A/N: Voila! Ze next chapter! Enjoy and whatnot.
The end of the day was always the hardest for Phineas. Every class before lunch was great. He got to see his friends, sit next to Isabella (who won the election in a landslide, as Phineas knew she would), in English, learn new things, and play cool music. It was awesome.
But then came lunch. Buford was generally the first to the table, shortly joined by either Cooper, Bryant, or Marcus. By the time Phineas got there they were already talking and eating and there wasn't room for him, at least not socially.
He tried to be friendly, he really did, but they just didn't care. He was either ignored or became the butt of a joke; there was no in between. It wasn't long before he just quietly ate his lunch and left.
Soon, they started picking on him in the halls and in class too. Rude nicknames, snide comments, the occasional shove.
And it only got worse when Buford eventually joined in.
Phineas was rolling towards the table when he heard Buford impersonating him.
"Oh I'm Phineas Flynn!" he mimed. "I can't walk and my face is a triangle!"
Not the best of jokes, but the others laughed.
"Man, what a loser," Marcus piped up.
"And an idiot too," added Cooper. "He always stays behind in robotics or asks the stupidest questions."
"Retard."
They kept laughing and joking and Phineas turned around and wheeled away.
It hurt. Phineas normally had a thick skin, but he guessed it had been worn down. Not to mention that he had thought Buford had changed. Yeah, there was the occasional ribbing, but not actual bullying.
Maybe he had been wrong.
Or maybe something was wrong with him.
::::
At the end of the day, Phineas and Ferb were in their room getting ready for bed.
So…" Phineas began, bouncing on his bed. "Think we can work on my chair tomorrow? Or maybe go over some of the more advanced stuff?"
Ferb moaned quietly and rolled over to face his brother who was sitting on the edge of his own bed.
"I'm not sure Phineas. There's a huge physics project due on Monday and I've got a game tomorrow too."
"Well I can help with the physics project and then maybe you can help me with my robotics homework?"
"It's a group project Phineas. I'll be over at Gretchen's most of the day. I just don't think it's gonna work."
Phineas's hopeful smile fell from his face and his heart dropped to his shoes.
"Is it ever going to work?" he asked quietly, not necessarily looking for an answer.
"This next week, I promise," Ferb replied sleepily, ready to roll over again.
It felt like a match has been struck inside Phineas and he clenched his fist.
"That's what you've been saying for the past three weeks! Do you even care anymore?" he demanded. A small part of him regretted the words immediately, but mostly he wanted to know his brother's answer. Ferb cracked an eye open.
"Of course I do Phineas. Life is just really busy right now."
"It's not gonna get any less busy," Phineas continued. "I hardly talk to you at all anymore."
"I talked to you almost nonstop for nearly three months," Ferb said, slightly frustrated. "Maybe I'm just tired of talking."
"Or maybe you're just tired of me," Phineas muttered. "You spent three months with me while I was asleep, but now that I'm awake and really need you, you're never around!"
"What do you mean "really need-""
"This!" he said pointing to his legs. "This!" to his head. "I'm trying to get back to normal, but I need your help!"
"Well I can't help you with everything, alright!" Ferb finally cried. "And it's not just my fault! You're the one who always wants to be studying or working. Why can't we just hang out?" Phineas blinked.
"That's what I'm trying to do! I don't feel like we can hang out like we used to because I'm so much more limited now. If I can just figure this stuff out-"
"Look Phineas, some things click and some things don't. Maybe you'll never get the skills you lost back! Maybe you can't!"
"What are you say-"
"Maybe you're just stupid!"
There was regret in Ferb's eyes but he didn't take it back. The words left Phineas reeling. A beat of silence and then-
"Well maybe I don't really need you!" Phineas yelled back. Ferb didn't answer and instead laid back down and turned his back on his brother angrily. Phineas copied him, then grumbled as he had to roll back over and turn off the light.
What a crappy day.
::::
Phineas woke up and wondered why he felt so crappy. His stomach felt like a lead pit and his head ached.
Then he remembered last night.
He looked over at Ferb's bed, but his brother was already gone. He could hear the shower running, so figured that's where he must be.
Phineas got ready pretty quickly and heard Ferb head downstairs, but when he got there, he was nowhere to be seen.
"Morning Phineas. Want some breakfast?"
"Oh, yeah, that'd be great. Thanks Mom. Where's Ferb?" he asked, grabbing the orange juice from the fridge.
"He just left. Said he had to be to school early."
"Oh. Ok." Linda furrowed her brow. Something seemed off here, but she couldn't figure out what.
"So, have you decided if you want your own room?" she asked, changing the subject. Phineas thought for a moment and tried to ignore the twist of his gut when he said,
"You know Mom, I think I do."
A/N: And thus we're finally getting to more plot. I hope you guys liked it and please let me know what you thought! Thanks for reading!