If you just want to get into the story skip everything in bold.

Hey guys. So I know that this account hasn't been very active lately and that's mainly due to a lack in inspiration and also school. But, with COVID 19 and everything that's come about since, I've had a lot of time at home.

This is my first Phineas and Ferb fic, but it's an idea I've been toying with since it finished in 2015. Considering the movie coming out this summer, I thought 'why not' and started writing. One of the things I didn't like about Phineas and Ferb (and there aren't many) is how Phinabella ended. I obviously ship them, but I didn't like how we didn't get to see how Isabella developed on her own once she lost interest in him when they reached high school and that is, in a nutshell, what this fic is about.

Please share your thoughts, Phineas and Ferb is one of my favourite shows, I want to make sure I'm doing it justice.

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Phineas and Ferb not these characters, where the story is set or anything else, just the idea and my OCs.

"Ok, Isabella. You can do this. You have to do this."

Isabella Garcia-Shapiro stared at the wooden fence and took a breath. The events of the previous night were fresh in her mind. She could still hear the monotone drones of 'lots of me' bouncing around in her skull. But worse of all, Phineas's face when she told him how she felt was stained into her memories like a slap in the face. He'd always felt... what? The same way? The opposite? She wasn't sure how much uncertainty she could take anymore.

Every time she thought she had made a break through, he always ruined in somehow. But just when she was about to give up hope he said something, did something that convinced her that he was worth all the effort she put into doing every little thing he asked of her.

If she was being honest with herself, it wasn't healthy. Between being the leader of the Fireside Girls and devoting herself to Phineas, she barely had any time for herself. But despite that, she was ok with it all. She enjoyed spending time with him, enjoyed going on adventures with him. She would have been happy to continue this way but the other half of her life demanded she earned the emotional bravery patch and telling him how she felt was the only way to do it.

Technically, she'd done it last night. He didn't remember but she had told him that she liked him liked him. Wasn't that enough to say she'd earned the right to wear that patch proudly upon her sash and move on?

No. Because now she wanted to know what he had been about to say before he sacrificed himself to save her. She needed to know how he felt about her, needed to know if she ever had any chance with the him. Whether it had been worth it to come by his house everyday just to see him and see what he was doing.

She took another breath forced a smile onto her face and stepped into the back garden.

"Whatcha doin?"

Baljeet and Buford were already there, but Isabella only had eyes for Phineas who looked up from his blueprint and smiled.

"Oh hey Isabella," he said then looked back down again. She walked over to where they were sitting and tentatively sat down. "How are you doing after yesterday?"

"I'm ok," she said smiling. "I'm glad it's over though."

"Same here."

"I can't believe all it took to cure zombies was water," Buford snorted.

"Technically it makes scientific sense," Baljeet began before Buford palmed him in the face pushing him over. Isabella looked around her friends, glad that everything was back to normal yet now knowing that normal wasn't good enough any more.

"Phineas, can we talk?"

"Sure thing Isabella," he said. "If you wanna get what happened to you yesterday off your chest we're all here."

"Actually..." she trailed off. "What do you mean what happened yesterday?" Had he lied to her about losing his memories? Did he remember her confession?

"He was really worried about you," Buford butted in.

"Really?" she smiled shyly but tried not to get her hopes up. This was one of those moments he always ruined.

"Well yeah, I can't believe we left you behind!" Phineas exclaimed. "You're our friend we should have all had each other's back!" Isabella mulled it over in her head. Close enough.

"Actually, I was wondering if it could just be us?" The moment she said it, she knew she had phrased it wrong but there was no going back now.

"Ok." He stood up and they moved away from the rest of the group.

"Look," she began before he raised his head to the sky, his eyes shining.

"Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today!" he declared. Isabella's heat fluttered. "We're gonna build a-"

"Phineas!" She burst out. "Could you listen, please?"

"Sure," he shrugged. "We just need to grab the supplies and then I'm all yours."

"No," she sighed, frustrated. Why did the world always make it so hard to speak to him alone? "This is really important."

"Ok," he spread his hands. "What's up?"

"Yesterday," she started, then shook her head. "I have this patch..."

"Delivery for Phineas Flynn?" Isabella glanced over her shoulder as the delivery man stuck his head through the gate.

"How did..." Phineas grinned at his brother. "Ferb, did you?" Ferb simply flashed a thumbs up.

"Can I get a signature?"

"Sure thing." And just like that, he was walking away from her again. She put her head in her hands. No. Not again. Why was it always so hard? It was seven words. Seven words. Seven impossible words.

"Thanks!" She heard him call as the delivery truck reversed down the drive. "Ok gang let's get started."

"Phineas," she stepped into his path. "Phineas, I need to say something. Now. So... just let me talk."

"Ok." he looked at her expectantly.

"Like I was trying to tell you last night, there's this patch... the emotional bravery patch. And the only way I can earn it is by telling someone that I care about that... I have a huge crush on you."

Her heart hammered in her chest. He didn't react for a second. "I didn't have a clue."

"I thought I was making it really obvious," she muttered. He shrugged.

"I always felt there was something I was missing," he mused. "Thanks Isabella."

"Thanks?" she spluttered. "Is that all you have to say?"

"Well, yeah," he grinned. "What else is there to say?"

"I'm done," she huffed. "I can't believe you! I've been hiding this for over a year and you never even noticed! I have done everything I can to support you and help you and when I finally bring myself to tell you how I feel the only thing you can do is thank me! You could at least tell me if you feel the same way or not!"

"I-"

"I'm done, Phineas." She turned away and tried not to cry. "I'll see you round."

And with that she was gone.

"What was that about?" Phineas said turning back to the gang. Buford and Baljeet exchanged a glance. "Did I say something wrong?"

"I can't believe you never noticed," Baljeet commented eventually. "She was making is very obvious."

"What?" He spluttered. "Nah, we were just close friends. She doesn't like me."

"She just told you she like you," Buford replied, confused.

"Maybe she was trying to earn her drama patch?"

"She got that two weeks ago," Baljeet reminded him. "Phineas, what are you going to do now?"

"We're going to build a drill to the centre of the planet!" He grinned brightly and started detailing his ideas. "Rumour has it that there is an entire species living in the earth's core and we're gonna meet them!" The boys exchanged another glance but by then Phineas was collecting his tools and starting work.

"She doesn't like me," he muttered to himself. "She can't like me. I would have known."

But what if it were true? What if while he was focusing on making sure he and Ferb had an amazing summer to tell everyone about back at school, she had liked him and he'd completely missed it? How did he even feel about the idea? His surprise was fading away and now he was left feeling… low? What had she meant it when she'd walked out? Was she really done? And what did that even mean?

"Phineas what do you want me to do?" Buford waved his hand in front of Phineas's face.

"Hold the drill head in place while Ferb locks it in," he replied ridding him mind of thoughts of Isabella. It was just his ranging preteen hormones. Nothing more.

"I've been looking into these people who made the claims about the creatures in the planet's core," Baljeet said, spinning his computer around to show the others. "I'm not sure there's any scientific proof."

"That's why we're going!" Phineas spread his hands wide. "Come on gang, we've discovered Nosey, Big Foot even found Badbeard's treasure. This is just another thing we can check of the 'it's not a rumour it's real' list!"

"Let's go," Buford leapt into the padded seats beside Ferb who was checking their instrument panel. "I have to be home in time for dinner."

"Let's tunnel to the centre of the earth!" Phineas agreed hopping as well. "Come on Isa-" His mouth snapped shut. "Come on," he repeated quietly.

A quick note, while this all happens after the events in Night of the Living Pharmacist, I imagine it to be a little earlier in their summer. Speaking of summer, I hope to be uploading a new chapter every other day, and with the holidays approaching it might be quicker. Leave me reviews for things to improve.