Chapter 5: Tables Turned

...Fiyera opened her eyes and found herself laying in a bed in the Infirmary. Her body temperature was back to normal and her head, ears, and stomach felt completely healthy again. Her eyesight was normal. The windows showed it to be nighttime.

She looked around and found Dexson sitting on a chair with his head and arms resting on the side of the bed. He was fast asleep.

Fiyera giggled as she leaned over and hissed his forehead. He blinked his eyes and sat up. She pused a bit of his blonde hair out of his face, the better to see him. He reached over to the bedside table for his glasses. he put them on and looked up into her face.

"Fiyera?" he said. It was nice to hear him without her ears painfully pounding. His voice was soothing. She smiled.

"Hey," she said, "Are you alright?"

"I should be asking you that question!" he cried, putting both hands on her face. "Fiyera, I was so scared. I thought-"

But at that moment, Proffesor Tippermen walked out of the nurse's office with Nurse Beegale.

"Oh, Miss Fiyera, you're awake!" Proffesor Tippermen exclaimed as she and the nurse rushed over to her bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you." she replied as Nurse Beegale started checking her over with her instruments.

"She seems to be almost back to perfect health, Headmistress. I do not believe anything was a lasting effect on her."

"Proffesor," Fiyera said, "What exactly happened? I've never had anything like that occur to me before."

"You had an allergic reaction to the spell, Miss Fiyera." Proffesor Tippermen replied, "Your system does not seem to be able to handle The Guardian Spells."

"But you said it yourself it was a simple spell. How could such a simple spell effect me in such a way." Fiyera asked.

"No one knows why certain people are allergic to certain spells. It has to do with genetics or medical history or just a fluke. I've never seen a reaction that bad where the person lived. It is possible, but it is rare. We were just lucky we got to you in time."

"Even with how soon she came in here, I'm surprised she lived." Nurse Beegale said as she looked into Fiyera's ears. "Yes, I believe a little recuperation should restore the rest of her health. I want you to stay in here for the weekend, Miss Tiggular. You may return to your dorm Sunday evening."

"Yes, ma'am," Fiyera answered.

"Very good, now, as she needs her rest, I would like to ask you both to leave."

"But, Nurse Beegale," Dexson said, "Couldn't I just sit here with her?"

"Absolutely not!" she answered.

"Just until she falls asleep?"

"No!"

"Yes," Proffesor Tippermen said.

"Proffesor, I said she needs her rest!"

"And I said he could stay!" she added. "I'll come see you in the morning, Miss Fiyera. Sleep well the both of you."

Proffesor Tippermen left. Nurse Beegale bid good-night and went to her room. Fiyera and Dexson were alone.

"You've been awefully quiet through this whole ordeal," Fiyera said. She looked over ath his and the saw the panic, horrified look upon his face. "What's wrong?"

"I was so scared I was going to lose you." he whispered.

"But I'm fine now," she said.

"Fiyera, you don't understand. You were as cold as ice, you were moaning with pain, and you stopped breathing in my arms!"

"I did what?" she asked.

"Stopped breathing. Nurse Beegale examined you and said you didn't have much time. You were...you in a transition stage. She said it was when the body decides it wants to keep going or stop...or something like that."

"Unless, someone saves you in time." Fiyera said, a bit distracted.

"Yeah," Dexson said, "Then they...they layed you down and you were skaking and twitching and softly moaning. To hear you in that pain, I...I felt so useless."

"Fiyera put a hand to his face. She placed another hand on his shoulder.

"You're trembling," she said. She pulled him close to her and held him close to her heart. She stroked his hair and soothed him. Fiyera silently was crying as she held him, having no idea that Dexson's tears were falling on top of her blanket.

Fiyera and Dexson stayed like that as they slept. They aoke the next morning to snow falling outside the windows and a chill filling the room. Dexson sat up and rubbed his eyes to him him focus before he adjusted his glasses.

"Morning," he said.

"Good morning," Fiyera replied, "Do you feel better?"

"I'm fine, what about you?" he asked.

Fiyera nodded. "I have to use the restroom, though."

"Sorry, can't help you in that department." Dexson said.

"I know," she said, "I am a little hungary, also. I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday."

"I'll get you something. Don't worry, sweetheart, I got you." He left the Infirmary.

"Boy do you ever," she said after the door had shut. Nurse Beegale came out at the time to assist her.

Fiyera had several visitors that weekend. Lida Rose, Jax, and Serella came down to see how she was doing. Proffesor Anderson brought her a Get Well Card and a bouquet of Munchkin Blossoms and Giliken Lilies. A few other students Fiyera had never even spoken to before went to see her. No doubt, according to Dexson, wanting to know the truth so they could spread it around school. Dexson only left her her bedside for restroom and cafeteria trips. Fiyera was extremely greatful for this. Perhaps it ment that he really did love her. Maybe she...no! She couldn't let the same mistake happen again.

Late Sunday morning, Dexson and Fiyera were playing cards when two of the most unlikely visitors showed up. Depik and Pasha.

"How are you feeling?" Pasha asked.

"Better," she said, "I'll be back in my room this evening. I'm not sure how Elphaba is going to feel about that, but..."

"Oh, who cares about Elphaba!" Depik said, "If she was half as good a witch as she says she is, that spell would have worked and you wouldn't have been hurt!"

"It was an accident," Fiyera said, "We're all training to be witches! I mean, it was just fate that I was sitting in that particular spot."

"You sit there everyday! Besides, you should hear how much she trashes you! Especially after the school started liking you. It was only a matter of time before she did that to you." Pasha said.

"I'm sure it was just an accident. You know, like me and the familiar."

"It's not just us, Fiyera. The whole school says she did it on purpose." Pasha said.

"And you believe that it was intentional?" Dexson said.

"Well, it's pretty hard to believe this it's not!" Depik answered, "I mean, everyone who's tried can handle a training want! Elphaba, little miss perfect in every way, can't? It's definately hard to believe!"

"What about Dezzie and Zulu?" Fiyera asked.

"They both claim that it was accidental. But that won't last long. Dezzie always follows whatever the crowd is doing and Zulu's her boyfriend, he's just trying to be nice. Trust me! That relationship won't be lasting much longer,"

"Right," Dexson voice, "Listen, girls, as much as Fiyera and I would love to hear you bash your former best friend, Fiyera really needs her rest and rest requires peace and quiet. So, we'll be seeing you around."

Dexson led the girls to the door and shut it behind them. Fiyera gathered up the playing cards and layed them on the side table by the time Dexson sat back down.

"That makes you looke foreward to tomorrow, doesn't it?" Dexson asked.

Fiyera took Dexson's hand, saying nothing. He brushed his other hand along her face.

"I love you, Fiyera," Dexson said.

Again, Fiyera said nothing. She simply stared straight ahead and did nothing until Dexson changed the subject.

Dexson took Fiyera safely back to her dorm that evening. Elphaba was already asleep. This seemed odd since Elphaba usually was out past midnight and here it was only 8:30. Dexson bid Fiyera with his usual kiss and "I love you, Sparx," and left.

Fiyera layed herself into bed. She always felt terrible when Dexson left her since he always told her he loved her. Fiyera knew she couldn't say it. She learned her lesson last time. She wouldn't let that happen again.

Fiyera stared up at her ceiling for a while, but now thinking about her father. "This isn't a dream, this is real, Fiyera...Glinda will teach you and tell you everything you need to know...now that you're a guardian."

What did he mean by guardian? Fiyera had read thousands of books in her lifetime and never came across anything that remotely explained what happened.

Could it have been a dream? Fiyera strained her memory. It had seemed so real. Her father's voice, the strength of his arms around her, his smell. It was like she had been far away from home for eleven years and had finally returned home. After all, there was no place like home. Where had she heard that before?

"The next morning, Fiyera awoke, although having no recollection of falling asleep, and went running. She came back in, showered, then met Dexson for breakfast. Everyone she ran into asked how she was feeling. Apparently, Depik and Pasha hadn't been lying about everyone being angry at Elphaba. Fiyera continously saw her being snubbed and whispers about her filled the air whenever Elphaba was around. She saw her sitting alone at lunch that day. Even Zulu and Dezzie had left her.

"Did you hear?" Dexson said as he sat down next to her.

"About what?" Fiyera asked.

"It turns out my brother broke up with Elphaba for Pasha. Now they're going out."

"Who told you that?" Fiyera asked.

"He did, this morning in second period." he said. "The wonderful Elphaba Tippermen is forced to eat alone?"

"Poor Elphaba," Fiyera said, "I know what it's like to be alone."

Fiyera told Dexson she'd meet him in sorcery. She left her text book back in her dorm and went to get it. She opened the door and found Elphaba sitting on her bed.

"Hey, if you don't get a move on, you're gonna be late for sorcery." Fiyera said as she walked in.

"I'm not going," Elphaba said, "I'm dropping it."

"Why?" Fiyera asked, pulling her text book from under her bed.

I think you of all people should find that reason obvious, Fiyera." Elphaba said.

"Because you made a little mistake?" Fiyera asked.

"It was more than a little mistake! The whole school thinks I tried to kill you!"

"But you know you didn't try to kill me. That's what matters! Dropping sorcery is just letting the rest of them win."

Elphaba hung her head. She sniffled. She obviously had been crying before Fiyera came up.

"You know, Elphaba, there is someone else who knows you didn't try to kill me."

"Who?' Elphaba asked skepitcally as she raised her head.

"Me," replied Fiyera.

Elphaba looked stunned for a moment, "You know it was an accident?" she squeaked.

"Of course I do! I'm not as dumb and empty-headed as those bimbos you hang out with."

"They really are bimbos, aren't they?" Elphaba asked.

They both laughed. The two girls arrived at sorcery together. Dexson was waiting in his usual seat for Fiyera. Pasha and Depik were whispering together and stopped when Elphaba walked in. Zulu was sitting next to Pasha. Elphaba hung her head and went to take a seat by herself when Fiyera grabbed her arm.

"Come on, you'll sit with us," Fiyera said.

Fiyera sat down next to Dexson and kissed him on the cheek. Elphaba took the seat next to Fiyera. Zulu watched with curiosity while Depik and Pasha started whispering again.

"Why don't they believe you?" Fiyera asked.

"They know the truth. They were here for Oz sakes! They heard me scream when fell and how terrified I was the you were going to...you know...until my mother came and told me the news. The whole school kept asking me what happened and when I wouldn't tell them, they went to Pasha and Depik. Well, they've been hanging on their every word. I guess saying that the spell went wrong isn't as exciting as saying I tried to murder you. They loved the attention of being the most popular, so they continued the rumor."

"Let's get started class," Proffesor Tippermen said as she walked in, "We will be continuing with dreams today. Please pull out-"

She noticed that Elphaba was not in her usual seat. She looked around the room and her eyes fell upon her sitting next to Fiyera. She smiled a somewhat surprised smile, "Please pull out your notebooks and turn to a clean page."