7. Gravity

Boq fell into step beside Elphaba just as she was making her way over to the auditorium. "Hey, El. Are you excited for the auditions?"

She glanced at him. "I'm a little worried that no-one is going to show up," she confessed, "but other than that, I'm fine."

"Will Galinda come?"

"I knew it was about that." She smirked at him. "You hardly ever strike up a conversation with me unless you want to know something about Galinda. And yes, as a matter of fact, she's coming. Not to sing, mind you. I'm glad she'll spare us that. But she wants to judge the people auditioning today alongside us – and she wants to watch, just for fun." She leant towards him. "You know," she said in a low voice, "Galinda finds herself very attracted to you, now that she knows you're playing in a band."

Boq's eyes went wide and his face turned beet red. "She – she said that?" he stammered and Elphaba nodded seriously.

"Absolutely."

Boq looked like he was about to soar off into the clouds and Elphaba grinned. She just loved messing with her roommate. Galinda was never going to be able to shake the poor Munchkin off now – maybe she'd finally give him a real chance this time around. He deserved that much.

They arrived at the auditorium, where Cohvu and Gazilon were already sitting on the edge of the stage, talking. Avaric was nowhere to be seen and Boq went to take a seat in the audience, still looking dazed because of what Elphaba had told him.

"Hey," the green girl said, flopping down beside the two boys. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Just wondering how many people signed up," said Gazilon, reaching out to put his arm around her shoulders. She let him and even scooted a little closer as she pulled a piece of paper out of her bag.

"Well," she said, glancing at the paper, "actually, your concert in the courtyard turned out to be a huge success. We have nineteen applicants."

Cohvu gaped at her. "Nineteen?!"

She nodded. "Which is why we have to spread the auditions out over a couple of days," she said. "I let six people come today." She chuckled. "I was just telling Boq that I was a little worried no-one would show up, but I guess that's a bit of a silly fear, isn't it?"

"Let's look at the bright side," said Cohvu, grinning. "We'll have a lot of people to choose from."

"I want a girl," Avaric called as he entered the auditorium as well, having heard part of the boys' conversation. "We see too few girls around here. Maybe that will change once we actually get to perform more often, but still – I want a girl in the band. I need my daily dose of pretty to look at or I will go crazy." He glanced at Elphaba in disdain. "And before any of you can say it: no, Princess Pea here doesn't count."

"You have to admit that he is creative," Elphaba commented to Gazilon and Cohvu. "Most people don't get any further than "Frog" and "Artichoke"."

"I am creative," said Avaric. He hopped onto the stage and announced, "That is also why I have found the perfect name for our band."

"Bring it on," said Cohvu and Avaric paused dramatically.

"Avaric and the Wimps."

The others all rolled their eyes.

"Just kidding, just kidding." He smirked and sat down beside Cohvu. "I came up with a few, though. How about The Penetrators?"

Elphaba made a gagging noise. Boq said from his audience seat, "We're not even going to dignify that with an answer."

"Fine." Avaric huffed. "How about Women Slayers?"

When no-one said anything, he persisted. "Hot Stuff? Avaric and his Abs? Favourite Hunks? The Muscled Studs?"

"Avaric," Cohvu sighed and Gazilon grumbled something under his breath.

Elphaba poked him in the side. "It's almost time," she said. "Let's take our seats and prepare for the first candidate."

The others nodded and by the time the first person to audition came in, the band plus Elphaba were seated in the audience, completely ready. The student introduced himself and then started to sing.

When he was done, Elphaba thanked him for his time and he left. She turned to face the others. "What did you think?"

"Okay," said Cohvu hesitantly, "but we could find someone better."

Avaric snorted. "If he is the alternative, I'll just keep singing the lead myself," he said with a scowl and for once, Elphaba had to agree with him.

"Next!" she called and the second candidate came in.

Galinda came scurrying in just when the third candidate was singing and she quickly slipped into a seat next to Elphaba. "Sorry I'm late!" she whispered. "I was caught up in some gossip with Pfannee. What did I miss?"

"Not much." Cohvu grumbled a little, sagging against the back of his chair. "If this is the general quality of our candidates, we might as well give up now."

The fourth, however, turned out to be better, as did the fifth. The sixth was not very good and when they had seen everyone for the day, they went to sit back on the stage in a circle so as to be able to discuss the candidates.

"If you ask me, no-one we saw today is good enough to be our lead singer," said Gazilon. "I don't mean to be rude, but..."

"No, I agree with you." Elphaba placed her hand on his arm almost unconsciously. He covered it with his own hand and she blushed a little. "But we still have thirteen more people to go."

"Galinda," said Boq suddenly, turning to the blonde girl, "do you really think I'm attractive?"

Avaric rolled his eyes. "Um, hello? We were discussing our new lead singer?"

Boq ignored him and Galinda stuttered. "Um, well..."

"Because," Boq said, taking the blonde's hand, "you are the sunshine of my life, Galinda. You know I have loved you since I first laid eyes on you. Your hair is like spun gold, your eyes two bright blue oceans I could drown in, and –"

"Boq!" Galinda cried, pulling her hand back. "I mean, that's very sweet and all, but I don't think..."

"Just go out with me once," he pleaded. "Please, Galinda, just give me a chance."

Elphaba and the others watched in amusement as Galinda looked at the Munchkin for a long time before relenting with a sigh.

"Fine," she said. "I'll have dinner with you Friday night, but I'm not making any promises."

Boq looked utterly blissful – this was more than he'd originally hoped for – and Galinda huffed and rose to her feet. "I'm going to find something to wear for Friday," she said with much less enthusiasm as she normally would display at such a prospect and she left.

"Already?" Gazilon muttered and Elphaba smirked.

"Oh, yes. She needs to try out several different outfits, then she needs to see if a shopping trip before her date is in order, either for a new dress or some jewellery or shoes, and she also needs to decide which make-up to wear," she told the boys seriously. "That takes time, so she always begins early. Actually," she said, "I think a date or party is the only thing for which Galinda begins preparations in time."

"Oh, Galinda," Avaric cooed in an exaggerated imitation of Boq. "You are the sunshine of my life!"

"The apples to my apple pie," Cohvu chimed in.

"The pink dresses to my wardrobe!"

"You ignite the fire in my heart, Galinda!"

Boq had turned red as a tomato and Elphaba was starting to feel sorry for him. "Cut it out, guys, the poor boy can't help being so hopelessly in love."

"Besides," Boq said haughtily, "it worked, didn't it?"

Elphaba chortled. "Galinda is sensitive to guys saying those kinds of things to her."

"What about you?" asked Cohvu curiously. "You don't strike me as the type to swoon when a guy asks you "if it hurt when you fell down from heaven"."

The green girl made a face.

"You'd have to use a different line to pick up an Artichoke," Avaric said with a grin. "You could say "if you were a vegetable, you'd be a cute-cumber"."

Elphaba quirked an eyebrow at him. "You know? I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

He scowled. "I wasn't saying it to you."

"Keep telling yourself that." She smirked and Avaric looked away, grumbling under his breath.

"So you wouldn't be impressed by such romantic sayings?" Gazilon asked teasingly. "If I told you that you make me feel like I am defying gravity, you would not be swayed? Or if I asked you if you happened to have a map, because I just got lost in your eyes?"

The boys laughed about it, but Elphaba had frozen in place, head slightly tilted to the side. Her eyes started shining and she suddenly grabbed Gazilon's arm and shook it excitedly. "That's it!"

He looked at her in confusion. "Huh?"

"What's what?" asked Cohvu.

She was grinning now, utterly excited. She met the boys' eyes and said, "Gravity."

"What about gravity?" Boq asked, but Gazilon's eyes lit up when he realised what she meant.

"That's perfect!"

"Oh!" Cohvu leapt to his feet, jumping up and down. "Gravity!"

"Gravity, what?" Boq asked again, still not understanding, and Cohvu nudged him with his foot.

"The name!" he said. "The name of the band! Gravity!"

Boq grinned. "That is awesome."

"It sounds good," even Avaric had to admit, and Gazilon grinned and hugged Elphaba tightly for a moment.

"You," he said, "are a genius."

"You inspired me." She hesitated only a heartbeat before softly pressing her lips to his in a brief kiss. "But thank you."

His grin nearly split his face in two and Elphaba blushed again, so she quickly moved on. "I will make the necessary arrangements for the name change," she said. "If all of you agree, that is."

"I do," said Gazilon and Boq nodded. The other two boys agreed as well and Elphaba smiled.

"Good. Gravity it is." She rose to her feet and brushed some dust off her skirt. "Now all we need is a lead singer and then I can start booking you guys performances. The next candidates will be auditioning the day after tomorrow. Be here in the auditorium at four." She waved at them and left, happy that things were going well.