A Lazy Afternoon
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Chapter 13
Elphaba sat on her bed, opening her math book. She groaned. Glinda came bursting through the door, and plopped herself onto Elphie's bed, disturbing her pile of books.
"Hey!"
"Sorry."
Glind bent to pick up the fallen books.
"What's up?"
"When was the last time you saw Fiyero?"
"Oh, now I'm his keeper?"
"That's not what I was implying."
"I haven't seen him since Life Sciences first thing this morning."
"Oh."
"Why do you ask?"
"Boq was looking for him."
"Ah."
"Apparently, he got a letter from home earlier, and no one's seen him since. He didn't seem happy."
"Really?"
Glinda nodded. "That's all Boq told me. He doesn't know what the letter said.
Elphie scowled. "That doesn't sound good. Nobody's seen him?"
"None of us."
"He's not just spending time alone in his room?"
"No answer when Boq checked. It's possible."
"Hmmm."
"Will you try?"
Elphie looked to her. "Why me?"
"Why you? You've only been glued to him for the last two days."
"I have not."
"Yes, you have. You've been with him a lot."
"I…"
"Who's room did you stay in last night?"
Elphie frowned.
"He'll talk to you, if anyone, Elphie. You matter to him."
Slowly, Elphie nodded. "Okay."
She stood, and waked to the door.
"You look nice today, by the way."
"Thank you, I guess."
"Learn to take a compliment."
"I…"
"Fiyero's influence?"
"Well, it was what I brought with me."
"For him."
"Fine, Glinda, for him."
Glinda smiled. "I hope it works out."
Elphie sighed. "We'll see."
She left the room, and quickly made her way to his room in Ozma Towers. It was a beautiful day out. She thought it unlikely, now, that he'd be in his room. She rapped on the door. No answer. She knocked louder.
"Fiyero? Fiyeeeerro…"
No answer. Elphie knelt down and peered at the lock. This would not be hard to pick. She grabbed her own room key, and jammed it into the hole, wiggling it around. She jiggled it until it caught, and she pushed the door open. The bed was empty, as was the rest of the room. He was not there. She pulled the door shut, and headed back downstairs. Maybe he'd gone into town. She meandered down the road, not holding much hope for finding him. Ahead was the big willow tree she'd used as a shelter two nights before. Suddenly, she was sure that's where he was. Elphie tiptoed under the long arms of the tree, to the trunk, and peered around. Fiyero sat on the grass, leaning against the tree, his knees drawn up and eyes closed. On the ground beside him lay his satchel, with a bright yellow piece of parchment sticking out. The sun peeked through the gargantuan branches, casting an interesting pattern onto his shirt. She slowly knelt beside him. He still had not noticed her. Cautiously, she reached out and lay her hand on his shoulder.
"Aah!" he yelled, and jumped away.
"Sorry."
Fiyero remained at a distance, drawing his knees up to his chest again.
"What's wrong?"
"I just would like to be alone right now."
"Fiyero…"
"Elphaba…please. Why the hell do you think I was hiding behind the tree?"
He turned away from her.
"Glinda and Boq were concerned. No one could find you. They sent me."
"Why'd you look here? They passed by without stopping."
"This is the tree I took cover under the other night."
He nodded.
"You wanted to be found…"
"No…"
He bowed his head, laying it on his knees. Elphie crawled up behind him.
"Please let me be alone."
"What's wrong?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Fiyero…"
"Please Elphie, let me be."
She sat in silence for a while. He remained curled up. Elphie knelt up, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She couldn't place what had prompted her to do it, but it felt like the right thing to do. He tensed at first, then relaxed into her arms. She sat back, holding on to him. He had calmed down a bit, and was now breathing evenly. She didn't want to push it, so she remained silent, just holding him for nearly an hour. Finally, he sat up, and turned to face Elphaba.
"That position had gotten uncomfortable. Sorry."
"It's okay. How are you doing?"
He looked exhausted.
He shrugged. "I don't really want to talk about it yet," he grabbed her hand. "I promise that I'll tell you what's going on. I just…need more time…to process it first."
She locked eyes with him. "Okay, I can accept that. What can I do for you now though? I'm not leaving you."
She sat back against the tree.
"Just…hold me."
She nodded, and he crawled over to her, laying on her lap. She ran her fingers through his dark hair, and down his back. He curled as close to her as he could. The heat radiating from her body to his was very comforting
His satchel was beside her, with its bright yellow document sticking out. She was tempted to take a look at it, but she resisted. Instead she rooted through her own satchel, and picked out an essay she needed to read. And there they sat for the rest of the afternoon.
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