Elphaba paced the floor of the bedroom she shared with Galinda, a green envelope in her hands. A smile curving across her face, she stared down at it. At the sound of someone knocking at the door, Elphaba jumped before walking over to answer it.

"Hey," Fiyero said with a grin from where he was leaning in the doorway.

"Galinda's not here," she replied quickly as she stared at the floor.

Ignoring her, Fiyero swept into the room, collapsing lazily onto Galinda's bed; a little miffed that he had just walked in, Elphaba sat down on her own bed and stared at him with narrowed eyes.

"So, do you have any big news that you would like to share with me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Elphaba jumped off the bed, her eyes wide, "Galinda told you!"

"Yes, and I would have appreciated it if you had shared this wonderful announcement with me personally rather than make me have to find out secondhand from your roommate three days later. Elphaba, I thought we were friends," he said angrily.

"We are," she replied softly, handing him the letter. As her perused its contents, she continued talking, "It's a big honor, really. I mean, the Wizard is so powerful, and he actually wants me to help him. I just don't know how…"

"You're really nervous about this," he stated, putting her letter aside

"How did you know?" she asked, sitting back down on her bed.

He moved to sit beside her, "You're babbling, and you never do that unless you are extremely nervous. And, Galinda also told me and said that I should talk to you about it."

She looked up at him, her eyes flashing, "Is that why you're here? Because your girlfriend made you come?"

"No," he said quickly. "I just wanted to talk to you anyway. You've been avoiding me ever since that whole thing with the Lion cub a few days ago."

"I've been really busy," she explained calmly, her long fingers playing with her thin blanket.

Fiyero rolled his eyes, "You and I both know that is a load of bullshit. Now, what's going on?"

Sighing, Elphaba held her head in her hands, "I don't know, Fiyero. Dr. Dillamond being arrested like that really bothers me, and I don't understand why the Wizard doesn't know about what is happening to the Animals."

Taking her hand in his, Fiyero said confidently, "Well, you're going to go and tell the Wizard all about it, and he'll fix everything and make you his wonderful Grand Vizier as soon as you graduate. You'll see, Elphaba."

"You're too optimistic for your own good," Elphaba murmured as her head rested gently on his shoulder.

"Oh, I have something for you," he said, fumbling through his pockets.

As he pulled out a slender box, she looked at him curiously, "What is it?"

He grinned, "Open it up and find out."

Carefully, Elphaba took the box from his hands and opened it to see a small emerald hanging from a slender silver chain.

"Oh, Fiyero, you shouldn't have gotten this for me. In fact, I can't accept it," she said hurriedly, shutting the box and pushing it back into his hands.

"But, it's a present for good luck," he replied, pulling the necklace out. "You have to take it."

Elphaba smiled softly, "Thank you, Fiyero."

Grinning back at her, he started to put the necklace around her neck but stopped, "You have to promise me that you'll come back if I give it to you, though."

"What?" she asked with a small laugh.

"You know, promise me that you won't fall so madly in love with the Emerald City that you stay there forever," he explained. "After all, I would then no longer have a study partner who would stay on my ass about my homework, and Galinda would be terribly upset, so I would have to spend all my time cheering her up instead of studying. Therefore, I would flunk out and never make something of myself."

"I don't think I've ever been blackmailed and sent on a guilt trip at the same time," she mused. "I'll have to think about it."

"Elphaba," he complained, the hope in his eyes disappearing.

Laughing slightly at the crushed look on his face, Elphaba replied, "I promise, Fiyero, that I will go to the Emerald City and come back. I wouldn't want you to be a failure on my account."

As he smiled happily, he fastened the necklace around her neck; quickly, Elphaba tucked it under her dress.

"For safe-keeping," she said softly at the confused look her gave her, giving him a hug.

Nodding, Fiyero kissed her forehead gently before the door suddenly swung open.

"Oh, Elphie, you should have some with me tonight," Galinda said as she pranced into the room. Seeing Fiyero, she smiled, "Fiyero, dearest, you did talk to her! So, are you still nervous, Elphie?"

Shifting away from Fiyero, Elphaba nodded, "A little bit. Talking with Fiyero helped, though."

Suddenly feeling awkward, Fiyero stood up, "I think I'll leave the two of you to your gossip. Goodnight, Elphaba. I'll see you in the morning, Galinda."

Elphaba smiled weakly as Fiyero gave Galinda a kiss on the cheek and left the room. As Galinda continued with her exuberant story after the door had closed, Elphaba laid back on her bed, her fingers unconsciously playing with the necklace hidden under her dress, a soft smile on her face.