Chapter 8: Ruby or Silver?
"Are you insane?" Elphaba shot Glinda an incredulous look.
"No. Answer the question, ruby or silver?" Glinda held up the two dresses for her again.
The green girl shook her head. "You're out of your mind."
April was nearing, so was Elphaba's high school graduation, finally! She'd passed her final exams and now she could finally stop worrying about whether or not she might have to schedule school and dance during the competition season. The relief she had felt when the principal had given her the results through email was indescribable. She'd called Glinda over to look at the email and called Fiyero over the phone at the same time. She regretted showing Glinda the email.
Once the blonde had seen that there would be a small graduation ceremony and party afterwards, she cleared a weekend to go shopping for some clothes for the ceremony. Elphaba loathed going shopping with Glinda; she'd drag her from store to store and make her try out clothes that clashed horribly with green, much like right now. But today, naturally, Elphaba dragged Fiyero with her too. There was no way she was doing this by herself.
Elphaba pinched her nose and sighed. They were well past 10 stores now and she still hadn't found anything, insisting she'd just wear something casual from her closet at which Glinda had screeched loudly in disbelief, saying this was a once in a lifetime accomplishment. Elphaba had reluctantly given in to find something, but so far, she didn't like anything and Glinda's finds were painful to look at.
"I'm back," she heard Fiyero's voice. She looked up and walked over to him.
"Please save me," she begged.
"Again? Do you really not like anything?"
"I would like it a little better if it was black, and less revealing than" she motioned to Glinda's dresses, "that."
"They're not revealing," Fiyero said.
"They're strapless."
"And?" her two friends asked simultaneously.
Elphaba glared at Fiyero. "You're supposed to be on my side," she whined.
"Why don't you tell me what's wrong with the dresses instead then," he prompted.
"There's nothing wrong with the dresses per say, aside from the lack of sleeves. But with the ruby, I'll look like Lurlinemass threw up on me and with the silver, it'll look like my body's decaying-ow!" Elphaba rubbed her side from where Fiyero had pinched her. "What was that for?"
"You look beautiful with anything, stop saying that crap," he glared at her.
Elphaba felt a chill go down her entire body; his gaze, his tone, his words. "You look", did he find her pretty? No words came to her mouth, they just stared at each other, blue looking into brown. He looked down and she couldn't fight her smile.
"Thanks," she whispered.
"Couldn't have said it better myself, Fiyero," Glinda said, searching the racks for something else, breaking them from their small moment. "Here, how about this then?" she pulled out a long sleeved, short green dress.
"You're joking, right?" Elphaba's tone seemed to scare Glinda, who wordlessly put the dress right back where she had found it.
"Elphaba, stop being so picky," Fiyero said.
"Easy for you to say," she muttered.
"What is something you'd wear then?"
"That isn't black, for the love of Oz!" Glinda added.
Elphaba shrugged. "Something with sleeves. And at least…dark in color," she muttered.
"Well, that shouldn't be too hard," Fiyero said. "Come, let's look over here," he led her to a different section of the store, his face warming up when he realized his hand was at her lower back. He'd touched her before. Hell, he'd touched more than just her lower back. Why did he feel like he was committing a crime by touching her now?
"Maybe you'll find something here," he coughed.
"Maybe," she whispered. "Do you wanna get some food afterwards?" she asked, keeping her eyes on the clothes to hide her blush. Even though they hung out every day, it still made her nervous to ask him to spend more time with her. Well, her and Glinda. Oz, she really needed to get herself under control. Just be glad you're friends. But that was just it. She'd hoped to become friends with him and thought that maybe with some time it would lead to something more. It was wishful thinking, she knew. But dear Oz, she loves him so much. More than she should a friend.
"Sure, what are you in the mood for?" he asked.
"Anything really, I just really worked up an appetite with all this walking, didn't you?"
He chuckled. "Not really, but I could eat."
"You are such a guy."
"I sure hope so."
She glared at him and he just shrugged at her. Shaking her head, she looked at the dress that was currently in her hands. It wasn't…ugly actually. "Hm. Hang on a sec," she whispered, grabbing the dress and disappearing into a dressing room before he could even ask her what she was doing.
"She'll probably kill me for this one too, but it's worth a shot," Glinda said, walking towards Fiyero with a white dress. "Where'd Elphie go?"
"She's in there," Fiyero pointed to the closed dressing room.
"Did she finally find something?"
"I don't know, I didn't see what she took in there."
"Ugh, I swear, if it's another pair of jeans-"
"Glinda," Fiyero cut her off, "she looks great in anything she wears, no matter what it is."
Glinda glanced at Fiyero, a smile tugging at her lips, she was about to ask him a question when Elphaba came out the door.
"I think this one is actually ok, does it meet your approval Glinda?" she teased.
"Oh my Oz, Elphie!"
Just like when she'd kissed his shoulder and when he'd seen her dance at auditions, she left him breathless now. She was wearing a dark purple dress with lace sleeves and sequins at the waist, a thin belt showing off her slim figure. Oz. She was absolutely beautiful.
"Oh I love it! Don't you Fiyero?" Glinda walked over to Elphaba and started to play with her hair, bouncing off ideas on how they could style it.
"Yeah," he loved the way it looked on her. He loved how she smiled whenever she felt comfortable and confident. He loved that smile. He loved her. He loved her. Dear Oz, he loved her.
Not too happy with how this came out. It sounded a lot better in my head, but I hope it was ok ish. Hope you enjoyed it !
Thank you SO MUCH for all your REVIEWS ! It really lets me know what I can do better and what I'm doing right. And for the GREG AWARDS NOMINATIONS ! I did not expect that at all ! I love y'all, thank you again !
(Elphaba's Dress)
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