Untold story

   He touched her cheek softly, and ran. Ran through the living room, down the hall, and out the front door. He wasn't even sure if it had shut all the way, but he didn't care. His feet pounded against the salt covered pavement as he booked it back to his own house. Phineas Flynn ran down the street as fast as his legs would carry him. The cold, winter air made his lungs sting.
   Nothing made sense. Isabella loved him? He couldn't answer her? Why couldn't he answer her? Why did he feel so unsure? Why was his stomach twisting into a painful knot at the thought of it all? It had to be that. He felt tears fill his eyes. Clenching his fists, Phineas ran faster.
   Nearly colliding with his front door, he managed to grab the handle and swing it open just in time. Ignoring his mother's greeting, he kicked off his shoes and shot up the stairs. He needed to be alone—to  sit and try to think it all through. He couldn't tell anyone. This was something that Phineas needed to try and solve himself. He needed....
   He needed to talk to Ferb. Phineas couldn't do this alone, no matter what he tried to tell himself. He stopped quickly in front of his bedroom door and knocked. It was hard to be alone when he shared his room, anyway.
   "Ferb?" He asked, voice cracking slightly because of his tight throat. The door opened, and his step-brother stood in door frame.
   "It wasn't locked, Phi—" He was cut off by a tear that had managed to slip from Phineas' eye. The red-head wiped it away quickly, acting as if he was scratching his face, but he knew his brother didn't buy it. Ferb stepped aside for his brother and walked over to sit next to him on the floor. He didn't say a word, he just waited. With a shuddering breath, Phineas began to speak.
   "Isabella—uh—Isabella confessed that she—er—loves me." Ferb ventured a glance to his brother.
   "Oh?"
   "Yeah."
   "Took her long enough," Ferb mumbled and sighed. "So, how do you feel about that?" Phineas pulled his knees up to chest and moaned.
   "I don't know! I mean, I guess, she's... pretty. And cute. But I don't—"
   "Phineas, you're not obligated to date her, you realize this, right?"
   "Yes, I know, Ferb, but it's just—I don't—ahgh, I don't even know! Why don't I want to? Why don't I feel anything more towards her than friendship? Why am I not attracted to her? It's like, she's perfect or something, but I can't acknowledge it for some reason!" Ferb's brows knitted together and he tilted his head to look his brother in the eyes.
   "Perfect?"
   "Uh, I mean," Phineas leaned his head back against the bed. "Now that I look back, it just seems like everyone has been waiting for us to get together like we're this fairy tale prince and princess. I never noticed it before, but now I do, and—and Ferb, I'm just not interested!" He threw his arms in the air dramatically. "I don't have any desire to go out and date a girl! But now I feel like—like I'm supposed to—"
   "Drop it all and date her?" Ferb asked. "Only you can make that decision, you know. To hell with what everyone thinks. If you're not ready to date, you don't have to. If you aren't interested in Isabella, you shouldn't date her. You should find a girl you want. It's not rocket science, Phin." Phineas smiled at his brother.
   "I wish it were," The red head whispered. "Then I could understand it all." Ferb cocked a brow and waited for his brother to explain himself. When silence continued to fill the air, he decided to bite.
   "What do you mean?" Ferb asked. Phineas stiffened slightly and felt his throat tighten again.
   "What... what if I'm just not interested in general? What if this whole thing just doesn't—uh—really do it for me?" His voice was soft, and Ferb had to lean closer to him to hear correctly. He placed a hand on his step-brother's shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze.
   "It's like I said, Phin. Then you just wait. If you're not ready to date, then—"
   "No!" Phineas said, cutting his brother off. "No. I mean, what if I'm just not... not attracted to it? Wh-what if I'm more interested in what I already have right now?" Ferb blinked in confusion and tilted his head to try and meet the red-head's gaze. His brother was speaking in riddles. He could usually read between the lines pretty well, but Ferb needed to see his eyes. He need to make sure he understood for certain what his brother was saying.
   They were filling with tears again. Phineas looked scared, like a child who had just said something he shouldn't have.
   "Phineas," Ferb said quietly and scooted over to face his brother completely. "Are you....?" The question hung in the air, but both knew exactly what the green-haired teen had meant. Phineas took a shaky breath  and nodded.
   "I think so, yes," He whispered. In a flash, strong arms flung themselves around him and pulled him into a tight hug. Phineas had gasped in surprise as his brother embraced him, but the tears in his eyes quickly streamed down his face in relief. His brother wasn't angry. His brother loved him, no matter what. And it felt wonderful.
   "That's fine," Ferb whispered. "That's perfectly fine."