I want to thank Elphaba'sGirl and Ultimate Queen of Cliffies. You guys have supported me on both my long stories :) I just want you to know how much I appreciate that. You guys are the best.
So yeah, Chapter 5... lots of Fiyero/Elphaba interaction from now on :D
Chapter 5
Galinda had spent the rest of the train journey and the whole of the next day chattering excitedly about the eighteen seconds she had spent with the 'super amazifying and attractive' Fiyero. Elphaba, on the other had, was the opposite. Even though Galinda and the other girls nagged and pleaded, she refused to say a word about her time alone with that boy.
Truthfully, it was because she was extremely embarrassed.
She would never admit this - least of all to Galinda - but she when first saw him, she also thought he was incredibly attractive. And when he grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the train, there was a moment where he had held her and looked at her with eyes so blue they made her dizzy.
And she was completed and utterly humiliated. Because not only had he seen her run towards the train looking like a crazy person with her skirt flying all over the place, but she fallen all over him and dropped her suitcase and just come across as a total buffoon. And worst of all, while repacking her bag, she had missed a bra which he had then found on the train floor.
It was all too much to take in, particularly since it all happened in a span of five minutes. Which is why Elphaba had decided the only way to remedy the situation would be to keep her mouth shut and read quietly on the side, so as not to add fuel to the flames of an already incredibly embarrassing situation.
If only Fiyero had the same plan.
Unfortunately he didn't and he had opened his mouth to reveal a series of stupid and irritating comments which ruined the illusion of charm his appearance had somehow given him. And after just fifteen minutes or so of interaction, Elphaba could say with certainty that she had never met anyone so annoying in her life.
Which is why she was absolutely dreading seeing him again.
Sadly, she knew that she would see him again. Galinda would make sure of it.
But, she had to admit, things had gone smoothly since the train. Elphaba and Galinda had gotten a joint room with Angie and Milla, which was actually really fun, and all four of them had gone sightseeing together, which had been really exciting. Southland Tours had divided everyone into two sightseeing groups which had gone to opposite sides of town and then switched after lunch. Elphaba enjoyed it immensely - her group leader was extremely knowledgeable, the people in her group seemed friendly and best of all, Fiyero and his cronies were in the other group.
Elphaba was eagerly looking forward to the next morning's trip to the town bazaar... what she wasn't looking forward to however, was the 'Welcome to Southland Tours' Party that was being held that night in the hotel ballroom.
As soon as they had gotten back from sightseeing, Galinda had pulled out a short, Indigo coloured dress and insisted Elphaba wear it.
"You would look absolutely darling in it," she promised.
"That's great. I'll keep that in mind if I ever want to dress up to look like a brass doll with verdigris," Elphaba had replied.
"I have no idea what that is, Elphie, but I won't hear it. You have to wear it."
"No!" She insisted, "I refuse to put on something that was invented to make girls feel conscious about their size and go for some cultish social gathering."
But her vociferous protestations made no difference. Galinda, Angie and Milla were not used to not getting their own way, and Elphaba had practically been forced into wearing it. They had then proceeded to spend the next two hours styling her hair and applying makeup on her.
"I look like a raccoon," Elphaba said, when Angie finished applying the mascara.
"And what's wrong with that?" Galinda demanded, "My mother knew a raccoon once. She lived down the hall from us. She was very nice."
Elphaba grimaced at her reflection and Angie giggled.
"She does look a bit like a raccoon," Angie admitted.
"Yes, but a cute raccoon."
"Just what every girl dreams of looking like," Elphaba muttered.
Galinda, of course, ignored her and stared at Elphaba's reflection, pleased with her handiwork.
"The party tonight is going to suck," Milla said abruptly. She was lounging on the bed, silently watching the fan spin in dizzying circles. "I can sense it."
"Oh Milla," Galinda said, crinkling her nose, "You are always so negative."
"But she's right," Elphaba jumped in. "It sounds like it's going to be... bad. I think we should skip it."
"You just want to avoid Fiyero, don't you?" Galinda put her hands on her hips, "Now what did he do to you which was so awful, Elphie? You have to tell us sometime."
Angie nodded eagerly and Milla sat up on the bed, suddenly interested.
"It's nothing," Elphaba said, hastily, "Really. He was just being extremely irritating. He refused to let me read... he kept yapping on about penguins and flowers and making lame jokes..."
"That doesn't explain why you want to avoid him,"
"I..."
Elphaba didn't want Galinda to know how she had embarrassed herself in front of him. Galinda wouldn't understand how falling on top a boy and then having him find your bra would be humiliating... and she certainly wouldn't understand why his 'flirting' annoyed her so much. If Elphaba tried to explain, Galinda would just assume she wanted to avoid Fiyero because she had a crush on him. And that was the last thing in the world Elphaba wanted anyone to think.
"It has nothing to do with Fiyero..." she said, quickly, "I just don't like parties. You know that."
"Well too bad," Galinda huffed, "You're going if I have to drag you by your ankles."
Which is how Elphaba found herself on a large, round table in the middle of the ballroom with Angie, Milla and Galinda, as a stout lady with too many moles sang a soulful opera.
"I told you this party would suck," Milla whispered.
"You didn't say it was because there would be an old woman crying on stage," Galinda hissed back.
"I told you I had a feeling!"
Elphaba tried to ignore their whispers and concentrate, but even she had to admit the performance was extremely boring. The tour had certainly not gone all out with the entertainment; the woman they hired to sing the opera was absolutely terrible. Elphaba slumped into her seat and absentmindedly watched Angie play with her cutlery when Galinda squealed.
"Look, it's him!"
Oh no.
Elphaba reluctantly glanced up to see three boys in suits standing by the entrance, and her stomach squirmed as she noticed the one with the dark blonde hair looking around the ballroom for a place to sit.
Please don't let him see that we have empty chairs. Please, please...
"Fiyero!" Galinda shrieked.
Damn it.
The people on the other tables turned to look at them, but Galinda ignored this.
"Fiyero!" She called again, "Over here!"
The boy spotted her and said something to his friends, and then all of them started walking towards their table.
"Why did you have to call him over?" Elphaba hissed angrily to Galinda.
"You said you didn't have a problem with him." Galinda replied, innocently.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I want to spend more time with him!"
She fell to silence as the three boys reached their table.
"Galinda!" Fiyero greeted, flashing them a smile, "What a gorgeous group of girls."
He looked at Elphaba. "Oh... and Elphaba. I didn't see you there."
She glared at him and he sent her a smirk.
"I see you're just as cheerful as you were on the train," he said, flippantly.
"I was... until you showed up," she retorted.
"Glad I make such an impression on you."
He sat down on the empty seat beside Galinda.
Elphaba turned angrily away from him, and instead caught his two friends giving her curiously amused looks.
"What?" She snapped, "Is there something in my teeth?"
The Munchkin boy began stuttering and Elphaba rolled her eyes.
The boy with the dark hair and the stubble introduced himself as Avaric, and sat down next to Angie, while the Munchkin, Boq, (after sending Galinda a series of longing looks) sat down beside Milla. The three girls quickly got into rapt conversations with the three boys, leaving Elphaba with no one to converse with. She tried to listen to the Opera singer's wailing, telling herself that she would enjoy it if she gave it a chance, but she realized very quickly that wasn't true.
She slumped back in her chair, and started day-dreaming about the latest book she was reading, when Galinda - who was sitting beside her - giggled loudly, distracting her.
She turned to look at Galinda, frowning as she did so. Galinda and Fiyero had turned their chairs so that they were facing each other, their knees touching. He was leaning into her, whispering things that were making her blush. Elphaba rolled her eyes, but unconsciously shifted towards Galinda, in an attempt to hear them.
"You know," Fiyero was saying, tucking a strand of Galinda's hair behind her ear, "While on the tour I saw something in a garden and it reminded me of you."
"Really?" Galinda asked, enraptured, "What was it?"
"A beautiful flower,"
Galinda broke out into a fresh set of giggles.
"Oh Fiyero, you're so cute."
He smirked, "I know."
Elphaba tried to suppress her gag-reflex. Was Galinda actually buying that crap?
"So, what do you do for fun?" Galinda asked, coquettishly.
"Girls like you."
Galinda whacked him playfully on the arm, "Stop it. Seriously."
Fiyero shrugged, "Going for parties and stuff. You know... the usual."
"Where are you from?"
"The Vinkus."
"Do they have good parties there?"
"Yeah. Great ones."
"I've heard they have a scandalacious prince who throws the most outrageous parties." Galinda said, excitedly.
Fiyero shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't know about that," he admitted.
"Have you met him?"
"Uh... no."
Galinda paused thoughtfully for a minute and then sighed, "I wish he had organized this party. I mean... I thought this was going to be fun... with dancing and stuff. But it's so boring."
"Yeah," Fiyero agreed, looking strangely relieved, "I can't tell whether that lady is singing or trying to tell us that a house is burning down. And that guy on the piano too. He's awful. I can play piano better than he can."
"You can play piano?" Galinda's eyes widened, "Really?"
"Uh..."
"I think it's so sexy when guys can play the piano."
He grinned, devilishly. "Of course I can play the piano."
Elphaba rubbed her temples, wondering how Galinda could lose so much intelligence just by talking to an attractive boy. Did she not get that he was just telling her whatever she wanted to hear to get her into bed with him?
Fortunately, as if by some divine intervention, the woman singing finally announced the end of her performance.
Oh thank god.
Elphaba clapped feebly as the singer and the man playing the piano bowed and walked out of the room. As everyone else in the room turned back - immensely relieved - to their conversations, an idea suddenly floating into her mind.
"So, Fiyero..." she said, slowly, turning to him, "I happened to overhear a bit of your conversation..."
"Listening to other people's conversations is rude, Elphaba," he said, waving her off.
She felt a flush of anger but quickly pushed it aside, "You can play piano?"
"Yup, been playing for 12 years."
"Wow!" Galinda squealed.
"Then why don't you show us?" Elphaba asked and smirked when she saw Fiyero freeze.
"What?" he stammered.
"There's no one playing the piano now, why don't you just go and show us how good you are?"
"Oh..." Fiyero laughed awkwardly, "I mean... I'm sure I can't just walk up there and start playing..."
"Oh come on, Fifi!" Galinda pouted.
Elphaba almost scoffed. Only Galinda could give a boy she hardly knew a nickname.
"Yeah Fifi. I'm sure no one will mind," Elphaba said, "Everyone's busy talking to each other."
"So let's not disturb them," Fiyero suggested.
But as she had anticipated, the group suddenly latched on... and didn't let up. Angie and Milla joined Galinda's pleas, and as Elphaba had learned the hard way, the three girls wouldn't give up till they got what they wanted. Soon Fiyero was walking towards the back of the room, over to the platform with the piano on it. A few people turned to watch him and he sent them a sheepish smile. He then sat down on the piano stool and awkwardly flexed his fingers.
Elphaba could hear Galinda's breath hitch in anticipation.
This is going to be so good.
Fiyero's fingers fell onto the keys, producing a cacophony worse than the old woman's opera singing. Galinda gasped and Milla began to giggle as Fiyero hammered away at the keys. It seemed more like he was building a tree-house as opposed to playing an instrument.
Elphaba grinned gleefully.
"See Lin?" she said, turning to the blond girl with a smug expression on her face, "He's got no substance. He's just a brainless boy who was telling you whatever you wanted to hear."
But Elphaba's smile suddenly melted off her face as Fiyero's ear-jarring melody transformed into something else. Her heart began thudding as she recognized the tune.
He was playing a flawless rendition of Mozart's Piano Concerto No.15.
There is no way.
She looked up, unable to believe what she was hearing, and saw the boy's face screwed up in concentration as his fingers gracefully danced across the keys.
Her arm was inadvertently covered in goosebumps.
Oh my Oz.
Fiyero looked up from the piano, caught her eye and sent her a wink.
This can not seriously be happening.
Her throat went dry.
"12 years of piano lessons." She heard Avaric say in the background, his voice muffled. "His dad wouldn't let him quit because he said he had a talent and shouldn't waste it."
"He's incredible!" Galinda shrieked.
Fiyero finished, stood up and took a silly bow as the crowd broke out into cheers. He then walked back to their table, grinning.
"Dude you scared me!" Boq exclaimed, "For a second there, I was actually embarrassed for you."
"It's an important life lesson." Fiyero said playfully, flopping down on his chair, "You shouldn't judge something by what it initially appears to be."
He was still talking to Boq of course, but his azure eyes were looking straight at Elphaba.