As he stepped out the door, Fiyero saw Elphaba halfway up the street. Oz, she's fast.

He reached Elphaba panting and calling her name.

She turned around and said, "Can I help you?"

Holding up a pencil he had dug out of his bag, Fiyero said, "You forgot this."

Elphaba looked at him incredulously, but played along anyway. "That's funny, I don't remember writing anything."

Fiyero said, "Well we're almost home, and I might as well come with you."

Shrugging, Elphaba continued walking, and came to a stop a few seconds later, pointing at something in the distance. "Do you see that poster?"

Fiyero paused, "Yeah they're everywhere."

"It's disgusting!"

"Elphie, calm down, they're just Animal awareness posters."

"That's not awareness, it's injustice! How can people even believe this?"

Fiyero had never seen Elphaba so worked up and he didn't know what to say, so he kept quiet. She shocked him by walking over to the poster and tearing it up.

Fiyero was concerned. "Elphaba stop, they have cameras everywhere!"

"Let them see then!" She retorted angrily.

Sitting on a bench, Elphaba stayed quiet for a few minutes then murmured, "I get really worked up over some things."

Fiyero chuckled too, "Well I guess I better get used to it if we're going to spend forev-"

Elphaba looked up.

Fiyero wasn't even sure how he wanted to finish that sentence, so he started a new one. "I mean, it's ok, you're not hurting anyone."

Again with that soul penetrating look, Elphaba said, "Actually, the goal is to help someone. Those Animals are treated poorly because they are different. That's how this world is. Everyone different is punished and they have to suffer. Not much thought is given to what they feel, or even that they do feel. Imagine a world where everyone was free and everyone could be who they are and live their lives the way they want to, with hopes and dreams and...I'm getting carried away again."

Elphaba looked away and Fiyero saw her trying to suppress the colour flooding her cheeks." I like when you get carried away. That was the most you've ever said to me."

Elphaba chuckled. "Well..."

"Well what?"

"Tell me your dream."

"My dream?" Elphaba nodded, smiling. Wow that's amazing. I wish I could see that every day. "Well I guess my dream is to...have the best time I possibly can."

Elphaba's smile wavered. "I take it that means you and Galinda are going to have the most amazing time at the OzDust in two weeks, while others are out suffering and you don't care."

Fiyero felt something building up inside him. "We have to live for ourselves sometimes or we can't help others."

"How are you helping others by getting drunk with Avaric and arguing about if orangey-purple is more orange or purple?" As easily, as Elphaba had opened herself up to him, she closed herself off again.

Fiyero searched his brain for something to say. Uhhh...what did we learn in class today...ummm...what did Avaric tell me? "Did you know that everyone's ears are shaped differently?" As the words left his mouth, Fiyero mentally attacked himself. IDIOT.

Elphaba looked up, mouth open, not knowing what to say.

Fiyero grinned. "So I've rendered the debater speechless?"

"I have a feeling that as long as I know you, you'll never seize to amaze me with your thoughtlessness."

Fiyero only cared about one thing. "But you're not mad at me?"

After thinking for the longest thirty seconds of Fiyero's life she replied, "No it's just, I opened up my thoughts to you and..."

For once Fiyero understood what was going on, "I'm the first person you've ever spoken to like this?"

Elphaba sighed. "Yes."

"Not even Galinda?"

Elphaba gaped at Fiyero.

"Ok fine. But what about Nessa?"

"Nessa doesn't understand why I feel this way."

Fiyero's phone vibrated and he jumped, checking the screen he saw a picture of Avaric holding Oz's largest pina colada.

Elphaba stood up, "Go ahead and answer that, I better be going. But thank you...for listening." And she walked away before Fiyero could reply.

"I BLEW IT AV! DONE! I COULD HAVE ASKED HER RIGHT THERE! WHY DIDN'T I?"

Avaric lounged on the couch. "Because she would have shot you down harder than a watermelon being clubbed out of the sky with a tennis racquet."

Staring at Avaric disbelievingly, Fiyero paced back and forth as he had been doing for the last hour. "I can get this done. I just don't know how to do it!"

Assuming the position Fiyero liked to call "Dr. Avaric," Avaric looked Fiyero square in the eye and declared, "My friend, there is one thing you are clearly lacking." Making poor drum roll noises, Avaric stood on the couch and shouted, "ROMANCE!"

"Thanks doctor, but that's not something I can take courses on." Fiyero said sarcastically.

"Ah yes, but you did get a tool from the princess herself."

Fiyero stared at Avaric, "Avaric, lay off the root beer."

"DUDE! The answer is right in front of you! Dig out that CD!" Avaric exclaimed.

Fiyero was annoyed now. "How is a stupid CD given to me by Galinda with a bunch of ... stupid ... love ... songs...AV YOU'RE A GENIUS!"

"Go tell my cat that, he thinks I'm stupid."

Fiyero didn't even acknowledge that because he was digging in a pile of dirty laundry for his lost hope.