Snow was falling softly to the ground and the crisp winter breeze blew past. Lurlinemas was in the air at Shiz University, and with that was Winter Break. "Elphie, are you really sure you don't want to come to the Uplands with me? I hate to think of you alone here in this old empty school."
"I'll be perfectly fine. I could've gone home with Nessarose if I had wanted to." Elphaba insisted to her friend, who's carriage was waiting for her to return to her parents' home in the Upper Uplands. "Besides, I'll be able to catch up on all the reading I've been meaning to do."
Glinda frowned. "Promise me you'll have some fun, too. Otherwise I won't be able to leave you." Elphaba was touched; Glinda was genuinely concerned about her.
"I'll be fine, and you'll be horribly late if you wait any longer." She wrapped her arms around Glinda and hugged her. "Now go on."
Elphaba watched her best friend climb up into the carriage and waved goodbye. Feeling odd, she walked back toward the quiet dorm room they had shared. On the way she quite litteraly ran into someone.
"Master Fiyero, if you are looking for your girlfriend, I hate to tell you but she already left. You just missed her."
He paused to consider that information. "Oh? Well that's alright. I've been meaning to speak with you anyway."
"With me?" Elphaba blinked. She hadn't spoken with him in over a week-since the incident with the Lion Cub. Things hadn't exactly ended well.
"That is if you will speak with me."
"I haven't ran away yet."
"Touche." He smiled though. "Seriously though.. I really want to talk about what happened with the Cub. Come get something to eat with me."
She nearly said 'no' and ran off. But she hesitated- since when did Fiyero care about Animals? Since when did Fiyero care about anything? Out of pure curiosity- well, maybe not just curiosity- she said, "Alright."
---
He had led her toward one of the many pubs around town. Soon, it was very, very late and the pair was close to breaking curfew. He was surprised when she pointed that out. "You'll be fine. You have half an hour, and I know the quickest way back."
He paid for the meal before she had a chance to protest. He had no idea what he was doing or why he had spent hours talking to this... girl, this mysterious person who he couldn't quite define. He did know he hadn't been able to get her out of his head for the last week. She was so differant once you got to know her, and her wall was down. She was innocent and passionate and genuine.
He didn't come across those characteristics very often. She was like a breath of fresh air to him.
But what was he doing? He couldn't... he couldn't be with her. He was susposed to be with Glinda, and he was not susposed to want to be with this... this beautiful person. This wonderful, sweet-
"Fiyero? We're here. Thank you for walking me back to my dorm... Fiyero are you listening to me?"
"Yes! I-yes, sorry about that." She stood in the doorway to Crage Hall, awkwardly.
He smiled. "I.. feel better about what happened with the Cub," He lied. That had just been an excuse to be with her. "I'll talk to you soon," he said. On a complete impulse, he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "Goodnight."
