Sorry this took so long for me to upload. I'm transferring colleges and so have a lot of crap to do for that... bleh.

But anyway, this chapter has a little more Fiyeraba arguing, but that will change soon, I promise. I'm kind of a big fan of love/hate relationships in stories (as you probably already guessed), so I want them to really get on each other's nerves before they eventually realize they're crazy about each other. Anyway, I don't want to spoil anything else (the love thing was a given, I presume), so I'll stop now.

Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 6

Elphaba could say, without a doubt, that this trip was the most exciting thing she had done in her entire life. Exploring Oz had opened her mind to things she never even imagined existed. She spent the day seeing incredible sights, meeting fascinating people and eating food the likes of which she had read about only in books. At nights, the tour would usually arrange some sort of entertainment, which - since the Opera singer - had actually been entertaining. She even - secretly of course - liked going on shopping trips with Angie and Milla, whose company she surprisingly enjoyed.

The trip would have been absolutely perfect if it wasn't for one thing - that annoying, brainless, idiot... Fiyero.

That boy seemed to be on a mission to constantly irritate and humiliate her.

The night he had played the piano had been absolutely mortifying. Not only had he made her feel utterly foolish by acting like he couldn't play and then proving her wrong in front of everybody, but he spent the rest of the night being even more infuriating. That is, he danced with every girl on their table except for her. Elphaba didn't care of course... who wanted to dance with -a-lot anyway? But what annoyed her was the way he did it. He would stand right in front of her, look straight into her eyes and then ask the girl behind her to dance. He had done it three times and each time she had stupidly believed he was going to ask her... before he didn't.

That was the night she made the decision to avoid him.

Considering how many people were on the tour, that should have been easy. But unfortunately for her, he was everywhere. She'd be in the restaurant of whatever hotel they were in, getting dinner, and he'd turn up right next to her pointing out that the noodles looked like brains. She'd be reading by the poolside, and he'd come along and ask her if she wanted to rub sunscreen on his back. One day she had even caught Fiyero and Galinda making out on an armchair in her room. She had gotten furious and thrown her bag on the ground, screaming that he never let her have any privacy. As usual he had just shrugged it off and she had left the room fuming, not wanting to see them eating each others faces again. That had been the worst... because it was a symbol that even her own room wasn't a haven from that idiot's perpetually smirking face.

The only saving grace had been that Fiyero was still in the other sightseeing group, which meant that for majority of the day she had peace from his incessant jests. But even that was brutally taken away from her when their group leader, Todd, announced that for their visit to the Elroid Museum, they would be joining groups.

The Elroid Museum was the largest museum in Oz and was located on the outskirts of the Gilikin, 'Five hours by bus away from Galinda's home'. Apart from antiques belonging to the old Gilikinese Kings and clothes and jewelry of the grand duchess Nymeria, the Elroid also housed priceless artwork by some of the most renowned artists in history. According to a guide book Elphaba had read, if one were to spend five minutes looking at each painting in the art section, it would take them four days to get through the whole museum. Given that they only had two hours to spend, Elphaba couldn't wait to get started. She wanted to absorb as much as she possibly could.

Todd stopped outside the museum, holding their tickets.

"Since we are only spending two hours here," he announced, "We want you to be able to see whatever you want to see. Which is why Marie and I have decided that we are going to let all of you explore the museum by yourselves. We will meet back here at 12 'o' clock. Alright?"

A happy murmur spread through the crowd. Todd held up a hand, silencing them as he continued.

"In order to make sure you don't get lost, however, we want you get into pairs."

"How idiotic," Elphaba hissed to Galinda, "What is this, a primary school trip to the circus?"

Galinda stifled a giggle, and Todd flashed them a look before continuing.

"This may seem like a unnecessary measure, but we have our reasons. Over the years there have been instances of couples running off from the group as soon as we let them... go free. Last year, two of our travelers decided to go off to town while everyone else was at the museum. They lost track of time and didn't return by the deadline. We had to wait in the bus right here for eight hours until they finally returned." Todd grimaced at the memory, "Which is why we are going to assign partners. One person from Group A will be paired with a person from Group B."

Elphaba groaned. With her luck, she knew, she'd be stuck with someone absolutely awful.

"Do you believe this?" she hissed to Galinda.

"I know! I wanted to be partners with you!" Galinda pouted, "What if I get stuck with that stupid Bonnie from Group B? I hate her. She always wears plaid." She crinkled her nose, "Plaid is even worse than those ugly black frocks you always wear." She informed Elphaba.

"Gee thanks, Lin." Elphaba said, rolling her eyes.

They went and joined the line that had formed in front of Todd, to collect their tickets and find out who their assigned partner for the tour was.

"I'm with Avaric," Milla squealed, as she passed by them, waving her ticket.

"Wasn't Angie the one who liked Avaric?" Elphaba whispered to Galinda.

"No, Angie and Avaric hooked up but Milla likes Avaric."

"Oh."

Elphaba wondered how either of them wanted anything at all to do with Avaric, considering he seemed unable to say anything that wasn't a sleazy pick-up line to a person with breasts.

Finally Elphaba and Galinda reached the front of the line and waited expectantly as Todd checked his clipboard.

"You are paired with Gail," Todd told Galinda, and pointed at a slight girl wearing a neon orange skirt. Galinda gave her a disgusted look.

"At least she's not wearing plaid," Elphaba offered helpfully.

"And you," Todd said, pointing at Elphaba, "Are with.."

Please be someone good.

"... Fiyero."

"You have got to be kidding me!" Elphaba spluttered as Galinda burst out in peals of laughter. By this point everyone knew of her intense dislike for the Vinkun boy.

Except for Todd, apparently.

"Is there a problem?" he asked, perplexed, looking from one girl to the other, "You were paired with Avaric Tenmeadows first... but Milla said you wanted to switch with her."

"Milla said what now?"

"She said that you and Fiyero had both majored in Art History and wanted to discuss the art work together."

Galinda began laughing harder and Elphaba glared venomously at Todd, who turned back to his clipboard.

"So I got him as your partner. You're welcome. Just don't run off with him, alright?"

Elphaba tried to come up with a snide response, but couldn't, so instead stormed away, followed by a still giggling Galinda.

"What an idiot," Elphaba spat, as soon as Todd was out of ear-shot, "No wonder it was so easy for those two kids to just run away from the tour group. How did he buy Milla's stupid story? Obviously she just wanted to partner with Avaric. Now if the two of them run away from the group and we have to wait eight hours..."

Elphaba stopped when she saw Milla linking arms with Avaric and strolling into the museum.

"I can't believe her!" Elphaba shrieked, "She knows how much I hate Fiyero."

"Oh Elphie, I'm sure it won't be that bad."

Galinda seemed extremely amused with the whole situation until Little Miss Neon Orange came up to her and asked if she wanted to go inside. Galinda and her started talking, and Elphaba stood awkwardly on the side until a voice behind her broke her out of her thoughts.

"I guess it's you and me again."

She turned around and glared at Fiyero's grinning face.

"I guess it is. But I want you to know, I'm not happy about it."

"I didn't expect you to be."

Galinda and neon girl finally stopped talking and turned towards the two of them.

"We're going to the fourth floor to see the Grand Duchess's clothes. Do you guys want to join us?" Galinda asked.

Fiyero shrugged, "I don't really have a preference." He glanced at Elphaba, "Well?"

Galinda was giving her an opening, she knew, so she wouldn't have to be alone with Fiyero. But Elphaba also knew that she would never forgive herself if she didn't go to see the artwork. Especially since this would probably be her only chance to visit the Elroid.

"No," she sighed, "I want to see the art work."

"Alright, bye then!" Galinda said, sending them a small smile before heading to the museum with her partner.

"I knew you wanted to be alone with me," Fiyero said, nudging her in the side with his elbow.

As expected, Fiyero was a less-than-perfect partner. Mainly because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. He got bored within the first ten minutes and spent the rest of the time trying to come up with a pun for every piece of artwork they saw. Elphaba had to rush through the impressionist section because she couldn't stand another "This painting probably made him a lot of Monet." or "When are we going to Gogh? This guy's paintings are super boring."

It was when they were halfway through the surrealist section and he was nagging her not to dilly-Dali when she lost it.

"Can you stop!" she said, turning to him furiously, "I know you probably would have preferred seeing the antiques or the duchess's old clothes, but because you are partners with me you have to see the art, and you don't want to... I get it, which is why I have been patient so far. But I literally can not take another second of you talking!"

"You mean figuratively," he corrected her.

"What?"

"You figuratively can not take another second of me talking."

She ground her teeth, letting out something akin to a roar, and he smirked.

"I don't know why I annoy you so much, but I have to admit it really is quite amusing."

Elphaba had actually wondered the same thing herself on many occasions. Why did he evoke such a strong reaction from her? She'd dealt with bullies and assholes throughout her schooling, but no one had gotten under her skin quite like Fiyero did. And he never actually had said anything offensive to her.

She pushed the thought from her mind. She just wanted to enjoy the museum... she could contemplate the causes for her emotional reactions later.

"Look Fiyero," she said, trying to sound calm, "This might be my only chance to be come here, so I just want to see the artwork in peace, alright?"

"Why is this your only chance to see it? Is the museum shutting down?"

"No. I just..." she shook her head, "I don't want to talk about it, ok? Just keep your trap shut and let me look at the art."

They stopped in front of a painting of seven old bearded men around a table, and Elphaba tried to admire the paint strokes but was distracted by Fiyero's intense gaze on her cheek.

"What?" she snapped, turning to face him.

"You know what your problem is?"

"Apart from you?"

"You don't know how to have fun."

She bristled. "I don't there is much fun we can have in a museum apart from looking at the art," she said icily.

"Well see, that's your problem. You don't think out of the box."

Fiyero looked casually around the spacious room.

It was a weekday afternoon, so there were no locals around, and most of the people from their tour group were at the antiques section. The few people who had come with them to see the art, had hung back in the impressionist section, leaving them almost completely alone in the large room. With the exception, of course, of the bored security guard who was sitting on a stool by the emergency stairs.

Fiyero turned to her, and she could see an impish smile ghosting his lips.

"Go ask that man how much this painting costs."

She rolled her eyes, "This painting isn't for sale, Fiyero. This is the museum's permanent collection."

"I know."

She gave an exasperated sigh, "Then I obviously can't buy it."

"Yes, but see we're going to have fun by pretending to be idiots and not understand that."

She gave a mock gasp, "So you being an idiot was pretense all along?"

He stuck his tongue out at her.

"Stop being obnoxious and go ask that man how much this painting with the..." he turned to look at the painting, blinking a few times, "... wrinkly old dudes having a meeting, costs."

"They are not having a meeting they are having a feast for King... you know what," she clenched her jaw, "I don't have to play along with this. I'm not doing it."

He shrugged, "Fine. I'll do it."

"Fine!... Wait, what? Fiyero... no! Stop!"

She tried to grab his arm to hold him back, but he was already sauntering over to the guard. Elphaba trailed behind him, acting like she was looking at the paintings, but instead anxiously listening for what Fiyero was going to say. Why was he so intent on causing trouble? Why couldn't he just look at the paintings like everyone else?

"Excuse me, sir," she heard him say, "How much does that painting over there cost?"

"Uhm... sorry sir. This is the museum's permanent collection... but even otherwise, we don't sell paintings."

Elphaba risked a side-glance at Fiyero, and saw him pouting at the guard.

"Oh please, sir. My wife and I..." he gestured listlessly at Elphaba and she quickly pretended to be engrossed in a watercolour. "... we're buying a house together, and that painting will look absolutely perfect in our bedroom. Won't it, honey?" he called after her.

She pretended not to hear him. Why was he dragging her into this?

"That's your wife?" She could hear bewilderment in the guard's voice. She gritted her teeth.

"Yes, she's an artist. She works primarily with green permanent dye. It's very hard to get off," Fiyero said, "She takes about three baths a day."

"Maybe she should stop using that dye then."

She turned around and found the guard eyeing her uncertainly.

"That's what I keep telling her!" Fiyero said. He threw her a look and shook his head, reprovingly

"But it's alright," he said, turning back to the guard, "Green is my favourite colour. I'll live. Anyway... the painting?"

"I'm sorry, as I said, the painting isn't for sale."

Fiyero put on an expression that made him look like a petulant child, "Now look here. I'm willing to pay whatever you need for it."

The guard frowned, "That doesn't matter, sir. It's not for sale."

"You are being extremely rude."

"I'm sorry sir, but there's nothing I can do about it." The annoyance was thick in the guard's voice now, and Elphaba wanted to interrupt and drag Fiyero away, but she refrained. After all, he had gotten himself into this, and he could deal with his own consequences.

"Well then...I'll just have to steal it." Fiyero said, crossing his arms across his chest defiantly.

What?

The guard gaped at him.

"Is that a threat?"

"Maybe."

What is he doing? Elphaba tried to give him a warning glare, but his back was to her.

"Well sir," the guard said, icily, "I'll have you know that even threatening to steal a painting from this museum is a matter that is not taken lightly."

"And I'll have you know that if you wash your hair occasionally, it won't look that greasy and disgusting."

She couldn't help herself.

"Fiyero!" she shouted.

He turned to look at her and she glared at him. In response, however, he just grinned. She threw her arms up in despair. The guard in the mean time, had walked over to the emergency exit and shouted something down it, and a few minutes later a large group of security guards appeared. One of them grabbed hold of Fiyero, and started pushing him towards the exit. Elphaba watched him struggle and make loud declarations of how he would 'get his lawyer cousin to sue this museum'.

She rolled her eyes. What an idiot. What did he expect would happen?

"Ma'am."

She turned away from the commotion and found herself facing another security guard.

"If you will just exit this way."

She stared at him, "Excuse me?"

"We don't want to use force."

She felt panic begin to rise up in her chest. "He's not my husband," she said, quickly, "It was all just a big joke. We're on the tour..."

"Ma'am please don't make a fuss."

"I'm not! It's just that I don't..."

But it made no difference. Five minutes later, she found herself flung out of the museum, along with Fiyero, with a warning that if they tried to come back, they would be reported to the police. The door was then slammed in their faces.

No.

The despair that was filling up in Elphaba slowly turned to rage, as she heard Fiyero laughing behind her. She turned to face him, her eyes flashing.

"How great was that?!" he said. His amusement made her blood boil. "Come on. You have to give it to me. The whole 'you being an artist who uses green dye' thing was pretty clever."

This is IT.

She stomped her foot loudly against the pavement and he stopped laughing.

"What?" He asked, blankly.

She walked closer to him, her eyes burning into his.

"You just got us chucked out of them museum," she said, her voice dangerously low. "I have been waiting for years to see this... and in five minutes, you ruined everything."

The smile faded off his face. "But... I just thought..."

"No, you didn't. That's the problem. You don't think. You are completely and utterly brainless, and you're probably never going to amount to anything in life because you don't stop for a minute to consider things. So do yourself a favour, Fiyero, and just leave me alone."

"But it's another hour before we have to meet the group..."

"Yes... so I'm going to sit in the bus and read my book, and if I see you there, I swear on my life, even the great Wizard of Oz won't be able to help you."

With that she swept away, not once glancing back to see the pathetic expression in the blonde boy's eyes.