This fic was begun out of nowhere, when I was discussing ideas about Quentin and Phoebe with some friends of mine on the psychowhatsits discord server that I had while writing another fic (also Quentin/Phoebe focused!) The ideas expressed within were inspired by several people in particular, namely my pals Kai, Pond Scum, and Ash!

This fic is written from a young Quentin's point of view, but mostly focuses on Phoebe, and her experience as a young, psychic girl with a very destructive power. Kai had the idea that Quentin and Phoebe lived in the same town when they were kids, and I think that it makes a lot of sense!

"My dad's gonna take me to Toys R Us when he gets home from work," Quentin said to Phoebe during the ride home from school. "He said you could come, if you want."

Phoebe turned away from the bus window to look at him, blinking. "I'd have to ask my mom first, but sure," she said slowly, as though the idea of a trip to the toy store were confusing to her.

Quentin nodded, satisfied with the answer. Phoebe had been really down lately, ever since the 'incident with the shed' (that's how his parents referred to it) and he hoped that the outing would cheer her up some. "If we're good, Dad might take us to Dairy Queen," he said, grinning. "We could get two different blizzards and mix them up!"

"Yeah…" Phoebe opened her mouth like she was going to say something, and then didn't, chewing on her bottom lip instead. She looked nervous, and Quentin didn't know why. Phoebe being nervous about something he didn't get was becoming a regular occurrence.

"What's wrong?" he asked, starting to feel a bit anxious himself. "You don't have to get a blizzard if you don't want to."

"It's not...that. I was just wondering…" She glanced out the window, her eyes focused on the passing scenery outside the window. "Why does your dad want to take you to Toys R Us?"

"To get a gift for Leah's birthday party!" Quentin responded, glad that he had an answer for her and that they didn't have to sit with the awkward silence that was frequently becoming an unwanted guest in their conversations. "He said we could both pick something out for her." Phoebe didn't turn her head, didn't look at him, but he saw her suddenly tense up. The fingers of her left hand began picking at the bandage on her right wrist. "It's okay if you don't have money with you," he said quickly, the smile fading from his face. "My dad said he'll pay for it, he doesn't mind." No response. "Or did you already get her a gift?"

A sniff. Phoebe turned her head in a manner that made it impossible for Quentin to see her face. "I'm not going to Leah's party," she said, the words inflectionless.

Quentin blinked. "What?" he said, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. "You're not going?" He paused to think on why Phoebe wouldn't be going to their friend's party when she'd gone the two previous years. "Do you have to go your therapy?" he asked. Weird, he thought that her special doctor's office was closed on the weekends.

"I wasn't invited to her party."

The words should have shocked him, but they didn't. Instead it was as though Phoebe had just confirmed something that Quentin had already suspected deep down. It didn't make it feel like any less of a punch to the gut. "Oh…" he said, unable to think of anything else to say.

Phoebe didn't say anything else the rest of the way and when her stop came, she got off without saying goodbye. When she shoved her way past him to the aisle, Quentin thought he saw tears running down her cheeks.