Thanks for so many reviews. I was gone for a while and I might be gone again, so be patient with updates. This story is my number one priority right now.

I wasn't in a good mood. Today, Phineas and I created a gigantic karate competition open to the public. We had meticulously gone over every detail to make it seem as though we were really in Asia. The project was a huge success. And then, Phineas, Baljeet, Buford, and I all went out for some quality "guy time". But I wasn't in a good mood.

We were still out. We were in a casual and friendly bar. We aren't exactly heavy drinkers, but it's a nice place to just hang out. I was doing my very best not to seem upset, constantly displaying false smiles, light laughter, and such.

"Ferb, you look rather glum tonight." Baljeet said. I guess I wasn't doing a great job on the happy front.

"You okay, Ferb?" Phineas asked. He seemed concerned. "What's wrong?"

I shrugged, and they both seemed to take that as a sign that I was fine. I guess I was fine, but something was bringing me down.

Phineas and Baljeet turned away, and they, along with Buford, resumed their conversation. I normally listen, but occasionally, like now, I pretend to. I stared down at my drink. I watched the olive on a toothpick lazily float in it. I plucked it out and watched the liquid ripple because of the action. I watched the ripples swirl around until I suddenly noticed a face swirling in them. Isabella's face.

I rubbed my eyes frantically. When I opened them, I no longer saw Isabella in the alcohol. But now she was on my mind.

I guess I was upset because of Isabella. I hadn't spoken to her since yesterday. I hadn't meant to make her so angry, and I'm sure she hadn't meant to with me. But we had, and now I wasn't sure how to fix it. I couldn't tell Isabella I was sorry. I had nothing to be sorry for. Everything I had said was true. She was the one who needed to apologize. And I highly doubt she will.

"So, how's it going with Ginger, Baljeet?" Phineas asked.

"Wonderful! Amazing!" Baljeet said enthusiastically.

"NO! No talk about those lovebirds, please!" Buford whined.

Baljeet glared towards him, but turned back to Phineas. "I feel as if we were made for each other."

Phineas smiled at him. "That's great, Jeet. And to think your perfect girl was one of the Fireside Girls, one of our friends, around you the whole time, and secretly in love with you. I don't think that'll ever happen with me."

Baljeet, Buford, and I shot each other looks. "Are you POSITIVE, Phineas?" said Baljeet. "Maybe she has been here all along."

"Yeah." Buford piped up. "You're gonna end up with Isa- OW!" I kicked Buford hard in the shin. He definitely should not be the one to spill the secret.

Phineas stared at all three of us, confused. Suddenly, my cell phone rang. I checked who it was. Isabella? I stood up and signaled to the guys that I had to take this, and walked right outside the bar.

"Hello?" I answered.

"H…hi Ferb. I know you're probably still mad at me and all, but…" Isabella stammered. I didn't have anything to say, so I just let her continue. She sounded really nervous. "I, umm, I…" She took a big breath, so big I could hear it over the phone. "I need your help." She whispered.

I was suddenly filled with worry. Was she all right? "Why? What's the matter?"

"I… I…" she groaned. "Just come to my apartment, please? The key should be above the door, you know, on that crown molding thingy."

"Why can't you answer the door?" I asked, panicked. "Are you hurt? Why are you calling me? Should I get medical help?"

"NO! No no no!" She cried. "Don't bring anyone, don't tell anyone! I'm fine! I'm just… it has to be you. Anybody else would… just get over here!" And she hung up on me.

I had to admit, my curiosity was peaked. Isabella was fine, but was calling me desperately the night after she had told me off. And she hadn't mentioned anything about sleeping together. What exactly did she need?

I walked back into the bar, and tapped Phineas on the shoulder. "I think I'll be heading home."

"Why?" He asked curiously.

I shrugged, and waved to all three guys before heading off. Good thing this bar's within walking distance of our apartment building. That's the beauty of the city. I hurriedly entered the building and made it to Isabella's apartment. All seemed well.

I knocked on the door. "Isabella?" I called.

"Oh, thank god!" She exclaimed. "Use the key and get in here!"

I felt around above the door and found it, then unlocked the door. The apartment was dark; there were almost no lights on. I slipped off my shoes and slowly walked down her hallway. Where would she be? I went towards the brightest light I could see, which was coming from the crack in Isabella's bedroom's doorway. I opened the door to Isabella's fully lit bedroom.

Isabella, who had been sitting on her bed, suddenly flipped around to face me, looking very shocked. "Holy… you're so damn quiet!" She exclaimed. "And you could've knocked, Ferb. Ferb?"

From the minute I stepped into the room, I couldn't take my eyes off of her, for two reasons. One was about to make me burst into laughter and the other was about to make me turn into a wild animal and do something crazy. Because Isabella had apparently handcuffed herself to her bed frame, wearing nothing but some pathetic excuse for lingerie, because those little strips of hot pink lace left little to the imagination.

"FERB!" Isabella shouting at me brought me back to reality.

"Sorry." I muttered. I desperately tried to rip my eyes away from her body, and failed. She obviously noticed.

"Don't just stand there looking at me! You're no help at all!" She declared.

"What exactly am I looking at, Isabella?" I asked her.

"Well, I… I…" She stammered. "I… got these from somewhere… and I just wanted to… see if they worked… they do." She finished lamely.

I stared at her. I was holding in laughter.

She hung her head. "I handcuffed myself to the bed, and I'm stuck. Can you… get me out?"

I nodded and sat down next to her. I still felt like laughing. I know it wouldn't be a very nice thing to do, but I couldn't help it. Unfortunately, she noticed.

"Ferb!" She cried. She tried to shove me off the bed but I escaped her reach. "Stop laughing at me. I'm already humiliated enough."

"Isn't there a key?" I asked her.

"No, the lady said 'Just tug on them and they'll open.' Damn con artist." She said.

I stared at the cuffs. They were actually white and fluffy around the wrists. Was this some kind of… sex toy? I gulped and stared at Isabella, who was muttering swears under her breath, not really paying attention to me.

"Just help me." She pleaded.

I nodded. One cuff was on Isabella's left wrist, and the other was attached to her bed frame. I reached for the one on the bed, but I had to reach over Isabella to get to it. And I was sure my head would explode if I touched her bare skin. I desperately tugged at the handcuffs, trying to get them open.

"Man, I hate this stupid bed." Isabella said. "Now it's holding me captive! Plus, it's pretty ugly and… it squeaks."

I glanced at her. "I know." She blushed and looked away from me. Suddenly, there was a loud "unclick" and Isabella was no longer attached to the bed.

"Thank you." She said, relieved.

We both sat back, relaxed. Isabella was not stuck to the bed and I was not in that dangerously close range with her anymore.

"Whew," she said. "Now you know why it had to be you and you alone." I suppose since I had already done much more than this with her, it made sense.

"Ferb, I am so sorry for being a bitch to you yesterday." I was surprised by her apology. I smiled at her and she smiled back. "I guess this stuff was a waste of money, huh?"

"Isabella," I asked. "Why exactly were you using these? And why are you dressed like this?" Because this was dangerously different from her normal under garments.

Isabella looked down and away from me. "It was for you." For me? "I was worried that… that you would get bored with plain old Isabella." She looked down at herself and laughed quietly. "I was really just getting the lingerie and the saleswoman coerced me into getting the cuffs." Though she had laughed, she sounded and looked like she was about to cry.

I didn't know what to say. "Oh… Bella, I would never, ever, get bored with you. Not only are you fun and sweet and darling, you're also incredibly sexy and beautiful. Not to mention an amazing friend and person."

A single tear escaped her eye, and she smiled a watery smile at me. "Really?"

I nodded shyly, and tried to escape her gaze. I focused on the empty handcuff in my hands. Just for fun, I slipped my wrist into it, unlocked, of course. It was actually really soft. I suddenly felt something on my head. It was Isabella's right hand, gently stroking my hair.

"Ferb, I…I…" Her hand moved to cradle my face. She was moving closer to me. My eyes were roaming her body again. Once again, she was biting at her lip. I can now declare that my official turn-on. Her chest pressed against mine and her pink lips were just seconds away from mine. I closed my eyes and… CLICK! My eyes flew open. Oh no!

"What was that?" asked Isabella.

Oh no! I glanced down. The handcuffs that I had foolishly been trying on had shut around my right wrist. And I was now handcuffed to Isabella.

"What did you do?" Isabella exclaimed. We both stared at our handcuffed wrists, and began desperately tugging on them.

"Shit, they won't open! Ferb, I'm going to kill you!" She shouted.

"Umm…" I tried to think. "What if I run one way and you run the other way? That should tug them loose."

She gave me a skeptical look. "Do you actually think that could work?"

"It works in cartoons."

So Isabella and I stood up and ran like crazy people in both directions. At first it didn't seem to do anything, and we were just pulling each other in different ways. Then, suddenly, there was a loud snap, and I went flying into Isabella's bookcase.

Isabella had also gone flying. She picked herself up and dusted herself off. She glanced at the broken cuffs. "Stupid piece of junk." She ran over to me and offered her hand. I got up. I couldn't help but feel like we were both enormous idiots after that.

"Anyway, Ferb, I'm not mad at you anymore, and I hope you aren't mad at me." She said. I wasn't mad. In fact, I was practically drooling over her again. Curse the male mind and all its vulgar thoughts. And throughout the night, those thoughts had certainly been building up.

"And, thank you. For helping me. In more ways than one." She was guiding me towards the door. "Maybe we can go back our benefits tomorrow."

Tomorrow? Oh no. Oh hell no. After all the stupidity (and longing) that we had undergone tonight, I would not be settling for tomorrow.

I suddenly grabbed Isabella and kissed her passionately. I felt her kissing back and she seemed to lose control of her legs. She threw her arms around my neck and deepened the kiss, and she began to wrap her legs around my waist.

I dropped Isabella onto her bed and we proceeded to remove our clothes as fast as possible. And to have sex even faster than that.

It's crazy actually. I'm risking everything, doing this with Isabella almost every night. I'm risking everything: my relationships with Vanessa, Phineas, Isabella, and myself. But I can't seem to stop. I don't want to stop. I'm handcuffed to Isabella in more ways than one.