Phineas's POV

I kept on running, away from school. Away from everything. Away from Isabella. I know I acted like a coward, I really do. But I just lost it.

I open my eyes and look around. I'm in my room, but it couldn't have been a dream. It felt too real… I look at the clock, it says 3pm. Then it wasn't a dream, I must have fallen asleep when I got home from school! School must have ended now by the way, and Isabella's heading home. No, stop thinking about her! Stop it brain! Get. Out Of. My. Head!

I just can't seem to get the pieces together here, why did she save me like that, when I said those things to her yesterday? She could have easily just laughed along with the others and watched the fight, but she stood up for me. Why? I groan and start hitting myself with my pillow.

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" I scream into it every time I hit myself. I sigh and put the pillow aside. I have to stop beating myself up for this, literally. I won't get anywhere with it. But I have no idea what to do. Should I just let it go and forget about it, or should I apologize? Or thank her, I'm not sure which… she probably doesn't even care if I don't do something about it, why would she? But…I can't do that, I'm better than that!

My thoughts are interrupted when someone knocks on the door downstairs. Ferb must wonder where I left today. I walk down the stairs and open the door. "It's okay Ferb, I went home cause I didn't feel so go-…." I choke in the middle of the sentence when I look up and see that it's not Ferb who's by the door.

"I-Isabella?!" I burst out at the raven-haired beauty standing in front of me.

"Hey, Phineas." She doesn't wear the happiest face I've seen, and I can understand that. I sigh and run a hand through my hair.

"Listen, Isabella. I didn't-"I start, but she cuts me off.

"Come with me." she says as she starts walking across the street to her house. I remain by the door with a confused face. She turns around and rolls her eyes with a giggle. "Relax, I'm not gonna do something horrible to you! I just want to talk." She says and I slowly follow her. She opens her door and steps in, waiting for me to come.

I hesitate unsurely outside her door and she sighs amusingly and grabs my arm. I let out a surprised squeak as she drags me in after her. I walk nervously through her house as she stops and pulls down a hatch in the ceiling. A ladder falls down and she climbs up, looking down at me.

"Okay, can you just follow me without being so hesitant? I'm not gonna do something!" she exclaims. I chuckle and climb the ladder.

"I don't think you're gonna do something. I'm just trying to figure out if I'm dreaming or not." I say casually and she giggles. Wow, angelic music to my ears.

We climb up onto the attic where she opens another hatch, and this time, I see the sky through the open hole. I gasp as I climb the ladder, up onto her roof. It's decorated up here, like a garden, with different kind of flowers like roses, carnations, lilies, peonies and tulips. The sun is shining on the roof which makes the garden look even more beautiful and lively.

"Wow…" I mumble as I walk around on the roof. She sits down on an edge, her feet dangling free in the air.

"Pretty beautiful, isn't it?" she asks with a smirk. I grin.

"It's-it's… amazing! I've never seen such a beautiful collection of flowers… it's like a paradise!" I exclaim.

"It's my favorite place to be. Or at least, it was…" she frowns and looks down on her backyard. I sit down beside her.

"What happened?" I ask. She smiles sadly.

"To be honest, I'm not sure. I guess I stopped going up here when I became… popular… it sounds really stupid I know." She says and she chuckles softly. I frown.

"You stopped going here when you became… popular? Why? And haven't you always been popular?" I ask. She laughs loudly and looks at me.

"Absolutely not! I was a geek, straight A:s, braces, glasses, flat, thin body, two ponytails on each side of the head… oh gosh I was freaking ugly and I was a complete geek. I know it sounds stupid to say I was geeky and ugly judging by my looks and that but… I'm a teenage-girl, of course I think of things like that!" she exclaims. I laugh softly and shake my head.

"Well, what happened? How did you become popular?" I ask.

"My mom got a great job which made us, like, rich and I got everything I asked for. I guess puberty then hit me like a freaking wall and I became… well what I am now, I'm not sure what it is. I also started wearing contacts and it's actually more comfortable than I thought! I got rid of my braces, and I still got straight A:s, I'm a really good student. But no one knows about it…" She says. I look down at her. Well, she is right, she's downright hot. And seriously now, her, a flat body? I just can't imagine that. Wow, now I just sounded creepy…

"Oh… but that can't just be it? I mean you're not just hot and spoiled now, you're incredibly mean and a real gossip-girl! Wow, that sounded horrible… no offense, please." I say carefully. She puts her hand up and giggles.

"None taken, I know I am. I really want to change it, and I've tried. I mean, all the popular are at least somehow nice, except maybe Rick and some of his guys, but I'm not, seriously. There's not a single trace of kindness in me, the old me has vanished! I can't remember the last time I did something nice to anyone… I'm not sure if I remember how." She says sadly. I put a hand on her shoulder.

"Actually, I do. It was a couple of hours ago. You saved me from a black-eye, that's for sure. And I honestly don't understand why you did it, considering what I said to you in the park the earlier day. That it true kindness, Isabella. I owe you a big apology and a thank you." I say and I smile at her. She smiles back at me, a warm smile I haven't seen on her before, and it kind of gives me butterflies when she looks at me like that… is that a bad thing?

"Well, I don't know why I'm nice to you, if someone else would have said those things to me, I would have gone mad. But instead, I defended you! I have no idea what it came from, but I just couldn't watch while Rick did that to you, because I at least know that you deserve better. And I forgive you for what you said to me yesterday. But only… only if you forgive me for what I said." She says with another smile.

"Are you kidding me? Of course I do!" I exclaim with a big smile. I would forgive her for anything! I don't even know why she felt like she needed to ask. She giggles and looks me in the eyes deeply.

"Wow… your spark is back…" she mumbles. I frown confusingly.

"What? What spark?" I ask. She blushes and smiles a small, shy smile. Wow, does she really have a gentle, shy side? Wow, o-okay..yeah, the universe is upside down today, I get it. She starts talking.

"I don't know just… a spark I've noticed in your eyes... It's full of energy, more energy than I have ever seen before! It's really fascinating…" she says, clearly impressed. I smile brightly.

"Thanks! Or, if I should take it as a compliment… which I guess I should so!" I say. She giggles and smiles a big smile, it's such a beautiful smile… I don't think I've ever seen a smile so shiny and bright.

I smile back, then I stand up and brush off fake-dust from my legs. "Well, thanks for forgiving me, Isabella. It really means much to me, I had such bad conscience for it… I'll see you in school tomorrow?" I ask. She follows me down to her door and stands by the doorframe as I cross the street.

"No problem, Phineas. And yeah, I guess we do." She says and frowns sadly.

"And don't worry, I won't talk to you. I guess I'm not permitted, huh?" I ask half jokingly, half serious. Seriously, theses school-rules suck, who decided I can't talk to the popular whenever I want to? What a nerd…

She sighs. "Well, I guess not. I'm just… in a different world than you…" she says hesitantly. I sigh and open my door as I look at her.

"Well, let me ask you a question. Are you happy in that world? When was the last time you wore a real, happy, warm smile? When was the last time you felt… alive, complete, real? Does that world make you feel like you're home?" I ask sternly, then I close the door, leaving a thoughtful Isabella behind.

Yey, new chapter! I don't have much to say, I'm sorry for taking a little longer to make it. Review, follow and favorite please!:D