6- Dangerous Thoughts
The following week at Shiz was stressful for everyone as the midterms grew closer and closer. The lawns were full of groups of hopeless students who tried to help one another remembering everything they have learnt so far. As Elphaba, several other people preferred the quiet library over the noise and sun outside. She and Galinda practiced endlessly on their spells whenever possible, and tried helplessly to transform scarves into flowers.
"I will never be able to make it right!" Galinda whined after her fifth failing attempt.
"You will," Elphaba calmly comforted her. "Stop whining. Concentrate." She closed her eyes and waved her training wand over a colorful scarf while murmuring the charm. The scarf was gone in a puff of smoke and was replaced by a beautiful tulip.
Galinda stared at the flower, then at Elphaba, her expression a combination of utter shock, and jealousy. "How in Oz did you do that?"
"First of all, don't shake your wand like that, use it gently. Second, make sure that you say everything you should say correctly."
"I don't even know what am I doing in this stupid seminar!" Galinda complained, looking desperate.
"You asked for it. This is what you wanted," Elphaba reminded her.
"Yes, I know, but…" Galinda's voice trailed off. She looked miserable, as if she was about to burst into tears.
"Look," said Elphaba softly, touching her arm. "I have to go now. Keep going, we'll work on it later, okay? I promise."
"What? Where are you going?"
"I have to be somewhere!" She was already too far away for Galinda to protest, on her way to the library.
Fiyero was already waiting for her there. He leaned against the wall, his nose stuck in a thick book. Elphaba smiled when she saw that. He had changed a lot in the past week and a half, since they had started their private study sessions. She wasn't sure whether Galinda was aware of the fact that they spent together considerable time each morning in a secluded part of the library and went through the semester's material.
Fiyero wasn't the stupid boy he pretended to be at first. He was actually very bright and strongly opinionated; he was just hopelessly lazy. Not once they found themselves arguing about this issue or that, especially issues concerning Animal rights, but basically they had a good time. As they began to open up to one another, they laughed and joked and not even once mentioned Galinda, or what they really needed to talk about- the day they released the Lion cub.
"Hey, started without me, I see?" she called as she approached him. Fiyero raised his head from his book, startled. "Sorry," she smiled.
He smiled back. "You're late."
"I know, I'm sorry. This exam is driving me crazy," she said as they climbed the marble staircase. He knew that she was referring to Morrible's seminar. He knew how stressed she was over this one specific exam. "Galinda and I will kill each other before this one is finished."
He gave her a sympathetic look. "That bad?"
She grumbled. "You have no idea. We'll either kill each other, or we'll use the spells we learnt against one another."
"Huh! Can't wait to see that one!" He opened the library door for her and they made their way to what was unofficially 'their' table; at the far end of the study hall, next to the window.
xoxoxoxox
"I think this will be enough for today," said Elphaba, holding back a yawn. She looked outside, at the darkening sky. "Sweet Oz, what time is it?"
"By the look of the sky I'll say it's pretty late," Fiyero answered, yawning loudly. He was tired too, but he felt they did a lot. He actually understood what he was doing, which was a good thing. Now more than anything he was determined to pass the exams. After all that time and effort, he didn't mean to let Elphaba down. "I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked as he put his books back in his satchel. She nodded. "Okay than. Bye," he smiled. He was about to leave when he thought of something. He turned around to face her, before he'd change his mind about what he was about to ask. "Elphaba?"
She looked up from arranging her books, surprised that he didn't leave yet. "Yes?"
"Do you want… I mean… maybe…" Oh, get a grip, for Oz's sake! "Do wanna take a walk or go have some coffee somewhere?" From some strange reason, he didn't want to say goodbye to her just yet. They had such a great time, he wanted it to last.
However, he wasn't surprised when she shook her head. "I'm sorry, I have to go and check on Nessa," she said. "Some other time, okay?"
That was an improvement. She didn't even mention Galinda's objection that time. The truth was that she was too tired to even think about that, yet she knew she shouldn't go with him.
"Okay. Bye," he smiled and left. He went out of the building and walked slowly on the path which led to the dormitories. As he was recounting everything they had been talking about that day, a familiar voice suddenly interrupted his silent thinking.
"Fiyero! There you are, dearest!"
He stopped and waited as Galinda approached him. She looked as lovely as ever in a fluffly, yellow dress, a parasol in one hand and books in the other. She looked like spring itself.
"Where have you been? I haven't seen you in ages!" she said sweetly, though it's been only two days from their last meeting.
"I've been… you know, here and there," he said vaguely. He didn't feel comfortable to tell her the truth.
"Oh… well, we all go to the café this evening. We need some change in the atmosphere. I think it would be refreshing. Do you want to come along?"
Should he go? He was exhausted, and he had to wake up early so he wouldn't late to his meeting with Elphaba. And that meant that Elphaba wouldn't go either from the same reason. The naturalness in which this thought had simply evaded his mind made him stop on his tracks. Now wait just a clock tick. So now he cared about whether or not he'd see her that evening? What in Oz was wrong with him? He shook his head to keep that thought away from his mind. He knew what his answer to Galinda should be.
"Thanks, Galinda, but I think I'll pass," he said and started walking away. "Some other time, okay?" he called in her direction, using Elphaba's exact words. It felt somewhat comforting, to use these words.
Galinda watched him go away, mortified by what she had just heard. "You think? Since when have you been thinking?"
But he was too far away to provide her with a convincing reply.
