A/N - hihi! I don't normally do these authors notes, but I thought I should just thank all you that have reviewed. I'm glad to know people are enjoying this little story. Thanks for reviewing and to those you who have favorited this story! It is much appreciated! Also, I was wanted everyone's opinion on this. I was thinking of making the sequel to this a crossover with RENT, but I don't know. It was kind of included in the story plan I had laid out, but I don't know if you'd like that. Also, I'd like you to vote on this little poll I made up on my profile page thing, if you would. This chapter may seem a bit boring, and I am well aware that there are a lot of question sentences in it, but that 's just how it is. Thank You!

"Fiyero!" Elphaba practically screamed at him as they rounded the corner, "Damn it, why do you have to get so jealous and possessive?!"

"I'm sorry!" Fiyero yelled sarcastically, "Sorry I kissed you!"

"In front of Pfanee and ShenShen!" Elphaba screeched.

"Avaric just---" Fiyero began.

"Kissed me? For the love of Oz Fiyero, Marissa practically tried to swallow your face and I didn't go and kiss you in front of everyone, because believe me Fiyero I wanted to, and I was probably just as jealous as you had been!" Elphaba yelled.

"But that was different!" said Fiyero, "Avaric was on top of you!"

"Marissa was in your lap!" Elphaba shot back.

"She just kissed my mouth, Avaric tried to grope you and...stuff..." said Fiyero, a sudden image of Avaric on top of Elphaba filled his head. He quickly shook his head, erasing the image, "And besides, Marissa kissed me for the game!"

"Whether game or not, it doesn't matter." said Elphaba stiffly. Suddenly, the pair heard voices drift towards them in the wind.

"Did you hear that the prince is dating the disgusting frog?" the voices said. They were two girls. The pair that had been talking suddenly rounded the corner and ran right into Elphaba and Fiyero. Their eyes widened as they registered the fact that Elphaba and Fiyero were bother standing there together.

"Hey," said Elphaba, "Hey, guess what." she sounded bitter and sarcastic, "We're together." Elphaba gestured between herself and Fiyero. The two students looked entirely flabbergasted.

"Now go away!" Elphaba shouted at them. The pair quickly scurried down the cobblestone street, peeking behind them every now and then.

"Elphaba." said Fiyero. Elphaba had turned her back on him. She did not respond.

"I'm sorry." Fiyero said quietly. Elphaba turned around then. She laid a gentle hand on the side of Fiyero's perfect face.

"Fiyero—it's just..." Elphaba began, she didn't know what to say, "What will people think? What if your reputation is ruined? Will you--" Elphaba stopped short there. She was going to ask if he'd stay with her, despite rumors that were bound to fly. Would Fiyero become ashamed and leave her? Would he not love her anymore? The thoughts were too terrible for Elphaba to bear.

"Elphaba, I love you." said Fiyero.

"Why did you just say that?" asked Elphaba. As much as she loved to hear those words, they were a bit random at the moment.

"For one, it's true." Fiyero smiled, "And also because you looked like you needed to hear it." he noticed her shocked expression, and he chuckled slightly, "Yes Elphaba, to me, you are quite easy to read. And I promise I will stay with you and love you no matter what others say. You don't have to worry about that."

"Thank you Fiyero." Elphaba leaned into his arms as he embraced her warmly, "And I love you too." she said softly, so softly Fiyero barely heard. He smiled briefly, before his own mind was filled with what would happen tomorrow. The students would no doubt be far less than congratulatory about the whole situation. Why had he been so stupid? He had acted on instinct and jealousy. He was possessive and did wild things when in love. He held Elphaba tighter then, as though people were already trying to harm her.

*****************

The next day, Elphaba awoke to a terrible feeling in her gut. Everyone knew. They would all know if they didn't already. Yes, Prince Fiyero was dating the Green Freak. Elphaba quickly gathered her books and headed off to class, trying to stay under the radar. She wanted to be first and get a good seat in the front corner, farthest away from all the other desks. As promised, she was first and sat down and got her notes out and began to study them. Fiyero came in soon after and sat down next to her.

"Good morning." he said, smiling at her. Despite Elphaba's growing dread as she heard the footsteps outside of the classroom getting closer and closer, she smiled back, weakly, but it was still a smile. The students poured into the classroom then, chatting loudly. The chatter seemed to stop abruptly however when they saw Elphaba and Fiyero. The loud chatter dropped to whispers and hushed conversations. There was a lot of muttering and pointing, nasty looks and smirks. Elphaba kept her head down and began scribbling notes as the lesson started. She could hear the muttering around her, but as hard as she tried, she couldn't block out their harsh words.

"Did you hear? Fiyero's going out with the artichoke!"

"No!"

"Yes, it's true!"

"I heard that she blackmailed him into dating her. She's got some dirt on Galinda and forced them to break up."

"I heard she put a spell on him. Remember that day she spelled us all when that stupid lion cub was brought in? I bet she cast a love spell on him because she couldn't get him to love her of his own free will. She is so desperate."

"I bet Fiyero just feels sorry for her because she's a hated green-skinned freak."

"Maybe, but nobody would be that sacrificial as to date that thing."

"I agree. He was probably forced into it, one way or another."

"More like got drugged into it. I heard he got really drunk and accidentally got her pregnant.

"Ew! Can you imagine how disgustifying the baby will look?!"

"Believe what you all wish. But here's the truth, plain and simple. Fiyero just wants to screw her and see if it's any different with a vegetable." There was a large burst of giggles and snickers at that. The teacher turned around and the class quieted quickly. The class was silent. Elphaba sighed in relief, at least they'd stopped talking now. Suddenly she heard a million sounds of pencils on papers. It was impossible that the whole class would be taking notes on the actual class. Great, now they were passing notes about her.

*****************

Elphaba walked out of the class quickly as the class was dismissed. She hurried down the hall, but was stopped by a group of girls. She tried to brush past them, but one pushed her back.

"Move!" Elphaba yelled.

"What? Do you think that because you're dating Fiyero, you're too good to talk to us?" one of the girls asked, crossing her arms snobbishly.

"No, but I have somewhere to be, and you're blocking the way." Elphaba growled.

"Do you really think Fiyero loves you?" asked the girl cruelly, acting as leader, it was Marissa. Elphaba didn't answer.

"All he wants with you is a good time in bed." Marissa smirked, "Because we all know what a slut you are." Elphaba quickly pushed Marissa out of her way before fleeing down the hall. When people made fun of her skin, it was different than this. It was simply noticing the oddity and commenting on it, joking if not cruelly. But now, they were looking for any flaw, any excuse they could to be cruel to her. This time it was their very intention to hurt her. Elphaba was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't notice the tall senior standing in front of her. She ran right into him.

"Oh, I'm sorry." she murmured, trying to make her way past him. But he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. He pushed her roughly against the wall.

"Let go!" said Elphaba, panic growing within her.

"Oh c'mon, you'll give Fiyero some, now give me some." he said, leering at her openly, tugging at the soft fabric of her dress. Elphaba's eyes widened and she instantly began to fight him off. She kicked him hard between his legs. He doubled over and Elphaba quickly scurried away. He yelled at her as she ran, shouting vulgar and profane names at her. Now Shiz had different thoughts about her. Some thought she was a slut. Some thought she was a desperate girl who'd spelled Fiyero into loving her. Some thought she was Fiyero's charity case. And some thought she was some forceful evil person who'd blackmailed and threatened Fiyero into dating her.

"Elphaba!" Fiyero called. She turned around, people turned around too and began to stare. Fiyero strode over to her and pulled her into a tight embrace. She stiffened, something she never did when Fiyero touched her.

"Elphaba, don't believe anything they say." Fiyero murmured into her ear, "They're lies, all of it. Stupid rumors, ok? I still love you, forever and always, understand?" Elphaba nodded slowly.

"I have to go study." she said quickly and pulled away from his arms and ran down the hall back to her dorm. Fiyero stared after her. She was not fine. Something was wrong. But Elphaba was Elphaba, rumors never hurt her before. Or had they? Had she been that strong? Was this her final straw? Fiyero glared at the rest of the people still staring at him.

"Don't you have somewhere else to be?!" he yelled, and then strode away to his own dorm.

********************

Over the next few days, Elphaba had not been herself. She was constantly plagued with the doubt of Fiyero's love. The rumors that fled were horrible. She couldn't go anywhere without hearing painful words. Fiyero tried to comfort her and he told her over and over again that he loved her and he would never abandon her. She was distant and hesitant to be around Fiyero. She even went so far as to avoid him. She'd been hurt before and if Fiyero was the next to cause her pain, surely, she wouldn't survive that. Why had she been so stupid? Why had she allowed herself to fall in love in the first place? Where had all of her carefully crafted walls gone? They had crumpled to the ground the moment she met Fiyero. What had made her trust him? She'd fallen so easily. She had been weak. She was in love. What made her think he could possible love her?

Today, Elphaba didn't even think about going to class. She needed to be alone. She didn't understand what was making her act this way. Since when did what other people have to say ever get to her? It never did. So why was it now? Perhaps because this time, it hit the bulls eye. How could they be so cruel and prejudiced? Because she was green, she was not worthy of being loved? Is that what people thought? The only thing Fiyero could possibly want her for was to get laid? That she had to force Fiyero to love her? That no one could ever love her, especially Fiyero. For anyone to love her, she'd have to had done something evil to make them at least pretend. Or they'd have to be drunk to even touch her.

Elphaba found herself wandering to the woods, an odd place to be whilst trying to escape thoughts of Fiyero. The forest was where she had spent some of the best nights of her life with Fiyero. It was their spot to be together and forget everyone else, where they could be together without prejudices or having to worry about people seeing them. The forest looked different in the morning, near afternoon. It was not mysterious and romantic. It was not quiet and dark. It looked serene and peaceful. The mood was cheerful and bright. It felt fresh and friendly. The birds chirped in the trees and various other forest sounds could be heard. The leaves glittered in the sun like emeralds. The grass was greener than ever. The bark of the trees glowed in the light, taking on an almost golden-brown color. The flowers seemed to scatter through the woods, blotches of red and purple, blue and pink. There was no one here to judge her or make fun of her; no one here to hurt her. She was alone with nature, which is what she was, part of nature. People accepted green leaves, a green city, green grass, but they couldn't accept a green person? If the trees had turned blue, would they all be destroyed? People were part of nature. She was a person, as much a person as any of them. She was capable of love and being love. She needed to trust in Fiyero. If she listened to the rumors anymore, she'd begin to doubt. And in doubting, she would begin to believe and then everything would be ruined. But was there really a problem in wandering what they were all wondering? How could Fiyero love her? He, who could have any girl he wanted, who had dated Galinda, who was the most wanted man in Oz, who was a prince. Did he even love her at all? Or was this whole thing a charity act? No! She had to stop thinking these painful thoughts. She buried her head in her hands and fell to her knees in the soft grass, shaking terribly. She needed an escape.

Ironically, her escape came in the form of who she had been trying to escape all week. Strong arms wrapped around her and held her protectively and warmly. These were the arms she wanted to stay in for the rest of her life. She turned in his arms and stared into his eyes. These were the eyes that had broken her defenses. She gazed at the face. That was the face that made her smile every time she saw it. She loved this man more than anything. And he loved her. He did. He really did. The cruel students at Shiz had come that close to breaking her spirit and turning her love for Fiyero into pain and fear. Suddenly, she found herself crying into his shoulder. Salty tears burning her face and soaking his shirt. Now what was wrong with her? She never cried. She had to get away from here. She couldn't stay at Shiz much longer. Fiyero seemed to read her mind.

"Elphaba. You need to get away from here." he whispered into her ear, "At least for a little while. It could be like a vacation, just a week perhaps."

"Will you come with me?" she asked softly.

"I'm wherever you are love." said Fiyero, pressing his lips to her forehead.

"So what are we going to do? Run away?" asked Elphaba, a watery smile appearing on her face as she laughed a little at the suggestion. It was so fairytale, so cheesy. It was what she wanted right now.

"Yes." Fiyero chuckled, "Let's run away Elphaba." he whispered dramatically and breathily in her ear. Elphaba laughed at that. He kissed her cheek and smiled. They were going to get away from here.