Worth Its Weight In Gold

By: xXxDaughteroftheKingxXx

©- Disney

AN: Warning: Slighty OOC.

In all honesty, I know Phineas is all happy-go-lucky, but I blame that on him being a kid, for one, and two, rarely being stressed. Everyone has a breaking point. Everyone.

So, without further ado, here is chapter two.

Disclaimer: I don't own PnF.

Chapter Two- Lovers' Quarrel

"Hi, Mrs. Flynn-Fletcher!" Isabella said cheerfully, peering inside the garage, where Linda was currently examining some of their things. "Whatcha doin'?"

Linda looked up from the shelf and smiled at the girl. "Oh, hello, Isabella. I'm just cleaning out our garage, that's all," she said, careful to leave out why she was cleaning out the garage. She figured Phineas and Ferb would want to tell their friend about the move.

Isabella nodded. "Oh, okay! If you need help, feel free to call me!" she said, smiling brightly. "By the way, would you happen to know where Phineas and Ferb are?"

"Why thank you for the offer, Isabella," Linda smiled. "And the boys are up in their room still. Go check on them for me, will you?"

Isabella nodded. "You betcha!" She ran into the Flynn-Fletcher's lawn, then into their house, only to run into none other Candace.

"Oof!" the older girl said, falling onto her butt and dropping her purse. She narrowed her eyes at the person she'd ran into.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry, Candace!" Isabella apologized quickly, picking up the purse and handing it to the other. "I was just going up to Phineas and Ferb's room."

Candace nodded. "You heard the news?" she guessed.

Isabella sent her a confused look and shook her head. "No… I-I haven't heard it. Whatever 'it' is."

"Oh, well, I'll just let the boys tell you then," Candace decided. She glanced at her the clock on the wall and muttered some choice words under her breath. "Gotta go, Iz, I was supposed to meet Jeremy at the park by 9:30!"

"Later, Candace!" Isabella called, as the elder girl ran off. She still wondered what 'the news' might be. It couldn't be something bad could it? No, no, of course it couldn't. Still, something inside of Isabella made her think that whatever this 'news' was, it wasn't good.

"Calm down, Isabella," she muttered to herself. "You're probably worrying yourself over nothing. Just go upstairs and see Phineas and Ferb."

What Isabella saw when she walked into the boys' roomed shocked her.

Both Phineas and Ferb were still in their pj's, despite them usually being up and at 'em by at least 8:30. Still, both boys were slumped on Phineas' bed, in their pajamas, talking. Talking, when they could've been inventing.

Isabella briefly wondered if they'd been hit by some mysterious 'Dull-And-Boring-Inator' again.

"Um, hey, guys," she said hesitantly. "Whatcha doin'?"

Phineas looked up and cracked a smile, and Isabella's knees went weak. He was just so cute…

Snap outta it, Izzy.

"Right now," Phineas answered. "We're not really doing anything."

Isabella's jaw dropped. "N-not doing anything? What, are you guys sick or something?" In an attempt to answer her own question, she reached forward and felt Phineas' forehead for any extra warmth. Phineas was at his regular temperature.

"No, we're not sick," Phineas reassured. "We just… we just…" He sighed. "We just don't feel like inventing today."

If it were possible for Isabella's mouth to drop even more, then let it be known that it happened. Phineas and Ferb not wanting to invent? Okay, they had to have been hit by some 'Dull-And-Boring-Inator' again. Something along those lines. Phineas and Ferb always invented, if they were able to.

"What's wrong with you guys?" Isabella demanded, placing her hands on her hips. "Have you been hit by some 'Dull-And-Boring-Inator' again?"

Phineas and Ferb exchanged similar looks, then simultaneously shook their heads. "Not that we know of," Phineas answered slowly.

"Then, what's wrong with you guys?" Isabella cried frantically. This isn't you!"

"We're fine," Phineas reassured, scratching his ear nervously. "Really, Izzy, we're fine."

Isabella narrowed her eyes. She'd caught onto Phineas' lies a long time ago. Actually, after the Beak incident, she'd figured out that Phineas always scratched his ear when lying, to her at least. He was lying again, she knew it.

"You're lying," she accused. "I'm not stupid."

"Wh-what? I-I'm not lying!" Again, Phineas scratched his ear nervously.

"Yeah, you are," Isabella argued. "You're scratching your ear. You always do that when you lie!" Her tone softened. "Phineas, what's wrong? I want to help you guys! I—"

"Can we just leave this subject alone?" Phineas blurted out. "Please, Izzy." His voice was desperate, pleading.

Isabella huffed, crossing her arms. "Oh, so you don't trust me?"

"Wh-what? Isabella, how could you say that?"

"Well, if you trusted me," Isabella said stubbornly. "You'd tell me what's going on!"

"Look, I said I don't want to talk about it," Phineas said, slightly frustrated. "So, could we not—"

"I can't believe you won't tell me!" Isabella cried. "Phineas, I've been your best friend since we were three. Three! But, you still can't trust me?" She stared at him, hurt. "Please, Phineas, just tell me."

Phineas closed his eyes tightly and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Isabella. I-I… I really, really don't want to talk about it."

Isabella huffed again, turning to Ferb. "Fine! Ferb'll tell me! Right, Ferb?" Ferb looked down at his shoes, refusing to meet Isabella's eyes. "FERB?"

"Don't pressure him into doing something he doesn't want to!" Phineas snapped, opening one of his eyes.

A mixture of anger, hurt, and sadness broke open like a dam inside of Isabella. Phineas, her best friend, her crush, had just snapped at her for the first time since they met each other, ten years ago. Isabella wasn't sure whether to cry, or be angry at him.

"Well, sorry," Isabella said, somewhat coldly. "It seems like you guys don't really want me here right now, so I'm just going to go."

"Isabella—" Phineas looked at her apologetically, as if he just realized what he'd done.

"I'll see you guys later," Isabella said quietly, walking out of their room. She blinked back tears, breaking into a run towards her house.

What just happened?

Phineas groaned, looking out his window as Isabella ran to her house and slammed the door. "Why didn't I just tell her?" he moaned. "Nice going, Flynn! You just snapped at your best friend! Stupid, stupid, stupid!"

"Don't be too hard on yourself," Ferb said reassuringly. "You're stressed and upset. We both are."

"I snapped as Isabella, Ferb!" Phineas groaned. "She's my best friend, besides you, of course! And I just snapped at her!" He groaned again, belly-flopping onto his bed. "I am such an idiot," Phineas moaned into his pillow.

"An oblivious, stubborn idiot," Ferb muttered, a slight grin on his face.

"What was that?"

"Nothing,"

Phineas sat up miserably and sighed. "What am I going to do, Ferb? Isabella probably hates me now."

"First of all," Ferb said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. "Isabella does not hate you. Quite the opposite, actually. Second, I suggest you call her to explain some things. After all, she deserves it. Third, ask her to come back over here, and we'll go from there."

Phineas stared at Ferb for a moment, then broke out into a grin. "Ferb, bro, you're a genius! Man, what would I do without you?"

Ferb smiled. "Die?"

"Someone's got a big sense of his importance," Phineas teased, grinning. [1] "I'm going to call Isabella now."

"Well, that was fast," Phineas commented, looking at his best friend, amused.

Isabella glared at him playfully, bending over, hands on knees, panting. "You did say to come ASAP," she reminded, straightening with a small smile. "So… whatcha wanna tell me?"

Phineas glanced at Ferb, who nodded slightly. "Isabella, we're moving," he said softly.

There was a momentary pause, then Isabella laughed loudly. "I'm sorry," she said between giggles. "I thought I just heard you say that you guys were moving." She wiped a fake tear from her eye. "That's funny, Phin, now what's really up?"

"Isabella," Phineas said. "I… I was being serious."

The Fireside Girl froze mid-laugh and stared at her two best friends, who both wore a dead serious expression. Phineas' hands were shoved into his pockets, and he wasn't scratching his ear. That means…

"You're not lying," Isabella whispered, horrific realization dawning on her. "You-you didn't scratch your ear! Your hand didn't even move!" She stared at the boys, then whispered, "You're moving."

AN: Well, Phinny snapping on Izzy is almost like when he snaps at Candace in SBtY. Yeah.

[1]: PERCY JACKSON REFERENCE! XD XD ONE WEEK UNTIL THE SON OF NEPTUNE! AHHH!