Thams pulled out a seat for Elphaba and took a seat for himself. The gang greeted them and resumed their talks. Fiyero was kind of irked that he was the only one who was bothered with Thams always joining them during lunch. He felt like this ginger was ruining their old "gang vibe," as Boq called it. It used to be just the five of them against the world, but now it felt like five of them and Fiyero. It was just so wrong. Everything was wrong. He unexpectedly stood up and left the table, with the remaining five stunned.

He didn't know what he was doing or where to go, all he knew is that he needed to get out of there. All these emotions, it was all too much. You're such a prick, Fiyero, letting all your little girl feelings get in the way. But too late, stupid, you just had to walk out didn't you? What're you gonna say when you go back? Who are you gonna go to this time? The voices in his head made his temples throb and found himself back in his dorm.

He dropped face down on his bed and heard a knock. "Go away, Boq," he muffled against his pillow.

"Fiyero? It's Elphaba. Are-are you okay?"

He groaned. She was honestly the last person he wanted to see at that moment, but when he opened the door to see her anxious face, he eased up and let her in. "Oh, come in, Fae."

"What happened back there? Do you need, like, water or something?"

He gestured for her to sit down and she obeyed. "Look, Fae, I need to talk to you." He waited for a "If this is about Thams, then I thought we settled this," type of response, but it didn't come. She was just quietly waiting for him to say something.

"Alright, this has been going on for way too long. Like, about five years? I don't know. It was hard not to show any emotions or make moves or anything. I care about you too much to do something about it. I never wanted to weird you out or something like that."

"Yero, where is this going?"

"I'm getting there. I know you always feel uncomfortable around other people, and I'm really glad that you open up to me—well, more than most people. You think of me as a big brother, and I'm honored to be a big brother to you...but I never saw you as my little sister. I saw you as...something...more than that." He looked at her for a moment. He waited for a reaction from her, but only received a listening stare. He took a deep breath before going on. "I really, really, really like you, Fae. As like, more than a friend, and I've known it since we were teenagers. There I said it."

Elphaba crossed her arms, then her legs, and slunk into the chair. "Well, I'm impressed you took this long to admit it."

"Your sarcasm doesn't really help right now, you know?"

"I know. I also know that you liked me way before Thams."

Fiyero was now more confused than ever. "What do you mean?"

"Relax on your bed, Yero, this is gonna be a long one. Alright, so truthfully, I was pretty weirded out about you dating Galinda. That took me by surprise, especially after you told me that you only saw her as a friend. Seeing both of your drunk asses in the Oz Dust party made me...I don't know...jealous, I guess? More mad, than jealous, I suppose, but still. And when I drove Galinda home, I couldn't handle her say anything more about how much of a good kisser you are. That was pretty awkward to listen to, I'll admit."

Fiyero chuckled a bit at that last part.

"Anyways, I bought her breakfast the morning after, since she had the worst hangover I've seen her in. She felt bad about everything last night because she left me with Boq because she promised that party would be just me and her having a great time. She made it up to me by...clearing the air."

"About?"

"About what really happened to you that night. It seems that you were drunk enough to think that she...was me. You called her 'Fae,' and told her that...you loved her, and that she was beautiful and all the things you probably wouldn't say if you were sober. She wore a dress that was the same color as my skin, so you thought she was me, and you...asked her to be your girlfriend."

She paused to let him respond, but not a sound came out of his speechless mouth.

"She felt guilty about it, but what could she do at the time? She was just as drunk as you were. But that didn't really matter anymore. She apologized to me for asking to 'wingwoman' for her to make you like her, when it was blatantly obvious—to her—that you liked...me instead. So she devised a plan, and let Boq join in. By the way, he confirmed that you liked me, just to clear that up."

"Oz, I'm going to kill that Munchkin. And what was that plan?" He was honestly terrified to hear it.

"Galinda was going to be your 'girlfriend' for a couple of weeks and I would probably feel isolated since, like, the whole gang was dating. And they said that I had to feel somewhat isolated from the group, you know, since I was the only single one. Then you'll probably feel bad for me, which did happen. Then Galinda came up with an idea that we'd go out as a group and I'll meet someone, and you'll probably feel jealous, which also happened." She smiled slyly. "And here we are."

It took Fiyero a moment to let it all sink it. "So you knew how I felt, before and after Thams?"

"Yup."

"And you just went with it?"

"Yup. It was pretty fun going with it."

"Wow, I feel violated. When exactly did you know about this plan?"

"Right before I went to the library, you know, that day when you spazzed out when you saw me in a tank top and skinny jeans. Galinda told me everything. She suggested that I dress up like that, just to catch your eye. I did like that whole getup, though. I think I'll start dressing that way."

"What about Thams?"

She laughed. "Ha, Thams. Honestly, he's the best part of the plan. Yeah, he's been secretly dating Galinda for, like, a year, so you and her technically never happened. That whole 'biggest crush on you' was a fluke, sad to say. She only told me about him recently, like before roller diner night. She was the first one to tell me that you and I would make a cute pair, and she'll stop at nothing to get us together, even to the extent that she'll make her own real boyfriend court me in a way. That whole 'winging for Galinda' was also part of her original plan for us to go together. So you can say that she's the ultimate wingwoman. Thams a nice guy, he's a keeper for Galinda. He actually influenced her to study, can you believe that?"

"I honestly can't believe anything you just told me, Fae. But I've got one more question. D-do you even like me back? Like, I had a whole heartfelt speech planned out and you've been telling me this story in the most casual way possible, and you didn't even—"

He was cut off by a quick sweet peck on his lips, and was still speechless. "Yes, I like you back, you idiot. I've had the worst crush on you since we were about ten, probably, when you finally remembered it was Valentine's and you had no one to give your flowers to, so you gave them to me. It was the sweetest thing anyone's ever done to me, even if it was out of desperation. Besides, you're not bad-looking as well."

"So you finally admit that I'm cute?" Elphaba sighed. "Alright, fine. You're immensely cute. Happy?"

"Nope, not until you say yes to being my girlfriend." He pouted and made her blush a little.

"A disgustingly smooth approach to the question, Yero. I'll think about it." That answer honestly surprised Fiyero. Think about it? She comes in here, tells me that she knows I have a crush on her, and spills the beans on the meanest plan Boq has ever thought of, and still isn't sure that she'll be my girlfriend? I'm not gonna have that.

He waited for a minute. "Now?"

"I said I'll think about it," she replied stubbornly and tried to walk to the door. Fiyero took hold of her arm in time and pulled her to him, lips crashing against each other.

Oz, this is actually happening. This is real.

He felt her shoulders tense up and pulled his face away from hers. He knew she was scared, this was her first relationship after all, and it was written all over her face. "Fae, I know you're feeling a bit...terrified of this whole relationship thing, I am, too. Yeah, I've had some flings with other girls, but this...with you...it's my first real one. But don't be scared, I'm always gonna be here."

She hugged him tightly, feeling touched at his words. "You better not screw this up with me, then. First anythings make me nervous, you of all people should know that."

"You're my first, yes, but you're also gonna be my last, Fae, I'll make sure I won't. So I'll take that as a yes?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. Yes, I will be your girlfriend. Just don't go overboard with the mushy things, alright? I might melt."

"Okay," he laughed. "I'll try not to."

They stood in total silence for a while, with her head resting against his chest and his fingers combing through her hair. "Yero?"

"Mm?"

"Promise me two things: one, this whole relationship thing won't change the friendship we built our whole lives."

"Of course not. I can be your boyfriend and big brother at the same time; I'll multitask. The gang's definitely going to hang out more—we'll squeeze in Thams if Galinda wants. And we can have our Tuesdates everyday if you're cool with that. And I'll still try to stop you from stealing my fries."

"Nope, Yero, you can never stop me from stealing your fries. I'm your girlfriend now, so your fries are mine."

"Since when was that even a rule?"

"Since now." This is what I want to keep. This whole teasing thing. It's what made me fall for him completely in the first place. Being labeled his best friend is way better than a girlfriend. I'll do anything to keep this up, and I'm sure he'll do the same.

"Alright, fine, whatever. What's the second promise?"

"What you said...that I'll be your last. It's always been you and me against the world, so it won't be that hard in the future, right?"

He kissed her forehead and replied with his most genuine tone. "Right."

She laced her fingers with his. "So do you promise?"

"I promise."

"Good. Now, move your ass, I'm still hungry. The others probably bailed already."

He kissed her before getting up. "Yup, that's my girl."

Back in the cafeteria, the rest of the gang was still waiting for them to return. "So you think they did the whole kiss-and-make-up thing?" Boq asked. Galinda casually nodded. "Yeah, probably. Thams, you're not mad at this whole...thing, are you?" The ginger shook his head. "Of course not. It's actually pretty cool that you'd actually do that to get them together. I missed Galinda a lot, but it's worth it to see her happy for her best friend, right?" He kissed his giggling petite girlfriend on the cheek. "Ugh, gross, we're still eating here," Nessa stuck out her tongue. "Save it for later, guys."

"Oh yeah, it's not like you guys haven't done that," Galinda sniffed. "You've been dating longer than we have!"

"Nah, we agreed that we're on an anti-affection relationship. Like, we throw in some 'I love you's' from time to time, but not like you guys," Boq said as Nessa nodded. "Our dates consist of Call of Duty with headphones, because it's more fun that way. That's kind of how he asked me out again, but that's another story."

"By the way," Boq said. "How exactly are you going to erase the story of you and Fiyero...you know...being together?"

Galinda waved her hand. "Eh, that's easy. Making up stories and going with the flow is kind of, like, our hidden talent, right?" It was true, though. "Well, we're not gonna deny that." They waited a few more minutes for Fiyero and Elphaba.

"So are we going to wait for those two, or are we just gonna go?"

"They're probably gonna take forever and make out or something, so we should go."

Nessa's head hung down. "Now that the whole gang is in a relationship...do you think it's gonna change? Like, I don't want us to be some kind of dating pact and what if one of us breaks up with the other? I don't want the gang to break up...ever."

Galinda took a glance at her friends and (real) boyfriend. Every memory of their gang, good or bad, flashed like a slideshow in her mind. Nessa's pictures, Boq and Fiyero's antics, makeovers with Elphaba, their first almost arrest. It's been a wild ride with those other four people, and it's only sophomore year in Shiz. Romance unexpectedly ensued, but you don't choose who you love. They've got two years to make more memories, and surely she doesn't plan on stopping now. After all, friends are forever, right? "Nessa, we're all practically married in the gang. I'm pretty sure we'll all be just fine, we can promise you that."

The End

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading this! I hope you guys enjoyed it!