Author's Note: I want to start a new fic, see what I can do with a blank page and without sixteen to eighteen-year-old me's help, but I don't really have a fresh idea to start with. Anyone? I've kind of had one or two in my head but they don't seem good enough. I am open to ideas if you would message me! I may not use them, not because they aren't good but because I might not feel right writing them. But who knows? I always use help and I've gotten some very good ideas before.
And I swear, there was something I meant to put in the last chapter… or maybe that was "Truth or Dare"? You know, I am way too forgetful. Oh, wait… maybe it was to bring Boq in? No, that's not it. Dang it. But that does give me an idea. But wait… now I remember.
Also, again, please review. They mean a lot to me. And I was wondering how you liked my representation of Glinda back in chapter five (I guess technically since this website doesn't "do" prologues, it was chapter six).
Chapter Seven: First Dates
Classes were to start the day after the next and Elphaba seemed content to read through her books until then. At first she'd been strange about reading them – she would only touch them with the tip of her finger and she would turn the pages ever so carefully, making sure not to bend the spine. Fiyero realized it was because she didn't quite feel like they were her books.
She had turned another page in her obsessively cautious way when Fiyero came up to her at the couch and said, "I've been thinking."
"I would hope you've been thinking. It'd be disappointing if you didn't."
He laughed. "That's not what I meant."
"Okay, then, if I have to ask, what have you been thinking?"
"You know how you said this whole marriage thing was backwards?"
"Yes."
"Well, I thought we could go on a date."
"Why?"
"Because that's what people out here seem to do before they get married. And maybe it would be good for us to go out like we would've if we'd not been forced to marry."
"I wouldn't be going out with you at all."
Fiyero paused, hurt. "Well…"
"Oh, no! I meant… I meant I wouldn't be going out with anyone. I didn't mean you. I just… I wasn't the dating type and I don't think that even if I were here and not married that I'd be dating." Elphaba, though she didn't care so much about his feelings, realized that she had been rude. She did like him, but she really couldn't see herself ever dating.
Fiyero took a seat beside her on the couch, trying to think of how to respond. "I'm sorry?"
Elphaba laughed uncomfortably. "I really didn't mean to say… oh, damn." Feeling guilty she said, "But it is a good idea. It makes a lot of sense and since we are in this situation, we should. You're right."
"Um, what exactly does one do on a date, anyway?"
Elphaba smiled, almost enchanted by this cluelessness. "I… you know, I'm not quite sure myself. I've never been on one."
"But you have to have heard of them, right? They don't really date a lot where I come from, but I assume you've read plenty about them."
"Well, that's not exactly my type of reading, but yes, they have come up. I guess we eat somewhere or do something else that we both find fun."
"Like reading? Because that doesn't sound right."
Elphaba laughed more comfortably this time. "No, something we can do together. Like see a play or eat and talk. That way we're sharing the same experience, not sitting in the same room but sharing different ones."
Fiyero nodded. "Okay. I get it. I saw this little café when I was out and it seemed like a lot of students liked to eat there. Why don't we have dinner there and then walk around and see what there is to, um, experience?"
Elphaba was still smiling at him, pleased with how honest he was and able to see that he was trying very hard to make her happy. "Yes. That sounds nice." She wasn't exactly sure it did sound nice, but she wanted to make up for what she had said.
Fiyero thought that he should dress at least somewhat nicely, but then he wondered if Elphaba would like that. She did not seem to like the unnecessary airs that came with having to be formal. And this was college – he'd seen students walking about and none of them had been dressed to the nines. He decided that he'd wear something clean and respectable, but nothing too fancy.
Elphaba sat for a moment after he left the room and suddenly cursed to herself. Shit! A date would mean actually having to prepare for a date! She'd actually have to attempt to look as though she cared about her appearance. And she'd have to let him pay (this confused her, because she was basically living off his money – she hated to think that the food on her plates had been provided by his family's wealth, but she knew it did – so why did letting him pay for a date seem wrong?). Was she going to be expected to sleep with him after the date? If they were dating as if not married, it made sense that she shouldn't but she didn't quite get this whole concept. Then again, neither did he.
Around five thirty, Elphaba put down her book and exited the living room and entered the bedroom to get ready. It wouldn't take her long, but perhaps she should make it look as if she was actually trying. Fifteen minutes later, Fiyero entered the room to dress himself, which was a little awkward. Dressing together for a date was hardly normal! But Fiyero seemed to realize this whisked his clothes into another room and changed there.
She had to wear black. It was dark and the couple would be less likely to be stared at if she blended into the scenery better. How terrible would it be to go on a date and just get stared at the entire time? Elphaba didn't think Fiyero realized exactly how abnormal she was, and if he did, he probably didn't realize how people reacted to the strangeness of her color. It might be an unpleasant shock for him.
While she had to wear black, she knew she had to also try and look different from the every day. So she looked through the clothes that had been made for her by Fiyero's family for the first time. She'd only paid enough attention to them to pack them before they left for Shiz, afraid that if she didn't take them, his family would be offended. In here, she found a dress that was soft and velvety with a high, respectful neckline. It had long sleeves, which she liked – the less skin shown, the better.
She pulled on the dress, straightened it and then wondered if she should do something about her hair. Elphaba grabbed a brush from her beside drawer, took her hair out of the bun it had been in all day and brushed it out. Maybe she could use her hair to hide her face – even less of that awful green color to be shown.
She left the room and Fiyero opened his mouth, presumably to say something nice. "You don't have to," she said quickly.
"What?"
"I..." Assuming that he'd compliment her was a bit conceited. She didn't think it for that reason (she thought it because it was simply his type of thing to do) but she realized that it wouldn't sound quite right if she stopped him before he even said it. "Nothing."
"Well you look lovely, Elphaba."
She bit her lip and looked down. "Um, yeah… no."
"What on earth?"
"I just… you don't have to say that just because you're taking me out."
Fiyero stood quietly, watching her. She did look lovely to him, especially with her hair down and about her shoulders. But he wanted this to be easy for her, so he reworded, "Your dress is nice."
She nodded. It was not a compliment directly about her and therefore was one she could accept, however uneasily. Fiyero held out his hand and looked towards the door when a loud rap of thunder came from outside. "That's a problem."
Fiyero didn't understand. She had never exactly explained to him why she bathed only in oils.
"I can't go outside now."
"Why?"
She walked over to the window to make sure, but there was no denying it. It had started to rain.
AN: Would Elphaba really do this much just to make him feel better? I'm really not sure. But I think she would appreciate that he was trying. Let me know if you think differently. I love reviews! And any ideas for a new fic would be lovely! I love you all!
