more like a sputtering teapot, trying to keep the laughter in, but it was coming out anyway. We really are horrible people. Oh jeez, again, he was turning so red. Ha ha, we love it when Phineas swears, most of the time it means he's super embarrassed like now (Although he could be surprised, or… upset. That's not a good one.). He was in nothing but boxers this time. But, you know, I could see all the nail marks up and down his body, and bits of hot pink lipstick here and there. Wow, what was she doing with him? I mean, this was Phineas!

"Good morning!" Mishti again came strolling out like it was nothing, wearing what I presumed to be one of Phineas' T-shirts as a dress, and texting someone. And… what was he doing with her? Hot damn, did Phineas actually know his way around the bedroom or was Mishti just bringing something out in him that no one thought existed? Mishti's hair was always so perfect, now twice I had seen it so messed up I almost couldn't believe it. "What smells so good?"

"Ferb's making brunch." I said cautiously.

"Great. Can I have some, Mr. Fletcher?" She asked, in her cutesy way. He nodded. "Thank you." She giggled. I've gotten so used to that giggle. "I'm going to miss you all when I go back to India."

"I love India." Phineas blurted out, in his awkward Phineas-like way. Oh Phineas, no.

She turned back to him. "Really?"

"Yeah, yeah!" He enthusiastically nodded. "We went there to the Himalayas to Baljeet's uncle's. And I love Bollywood music. And Indian food. And… elephants." He finished lamely.

I could see she was practically rolling her eyes, but instead she said, "You're such a sweet boy, Phineas."

Ferb gestured to us. "Food's ready." I announced. I grabbed Phineas' arm. "Put some clothes on." I stated quietly.

"Heh. Right." He muttered. He turned to go back to his room.

"Actually, boys," Mishti yawned. "Can I shower?"

Ferb nodded. I did too. "All the towels are in that closet in front of the bathroom, and the soap and stuff should be in the shower. And if anything is too," I held up air quotes. "'Manly', I have this pink travel bag in one of the bottom drawers."

Phineas bit at his lip. "Uh, hey, Mishti…"

"Thank you, Isabella!" She called, as she walked down to the bathroom.

Again, Ferb and I at least had the decency to wait until we heard the door shut, then we started laughing again. This time, Ferb really was laughing, and I was howling like a hyena. "PHINEAS!" I gasped. "You weren't… You wanted to go in there with her, didn't you?"

"I… I…" He stammered. I swear, I was seconds away from dropping onto my knees. "Well, you guys do it all the time!" He declared, trying to defend himself.

"Yeah, but… we're us." I stated. I don't know if that sounded bad, or what, but everyone kind of knew Ferb and I were the "sex-crazed" ones.

Ferb walked behind me, put his arms around me, and rested his chin on my shoulder. "He probably would've dropped her on her head in there." He whispered. I snorted.

"Ferb!"

"So…" Ferb gave him a look. "This… is fixing everything?"

"I…" He made a face.

"You slept with Mishti." I said. "Your solution, the brilliant Phineas solution, to fix Baljeet's relationship and make him friends with you again… was to do the deed, AGAIN, with the girl who caused this mess in the first place."

"You weren't supposed to find out." He muttered.

"You're busted." Ferb chortled.

Phineas pointed a finger at him. "Look, I'm not doing anything, ok? I'm just-"

"She makes you horny and you felt the need to fuck her instead of telling her what all the problems are, you idiot!" I declared. He blushed violently. "You- you wanted to do her in the shower." Ferb and I burst out laughing again. It was just so ridiculous. I didn't want to make to make the poor boy cry, so I just said, "Put some clothes on, dude." He walked really quickly out of there, like he couldn't take any more of this.

"SEE!" I exclaimed, turning to Ferb. "Kyle and Wynne, Vanessa and Monty, Phineas and Mishti. I am the best at matchmaking."

"You didn't do anything!" He stated.

I ignored him. "So I guess he went to her hotel room, right? But he's Phineas, he wasn't just gonna pounce on her. So they were probably walking around, the building isn't that far from her hotel, and they must have kissed and… it's so romantic!" I squealed.

"Isabella…" Ferb said. "She doesn't exactly seem to be fawning all over him. Not even the second time."

"Well, they were being cutesy in bed together though." I said.

"Baljeet is going to kill them. And now, he's going to kill you if you take credit for this second night of debauchery." Ferb said flatly.

"No. Now we have to get Baljeet and Ginger back together."

"You drive me mad!" He exclaimed.

Just then, strolling back, and actually humming, came Mishti. She wasn't really wearing pajamas, but a grey dress that was more like home-clothes than a fabulous Mishti outfit. Almost as if, you know, she had just been hanging out… when a crazy boy decided to take her on a midnight joyride back to his place to make love to her. She ran her hands through her slightly damp hair and sat down at the table.

"Sooo…" I sat down next to her. "You and Phineas?"

She gave me a strange look, as if I had said something so stupid only like, a dead worm would ask it. "Yes, Isabella. Me and Phineas."

"Mishti!" I cried. "You two sort of implied it was a one-time thing."

"Well," She shrugged, digging her fork into her food. "I guess it wasn't."

I'm pretty sure my mouth was open. "You guess?"

What? I- What? She guessed? What the fuck does that mean? Ferb was right. It sounds like any one of the guys could have been the one in that bed with her that night and she wouldn't have cared either way. She wouldn't have cared if it were no one either. She took being the girl who didn't care about romance to a whole other level. Oh… and Phineas was falling for her?

I was still desperately trying to fix the group, and it was kind of working, honestly. No one was fighting each other over this as much; our attention spans were too small. And, umm… Phineas most certainly did not have a problem with Miss Mishti anymore. He seemed to enjoy it when she was with the group, rather than avoid her. The fight between Baljeet and Ginger and Phineas had sort of simmered down to… passive-aggressive.

"Are we really, like, drinking tea and coffee and eating cookies together like old ladies right now?" Buford asked. "Isabella, this is not why we come over to your house. Especially not the entire group at once."

"You know what would be fun?" I said loudly. "Let's pull out some old photos of all of us when we were little. I have a million albums; physical and virtual." Yeah. Let's remind Phineas and Baljeet they've literally been best friends since they were in goddamn elementary school!

"Yeah!" Everyone eagerly agreed, and soon we had set up a slide show on my TV full of pictures of the entire gang from all ages. Everyone scrambled to find a seat; it was hard when there was so many of us. I was snuggled on Ferb's lap on the edge of my couch.

"Maybe this will help." I whispered in his ear.

"It's baby Perry!" Holly squealed, as the first pic flashed on the screen.

"Look at Isabella's pigtails!" Kyle laughed. Ferb kissed my cheek.

"Um, why do you look like a trash can, Irving?" Katie laughed.

"That was my Space Adventure costume!" He laughed. "Oh, I was so amateur back then. My cosplay skills have vastly improved."

"These old pictures are so cute!" Mishti gushed, as various pictures continued to float by.

"I know!" Wynne declared. "Oh, I wish I had grown up with you guys!"

"Maybe I can find some on my computer of me and Baljeet." Mishti giggled.

"Before you turned into a girl?" Buford asked. "Is that possible?" We all started laughing.

"Oh, she was still beautiful." Baljeet said.

"Oh Baljeet." Mishti giggled.

"Yeah, I'm going home!" Ginger said angrily.

"Bye Ginger!" Mishti called sweetly, as she marched through the door.

"Yeah, yeah, see ya Patel." She grumbled.

"Mishti and I used to do absolutely everything together." He gave a very pointed look to Phineas. "What do you think, Mishti? I do not think anyone can ever take my place." I glanced at Phineas. He looked normal… he almost looked normal. He was still smiling and part of the conversation, but by the way he was clutching his plastic spoon, it seemed to be uncomfortably bending in such a way that in a few more minutes, it might just break in half.

Mishti started giggling. "I know! Ha ha, I can't help feeling that if he had never moved to the US, my parents would have been setting me up with Baljeet!" Mishti said lightly.

"Well, you know what, he did move!" Phineas suddenly said aggressively. We all stared at him.

"Um… Phineas?" I questioned.

"What?" He looked up from stirring his tea.

"Nothing." I replied. Yeah. You see what I mean by passive-aggressive?

"I never noticed…" Adyson said. "But look, oh my god, ha, Ferb is totally giving Isabella cutesy eyes in all these pics!"

"What?" I laughed. We glanced and yeah, to an extent it was true. Ferb just looked at me a lot more fondly than anyone else. Awww. I love him.

"Goddamn it!" Buford exclaimed. "Why didn't we see this? I could've won the pool."

"The pool?" I exclaimed.

"Pool?" Mishti asked.

"Oh Mishti, we like to bet on who's going to end up with who." Milly commented.

"You guys bet I would end up with Ferb!?" I exclaimed. WHAT? "Who won?"

"Phineas." Holly said.

"Phineas." I repeated blankly. Phineas won. Phineas called Ferb and Isabella. My crush Phineas. My ex-boyfriend Phineas. The Phineas who literally every day was tortured by Ferb and Isabella.

"I would've bet on you two." Mishti said lightly.

"Yeah, but that's because you didn't know about Isabella and…" Katie shut up when she saw Phineas' foot prepare for that kick. "OH LOOK… there's a picture of me when I was a brunette, cool!" She said very quickly, turning our attention back to the TV.

"Ferb and Isabella are meant to be." Wynne sighed. "We all knew it, somewhere in the back of our heads. Ha, the rest of the pools… who knows?"

"Maybe we will start letting you in on them, Mishti." Buford snickered. "You aren't allowed to know about who you're matched with, but still, there are a lot. And a lot of cash."

"Sorry. I'm not sure if I want to catch a gambling problem from you guys." She giggled.

"Well, Mishti, regardless of the money, you can tell by the pools which pairs are made for each other, and which are just mistakes." Baljeet said pointedly.

"Hey, hey… you know what? One second!" Phineas said hostilely. "Let's look at all the pictures you've taken since you got here, Mishti. With all of us!" He started messing with the feed on the TV.

"Ok Phineas." She shrugged.

"Yeah, you forget how much fun stuff there is to do in Danville until you have to show it to someone from out of town." Gretchen said thoughtfully.

"Here!" The pictures appeared on screen. "I know!" He said, sitting down right next to Mishti and Baljeet. "Let's look at the WEDDING PICTURES. That'll be FUN, right BALJEET?" He said obnoxiously. "We all had FUN there." Baljeet scowled.

"Yeah!" Mishti said obliviously.

All of us were exchanging glances. Sweet oblivious Mishti's eyes were only on the screen, but honestly, for the rest of us, this was clearly starting to become some kind of male bravado contest.

"Do you want anything else, Mishti?" Phineas asked nicely.

"Oh no, no." She smiled.

"Well…"

"She said 'no', Phineas." Baljeet snapped.

"This is weird as hell." Buford muttered.

"I heard her, Baljeet." Phineas responded.

"Ok, then." He said resentfully.

"I know!" I whispered back. I glanced at Ferb. "This is so not like them." He shrugged. He knew it was weird too. Everyone was kind of watching it like a soap opera.

"Oh, you boys look so cute in this picture!" It was of Phineas, Ferb, Buford, and Baljeet together in their tuxedos. Times were simpler back then.

"We do?" Phineas asked, consistently clueless.

Mishti started giggling. "Oh Phineas."

"Do not pay attention to him, Mishti. He's a simple mind." Baljeet whispered to her. She started giggling more.

There was a loud snap. We suddenly glanced and… Phineas' spoon was officially dead. "Well, you know, Baljeet… at least I know how to use a hammer. And a wrench. And a BOX. But, that's just me."

"Yes. But apparently not a spoon." He retorted.

"This is SO bad." I whispered to Ferb and Buford.

"But kind of entertaining." Buford said.

"You know, despite turning into a girl, you are still the best at everything, Mishti. You are at least the best soccer player I know." Baljeet remarked.

"Soccer... SOCCER! Mishti, did I ever tell you about the time I – I mean, we – built a Football X-7 stadium?" Phineas asked excitedly.

"Football X-7? I thought that was impossible." She remarked.

"Uh-huh-huh impossible… you need to come live with me, I'll show you impossible. No, it was huge! Complete with the gravity-generating walls and a high tea room for guests! And the gang and I played my cousins, from England."

She started giggling. "From England? Oh dear."

"We almost lost too… Ferb had the emu curse. But guess who broke it?" Phineas smirked. "Baljeet… when he got hit in the–"

"PHINEAS!?" Baljeet gave him such a look… of anger, but also disbelief. The rest of the gang all started snickering. I rubbed my eyes. What had come over these two?

"Hey, Mishti…" Phineas leaned over and whispered something clearly… sexual… in her ear and she started giggling even more.

"Oh, stop it, mera dil." She giggled.

While she couldn't see, he mouthed "MERA DIL" to Baljeet. And as she still couldn't see, Baljeet gave him the finger. Buford fell out of the chair he was in, just from pure shock. What… the… fuck?!

"Well?" Phineas whispered to Mishti.

"Okay." She whispered back, in her sultry way. "Well, I think I'm going back." She said. She got up and went to the TV to get her camera.

"Back… off." Baljeet whispered loudly at Phineas.

"Shut… up." Phineas whispered back. "I thought you weren't talking to me."

"I am not, numskull."

"Good. Because I'm not talking to you either."

"Well," She turned and smiled sweetly. "Bye everybody."

"Bye Mishti." We said awkwardly.

"I really think you need me to walk you back, Mishti." Baljeet said.

She chuckled. "Actually Baljeet… um…"

Phineas stood up. "Actually Baljeet, no need to worry! I'M walking Mishti back to her hotel. Come on, Mishti!" He took her hand, and as they left, he actually turned his head around and stuck his tongue out at Baljeet, like they really were five years old, fighting over a favorite toy.

"Baljeet, that was uncalled for." I said.

He shook his head. "I am really not in the mood, Isabella." He said, as he got up and left, in a way eerily similar to Ginger.

"Ok… What the fuck was that?" Adyson said bluntly, the second he was gone.

"That was the most awkward thing I've ever seen." Gretchen said. "I feel like I need to bathe myself to get the awkward off."

"Oh no…" I said weakly. "They were already fighting… and now they both have feelings for her."

"And she has no idea!" Buford cried. "She's a hundred times worse than Phineas!"

"Umm, so are they…?" Wynne questioned. "Mishti and Phineas?"

"Oh Jesus Christ!" Kyle exclaimed. "Are they… they're going back to her place to do it!"

"What the hell!?" Buford cried. "Is that what he said to her?"

"How would we know?" Gretchen exclaimed.

"He's only digging himself deeper!" Holly declared.

"I never thought… Phineas isn't the jealous type!" I exclaimed. "He's freakin' baby Santa Claus incarnated!"

"I… I don't think he's jealous, per se, Isabella." Ferb commented.

"Huh? But then why is he acting so… he's… he's…" I covered my face. Oh shit. I knew why Phineas was acting like this. Nope. Phineas Flynn wasn't the jealous type. He was the competitive type. Racecar driver. Football X-7 player. Coolest coaster EVER. FUCK. And… and, Baljeet… math champ, A+++, won every possible academic award…

"Guys!" I cried. "They're going to be at this forever! They're SO competitive. GOD." I scowled. "She's not a goddamn object! I'm – none of us are!"

"You?" Ferb raised his eyebrows.

I sighed. "I know you didn't 'compete' over me," I said quietly to him. "But I know all the guys sort of had crushes on me, and it's kind of… weird. And… listening to how they talk about Mishti? How they drool over her, their sick fantasies about her… and she's completely oblivious to it… it makes me irritated. And that's putting it nicely."

He smiled softly. "I think she'd appreciate that. Having someone look out for her. You're such a wonderful girl, Bella."

Yup. Such a wonderful girl. Then, why do I feel like I'm the reason Ginger's heart is broken, Baljeet's heart is broken, Phineas' heart is about to be broken, and they all hate each other? Things couldn't get more tangled.