Sorry this story is so angsty right now. I'm not going for it, it just happens. Thank you for all the 100+ reviews. I bow down to the reviewers! Hollah! I... I can't really pull that off, can I?

Phineas wanted to follow through on this one. He wasn't really the type of person to purposely break promises, but it just seemed to happen all the time. He had promised his mom that he would not bother Candace, yet she still seemed to get upset with him all the time. He had promised his friends from college that he would keep in touch, but he had only communicated with people around town. He had promised himself that this would be the best summer ever, but it was starting to feel like a summer wasted. And he had promised that he would email Isabella, and he hadn't.

So he wanted to follow through on his promise to be more attentive, especially towards Ferb and Isabella. It was almost like he had made a pledge under that tree, with Ferb as his witness.

That's why he had felt proud of himself when he saw that Ferb liked Gretchen. It wasn't until very recently that Phineas realized that he owed Ferb. Big time. Phineas couldn't remember what life had been like before he had Ferb. But he knew what it was like without Ferb. From way back in the day when Ferb went to debate camp, to just back several weeks in college, Phineas knew what it was like to be without Ferb.

Sometimes he would talk to himself, just subconsciously, to no one. He would mention Ferb's name and then be reminded that he wasn't there. Without Ferb, Phineas felt awkward around people, especially girls. Suddenly the scheming, dreaming part of Phineas would fade, and suddenly he didn't feel so optimistic anymore. Phineas without Ferb just… didn't make sense.

But he didn't just feel indebted to Ferb because of their brotherhood. Ferb was the only reason there was even going to be a wedding. Ferb kept promises. Without Ferb, Isabella would just be another face in the yearbook to Phineas. But because Ferb had thought not only to be kind and write Isabella, but also to keep her faith in Phineas alive by writing his name, Isabella and Phineas were together.

And that was nagging at Phineas. Because the truth was… he cheated. He hadn't leapt down and swept a beautiful bride off her feet, he had one handed to him by his brother. He hadn't even been able to think of a "grand gesture" on his own. He had been using the training wheels that Ferb had given him to get this far in life.

And he couldn't get it out of his head. Would he have been able to be with Isabella if he wasn't pretending he had written her? Had he ever even liked Isabella? Oh, he had always liked her, but had he ever felt more? Before any of this! No. Phineas had never had a crush on Isabella. And though he had gained one as soon as he laid eyes on her at age twenty-one, he wasn't sure how deep his feelings were. How deep could feelings run for a girl he cheated to get?

Phineas' head hurt. Something was wrong. Something, SOMETHING, was wrong around here, but he didn't know what. He walked solemnly into the living room, and saw Ferb on the couch, watching TV. He sat down next to him. Ferb weakly waved to him.

Phineas sat forward, his eyes not focused on the screen. "Hey Ferb, what do you want to do today?" He said, in a low tone.

Ferb shrugged.

Something was wrong with everyone! In the beginning of this summer, everybody had seemed so chipper. But somehow, everyone was beginning to get infected with this… this wrong feeling. Ferb had been first, then Isabella, and now Phineas. Phineas just wanted everyone to feel happy. He wanted to feel happy.

"So, uh, got anything fun planned for tomorrow? You know, the bachelor party?" Phineas said, throwing an icebreaker out there.

Ferb smiled downwards. "Well, I started out helping, but I ended up putting Buford and Baljeet in charge."

The boys chuckled. "Do you even want to do anything?" Phineas asked.

Ferb shrugged again.

"You know what! We're doing something! Something around here is bringing everyone down, and we need to get out!" Phineas said, standing up. "I'm calling Isabella!"

"Do you have to call her?" Ferb whispered.

Phineas looked down at him. "Why not? Is something wrong between you two?"

"No!" Ferb said, rising quickly. "Nothing! Umm, call her, tell her to meet us. I'll get changed." And he dashed out of the room.

Something's up with Ferb, thought Phineas. And I'm probably too stupid and inattentive to figure it out. He sighed, and dialed Isabella. Well, not anymore, thought Phineas. I'll figure out what's wrong with everybody.

"Hey, Isabella. You wanna meet me and Ferb for ice cream?"

X

Isabella sighed. She was the first one here, again. Phineas had said that the guys would be there soon; they just had to change and stuff. How much did guys have to do to look good?

She was wearing sweats, and no makeup. Isabella knew what vibe she was giving off. The quitter one. The only reason she was here was that all she had been doing at home was eating ice cream anyway.

She was done. It was time to fold; Ferb had won. Ferb was not in love with her, and she was going to marry Phineas. She was even going to tell Ferb that he didn't have to marry Gretchen if he didn't want to. Ferb had been right, like always. If the rejection she was feeling from Ferb right now was anything like what Phineas would feel if she walked out on him, then it wasn't worth doing. It wasn't worth hurting Phineas, just so she could continue to be sad and alone without Ferb.

She lifted her head and saw two guys walking together. Two bright heads, one green, one red. A watery smile came to Isabella's face. She just needed to be with them. Even if she didn't love Phineas, even if Ferb didn't love her, their friendship was plenty.

Isabella got up, and started walking quickly towards them. They only had to cross one street, and they would be with her. The guys were talking to each other quietly, and she wasn't sure what they were saying. They weren't really walking across quickly, or paying attention.

A truck was speeding down the road. The guys weren't looking. It was way too close! It wouldn't stop in time!

Isabella felt like her heart stopped. "FERB!" she screamed.

The truck slammed on the brakes, and the guys started walking across quickly, as the truck began honking at them.

Isabella ran up to the guys. "Bastard!" She yelled towards the truck. She grabbed Phineas' and Ferb's wrists, and dragged them across to the ice cream shop.

Isabella let go and turned towards Ferb. She hurriedly looked him up and down, feeling his face, scanning to see if anything was wrong. "Are you ok? Are you hurt?" She said in a panicked voice.

"I'm fine." He said breathlessly.

"Oh my god, I was so worried!" She threw her arms around Ferb.

She held him as tight as she could. She could hear his heartbeat still speeding. But it was okay now; he was there, she still had him.

Isabella felt Ferb's breath on her head, and she heard him whisper, "Phineas."

Phineas had been watching the whole display. He was standing there now, watching them hug, curiously.

Isabella had forgotten about her ruse, forgotten who she was supposed to be marrying. In that moment, the only thing that Isabella could think of was Ferb. But it was over now, so the mask had to go back on.

"Phineas, are you alright?" She rushed over to him. She honestly was concerned, but now it felt dirty, it felt fake.

"Yeah." Phineas said, nodding his head. He had a strange, thoughtful, expression on his face, and he kept glancing at Ferb.

Isabella let out a huge breath of relief. They were ok. Thank god. "Let's go eat ice cream." She said, grabbing Phineas' hand.

They sat down at the table, and got some ice cream. As they sat eating, Phineas still had that strange expression on his face.

"That was pretty scary, wasn't it guys? That truck could have flattened me and Ferb." Phineas said.

"Don't make me relive it, Phineas." Isabella said.

"You were really worried about us. I heard you scream Ferb's name across the street."

Isabella squirmed in her seat uncomfortably.

"You would probably have tried to save us."

"Yes!" Isabella said, "I would definitely have tried to save both of you!"

Phineas' voice turned dark and serious, "But what if you couldn't?"

"What?" she said fearfully.

Phineas' voice suddenly reverted back to its peppy self. "Let's play a little game, Isabella. If that truck was coming at us again, and you could only save one of us, who would you save?"

Ferb angrily frowned. "Phineas, what the hell? What kind of question is that to ask her?"

"I'm just wondering. Would she pick her love or one of her closest friends?"

Isabella took a deep breath. "If that truck was coming at us again, and one of us had to die…"

The boys listened with anticipation.

"…I would throw myself in the way, and let you guys go free."

Phineas laughed. "Nice loophole. But don't worry about me Isabella. Friendship is the most important thing. You should save your friend," He pointed at Ferb, "and sacrifice your love." He pointed at himself.

Isabella sorrowfully looked at Ferb for a few minutes. Then, her head whipped back to Phineas.

"Phineas," she said sadly. "I already did that."

And she got up, and left. Ferb stared after Isabella as she left, longingly.

"Ferb, I saw her looking at you. What did she mean, 'I already did that'?"

Ferb shrugged.

"Dude, you know something I don't. Just tell me so I can fix this problem we all have! It's ruining everything! Our happiness, our summer, our relationships!"

"Phineas, I don't have anything to tell you. You're going to have to find out yourself." Ferb said.

"Trust me, I will."

Come on Phineas, you got this! *plays action music*

Please review darlings! Lemme know what you think!

-Silver