(Tess; voiceover)
"Hello to all "Phineas and Ferb" fans out there! I've been pondering on writing another short "Phineas and Ferb" fanfic before the summer is officially over. This one is an alternate ending to the special episode "Act Your Age". This takes place 10 years after the events of the series, in which Phineas struggles on deciding which college to attend. But mostly, it's about when he finally learns of Isabella's crush on him over the years, and grapples over how oblivious he was to her. I thought... what if Isabella didn't go back to say goodbye to Phineas, and went straight to college? Then, Phineas realizes that he had received an acceptance letter from the college Isabella was attending; Tri-State State. The catch is, he decides to start early, too. That way he could finally start his romantic relationship with her sooner. So, here it is!"
"What Might Have Been (Instrumental Version)"
Phineas Flynn was out taking a walk, one summer day. He was around seventeen-years-old now. Summer was almost over, and he did what he could to make the most of every day before school started. But, he was sad. Because Baljeet Tjinder, had just dropped the bomb about something big that he never noticed, himself... his other childhood friend and across-the-street neighbor, Isabella Garcia-Shapiro, had a huge crush on him since they were kids.
Phineas walked along down the street, back to Maple Drive. He stopped in front of Isabella's house, and gazed sadly at it. He wanted to inform Isabella that he finally knew her true feelings for him, and that he had eventually started to reciprocate them when they got to high school.
Unfortunately, he was too late. Isabella had already left for Tri-State State College, two weeks early before its semester actually started. She had become a very busy young woman, working part-time at her mother's restaurant, Nosh Olé Mexican-Jewish Café, and got accepted into the school with various extracurricular activities there. Unbeknownst to him, but Isabella had also given up hope on Phineas noticing her romantically, even though her attempted romantic advances had been so obvious. Even more, she stopped becoming a regular visitor to his backyard. Her absence made Phineas realize how lonely he felt without her around.
With a sigh, Phineas waited for a Hightail Delivery truck to drive by, and walked back over to his house. He took a seat on the front stoop, and sulked. "I'm sorry, Isabella," he mumbled sympathetically. "I just wish... I wasn't that clueless to you all these years. If I could go back to those times again, I'd try and pay better attention to you and your feelings."
Still pondering, Phineas put his hands on each side of the stoop. Then, he remembered he had something in one of his back jeans pockets. He took them out, revealing them to be two letters.
Phineas remembered, before Baljeet told him the news about Isabella, that he was still struggling to decide which college to attend. So far, he was the only one in their friend group who hasn't decided where he's going yet; Ferb was attending Camford-on-Oxbury in England. Baljeet had already graduated and is now a professor, and was trying to persuade Buford into attending his classes. But Buford seemed more interested in attending film school. His other good friend, and biggest fan, Irving Du Bois was working at the O.W.C.A., probably as an intern. And his sister, Candace, now goes to law school to study to become a lawyer.
Now, Phineas was down to choosing between two different colleges. He studied the envelopes to his acceptance letters from each school; Danville University and Tri-State State.
Tri-State State, his eyes widened a bit in realization. Then, he smiled at the letter from Tri-State State. I think I just figured out which college I'm gonna attend!
Then, Phineas got another idea. He stood up, and began to head towards his house.
At that very same moment; Ferb, Baljeet, and Buford, along with the former Fireside Girls; Ginger Hirano, Adyson Sweetwater, Gretchen, Katie, Holly, and Milly came out from the backyard gate to check on Phineas.
"Phineas?" Baljeet said to him.
"Oh!" Phineas stopped at the sight of his friends. "Hey guys! Perfect timing!"
"For what?" asked Ferb.
"Ferb," Phineas smiled at him, "I know what I'm gonna do today! Go to Tri-State State!"
Buford's eyes widened. "You're saying you wanna start college, today?"
"Yes, I-" Phineas cut himself off upon seeing Buford. Right now, the former bully was wearing nothing but a diaper and wings on his back. He was also carrying a small gold bow. "Buford?"
"Don't ask," groaned Buford. "You were saying, about going to Tri-State State?"
"That's the school Isabella's going to!" said Katie.
"Exactly!" said Phineas.
"But, wait," Gretchen stepped in. "Isabella just left for her activities there. The actual semester doesn't start in two weeks."
"I wanna start today, anyway."
"Today?" asked Adyson.
Phineas nodded. "Today."
"Phineas," Baljeet said, "you start today, and that means your summer vacation is over."
"I know."
"That means no more big ideas."
"I know."
"Or even planning them."
"I know."
"Or making the most of every day until next year."
"I know!" Phineas kept repeating over Baljeet.
"But you love making-"
"I know!" Phineas blurted, cutting him off. Then, he sighed. "But now I think friends matter more than anything else."
"Are you sure about this, Phineas?" asked Ginger.
"I don't think I can wait another two weeks to tell Isabella I know about her crush on me, now," Phineas responded. "So yes, I'm sure."
Everyone looked at each other, and smiled. They all nodded, believing that Phineas was making not only the right choice - but a choice to pursue Isabella and finally reciprocate her feelings for him after all these years of waiting.
"Well, I'm gonna go tell Mom and Dad that I wanna start school today," declared Phineas. He turned to go inside his house. "Oh!" Another thought came to him. "And don't tell Isabella. I wanna surprise her there, myself." He told the others, with a wink.
Everyone in the group grinned, and all nodded in agreement.
"Wish me luck!"
With that, they watched as Phineas rushed inside the house.
Linda and Lawrence were in the kitchen, talking. Lawrence was just telling Linda that he was going to change the type of tea he would drink. He also seemed to be wearing a golden chain around his neck, along with a goofy look on his face.
"Mom! Dad!" Phineas went running up to his parents.
"Phineas, what is it?" Linda asked. "You sound just like your sister, all those years ago. And your dad, right now." She gestured to Lawrence.
"I'm not like that, Linda!" protested Lawrence. "I'm just so open minded for the first time in my life. Now, if you excuse me, I have some Darjeeling to boil!" He took off in a rush.
"Anyway, "Phineas continued, "I know what school I want to go to: Tri-State State!"
"That sounds great, honey," replied Linda. "Isn't that where Isabella's going?" She asked.
"Yep," Phineas replied.
"Well, that sounds like the perfect opportunity for you to tell Isabella how you feel about her."
"Exactly! And-" Phineas stopped in a double-take. "Wait! You knew too?!"
"Of course, sweetie," she replied. "Everyone thought that you and Isabella would get together."
Phineas' eyes widened. "Everyone?"
"And you didn't know?" She asked in surprise. "Wow! You think you know someone, but it turns out you don't."
"Okay, I have got to talk to Isabella about all this!"
"And, you will," said Linda. "Two more weeks, and you'll be off to college in no time, and you can talk to her then."
"But, that's the thing!" He protested. "I wanna start today!"
"Oh?" She asked surprised. "Isn't it a little-"
"Early to start school there?" Phineas finished for her, slightly annoyed. "Yes, yes it is. I made a mistake, not noticing Isabella's feelings towards me all these years. And I wanna make it up to her."
"Well..." Linda didn't know how to respond. Finally, she said, "Okay. Then, you know if you start school today, that means your summer vaca-"
"Vacation is over," Phineas finished, again.
"And you're sure you want to-"
"I'm sure," Phineas responded, with positivism.
"You really put a lot of thought into this, haven't you?" Linda said, quite impressed. "Well I, for one, am really proud of you, Phineas. I wish you luck in college, and tell Isabella how you feel."
"I'd better go pack!" Phineas gladly declared, before taking off upstairs to his room.
After packing the last suitcase in the back of his car, Phineas was saying his goodbyes to Ferb and the rest of their friends in front of the Flynn-Fletcher house. Linda was out saying her goodbye, as well.
"Call me, as soon as you get to school," she told Phineas.
"I will, Mom," Phineas promised his mother.
Linda tried her best to hold her tears in. Then, she pulled Phineas into a loving embrace. "I can't believe one of my babies is going to college," she crooned. "Even when he's still has two weeks of summer left. I'm going to miss you so much..." She kissed Phineas all around his face.
"Mom..." groaned Phineas. "You're embarrassing me."
"It's my job," Linda responded.
The other kids tried their best not to laugh at the mother-son sequence.
"Okay!" Phineas gently struggled out of his mother's grip of him. "I gotta go!"
Unable to hold it in much longer, the kids began to snicker.
Phineas frowned at them.
They immediately went silent, and put on casual faces.
Adyson decided to change the subject. "It's about time!" She smiled.
Baljeet laughed. "We have been trying to get you two together all day."
"You guys are the best," smiled Phineas.
"To tell ya the truth, we were planning this whole romantic dinner and everything," explained Buford. "Baljeet even made me wear this stupid Cupid costume again." He held up the wings and diaper in his hand, and showed it to Phineas.
Phineas tried not to laugh. "I'm really going to miss you guys," he told them, as he gave them each a goodbye hug. He turned to Ferb, last. "Well, I guess this is it," he told his brother.
Ferb nodded, indicating that Phineas was making a selfless choice to pursue Isabella and finally reciprocate her long-time crush on him.
The two brothers hugged each other. When they parted, Phineas went over to his car. He looked back up at Ferb and his friends as he opened the driver's door. "See ya."
Everyone waved goodbye to him one last time.
Phineas got into his car, and drove away.
"So, Tri-State State, huh?" Ferb said with a smile. "Good choice."
Just then, the sound of a car's horn was heard honking. Vanessa Doofenshmirtz arrived in front of the Flynn-Fletcher house, driving a yellow convertible Lamborghini.
"Hey, Ferbs!" Vanessa greeted Ferb. "You ready?"
She opened the passenger door for Ferb. He climbed inside, and embraced Vanessa with a kiss.
Like Isabella, Ferb had a crush on Vanessa since the first time he saw her in the blue print store. Now that Ferb was older, they could finally date each other.
"Hi guys," she then greeted the others.
"Hi, Nessa!" Milly greeted her back.
"Where are you guys off to?" asked Holly.
"Oh, Ferb's taking me out for Ukrainian food," said Vanessa.
"That's cool."
"You know, you just missed Phineas," said Milly. "He decided to leave for college early."
"Mostly to confess his feelings to Isabella," Katie added.
"I never knew she had a thing for him," Vanessa said.
"Seriously?" Ferb looked at her.
"Naw," Vanessa chuckled. "I'm just messing with you. Everyone knew." She and Ferb drove off down the road in her car.
After the long drive, Phineas had finally arrived at Tri-State State. He parked outside the Tri-State Administration Building and walked inside to sign the paperwork. He approached two adults sitting behind a desk.
"Hello. Welcome to Tri-State State," one of the dorm advisors, a lady with brunette hair, greeted him. "How may we help you?"
"I'm here to register for the semester," said Phineas.
"Okay, then," said another dorm advisor. A man with brown hair and a mustache. "And what's your name?"
"Phineas Flynn," he introduced himself to the dorm advisors.
"Flynn... here you go," the female dorm advisor handed him a key. "John Hall, Room 237."
Phineas gladly took the key.
"Say," the man dorm advisor then asked curiously, "aren't you a little early to be starting the semester?"
"Yes," Phineas casually responded. "Yes I am."
"Well, I must say, I'm quite impressed," said the male dorm advisor.
"Yeah," agreed the lady dorm advisor. "Not that many students want to start this early. You know, we have another student who is attending here who is starting early, too. She just arrived several minutes ago."
Phineas seemed pleased that they brought up Isabella. "Actually," he said, "that's another thing I wanted to ask you about. Before you show me to my room, I was wondering if you could tell me what dormitory Isabella Garcia-Shapiro is staying in?"
"Oh," the female dorm advisor looked surprised when he mentioned her name. "Is she a friend of yours?"
Phineas nodded.
"She's staying in the Otto Adjacent Hall."
"And where can I find Otto Adjacent Hall?" asked Phineas.
The male dorm advisor took out a sheet of paper. "Here is a map of the entire campus." He gave the map to Phineas. "Do you still need help finding it?"
"I think I can find it on my own," said Phineas. "Thank you." He kindly thanked the dorm advisors, and left the building.
Phineas walked down the campus, following the directions on the map. It didn't take long for him to find Isabella's dormitory. Upon arriving at the Otto Adjacent Dormitory Hall, Phineas pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, and dialed her number.
Isabella was in her dorm room unpacking her stuff. Right now, she was placing photographs of herself and her family and friends on each table.
Then, she looked at one certain photo and stopped.
This photo was an old drawing of a young Phineas with hearts surrounding him.
Isabella stared sympathetically at her old framed drawing, and sat down on her bed. She may have given up on Phineas after years of him never noticing her, but she was still unable to get over him. She, too, reminisced about all the past summers she spent with Phineas, and imagined what might have been if they ever did get into a romantic relationship together.
You could've at least stopped to say goodbye to him, Isabella thought to herself with a sigh.
She shedded a single tear.
But then, the ringtone of her cell phone suddenly buzzed next to her. She quickly wiped her face, tossed her drawing of Phineas aside, and looked at her phone to see who was calling.
It was Phineas.
Surprised by this, Isabella immediately pulled herself together. She put on a straight face, and answered the call. "Phineas!" She spoke into her phone.
"What'cha doin'?" Phineas' voice came from the other line, saying her old catchphrase in a sing-song tone, and chuckled.
Isabella smiled. Normally, she didn't really like it when other people would say those words. But she didn't mind it when Phineas would say it. "I actually... just got to college, believe it or not."
"Already?" Phineas pretended to sound surprised.
"Yeah. I'm starting two weeks early, because I'm an R.A., and in soccer, debate camp, student government..."
"Yeah," Phineas said, as he looked for a way to climb up to Isabella's window. Then, he spotted a nearby tree. "I haven't seen you all summer."
"I've been busy," said Isabella.
As Phineas began climbing up the tree, he decided to tell Isabella what he had just heard about her. "You know, Baljeet said something funny. He said you had a crush on me back in grade school."
"Oh," Isabella blinked at that. "Yeah," she grinned sheepishly. "I had a big crush on you."
"Wow..." said Phineas. He struggled, trying not to sound like he was climbing the tree. "I had no idea."
"Really? I thought I was being so obvious," Isabella told him.
"Absolutely clueless," Phineas stated. He made it up to one of the branches, and began to look for Isabella. He spotted her through one of the windows, which had a balcony. As he carefully made his way over, another thought came to him. "Although... maybe, I would've understood if you had just told me. Why didn't you?"
Isabella bit her lip. Of course, she knew that she could have at least told him about her crush on him. "Well..." she began to say, "that's what most people, I mean the Fireside Girls, have been trying to get me to do, instead of being obvious about it. I knew I could've just told you. I wanted to, but..." she paused for a brief moment. "...You seemed more interested in your big ideas to even notice me."
Phineas made it to the balcony as Isabella spoke. He found her sitting on her bed with her back to the window. He pondered what she said, and nodded. "I was more focused on my ideas over the past summers," he admitted. "And stupid... for not paying better attention to your feelings. I'm really sorry, Isabella."
"It's okay," Isabella smiled a little. "I sort of gave up when we got to high school, anyway."
"Yeah," said Phineas. "I think that's when I started having a thing for you," he confessed his own feelings for her.
Isabella looked up in sudden realization. "Well," she laughed sadly. "This is unfortunate timing."
"Yep," Phineas said, feigning disappointment. "You're at college, now."
Isabella nodded. "Tri-State State. Have you decided where you're going yet?"
When Isabella asked him that, Phineas smiled. "I just did, today," he answered, now ready to surprise her. "And I'm here, now."
Isabella narrowed her eyes in confusion. "You... started early, too?"
"Yep."
"Well... what school did you pick?"
"Turn around."
Isabella grew even more confused upon Phineas saying that. She slowly turned around, and her eyes widened in great surprise. "Phineas?"
Phineas was outside her window on her balcony, smiling at her.
(Dramatic Music Swells)
"Phineas?!" Isabella let her phone slip from her hand, and got up to open the door for him. "What are you doing?"
Phineas gently touched both sides of her face. "This," he said affectionately. Then, he kissed her.
(Isabella's "What'cha Doin'" Theme in reminiscent of "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing")
Isabella seemed surprised for a second. But, she immediately gave in, and kissed back.
Suddenly, Isabella could feel all of her past doubtful moments of never getting together with Phineas slowly fading away. All her memories and hopes came flooding back.
Finally, she happily thought to herself as she kissed Phineas.
After a long moment, they parted and smiled at each other.
"Well," Isabella said. "That was worth the wait."
"Yes," agreed Phineas. "Yes it was."
They shared another kiss.
(Tess; voiceover)
"And there! My alternate ending to this special episode of "Phineas and Ferb"! If you ask me, I think that "Act Your Age" should have been the finale episode of the series. Because Phineas would finally know about Isabella's crush on him, and all we "Phinabella" would finally get to see more of it. I must admit, I wept like a fountain the first time I ever listened to their song "What Might Have Been". Oh! And I just remembered something else! Do you think I should tell all the fans, Grant?"
(Grant: voiceover)
"Yeah! Definitely!"
(Tess; voiceover)
"For fans who haven't heard, last January, they announced that two new seasons of "Phineas and Ferb" are going to be made! (Squeals) Now please, don't ask me 'when', because they didn't say in the announcement when the new seasons would be released. Still, this gives us fans something big to look forward to in the future! Thank you, and I'll see ya'll next summer!"
(Classic Phineas and Ferb End Guitar Music String)