Chapter Ten: The Only Time Elphaba Ever Shuts Up

"It's a good thing we got most of this done before, when we weren't dating," Elphaba murmured, sitting in Fiyero's lap in one of the study rooms, the books on the table unopened.

"Why?" Fiyero asked, burying his face in her hair.

"Because we can't seem to get anything done now." She shook her head to ward him off. "But we do have a few things to finish and it's due tomorrow. We can't go on, well, doing this sort of thing when we have to get this project done!"

"'This sort of thing'?" Fiyero raised his eyebrows.

"You know… kissing and such."

He grinned, "and such?"

"Fiyero! Please, we have to get this done." Elphaba pouted.

She knew he couldn't fight that, otherwise she wouldn't have made that face. He sighed. "Fine. It's awkward, you know that."

"I don't care! I'd rather sit here and deal with some awkward moments than fail the project, Fiyero." Elphaba insisted. She opened a book and began reading.

Fiyero shoved her off of his lap. "It's hard to read when you're sitting there."

She nodded and readjusted herself on the chair that was scooted completely next to his. "Okay. I wrote the paper the other night. Alone. I couldn't do it with you around. Now, we have to work on the presentation – including pictures, remember?"

"Wait, pictures? He's really lucky he didn't assign someone like Avaric to this subject, because he'd get a class pornography show." Fiyero commented. "But how, exactly, does he expect us to get pictures?"

"Draw?" Elphaba guessed. "Besides, reproduction isn't just human. All living things do it. We can draw plants and their 'reproduction' cycle with the pollen and such."

Fiyero grabbed some paper. "I'll do it. Good idea."

"I'll write the captions to go under the pictures. Then all that's left is to figure out exactly what we're going to say when we present."

However, they didn't end up deciding how their presentation would go, they found the thought of one last kiss too enticing. They didn't lose control or anything, but wasted enough time in that heated kiss (that they'd sworn would be short) that they would be late for lights out if they stayed to work things out. Elphaba said they'd think something up on the spot.

They were holding hands tightly (okay, so Fiyero was clutching Elphaba's hand and she was losing circulation) when Dr. Nikidik called their names to present. Ripping her hand out of his, Elphaba looked at him with blank eyes. She needed to remind him that, in front of the class, they were merely peers working on a project. He nodded and they headed down the bleachers to set up.

Fiyero began standing up the poster. "We did our project on the several biological reproduction techniques."

Elphaba ignored the snigger that she was positive had come from Avaric's direction. "Some organisms reproduce by themselves, and that's called asexual reproduction." The word "asexual" felt funny on her tongue. What was wrong with her? She couldn't be so immature that she wouldn't use any form of the word "sex" in front of her boyfriend.

No one else had noticed anything odd about the word, including Fiyero. "Fungi reproduce asexually."

"And viruses. Other living organisms reproduce sexually." Why was her face heating up every time she said something?

Again, it seemed that there wasn't a soul in the room who saw Elphaba's embarrassment, and Fiyero continued. "Like animals, Animals and humans."

Focus on the damn project. She looked around her. The poster! "Plants also reproduce. Though their reproduction cycle is much different than that of animals, Animals and humans." Elphaba was getting close to stumbling on her words, so she cut herself off.

Fiyero glanced at her inquisitively. He didn't know what was going on, so he continued. This could wait; the project could not, as she'd reminded him time and time again. "Plants reproduce using seeds…"

Elphaba was still biting her lip and blushing furiously. She turned away and just pointed a trembling finger at the pictures as Fiyero talked, hating herself but unable to force any more words.

When the presentation was finally over, Fiyero and Elphaba sat down and the next group (Avaric and Crope) rose to present. Fiyero took Elphaba's hand once they'd reached their seats and ran his fingers along her knuckles soothingly. She threw him an appreciative smile.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

He took out a pen and dropped her hand as he gathered a notebook as well and opened to an empty page. Quickly he wrote: What was that about?

Elphaba took the pen when he handed it to her and held it to the page, pausing. I'm not quite sure.

You have to have some idea.

What are you saying?

Nothing. Just… tell me what's wrong, please?

She closed her eyes. He didn't have to say words and she could hear him begging sweetly. It's a long story. I'm not upset or anything, I promise. I'll talk to you later.

We've got time. It's not like it's very important to listen to these two talking about the cellular make-up of fish.

See, he's being discriminatory! He made them work on fish. He didn't bother talking about Fish.

Fiyero sighed and almost tore the notebook away. It was back to politics, was it? Calm down. He probably didn't mean to.

I'm sure. Whatever. What are you doing after class?

I'm walking you back to your dorm like I always do.

Let's go for dinner, just the two of us, okay?

Fiyero studied her face, but she was pretending to pay attention. He smiled. Okay. I'd like that.

Let me just stop by my dorm so I can get some money.

I'll pay.

Not this time.

I always do.

Not this time.

Why are we having this argument when you know I'll win?

Elphaba stifled a giggle and ignored his gaze. Because I like to know I'm at least attempting to take care of myself.

If you don't want me to take care of you, what's the point of dating?

Other stuff… I guess… Like just being together.

Couldn't we do that as friends?

You know what I mean, Fiyero.

I do?

Stop it before I hit you in front of the entire class.

I dare you.

You know I will.

I know you won't.

Fine. You win. Twice.

I'm saving this one. Fiyero snatched the paper before Elphaba could attempt to rip it up and stuffed it in the pocket further from her. He knew she'd never stick her hand into his pocket – think of how that would look! The thought of how it would feel left him spending the rest of the hour playing with Elphaba's fingers and trying desperately to think of something else.

As the class ended, Dr. Nikidik watched the couple exit the lecture hall, amused. Their romance was a sweet one, he observed, and smiled thoughtfully. They were quite a colorful couple. He hadn't even meant to play matchmaker when he'd paired them together for the project. Nonetheless, he couldn't help but feel some speck of pride, thinking they likely wouldn't be dating if not for the project. Those days, he rarely saw students who looked at one another that way, and it was refreshing, to say the least.

Elphaba stirred her tea pensively as she contemplated how to explain her odd behavior. She glanced across the table at Fiyero, who, as always, was watching her affectionately. "I'm still mad about not being allowed to pay for myself, you know."

He chuckled. Then he looked at her seriously and asked, "What was wrong during class?"

"Fiyero, ah, have you ever, well, I don't know, felt uncomfortable talking about, um, certain things with me?" Elphaba scratched at her neck uneasily.

He cocked his head at her. "Like what?"

"Well," she tried desperately not to have to say anything straightforward, "the project."

"What in Oz would make me uncomfortable talking about a project we did for Life Sciences class?"

She kicked him gently beneath the table. "I mean what we did the project on."

"Oh!" Fiyero then stared at the table. "I don't know. Not really. I mean, I guess maybe it's weird to talk about sex…" He looked up at her, alarmed.

She'd squirmed painfully when he'd said the word "sex". "Sorry." Elphaba tried to glance at Fiyero but could not raise her eyes to his.

"Oh my Oz, you're really bothered, aren't you?" There was a hint of amused delight in his voice along with concern.

"It's not funny."

"I didn't say it was." But it was a bit entertaining. Even the nerveless, fearless Elphaba had things that she hid from. "Elphaba, though, you know you can't just avoid talking about sex," he accentuated the word just to watch her tense, "for the rest of your life, you know."

She winced and swallowed hard. "I certainly can."

"Oh, right. And what happens when you actually have sex?"

"Would you stop saying that?" She snapped.

"Elphaba…"

Elphaba was on a rant, and nothing would stop her, so she continued, "And you know what's really odd? I can say it to anyone else. No problem. But when it came to you and the project, it just wasn't coming out."

Fiyero stared at her. "I think I know what your problem is."

"Oh?"

He didn't know subtlety and didn't care to; he also had gotten used to speaking with her about such things, though she apparently hadn't. "Well, you can't mention any of that sort of thing with me because, well, we're dating and you never know, we might end up…" Fiyero saw the horror on her face. "I wasn't saying anytime soon! Chill out. I'm just saying it's more awkward to talk to me, maybe, because of all of the people you talk about it with, I'm the most likely to be the one you do it with."

"What makes you think I'd ever?" She challenged.

"You're dating me, Elphaba. And it's not like we don't kiss a lot and, well, kiss very… long."

Elphaba's face was so dark she might as well have been from the Vinkus. "But that doesn't mean I ever want to… to… do that with you."

"You're not attracted to me?"

"I am, but I don't think about that. Are you saying that you're attracted to me and you do think about that?"

Now it was Fiyero's turn to get anxious. "You… I… okay, you know what? It's best we don't talk about this. You're right."