I can has update? Yes, you can. I have been inspired. Winter Break has come to an end (yes, so sad). Today began the second semester of school. This may be my last update for awhile (then again, maybe not). I can't promise anything. Anyway, here it is!


Chapter 5

Falling In Love

"You think you're in love
Like it's a real sure thing
But every time you fall
You get yo' ass in a sling
You used to be strong
But now it's "ooh baby please"
'Cause falling in love is so hard on the knees"

Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees) by Aerosmith

The week passed with much whispering and gossip. Surprisingly, none of it was about my skin color. No, it was about Galinda. There was no doubt in my mind that Estolia was the one spreading the rumors. I tried to get Fiyero to talk to her, and he did try, but it didn't work. Nothing got through to that girl.

I pulled up in my beat up black Volvo to an empty parking space. It was somehow next to Galinda's pink convertible Saab and I wondered how anybody could stand a car with that obnoxious color.

I got out of my car to see that Galinda was sniffling and reapplying her make up.

"Are you alright?" I asked, alarmed. Galinda was a walking basket case of emotion, but I still wasn't used to it.

"Yes, Elphie dear, I'm fine." I had given up on trying to get her to use a different nickname after last Wednesday.

"Where's Nessa?" She asked.

"She went to Munchkinland to spend time with our grandparents." I scowled. Chances were, she'd end up being the Eminent Thropp. She was cut out for that job, a perfect public speaker.

"Oh…"

Galinda and I walked up to the building, meeting Fiyero at the front door. He nodded a hello and pulled me to the side. My heart thumped nervously and my actions felt tight and on the edge. The effects that this boy had on me...

"Prepare yourself." He murmured as Galinda made small talk with Boq.

"What? Why?"

"Estolia's at it again." I groaned and shook my head.

"Come on, we'll be late to Life Sciences." I said with a sigh. Boq, Fiyero, Galinda and I began our trek across the building.


"Did you hear? Her father used up all his money gambling and paying for her surgeries."

"Surgeries?"

"Yeah, I know. All plastic."

"Eh my gawd! Are you for real?"

"Would I lie to you? Anyway, Estolia's family is helping them out. I hear that her and Galinda are practically cousins or something."

"Oh, Estolia's just too goodly."

Galinda looked horrified at the whispers and rumors floating around the school. I had to distract her during Life Sciences to keep her from bursting into tears.

"B-b-but I don't understand why anybody would be s-so meeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaan!!" The blonde sobbed during lunch. We ate with Fiyero, Boq, Crope, and Tibbett in the library. Chelsea even joined us after a little while. I think we still scared her a bit. I resisted the impulse to jump and say "Boo!" at the freshman.

"Galinda, weren't you spreading rumors a week ago." I said, my fingers drumming the table in agitation. Fiyero reached out and grabbed my fingers after about two minutes of my drum solo. He gave me a blush and I looked down, blushing. His touch made me shiver; how odd.

"But it was never cruel!" She blew her nose loudly.

"Uh yeah, rumors usually are." I told her.

"I'm so sorry." Galinda blubbered. "About everything. I was so mean!"

I patted her back awkwardly, "It's alright…"

Fiyero shook his head, smirking. I shot him a look and he immediately sobered up.

"Galinda, why don't you come to my house after school? Yero and Boq will come, too. And we'll have ice cream and watch movies, ok?" I soothed gently. I had seen Nessa through a series of bad break ups in Middle School and knew how to handle a sobbing female.

"R-really? You'd do that… for me?" She looked up at me through glassy eyes.

"We'd do anything for you, Galinda." Boq said, giving her hand a squeeze.

"Oh you guys are too niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicce!" She began to sob again and I bit my lip and looked at the ceiling. So much for the waterworks coming to a close.

"The bell's going to ring soon. Come on, Fae, we should head to history." Fiyero said. I nodded, cleaned up my lunch, picked up my book bag and waved goodbye to my friends.

"I feel so bad about the rumors. That I can't stop Estolia." Fiyero admitted as we walked to class.

"It's not your fault." I said, "I, on the other hand, have to clean up all of Galinda's tears and put up with her sniffling. I could rip Estolia to threads." I growled.

"Elphaba, I thought you were above that." He sighed and I snorted.

"Oh my innocent, naïve Fiyero." I rested my hand against his cheek and shook my head, closing my eyes. "You have so much to learn about me."

I walked into Mr. Nikidik's classroom, leaving Fiyero staring after me.


Estolia pretended to be sweet and caring during Choir.

"Oh, my dear, I am so, so sorry. Those rumors are horrific." She said, patting Galinda's arm. I snorted and Estolia glared at me. Galinda followed my lead and glared back.

"Don't touch me." She hissed, venomously. Well, I supposed she learned from the best. Truthfully, she was about as vicious as a kitten. "I know you started the rumors, bitch. So, leave. Me. Alone."

I grinned at Galinda, wishing I could could her a high five.

Estolia's expression went hard. "Listen here, you slut. I am a princess in the Vinkus. I will not have some snotty blonde ruining my high school career. At this school, I own you. These rumors are a warning. One step out of line and your life will become worse than you can even imagine."

I cackled at Estolia's feeble attempt to sound ferocious.

"You think you can make somebody's life hell? I know more spells than you can comprehend. I can make your family disown you. I can turn your skin inside out. So you'll stop these rumors and leave Galinda… my friend, the hell alone. And if you don't, your life will be the epitome of hell. I'll haunt you, everywhere you go." I glared my most intimidating glare, not backing down. I didn't blink once. Estolia shrunk back and huffed, looking away.

"Good, I'm glad we had this talk." I grinned wickedly and picked up my bag as the bell rang.

"Oh, Elphie, that was fantasmic! I thought she was going to cry!" Galinda squealed when I opened my front door.

"It's nothing; she was getting on my nerves." I said, shrugging. I saw Fiyero's car pull up and the four boys pilled out of it. Tibbett pulled off his sunglasses. He looked suspiciously like Oztian Quoxlake for a moment.

"So! What movie are we watching first?" He asked as the boys entered my house.

"Fabala? Are these… your friends?" My father glanced around, shocked. What a sight we must have made. A beautiful prince, a short munchkin, two gay boys, a gorgeous blonde and a green girl.

"Yes, papa. Boq, Galinda, Crope and Tibbett. You remember Fiyero, right? We used to play together in the Vinkus." I introduced my friends.

"Ah, yes. It's good to see you, boy." Frex patted Fiyero on the back and then headed upstairs.

"He's not one for first impressions, is he?" Boq asked. I shook my head.

We settled on watching RENT, The Titanic and then Tropic Thunder. I took out four pints and a tub of ice cream. I figured Crope and Tibbett could share.

I ended up being wedged between Fiyero and Galinda on the floor. Boq was to the other side of Galinda and Crope and Tibbett took up the loveseat behind us.

"Oh, Elphie, you'll love this movie! It's scandalacious and absolutely thrillifying!" Galinda cooed, huddling up into a puddle of pillowed and blankets.

"Alright, whatever you say." I murmured, eating a spoonful of The Wizard's Kansas Peach Cobbler Ice Cream.

"How can you eat that?" Fiyero asked in disgust. He was eating Phozfood. Thank Oz for Boq and Ozzy's. (A/N: that's supposed to be Ben and Jerry's if you couldn't figure it out. Just fyi)

"It's delicious. Want some?" I teased, holding up a spoonful.

"Don't mind if I do." He said gruffly, leaning forward and eating the lump of ice and peaches. His eyes went wide.

"Told ya so." I muttered.

"Shhh! It's starting!" Galinda hissed, hitting me.

"Ow!" I gasped, rubbing my arm. That girl hit hard. I looked to see Fiyero eating more of my ice cream. "Hey!" I gasped, grabbing it. "You're eating it all."

"But it's goood." He whined.

"Fine, then. I'll have some of your Phozfood." I used his spoon and ate a bunch of it.

"Hey!! Now it has Fae Germs." He pouted, a smidgen of chocolate stick to his upper lip. I had to resist the urge to lean up and lick it off of him. Oh sweet Oz, this boy would be the death of me.

"Stop flirting, you two!" Crope cried, giggling. My cheeks heated up.

"Yeah, do we need to separate you?" Tibbett joined in. I glared, smacking him.

"I can take that ice cream away." I threatened.

"You wouldn't!" The two gasped in sync.

"Oh, I would." I narrowed my eyes at them.

"Oh shut up and watch the movie." Boq moaned, rolling his eyes at us.

"Yes mom!" Crope sighed. I heard a loud smack and then fake sobs and Tibbett cooing. Oh boy, this was going to be a long night.

RENT was actually way, way better than I thought it would be.

"You know, Rodger's pretty hot." Galinda giggled. I nodded and made a sound of agreement. Fiyero pouted again and I chuckled.

"It's ok, Yero. Maybe one day you can hope to aspire to be half the man Rodger is." I joked. Fiyero rolled his eyes.

"That whole tortured musician thing…" Tibbett fanned himself and Crope giggled hysterically.

"Lets just watch Titanic already." Fiyero muttered darkly.

"Aww, are you jealous." Boq teased. Yero gave Boq such a withering look that Boq looked like he was about to piss his pants.

We turned the lights down as the movie began and I was suddenly hyper aware that Fiyero was sitting no more than two inched away. And that his arm was touching mine. My mouth went dry and it took nearly all my concentration to focus on the movie.

Tropic Thunder wasn't much better, but the hilariousness and all off the explosions kept my mind off the beautiful boy next to me.


Galinda left first with Boq, followed by Crope and Tibbett. Fiyero stayed to help clean up.

"That went well." He stood and stretched, his shirt hiking up to reveal part of his dark, perfectly chiseled abs. I swallowed and nodded. He leant me a hand and I stood up, gathering blankets and pillows from the floor.

"Yeah. I think Galinda's feeling better." I put the pillows and blankets into the closet and started to gather up all the empty ice cream tubs.

"Here, let me." Fiyero grabbed my wrist and stared into my eyes. My eyes went wide and I felt a pleasant electrical current run through my body at his touch. It was dizzying and… thrillifying. I felt a bit light headed. Was it just my imagination or did he smell good, too?

"Ok…" I trailed off and watched as he took the trash into the kitchen. I followed him and stood awkwardly.

"Um… well, thank you. Ya know, for helping me." I bit my lip, not sure what else to say.

"No problem, that pleasure is mine." Yero grinned and dusted his hands on his pants.

I walked him out to the door. The stars and the moon winked down on us.

"So…" He trailed off.

"So…?" I smirked at his loss of words.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then?" He cupped my cheek and I had to fight to think coherently. I nodded, not prepared for his next move. He leaned in and kissed me flush on the lips.

"Mmmm, Peachy." He murmured and I felt his smirked.

"You're ruining it." I whispered back. We kissed for quite some time, actually.

"I should go." Fiyero said reluctantly, kissing my cheek. I licked my lips and nodded.

"Alright, see ya."

He swaggered down to his car and grinned, blowing me a kiss. I waved sarcastically and headed inside, my skin flushed and my heart beating rapidly. Oh wow, I just kissed Fiyero Tiggular, Prince of the Vinkus. Oh sweet Oz.

I dashed up to my room and picked up my cell phone, dialing the new number.

"Galinda? You'll never guess what just happened…"