Thanks to Ultimate Queen of Cliffies, The Wizard of Wicked, Elphaba'sGirl, and James Birdsong for reviewing the last chapter!
Chapter Ten
Elphaba came home late from the library that night. When she sat on her bed, she noticed Glinda was sniffling, and asked, "Glin, is everything alright?"
She looked at her roommate, "My fiancé ended it with me."
"But I thought you said it was an arranged marriage?"
"If he can find a girl with political standings before Lurlinemas, he can marry someone else."
"Glin, that's awful. Listen, you don't deserve him."
"But I love him."
"I'm sure there is someone better for you out there somewhere. Glinda, keep open-minded. Everything happens for a reason, even bad stuff."
"Thank you, Elphie. What would I do without you?" she said, with a small smile.
"You tell that fiancé of yours that if he ever messes with you again, I'll take care of him."
Elphaba hugged the sniffling Glinda, and the two stayed up for the rest of the night, talking for the first time in a long time.
Fiyero stepped in to his history class and sat next to a very sleepy Elphaba.
"Everything alright, Fae?"
"Just didn't get much sleep. Glinda's fiancé broke off their engagement last night."
Fiyero looked away from her, and cursed under his breath.
"Avaric?"
"That's awful."
"If someone did that to me, I don't know what I would do. He must be a real scumbag."
He sighed, "I'm sure."
Dr. Dillamond started his class, and the two sat next to each other in silence. Fiyero kept thinking to himself, how am I supposed to tell her know? She'll hate me forever.
When class was over, he made plans with Elphaba to have dinner that night and gave her a kiss goodbye, hoping to tell her the truth as soon as possible.
Elphaba sensed his uneasiness. She didn't like it, either.
The pair met at their usual restaurant that evening, and Fiyero was determined to tell Elphaba the truth. Once they ordered, he took a deep breath, "Fae, listen to me, I need to tell you the truth."
"About what?" she said, confused.
"Before I tell you, I-"
"Well, if it isn't the Artichoke." A voice said as Elphaba and Fiyero looked up. Elphaba's face went pale at the sight of three men approach the table.
She looked at Fiyero, and he knew exactly what she was saying- these were the men who threw her in the canal.
He looked at her calmly, and stood up, "Can I help you?"
"If you don't mind, I'd like to rid you of the Artichoke that is ruining your evening."
Fiyero grabbed his shirt collar, "Call her that one more time, and you will wish that you were never born." He said, clenching his teeth. The other two boys circled around him.
"Lets take this outside, shall we?" the man said as he removed Fiyero's hand.
Fiyero followed them outside, leaving a trembling Elphaba inside.
"Now, tell me why-" the boy started, and was cut off when Fiyero promptly punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
The two boys advanced on him, and Fiyero managed to eventually put all three of them on the ground, only suffering from scrapes on his face and a bloody nose.
After Elphaba heard commotion outside, she hurried out, to find Fiyero staring at the three bodies around him. He looked at Elphaba and she made eye contact with him.
She ran into his arms, "Avaric, are you alright?!"
She pulled back and looked at his face, cupping his cheeks. He smiled at her, "Now I am."
"You're hurt." She said, frowning at his scrapes.
"Its fine. Come on, lets get out of here." He grabbed her hand and led her to the Suicide Canal, where the water was glistening in the moonlight.
The pair settled down, and Elphaba rested her head on Fiyero's shoulder.
"Was there something you wanted to tell me, Av?"
Fiyero remembered his previous intentions and threw them away, "Fae, don't be scared or anything, but back there, I don't know what I would have done if you were hurt."
"Why would I be scared?"
"Because I think I'm in love with you."
She lifted her head, "Avar-"
"You don't have to say anything, I just wanted to tell you. Don't say something if you aren't ready to, Fae." He held her hand and she relaxed, "I love you, Elphaba, and I promise I'll never let anything bad happen to you, alright?"
She responded with a deep kiss, grateful for the blue-eyed man in front of her.