On the ride home from school Elphaba was oddly silent. Galinda jabbered constantly but the most she could coax out of her green friend was a nod or one word reply. Fiyero watched as the blonde's expression changed from irritated to anxious. When they reached the Cullen house Galinda pulled Elphaba aside. "Elphie, what's wrong?" she asked worriedly. "You don't seem like yourself." The green girl groaned. Why did her best friend pick today to be perceptive?
"I've got a headache," she lied. Galinda didn't look convinced.
"Are you sure that's it?" the blonde questioned, searching the green girl's eyes. Elphaba nodded and moaned a little, trying to be believable. "Well if there's anything you need, let me know." The green witch smiled. She was lucky to have such a good best friend. Unfortunately Galinda was the last person Elphaba would talk to about this particular problem. That conversation was all too easy to imagine.
"Hey Galinda there was something bothering me earlier."
"I knew it. What's the matter?"
"I almost made out with your boyfriend in the woods."
And then Galinda would cheerfully beat her to death.
***
The next morning Elphaba was more like herself. She made snide jokes and sarcastic comments and Galinda didn't notice that the green girl avoided eye contact with Fiyero. This wasn't because Elphaba felt guilty about the incident in the woods, although that was part of it, but rather because every time her chocolate eyes met his blue ones the green witch got an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach. In fact, whenever Elphaba was around Fiyero this strange emotion assaulted her senses. Even with all the books she had read Elphaba could not name this feeling. She couldn't name it or control it or figure it out and that scared the shiz out of her.
In the parking lot, rather than stand beside Galinda and Fiyero, Elphaba sought out Bella. "Feeling better?" the green girl teased
"Yes," Bella told her, flushing.
"What happened after Edward carried you away?" Elphaba asked suggestively.
"Edward told the lady in the office that I was really sick so I could get out of Gym," she admitted. "And then he drove me home."
"I told you he likes you," the green witch exclaimed triumphantly. "Unfortunately he's not here today. The whole family's on a hiking trip." Actually they were hunting. Esme had stayed behind to drive the Ozians to and from school, since none of them could handle a car.
"He told me that," Bella informed her, face falling. "But that doesn't stop me from wishing he would appear."
"Wishing only wounds the heart," Elphaba told her sagely. Then her voice turned joking. "Aren't Mike and Jessica enough entertainment for you?"
"Mike follows me around like an annoying puppy," Bella sighed. "And Jessica is…Jessica." Suddenly her eyes brightened. "You should sit with us today."
"I don't think your friends would like that very much," Elphaba hinted.
"They can deal," Bella grumbled. The green witch had to admit this was a very tempting offer. It was the perfect way to avoid Fiyero.
"Fine, I'll sit with you," Elphaba replied, trying not to sound too eager to escape her friends. Bella gave her new green friend a grateful smile before heading to class.
***
From the moment Elphaba sat down beside Bella at the crowded lunch table she could feel tension fill the air. Angela, Mike, Tyler, and Eric just seemed surprised but Jessica and Lauren glared daggers at the new arrival. Elphaba glared right back with twice as much fury. "This is Elphaba," Bella introduced quietly. "I invited her to sit with us today."
"How kind," Lauren hissed.
"So, Elphaba," Jessica began slyly. "Your name is so…interesting. Where did you get it?"
"From my parents," Elphaba answered flatly. No one spoke after that. Instead of talking or eating everyone, save Bella and the ever thoughtful Angela, watched the green girl curiously. After awhile the witch reached her breaking point. "Let's just get this over with," she muttered. "No I am not seasick. Yes I've always been green. No I did not eat grass as a child." Her eyes burned and no one had the courage to meet them. At that moment Galinda and Fiyero arrived at the table.
"Hey Elphie," the blonde chirped brightly. "You didn't tell us you were sitting here today." She squeezed in between her green friend and Bella. Fiyero took a seat next to Mike. Elphaba groaned.
"And you are?" Jessica asked angrily, looking pointedly at the new arrivals.
"I'm Galinda," the blonde princess informed her. "And this is Fiyero."
"More interesting names," Lauren murmured.
"What?" Elphaba demanded.
"Nothing," Lauren snapped back.
"So, where are you guys from?" Angela asked kindly.
"Oz," Fiyero answered. It took him only a second to realize his mistake and he clamped a hand over his mouth. Elphaba shot him the 'your stupidity is a disgrace to the world and I should murder you right now' look. Lucky for the Ozians, everyone saw Fiyero's slip as a very funny joke. The stress shattered as everyone laughed loudly.
"Good one," Mike congratulated.
"Seriously though," Eric pressed curiously. "Where are you from?" The green witch quickly ran through the names of places she'd read about in Twilight.
"Seattle," she replied. Apparently this wasn't an interesting enough answer for there to be any follow up questions. In only a few minutes the three odd newcomers had been accepted, and all because Fiyero's stupidity made them laugh. The conversation revolved around several topics, including an upcoming trip to La Push, which the Ozians were invited to, and the fast approaching girl's choice dance. Throughout lunch Galinda chatted girlishly with Jessica while Fiyero traded bad jokes with Eric and Mike. Elphaba spent the entire time trying unsuccessfully to keep her eyes off Fiyero. Bella noticed and was quick to bring it up in Biology.
"So, Fiyero seems pretty nice," the pale skinned girl began subtly.
"Yeah," Elphaba acknowledged warily.
"He's kinda cute," Bella added. A surge of irrational jealousy flooded the green girl's stomach.
"I guess so," she replied stiffly, trying to get a hold on her out of control emotions.
"Are you jealous?" Bella gasped.
"No," Elphaba snapped immediately, blushing.
"You kept looking at Fiyero today," the pale skinned girl pointed out.
"So?" the green witch growled.
"So you obviously have a crush on him."
"I do not," Elphaba snarled forcefully, trying to convince herself more than anything. Bella flinched at her partner's fiery glare and dropped the subject. "Sorry," the green girl whispered a moment later. "You're sort of right."
"Sort of?" Bella asked skeptically.
"I might like Fiyero if it were at all logical for me to like him," Elphaba said.
"Since when is love logical?" Bella wondered. The green girl gave no response. After a few moments of silence Bella recognized the slightly pained look on Elphaba's face. "He's taken isn't he?" she asked softly.
"No," Elphaba replied. "He's just off limits. For me at least. Which is why I can't…don't…have a crush on him." And then it clicked. Galinda was Elphaba's best friend. Galinda loved Fiyero. Elphaba was determined not to fall for Fiyero because if she did her torn loyalties would rip her apart from the inside. Bella felt a wave of pity for the girl beside her. "So in conclusion I most certainly do not like Fiyero," Elphaba, who had managed to get her emotions under control again, assured her partner. Bella nodded. Arguing would be the opposite of helpful in such an impossible situation.
"So you're coming to La Push?" she questioned, eager to change the subject.
"Yes," Elphaba replied immediately. "I wouldn't miss it."
***
Alice was more than happy to drop the Ozians off at the Newtons' Olympic Outfitters store. Due to the sun they took Carlisle's Mercedes, which had dark tinted windows. The entire ride there Elphaba longed to open a window and let the bright sunshine warm her skin. It was amazing how much one could miss the sun after only a few days away from its presence. Jessica looked pleased to see Galinda, who had become her boy-talk buddy, and Bella was very happy that Elphaba had showed up. Fiyero was greeted by his new friends Eric, Tyler, and Mike while Lauren glared at Bella and the three Ozians simultaneously. A certain green witch wondered if anyone would notice if she turned Lauren into a frog.
Elphaba spent the drive to La Push crammed into Mike's stuffy Suburban beside Fiyero. As much as the green girl tried to ignore his closeness that unnamed feeling returned to thrill through her limbs each time his arm brushed hers. To distract herself Elphaba watched the passing greenery. At least in Forks she matched her surroundings.
***
The beach was beautiful in a dark subdued sort of way. Elphaba had never seen an ocean, and gazing at all that endless water made her feel very small. Everyone seemed content to chat about shallow high school topics, except Bella, Elphaba, and Angela. They just watched the strange blue green flames of the driftwood fire flicker mysteriously.
When a hike to the tide pools was announced Elphaba was the first to volunteer. Everything about the ocean intrigued her, and if the tiny pools were half as interesting as they'd been described in Twilight the hike would be well worth her time. Galinda opted to remain at the fire, hiking just wasn't her thing. Unfortunately Fiyero decided to come on the hike. Elphaba thought about backing out, but she didn't want a moronic Winkie prince's decisions to influence hers.
The tide pools were like miniature aquariums, teeming with aquatic life. Elphaba was spellbound by the tiny ecosystems and would have been content to sit and study them for hours. The green girl was so engrossed in the tide pools that she didn't notice Fiyero sneaking up behind her, a trouble making look on his face. He gave her a little shove from behind, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward. Not intending to actually knock her into the water Fiyero grabbed her arm and pulled her into his side. "Saved your life," the prince chuckled. A flash of heat dashed across Elphaba's skin at the contact and she jerked away from Fiyero, which sent her toppling into the tide pool.
The Winkie prince didn't even try to contain his laughter. He guffawed loudly as Elphaba emerged from the shallow water, soaked to the skin. "I'm sorry," Fiyero snickered, holding out a hand to help her up.
"I'm sorry too," Elphaba growled, taking his hand.
"For what?" the prince asked, bewildered.
"This," Elphaba snapped, pulling Fiyero into the pool as well. He burst from the cold water spluttering. There was a moment of silence as they both took in the situation. They were sitting beside each other in ankle-deep water soaked to the skin. Both burst into laughter at the same time. Elphaba leaned into Fiyero's chest for support and he threw his arm around her shoulder as they struggled to get control of their giggles. When she could breathe again Elphaba became acutely aware of the way in which she and Fiyero were intertwined. With a yelp of surprise the green witch leapt to her feet and scrambled out of the tide pool, angrily whipping the unnamed feeling back into its place.
***
Galinda was surprised and slightly amused to see a jubilant Fiyero and a ticked off Elphaba return to the fire sopping wet. The curious blonde opened her mouth to speak but her green friend stopped her. "Don't ask," Elphaba insisted, glowering.
***
Fiyero and Elphaba didn't speak to one another for the remainder of the day. To avoid getting her head bitten off Galinda had refrained from asking her green friend about the apparent mishap. Elphaba herself was livid with anger, but she wasn't quite sure why she was angry or who she was angry at. Sure she was annoyed at Fiyero for causing such an embarrassing situation, but at any other time the green witch would have let that go. After all she'd gotten back at him. As Elphaba was slipping into her warm sleeping bag that night she prayed that the fiery sensation in her gut would be gone by morning.
***
When the sun's bright rays came streaming through the glass wall of the Cullens' guest room Elphaba was feeling much better. She'd slept amazingly well and felt very safe and content as her eyes fluttered open. However, moments after waking up the green witch noticed some very frightening things. She was no longer in her sleeping bag; she was resting on top of it. That wasn't unusual; sometimes she crawled out of it during the night because it got too hot. What was unusual was the fact that Elphaba's head was resting on Fiyero's chest and the Winkie prince had his arms around her. That annoying feeling returned, filling the green girl with tingly warmth. Fiyero was still asleep, a boyish smile on his face. Elphaba's heart melted and she wanted nothing more than to stay in the prince's embrace.
But Galinda was napping on the green witch's other side, totally oblivious to the wave of heartbreak looming in her future. This wasn't right. Elphaba rolled out of Fiyero's arms, her heart racing. One thing was now alarmingly clear to the green witch; this odd feeling wasn't about to go away. Even her subconscious was aware of it. She sighed. There was no way around it; Elphaba had no choice but to tell Galinda everything.
Please review…any plot ideas are more than welcome…
