Day One Part 2

When they returned to the house, they were greeted by the delicious, warm smell of freshly baked bread.

"Oh, sweet Oz," Fiyero sighed, breathing in deeply.

Nessa giggled beside him. "It does smell wonderful," she agreed. "Sunday is my favourite day of the week, purely for this reason."

"I don't blame you," Fiyero smiled.

"Don't be surprised if Boq 'suddenly' drops by for a visit," she warned him. "Once he found out Sunday is baking day, we can't seem to get rid of him," she laughed and Fiyero chuckled.

He couldn't stifle a laugh when sure enough, Boq knocked on the front door fifteen minutes after they got home.

"Gee, Boq. What a surprise," Elphaba said dryly as she let him in.

"Hi, Elphaba," Boq greeted her. "I heard that Fiyero was staying with you, and thought I'd come say hi."

"Conveniently in time for lunch with freshly baked bread," Elphaba smirked. "Like last week, when you had to return a book to Nessa. Or the week before, when you had to borrow the book."

"Sure," Boq agreed and she rolled her eyes.

"Lunch will be ready in about twenty minutes. Yero and Nessa are in the living room."

Boq frowned as he entered the living room and saw Fiyero laughing. "What?" he asked defensively and he shook his head.

"Nothing," Fiyero assured him. "How's your summer been, Boq?"

Frex didn't seem surprised to see Boq either when he and Fiyero's parents entered the room for lunch, and Fiyero introduced the Munchkin boy to his parents as they sat down. The mere smell of the bread was overwhelming, and Fiyero hadn't realised how hungry he was until he began eating.

"What else did you bake today, Elphaba? Besides the bread?" Boq asked her as he polished off his second sandwich.

Elphaba looked torn between amusement and disgust as she watched both boys consume massive sandwiches.

"I baked enough bread for the week, although with Fiyero here I'm not sure that it will be enough," she teased and he made a face at her.

"Then I just made some cookies. I've got a pie in the oven now for dessert tonight."

"What sort of pie?" Fiyero asked in interest.

"Apple," Elphaba replied. "It should be done by the time we finish your study session, Fiyero."

Boq grinned at his friend. "You're doing work on summer vacation? Doesn't that go against your whole philosophy of life?"

Fiyero scowled. "You've been spending too much time with Elphaba, Bick. Sarcasm does not become you."

"So, otherwise you'd be interested?" Elphaba asked innocently with a grin and Fiyero glared at her.

"I don't know why I came here if all you're going to do for the next three weeks is make fun of me," he said in mock injured tones.

"I don't know either," Elphaba shrugged seriously and Fiyero winced, wondering what she meant by that. Did she doubt their friendship?

"So, the four of you hang out together at school?" Kasmira asked the young people, trying to learn more about her son's life at school.

"And Galinda," Elphaba corrected the queen. "Galinda Upland."

"Of the Upper Uplands," Fiyero added with a grin and Elphaba rolled her eyes.

"Of course."

When they'd all finished, Elphaba stood and began to clear the table.

"Yero, go get your school work," she directed him. "We'll work in here."

Fiyero grimaced as he reluctantly stood. "Fine. Hey, can we have class outside?" he asked her, brightening and Elphaba inwardly groaned, having flashbacks to when she'd first begun tutoring Fiyero.

"No," she replied firmly and he pouted.

"But it's sunny outside!" he whined and she fixed him with a raised eyebrow.

"Fiyero, what happened the last time I agreed to tutor you outside?"

Fiyero had the decency to look sheepish. "I started skipping rocks in the canal," he admitted.

"And how did that end?"

"You pushed me in," he continued and Ibrahim laughed.

"I brought lunch!" Fiyero protested in his defence.

"It's not a picnic, it's a tutoring session," Elphaba said, but Fiyero continued to pout.

"Fine," he sighed when it was clear she wasn't going to give in and headed upstairs to get his school work.

Frex looked at Elphaba, wide-eyed with horror. "You pushed the prince of the Vinkus into Suicide Canal?" he asked and Boq grinned.

"It was hilarious."

"Can I ask why he needed to be pushed in?" Kasmira asked Elphaba, her tone as amused as her husband's facial expression.

Elphaba shrugged. "He was more interested in the shapes of the clouds than talking about the political reign of the Wizard. And when he started skipping rocks… I did give him fair warning," she added quickly, but Ibrahim grinned.

"Oh, Elphaba. Fiyero once had a tutor who put a hole in the wall of our library. I don't think it harmed Fiyero to get a little wet if that's what you have to do to get him to pay attention."

Elphaba felt strangely relieved to know Fiyero's parents didn't mind the way she and Fiyero interacted with one another. But from the time she'd met the prince, she'd refused to treat him any differently because of his royal title, and she knew Fiyero appreciated that. Well, now he did. When they'd first met, it'd been a different story.

Fiyero eventually returned with his school books under one arm and everyone left the dining room, leaving Fiyero plopping dejectedly into his seat as Elphaba finished clearing the table.

"So, what exactly did Morrible ask you to do?" she asked him, taking the seat next to him.

Fiyero noted how easily she slipped into 'teacher-mode' and smiled to himself. Elphaba was never more confident of herself or more passionate than when she was teaching someone or learning something. It was one of the things he found most attractive about her.

Morrible had assigned Fiyero three major essays to do over the summer. One for literature, one for history and one for political science. Elphaba looked over the requirements, already making plans mentally about how best to help Fiyero with them.

"Alright," she said finally and Fiyero dutifully turned his attentions to her. "So, for the literature essay, you have to discuss the social relevance and significance of Elsmore's novel. Have you read it?"

Fiyero had, reluctantly and only because he'd overheard a passionate debate on the book between Elphaba and their literature teacher, and it had been enough to make him want to know what they were talking about. The novel, First Impressions was an Ozian novel that had long since been regarded as a classic. It was the story of an old Gilikinese family, the Milsted family who have 5 daughters. The story focused on the second eldest daughter, Elisheba and her relationship with a wealthy Gilikinese merchant named Jeriah. After an unpleasant first meeting, the novel explores how both realise they have misjudged their initial assumptions of one another and of course, they end up falling in love and overcoming their social differences so they can live happily ever after.

The novel had become famous not just for the love story, but because of the social issues it cast into light, namely social status and the apparent necessity for young girls to marry in order to have a meaningful life. Fiyero knew, even despite Elphaba's somewhat pessimistic view of the world and of love, it was one of her favourites. And he had to admit that Elisheba had reminded him of Elphaba in a few ways, they had the same teasing and quick-witted sense of humour and the ability to read the characters of others and make shrewd social observations.

"Yes, I've read it," he admitted. The novel had a tendency to be seen as orientated towards women, but Elphaba looked pleased and even slightly impressed he had read it, rather than looking amused.

"Good."

"I've actually got a pretty good idea of what to write for that one," Fiyero continued. "Even the political science one seems okay, because I can use the information you helped me with before finals. I just really wanted your opinion on those ones, to make they're not rubbish. It's mainly the history one," he explained and Elphaba nodded.

"Ok, well why don't we work on that for the next few days, and then once you're ready, you can write while I do things and I'll just proof-read and edit?" she suggested and Fiyero nodded.

"You're the boss."

Smiling faintly, Elphaba pulled the paper towards her to examine more closely the history essay Fiyero was supposed to write. He had to pick a topic and write about its impact on modern Oz.

"Do you have any particular topic you'd like to write about?" Elphaba asked him.

Fiyero shrugged. "Sort of. I was thinking maybe something about the history of Animal rights in Oz and how they've changed since the Wizard's reign."

Elphaba whipped her head up in surprise. "Really? I- I didn't know you were that interested in… in that sort of thing," she stammered.

Fiyero steadily met her gaze. "With everything that happened, how could I not be?"

He didn't have to specify what he was talking about, and Elphaba's mind flashed back instantly to the events that had unfolded in Dr Dillamond's classroom… and the immediate aftermath in the forest grove.

Tearing her gaze away uncomfortably, Elphaba stared at the piece of paper on the table as though it were the most fascinating thing in the world.

"It's a really good topic. You should be able to easily write two thousand words on that," she said hastily.

Fiyero nodded, his eyes still on her. "Ok, great. So, how good is the local library here? For resources and stuff?"

Elphaba shook her head. "Not great. If you wanted to write about the history of corn, you'd be set though," she said in obvious irritation and Fiyero grinned.

"It doesn't matter though, I have books that will help you. And between my bookshelves, my father's and the library, you should have any extra sources for your political science essay beyond the notes you used for finals."

Fiyero sighed faintly, already bored at the thought of all the work he had to do. "Ok. Let's get this over with."

In truth, the only real effort Fiyero had made on his work so far was to reread First Impressions and outline his political science essay. Now, he began looking over the detailed notes Elphaba had helped him devise before finals, seeing what would be useful for his essay and in which areas he would need more resources.

He didn't even notice Elphaba slip out of the room, until she placed a piece of warm chocolate cake next to him.

"What's this?" he asked in surprise and she smiled.

"Brain food."

Fiyero grinned, immediately seizing the cake and taking a bite. "I thought I needed a brain first?"

Elphaba looked over at him, almost shyly. "We both know you have a brain, Fiyero."

Fiyero opened his mouth, but a knock on the door interrupted him and they both turned to see Boq in the doorway.

"Hey, guys. Sorry to interrupt you… but do we smell cake?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "I'll bring you a piece," she promised and Boq grinned.

"Thanks, Elphaba."

Fiyero returned to his work as Elphaba disappeared into the kitchen to serve cake to the others. Grateful for Boq's interruption, Elphaba took a moment to take a deep breath. It was so hard to be around him, especially when every time he did or said something, she was immediately reminded of the way she had grabbed his hand that day in the forest. She was constantly reminded of the jolt she had felt when their hands met…

"You have to get over this, Elphaba," she scolded herself in a murmur. "It doesn't matter what you feel, it's not going to happen. Even if he's not dating Galinda anymore, he still wouldn't be interested in you. You're not that girl," she added, almost wistfully.

Then she shook her head decisively. "No. Fiyero is your friend… be grateful for that."

But her heart ached painfully, even as she cut two pieces of cake and took them out to Boq and Nessa.

AN. Yes, First Impressions is the Ozian version of Pride and Prejudice. Couldn't help myself.