Anyone who claims that I am the owner of Phineas & Ferb or anything else Disney related has pulled the wool over your eyes. I do not own any copyrights for anything. In this case I would like to extend thanks to Jeff, Dan & Disney for the creation of Phineas and Ferb.

AN: This story is the full-length version of the 'Coffee Talk: Chap 37 - Dispirited Gretchen'. Here, we find out what happened before she got her chocolate fix. We start our tale in the middle of November one and a half weeks prior.

Gretchen got home from another one of the Fireside Girls' Tuesday evening meetings. She was now a Junior Leader to the local troop, seeing as she was almost 14-years-old. Tonight, the girls argued and fought about everything and when Gretchen tried to intervene... they all turned on her. She got glue in her hair, ink on her blouse and rips in her jeans.

She went to her room, pulled out her homework and started her assignments. "Ugh, that's the most preposterous question I've ever had to answer in my life." She complained as she wrote out the answer without consulting her text book.

Gretchen was just finishing her assignment when her phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse, "Hello?" she answered. "No Phineas, tomorrow we're studying. I told you, Tuesdays and Saturdays I'm busy with the Fireside Girls. I don't know why the teacher is forcing you to study with me. If you're so opposed to it, take it up with him!" She yelled into the phone then disconnected the call. A few moments later her phone signalled an incoming text.

She looked at it, the message was from Ferb. He's apologising for his brother... again. He really needs to stop doing that. She thought to herself. As she put her phone in her pocket and went to the kitchen for something to drink. I know he's trying to keep the peace; that's what I like about him. He's thoughtful, he cares... he understands. Her thoughts continued.

Ferb leaned against the kitchen wall, he kept checking his phone. It's been five minutes since I sent her the text, she's always responded before. He thought to himself then put his phone in his pocket and drew himself a glass of water before heading back upstairs. He went into his shared room and observed as Phineas lay on his bed talking on the phone, presumably to Isabella.

"Then she said I should... and I quote... 'take it up with him'. She was actually yelling at me for something that's not even my fault." Phineas complained to the poor soul on the other end of the conversation. "I know she's your best friend Iz, but the last time Gretchen and I had to work on a project together we were in grade 5 and she was a domineering little..." Phineas looked up and saw the stern look on Ferb's face. "...Ferb? What's your problem?"

Ferb shook his head and left the room. He leaned up against the wall and pulled out his phone again; he started another text to Gretchen. His finger hovered over the 'send' button for a moment... he then cancelled the message. I wish I could talk to her... or just about anyone for that matter. It's always the same, 'What's Phineas doing? What are Phineas' plans?' I just want to answer 'He's currently breathing and his plans are to continue to do so.' Do I look like his keeper? Actually, yes. I do look like his keeper, if it wasn't for me, he'd have been crushed by one of his inventions years ago. Ferb thought to himself as he jammed his phone into his pocket.

Phineas walked out of the shared room and descended the stairs. Ferb went back into the room, sat at his desk and opened up his part of the assignment; Milly was his partner. Ferb's phone indicated an incoming text, it was Milly asking if he was ready to work on the project. He texted back that he was and that the secured link was active and gave her the password to the project files.

Gretchen was putting the finishing touches on one project when her phone rang. "Hello?" She answered without looking at the caller ID. "Isabella, hi. Yes, you were there when I told him I wasn't available on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Look, I just don't care. If he wants to switch partners fine. I'll do the project on my own. Are you over at their place right now? Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, bye." She hung up the phone and it promptly rang again. With a humph, Gretchen answered. "Hello? Phineas. Right. Right. Sure. Uh-huh. Fine. Bye."

Gretchen pressed some buttons on her phone, then put it away.

Ferb was working on the project with Milly when she responded to one of his texts. Ferb smiled and made a note on a scrap paper.

It wasn't particularly late, only 830pm when the doorbell sounded. Phineas ran to the front door and opened it. He smiled at his friend, Isabella Garcia-Shapiro as she stood there. "Come in, we can talk in my room." Phineas said and followed her up the stairs. They walked into the boys' shared room and Phineas flopped down on his bed and Isabella lounged on Ferb's. Ferb looked over his monitor and raised an eyebrow at them.

"So, you're really going to tell the teacher that you can't work with Gretchen because she's too bossy?" Isabella asked and Phineas nodded. "Yeah, she just takes over the entire project. You know, if I remain her partner for this project... she'll end up doing all the work and I get half the credit."

Ferb stood up and emerged from behind his desk. "Isabella, I thought that Gretchen was your best friend." He asked the girl lounging on his bed. She looked up at him. "She is, it's just that she's been really..." Isabella started and Ferb raised an eyebrow at her encouraging her to finish her thought. After a moment, Isabella whispered "... stressed lately, between school and being a Jr. Leader of the Fireside Girls. She's always strived to be the best and anything less than perfect is unacceptable." She finished and Ferb crossed his arms over his chest and stared blankly at her. "She'll forget about this whole thing by morning, she always does." Isabella said and laughed lightly. Ferb blinked at her and left the room. No, she doesn't. It eats her up inside that she can't please everyone all the time. He thought.

Isabella looked at the door as it closed, then asked Phineas, "Why does he always listen in on everyone's conversations?" He shook his head. "I guess it's because everyone holds a conversation in his presence. I didn't even notice that he was at the computer." Phineas said and looked at the chair that was in front of the window.

Chapter 2 will be posted once I run it through editing.