AN: A short chapter, I know, but it was too much to cram into the other ones. Thanks again for reading.

Boq's arm slid from Galinda's shoulder like a wet noodle, and her coat flopped unceremoniously to the ground.

"See, when he said honey, what he meant was-"

Elphaba huffed a sigh. "Oh, give it a rest already. Everybody knows now, and thank Oz it was before anyone got hurt." She shot a meaningful look at Fiyero, and he felt the back of his neck warm.

"Knows?" Nessa's blood pressure no doubt rose by the second. "Knows what?"

"That's a dumb question." Avaric eyed her sideways and jerked a thumb at the pair under scrutiny. "That blondie's screwing the munchkin."

Galinda jutted her chin forward. "I most certainly am not. Boq, I mean, Biq is, um-"

"You knew?" Nessa spun on Elphaba, who looked taken aback.

"Well, yeah. She's my roommate."

"I'm your sister!" She slapped her napkin down on the table. "I can't believe you would side with that, that trollop over me!"

Elphaba leaned back. "Okay, first, Galinda's my friend, and yours, too, if you'll pause to remember. She set you up with Boq in the first place."

"Oh, so she can take him whenever-"

"And," Elphaba continued, louder now, over her sister, "I'm not siding with anyone. You're here with someone else, remember?"

"No thanks to you. If it were up to you I'd be locked in a box my whole life cause it's safer."

Elphaba flung a hand palm up. "How did I turn into the bad guy in this?"

"You're always the bad guy, aren't you? Your whole life is just wicked. I bet this whole dinner was a rouse to get me here and see them. Well, too bad. I'm not breaking up with Liam, and I'm not talking to you again for as long as I live!" Nessa whirled to the shocked boy on her left. "Liam, take me home please."

"You're being ridiculous," Elphaba fought to keep her voice even. "Can you just calm down and talk about things for once, instead of flying off the handle?"

"Liam!" Nessa wheeled toward the entrance in sharp, angry strokes. He gathered their belongings and trailed after her, offering an apologetic shrug in parting.

"What by Kumbricia was that?" Avaric's wide eyes followed the pair. "No offense, Thropp, but your sister is straight up nuts."

Boq let out a long-suffering sigh. "That's Nessa for you."

Elphaba scrubbed a hand over her face. "If you don't mind, I think I'm going to get some air." She made a beeline for the exit, eyes trained on the floorboards.

"Yeah, me, too." He caught Elphaba's hand by the door. "If you give me a minute, I'll walk with you back."

He darted back in without waiting for her answer. If she wanted to leave, pushing wouldn't help. His apology to Tavon went smoothly, especially since Elphaba had stopped him from really doing anything stupid. With another apology to his friend's date, he was more than ready to leave this restaurant behind.

The others had gone by the time he jogged back. His face fell at the empty doorway, but before he reached the street she was by his side. "You're in one piece still. Must have talked your way out alright."

He caught her hand. "And you?"

"You mean since I'm the world's punching bag now?" She gave a dismissive wave she didn't really mean. "Fine."

"A punching bag sure sounds good right now, though."

She gave him a rueful smile. "Is that right?"

"Not you. At least not as the bag." He ran his eyes over her, taking in the delicate dress that cinched her waist but bared her arms. "You're not exactly dressed for it, but I think we could manage, if you want."

"Are you serious?"

"Are you?"

"Let's go beat the stuffing out of something."

They headed straight to the gym and signed out the weight room key despite the odd looks for their dressy attire. He draped his blazer on the weight bench as she kicked off her heels.

"Not how I pictured this night going."

He huffed a laugh. "Oh? Big plans with your fake boyfriend?"

"Oz, at least I'm done with that."

He rolled up his sleeves and rotated his shoulders. The wraps and gloves were another delay, but he'd learned the hard way how necessary. He tested a few light punches, and the bag gave a series of pops that almost immediately soothed his nerves.

Elphaba perched on another bench and watched him as he started to warm up into the workout. He should be explaining or letting her try, but the feel of physically expressing some of his pent-up frustration was too alluring.

He hit the bag in short combinations, the staccato smacks of leather on leather smoothing his thoughts. A sheen of sweat made his dress shirt stick unpleasantly to his back by the time he slowed. He let out a long, unsteady breath and rolled his neck.

"Better?"

He glanced up at Elphaba. "Yeah."

"Done monopolizing the catharsis then?"

He grinned and tossed her some gloves. Wrapping her wrists was much more pleasant than doing his own, and he let himself check his work perhaps a bit more than necessary. She tugged on the gloves and tapped them together.

"Know how to punch?" She aimed a hard jab at the bag and smirked. "I'll take that as a yes. Ever use a bag?"

She shook her head.

"Alright, try to punch the bag, not push it. You want a slap, not a thud." He nodded toward the bag, and she tried a couple hits. "Not bad. Watch your wrist.

She didn't need much coaching, and they fell into an easy rhythm. "Breathe," he reminded, and she steadied the technique. He tried to imagine what her endurance would have been like when they'd started. She'd come a long way. "Too bad that's not on your final tomorrow."

She swiped a glove over the hair creeping toward her eyes. "Yep, that helps me relax alright."

"You'll be great." She tugged off the gloves, and he passed her a paper cup of water. "You're one tough girl, Thropp. Not a test made that you can't crush."

She downed the water and tossed the cup in the trash. "Not looking forward to those shoes again."

"Want me to carry you?" He flashed her a grin as he retrieved the jacket and heels.

She tucked a hip forward. "And if I say yes?" He held out an arm, and she laughed, a raucous cackle at complete odds to the demur giggles from his frustratingly clingy date. Even more than the bag, that soothed his nerves.

"If you change your mind…" She took her heels, and he splashed some water over his palms, face and hair.

Her breath came out in a long sigh. "Can we just stay here?"

"You want to stay in the room that smells like old jock straps?"

She bit her lip and edged closer, the heels clinking lightly together as she fidgeted. "Maybe."

He feigned a casual air he didn't feel. "If you want a punching bag that much, I volunteer. But we'll need a lot of pillows, some tape, and a nice hot shower."

"Tempting."

He flashed a grin. "To which part."

She leaned close, and the air between them electrified. She pressed a fleeting kiss to his cheek. "Thanks, Yero." Before he could react, she slipped off to buckle the straps of her heels. "I guess let's go."

He walked her home with a light banter flowing easily between them.

"At least Nessa got her double date." Elphaba let out a wry laugh. "Too bad we didn't even get to the appetizers."

"We'll do better next time," Fiyero promised, hoping she would pick up his meaning. She ducked her face, and he let his hand brush hers. "Want me to come by for breakfast?"

"Nah. I won't be able to eat."

"So yes. You'll do better if you give yourself some energy to work with."

Her nose wrinkled in distaste. "Until I hurl all over Bidsk."

He rolled his eyes. "You won't. Seven sharp. I'm still your coach until this is over."

"Yeah, yeah. Seven."

"And no sleeping in, Thropp." She shot him a look, and his face split into a grin. Punctual to a fault, she'd never been the one late for their sessions. He squeezed her hand, "But do sleep. No excuses."

With heavy feet, he made himself leave.

She seemed as reluctant as he did. He wondered, if he'd asked, would she have let him stay to help her fall asleep? Contrary to his own advice, he tossed in bed thinking about it, thinking about tomorrow, and wishing he could do something.