New Beginnings

Isabella stopped to drop her books in her locker on the first day of school. Adyson was there already, and they eyed each other warily.

Adyson sighed, and looked at Isabella. "Can I...look, I know you don't owe me anything here, but can we talk for a minute?"

Grudgingly, Isabella nodded.

"I saw you two together at the festival yesterday. I need to know this. Do you love Phineas? Like, really love him, and want to be with him forever?"

"What's it to you?" Isabella asked.

"I don't want him getting hurt."

"What, that's your job?"

Adyson closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and shook her head. "I'm...do you know why we broke up?"

"You dumped him because you decided you didn't love him after all."

"No. It wasn't that I didn't love him. I did love him, but...not enough."

Isabella looked at her, confused.

"I didn't know what I was getting into. I wanted a summer romance. But Phineas...Phineas does everything at 110%."

"Well, yeah."

"Including being in love. He doesn't hold anything back. I figured we'd date for a few months and then move on. He fell hard, though, because that's what he does. I tried to be what he needed. You have no idea how hard I tried. But I couldn't do it. I wasn't ready for it yet. I'm just not ready for that much commitment."

"But you are with Steve," Isabella said.

"Steve knows this isn't permanent. If it works out, and we stay together, great, but if not, we part with no hard feelings. There is no way to end a relationship with Phineas with no hard feelings."

"So, you're telling me not to date him," Isabella noted, crossing her arms across her chest.

Adyson shook her head. "No. Not what I meant. I want him to be happy, and I think he could be happy with you."

"You do?"

"Really. I just want you to know...don't do it if you aren't in for the long haul. Because if you go in and hurt him...you saw what Ferb did to me. And he'd known me forever. They'd rip you to pieces."

Isabella nodded. "Why? Why are you telling me this?"

"Because he's important to me. I messed up and he got hurt, and making sure you aren't going to hurt him again like that...it's the least I can do to make it up to him."

Isabella looked into her locker. "I don't know if it's love yet. It's too soon. But...I'd like to find out. I want to try."

"That'll do," Adyson said. "It's really too bad we were at each other's throats so much. We've got too much in common to hate each other the way we did."

Isabella chuckled. "You know, I found out - my parents almost moved across the street from Phineas and Ferb's house when I was five."

Adyson looked shocked. "Wait, but that means..."

"We'd have been in the same troop. With Phineas and Ferb helping."

Adyson smiled. "We would have made one heck of a team, Isabella."

Isabella sat in her first period English class, not paying attention to the teacher.

What do I do about Phineas? she pondered.

She wanted to be with him. That much she knew. But why? Was she just trying to hurt Adyson?

An image came into her head - Phineas looking at her and smiling as they got ready for the fireworks. The look in his eyes said much more than either of their words ever had.

I need to try it.

Phineas smiled at Isabella as she came and sat next to him in Tri-State Area History class. She looked nervous for some reason, which was odd. Even when giving oral reports in front of the class, Isabella didn't look nervous.

"What's up?" he asked, and she blushed adorably.

"I..." she began, then straightened her shoulders and said, "The first dance is girls' choice this year. Would you be willing to go with me?"

"I'd love to," he said, his heart beating a mile a minute. "As friends again? Or..."

"I was thinking as a date," she said with a tentative smile.

"Yes, yes I would," he agreed.

He didn't think he'd seen anyone so relieved since Candace's negative pregnancy test.

Her mother had given her a ride over to Phineas's house. His father was giving them a ride to the dance while their mothers stayed home and talked. They'd picked up Gretchen on the way, who'd mouthed the words, "About time," to her as she'd gotten in.

They'd gone out on the dance floor for a slow dance. Phineas's hands on the small of her back were incredibly comforting, and she nestled her cheek into his shoulder as they swayed to the music. He gently kissed the top of her head, and she looked up at him with a smile.

He was looking down at her, a look that spoke of love and devotion and eternity, and she knew. She'd wanted that look ever since she'd known what romance was, and now...she had it.

Many thanks to those of you who've gone down this odd path with me. Special thanks to those who've reviewed, followed, and favorited; I notice and appreciate every one of you.

Special thanks to EDD17SP for letting me borrow Steve, Sabrina06 for evil prank ideas and much, much more, and Ryan Stoppable for reminding me of something I'd meant to add.