Okay, whew, late update, I know. I'm going to be so much better after the holidays, promise. Also, check out the new cover! It's created by NoNN; go check her out on deviantART too. It's based on the cover for the movie The Crucible with Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis (which is based on a really awful book, don't ever read it unless you like allegories!). WeirdHeart is working on one too, so if you want, you can vote for the final cover.
I'm in love.
"Okay, so I guess we're going to do the world's biggest super slide on Wednesday instead of Tuesday that week, right?" Phineas said happily, as we sat at the kitchen counter, making plans.
I nodded stupidly. Honestly, I had missed half the conversation while one little thought rolled around in my head. I'm in love. And I didn't want to be! Why did this have to happen to me? Why did I have to fall in doomed, unrequited love twice? With girls who have clearly marked out a soul mate who will never be me? I would be perfectly satisfied with rolling solo, if I could stop Isabella from skipping into my thoughts every few seconds.
Phineas' phone beeped. "A text." He said. "From Jeremy. Aw, Candace is sick. Poor thing." He said sadly.
I nodded. We really do adore Candace, even if she can't see it. "We could get her something." I said.
"Knock knock!" I heard from outside the door.
"It's open!" Phineas called.
"Hi guys!" Isabella said, coming. Oh man, the way her hair flew back and how she walked over to us, she looked nothing short of a supermodel. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Hey Isabella!" Phineas said brightly. "We finished the super slide plans." He tilted them towards her.
"Neat." She said. "When are you going to build it?"
"The sooner the better. It's fun for kids and adults! You know what, I'm going out. I can get as many things we need for the project as I can reserved, and then I can swing by the store and get a card for Candace." Phineas said.
"What's wrong with Candace?" Isabella asked.
"She's got the flu. Might have gotten it from the kids. Anyway, Jeremy warned me she might be too sick to go with us, Ferb." Phineas said, turning to me.
Since Phineas obviously wasn't going to be able to get a date, and I was a little too preoccupied to be hunting for females, we decided we were going to invite Jeremy and Candace to come along with us to the ball, as our plus two, to give them a special night to a nice event. But now that plan was out; Candace would be too sick and Jeremy would never leave her side.
"Go where?" Isabella asked curiously, but Phineas already had one foot out the door.
"Bye guys!"
Now who were we going to ask? Buford and Baljeet. That would look awfully creepy. Four men going to a ball together… just a little weird. Baljeet and Ginger. No. Phineas and I would not be double-dating any couples (Jeremy and Candace didn't count because they were family). Our parents… pathetic.
Isabella flipped towards me. "Go where?" She asked again, sounding a little angrier this time.
I took a swig of water. "Nowhere." I said weakly, getting up.
Not Isabella. Never Isabella. Phineas, Isabella, and I would not be going on any more three-person dates. And I couldn't exactly stake a claim on her while she's in love with my brother.
"What are you hiding from me, Ferb?" She asked, sexily. She started seductively walking towards me.
"N-nothing." I stammered, as I tripped over my own feet and fell back onto the couch.
"You're a crappy liar." She said. She bent down to the couch and captured my lips with hers.
I immediately pulled her down into my lap. Actually, I tried to pull her as close as possible to me. One hand was firmly on her lower back, keeping her in place, and the other was wandering down her silky legs. She had her hands messing around in my hair, and she was gently moaning. She tastes so sweet; fruity, but with sugar and spice and everything else that girls are supposedly made of. My brain wasn't even functioning. Until I loudly heard the phone ringing.
"Isabella…" I said, between kisses, "the phone."
"Ignore it." She moaned.
But it kept ringing, so I grabbed it. She wouldn't get off of me though.
"Who the hell calls the landline?" She said, pouting.
"Bella, stop." I commanded. "Hello?"
"Bella stop what?" I heard Wynne giggle on the other end.
"Huh? Nothing." I said, while Isabella was still gently kissing my neck and grinding against me, which was making it tough to listen intently.
"I'm bored." Wynne said.
"Okay?" I said.
"Come on, Ferb. You're like one of my only friends around here. Let's go do something!" She said.
"I'm a little busy." I panted.
"Fine!" She said very grumpily, and she hung up.
"You're incorrigible." I said to Isabella, as I put down the phone.
"But I also get you really hot." She smirked. "Who was it, anyway?"
"Wynne." I replied.
"Why?" She asked, frustrated.
"She's bored." I said.
"Can't she get her own…" Isabella stopped, not really knowing what to say. Her own what? Friend? Friend-with-benefits? Boyfriend? ME?
"Give her a break. What about your little friend from work?" I said.
"Kyle's just as bad. He really needs to get a girlfriend." Isabella said. "I know! We'll set them up with each other!"
I got up and sat at the counter again, opening my laptop. "I thought you were done meddling."
"Come on, it's perfect! I'll help Kyle and it'll help me get Wynne out of my hair." Isabella slapped her hand over her mouth. I couldn't help staring smugly at her. "Did I really just say that?" She asked quietly. I nodded. She groaned. "You know what, move!" She sat on my lap and started typing on my computer. I couldn't help noticing how perfectly natural this is for us, how perfectly we fit together.
"What are you doing?" I asked, moving her hair to the side.
"Just seeing what movies are out this week." She answered. "They are definitely going together."
I sighed. "Do you really think she's going to agree to yet another blind date with a guy she doesn't know? They never met each other; what if it's just super awkward?"
"Well," she turned her head towards me, "We'll just have to go with them."
"What?" I said.
"We'll invite them to a casual double date." She said.
"Date?" I said.
"Yeah, then we'll kind of, back off, and let them hang out. Come on, Ferb!" She pleaded.
I rolled my eyes. "If I must."
"Yay!" She squealed sweetly. "You know, you have pink lipstick all over your neck." She said.
"Incorrigible." I repeated, and I kissed her again.
I was at the movie theater. I was supposed to come with Wynne, but the girl is so flighty, she said she'd meet me there. I was looking around for Isabella and Kyle. I saw her standing not too far away. She looked beautiful. She was wearing a fluffy white sweater, which looked so perfect with her black hair. I quietly walked up behind her, and hugged her from behind.
"Guess who?" I said quietly.
"Ferb." She said gently.
"What gave it away?" I asked. "The overworked hands, the skinny arms, or the obviously British voice?
"The sincerity." She said sweetly. I stared at her.
I love you! Isabella, I love you! Everything about you! Why can't I say this out loud?
"I brought you this." I handed her something. One red rose. I don't know why I felt the need to bring flowers. Maybe it was her use of the word "date". But I knew I could never go around bringing her bouquets of flowers. That would be breaking rule number two. So… one rose.
"Oh…" She stared at it. I cringed. I should've just thrown this away like Vanessa's bouquet, and saved myself the trouble of this moment. "…Ferb." I looked at her. Her lower lip was quivering. "Nobody's ever… thank you." She didn't look upset. She looked touched.
"Where's Kyle?" I asked gently.
"In the bathroom." She said softly. "He should be out soon. Oh, I hope this won't die if I keep it in my purse." She said, still staring at the rose.
"Hey, Green." Kyle came walking up to us. "What did you do to Isabella? She looks like she's about to cry."
"I'm fine." She said. "Now, you two better get along."
"Hey," Kyle said, holding his hands up. "I don't really have a reason to dislike him." I nodded curtly.
"Why the heck are we here, Ferb?" Wynne came stomping up behind me. "I know you're planning something stupid!" She whacked me in the arm. Geez, these girls are abusive! Wynne then noticed Kyle and Isabella. "Hi, I'm Wynne." She said graciously.
Kyle was just staring at her, when he seemed to mentally flip a switch. "Hi, I'm Kyle!"
"Hi, and you are Isabella's…?"
"Nothing!" He said quickly. "Isabella's nothing. Platonic work friend at most! In fact, she hates me!" We gave him looks. "I should stop talking now."
Wynne giggled. "Hi. So are we going to see a movie or what?"
"Yes!" Kyle grabbed her hand and they rushed to the ticket line.
"Aww!" cooed Isabella. "Love." She said, making a little heart shape with her hands.
"Yeah." I said. "A little too perfectly. I mean, why can't that happen to us?" I pointed at the two of them laughing and smiling together.
"What do you mean 'happen to us'?" Isabella asked quietly.
"Well, you know. Phineas… and Vanessa." I said awkwardly.
"Sometimes I forget about them." Isabella said very quietly.
I closed my eyes very tightly. I wish I could forget about them, Isabella. I wish I could forget my emotional attachment to Vanessa or Phineas' hidden feelings or that you're in love with my brother. But I can't.
"Let's go watch the movie with them." Isabella said.
We walked up to the booth and I asked for two tickets to the "romantic comedy" we would be seeing. I handed Isabella her ticket, as we walked into the theater.
"You paid for me? Again?" She said. "Not letting a woman pay for herself is sexism."
"In England, we call that 'good manners'." I said.
"Ok, fine." She said, taking my arm, as we sat down. We were way in the back, which was nearly empty. We were really just here to spy on our friends, who have probably just found true love with each other.
"I'm glad we did this, Bella." I said. "Wynne and Kyle made me believe in love a little more."
I turned towards her. She was staring at me. "Ferb…" She blinked. "Just stop being so perfect."
"Why? Too hard for you to control yourself?" I joked, as she turned to watch the beginning credits.
"Yes." She said. She gently put her hand on top of mine on the armrest, her eyes never leaving the screen.
I so badly want to tell her I love her, but in that moment, I settled for taking her hand in mine.
Ferb and the single rose is a really popular fandom image, for both Ferbella and Ferbnessa, so I had to add it. Anyway, keep reviewing, and I'll try to keep updating, and keep you on your toes.
-Silver