DISCLAIMER: Wicked was not my idea. Like I could create anything that amazing!
AN. Another WICKED viewing deserves a second update, no?
Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter 1! So exciting when everyone engages with a new story so quickly!
Two
The Central Emerald College (or CEC) was located within the Emerald City. It had been founded some sixty years ago, when Shiz- the most reputed and prestigious university in Oz, made the decision to begin scholarship programs to allow those from every social class the equal chance of getting a quality education.
Some of the higher social climbing families of Oz took offensive to this decision. These were mostly royals or noblemen, who disapproved of the idea that mere peasants should have an equal education with their children. So, they pooled their money and created the CEC.
It was terribly expensive, terribly exclusive and proud of that for a good fifty years. However, in recent years they had been trying to shed that image.
The Vinkun King and Queen had initially decided against sending their son there. After all, one day Fiyero would be King and it wouldn't do to create the impression that he believed himself above his people.
However, once Fiyero had been expelled from his third school, the King and Queen had had to make the decision between the CEC and Shiz. The main reason they had chosen the CEC over Shiz was that the CEC was smaller and more exclusive.
The King and Queen hoped that would be enough to put a stop to Fiyero's habits and behaviour that had ultimately expelled his from his last two schools (he had flunked out of the first).
Unfortunately, that plan hadn't worked as well as they'd hoped. However, Fiyero had so far lasted a month at the CEC, and the King had even dared to hope he might make it a whole semester this time.
"Tiggular! Pay attention!"
Fiyero's head jolted up, and he looked at the CEC Headmaster innocently, as the man stood glaring down at him from the dias and the whole assembly turned his way.
"I was listening, sir!"
The Headmaster raised an eyebrow. "Indeed? Perhaps you can recap what I've been talking about for the last ten minutes then?"
Fiyero grimaced inwardly. Truthfully, he'd tuned out after the first minute or two. But he nonetheless climbed to his feet and cleared his throat, feeling the eyes of his teachers and fellow students on him.
"I believe you were talking about… the proud history of the CEC and how… uh…" Fiyero trailed off uncertainly.
He caught the eye of his roommate, who mouthed something to him and mimed writing in the air.
Fiyero frowned, not sure what his friend was trying to tell him. "Uh… and that we should continue that tradition by… taking pride in our… writing?"
The Headmaster stared at Fiyero, unimpressed.
"Thank you for volunteering, Mr Tiggular," he said finally.
Fiyero was still clueless. "Volunteering for what, sir?"
"Sit down, and pay attention," the Headmaster ordered and Fiyero obeyed, wondering what exactly he'd "volunteered" for.
"As I was saying," the Headmaster continued. "We are beginning a pen pal program with Shiz University. This will create strong bonds not only between the students of both the CEC and Shiz; but the schools and the towns themselves. There will be a sign up sheet in the administration building.
Shiz students are writing the first letters and when they arrive, everyone who has signed the sign-up sheet- as Mr Tiggular will be doing immediately after this meeting; will be allocated a letter. The letter you receive will be your permanent pen pal. There is no swapping, and all decisions are completely random."
Fiyero groaned. A pen pal program? Really? As if he didn't have enough work to do already with his studies! Ok, he didn't actually do any of his school work (well, he didn't do much), but the last thing he wanted to have to do in his free time was write letters to some stranger.
He didn't even write to his parents, for Oz sake! Fiyero knew he had no hope of getting out of it, the Headmaster would drag him to the sign-up sheet if need be. Of course, he could always "forget" but that wouldn't delay it for long.
As soon as they were dismissed, Fiyero rushed over to his roommate and grabbed his arm.
"You suck at sign language. What was that?" he asked, mimicking the movements Lau had made trying to give Fiyero the answer.
"It was writing a letter! And I mouthed 'pen pal'! It's not my fault you can't guess!" Lau replied indignantly.
Fiyero sighed, and then had an idea.
"Lau! Come sign up to this pen pal thing with me," he suggested to him.
Lau snorted. "Why would I do that?"
"Because... it could be fun?" Fiyero suggested half-heartedly.
Lau shot him a look that told him he didn't buy that for a second. Fiyero sighed heavily, he didn't buy it either.
"Ok, this is going to suck," he admitted. "But I don't want to have to do this alone. Come on, Lau! You're majoring in public relations! This is right up your alley!"
Lau rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'm sure public relations will be all about a pen pal program," he said sarcastically.
Fiyero wasn't giving up though. "I'll set you up with Mugei," he suggested, naming a pretty girl on campus Lau liked.
Lau was wary. He knew Fiyero had a way with girls, but wasn't sure if Fiyero could truly pull it off.
"How are you going to do that?"
Fiyero shrugged. "Girls listen to their friends. And Mugei's friend Julinha is pretty cute."
Lau knew where this was going. "So, you hook up with a pretty girl, convince her to convince her friend to go out with me; and we both have to do this pen pal thing?"
"Yep. So we both win!" Fiyero exclaimed happily.
Lau sighed. "Ok," he agreed reluctantly.
Fiyero grinned happily, but their conversation was interrupted as the Headmaster appeared behind them out of nowhere.
"Heading to the administration building, Mr Tiggular?"
Fiyero turned hastily. "Yes, sir. I was just encouraging my fellow students to do the same. You know... take the opportunity to make new friends and all."
The Headmaster raised an eyebrow. "Well, get a move on and then get to your next class."
Fiyero had no intention of going to his next class, but he nodded. He waved goodbye to Lau and headed over to the administration building, taking his time.
Sure enough, there on the noticeboard was a sheet of paper.
"Pen Pal Program! Sign up to make a new friend!"
There were no names on it yet, and Fiyero heaved a sigh as he reluctantly picked up the pen hanging next to the sheet and scrawled his name. He purposely wrote it almost illegible, so with any luck, few would be able to read his name and it wouldn't be known that Fiyero Tiggular had enrolled in a pen pal program.
So, that night when a group of CEC students went to The Jewel Box, the most swankified place in that part of the Emerald City, Fiyero confidently approached Julinha with a smile.
"Hey. Want to dance?" he asked her charmingly.
She looked stunned for a moment, almost as if she thought she was dreaming. But then she nodded, and accepted Fiyero's hand.
It didn't take long before Julinha and Fiyero had moved to a somewhat private corner of the room. Between kisses, Fiyero told her about Lau and what a great guy he was, and that he really liked her friend Mugei.
As he'd predicted, Julinha's eyes lit up.
"We should set them up!" she cried happily. "And then we can double date!"
"Sure," Fiyero agreed dismissively, and then drew her back to him.
Now he had fulfilled his end of the deal, he could enjoy himself.
Julinha made all the arrangements and introduced Lau and Mugei. Lau was thrillified and dutifully carried out the agreed proposal and signed his name for the pen pal program.
Plenty of others had signed up, and there seemed to be a quiet curiosity about who they would potentially be paired up with.
Fiyero wasn't curious though. To him, this just sounded like more work.
"How often do you think we have to write to them?" he asked Lau.
"And really, how are they going to know? They won't be reading or grading our letters, so what's the point?"
Lau laughed. "If you'd been paying attention in the assembly, you'd know."
Fiyero stared at his roommate incredulously. "Are you kidding me? How could anyone pay attention to that? His voice sounds like a donkey with a head cold."
That was admittedly true, so Lau didn't argue.
"It might not be so bad," he said sympathetically.
"How?" Fiyero demanded.
Lau shrugged. "You could actually make a friend? That way when you ultimately get expelled from here, and have no option but to go to Shiz, you'll already have a friend."
Fiyero considered that and then grimaced. "As soon as whoever it is finds out who I am, I'll be the laughing-stock of Oz."
Lau rolled his eyes at Fiyero's dramatics.
Although he hadn't wanted to sign up initially, Lau was excited to see who he would be paired with.
Shiz students still had two weeks to decide to sign up and write their first letters. And then they'd know.