AN: Visit my blog for a picture of Elphaba's dress! :) The party isn't over just yet...
Yep, Fiyero is annoying. Galinda is there, trust me... you'll see *smirk*. And just to be clear: no, Fiyero and Galinda are not dating here. They just had a fun night at the OzDust and that's it. I think I mentioned it somewhere, but it wasn't very clear - sorry about that.
And yes. PIE. LOTS AND LOTS OF PIE. MUAHAHAHAHA.
Chapter 3. Dancing through life
"Elphaba Melena Thropp."
Elphaba, who had been on her way out of the bar, cringed. She had hoped to be able to sneak away without her blonde friend noticing.
Galinda was standing behind her, her arms crossed and tapping one high-heeled foot. "Where do you think you're going?" she asked pointedly, raising one eyebrow.
"Home?" Elphaba tried, but Galinda's eyes narrowed.
"Elphie," she said. "What time did we get here?"
Elphaba gave her a puzzled look. "Around ten, I think," she said, because of course Galinda had insisted on being fashionably late – not to mention the fact that she'd spent hours on both her own appearance and Elphaba's. "Why?"
"What time is it now?"
Elphaba blinked in confusion. "Um… half past eleven?"
Galinda glared at her. "And how long, exactly, did you promise me you'd stay before you'd go home again?"
Elphaba sighed and her shoulders slumped. "Two hours," she muttered.
Galinda giggled at her and looped her arm through Elphaba's. "Sorry, Elphie. No going home for you yet." She bounced a little. "And because you tried to sneak off early, I'm going to add another hour. No leaving before one, Elphie."
Elphaba's eyes widened. "What? Galinda!" she protested. "We had a deal!"
"A deal you tried to break." Galinda squeezed the green girl's arm. "Oh, don't worry, Elphie. You look so pretty – if you'd just come with me and mingle with the people a little, you'll have ten boys asking you to dance within a minute, I'm sure of it!"
"That makes one of us," Elphaba mumbled as she followed Galinda, who made her way through the crowd with practised ease. The blonde led her to a small group of people standing a little apart from everyone else – Pfannee, Shenshen, Milla and Avaric among them.
"Galinda!" Milla said enthusiastically. Her smile froze when she saw Elphaba standing behind the blonde. "And… Artichoke."
Galinda scowled. "Her name is Elphaba."
"Riiiight. Elphaba." Pfannee gave the green girl a smile that was just dripping with fakeness. "It's so nice to have you. Are you enjoying the party?"
"Sure," said Elphaba, not really sure what else to say. Pfannee just gave her another of those smiles and nudged Avaric between the ribs.
"Avvy," she said, "Ar- Elphaba looks like she wants to dance."
Elphaba immediately started spluttering. "Oh, no, really, that's not necessary -" she began, but Pfannee cut her off.
"I insist," she said, smiling again with a mean glint in her eyes. "Avaric, why don't you take Elphaba to the dance floor to dance for a little bit?"
Avaric smirked. "Oh, I would, Pfannee," he said, "but I didn't know vegetables were capable of dancing."
Shenshen elbowed him in the side. "Don't be a wuss," she scolded him. "If Galinda can be friends with the green girl, then so can we." Contrary to her friends, she actually seemed to mean it – she had clearly missed the looks Avaric, Pfannee and Milla were exchanging. Galinda had missed them, too – she was beaming, glad that her friends were finally getting along.
Elphaba, however, had noticed; and she protested as Avaric grabbed her arm and started dragging her over to the dance floor. "Avaric, I really don't think –"
"Shut up, you stinky Artichoke." He all but yanked her into his arms and grinned down at her. "So you let Galinda talk you into wearing an actual dress, huh? It's funny, really, but it actually looks pretty good on you. I mean," he said as he shifted her a little, continuing to dance with her as he 'accidentally' stepped on her foot, causing her to yelp, "it would, if you weren't the colour of snot." He cocked his head to the side. "How can you live with yourself?" he asked her. "I would want to throw up every time I looked in a mirror." He stepped on her foot again, smirking when she gritted her teeth in pain.
He twirled her, then pulled her back, digging his fingernails deep into the skin of her bare shoulder. He laughed when she grimaced.
"What?" he asked her mockingly. "Does that hurt?" He dug deeper.
She yanked herself free.
"Why don't you just leave me alone," she said, eyes flaring, "before I decide that you would look better with a high heel in your groin."
He took hold of her again and dipped her, using it as an excuse to bring his face close to her ear and whisper, his hot breath ghosting over her cheek, "You know what, green bean? Someone should just do us all a favour and toss you off the bridge and into Suicide Canal." He smirked. "But then again… you do look sort of hot in this dress. Maybe I should take you home instead." His hand drifted down the skirt of her dress and touched her bare leg, making her jump. His smirk widened.
"How about I show you some stuff back in my room?" he breathed in her ear. "Or in a bathroom stall," he added, "or in an alley just around the corner – I don't really give a damn. But I do believe that maybe your problem is just that you need a good f- ouch!" he yelped, grabbing at his foot.
Elphaba smiled innocently at him. "Oops."
He grunted and stepped closer to her again, grabbing both her arms and dragging her towards him. She could feel his fingers digging into her skin and she already knew he was going to leave bruises.
"Two can play this game," he hissed at her. "Watch it, Thropp – you'd better be nice to me, or else…" He squeezed harder, making her gasp. "…or else I might just be waiting at Suicide Canal the next time you come near there."
"You know what?" she whispered to him, beckoning him closer. He leant in a little, wanting to hear what she had to say.
"I," she said slowly, "am not afraid of you."
With that, she brought her knee up into his groin and pushed him off of her. He let out a string of colourful curses as he stumbled backwards and bumped into a group of other dancers, who all gave him dirty looks.
He stayed on the floor for a moment, doubled over in pain and gritting his teeth. Then he looked up at Elphaba with a look of disgust in his eyes.
"You," he groaned, "are so dead."
She waved sweetly at him. "Bye, Avaric."
With that, she turned around and started making her way over to the door. She was completely fed up with this entire party, and all she wanted now was to go home and find a good book to read until she fell asleep. She was sure about one thing: she was never going to go to another party ever again.
Just then, however, she heard Avaric scrambling to his feet behind her. A glance over her shoulder told her he was elbowing his way towards her, a murderous look in his eyes.
She gulped. Maybe challenging him hadn't been such a good idea. It wasn't that she couldn't take him in a fight… okay, well, maybe it was. She knew how to punch people and he was not a coward, but Avaric was twice as broad and muscular as she was. In a physical fight between the two of them, Avaric would win and they both knew it.
She quickened her pace, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible. She felt Avaric's fingers, hard as steel, close around her wrist; and she resisted the urge to wince.
"Not so fast," he said. "I'm not done with you yet."
"Hey, Avaric," a new voice said. "Mind if I cut in?"
Elphaba turned, only to see Fiyero swiftly stepping in, prying Avaric's fingers off the green girl's wrist and standing in front of her.
"Yes," Avaric grumbled. "I do, actually."
"Too bad," said Fiyero, casting a smile in Elphaba's direction over his shoulder. "It's my turn now."
Avaric scowled. "Fiyero, stay out of this," he warned.
"Out of what?" the prince demanded. "Please don't tell me you were planning on fighting a girl. Not even you would sink that low, would you?"
Elphaba felt anger bubble to the surface when she heard him talking like that – as if she was just a helpless, fragile little girl who couldn't keep herself up in a fight against a boy! – but she did feel relieved when Avaric grumbled something under his breath and turned around, stalking back over to his friends.
Fiyero turned to face her, smiling. "So," he said, bowing. "May I have this dance?"
She pointed at the door. "I was actually just leaving…"
"Aw, come on." He swept her into his arms, placing one hand on her waist and lacing the fingers of his other hand with hers. "Just one dance."
She sighed, but complied. "Just one."
He grinned at her. "Great." He guided her across the dance floor with a skill she hadn't expected of him – but then again, he was a prince. He had probably learnt how to dance when he was still very young.
"You didn't have to defend me, you know," said Elphaba, sounding a little more gruff than she had intended. "I can fight my own battles. I'm not some pristine little princess who needs protection."
He spun her around. "I know."
They were silent for a while as they danced. Then Elphaba said, "So, what? What do you expect me to do now? You saved me from Avaric, so now I have to go home with you and spend the night, or something?"
He frowned at her. "No, of course not."
"No, of course not," she mimicked him. "How could that thought ever have crossed my mind? Of course you don't want to sleep with the Artichoke."
"Elphaba." He pulled her to a halt and looked at her, his brow still furrowed. "Just say thank you."
She crossed her arms. "No," she insisted. "I know you must have had some hidden motive, or you wouldn't have done it."
"No hidden motive." He started dancing with her again. "The only motive I have is what I already told you a thousand times – I want to be your friend. Friends stick up for one another. That's all. I don't think you're weak, I don't think you couldn't have beaten Avaric in a fight. I am not expecting you to come home with me – not because I don't want you to or because you're green, but because I'd like to think I can be a gentleman when I want to be and just do something for a girl without expecting anything in return, especially when that girl is my friend." He twirled her again. "Got it?"
"Oh." She allowed him to pull her closer and dip her. No stinky, hot breaths in her ear this time, and no threats about Suicide Canal or hands roaming up her skirt. All Fiyero did was give her a lopsided grin before hauling her back up against him.
She looked at his face as they danced. He was looking over her shoulder, a thoughtful expression on his face; but when he caught her staring, the thoughtfulness disappeared and he grinned again. A straight grin this time, not a lopsided one.
"What?" he asked her as she kept on studying him.
She shook her head. "Nothing." She kept silent for a moment, staring down at their feet before finally blurting out, "Thank you."
He smiled and squeezed the hand he was holding in his before spinning her around again. "You're welcome."
When she walked into class the Monday after that, Fiyero was already there, talking to Boq and Nessa. He waved her over when he saw her enter and she sat down beside him, smiling at her sister.
"Good morning."
"Morning, Fabala." Nessarose looked at the door, then at her sister. "Isn't Galinda coming?" she asked.
Elphaba shook her head. "She's skipping class to go shopping with Pfannee, Milla and Shenshen," she said, nodding at the empty seats in the back of the classroom. Avaric had found himself some other female students to sit with, chatting and showing off his muscles to a bunch of giggling girls sitting in front of him. Elphaba rolled her eyes before turning back to her sister. "It's Galinda's birthday next week," she reminded them all, "and so she desperately needs some new clothes."
They all chuckled.
"Hey, Elphaba," said Boq, turning to face the green girl. "Did you read that book Doctor Dillamond recommended?"
"Yes, of course," she replied, her eyes lighting up. "Did you?"
Boq nodded and the two launched into a discussion about the book and its themes, leaving Nessa and Fiyero staring at them without really comprehending what they were saying.
Fiyero shook his head and looked at Nessa. "So…" He cocked his head. "Are you and Boq together now?"
She flushed. Then she bit her lip. Then slowly, a small smile spread across her face. "I think so."
Fiyero grinned at her. "That's great."
Nessa nodded.
Not really knowing what else to say to the wheelchair-bound girl – they weren't exactly good friends, and he didn't know her all that well – Fiyero started studying Elphaba instead. Her dark eyes were alight with excitement as she talked about one of her favourite subjects, and she was constantly moving her hands to express her thoughts. She was talking fast, impatiently swiping a stray strand of raven hair out of her face. Her eyes never left Boq's as she talked; and when she wasn't talking, she tilted her head a little to the side as she listened. Her hair was tied back in her usual braid today, but it was adorned with a few small, white flowers and Fiyero could tell that she was wearing some make-up. He smiled. Apparently Galinda had gotten to her again this morning.
His eyes shifted further downwards, down the elegant slope of her neck and to her collarbone. She wasn't wearing a necklace. Now that he thought of it, he didn't think he had ever seen her wear any jewellery at all. Did she even own some? He figured he could buy her something for her birthday – whenever that was. He'd have to ask her sometime.
The thin cardigan she was wearing over her dress fell down her shoulder a little, exposing her upper arm, and Fiyero's eyes were drawn to the spot. Her eyes still on Boq, she quickly pulled the sleeve back up again; but by then Fiyero had already seen the dark bruises adorning the pale green skin on her upper arm and he gasped.
Nessa must have noticed, too, because at the exact same time she said sharply, "Fabala, what did you do to your arm?"
Elphaba broke off her conversation with Boq to blink at her sister. "What?"
"Your arm," Nessa repeated. "Those bruises." She nodded at the spot. "What happened?"
"Oh, that." Elphaba tugged at her sleeve, as if by covering the bruises well enough she could make Fiyero and Nessa forget they ever saw them. "It was nothing."
Nessarose frowned. "Fabala –"
"Really, Nessa," the green girl insisted. "It's not important. I'm fine."
"You didn't fight with anyone, did you?" Nessa asked, a disapproving look on her face. "Fabala, you're the Governor's daughter. You're supposed to be a lady. You can't just go around picking fights with –"
"Nessa," Elphaba cut her off firmly. "I did not 'pick a fight' with anyone, alright? Forget it. It won't happen again." It did not escape her attention that Nessa had said "you're supposed to be a lady", rather than "you are a lady"; but it didn't really bother her. She was too green, too straightforward, and too sarcastic to be a lady, anyway.
Nessarose gave her a long look, almost seeming as if her eyes could burn straight through Elphaba's head to read her mind; but then she looked away and focused on the lecture, and Elphaba looked back down at her notes.