Chapter Four: More than being 'interesting'

Fiyero sat outside on a rainy winter day, reading a letter he'd received from home when Boq sat next to him. "Hey, Fiyero, what's up?"

Fiyero shrugged. "Not that much. The winter holidays are coming up, are you going home?"

"I'm staying here. My family can't afford to send me home this year. Don't tell that to Ms. Glinda, though. If she knew my family was low on money, she'd like me even less."

Fiyero was curious as to what Boq saw in the blonde, head-in-the-clouds girl. "Why do you like her so much if she's so material, Master Boq?"

"She's beautiful."

"You're vain."

"Come on, tell me you don't stare at pretty girls."

"We had a different view on 'pretty' in the Vinkus."

"Tell me about it."

"Well, I'm not quite sure what it is, either. The only women I was ever allowed to see growing up were related to me."

Boq was amused. "Really? I didn't see that many girls growing up, at least not pretty ones. There weren't many pretty girls in Munchkinland. In fact, when I was growing up, two of the only girls I saw very often were Ms. Elphaba and her sister, Nessarose."

"So that's how you know Elphaba."

"We were playmates when we were three feet tall. Then again, three feet tall in Munchkinland..."

"I know what you mean." Fiyero said hurriedly. "Well, my eldest sister is getting married in the city and I'm supposed to travel over there. I'm allowed to bring a few people. If you, Crope and Tibbett would like to come, you're welcome to."

"Crope and Tibbett will only go if they're allowed to dress as women." Boq guessed.

Fiyero bit his lip. "I'm not so sure what my Arjiki relatives would think of that..."

"You can invite Avaric."

Fiyero winced. "I'd rather not. After all, you told me what he said about me."

"Oh, yeah."

"What about Elphaba, and her friend that you're so in love with, Ms. Glinda? Do you think they would like to come?" Fiyero asked, hopeful.

"Ms. Glinda wouldn't deny an opportunity to see the city, though I doubt she'd go if Elphie didn't go." Boq brightened. "Fiyero, my good man, you are a genius! That would give me plenty of time with Ms. Glinda. I've just got to talk Elphie into actually going."

"Get someone else to go." Said Elphaba when Boq requested her presence. "Crope and Tibbett would love to go."

"But only you could convince Ms. Glinda to come along!" Boq protested.

Elphaba peered at Boq angrily. "Sometimes I think the only reason we're friends is because you want me to talk you up to the wonderful, goddess-like Ms. Glinda."

"It is not!"

"Besides, she and I aren't even talking."

"What?" Boq was distressed.

"We're in a disagreement."

"About what?"

"About class."

"Which class?"

Elphaba snorted. "Boq, you really are a dumb idiot. When I said class I meant class meaning: social manners, social class."

"Oh. And I'm not an idiot."

"Remind me when you prove it." Elphaba answered. "Besides, why would Fiyero want me along, anyway?"

Boq studied Elphie's face. "Fiyero thinks you're interesting."

"Maybe I don't feel like being dragged along somewhere just because I'm interesting!" Elphaba said hotly.

That was strange, Boq noted. Elphaba would love to go along, no matter why Fiyero had asked, he was sure of it. She'd find it a great culture study. Obviously, there was something he wasn't taking into consideration. Apparently, she was offended that Fiyero found her interesting. That must mean she wanted Fiyero to think something more of her than that. Did Elphie like Fiyero? Like that? "Elphie, why do you care?"

"Because I'm tired of being talked to and made friends with only because I'm interesting, that's why I care."

"What sparked this sudden change in feeling?" Boq asked, confused.

"It's just..." Elphaba halted her speaking. "Never mind. You wouldn't... no, you couldn't understand."

"Maybe I do understand. I'm tired of being brought along because someone wants an entire group with her so she looks popular."

Elphaba looked at Boq sympathetically. "It's not that, Boq. She thinks you're fun."

"I want to be more than fun."

"Tell me about it." Elphaba agreed.

"What do you mean?"

Elphaba's eyes went wide, realizing she'd almost seemed to have more feeling than usual. "Oh, nothing. Everyone thinks I'm interesting, but no one really wants to be my friend, that's all."

"I do." Said Boq.

"You don't count."

"I feel loved."

"You should." Elphaba grinned.

"But I mean, I want someone to like me."

"Correction: you want Ms. Glinda to like you."

"Well, yeah."

"And I want... nothing." Elphaba looked across the table at the café (where they'd been having this discussion) longingly.

It wasn't hard for Boq to realize she was staring at Fiyero. He let his eyes drift towards Glinda, who was pointedly refusing to look in Elphaba's direction. "Beautiful."

"I know." Elphaba mumbled, still staring at Fiyero.

Neither of them realized what Elphaba had said, at least not until later. Boq watched Glinda wrinkle her nose at Avaric, who had made yet another nasty sexual innuendo. This rejection of Avaric cheered Boq up at he went back to needling Elphaba. "Will you go, please?"

"I don't know..." Elphaba tore her gaze from the diamond boy.

"You never know. You could meet people. Or something could blossom from someone you already knew." Boq suggested.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Fiyero smile at her. Elphaba smiled back and then looked at Boq. "You know what? Why not?"

AN: Should I do disclaimers? I don't know. Putting something on this webiste IS a disclaimer, considering you're admitting it's FAN fiction. I don't know. All WICKED fans, please come join me and my forum at thankgoodness, the links in my profile. I'd love to have you. The more fans we get, the bigger community we have of people who can share the same obsession! LOL.