Elphaba clutched her books to her chest and bit out, "We need to talk."

Avaric smirked up at her. "Is that so?" He eyed her lips. "Let me guess: alone?"

Her stern face was his only answer. He nodded and followed her to an unoccupied niche in the hall.

"We have a date tonight."

He stepped closer. "Do we?" He traced her cheek, and she jerked back. "Liked what you saw, huh?"

"Hardly." She retreated a couple steps. "Galinda expects us to double, and thanks to your little blossoming rapist tendencies, I have no good explanation to avoid it."

He crossed his arms. "Other than the obvious discomfort to both you and Fiyero? Not that I care about that ass, of course, but I'd rather you weren't totally miserable around me."

"No luck there."

He took another two steps forward and pointed a finger in her face. "And I resent that."

She rolled her eyes. "As if you didn't already know how you bothered me."

"No, not that. I understand your grumbling fine." He adopted an arrogant pose. "I'm offended by your insinuation of my character. As if I'd ever need to. I'd never have anything less than total willing consent."

"I call it like I see it."

He tapped her glasses. "Then you should get your prescription checked."

She scowled. "What would you call yesterday then? You attacked me."

His nose bumped against hers. "And you loved every second of it."

"Hardly."

He rolled his eyes. "Besides, a little kiss hardly counts."

She refused to back down, jutting farther in his face. "It does with one like that. Don't try to act like you were so innocent."

Avaric leaned back and grinned. "Baby, you ain't seen the half of it."

She crossed her arms tight against the chill his abrupt absence left. "Whatever. So you'll go, right?"

His grin deepened. "If you want me to."

She shouldered her bag. "Pick me up at seven. I'm sure Galinda will be finished torturing me by then."

He caught her arm as she pushed past. "Not so fast. If we're doing this, we're doing it my way." She shot him a stern glare, and he rolled his eyes. "For the last time, I'm not going to rape you. Oz!"

"Well you certainly don't have my consent."

"You're the one asking me out, remember?" He pressed a finger to her lips before she could argue. "Anyway, so my terms. Relax a little. Maybe have a little fun. Agreed?"

She rolled her eyes and nodded.

"And at least pretend you don't hate me."

Numerous biting retorts begged to escape her lips, but Avaric's finger held them at bay. She forced a bitter nod.

"I don't expect a miracle, but you should probably not freak out every time I touch you." She bucked away from him, full of objections. "I'd hardly be a convincing boyfriend if I didn't."

Damn him; she wished he didn't have a point. "Fine." He released her. "But you better not try to pull anything."

His eyes narrowed. "You better drop these accusations of yours," he threatened, "or I'll give you something to worry about. We clear?"

"Way to build the trust."

"Elphaba-" he warned, but she ignored him.

"I'm just saying. Guilty conscience?"

He hauled her against him and slammed their bodies into the wall. She shrank back, wide-eyed, and automatically assessed the damage. He'd absorbed all the impact in his arms, injuring only to her pride. Still, her heartbeat refused to slow. He glared inches from her face, and she swallowed.

He pressed into her. "Drop it, Thropp." She bit her lip as he ducked to stare directly in her eyes. "Now."

She tore away from the intensity of his gaze. "Fine. Whatever."

He jerked away from her, and she sucked in a relieved breath. He didn't bother to face her as he said, "Seven," and stormed off toward class.

Dazed, she shuffled off to her next class, grateful it was one of the few they didn't share.


Seven found Elphaba in another lost argument with Galinda desperately clinging to the hope that she might be spared the stilettos. "It's bowling," she argued for the tenth time that hour. "The single least attractive sport possible. Why does it even matter?"

"My sweet, naïve Elphie." Galinda tugged hard on a lock of her captive's hair to pin it deftly against her crown. "It always matters. Don't you want to look good for Avaric?"

"Not particularly," she muttered.

"What?"

Elphaba sighed heavily. "I guess."

Galinda whirled Elphaba around to prod at her face with various applicators that she couldn't pretend to understand. "Okay. What do you think?" The blonde handed her a mirror, and Elphaba studied the finely crafted reflection blinking back at her.

"You did well for what you had to work with."

Galinda frowned. "None of that, now. You're gorgeous, and you know it. At least you should, or Avaric isn't doing his job. He should compliment you constantly." Elphaba scoffed at the thought. "Regardless," Galinda gripped her shoulders and spun her back toward the curling iron, "I must not have done well enough to convince you."

Elphaba jerked away and fled to the safety of her closet. "No, no. I'm convinced. See?" She spun in an imitation-Galinda twirl. "Yay, pretty me."

"Um, okay." She whirled to face a chuckling Fiyero framed in the open doorway. "Not that I disagree, but what have you done with the real Elphie?"

Her cheeks threatened to light afire. Fiyero winked and took his usual post at Galinda's desk. His girlfriend gave him a quick peck before applying her own lipstick and vanishing into her pre-date bathroom cocoon.

Elphaba fidgeted, newly aware of her exposed limbs and ludicrous makeup. Fiyero smiled. "Galinda?"

"Course."

"You know…" The door swung open, interrupting whatever it was he thought she knew.

"Hey." Avaric slouched against the door. He ran his eyes over her, deliberately ignoring the male presence to his right. "Let's go."

Fiyero stiffened. "You're late."

"And?"

"You really should show up on time." Fiyero's eyes narrowed. "Elphie hates tardiness."

Avaric's lip curled. "'Elphie' hates being called 'Elphie'."

"Yes," Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Almost as much as being discussed in third person."

"Whatever," Avaric crossed his arms. "I'm here now. Where's Galinda?"

"Final touches," Elphaba supplied. He lifted an eyebrow, and she clarified, "Bathroom. Give her, I don't know, between five minutes and an hour?"

"And you're getting on my case about being late?" Avaric strode over to her and hooked an arm around her waist. He leered openly at her. "So what do you want to do to pass the time?"

Barely, just barely, Elphaba managed not to shove his arm off in disgust. Fiyero cleared his throat, and Avaric grinned. She forced a half-smile more closely related to a snarl. "Behave."

Galinda emerged from the bathroom, heels clicking on the tile. "You look fantastic, Galinda," Fiyero offered automatically, and Galinda beamed. She rewarded him with a peck on the cheek.

Avaric sneered, "Heels? Aren't we bowling?"

Though Elphaba agreed, she felt a stab of annoyance for her friend. "She can rent shoes there."

"So why bother with them at all?"

"Men," Galinda sighed. She gave a coquettish shake of her golden curls. "Aren't you going to compliment your lovely date?"

Avaric gave her a quick assessment. Elphaba blushed under the collective gaze of the group. If there had been a rock handy, she'd have been under it. He squeezed her against his side. "She knows."

For the first time in her life, Elphaba directed a genuine smile at Avaric. She'd have to thank him later for not embarrassing her. Galinda shook her head in disappointment and vanished again to gather her purse.

"Well, if you won't say it, I will." She tensed at Fiyero's voice. He tugged her from her date. "You look…" His low voice sent shivers down her spine. "Fantastic. Utterly beautiful."

She smiled, even more acutely aware of their evaluating stares. "Thanks," she couldn't top a whisper. "It was all Galinda."

"Not all," he assured, and she blushed. He brushed a finger over her eyeshadow, "But you know, you don't need to wear all that."

"I agree. Far too many clothes on."

Fiyero glared at Avaric over her shoulder. "I meant the makeup. Don't be disrespectful."

"The makeup? Why not? She looks hot." Elphaba's blush bordered on needing large warning sirens and possible evacuation drills. Avaric pulled her back to his chest. "But if it makes you feel better, I could take care of some of that for you."

He dipped his lips to hers, but Elphaba coyly deflected him to her cheek.

"Oh, Avaric," her voice flat, "you charmer, you."

This date hadn't even begun, and already she wished it were over. It was going to be a long night.