Fiyero paced outside the girls' locker room, a nervous hand rumpling through his hair. As he passed by, Bidsk clapped a large hand on his shoulder.

"Settle, boy. You get your extra credit either way."

He forced a wan smile. "I just really want her to do well. She's worked so hard."

The coach nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He thumped Fiyero again absently as he steered him out of the locker room and up to the gym.

Fiyero had asked to start with baseball, thanks to Elphaba's relative comfort with it, but Bidsk insisted on retesting in order. Which meant basketball first.

His stomach churned as he sat on the bleachers, tense and powerless to do anything to help her now. She walked out from the dressing room, her school-issued uniform showing far more of her long, lean leg than he'd have guessed. Who knew she was hiding that under her baggy sweats?

She bent over to stretch, the short grey shorts sliding higher on her thigh, and Fiyero wondered how Bidsk could have managed to give her less than an A, no matter how bad she'd been. He'd give her extra credit just to wear that more often. Did all the girls wear that?

An image swam to mind of a crowd of young, attractive girls in short shorts and cropped tops with Elphaba and Galinda in the center, all bare legs and arms and midriffs. He needed to come to class with her more often.

Tavon plopped into a seat beside him, and Fiyero greeted him with a nod. "You look happy."

"Thrilled." He raked a hand through his hair again. "You think Coach feels this way in our games?"

They glanced over at the balding, thickset man with a permanent expression of boredom etched across his face. "Nah." Tavon looked back to Fiyero. "You think she'll pass?"

"I hope so. She's gotten better, but basketball … it really gets in her head."

"Yeah."

"Where's Aeric?"

Tavon shrugged. "I didn't tell him. Figured you didn't need to deal with his crap today." He propped his elbows on the bleacher behind him. "Plus, he'd only be here to ogle the girls."

"And you?"

"Sheer and utter boredom. If I see another page of history notes, I'll have to murder someone." Then he sat up and nodded toward the door. "Who's that?"

Fiyero's face dropped at the sight of a blonde in pink framed by the doorway. She came over. "Galinda."

"Fiyero."

Her eyes flicked to Tavon, who was staring…blatantly. "Hi?"

"Hey there, beautiful." Fiyero would have laughed at the cheesy line delivered in a false deep voice if he hadn't felt like vomiting.

"What're you doing here?"

She sat primly on the edge of the bench, a clear sign of her unease. "It's her first retest. Of course I'm here." He should've guessed. They were best friends after all. She beamed and waved at Elphaba, whose eye roll couldn't disguise her smile. Then Elphaba's eyes shifted to him, and he did his best to force a reassuring grin.

She bit her lip. Okay, maybe not so reassuring. "Excuse me." He slipped down to the court for a quick pep talk and certainly not to escape the awkwardness in the bleachers. He bounced a fist against Elphaba's shoulder. "How you feeling?"

"Fine." Her impassive face didn't fool him. She'd retreated into the logic that wouldn't help in the slightest.

"You'll do fine." She nodded, unimpressed. When she took a step to leave, he caught her hand. "Don't over-think it. You'll be great."

She pressed her lips in a line.

"Or I'll tackle Bidsk and get you a redo." She smirked, and he knew he almost had her. He cracked his knuckles and wiggled his eyebrows. Her face split into a reluctant grin.

"Shut up."

He grinned back at her. "Should I give you a slap for good luck?" She shoved him. "What? Quarterbacks always do that, don't they?"

"Wrong sport, genius."

"Or you could slap mine." She cackled at his wink, and if not for their spectators, he would have shaken his butt at her to push it farther. Oz, he loved teasing her.

"Go." She sent him back to the bleachers with a stern hand on her hip, and he gamely complied. Distracting her had eased the crushing anxiety…until he saw what waited in the stands.

Tavon leaned precariously with an arm propped behind Galinda. He had an enraptured expression as she talked, her eyes bright. Then she caught his gaze. The joy fizzled out, and her smile faded.

Tavon and Galinda? He gulped a groan. It was one thing for her to date other guys. But his friend? And even if they did have some irresistible fate connection, did they have to get together right in front of him?

Elphaba took her place at the free-throw line, and he focused his attention on her. She dribbled the ball and eyed the basket. He could practically hear her analyzing everything she'd worked on in their lessons. "Relax," he muttered under his breath, willing her to do it, "relax, damn it."

She held up the ball, muscles coiled in anticipation, and with the best form she could muster, shot it. It bounced off the rim with a dull thwack. She forced a deep breath and looked to him.

He forced a smile. "Close," he said. "Aim for the net, not the rim."

She tried again, narrowing in on the basket. "Oh, I never knew that." Galinda's giggle brought his attention. "I'm sure I'd be terrible."

"I'd be happy to help you, if you'd like."

He swore he could hear her eyelashes fluttering. "Oh, well, I don't think I'm really the athletic type." Fiyero snorted. Not with those nails, she wasn't. It might chip the precious paint.

A silence told him she'd heard his snort and interpreted it correctly. "Anyway, coaching doesn't seem to have helped Elphaba any, though of course you aren't her trainer. I'm sure you'd do much better."

Tavon's voice was taken aback by the sudden cattiness. "Fiyero's great, and I know he's put a lot of time into this. I'm sure it's just nerves."

"Right." He could imagine her blush. "Of course."

Tavon's reply stung in its own way. He refocused on his student as she missed her fourth shot. Without a word, he slipped from his seat and crossed the court to her.

She looked startled. He took the ball and stood in front of her. "Try not to concentrate so hard."

"I am trying," she insisted. "I'm relaxing and aiming and not concentrating and thinking about not thinking and everything."

He couldn't help the laugh. Sometimes she could be unbearably cute. He ignored her glare. "Shoot past me."

Her skepticism showed in her eyes, but she picked up the ball. He knocked it away. Her eyes widened, and he grinned. For a moment she stared at him, until he saw it shift. Competition, that was the way with her.

She lifted the ball past him and aimed a shot. The ball went through the hoop as it had numerous times the last six times they'd played.

It helped him, too, to focus on her instead of the trauma brewing in the bleachers. He threw himself into stealing the ball and making her work for it back. As the time ticked past, his enthusiasm became more genuine than forced. The world shrunk to the pair of them horsing around on the court like every other morning.

"That's ten in. Good enough." Bidsk set the clipboard down with a grunt. "And I'll count Tiggular's interference as the second half. You're done."

She hadn't made all of them, but she'd passed. He grinned. "You did it."

Her grateful expression held a restrained, almost shy note. "Yeah. One down."

"Be excited, would you?" He threw his arm around her, unimpressed with her caution. "We made it through the first retest."

"But there's still over a dozen tests left to go."

Ugh, she would focus on the negative. Before he could rebuke her, Galinda and Tavon walked up to congratulate her. He couldn't miss the way the blonde held his friend's hand, cheeks flushed and smile bright. So they were together, then. If not yet official, at least in a practical, inevitable sense.

"Elphie!" Galinda dropped said hand to throw her arms around her roommate's neck. "You did it."

"Fiyero helped," came the quick answer, which he waved off.

"Not from what I saw," Tavon teased. "That's some pretty weak game, Yero. Can't even block a girl."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elphaba turned on him, and Fiyero had to stop her before she could build up any steam.

"Nothing. He's just jealous that we're both better free-throw shooters than he is, if our last game has anything to show."

"Ooh, too far." Tavon reeled from an imaginary blow. "Way to go below the belt. If I remember, you weren't so spectacular yourself."

Galinda linked her arm with his, and just like that, Fiyero didn't feel like playing any more. He guided the group toward the door. Elphaba sensed his change in mood and caught his elbow before he followed the others out. "Hey. What's with you?"

"Nothing."

She eyed him, then decided to let it go. "I've got to change, but if you wait, we can work out a schedule for next week."

Ah, distraction, their favorite diversion. He flashed a grin. "Do you have to change? Those are some pretty wicked shorts."

"Shut up." She rolled her eyes. "You'll wait?"

"Course."

He lounged against the same wall, this time much more relaxed. Bidsk gave him a look. "No practice today, kid. It's Saturday."

"I know, sir. I'm just waiting for Elphaba."

"Oh." He took a step down the hall, then turned back as if hesitant to broach the subject. "She did alright."

"Thanks, coach."

"You, um," he cleared his throat, "you should be proud." Then before Fiyero could wipe the surprised expression off his face, Bidsk retreated to his office down the hall.

Elphaba opened the door before he had recovered. "You alright?" She drew the words out as if he held a knife to a kitten. "You seem a little…dazed."

He grinned. "Those shorts will do that to a guy."

She shoved his arm and started toward the door. "Lecher."

"Sexy."

She snorted. "Riiight. That's me. One hundred percent seductress."

"You trollop, you." He fell in step with her. "So what's the plan tonight?"

Her face turned serious in an instant. "I thought we could tackle soccer next. I know I have a few make-ups to go first, but I think it might be my worst."

"Okay, first of all, scary thought. But that's not what I meant. What's the plan to celebrate? Dinner? Champagne? Crazy, wild party at the Ozdust?"

She stared at him as if he'd grown three heads.

"I didn't think the last one was very likely, but a boy can hope." Elphaba fidgeted with the strap to her bag, and he spun her to face him. "No. Uh, uh."

"What?"

"You are not going to hole up in your room and blow this off like you weren't completely awesome."

She sighed. "I wasn't. I wouldn't have passed if you hadn't come down."

"But I did, and you did." He fought the urge to shake her. "Fine, then come out because I was awesome."

A smile seeped through her guard. "You don't need me to throw yourself a party."

"Oz, you're insufferable. You're coming to dinner with me, and you're going to celebrate. Or else."

She laughed at his melodrama. "Or else what?"

"I will kidnap you and hold you hostage for a week's worth of classes." He narrowed his eyes in mock challenge. "And I'll tell Galinda that you would love a makeover. Complete with a paid-for shopping spree."

"You can't hold me hostage and send me for fashion torture at the same time."

"I can. I'm resourceful."

"Sadly, you are." She shrugged. "If I have no choice…"

"You don't."

"Fine. Let's go."

But he could pull her away, Liamappeared at the edge of a clearing. He waved hello before they could duck away, and Elphaba took a subconscious step closer to him. "Elphaba!" The boy jogged up with a grin. "How are you? I haven't seen you around much lately." She blanched.

"Oh, you know, training hard for all those retests," Fiyero supplied. "In fact, we should get a move on. We're celebrating her first pass."

"That's great! I knew you'd be amazing."

She wanted to argue, but she settled for a tense "thanks."

"So where are we going?"

The question took Fiyero aback. He hadn't meant it as an invitation, but as an excuse. Surely the boy could have guessed that. He slid an arm around Elphaba's waist in a clearer dismissal. "I don't know, babe. Where do you want me to take you?"

"Home."

He ignored her gibe and flashed a wide grin. "Before that, sweetheart." He turned to Liam. "Women. Always want the dessert before the meal."

He didn't risk a look at her, but he felt her displeasure in a sharp elbow to his ribs. Liam took a step back. "Oh." A dogged look crept into his face. "Well, you'll have to let me buy you a drink, wherever you want."

"Some other time." He waved at Avaric on the opposite side of the street, who started toward them. "We'd better get going."

"Right. Some other time." He grinned at Elphaba. "Congratulations, Elphie."

"Don't call me that."

Fiyero waved goodbye and hauled her after him before she could entrap them again. He waited until they'd met Avaric to drop his arm. "Come on. We're going out tonight."

Avaric eyed Elphaba. "The artichoke, too? Doesn't she turn into a pumpkin after nine?" He grinned at his own vegetable humor, and Fiyero gave a heavy sigh.

"Be nice."

Elphaba edged away. "I'm tired, anyway. We can celebrate some other time."

"Celebrate?" Avaric perked up. "What're we celebrating? Did the cabbage finally get a heart?"

"Aw, did the monkey finally get a brain?"

"Can you two stop it?" Fiyero pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "Never mind, I don't want to put up with you two bickering all night." He pointed at Elphaba. "You are coming to a nice dinner with me, and you're going to drink some wine and admit that you did well today." He turned on Avaric. "You are going to behave, or go find something else to do until after dinner because I am tired of you two pestering each other."

Avaric's attention had already moved on. "Whatever. Find me after."

Fiyero guided them toward one of his favorite restaurants, until he caught sight of Galinda through the window. He winced.

"Care to talk about it?" His head jerked up to catch her neutral expression.

His answer offered no argument, "Nope." He spun her around with a fake smile plastered over his face. "What do you say to some seafood? I know just the place."