A Lazy Afternoon
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Author's note: As per the request this chapter has begun with the trivia game, which I originally hadn't written. Thus the "good stuff" will have to wait until the next chapter, which, in other good news is already written(along with the following chapter and a half). On the mixing the book and musical thing…my biggest thing is that I want Fiyero to be the book Fiyero(whom I love), and have the extra school characters. But I also need to have him be able to touch her while they're at Shiz(and that breaks with the book). So its mostly book based…with slight elements of the musical.
Chapter 4
Glinda scrunched up her face in thought. Shenshen looked at her with wide eyes, shaking her head.
"Oh, you don't know anything," Glinda scowled.
"So you even have a guess this time?" Boq smiled, holding the card tightly to his chest. Nessa giggled.
"No," Glinda muttered.
Fiyero grinned and sat forward in the big, cushy, chair that he and Elphaba were sharing. It was question stealing time, for the fourth time this game.
"I will now, repeat the question," Boq began, "And whoever answers first…"
"We know!" Pfannee snapped.
"But I bet she doesn't know the answer," Elphaba whispered to Fiyero, affecting Pfannee's voice.
He snickered, but remained poised.
Boq read, "This former public works building is now the chieftan's seat in the Vinkus."
"Kiamo Ko!" Fiyero yelled.
"All right, we get it. You know the answer. Do you have to show us up like that every time?" Shenshen scoffed.
Fiyero looked at her, trying hard to suppress his laughter.
"What?!" she demanded.
"He's from Kiamo Ko," Elphaba laughed.
Shenshen growled and looked despairingly at Glinda. They had only one point so far, for having correctly identified the official clothier of the Emerald City. Glinda lifted the next card out of the box, and turned to Elphie and Fiyero.
"Okay. Politics. What is the name of the task force appointed by the Wizard to maintain order in the Emerald City?"
"Ha!" Elphie sputtered.
"Is that your answer?" Glinda smiled. Elphie glared at her.
"The Gale Force," Elphaba retorted.
"Correct."
Fiyero leaned into the table to add a peg to their scorecard. One more and they won. He picked up a card, and turned to Crope and Tibbett.
"Ecomony. This is the primary business of Shiz."
"Finally, one I know," Crope mused. "Banking."
"Yup."
Crope grabbed the box of questions and faced Boq and Nessa. "Math."
Nessa groaned. Boq looked hopeful.
Crope continued. "Give pi to the hundreth's place."
"What's pi?" Nessa whispered to Boq.
"I can't remember," Boq frowned. "Dammit, I know this."
"Give up?"
"Not yet."
"Well, we're not stealing this one either," Glinda sighed to Shenshen. Boq buried his head in his hands pitifully. "Oh, I don't know."
"Okay," Crope acknowledged. "To repeat, for rules sake: 'Give pi to the hundreth's place'. Go."
"Three point one, four," Elphaba and Fiyero shouted at the same time, then burst out laughing.
"Fine. You guys win," Avaric conceded quickly. "Let's drink!"
The group dispersed to the bar area, leaving Fiyero and Elphaba in their chair.
"That was easy," Fiyero smiled, not moving.
"Well, they paired
poorly."
"Like by leaving us together?"
"Yeah."
Elphaba looked over at him, and suddenly became aware of how close they were sitting. His hand grazed her knee as he reached for his glass. She gasped. He looked at her curiously.
"What?"
"Nothing," he grinned. He settled back against the chair, and grabbing her waist, pulled her to him.
"Hey!" Elphaba sat back up.
"What's wrong?" His hands remained on her waist. "Sit back, have a drink, relax."
She turned to look at him. He was watching her intently. "I have some reading to do."
"Now?" he sounded hurt.
She nodded reluctantly, and got up, trudging over to a stool at the distant end of the bar. Fiyero shook his head, and quickly downed his wine, settling into the chair. Avaric appeared in front of him, bearing the bottle.
"Refill?"
"What the hell. Sure," Fiyero held out his empty glass and Avaric poured clumsily.
"Mellow tonight, eh chap?"
Fiyero nodded.
"Up for pool? I need some amusment that doesn't involve Pfannee and Shenshen."
"I thought you liked Pfannee and Shenshen."
"I do. Just not for…conversation."
"They are a bit dull."
"Yeeeaah."
"What was the row between you and Elphaba about earlier? I mean you seem to have patched it up, but, hell, I'm nosy."
Fiyero shook his head. "We just needed to work something out. I called her on something. It's okay now."
"She's obnoxious."
"She's opinionated, but I certainly wouldn't say obnoxious, and I'd much rather have a conversation with her than with Pfannee and Shenshen."
Avaric shrugged. "Why's she being anti social again?"
He pointed to where she sat at the end of the bar, leaning on her purple gloved hand, reading a paper. She looked unhappy.
"So pool?"
"Uh, not right now."
"You're going to go hang on Elphaba again."
"Perhaps."
Avaric shook his head.
"Avaric! Come here!" Shenshen shrilly cried from across the room.
Fiyero snickered as his friend trudged across the room to the bubbly pair. He hoisted himself out of the chair, and walked quietly up behind Elphaba. She rubbed her eyes, tiredly. Fiyero placed his hands on her shoulders and she jumped, tensing immediately. He gently squeezed them a few times.
"Why do you keep sneaking up on me?"
Fiyero grinned.
"It's not funny."
She was being short with him again.
"What's got you now?"
"My head is throbbing."
"Aww. Do you want more backrub?"
She looked up at him hesistantly. "No thank you."
"The air in here is kind of humid again."
Elphaba nodded. "I think I'm going to head back now."
"Do you want me to walk back with you?"
"No," she slid off her stool, and gathered her bag. He blocked her way. "Don't start this again."
She sounded so hurt and testy that he obliged her this time.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I just want to be alone, and get home. Stay and have a good time."
With that, she left, not waiting for him to answer.
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