AN: The triplex, sir, is a good tripping measure. (Twelfth Night reference anyone?)

The rest of the night passes without incident. Everyone compliments choices and offers polite opinions on what should be chosen. It's a lovely evening, but I can't stop thinking about Jazmin being held up by certain activities with Ferb. It makes me angry for a reason I can't place.

Prom- Ferb.

Wait Ferb?! Explain yourself, sir! *cough* Sorry about that. But yes, Ferb. I want to show more between him and Jazmin to try and make it make sense for why they're together. Or sorta anyway.

I slowly got dressed, alone, in my room. For what was supposed to be the greatest night of my high school career.

But it was shaping up to be another lonely night with my girlfriend, Jazmin. Oh, joy.

Something about being with her feels wrong. I know it, but will I do something about it? No, probably not.

She's conniving. She's managed to isolate me from my brother, not hard since he's always with Isabella, and my friends. I suppose it's less isolating me from them and more she is always dragging me around to random activities.

I don't like the way she treats my friends. I'm pretty sure she's only nice to people who like her. And the boys in the backyard group, don't like her. I can't blame them honestly. If I were in a different situation I wouldn't like her.

But after a while of being left behind by my brother and best friends, it was nice to be wanted, even if she was pushy and a little arrogant.

And now she tells me, "they've moved on from you Ferb, it's just you and I against the world now."

When someone tells you something like that every day and you never really see anyone else, you start to believe it. At this point, I know I have it 'bad'.

Not in a, oh I love her so much I could never see her faults. But my self-confidence has diminished so much I truly believe there's no one else. Oh the joys of being self-aware.

So here I am, in my room, alone. Putting on a flat gray suit. The most uninteresting suit I've ever worn. The only things that aren't gray are my belt and shoes which are black. Jazmin insisted I wear this, it was certainly not something I would have chosen.

I sigh as I tie my tie in a neat Windsor. For homecoming, the whole gang met up and traveled together, and thankfully our moms had more sway than Jazmin. We are still meeting in the backyard to take pictures, I still get to see everyone before being whisked away to be a dance machine for Jasmin.

I would never think to admit this out loud, but I am really hoping that my mom and Vivian make Isabella and I take a picture together like the last time.

Too bad we aren't all getting ready together. I miss the noise ironically enough. Speaking of noise, I haven't heard any noises from Phineas' room. Usually, he struggles with his tie.

I debate for a moment before decided to check on him.

Isabella

I'm grateful Gretchen is still getting ready with me. Otherwise, I would be getting ready all alone.

The rest of the girls went with Jazmin's idea of getting ready separately and then coming together for photos.

What a silly idea, part of the fun is the slight chaos in so many people getting ready in one space. It was loads of fun at homecoming. And getting to be each other's cheering squad.

"Thanks for getting ready with me Gretchen," I say while taking out the rollers in my hair.

"Of course! I wouldn't leave you to fend for yourself. I'm not about to stop getting ready with you because one other person suggested a dramatic reveal of our looks." She rolls her eyes at the end. "I'm starting to get annoyed with Jazmin's attitude, I won't lie, Isa."

"Oh thank goodness, I'm not the only one. I was starting to get paranoid that it was in my head."

Gretchen nods, putting the finishing touches on her updo. "Buford told me that he and Baljeet never see Ferb anymore, which is something you commented about a while ago. Which is arguably worse, you guys are supposed to be best friends! What happened?"

I shrink on myself, "I don't know, but it sure sucks."

We stay somber for a moment thinking about the predicament.

"Alright, no more sad girl vibes, it's prom, we look hot, and we need to get in our dresses," Gretchen says with gusto.

I nod enthusiastically.

Alright so, I am going to skip to the actual dance. The backyard gang and crew get pictures taken. Jazmin insists that she and Ferb only get pictures with each other and the whole group, before claiming she forgot something and they needed to leave. Ferb, lost in the sad vibe, doesn't notice what everyone else is wearing. (this is important for later)

Isabella- Phineas and her are in the car on the way to prom. (Phineas is driving)

"You look nice, Phineas." I say to him. He's wearing a white button up with a black suit, no tie.

"Thanks, Isa! You do too." He replies, smiling at me.

"Okay I'm going to say something that is potentially mean." I fiddle with my skirt waiting for his response.

"I highly doubt that, but fire away."

I breathe in, "I think Jazmin was lying about leaving something at her house and just said that to be the only person to have pictures with Ferb." I ramble off quickly.

He stares ahead, processing.

A moment later, "I believe that."

Wait, what?

"What do you mean Phin? You think I'm right?"

He nods, "well yeah. If you had heard or seen some of the things she has said to or about him, you wouldn't be surprised either." he says nonchalantly.

"What are you talking about?" I say turning to him fully.

He shifts awkwardly, "Don't be too mad. It wasn't my place to say anything really, and I was hoping I could do something about it, but Ferb won't listen to me. I don't know what to do anymore." He takes a breath, looking guilty.

"Get to the point, Phineas, please." I can't stop staring at him.

"Okay, okay. So, I realized at some point that I never saw Ferb anymore, which feels impossible since he's my brother and we live together. But I started paying more attention to him and Jazmin."

I nod, humming encouragement.

"Figured out pretty quick it was because she always made sure they were hanging out, doing something. I just started forcing myself around them more, at lunch or in the hallways, anything."

He pauses, collecting his thoughts. "She would say things like, we don't need anybody else, there's no else for you, we're great together, we should move in together after we graduate, and just lots of things that aren't inherently bad, but the way she said it, Isabella! It made me uncomfortable. Me!"

"You aren't as oblivious to these things when it's other people, and you know it." I look at him pointedly.

"I know that now anyway. Point is I tried talking to him more than once about it, he kinda just blew me off? It was really weird."

"Okay, but why tell me now, if it wasn't your place to talk about it?"

"I talked to him before pictures, he was helping me with my tie."

"You aren't wearing a tie, Phineas," I say, laughing slightly.

"It's not my style and you know it. Back to Ferb, he was a shell of himself, I have never felt such silence in Ferb's, well, silence." He frowns.

I touch Phineas' hand lightly, "I know what you mean, it's stifling. Being around Ferb was never stifling before Jazmin."

He glances at me quickly, smiling softly, "Which is why I need your help."

"Wait, to do what Phineas?"

"Get them to break up."

"What?"

"Oh come on Isabella, I count myself lucky to never have been on the wrong side of your scheming. Because let's be real." he waves his hand in a go-on motion.

I sigh, "There's nothing I do better than revenge?"

He smiles.