Sadness and Secrets

The afternoon of the Autumn dance soon flew upon the students of Shiz, and the halls were buzzing with the excitement of the young adults. The teachers continued to teach their classes, knowing that their students were hardly paying attention, but hoped that a small amount of knowledge managed to infiltrate their distracted minds.

Elphaba sat writing her notes in her Politics class, resisting the urge to roll her eyes and and snap at the silly little gossips around her all talking about the dance and their outfits, concentrating on the voice of the teacher and the feel of Fiyero's hand on her knee, attempting to keep her calm as he too wrote up his own notes. So far his attempts were working.

It wasn't long before the bell went and the students were hurriedly packing away their books and darted out of the door, barely hearing the teacher tell them that they had a week to complete their essay.

"I don't suppose there's any chance of me whisking you to my dorm and conveniently forgetting about this?"

"None whatsoever, my love," Elphaba smirked up at him as she slung her bag on her shoulder. "And no more lines about me coming to your room to help you either. Because we both know that's not going to happen."

He pouted and she laughed. "Come on, Fae, you know nothing would happen that you didn't want."

"Oh, now you're pushing your luck," she smirked, walking ahead of him, almost walking into another student in her attempt to get away from him.

"Watch it, you green freak!"

"My apologies, I didn't see you there under my foot." she drawled.

He growled and grabbed her arm roughly.

"Let her go!" Fiyero barked in a harsh tone, glaring at him and ready to pull him away from her at the first opportunity.

The other male glared at them both and shoved, Elphaba back. "Watch yourself, greenie. One day you won't get so lucky." he snarled and walked away.

"Oh, please! You could barely hold your nerve with me!" she scowled after him, gently tugging on Fiyero's sleeve before he could chase after him. "Fiyero, I'm okay. I've had worse, remember."

The Arjiki glared after the other male for a moment longer before allowing his girlfriend to pull him down the corridor. "I could have had him."

"Mhm, and so could I." she reminded him, part of her a little annoyed that he stood in for her, and the other part of her warmed to the action.

He caught himself and sighed. "Fae, I-"

She allowed a smile. "I know. And thank you, but sometimes, I don't need my battles fighting for me, especially when I can take on idiots like that by myself." she kissed his cheek.

"I know. I just can't help it though. I hate hearing things like that about you," he told her. "You might be used to it, but I'm not, and I never want to be."

She nodded. "Understood." she cuddled against his side when he put his arm around her as they left the building, she involuntarily shivered as the cold air hit her.

They crossed the lawns and eventually found themselves walking along the canal side once more.

"I'm sure every time we come here, more leaves have fallen." Elphaba smiled, kicking up bunches of dried red and orange leaves with the toe of her boot. "There's something beautiful in the changes in the seasons..."

He nodded. "Like the shift in the temperatures and the colours of new plant life or the colours of the dying plants," he said thoughtfully. "I used to paint when I was younger."

"Really?" she looked curious. "What made you stop?"

"Yeah, I was pretty good at it too. Spring and Autumn in the Vinkus were my favourites to do." he shrugged. "I dunno... I just... stopped one day and never picked it back up."

She lay her head on his shoulder. "I've never been good at things like that. I'm better at reading and writing than art of any form."

"You mean you're not good at everything?" he smirked.

"I taught myself that, but never got the chance to do much else." she shrugged.

"Who are you and what have you done with Elphaba?" he teased, lightly tickling her sides.

"No!" she moaned with a laugh and wriggled to get away from him. "Stop that!"

He laughed and let his hand fall to his side. "Alright, fine."

"Do I really have to go to this dance tonight?" she pouted.

"You know you'll never hear the end of it from Glinda." he kissed her head. "How about this; show your face for an hour, and if you still want to leave, I'll get you out," he suggested, pulling them both to a stop, leaning against a tree.

She nodded. "Okay." She looked up at him. "Yero?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." she smiled.

He grinned and knew he would never tire of hearing those words leave her mouth, however rare it was to hear them. "I love you too." He put his arms around her waist and kissed her.

She closed her eyes and rested her hands on his shoulders, sighing softly as she allowed him to deepen the kiss which was making her temperature rise, an effect that she always seemed to have in these moments.

He reluctantly pulled away from her lips and dipped his head to her neck and kissed the newly discovered sensitive spot behind her left ear, smirking against the delicate green skin when he heard her breath catch in her throat.

She held herself closer, ducking her head to the crook of his neck, softly pressing feather-light kisses of her own to his skin, a smirk of her own when she heard his sharp intake of breath and felt his arms tighten around her, he clearly hadn't been expecting it. "I've told you before... two can play this game." she murmured lowly.

He smirked again, his breath was hot on her ear as he whispered back; "And one of these days, I sincerely hope so."

She shuddered again, and this time not because of the cold. "You shouldn't promise such things."

"Elphaba, I can and I will." He matched her gaze, and was, as he always was, amazed by the love and safety he found in her dark pools, which were also clouded by a look he knew all too well from other girls - lust and excitement and it sent a thrill up and down his spine knowing he had caused it. Nobody else would ever have the pleasure of seeing her this way, he'd make sure of it.

She bit her lip and her hands found their way into his hair, distracting herself from the very physical reminder of their actions that was nudging at her thigh.

"Beautiful," he whispered with a grin.

She shook her head slightly and kissed him once more, only briefly. "We'd better get back before Glinda sends out a search party."

He groaned out loud at that and rested his forehead against hers. "Why did you have to ruin the moment with that?"

She giggled. "I'm sorry, my love."

He shook his head. "Non vous n'êtes pas."

"Awh, will someone be needing a cold shower before the dance?" she teased and cackled when she was ignored. "You started it." And one day she intended to finish it, but she didn't say it. She continued her teasing and jabbing until they got back to Crage Hall, and she left him outside without a kiss goodbye.

"You're not being fair, Miss Fae!" he huffed when all he got was another cackling laugh in response, and he sulked away back to his own dorm.

"Elphie! Where have you been?! And why do you look all flustered?!" Glinda jumped up as she finished putting the last roller in her hair when Elphaba sauntered in. "Oh, never mind, come on! We need to get ready!"

"Glinda, must I, really?" Elphaba rolled her eyes, thankful to have been temporarily spared from explaining herself to her best friend.

"Yes! I promised you I'd make you popular!"

"And I am! Just... ninety-eight per cent of the unpopular kind," she smirked.

Glinda blinked and shook her head. "Oh, instead of confusifying me with sarcasm, pick out your dress."

"Fine." she rolled her eyes again and walked to her closet, deliberately picking out her old blue, very worn frock she'd worn the previous year, looking at her friend with a serious expression for a moment before she burst into laughter at the blonde's glare. "Alright, fine! But I'm taking the hat!" she put it away and picked out her favourite long-sleeved purple one.

Glinda shook her head in dismay, hoping her friend was joking. She grabbed the green girl by the wrist and pulled her to the vanity table and sat her down, starting on her hair. She sectioned pieces from the side of her head and braided them until they met at the back of her head to become one long braid down her back. Ten minutes of careful pinning and arranging later she started to apply a little makeup to her friend's face. "Oh, and don't think you're getting out of not telling me what happened before you got back."

Elphaba shrugged, keeping her expression neutral. "Nothing happened. We got distracted by walking by the lake."

"Distracted how?" Glinda finished applying a light coat of mascara before starting on her own makeup.

"Talking." she stood up and crossed the room to change her clothes.

Glinda scoffed, not believing her. "Elphie, you both talk all the time "

The other girl wisely kept her mouth shut and quickly changed her dress.

There were a silent few minutes before Glinda gasped and whirled around to face her. "Elphaba Thropp! Did you two get carried away?!"

"Don't be so ridiculous! Nothing like that happened!"

"You're blushing!" she walked over to her.

"Nothing happened."

"But you wanted it to?" her friend's blush deepened. "Elphie, are you sure?" She stared at her with concern.

She shrugged. "I... I think so," she admitted. "Glinda I'm scared."

The blonde's gaze softened and she hugged her. "Oh, Elphie, what of?"

"Nothing... Everything... I have no idea what I'm doing or how to be... Yero, he's never pressured me into anything... he's been so patient and so loving and caring and... what if I'm not good enough? We all know I have no experience with this at all..."

"You are good enough. You will be good enough for him. Experience is not everything, Elphie, and of course you're scared... What you're thinking about, it's a big step, and it's going to change everything."

"But that's-"

Pale hands cupped green cheeks softly. "I know. But sometimes change can be good. Elphie, this change will be for good, for both of you. But only make that choice when you know you absolutely want it, when you're both ready for that, not because you think it would make him happy. Oz, he would never forgive himself if he thought he forced you into making an unwanted decision."

"How do you-?"

Glinda gave her a sad smile. "I made the wrong choice."

"What do you mean?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. He doesn't deserve my tears and he doesn't deserve the acknowledgement." she dropped her hands and walked away from her to take the rollers out of her hair.

Elphaba watched as her friend busied herself and she shook her head. She couldn't believe that the ever-popular Glinda had ever had a bad relationship. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"It's alright. You know I'm more than happy to give you advice."

"But if it's brought up bad memories -"

"Nothing happened that I didn't want at the time. I just... chose the wrong man to do it with. He's nothing to me now." Glinda picked up her purse as Elphaba grabbed her own bag with a book hidden inside it, but the blonde was in no mood to argue now. "Come on, the boys will be waiting."

Elphaba nodded and walked out with her, forgetting about her hat. She watched in awe as her friend changed her entire demeanour from sad to enthusiastic in the seconds it took them to descend the staircase and greeted her boyfriend happily.

"You're thinking."

She blinked up at Fiyero and nodded with a smile on her face. "I know, but it's not important right now." she kissed him.

"The offer to ditch after an hour is still there if you want it," he told her quietly.

"I'll see how Glinda is." She walked with him as he gave her a quizzical look. "Oh, girl stuff," she added vaguely.

He shook his head at that, deciding not to get involved with it. "You look beautiful." he grinned. "Tonight is about having fun and being together."

She blushed and smiled. "I wish you'd stop..."

"Never."

She ducked her head against his shoulder, embarrassed. "Fiyero..."

He laughed at her whining. "You're going to have to deal with it." He told her and held her close, noticing that Boq and Nessa were ahead of them, and the couple didn't seem to share the same enthusiasm.

"If he chooses tonight of all nights to break up with her, I'll wring his sorry neck."

He winced at her threat. "One year anniversary." He remembered and shook his head. "Hopefully he'll have remembered."

"Well, he hasn't so far, at least Nessa hasn't said so. She's certainly not acting happy. Oh, I know she's been a rotten old witch and we've both been telling him to deal with it, but to leave it until tonight?"

"We don't know that yet." he pointed out. "Come on, I believe you owe me a dance, and that debt it twelve months overdue," he smirked.

She shoved him with a laugh. "I don't remember that."

He nodded, his blue eyes impossibly wide and imploring. "Yup, you did! I told you I'd get a dance with you by the end of the night and you said 'we'll see'."

"And that counts as a promise?" she smirked.

"Yes."

She laughed again. "Alright, fine. If you say so. Good luck."

He grinned and the friends made their way along with the crowds of students to the Ozdust Ballroom. The room was decorated in oranges and blacks and purples, lights were flashing and swirling sending sparkles scattering around the room from the glitter ball hanging from the centre of the ceiling. The music loud and upbeat and there were already people dancing with their friends.

Instinctively Elphaba shrank against Fiyero's side when she recognised one of the male students glaring at her.

"He wouldn't dare try anything, not right now and not while I'm here." he murmured in her ear.

Suddenly that seemed to give her the confidence she needed and she stood taller, her head held high. "You're right. Why should I let him intimidate me?"

He grinned with pride, his eyes twinkling adoringly at her. "That's more like it."

"Come on, Elphie!" Glinda grabbed her hand and dragged her to the middle of the room, the green girl sneered as people scattered out of their way, but it didn't take the two friends long to start enjoying themselves.

Nessa remained outside, claiming to need a moment before she went inside. When she was sure her friends were inside the ballroom she wheeled over to the closed florist where the same hooded figure she had seen frequently was hiding. "You! Why are you following us?!"

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean." came the feminine reply, she wouldn't come from the shadows.

So it's a woman. She thought. "Yes you do, you've been wherever my friends and I have been for weeks! You're watching and you're following us, why?"

The cloaked woman stammered, unable to give a response that would not land anyone into trouble. "I-I'm sorry." She said finally and fled quickly, leaving a dumbfounded Nessa behind. Once out of sight, the woman was pulled aside.

"I told you this was too risky, Ochre!"

"They're just children! If I can stop them from making the biggest mistake by joining the Wizard-"

"You heard what that old bat Yackle said!" the male spoke harshly. "They have a destiny to fulfil. All four of them. I don't know what your connection is to a bunch of university students, but this has to stop. You can't prevent what is meant to happen, Ochre. You are going to ruin the whole plan if you-"

"To hell with the Resistance! If I can stop anything happening to m- those kids then I will!" Ochre yanked her arm away and walked away from her comrade. She didn't care if her cover had almost been blown, she had been so close... She shook her head. No. She couldn't reveal her true intentions, not while it was still too dangerous.

Back in the ballroom, Nessa had rejoined her friends and she took the glass of punch that had been handed to her. She took a small, tentative sip of the sweet beverage. "What's in this?"

Fiyero shrugged. "No idea but I wouldn't drink too much of it if I were you."

"Why not?"

He smirked. Oh, she was too innocent. "Because someone's already spiked it with alcohol," he told her.

"Oh, my!"

He turned his back to her at the exclamation to hide his laughter, easy to do given the volume of the music, and he looked over at Glinda still dancing with Elphaba and watched them make each other laugh.

"It's crazy to think a year ago, that was you out there with Miss Glinda."

He nodded at Boq's comment. "I know. A lot has changed in a year." he looked over at his friend in time to see Nessa moving away from them. "If you're going to do what I think you're going to do, at least wait until tomorrow?" he suggested.

"How do I do it?" Boq looked stricken. "The last thing I want to do is hurt her, but either way it's going to happen!"

Fiyero covered a scoff as he drank. He really was the wrong person to ask. "Just be honest. Take it from someone who knows about lying his way out of trouble. Someone who's had his fair share of drinks thrown over him and been slapped and kicked in his valuables." Both of them flinched. "Tell the truth about why you want to end things." He downed the rest of his drink and left his friend to think things over, heading over relieve Glinda of her increasingly unwilling dance partner, planting a firm kiss on the green girl's ruby lips to silence her protesting.

" Mm, you really have to stop doing that." She grumbled after she broke the kiss.

"Are you sure you want me to?" he smirked.

"Oz, no!" she kissed him again and he laughed.

"How much of this have you had?" He teased, rolling his eyes when she held up one green finger. "I'm sure you know already then that it's been laced with alcohol."

"I know, I'll go easy. My behaviour is not because of my low tolerance for it." She smiled and he began to dance with her and she put her arms around his neck. "What were you and Boq talking about?"

He grinned, satisfied with her answer as he held her close to him, his hands around her waist. "About not following my lead when it comes to ending a relationship."

She grimaced. "So he really will do it?" She wasn't surprised, given her sister's behaviour over the last few months, but that didn't stop her from feeling bad for them both.

"It's looking likely," he nodded. "But I think I've managed to convince him to give her tonight... He might just avoid her or go back to his room to avoid doing it so publicly."

She scoffed. "Cause that'll go down well."

"Well, he's got to do it at some point, and we're both in agreement that it shouldn't be tonight, so when is he supposed to do it?" He smirked, getting a shrug in response.

As the night wore on, the friends drank and laughed together and danced until their feet grew tired and they grew more intoxicated, and eventually they made the decision to go home to their beds. Boq had managed to avoid Nessa for the rest of the night, leaving early, Nessa hadn't been too far behind him.

"Come on, you." Fiyero hauled Elphaba to her feet from a chair, just about keeping his own balance as she fell into him with a laugh, while Ollivander propped Glinda against him. The boys grabbed their girlfriends' bags and they left the Ozdust Ballroom. The girls stumbled in the street and they laughed together, almost bumping into a woman walking by.

"Oops, sorry!" Glinda giggled.

"It's alright," the woman fixed her hood before her face could be revealed. "I hope you've had a good evening." She hurried by.

The voice twitched Elphaba's subconscious, but her alcohol fogged brain failed to make a connection, and she reached out for her best friend once more. "Lin, I want to go home."

"We're going, Fae," Fiyero answered as the cab pulled up in front of the four of them and they get into it.

"Wait, where's Nessa?" Her words were slurred.

"She went home an hour ago," Ollivander told her.

"I told you to watch your limit, Fae," Fiyero chided gently with a brush of her hair. He'd be amazed if they completed the journey, never mind got up the stairs to her room without her vomiting. "You're gonna have one hell of a hangover in the morning."

She gave no comment to that, thinking it wise to concentrate on her breathing, trying to hold off the urge to be sick, and the ride back to the university seemed bumpier than she remembered, making her task more difficult.

Ollivander cursed himself for getting the most unstable cart in Oz, and it looked like Glinda was about to fail in her own attempts. "Lurline, tell me we're there," he muttered.

A short time later, the driver announced their arrival outside Crage Hall and the Gillikin male paid the man before he and Fiyero ushered the girls out quickly. As soon as their feet touched the grass, they both doubled over, bringing up the contents of their stomachs. They were then carried up to their dorm room, the males ignoring the glares from the guard at the entrance to the dormitories. With the girls asleep by the time they were put to bed, the boys left quickly.

Glinda had made her way into Elphaba's bed by morning, curled around her friend like a koala bear.

Elphaba woke but kept her eyes closed, silently thankful they had thought to close the curtains before they left the night before, and she was willing the Munchkins in her head to stop using her skull as a personal Tamborine. She no longer felt sick but she knew her headache wasn't going anywhere any time soon. "How did we get back here?"

"Maybe Lurline got us back here..." Glinda muttered.

"Lin, Lurline doesn't-"

"Shh... Elphie... Too loud..."

The green girl merely shrugged and quickly fell back to sleep. When she awoke hours later, Glinda was still curled up with her and she could hear rainfall against her window, and she felt a hand brushing at her hair gently. She slowly opened her eyes, seeing Fiyero's teasing gaze on her. "What?" She grumbled.

"Nothing." He smirked. "How's the head?"

"Feels like the Lollipop Guild is dancing in my head."

"What?"

"It's a Munchkin thing, Fifi." Glinda huffed from her place behind her friend. "Now can you please stop talking."

He nodded, chuckling softly. "Alright," he stayed with them, tending to them through their hangovers for the rest of the afternoon, laughing at their grouching and dodging hands flying to smack him.

"If you put me through this again, I'm leaving you," Elphaba had threatened, but the effect was lost in her tone of voice and her pout.

He nodded. "If you say so, my love," he smirked.