Over the next couple weeks, Elphaba passed her baseball retest as well as its more aerobic cousin, tennis. They'd spent some time on soccer and bicycling, though the latter left Fiyero feeling uncomfortably like a young father as he let go of her handlebars. Her push-ups and abdominal crunches were shaping up, and she could run a full 45 minutes without losing her breath. Overall, he felt like the best coach in the history of coaches.

"We should start on the flexibility exercises," she offered, passing him a piece of toast. He munched it happily and nodded. "I think I might be okay with balance, but I haven't tried anything past the basics."

"They're not my strength, either, but the fundaments are the same. Shouldn't take you too long to pick up."

"You're feeling optimistic today. Does your friend's mysterious absence have anything to do with that?"

He felt himself frown. "Nope." But his eyes automatically sought out Galinda surrounded by her usual gaggle. Tavon hadn't spoken to her in at least three days, but Fiyero knew that didn't mean much. They might not be together, but that didn't mean they weren't about to be.

"You could tell him it bothers you."

He stole another piece of her toast. "But since it doesn't, how about we focus on where to work on your stretches. I'm guessing you don't want to practice on the courts, and your room's not an option with Galinda still wanting to murder me."

"She doesn't want to murder you."

He went for her apple, but she snatched it out of his grip. "Spoilsport."

She took a smug bite and propped herself back against the table. "Let's do your room."

"Are you saying you feel most comfortable in my bedroom?"

She slapped his hand away mid-reach. "I'm saying I don't want the world staring at my butt."

"Just me, huh." He winked. "It's alright. You can stare at mine, too."

She let out a long sigh despite knowing he didn't mean it. "Volleyball it is."

"You think I couldn't ogle your butt in volleyball, too?" But he picked up her tray as a gesture of good faith. "Might even make it easier. Less distractions."

"Until you get hit in the head with the ball."

"Yes, well, except for that." He dumped the tray off at the cafeteria's exit. "Six sound good?"

"Make it seven-thirty. I've got to study for an actual class first."

"Ouch." He fell in step beside her though his class met in the opposite building. "Huh. I don't know if I've ever seen my room at seven-thirty before."

She rolled her eyes. "How are you tutoring me?"

"Good genes."

He justified skipping his class to review flexibility exercises himself. All teasing aside, he really wanted her to do well. And if that meant a little homework for him, so be it. Training her had gotten him out of countless assignments already.

He decided he might show her some yoga, too. If anyone needed a way to relax, she did. He spent a little time flipping through pictures of girls modeling various poses before he started to feel like a pervert.

With his conscience needling him, he picked up the book for the class he missed. He paged through it, hoping he would recognize what the class had covered. Nothing looked familiar. Was this the right book? He shuffled through the paperwork on his desk in search of the syllabus.

That made him noticed how badly his room needed to be cleaned. He piled up his clothing and straightened some of the mess. Pleased with his bout of productivity, he decided to take a break.

The coffee shop was crowded, but no more than normal. He got a double espresso and retreated to the patio to look for a seat. All the tables were occupied, but Fiyero figured he would know at least somebody. Sure enough, scrunched in the back corner was the munchkin that sometimes hung out with Elphaba. He plopped into the seat opposite.

"Hey. Boq, right?"

The boy's head jerked up in surprise. "Um, yeah. Hey. What're you…what's up?

"Crowded today, huh?" Fiyero jerked his head toward the packed building with an easy demeanor. He didn't remember Boq being this jumpy. "Good book?"

Boq closed the text with a frown. "Not particularly. We've got a test tomorrow. I swear, no one can understand this stupid book. Even Elphaba has to study."

"Oh, that's what she has to work on." Boq furrowed his brow, so Fiyero explained, "She had to postpone our workout."

"Yeah, how's that going? I can't picture Elphaba as athletic."

Fiyero sipped his coffee to hide his frown. He tried not to react defensively as the boy hadn't meant it as an insult. He was Elphaba's friend too, after all. "She's not bad. Getting better every day."

"Do you tutor anyone else? I'd imagine you could make some money if you wanted."

"Nah." The thought of tutoring anyone else felt wrong somehow. "Too much work. This gets me out of class, which is way better than money."

He didn't add that he would do it for free regardless. Helping Elphaba barely felt like work, anyway. It felt like an honor. How many people could say they were tutoring a genius like her?

Boq fidgeted a little in the silence, so Fiyero prompted, "You're dating her sister, right?"

The boy flushed a deep scarlet. "Um, no."

"Oh. Sorry. I thought-"

"I was." Boq stared at his empty cup. "We broke up."

"Oh." Fiyero took a large swallow to hide the awkwardness. "Sorry about that. Your idea or hers?"

"Both of us." So him. "It just didn't work out."

He clearly didn't want to talk about it, so Fiyero let it drop. "Well, good luck on your test."

"Thanks."

Fiyero picked up both the empty cups and gestured a goodbye. Part of him wanted to go harass Elphaba (the newly caffeinated part, no doubt), but he decided to get a quick run in. By the time he'd gotten back and showered, it was already a quarter past seven.

The knock on his door took him by surprise. He tugged on a shirt and opened the door with, "You're early."

Avaric propped his forearm against the doorframe. "Dressing down, I see."

"Training. Elphaba had to study late."

Avaric rolled his eyes. "Of course she did."

"Stop."

"Whatever. So you're out for tonight, then?" He wiggled a bottle of whiskey. "Philosophy Club with twins. I'll share, but if you take them both again, I'm punching you in the nuts."

He pushed back his hair. "Nah, I'll pass." Avaric gave him an odd look. "Wouldn't want to get punched because I'm so much more attractive than you. How can I help it that women can't resist me?"

Elphaba came up behind Avaric, eyebrows raised. "I see I'm interrupting the think tank of the century."

"Artichoke." Avaric nodded at her in an almost civil manner, if not for the slur.

She returned the gesture. "Algae."

"Have a nice 'training session'."

"Have fun destroying your last couple brain cells."

Fiyero fought a sigh. "Okay, and with that, I'll see you later Avaric. Enjoy your twins."

"Oh, I plan to."

Elphaba stripped off her jacket as he shut the door. "How can you be friends with him?"

"He's not so bad. You got other clothes?"

"Yeah. Where should I change?" He flashed a grin, but she had already started toward his bathroom. "You cleaned."

"Yep." Was it that noticeable? "I wouldn't want you fleeing in terror."

"Bored?"

"Like you wouldn't believe."

She came back out, long hair swept up and long legs bared by her gym shorts. "What first?"

"Arms." He fell into his teaching role, adjusting her posture so she could feel the stretch. They'd started easy, but after a few minutes, he could tell she was already flexible enough to pass. And she could touch her toes, much to his enjoyment. "Ready for some yoga?"

"Yoga?"

"The first one is basically the toe-stretch you have to pass." He helped her into position, a flat hand on her upper back to guide her forward. Then he took the pose on the floor beside her. "Focus on your breaths."

They fell into a warm silence, breathing in time. "I'm going to fall asleep."

"Relaxing, right?"

"Are you saying I need to relax?"

He sat up. "Lurline, yes. You're like the epitome of tightly-wound."

"Gee, thanks." She stood up. "Let's do another."

He demonstrated a lunging position that she copied. "It's got some stupid name. They all do, but I can't remember it to save my life. Probably raining chicken or shivering squirrel or something."

"Leaping antelope."

"Flying frog."

"Who're you calling a frog?" She glared, but her laughter took out any hint of serious offense.

"Try to bring your hips in, like this." She adjusted, but her posture slipped forward. He set a hand on her lower back and one on her shoulder. "Balance."

"Are you trying to torture me?"

"How else do you expect to get better? Here, try this one." He showed her a side extension. "It should be good for your back."

"How long do I have to hold it?"

"Not long. Focus on your breaths. It'll get easier."

She made a concerted effort for deeper breaths, and he could see her gradually relaxing into the pose.

"You're doing great. Want a hard one?"

She shrugged. "Why not?"

He showed her an inversion, difficult enough that he'd had to practice it. "Good. Stretch for the ground. Remember to breathe."

"Easy for you to say," her voice muffled with her chin pressed to her chest. "I feel like taffy."

"Three, two, one. Okay, up." He propped a hand against her back to help her untangle herself. "Last one." Once she'd lifted her legs, he helped her elevate into a modified handstand. "Slower motion. Feel the muscles stretch as you lift yourself up."

"You mean burn?"

"You can do this." He set a hand on her thigh so she wouldn't fall as she moved. "Great. Now, legs down and back, like half a jumping jack."

"Masochist."

But she did it. "Five more." He took a step back, impressed with her progress. "Four. Great, lift up. Don't tip forward." She righted herself and made it through another scissor-kick. "Three. Push your weight up through your feet like a string is pulling you toward the ceiling." Her back lengthened.

"Oh, I'm going to feel this tomorrow."

He chuckled. "You're doing amazing. Hips back. Two more." She started to wobble. "Breathe in. Find your center." But her arms couldn't cope with the pressure of the extra motion. He tried to steady her, but got there too late to do anything but topple over with her. Her knee caught his stomach with an, "oof."

She let out a cackle, which morphed into a genuine laugh that had him joining in. "Well, that went well."

Her eyes danced in the lamplight, brightened by her wide smile. Before he even formed the intention, he caught her chin and kissed her.

Shocked, they both froze against each other, but then the intensity of the feeling flooded through him. Oz, she felt amazing. How had he never kissed her before?

Her lips were so soft. He deepened the kiss as his other hand came to her side. His heart pounded. He sucked her bottom lip in his mouth, and she mumbled an 'mm' against his lips. He rolled them so he lay on top of her, and his hand drifted to her hipbone. Her breath came fast now, unsteady. He wandered to her neck, nipping and soothing the delicate skin. "Um, Fiyero…"

His hand slipped up, under the thick cotton of her blouse, and he returned to her lips. He stroked the soft, smooth skin of her stomach, higher and higher. Her fingers fisted in his shirt, and he buried his other hand in her hair. His hips rocked against hers, lost in the same whirlwind of feeling as the rest of him.

It took him a long moment to realize she was pushing him off. He stumbled back, head still spinning. Eyes wide, she gaped back at him, dazed by what had happened. He swiped a hand through his hair, trying to regain some sense of control.

Flat on his back, he stared up at the ceiling. What had come over him? After a long moment, he breathed, "Wow."

She worried her lip. "That was…"

"Intense." He rolled on his side to face her. "Sorry if I came on a little strong." She blinked, too inscrutable a reaction for his dazed brain to process. "I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's…unexpected is all. Not what I'd have thought of a..."

He frowned. "But, haven't you been kissed before?"

She blushed in answer. "If you count little Munchkin boys daring each other to kiss me. Not that I blame them. I am the living embodiment of cooties."

She flinched from the tenderness in his expression as he reached a hand to stroke her cheek. "You're not. You're amazing."

She stood. "I should go. It's getting late."

"I'll walk you back." He expected her to argue, but she let him. They didn't talk much. Whatever conversation he tried felt too trivial, and the awkwardness between them grew into a gulf large enough to drown in. The sight of Crage Hall was a relief.

"Goodnight."

He wanted to kiss her again, and he let himself imagine pulling her back into his arms. But she had a hand on the door already, her back to him. "See you tomorrow."

Her smile was too tense and small to be genuine.

And without another word, she stepped through and shut the door. He watched even after she'd gone. What had that been? His mind reeled, too lost in the unexpected evening to make any sense of it. Why had he kissed her? And why did it feel so exhilarating? More so, why did she seem so unaffected? Had he pushed her away by moving too fast? He hadn't meant to. He hadn't even meant to kiss her at all.

Dazed, he headed toward his room, then thought better of it. He needed somewhere he couldn't think until he had a chance to process this.

He turned left and knocked on Avaric's door.