Thursday morning Phineas woke up and pounced the form in Ferb's bed. He received quite the shock when the form chittered angrily at him. Just as Phineas was leaping back from the disgruntled Perry, Ferb opened the bedroom door, took in the sight before him and raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were still in bed!" Phineas accused and Ferb shook his head in response as he searched his bureau for a clean pair of socks.

The boys went downstairs for breakfast. "So... you've got the shortest school week ever." Phineas commented to his brother who just shrugged his shoulders. "I know you were sick last week and didn't do much. We've got an assembly this morning then this afternoon, in Geography, we're supposed to be watching a documentary, and well, Science class." Phineas said and Ferb nodded.

The boys donned their coats, grabbed their bags and started walking to school. Isabella was waiting for them at the corner, "Whatcha' doin'?" She greeted causing Phineas to grin like a mad man. Ferb shook his head and re-adjusted his backpack. He kept wondering why Gretchen had blocked his number. What did I do? I helped her out with her Fireside Girls' demonstration, she kissed me, I kissed her back... what did I do wrong? Why would she block my number, unless...

"Hey, Ferb." A voice said from just around his elbow, causing his train of thought to derail. Ferb looked over and saw Gretchen trying to keep step with him; he slowed his pace a little and nodded. "So, you're well enough to come to school today?" She inquired. Again, Ferb nodded and was about to say something when Phineas spoke up. "Yeah, he probably could have come back a couple of days ago... but you know, rules."

Ferb nodded sadly after his brother finished the explanation that he was perfectly capable of giving for himself. Gretchen looked up at the tall teen. "Thank you for helping me out the other evening." He raised his eyebrow at her and she continued. "You're such a great friend." She said and Isabella looked over her shoulder. "He really is, isn't he? It's because of Ferb that Phineas and I have started dating. We're going out on our first real date tonight. Why don't you guys come along?"

Gretchen's eyes lit up and she looked up at Ferb who's own eyes were the widest she'd ever seen. He blinked and glanced toward the brunette. "Do you want to supervise those two on their date?" He asked her and she laughed lightly.

"Ferb, we don't need supervision." Phineas scoffed causing his brother to snort in laughter. Isabella started to laugh. "I don't know Phin, you might need to be supervised." She said and everyone laughed. "Though Ferb, if you are asking Gretchen out... you should at least give her the courtesy of asking her out properly." She finished. Ferb glared at her a moment and for the rest of the walk to school, remained silent.

When Ferb didn't say anything further, Gretchen cast her gaze downward as she walked the last couple of blocks to school. Ferb opened the door and let everyone enter before he turned down a hallway to get to his locker. Phineas and Isabella headed to their home room and Gretchen ran after Ferb. "Wait." She called out to him.

Although he heard her, Ferb didn't stop. He continued down the hall until he reached his locker. Gretchen finally caught up to him. "Is something wrong?" She whispered. Ferb reached into his bag and pulled out the gift. "Here, Happy Birthday." He said as he shoved the parcel into her hands before slamming his locker door and walking away.

Gretchen looked at the package in her hands and took a shaky breath. Tears were threatening to fall as she carefully sliced through the tape with her thumbnail. She saw a book and pulled out a card. She opened the card and started to cry. As Gretchen was making her way to her home room, she slit the tape to reveal the newest book from her favourite author. She put the card and paper in her bag and opened the front cover of the book. There are as many stars in the galaxies as there are seconds in a lifetime. Have faith that you find your star.

He got the book autographed. Gretchen felt her heart stop for a moment. She then turned around and ran down the hallway and around the corner. She ran to Isabella's home room and motioned for her to come into the hall. Once Isabella stepped into the hall she noticed Gretchen crying. "What happened?"

Gretchen handed the book to Isabella. "Ferb gave me this." She sobbed. Isabella took the book and looked at the note the author wrote inside. "That's so sweet." The raven-haired girl said as she handed the book back. "He won't talk to me... he kissed me the other evening and now he won't talk to me." Gretchen continued to sob. Isabella hugged her friend. "I'll see what I can find out." She said and pulled out her phone and sent a text to Ferb.

Isabella: You kissed Gretchen?

Ferb: None of your business.

Isabella: She's crying her eyes out in the west hall.

Ferb: What do you want me to do?

Isabella: Talk to her, she's upset and it's your fault.

Ferb: She blocked me.

Isabella read that last message and her hand flew to her mouth. "You blocked him?" She said and Gretchen's eyes went wide. "No, I blocked Phineas." The shorter girl said and dug her phone out of her purse. She opened it up and looked at her settings. "Oh, no! I did block him. He must think I hate him." Gretchen said and started to cry harder.

Isabella took Gretchen to the nearest washroom. "Let me see your phone." Isabella said and Gretchen handed it over as she dabbed at her eyes with some tissue. Isabella re-entered Ferb's contact information, double checking it from her phone and sent a text.

*Gretchen: Hey, it's Iz.

Ferb: …

*Gretchen: It was an error, she meant to block Phin.

Ferb: I don't believe you.

*Gretchen: Ferb, please.

"I don't know what to do." Isabella said as she handed the phone back to Gretchen who nodded and tentatively sent a text of her own.

Gretchen: Thank you for the book.

Ferb: ...

Gretchen: I love this author, how did you know?

Ferb: You're welcome.

Gretchen: The other night, we kissed, you can't say that didn't mean anything.

Ferb: You blocked me.

Gretchen: I thought I blocked Phineas.

Ferb: You blocked me.

Gretchen: You kissed me. You can't say that you felt nothing. I saw the look in your eyes. I know your heart rate went up when we touched.

Ferb: I was getting over the flu.

Gretchen: Can we talk?

The bell rang and the two girls dashed out of the bathroom and back to their respective home rooms.

During the assembly, Phineas and Isabella sat side-by-side. He had his arm around her shoulders and she was resting her head against his arm.

Gretchen was sitting near Buford and Baljeet. She kept looking toward Ferb sitting four rows ahead and six seats to the left, on the aisle.

The auditorium lights dimmed and the principal came out and started speaking. Some people groaned and others fake snored. Gretchen was only partially paying attention to what was being said about school dances, student parking and the changes being made to the cafeteria's menu. She was lost in her own thoughts about Ferb. I've got to find a way to talk to him. I need to feel his arms around me and his lips on mine again. He remembered my birthday, when no one else did... Ferb remembered; and he got me an autographed copy of my favourite author's new book.

Gretchen was shaken from her thoughts when Buford passed his phone to her.

Isabella: He's not answering.

Holly: I don't blame him.

Buford: What you guys talking about?

Isabella: Ferb and Gretchen.

Katie: They kissed and now they're not talking.

Buford: I'll ask her, she's sitting right here.

Holly: No. This is private.

Isabella: Yeah, it's private.

Katie: I'll tell the teacher you're texting during assembly.

Buford: So are you blondie.

Katie: Don't call me blondie, Van Stomm.

Buford: I'm so scared, what are you going to do?

Katie: I'll think of something.

Gretchen handed the phone back, pulled her jacket tighter around herself and started to weep as quietly as she could.

The assembly ended. Gretchen started to numbly make her way out of the auditorium and got caught up in the bottleneck of students at the exit.

Ferb chose to remain seated until most of the students had left before he started to make his way out. He finally left the auditorium and meandered down the hallway to his locker. Gretchen was standing there, waiting for him. He took a breath and released it as he stepped closer. "Thank you for the book, I love it." She said as he stepped up beside her. Ferb nodded and shrugged his shoulders. "I need to talk with you." She said.

He glanced at her and noticed her eyes were damp. It's obvious we're both hurting, I guess I could talk with her... what harm could come of that? He thought to himself as he nodded and grabbed his bag and his lunch.

Ferb and Gretchen went to a quiet stairwell, sat down and talked.

Phineas and Isabella were in the cafeteria having lunch with the others. "That was a long assembly about nothing." Buford complained. "At least I didn't have to sit through class." He finished. "I agree. There was no useful information issued during that waste of time." Baljeet pointed out.

Adyson rushed into the cafeteria and almost overshot the table where her friends were sitting. "You guys won't believe what I saw." She said and slid her phone across the table. Everyone gasped as they looked at the picture on the phone: Ferb and Gretchen kissing in a stairwell. "I'm fairly sure I saw tongue." Adyson said smugly.

"That is not very nice. They are our friends." Baljeet said as he took a number of curious glances at the picture. Buford started rubbing his hands together. "I've finally got something on him. I knew he wasn't as perfect as he seemed."

The bell rang and everyone dispersed to their afternoon classes.