"So … x = 4y – 1?"
"Yes! Good. Now solve for y." Her emerald green hand held the pencil a few inches above the paper, waiting for my next answer.
"Um … y = 1/4x – ¼?"
Elphaba exploded. "Fiyero, you utter idiot!" Next thing I knew, a clipboard came into collision with my head.
"Ow! Oz, Fae!"
"We just went over this! You plug the value for x in the first equation into the second equation! So, 5y + 3(4y – 1) = 16. That's how the substitution method works." She was fired up now. I was starting to notice that whenever Fae got really emotional, her skin would turn a darker green. Interesting. She was wearing a V-neck shirt that Galinda must have gotten for her, and she looked really … Ozdammit, Fiyero, you're with GALINDA! Stop this! "Hello? Oz to Fiyero! My eyes are up here."
"Oh, sorry," I said quickly, looking into those luscious chocolate brown eyes. "What were you saying?"
"Maybe we should stop now," Elphaba declared. "We're both pretty burned out." She closed her math book.
"So um … how about that Lion cub?"
"How 'bout him? Did you free him?"
"Yeah. I've been thinking …"
Suddenly, Elphaba jumped up. "Angel of music!" she exclaimed, rushing over to Erik, who was coming toward us carrying a pastry bag and two cups of coffee.
"Emerald angel," Erik answered with rapture. As they kissed, her left leg started bending of its own accord.
"You brought doughnuts," Elphaba breathed, breaking away. "From the Peach & Kidney, I assume?" She raised her eyebrow in fake suspicion.
"My dear El, where else would I get our Saturday doughnuts? Though, the cashier still looks at me like I'm about to murder him!" They both broke out into peals of laughter, still ignoring me. "Now, let's go to your dorm. It's your turn to be the host."
"So it is."
"Hello, Fiyero," Erik said, finally noticing me. "Galinda's waiting for you at Suicide Canal. See you round, man."
"Wait! Elphaba!" I exclaimed, standing up. Her brown eyes looked at me expectantly. I suddenly realized I had no idea what I was going to say. "Um … uh … I just want you to know that … uh … I agree with you. That Lion cub should not have been captured like that! Bye!"
Once I was safely away from the happy couple, I made my way slowly to Suicide Canal. Oh Oz, I was in love with her! I was in love with Elphaba Thropp! Why?! Galinda would stab me with a nail file! Erik would strangle me! And Elphaba herself, Oz, she would probably turn me into a toad or something. Why would she want me? She had Erik, a guy she could laugh with and relate to. She didn't deserve me.
Fine voice,
Strong allure.
He is charming;
He wins her.
White mask
Above a clean bow tie.
That's the guy she chose,
And heaven knows,
I'm not that guy.
With a sigh, I smoothed my hair, and approached Galinda.