AN: Okay, because you all asked for it... a very quick update this time! :) I want to ask you something in return, though: PLEASE STOP TRYING TO BREAK EACH OTHER'S 'AWW' RECORDS ;_;. No matter how much I appreciate it and love your reviews, they're kind of messing up my review page :3.

EmeraldReine, so glad to see you're back! I'm sorry to hear that you've been going through a rough time, but I'm glad I could help, if only a little bit... even though I didn't know I was doing it :P. I'd love to read your new story/stories!

BlueD, have an awesome vacation! :D

Chapter 14. That one special kiss

"Study."

"Song."

"Study."

"Song."

"Study!"

"Song! I can do this all day, Elphaba!"

"So can I," she retorted. "Study!"

"Guys!" Boq shouted, effectively silencing them both.

The Munchkin sighed. "Thank you."

"Why don't you study first," Nessarose suggested patiently, "and then work on the song?"

"Because," said Elphaba through gritted teeth, "that song is long finished by now. Why do you keep insisting we work on it, Fiyero? It was perfect days ago! What am I saying – weeks ago! It was perfect right after we finished it the week after Lurlinemas break!"

Fiyero felt himself redden slightly. Shiz, she was on to him.

"Well…" he stammered, trying to think of an excuse. His face brightened when he found one. "I started working on a different song the other day and I want you to help me with that one!"

She gave him a suspicious look that told him she did not believe that in the slightest – even though it was true. He had felt the urge to write a song for Elphaba ever since he realised he was in love with her, but he had resisted, thinking she would laugh at him. After the day they had gone ice skating, however, he just couldn't hold himself back anymore. He'd started to write at least four different songs already, only to crumple them and toss them into a corner after one verse or chorus, thinking they weren't good enough. He really could use her help.

"Fabala," Nessa admonished her sister. "Be nice."

"What?" Elphaba's eyes widened. "I am being nice!"

Fiyero pouted, playing along. "If you really were that nice, you'd agree to help me," he said in a pathetic little voice.

She kicked him under the table so that Nessa couldn't see. He grimaced, but didn't make a sound.

"Fine, then," she agreed gruffly. "But we're going to study first. You have an exam coming up and two essays due next week, Fiyero. You really need to take this more seriously."

"Yes, Mum."

That earned him another kick. This time, however, Nessarose noticed; and she threw a warning look in her sister's direction.

"Fabala…"

Elphaba grumbled something under her breath and rose abruptly to her feet. "Let's go, then," she said. "To the library."

"My room."

"Library."

"My –"

"Not this again!" Boq glared at them both. "How about you study for a few hours in the library," he suggested, gritting his teeth, "and then you move to Fiyero's room to work on the song?"

Elphaba and Fiyero exchanged a look, then nodded.

"That could work."

Boq sighed and shook his head as the two walked off.

Even though he tried his hardest, though, Fiyero found that he simply could not focus on his studying. He silently handed Elphaba the essay he had already written a first draft of and watched her as she proofread it for him, peering at the words through her glasses, that small frown on her face that indicated she was concentrating. She was wearing her hair loose today, which he loved. He wished he could just reach out and touch the strands of silk, but figured – correctly – that that would most likely creep her out.

He struggled to pay attention to the things she was telling him; but the moment she returned to her own work and left him to re-write his essay, he found himself getting distracted again – mostly by her. Like the way she tapped against the desk with a long, slim, green finger when she was thinking about a particularly hard problem. Or the way she brushed her hair away from her face with an impatient swipe of her hand. Or –

"Fiyero," she said sternly, jolting him from his thoughts.

"Sorry!" he said immediately, casting his eyes downwards to look at his essay again.

He steadfastly avoided her gaze as she stared at him for a few long moments, as if she was trying to see straight into his head. Finally she returned to her own work and he told himself to focus on his.

It took him a great effort, but he had managed to finish one of his essays and study a bit for his exam by the time the clock in the library chimed four. He looked at Elphaba.

"It's four o'clock," he said.

She looked up with a slightly dazed expression on her face. "Hmm?"

"It's four o'clock," he repeated. "We've been studying all morning and most of the afternoon. Can we go and do something fun now?"

"That long?" She sent a mischievous smirk in his direction. "That must be your record."

"Absolutely," he told her seriously. "I think my previous record of studying was two hours at most, and that was also because you forced me to."

Her smirk turned into a more sincere smile. "I'm proud of you, Yero."

He blinked. "Really?"

"Yes." She closed her book and started stashing everything away in her bag.

"I know this is a big thing for you," she said. "You're not used to any of this, and the fact that you're trying so hard tells me you're really serious about changing. I'm glad you are. So yes, I am proud of you."

He beamed at her.

They walked back to his dorm room together, where they left their bags in a corner. Elphaba sat down on the couch and Fiyero grabbed his guitar, then hesitated.

"Fae?"

She looked up at him. "Yes?"

He sighed and put his guitar back. "I don't really feel like working on songs," he confessed as he sat down on the couch next to the green girl. "I mean… I know I said I was working on something, and I am, but… but maybe I'm going all wrong about this."

She frowned slightly. "What do you mean?" she questioned, clearly confused.

He rose to his feet again and pushed his hands through his sandy hair. Then he started to pace restlessly.

He had wanted to tell her through a song because he had thought that would be easier, but now he was having doubts. What if he couldn't get a word out? What if she didn't understand – if she didn't get that it was about her? She wasn't one for guessing games and vague hints. He should tell her straight to her face.

When he turned to face her again, he stopped and looked at her for a long time.

"I have to tell you something," he said.

She was still looking at him expectantly. "Okay."

"And…" He took a deep breath. "And I want to tell you beforehand that no matter what you think… it's not a joke. I'm being completely serious here. I should have told you this a long time ago, but I was afraid of… of so many things… and it's about time I got over that, I think. I'm going to be honest with you now and I want to ask you to do the same. Even if you think I won't like it."

"Alright…" She looked like she was expecting something terrible – which, frankly, she was. She had no idea what he was about to tell her, but she doubted it was anything good and a thousand disaster scenarios were running through her head. Her mouth was dry and her heart was pounding.

He crouched down in front of her to match her height, though he did not touch her. Instead, he just looked into her eyes.

"Elphaba," he said. "I love you."

For the longest time, she just stared at him, unable to come up with a reply. Her eyes were wide and she opened and closed her mouth a few times, but no sound came out.

The silence seemed to last for hours, but really, it was only a few clock-ticks before she asked in a small voice, "Really?"

Fiyero exhaled slowly through his nose, grateful that at least she hadn't slapped him or accused him of lying.

"Yes," he said, making sure to maintain eye contact with her to convince her of his sincerity. "Really."

She bit her lip, unsure of what to say. Fiyero spoke again before she could open her mouth to reply.

"Be honest," he reminded her.

She nodded and took a deep breath.

"I…" She faltered for a moment, but then she raised her gaze to meet his and said, "I love you, too."

He gawked at her for a moment, not really expecting that reply – even though he had been hoping for it with all his heart.

"You… you do?" he croaked.

She nodded shyly.

"Yeah," she said, her voice a little faint. "I… I think I have for a while now."

Slowly, a goofy grin spread across his face.

Her cheeks were red and he could see the uncertainty in her eyes, but instead of trying to reassure her with words, he decided to just show her.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked her rather bluntly.

Her eyes widened for a moment, but then she slowly nodded.

"I… yes," she said.

He took her hands in his and squeezed them softly. She rose to her feet so that he wouldn't have to stay in his awkward, crouched position on the floor; and he straightened and reached out to brush a strand of raven hair behind her ear.

"Have you…" He swallowed, suddenly nervous. "Have you ever kissed anyone before?"

She shook her head, biting her lower lip again.

"No," she said softly. "I mean…" She helplessly gestured at herself. "No-one has ever shown any interest."

"Well, that's over now," he said firmly, feeling bold again. He could not believe that everyone in her life so far had been too shallow to look past her skin. Her father had only treated her like garbage, she had never been kissed, she had never even had any friends… how could people be so blind?

"Because I'm here now," he told her, squeezing her hand softly, "and I can tell you that I am very, very interested."

She chuckled weakly and he drew her closer, placing his fingers under her chin. They both kept their eyes open as he brushed her lips with his own, tentatively at first, but soon their kisses grew more bold and when he carefully ran his tongue along her lips, she parted them to let him in. He watched her face as her eyes fluttered shut at last and his fingers dug into her waist as he pulled her even closer so that her body was flush against his own.

Over her shoulder he could see the frame containing the picture of Aliyra, her eyes smiling and her face beaming at him as he kissed the other girl he loved.

He reached out with one hand and resolutely turned the photograph around to face the wall instead.

"So…" Elphaba folded her hands in her lap and looked up at Fiyero rather nervously. "What happens now?"

He sank down onto the couch next to her.

"I don't know," he said. "What would you like to happen?"

She bit her lip, unsure of what to say. Did she want this? More importantly – could she do this? Oz knew she wasn't cut out to be a sister, or a daughter… so far, she seemed to be doing okay as a friend – but was she really ready to take on the part of girlfriend as well?

"How about this," Fiyero interrupted her train of thought, probably sensing her hesitance. "Tomorrow after class, I'm going to take you out on a date. Nothing special – just coffee at the Primrose Café, if you want. We'll take it slow. Get to know one another, go on a few dates… and then we'll see. Okay?"

She tried to think of anything wrong with that plan, but she found nothing and so she nodded.

"Okay."

He smiled and squeezed her hand. "Good."

When she walked back to her dorm room some time after that, clutching her bag to her chest, she mused over everything that had happened and she found herself simply unable to believe it.

He loved her.

Fiyero Tiggular, the boy that had tried so hard to befriend her; the boy that she'd secretly had a crush on for far longer than she would admit to anyone, even to herself; the boy that she had always imagined would end up with someone like Galinda… he loved her. He loved the outcast; the artichoke; the green girl. It was enough to make her head spin.

When she came back to her dorm room, Galinda of course immediately noticed that something was off and Elphaba did not see anything she could do but tell her roommate the truth. The blonde was ecstatic, throwing her arms around her best friend.

"I knew it!" she squealed. "Oh my Oz, this is so thrillifying, Elphie! I'm so happy for you! You guys are so adorable together!"

"Are we?" Elphaba asked doubtfully as she sat down on the edge of her own bed. "I mean… don't you think it's… weird? Him and me?"

Galinda shook her head. "Not at all," she declared. "In fact, I saw this coming for a long time already. You've grown so close over the past months, and the way Fiyero keeps looking at you, especially that night he took you out… not to mention the changes in you – I've never seen you voluntarily spending so much time on fun things than since Lurlinemas break. Helping Fiyero work on his song, going out with us, even if it's just joining us for lunch or coffee or dinner… it was all for him, wasn't it? You've liked him for a long time already!"

Elphaba let herself fall back onto the bed. "I have," she admitted.

Galinda smiled.

"But, Glin…" The dark-haired girl sat up again and looked at her friend pleadingly. "I'm green. He's a prince."

"And I'm blonde," Galinda retorted. "What does that have to do with anything? You know he looks past your skin colour, Elphie. We all do." She got up to hug her friend. "And you're beautiful, green or not."

That earned herself a genuinely grateful smile from her roommate. "Thanks, Glin."

"You're welcome." Galinda pulled back and bounced down onto her bed, eyes shining. "Now tell me everything. Is he a good kisser? Never mind," she cut Elphaba off before she could say anything, "I know he is. We kissed that night of the OzDust, after all."

Elphaba grimaced. "Oh, Oz. He kissed you!" Her eyes widened in panic. "I mean, he kissed you, and a thousand other girls… and I have never even been kissed before! What if he thinks I suck at it? Not literally, I mean," she rambled, flushing when she realised how that sounded, "but, you know, what if I'm bad? What if he found it disgusting?"

Galinda giggled and kicked her legs up. "Ooh, I've been wishing for so long that I could have these kinds of conversations with you!"

"It's not funny, Galinda!" Elphaba cried.

"Okay, okay." Galinda looked at her friend earnestly. "Tell me exactly how it went."

Elphaba looked back helplessly. "What?"

"The kissing!" Galinda puckered her lips and made kissing noises to illustrate her point. "Tongue or just lips?"

"No tongue at first," Elphaba muttered, colouring, and Galinda giggled.

"Okay, so tongue. The first part was probably perfect – trust me, Elphie, experience or no experience, there's not much you can do wrong with just lips kissing." She frowned. "Unless you did something weird, like bite him."

Elphaba groaned and pulled her pillow over her head. "Never mind, Glin. I'll… figure it out myself."

"Oh, no." Galinda waved her finger at the green girl as if she was chastising a naughty puppy. "No way. Let me give you advice, Elphie, please! I know what I'm talking about, after all!"

Elphaba moaned again. "I'm going to regret this."

"Probably," Galinda agreed cheerfully. "Okay, so what did you do with your tongue and what did he do with his? You did move, right? I mean, you didn't just keep your tongue still like some creepy, slimy snail, or something!"

"Ew!" Elphaba exclaimed in disgust. "Galinda!"

"Okay, I take that as a no."

"Can we stop talking about the kissing?" Elphaba begged. "Please?"

Galinda huffed. "Fine. Don't worry about it, though – I'm sure he doesn't think you're bad at it. There's only so much you can do wrong when kissing. As long as you didn't pull a snail or a propeller on him…"

Elphaba shuddered. "I don't even want to know what that means," she said, still blushing a bright red.

"Constantly twisting your tongue in circles," Galinda informed her. "You know, round and round and round all the time. Anyway, you should be fine in that department."

She hopped over to Elphaba's bed again. "Is he taking you on a date?"

"Coffee tomorrow," she said, thankfully feeling her flushed face cooling down a little. "We want to take it slowly."

Galinda nodded with a smile. "Good. That's good." She started bouncing up and down again. "Oh, I'm so excited! You got your first kiss, Elphie! And from Fiyero!"

Elphaba didn't say anything and the blonde, knowing her roommate by now, threw her a look. "You're already making a list in your head of all the things that could go wrong, aren't you?"

"Yes," Elphaba admitted.

Galinda shook her head.

"Don't," she said. "Fiyero is a perfect gentleman and he loves you, Elphie. He has liked you from the beginning and if I'm right, he has loved you for a long time already, too. If he's willing to take it slow, that must mean you really are important to him… don't let the stories about him get to you. You know he's not like that anymore."

"I know," said Elphaba softly. "But can a person really change that much in a matter of months?"

Galinda squeezed her friend's arm.

"I guess you're just going to have to take the chance," she said with a smile, "and find out."

You're all right about drama kicking in soon. *ominous music in background* I won't say anything, but... Chapter 20 (though there will be some minor stuff in the chapters before that, too).