Twenty-Eight: Too Close
The summer started out decently. Well, as decently as the summer could be when she was trapped at Kiamo Ko doing mindless kitchen work. Three nights after they returned, Fiyero snuck into her room. She was actually quite surprised he had lasted so long. He snuck into her room about every third night (excepting certain nights when she told him it couldn't happen, and sometimes he'd sneak in just to talk anyway).
The first half of the summer seemed to go by slowly, but not dreadfully so. Her conversations (well, really it should be categorized as pillow talk, as it almost always took place after lovemaking) with Fiyero kept her at least a little entertained.
Lying beside him after dinner one night, she looked at him and smiled. "I don't know how I could handle this summer without you. Not that I need you," she clarified, flushing, "but I do need conversation – intelligent conversation."
He turned to her and smiled back – she could still see his face. It was summer and it was relatively early. Both of them had found excuses to retire to their rooms almost immediately after dinner. "I'm glad I'm useful to you."
"You know I didn't mean it like that." She knew he was only teasing, though.
"Oh, I realize that." They both laughed.
Suddenly a knock came at her door. Elphaba shot out of the bed, heart pounding. Thank Oz the door was locked, although the person on the other side did try to turn the knob immediately after knocking. "Who is it?"
"It's Rienna. Miss Elphaba, I was wondering if you could help me a little with this assignment sister Aloise gave me…" The little girl's voice floated through the door.
Elphaba pulled her clothes back on quickly and gestured at Fiyero to make himself scarce. He grabbed his own clothes and jumped into her closet, closing the door quickly. After what felt like forever, Elphaba opened the door. "I'm sorry, Rienna, I was just so tired I was already in bed in my nightclothes and I wanted to change before I opened the door." Part of that was at least true.
"What were you laughing at?"
"Oh, I was reading a book and it was funny is all."
Rienna peered around Elphaba into the room. "You have big feet. Those socks are huge."
Elphaba turned around and bit her lip. Fiyero had missed one of his socks. "Um, I just like to wear big socks at night. They're more comfortable."
Rienna shrugged. "I just have a really quick question. I could've just asked through the door. I'm sorry!"
"Don't you worry about it at all."
Five minutes later, Elphaba closed the door behind her and breathed a deep sigh of relief. Fiyero peered out from the closet. "That was close."
"Are you kidding me? That was too close. This has to stop. Now. I'm sorry, Yero, and you know I hate it but we can't keep doing this, not here, not in this castle."
His face fell. "Elphaba, half the summer is left. I can't just not see you."
"You can see me. We can study on the weekends to 'refresh our minds.' But these little rendezvouses are done."
"Rienna wouldn't say anything even if she had seen…"
"She wouldn't? Really? Maybe she'd understand it if we asked her not to. But one day she'd mention it to you or to me in front of your parents, or she'd have questions as to why we were naked. She'd spill, whether or not she would mean to. And it doesn't matter. Even though she's gone now, anyone could come by."
"My parents never…"
"Maybe they don't. What if one of the other servants saw? You don't think they'd tell your parents, Yero?"
He grabbed her and pulled her to him. "Don't. I can't not see you like this. I have to talk to you."
"You will."
"Not like normal, Fae."
"I'm sorry about that. But you know it has to be that way, Fiyero."
"Let me stay in here for just another hour or two, please?"
She looked up at him and she knew she wouldn't refuse him. He ended up staying until the very early morning as they finally began to fall asleep. Fiyero snuck sleepily back to his room and Elphaba stared at the ceiling from her empty bed.
She'd be lonely without the intelligent and thought provoking conversation he provided. And physically she'd certainly miss him, too. But they could not get caught, not now, hopefully not ever. If his parents caught them now, they'd pull Elphaba out of Shiz, for sure, if not worse. That could not happen.
The kitchens were boring beyond belief. She kept to herself for the most part. But sometimes the other girls would pester her, especially now that she'd gone to Shiz with the "dreamy Prince Fiyero." For Oz's sake, she wanted to smack them. She was sleeping with him and still she would certainly not define him as "dreamy." Not that she'd ever defined anything or anyone as dreamy…
"What's it like at Shiz? Are there cute boys?" One of the more flighty servant girls was pestering her one afternoon.
"There are boys," Elphaba muttered, trying to focus on the vegetables she was cutting up.
"I'll bet none of them are nearly as handsome as our Prince Fiyero."
She did have to admit to herself that she didn't find any other men nearly as attractive as she found Fiyero. She blamed it all on the diamonds. Sweet Oz, those diamonds were… well, gorgeous, but she wasn't going to tell this flake that. "I wasn't really paying attention."
"Why not? That's what college is all about, from what I've heard."
She was not at college to meet men. Elphaba wouldn't even be interested in anything if that damn silly prince hadn't had to just walk into her mind and demand her attention. "Maybe for some girls. My roommate, maybe."
"Is your roommate pretty?"
"Some would say that."
"I wonder if Prince Fiyero thinks she's pretty."
Elphaba snorted.
"What?"
Elphaba bit her lip. "I don't think he likes her like that, that's all."
Dear Elphie,
How are you doing? I hope everything is okay there and that you and Fiyero are being careful. It's not really you I worry about when it comes to giving things away, but Fiyero on the other hand, he gets carried away with such little things I can only imagine how much he gets carried away with you (*wink wink*).
My summer has been so dreadful. The weather out here has been absolutely terrible for my hair. And it's so sweaty, ick! And my mother and father have been arguing a lot lately and paying absolutely no attention to ME.
I miss you, Elphie. I have no one to practice sorcery with. I'm sure you miss me, too! Give Fiyero my best.
Love,
Galinda
Elphaba rolled her eyes and folded the letter back up. Galinda was right, though. She did miss her, especially with her self-imposed isolation from Fiyero. Sister Aloise refused to spend any time talking to her about anything remotely interesting. Mostly she went out and about ministering to the village. And even when she was around, she was rambling at Elphaba how she must beware the sin of fornication. Well, Elphaba was avoiding that – for the moment. Only a little over a month to go…
