Galinda fanned herself surreptiously on the veranda. The heat of the morning had driven them to sloth, and they lounged in varied places amongst the outdoor furniture.

"Careful." Elphaba plopped in the deck chair beside her. "I might take advantage of your apathy to go careening off to destinations unknown."

A well-placed scowl replaced the need for any words.

Her friend laughed. "In truth, you've no need to worry. I've as much desire to see that great donkey as I do to swing naked from the trees."

"What's this, now?" Crope materialized with a fresh glass of lemonade. "I believe I would highly enjoy that."

"Would you? How would you know me from the leaves?"

He flashed a grin. "A fair hypothesis to test. Shall we set to it?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes, but Galinda beat her to it. "Serves you right for your crude remarks. Did you expect him not to rise to the bait?"

"True. I've never been accused of thus."

She handed the glass to Elphaba. "Though her poor behavior does not excuse yours, and I'll not have your pirate excuses."

Tibbett boomed a laugh. "That's my girl." He clapped a hand to his friend's shoulder and produced his own glass for her. "If anyone can set you straight, she can."

"I see why you're so taken with her. Den mothers, the pair of you, eh?" Crope pursed his lips, but Tibbett flicked a drop of water at him.

"Oh, don't be cross. Certainly not at our lovely guest."

"At her?" Crope draped himself across the loveseat and produced a flower from the folds of his ruffled shirt. "Nay. How could I be?"

Galinda took the carnation with a small nod. She turned to Elphaba, surprised to see the girl gazing at Pfannee. Or was it the prince? Either way, her expression brooded unvoiced concerns and complaints. Were it not for the heat, she'd have pressed the matter, but in such a haze, even the scent of love fell uninspiring.

Morrible bustled out, and if she was surprised at their inactivity, she didn't show it. "I had a most wondrous idea."

She waited a beat for their enthusiasm, but so soon after her vicious dismissal attempt, Galinda could find no charity to respond. Tibbett filled the role. "And what might that be, our dear host?"

"As you know, we'll have a ball to end the weekend, and in honor of our Miss Galinda's birthday," she paused to grin at Galinda so widely her teeth might pop out, "I thought it fitting we make this a special presentation."

"Oh?" Tibbett sat up. Was that interest or worry lighting his eyes?

"Before our ball, we shall have a world premiere of a play hosted right here on the grounds, as well as a reception for area nobles and dignitaries to mingle with."

"Lovely!" Pfannee clapped her hands together. "I do so love a play."

"And you Miss Galinda? Are you a fan of the theater?"

She nodded at Boq's polite question, but her attention was on Morrible's pronouncement. "Might I ask which play is to be performed?"

"Oh, my dear, my dear, that is the best part!" She resembled a hen with all her clucking and preening. "The play will be written and directed entirely by an upcoming talent…yours truly!"

Pfannee clapped her hands ferociously at this, while the other girls shared a look of surprise. "Oh, wonderful. And shall we get to meet the actors?"

"I should hope so," she paused dramatically with a smarmy grin. "Because you will all be the actors!"

Elphaba choked on her lemonade. Crope leapt to her aid, but despite her sputters, she dodged the hand aimed for her back.

"I don't know that you'd really want the lot of us trying to stumble through such a masterpiece," Nessa soft voice belied the tension clear in her hands fisted on the chair arms.

"Poppycock. It'll be a pleasant amusement for the next few days, for you all to prepare. Which, pardon me, but it seems you are needing with some desperation. My manuscript is here," she handed it to Tibbett, "if you would be so kind as to partner yourselves into the couples indicated on the first page."

She pointed, and Tibbett nodded. "Ah, I see." She gave him a lingering stare. "Of course, Madame. Your manuscript is safe in our ever-zealous hands. Shall we allow the ladies to choose their gent, or vice versa?"

"Ladies, of course," Galinda nudged him with a grin. "Else how could I make sure to pair with you?"

He grinned at her. "Naturally. I am quite the commodity, but I would happily read opposite you, my queen."

Boq studied the ground at their interaction, and she realized then what he must have been hoping. "Nessa?" she prompted gently to spare the munchkin's feelings. It should soothe him not to be chosen last.

"Master Boq, if he's so inclined," came her predictable response, complete with rosy cheeks.

"Very well," Tibbett offered. "It seems we shall play the main quartet, a love…square?"

"Triangle you mean?"

"But as there are four of us, are we not a square?"

"To be debated later," Galinda interrupted before they could fall into a lesson on geometry that felt even more hideotious in this heat. "Elphie? What about you?"

The girl looked at Crope, then Pfannee. With a smooth voice, she said, "Master Fiyero, of course."

The prince's head shot up at this, and Crope, who had taken an arrogant step forward, paused awkwardly. "Fiyero?"

"Naturally." Her face gave nothing away, but Galinda narrowed her eyes. Why that choice? Was she trying to make the captain jealous? Or had she finally been convinced of his charms?

Pfannee tapped Elphaba's shoulder gently. "Yes, of course. Your affection for the prince is evident. A natural choice, indeed."

He blinked furiously at that, his forehead scrunched. "Wait, what?"

"Noticed by you?" Galinda blurted against her usual tact, and Pfannee's eyebrow lifted.

"Oh, yes. We're quite good friends now."

She shot a look to Elphaba, whose face now seemed frozen in its lack of expression. "Quite."

Other than the near save this morning, Galinda had never known her friend to have anything nice to say about the other, or vice versa. Their private conversation had been odd enough, but this, too… She smelled a fraud.

Pfannee bounced to her toes. "Well, it seems it shall be you and me, dear captain."

"That is does." Crope forced a charming smile and a broad gesture. "Milady."

"Yes. Elphaba and Fiyero will play the sprites, and Crope and Pfannee the gods."

The captain puffed his chest out. "That's seems casted correctly at least, aye, milady?"

Elphaba and Fiyero shared a regretful look. "Fairies?"

Tibbett leaned into Galinda to whisper, "Imagine the costumes." And though it made her feel very discourteous to her friend's feelings, she dissolved into hysterical laughter against Tibbett's shoulder.

After a moment, the partners retrieved their scripts and split apart to work. Tibbett turned to Boq. "I suppose after we rehearse individually, our pairs should practice together, since our parts are so intermingled."

The boy readily agreed, and with plans to meet later, Galinda waved goodbye to Nessa and followed Tibbett into the house.

"Do you hope to spend much time on our roles today?"

She kept her face neutral. "That depends on what you would be planning instead?"

He winked, and she felt a blush despite herself. He leaned close, his dark eyes flashing with mirth, until his lips neared her ear.

"Gossip, of course."

She linked her arm with his and clasped both arms around it. "Why didn't you say so?"

xxXxx.

Galinda leaned back against Tibbett's knees, her script propped on her bent legs. "By the light of the moon and the stars of the sky," she mumbled under her breath.

"What?"

She blinked up. "Oh, nothing. Just working on my lines." Truth be told, this wasn't her first foray into theatre, though as a lady, she daren't admit it. Still, she knew the arduous task memorization could be.

"I'm certain we'll have cue cards, or the like. After all, it's only a few days."

He ran an idle hand through her hair as the breeze flowed over them. The couple across turned to them, and she passed him the pages. He pledged his love to Nessa zealously, all whilst tangling a lock around his thumb.

The girl wheeled to face Boq. "Then Fiyero sprinkles you with magic, and now you are in love with Galinda."

He passed the script back, and she forced a smile. "Where are we?"

"The scene where they fight over you," Nessa offered, and Tibbett helped her to her feet. She dusted her skirt and rustled the pages.

At her nod, Boq stepped forward. "It is I, your lover."

Galinda winced at the terrible line, but matched his advance. "Yes, dear Tibirius, I can see that."

"Come to me, my love, that I may worship you with a kiss."

Galinda didn't move. "Then we kiss. 'My love, you are-'"

"Shouldn't we practice the stage directions as well?" Boq asked mildly, and Galinda peeked over her page.

"You want to practice fighting Tibbett?"

Nessa shrugged. "It probably would be better."

"And the kissing?"

Tibbett laughed. "Only if I get a kiss as well. No fair seducing my partner." But they all looked at her expectantly.

"If we must." She pressed a chaste kiss against Boq's lips and darted back with the speed of a hummingbird. "Now. 'My love, you are-'"

"It seemed fortuitous that we rehearsed these." Galinda turned to Tibbett, and he shrugged. "That was an awfully unconvincing kiss."

Her sweet smile belied the threat in her eyes. "Perhaps you could do better. Shall you demonstrate with Master Boq?"

To her surprise, Tibbett strode forward and looped an arm around the boy's neck to dip him. Boq, very redfaced and flustered, shoved him off, and Tibbett took the opportunity to take Galinda off-guard and whirl her against him. His lips fell on her quickly, and she blushed.

But just as quickly they were gone. "See, a kiss needn't be unseemly. But it shouldn't be chaste if we're to ensnare the audience's attention."

She wound her arms and fluttered her eyes at him in imitation of his flirting. "Could you show me again? I'm not certain I understood all the subtleties."

Tibbett laughed and stepped back. "I'm afraid not, my dear. A kiss from myself is a wonder best experienced in small doses. Particularly in company."

She laughed brightly. "And if we weren't in company?"

He waggled his eyebrows, but before she could respond, Boq seized her arm and spun her into a blazing kiss.

She struggled free and gaped at him, his eyes hard.

"Your love?"

She blinked at him, surprised at the cool voice after such a kiss. "Pardon?"

He nudged her toward the script. "Your love…"

"Um, yes. My love, you are so strong."

With far too much fervor, Boq searched her eyes. "It is your love for me that strengthens me so, a love which I feel deepening each moment."

She hid her eyes in the script, both to avoid Boq's blatant passion and Nessa's innocent naivety toward it. Couldn't she see her beau was no longer acting? And did Galinda dare let him continue so? It was flattering, but she felt compelled to avoid his interest. She would not steal him from Nessa.

Tibbett met her wide eyes, and cleared his throat. "I think we're in need of a pause for refreshment. Don't you agree?"

Nessa brushed her hair back from her neck. "Oh, certainly. Shall I help you collect it?"

"No!" Galinda flung her arm around his bicep. "I insist." Being alone with Boq now felt as dangerous as a waltzing with a mountain lion.

Tibbett flashed a wink. "Looking to rid ourselves of that pesky company, I see." Nessa blushed, but Galinda refused to back down. "After you, my lovely."

Boq bit out, "We haven't finished. Surely refreshments can wait."

She twined her hand with Tibbett, studiously avoiding the dark mutiny in the munchkin's expression. "Oh, no. I'm simply famished."

Tibbett grinned. "Is that right?"

She flashed a flirtatious smile with a bit more gusto for their audience. "Come along, dear Tibbie. We've work to do."