Though it was summer, it was sort of cold. And it was windy… very windy. Ferb didn't really care. He just kept running.
Ferb wasn't sure how long he had been running. He had already gone around the Metropolitan Oval Aquatic Trench multiple times. His legs were burning and his lips were getting chapped, but he didn't care. He just zipped his navy blue sweatshirt up higher and continued.
It was cold because of how early it was. Ferb had just caught the sunrise. But it just didn't seem very special. Nothing would seem as beautiful as Isabella had, rosy cheeks gently lying on his pillow, that morning.
It was only then, at maybe five or earlier in the morning, did he realize the severity of the situation. Realize what consequences that one night of abandon would bring. So Ferb did what any coward would do; he ran.
And there he was. All of his muscles were in pain, but he didn't care. He deserved it. He was about as lowdown as a human being could get. He was a filthy scoundrel who had shamelessly lied to the girl of his dreams, and who had now slept with his brother's fiancé. Maybe he should run all the way to England. Grandma and Grandpa wouldn't care; they were on their way here for the wedding. He could use their house. Or maybe he could invent a way to breathe underwater and go jump in a lake.
But Ferb knew he couldn't do anything. Which is why he was just running around town. To any passersby, he would simply look like a guy exercising. He just had no idea what to do! Phineas was going to be back today. Family members were going to start arriving today. Ferb would give an arm and a leg to erase what he had done.
And yet, he wouldn't. Because a miniscule part of Ferb was beating his fists on his chest and fiercely enjoying the fact that he had won Isabella from Phineas. And an enormous part of Ferb was ecstatic because she loved him too. Isabella was in love with him. And considering how she acted last night, she was REALLY in love with him.
But no matter how much guilt or joy had been spawned from last night, there was simply no solution. There was going to be a wedding in a week. Ferb would sooner kill Phineas than allow him to marry Isabella, and Ferb would sooner kill himself than hurt Phineas.
Ferb leaned over, hands on his knees, panting. Oh, what was he going to do!? He glanced at his watch. It was almost eight. No wonder everything had been getting brighter.
He had to go home and face the music. He had no idea what would be waiting for him there. Would it be Phineas? Would it be Isabella? Would it be his entire family freaking out after they found Isabella in his room? Would actual music be involved? Ferb had no idea. Around here, you never knew. But he knew he had to do it. So he turned and ran home.
He made it back in pretty good time. But every part of him was hurting. He just made it inside when he heard someone call his name.
"Ferb!" Phineas said, bouncing over to him like a little girl. "Morning, bro!"
Ferb faintly raised his hand in a slight wave.
"Missed me?" Phineas asked. "Of course you did!" He said before Ferb could respond. "Here, I got bagels!" He tossed one over to Ferb. "Let's go outside and talk!"
Phineas sure is in a good mood, thought Ferb. That only made him feel twice as guilty. They both walked out to the backyard and sat under the tree like they used to.
"Wow, been a while since we did this, huh?" Phineas said.
Ferb nodded, as he munched on a bagel. He was feeling really bad about betraying Phineas right now, but Phineas was looking guilty as well.
"Dude, I'm really sorry I haven't given this summer my all. I really meant to in the beginning. But then with Isabella and all…" Phineas sighed. "I'm an awful brother."
Ferb felt like he was going to choke on his bagel. Or on the irony.
"I love my entire family, and all my friends. But you and Isabella are especially important to me. I know I haven't always been the most attentive guy. But I promise that from now on I am going to pay attention. I'm going to give my marriage 1000% and our brotherhood 1001%." Phineas solemnly said.
Ferb knew what the proper thing to do was. There was no way he would ever hurt Phineas. Phineas would always be by his side and Phineas would treat Isabella like the angel she was. As far as everyone knew, last night, and everything that had happened between him and Isabella, had never occurred. And that's all they would ever know.
"Um, Phineas," Ferb said. "I'm going to go upstairs and shower. You know, since I went running and all."
"Yeah, sure." Phineas said, with a smile. "I'm gonna stay out here a little longer." He looked up lovingly at the tree.
That was fine with Ferb. He practically ran inside and upstairs. It looked like Mom and Dad were still asleep. To keep it that way, he snuck quietly to his room, and went inside, shutting the door behind him.
Ferb walked over and sat next to the bed's occupant. She was still sweetly slumbering there, almost with a smile on her face as she slept. Ferb sighed, and ran his thumb lovingly over her cheek. His Snow White, or his Sleeping Beauty. His Isabella. The Ace's Queen, which he was willing to give up for his brother. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
Isabella slowly began stirring, and her eyes flickered open. She yawned, and opened them wider. "Hi Ferb." She said sweetly, the same way she had when they re-met.
She was the loveliest thing he had ever seen. He was ridiculously in love with this girl. Ferb was wondering if he really would be able to live with giving her up.
She sat up, stretching her arms up in the air, yawning again. The blanket was sinking a little and she had nothing on underneath it. Ferb didn't need to look though. He had seen every inch of her last night. He no longer needed to pray for seconds with Isabella. He had experienced a magical night of pure love with her, and now he was completely ready to hand her off to his brother.
"Oh, it's morning already." Isabella said, peeking out the window.
"Yes." Said Ferb "So you need to change and go."
"Yeah," she said. She scooted closer to Ferb, took his hand, and gently began stroking it. "You coming down with me?"
"Actually, I was going to go shower."
"All by yourself? Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" she seductively asked.
"Umm," Ferb stammered. "No, that's not necessary."
Isabella pouted. "Ok." But then her face turned serious. "Have you thought about what to do?"
Ferb nodded solemnly. We had our night of bliss, now back to the order of the real world, he thought.
Isabella sighed. "This is going to be so tough. And awkward. I mean, how are we going to tell them?"
Ferb stared at her. "Tell who?"
"Well, Phineas, for starters, obviously. And our parents; that one might be awkward. I'm pretty sure the troop won't be so hard, but that Adyson better not spread lies! I wonder how the guys will react, because…"
"WHAT are you talking about Isabella?" said Ferb.
"Hello? Telling everyone that we're in love with each other!" Isabella answered.
Ferb's eyes were wide. This whole time, all he had been thinking of was whether he would rather have Isabella or Phineas. Never once had it crossed his mind that the decision wasn't solely up to him anymore. And his other half had chosen a totally opposite way to go.
Well, guys, what happens next? Well, I totally know. Tee hee. But do you have any predictions? Tell me what you predict, like, love, hate, loathe, etc. in a review please!
Luv, Silver