Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2009. Found: 2018- Licia

Two weeks later, Glinda came back from class to find Elphaba throwing clothes into her duffel. Though the girls were far from close friends, they did actually enjoy each others' company, so if the blonde were to make a guess, they were on the way to being friends. "Um... Elphie?"

Though Elphaba didn't particularly care for the nickname, she tolerated it, like she tolerated the blonde. The girl didn't hear her. After a moment, she moved towards the girl, tapping her on the shoulder, and Elphaba removed her headphones, turning to her. "Sorry, um... what are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing, Glinda?"

"Packing?"

"Exactly. Yero and I have that tournament in two days, remember? We have to catch a train back to the Vinkus this evening, so you'll have the room to yourself for the weekend."

"Oh." Silence fell, and Elphaba slipped her headphones back in, returning to her packing. Once done, she grabbed her a jacket and tossed it over her shoulder, heading for the door. "Elphie!" The green girl stopped, turning back to her roommate, who stood in the doorway. She removed a headphone, waiting. "Can... can I watch it... somewhere?"

"The tournament?" Glinda nodded. "Yeah. Sports channel at seven pm Shiz time on Sunday. Technically, the tournament is two days, but if you want to skip all that-"

"So it starts... Saturday?" It was Elphaba's turn to nod. "Okay. I'll watch it."

The majestic, historical beauty of St. Prowd's loomed over them and Elphaba sighed. Those participating in the tournament were expected to stay at St. Prowd's for the weekend; the current students were sent home, therefore given time off to watch the match. With its old, brick walls and spiraling towers, St. Prowd's possessed more of an ancient castle vibe than an athletic school one.

"Feels good to be home, doesn't it?" Yero asked, joining her. She grinned.

"You have no idea. Come on."

Once everyone was settled- Fiyero and Elphaba in the room they'd shared for ten years- the athletes, from all different walks of life, gathered for a late lunch. Elphaba and Fiyero knew many of them; they were good friends with several other Roaring players, regardless of age or home country.

"Yero! Fabala!"

The pair looked up as Avaric Tenmeadows weaved his way through the crowd; Avaric, born in Gillikin, was the Skip for the all-male Gillikinese Roaring team. Two years older than the pair, he'd managed to make a career out of Roaring from an early age, and was one of the top players in Oz. "Avaric! Good to see you again!" Fiyero gave him a quick hug before allowing Elphaba to do the same.

"Come on, I've got a couple spots saved." The Gillikinese led the pair through the throng of people, to three seats a table filled with other players the pair had either played or against. "So, you guys ready for this? This is the big one; win Nationals, and we get to try for Qualifications."

"Should be easy." A young sweeper named Crope called from the other end of the table. "Everyone will be so distracted by the Munchkinland teams' pants they'll forget how to play." A wave of laughter came up from everyone at the table except for a young Skip named Boq, of Munchkin decent.

"Ha, ha, very funny." He replied, though he knew it was true. The Munchkinland teams were known in the Roaring world more for their bright, lollipop-checker-colored pants than their playing. Jokes from the other teams at the Munchkins' expense was all in good fun, and everyone knew it.

"Someone better call in the Lollipop Guild! We've found they're missing pants!" Tibbett, a sweeper on Crope's team- the Emerald City, to be exact- called out, and even Boq couldn't help cracking a smile.

Elphaba bit into her fish, letting the laughter and conversation surround her. This was what she loved about Roaring- the camaraderie, the excitement of a tournament hours before it actually began, the fact that players from all over Oz could come together and forget their differences- be it country, skin or upbringing- and simply play a game. She had more friends from the Roaring world than she did anywhere else. No one noticed her skin, or the scars on her body, no one noticed the emotional and mental damage she suffered. They noticed her playing, and that was all that mattered.

"So, Yero, I hear you two went to Shiz University." Crope said, taking a sip of his soda. Yero glanced at Elphaba, before nodding and pushing his salad aside. "How is it?"

"So boring." Elphaba injected. "I'd rather spend all my time on the ice than sit in class listening to professors drone on about subjects nobody gives a damn about. I'd get more out of studying the ice we play on than studying in a classroom."

"Or studying each other." A young player named Manek joked, and the pair shared a glance. "Please tell me you've finally hit that pretty thing sitting beside you, Yero, because if you haven't, I will." He winked at Elphaba and she rolled her eyes, knowing it was all in good fun.

It was well known in the Roaring world that Fiyero and Elphaba were one of the strongest Mixed Double teams to ever play. They had an uncanny ability to read each other's thoughts, even from one-hundred-fifty feet away, and their plays were rarely off mark. The strength they shared in playing Doubles only made the overall team stronger, and many of the players conceded to Elphaba, who, as the Skip, was the strongest player, the one who usually threw the last two stones, the one who's last throws were usually the ones that won them matches. As one of the youngest players on the team, there was a healthy amount of respect for the young woman.

"Don't even think about it, Manek." Fiyero replied, sliding an arm around Elphaba's waist and tugging her closer to laughter and whistles. He kissed her softly, and Avaric rolled his eyes.

"Why don't you two just up and get married already? Saves Fabala the trouble of having to back to that despicable man, and your sponsorships would double- especially since you're the number one contenders to most likely go to the Games."

Elphaba laughed. "Us? Get married? I mean, not a bad idea, but..."

"But what?"

She shrugged, glancing at Fiyero. "Just... no."

"But why? Don't you two love each other?"