Chapter 4: Do You Have Time?

"Congratulations. The ten of you have been selected to be part of the Elite Competition Team for this competition season," Madame Morrible said.

The dancers clapped but Elphaba remained still, her eyes widening in shock. That was certainly not what she had expected to hear when she was asked to stay after class for a couple of minutes. She thought someone had complained about her being in their dance class. Again.

She hadn't really expected to make the team even though after auditions she had felt extremely pleased at how'd she'd performed.

Madame Morrible went down the line, handing each individual dancer a packet. "This is the calendar with all the competitions we'll be attending along with all the rehearsals we'll have. For those of you that are new to this team, we will be staying at hotels in between competitions and rehearsals will take place in any room the hotels allow us to use for a couple hours."

Elphaba flipped through the packet. Their first competition wasn't until April, a good three months or so from today. She felt slightly worried at seeing that for some competitions there would only be three days of rehearsals, but she supposed this could also be a good experience for her.

"When we get closer to date, I will give you more information on our first flight," Madame Morrible continued, "for now, make sure that your schedules are cleared for the next four months. If you are unable to make the commitment, please tell me now or as soon as possible. Congratulations again. You are dismissed."

Everyone clapped one more time and scurried to get their belongings and go home. Elphaba quickly packed her bag, she wanted to see if she could finally reach and thank Fiyero. He'd been standing in the corner of the room as Madame Morrible broke the news to everyone.

"Elphaba," he startled her.

"Oh," she put her bag over her shoulder, "Mr. Tiggular."

"Just Fiyero," he corrected.

"Fiyero," she smiled.

"Sorry to frighten you."

"Oh, no. Don't worry about it," she dismissed.

"Um...you're a great dancer," he said, rubbing his neck.

Maybe she was imagining things but, did he seem a little…nervous? She smiled nonetheless. "Thank you. You are as well."

"Thanks," he leaned against the wall, "how long have you been dancing?"

Elphaba hugged the calendar to her chest, all of the sudden feeling even more nervous around him. "All my life. But I started to take actual classes at 17," she answered.

His eyes widened slightly in shock. "Wow."

Elphaba laughed softly and nodded. "Thank you, by the way. For dancing with me," she dropped her gaze to the floor.

She'd been thinking about him the whole weekend. How kind he'd been and how much fun it had been to dance with him, part of her wondered what he was like outside of the studio.

She liked him. Oh Oz.

"No need to thank me, I enjoyed dancing with you," he smiled.

Her heart sped up and a slight blush covered her cheeks. "Me too."

"Are you excited?" Fiyero asked and she looked into his blue eyes.

"Hm? Oh. Yes, absolutely. I haven't really seen much of Oz before and I've never traveled by plane before," her smile widened.

He shrugged. "I'm glad I'll be able to see your reaction on the plane then," he teased and she gave a shy laugh.

"So you'll be sitting next to me?" Elphaba teased back then internally kicked herself for it.

"Is that an invitation?" Fiyero smiled.

"We'll see," she dropped her gaze to the floor to hide another blush. It was confusing; he made her knees go weak yet at the same time she felt so comfortable around him. And she barely knew him.

Did that make any sense?

"Well, everyone has a different opinion towards flying. The same thing goes for Oz, there are some places that are worth visiting and some aren't, in my opinion."

"For example?" Elphaba leaned against the wall.

"For example; Philacres, all the tourist stops, not worth it once you actually go to them; personally, I think it's a waste of money," she nodded, following along, "now Sherwood, great place to walk around the towns, there's a bit of everything for everyone."

"Do you have a favorite thing to do there?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"The Yellow Brick Cafe is amazing," he answered, "they have the best street tacos with mango."

Elphaba quirked her head. "I don't think I've ever had those before," in fact, she didn't think she'd ever even heard of those before.

"Well, I hear The Wharf has some that are a pretty close second. Would you like to try them with me?" Fiyero asked.

Elphaba's eyes widened, her mouth went dry, and she almost dropped her calendar. Did he-no. No, absolutely not. But Fiyero didn't seem like the type of person to play that kind of joke, to invite her somewhere only to laugh at her face when she said yes, so the only logical thing she could think of was that he was just being friendly.

"U-uh um…like, n-now?" Elphaba choked out.

"Do you have time?" Fiyero asked rather quickly.

Elphaba swallowed. She'd like to, but at the same time, it would just hurt her. She liked to think that what happened to Glinda could happen to her, but that was wishful thinking. But she would really like to spend some time with him. Oz, why was this so hard?

She picked at her nails.

"Uh-"

"ELPHIE!"

Elphaba and Fiyero jumped and turned towards the door.

Glinda ran to her and hugged her tightly, wrinkling the calendar Elphaba still held in her hands.

"Congratulations! I just heard that they kept you to tell you that you made the team! Oh, but I'll miss you at home! Oh, but I'm so happy for you! Ah!" She squealed, still hugging the green girl tightly and rocking her from side to side.

Fiyero raised his eyebrows with an amused smile on his face, Elphaba's expression saying "She's like this".

"Glinda-let-just," Elphaba managed to free an arm and push Glinda off of her.

The blonde finally noticed that there was someone else in the room.

"Oh! Hello, Mister Tiggular!"

"Just Fiyero," he said.

"Fiyero," Glinda looked back and forth between them, "were you guys talking about the competition season?"

Elphaba opened her mouth but Fiyero beat her to it. "Yes," he turned back to Elphaba, "and you never did answer my question," he whispered softly.

Elphaba bit her lip and her face flushed.

"What question?" Glinda asked.

"Do you have time to go to The Wharf with me?" Fiyero didn't take his eyes off of Elphaba and her breathing quickened slightly. They both seemed to forget Glinda was even in the room with them.

"YES!" Glinda screamed.

Elphaba snapped out of her daze and put a hand to her ear. "Glinda-"

"Oh! My dear Elphie's never been on a date before!"

"Glinda!" Elphaba looked at her best friend in shock, Fiyero just smiled.

"I'll take your bag!" Glinda grabbed Elphaba's dance bag from her, "and this," she took the papers in her hands. "Oh! But here! Take your wallet. Actually, a guy should pay for the date!"

"Glinda, it's not a date," Elphaba said through her teeth. She loved Glinda, but she swore to Oz, sometimes the blonde was just asking to get strangled.

The bubbly girl didn't seem to hear her though. "Oh! I'll give it to you anyway," she pushed Elphaba's wallet into her hands, "I'll be waiting for you to tell me how it goes. Oh! By the way Fiyero, question! Did I or did I not have the best arched feet during the ballet portion of the audition?" Glinda questioned.

Fiyero laughed. "Yes you did."

"Aha! I knew it," she turned to Elphaba, "I approve! Bye!" Glinda ran out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

Elphaba's mouth was still open in shock. Her gaze went from the door, to the wallet in her hands, to Fiyero, then back to the door again.

"Wh-wh-what…" What the hell was that?

"So you do have time?" Fiyero asked.

"Um," Elphaba met his eyes and took a breath. Just because there was no chance of Fiyero ever liking her like she did him, it didn't mean she couldn't get to know him and maybe even become friends with him. And she really liked that idea.

Why not? Elphaba nodded. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Fiyero sighed of what looked like relief, grabbed his bag, and led her outside the studio. "Are you cold?"

Elphaba realized that Glinda had taken all her stuff including the change of clothes she'd planned to change into after classes. But she wasn't cold by any means, there was some wind, but she wore a large black long sleeve shirt and sweatpants after having had her hip-hop class and the sun was out.

"No, thank you," she smiled.

As they walked the couple of blocks to the restaurant, Elphaba was suddenly curious about something.

"By the way," Fiyero nodded in acknowledgement, "did she really have the best feet?" Elphaba raised an eyebrow.

Fiyero exhaled. "Well, if we're going based off of sickling, then yes. I don't think I can ever forget that."

They bursted out laughing together. She didn't know why, but Elphaba had a feeling that she was going to enjoy her lunch with Fiyero very much.

Fiyero wouldn't call it a date, at least, hopefully, not just yet. He wanted to get to know Elphaba better first. So far, he was loving everything, it was hard not to.

They talked a little bit on their short walk to The Wharf. When they were almost there, Elphaba asked him something.

"So you're not the least bit curious?"

"Huh?" Fiyero turned his gaze, confused as to what she was referring to.

"You haven't asked me about my skin once," she whispered.

"Oh," Fiyero flushed. He inhaled deeply before answering her, "I won't lie to you, I am curious. But it's none of my business unless you want to tell me yourself."

Elphaba smiled at him. Oz, her smile was absolutely beautiful.

"I was born like this," she shrugged, "that's really all there is to it. It's not seasickness, or the result of me eating grass as a kid, I didn't inject myself with liquified artichoke-"

"What?" Fiyero stopped walking. "People have actually asked you that?" he found it incredibly inconsiderate along with incredibly stupid.

Elphaba shrugged and kept walking, Fiyero followed slightly behind her. "People like to make up their own theories."

"Does it bother you? What people say about it?" he asked softly.

"Not as much as it used to. Does it hurt? At times, yes; but I've learned to not let it get to me. But not everybody treats me differently because of it," she said.

"I'm glad, though it shouldn't be like that."

"You're sweet," she said and blushed. "I must say, I'm glad that for once I'm the one to bring up the topic of my skin to someone else."

Fiyero chuckled and opened the door of the restaurant for her.

"Hello," a hostess greeted them, "just two?"

"Yes," Fiyero answered.

"Preference on a booth or table?"

Fiyero turned to Elphaba who shook her head. "No."

"Alright," the woman grabbed two menus, "please follow me."

She led them to a small table in a more open part of the restaurant, close to the bar and next to a window.

"Your server will be right with you, hope you enjoy your visit."

They thanked her and she walked back to her post.

"Have you been here before?" Fiyero asked Elphaba once they were seated.

"Once, it was a while ago," she answered, "you?"

"First time."

"Really? I thought you said you'd had tried their tacos before."

"I've heard they're pretty good, I haven't actually had them."

"Ah."

Their waitress arrived at that moment and asked them if they wanted anything to drink. After she'd left to go get their drinks, Elphaba was deep in thought. It made Fiyero anxious. "You ok?"

Elphaba looked up. "Oh. Yeah, just…just thinking."

"Mind if I ask what about?" he asked softly.

"I'm…" Elphaba shook her head and smiled. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you. So, Fiyero Tiggular, what do you like to do outside of dance?"

They chatted for a while before and after they had ordered. Fiyero couldn't recall the last time he'd had this much fun while just talking to a girl.

She amazed him. He admired her for all she'd been through; feeling very much like an outcast, being kicked out of her home, moving in with Glinda, still doing classes for high school; and he felt privileged to the fact that she seemed to be fine in telling him this.

"You must think I'm kind of messed up, I'm sorry, it's just…for some reason it's just so easy for me to talk to you," she apologized.

Fiyero shook his head. He couldn't help but open up to her as well; how his father hadn't supported his career choice and now their relationship was a bit strained, how he got very homesick at times, and how bad into depression he'd fallen when a close cousin of his had passed.

"Are you better now?" she asked, reaching for his hand. Her skin was soft under his touch.

"Yeah, I guess the pain never fully goes away, but it makes me smile to think of him now," he squeezed her hand and smiled back at her.

They switched topics, eating and laughing together while telling each other more about themselves. It was official, he really liked her; he couldn't keep his eyes off of her, couldn't stop listening to her, he wanted to know everything about Elphaba. And he'd never been so open with someone so quick, yet he didn't mind that in the slightest.

He wasn't ready for their day to end when the check had arrived. After a small argument over who would pay, they ended up splitting the pay evenly.

"Did you enjoy the food?" Fiyero asked her.

"I did, actually. I have to admit I wasn't sure if I would, I'm a pretty picky eater," Elphaba said, putting away her change.

"Are there any foods you absolutely detest?"

"Zucchini," she shuddered, "I absolutely cannot and will not eat that. No matter how it's cooked or what it's with."

"So if the food left in the word was zucchini…" he prompted.

"I've either already killed myself or starved."

They laughed as he opened the door for her to exit the restaurant. Yeah, he definitely wasn't ready for the day to end just yet, it was still early and he wanted to talk to her more.

"Do you have anything to do?" she asked, biting her lower lip slightly.

He felt his heart speed up, please let her say what he was thinking. "No, do you?"

Elphaba shook her head. "Since you're new…would you like to try the creamery? It's a good place for dessert and to…chat," her voice lowered as she finished her sentence.

Fiyero couldn't help but smile, surely she liked him too, right? He hoped she did, he really hoped she did.

"Do you have time?" she asked and he realized he still hadn't answered her.

"Yes! Absolutely," he beamed.

She laughed softly and motioned him to follow her. "It's about a 10 to 15 minute walk."

"Do they just sell ice cream?" fiyero asked, walking beside her.

"No, they also sell milkshakes, sundaes, and ice pops. Do you have a preference?"

The sun had gone down by the time Fiyero offered to walk her home. After dessert, they'd gone to another place for dinner; a small fast fast food joint that Elphaba had said was one of her favorites. He'd decided it was one of his too after trying their food.

"No, I don't think he just disappeared into thin air, I think someone did something to him, but who knows?" Elphaba shrugged.

He'd asked her about her opinion on what had happened to the 12th president of Oz. After many controversies and illegal limitations of civil rights, he had just suddenly disappeared. Theories ranged from him fleeing the country to him joining a cult to him being kidnapped and held hostage for ransom.

"And if the ransom thing was true, he'd be long dead by now anyways," she added.

"That would be pretty sad, no one wanting to pay the ransom to save him."

"No offense, but no one would've wanted him back," he laughed at her statement.

"Can't argue with that, I mean not being able to use a public restroom if you were an Animal?"

"Ridiculous! I mean, who does that?!" she exclaimed.

Fiyero shrugged. His smile faded slightly at seeing that they were at the door of her apartment. He'd been having so much fun talking to her, ppart of him didn't want it to end.

"Are you sure you're ok walking to the hotel from here?" Elphaba asked. "I can call a cab for you. Actually no I can't, I don't have my phone," she laughed.

He grinned and shook his head. "No, that's ok. It's actually not that far from here," he looked down the street and she followed his gaze, "it's the building with the giant red sign."

Her eyes widened. "Has that always been there?" she laughed.

"It was here when I got here," he said and smiled when she narrowed her eyes slightly at him.

She checked the door and saw that it was unlocked.

"I guess I'll see you around?" she whispered.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he could have sworn he saw her eyes light up slightly, his own certainly did at that thought.

"You'll be at the studio?"

"I have to, I'll be helping your director in preparing costumes and routines for competition," he said.

"That's right," she nodded.

"Goodnight, green girl," the nickname had slipped out before he could even process it.

Elphaba kept her eyes on his as she walked backwards towards the door. "Goodnight, Fiyero. Be safe."

She smiled at him before going inside. He breathed deeply, she had him at the palm of her hand already and she didn't even know it. Fiyero couldn't wait to see her tomorrow. He couldn't help but smile when he heard a high pitch scream all the way from outside.

"ELPHIE!"

Can you tell I've never been on a date? Yeesh I feel like that was so awkward. How was it?

Alright, this will be interesting, I have many ideas, I just have to organize myself. When I start writing something, I usually have no idea where exactly I'm going with it (which is why my English essays are TRASH), I just keep writing. Buckle up! Hope you enjoyed it! R&R :)