A/N: Finally updating another one of these, so I hope you're happy! (I can hear WICKED playing in my head, "I hope you're happy, I hope you're happy now! I hope you're happy how you've hurt your cause forever…") Anyway, I'm sorry I've taken so long. I do hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Nine: Dancing

Elphaba was finding the reception increasingly boring and had decided to look for Glinda and see if they could walk (though it was more than a mile away) back to the hotel without the boys when Fiyero tapped her on the shoulder. "What?"

"Dance with me." He teased.

"No way."

He sighed and laughed at her. "I'm going to get you to dance with me by the end of the night, Miss Elphaba." Fiyero threatened.

"In your dreams." Elphaba responded. "Besides, I'm about to find Miss Glinda and hopefully, she and I can get out of here..."

"What's going on?" Glinda joined them at the moment.

"Ah, Glinda, just who I was looking for. Would you care to walk back to the hotel with me? This reception is so tedious." Elphaba put on a mock formal voice.

"In these shoes?" Glinda gestured to her heels. "Never. Unless the boys want to call the cab early and leave," at this, Glinda looked to Fiyero.

Fiyero shook his head. "I have to stay until it's over."

Elphaba groaned.

"I wouldn't leave anyway. Not until I get you on that dance floor." He walked away.

Elphaba stood, glaring in his direction. "Bastard."

"Oh, Elphie, you don't really mean that, do you?"

"I don't even know." Elphaba looked helplessly at Glinda. "But I do know I will not dance."

"That doesn't surprise me at all." Commented Glinda.

"Let's sit down," Elphaba suggested.

"Yes, let's. I don't want to stand any longer in these shoes! They're dreadful," Glinda confided.

Examining the blonde's shoes, she nodded in agreement. "What'd you wear them for, anyway?"

"They look pretty."

"Why do you care what looks pretty when you'll never see anyone that you'll meet here again?"

"That's not true. I'll see you, Boq and Fiyero again."

"Since when has once of us mattered?"

Glinda's cheeks reddened and Elphaba gasped. Hurriedly, Glinda said, "None of you matter. But I could run into someone or something…"

"I knew it!" Elphaba accused without stating the direct accusation.

"I don't!" Glinda replied, knowing Elphaba's assumption without being told.

"You do," Elphaba stated simply.

"Do not."

"This is pointless," she observed. "We don't need to have this conversation if you aren't going to just admit that you like Boq."

"I don't like him, so I won't admit it," Glinda said stubbornly.

Boq slid into a seat next to them at the moment. "Hello, ladies."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Hi, Boq."

"How are you, Miss Elphaba?"

"Incredibly bored. And you?"

They were quieted then because the lights dimmed and the royal couple began to dance. Fiyero's parents took the floor as well. Next it was Fiyero's turn.

Knowing what was coming, Elphaba shrunk back in her seat, "Don't." She whispered to herself.

As everyone looked on, Fiyero turned towards where Elphaba was sitting and held his hand out to her.

She blinked in surprise. Standing, she almost walked towards him and then shook her head violently. "No." With that, she left the reception and walked back to the hotel in the dark, alone.

Fiyero, Boq and Glinda had arrived back at the hotel before she had, having hired a carriage to take them. Glinda had keen ears and heard Elphaba arrive. In a moment, she was at the door.

"What do you want?" Elphaba asked, thinking the visitor who had knocked on her door was Fiyero.

"Elphie, what did you think you were doing? Did you even consider Fiyero's feelings?"

"I..."

"Did you see his face?"

"Do you think I wanted to?"

"Well, you should've. You broke his heart, Elphaba."

"He'll get over it."

"You humiliated him."

"He'll get over it," she repeated.

"That's not my point."

"Glinda, leave." Elphaba sighed.

"Elphie..."

"Leave!" She demanded.

Glinda sauntered out the door, waving Fiyero towards it.

"Oh, sweet Oz, what a night," Elphaba muttered to herself.

"Elphaba..." Fiyero began.

"Don't." Elphaba moved to close the door in his face.

He struggled against her. "Please, let me talk to you."

"Why do you want to talk to me? I embarrassed you!" She walked across the room to look away from him and out the window.

"Well," he acknowledged, "I am a bit hurt by your actions, Miss Elphaba, but I think you owe me a discussion in return."

"Go." She said harshly.

Embarrassed not only in front of his family, his friends, but now feeling embarrassed to be in front of Elphaba, he shrank towards the door. "I'm sorry."

"I should be sorry. I humiliated you."

"That doesn't matter to me."

"How could you have just expected me to dance with you, Fiyero? What in Oz were you thinking? I told you I wouldn't and I didn't."

Fiyero looked at the ground. "Would you dance with me now, perhaps?" He asked shyly.

Elphaba turned around and stared at the humbled prince standing across the room from her. "What?"

"Dance with me now. No one's watching. No one even has to know you gave in except me and you."

She blinked. "I don't think I can..."

"Please?" He begged.

"I don't know."

"Pretty please?"

"Flattery won't work with me."

"What will work with you?" He tried.

"Honesty."

"I want you to dance with me, Elphaba."

"I think you're crazy, Fiyero."

"Well, would you dance with this crazy man?"

Gulping, she took a step forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe."

He had not expected anything more than rejection from her and her hesitance to refuse him shocked him. Quickly, he placed his hands on her waist. "Too late to say no now, Elphie."

"It's Elphaba."

And so they danced.