A month later, Elphaba and Kers were officially a couple, though it was slow going getting Elphaba to act like it. Kers was patient, as infatuated with her brain as anything, and allowed himself to appreciate their heated debates, knowing he valued her intellect. It was hard, longing to hold her hand, and feeling like perhaps they were just friends, but he took her occasional blush or nervous fidgeting as a sign that he gave her butterflies. She was slowly but surely coming around; when not at the library she could often be found reading a book and keeping one eye on his Quotch practices. Galinda found her there one day, and, ignoring the whistles and catcalls from a large percent of the team, sat next to her.

"Hello, Elphie," she chirped, waving at her fans to placate them. "How's the practice?"

"Not sure," Elphaba grunted. "I'm reading."

"Then why are you here?"

"Being supportive."

Galinda sighed, then giggled. "Do you even understand the game?"

"It's..." Elphaba finished the sentence she was reading. "They carry those sticks, right," Elphaba said, pointing. "There's a net on one end, and it's thicker on the other end. They can catch with the net, but they have to throw it in the air and hit it with the other end to pass it, which is tricky when they're running. The field is cut into four equal lengths, widthwise, and the teams have to run toward the opposite end to score. Once the offense is past the line between centre and the goal, the defense can tackle, which is where it gets rough." She paused. "There are some other minor rules... But -"

Galinda's look of confusion affirmed that Elphaba should stop. "I don't get it."

"It's something you have to watch a few times," Elphaba shrugged.

"They throw the sticks at the lines...?"

"Lin, don't hurt yourself. Shouldn't you be shopping or brushing your hair?"

Galinda pouted. "I wanted to see you... Well, alright, I'm waiting for Fiyero to be done at the library." Galinda wrinkled her nose. "It's so musty in there..."

"Why is Fiyero at the library?"

Glinda narrowed an eye at Elphaba, who had resumed reading, and wasn't paying nearly enough attention to Galinda for Galinda's liking. "He's studying. It seems everyone has their nose in a book nowadays."

"His or her," Elphaba corrected.

"Pardon?"

"Everyone has his or her nose in a book," Elphaba said, still reading. "Their is plural. Everyone is singular."

Galinda stood. "I'm out of here!"

"Bye, Glin."

"GA-lin," Galinda snapped.

"Sorry Glin."

Galinda couldn't help smiling to herself at her sarcastic friend, glad that her new relationship hadn't changed her. There was something deeply unsettling about the idea that Elphaba might ever change, though Oz knew Galinda had tried to "prettify" her enough times. As soon as Elphaba had willingly talked to her about Kers, though, Galinda had started to subtly panic. Why was Elphaba talking about a boy? Why was she sharing? Was she even Elphaba anymore?

Galinda liked Elphaba just the way she was. It was exhaustifying, trying to get her to be friendly and trying to convince her to let Galinda give her makeovers, but that was who Elphaba was. If Kers suddenly turned Elphaba into a girl who cared about her hair, and skipped studying to go make out in study hall... Well, then she wouldn't be Elphaba anymore.

Galinda would have desperately missed her friend.

Not that she didn't have enough on her mind with her rapidly-disappearing boyfriend. Now, Fiyero, there was someone who was changing. He'd been getting smarter, and he'd been thinking more, ever since he and Elphaba had run off and rescued that Lion cub together. It had been the beginning of their friendship, Galinda knew, and since then, he'd transformed into a very decent young man.

She felt guilty for sort of missing the carefree playboy she'd met, but only sort of guilty, as she only sort of missed him.

Galinda met up with Fiyero, and they went on a very pleasant dinner date. Everywhere they went, people stared at them, because they were such an attractive couple, and Galinda did so love to be admired. Fiyero liked going to shows or to dinner, because at a show, they simply sat and watched, and at dinner, as soon as their food arrived, they were eating. He and Galinda didn't have the most epic conversations.

On the walk home, he put an arm around her shoulders, which always made him chuckle a little. It was more like he was leaning on a counter; she was so small. A decent eight inches or so shorter than him, Galinda was, indeed, precious. If not for her womanly curves, she would have looked very childlike, and not just when she pouted or had a snit.

She leaned into him as they walked, and he felt that same excitement that he always did, in anticipation of kissing her. They got near to the outside of her dorm, and he could wait no more, pulling her into a kiss that she had to hop up onto her tiptoes for, and he had to lean down into. He certainly did feel very manly around her.

They broke apart, and turned so that he could finish walking her back to her dorm, but paused in the shadows when they saw Elphaba and Kers on the front steps of the building. "Shh," Galinda whispered, though it was redundant.

"You've escorted me far enough," Elphaba laughed. Her voice carried on the wind, and Fiyero smiled to hear it. He felt like they hadn't talked in ages.

"They've been together a month," Galinda hissed. "She'd better kiss him."

Fiyero felt a tightening in his stomach, which he didn't understand. "Maybe she will, maybe she won't," he shrugged, feeling tense.

"You're not allowed in, anyway," Elphaba reminded Kers.

"Fiyero walks Galinda to her dorm," he pointed out.

'That's Fiyero and Galinda," Elphaba shot back. "Galinda is likely to be abducted by legions of men pining for her, even in the short distance from the front door of the building to our lovely little abode."

"I'd abduct you," Kers said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

Galinda sighed dreamily while Fiyero snorted, then, both looked at each other surprised, at the opposite reaction. "That was sweet," Galinda whispered.

"It was far too cheesy for Elphaba," Fiyero muttered. "This feels weird, we should let them know we're here."

"No," Galinda snapped. "I'm really -" The image of Elphaba and Kers kissing cut her off. Galinda was in shock, and Fiyero felt a surge of bitterness that he didn't want to try to comprehend. "OooooOOOOooooh!"

Kers tried again when they broke. "I can't walk you up?"

Elphaba shook her head. "But thank you for a lovely evening. And, thank you, again, for showering after practice."

"I can't expect you to cuddle up to me if I still smell like Quotch," he laughed.

Elphaba kissed him again, shocking all who saw it. "Goodnight, Kers," she said, before turning to go into the building. Kers smiled like a fool, and continued to grin as he practically pranced away.

When he was out of sight, Galinda giggled. "She really likes him! Oh, I'm so happy for them! We can double date, and I'll do Elphie's hair, and -"

"Galinda," Fiyero interrupted. "Elphaba's not going to want to do any of that."

"Well I never thought she'd go all kissyface, but look where we are now," Galinda smiled. "Are you going to walk me up?"

Fiyero had yet to move. "Oh, of course," he said, coming out of his daze. Galinda kissed him again at the door, and then turned to go in. "Can I see Elphaba?"

"Why?"

"Because I know she's in there," Fiyero shrugged. "She's my friend. It's weird to think I'd be five feet away from her and not say hello."

"You're not allowed in," Galinda whispered, looking around the dark corridor as if they were going to be caught. He simply gazed at her, an attractive pout on his face, until she sighed. "Fine, I'll get her. Goodnight, dearest."

Galinda disappeared, and, after some heated whispering, Elphaba appeared, pulling a robe around her nightgown. "I was warm in bed," she grumbled.

Fiyero grinned at her and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Elphie."

"You got me out of bed for a stupid 'Goodnight, Elphie'?"

Fiyero nodded, smiling at her adoringly. "How was your day?"

"It was fine. How was yours?"

"I had a good time, though I missed you at the library," he whispered.

Elphaba grimaced. "I was... I didn't know you wanted to meet."

"Oh, we didn't have plans, I just... It's weird when you're not there," he chuckled. He paused. "Where were you?"

"Reading a book and pretending to watch Quotch," Elphaba admitted.

"How was it?"

"The book was good, Quotch was obstructed by my book," she smirked.

"That's my girl," Fiyero smiled, relieved about something, and unsure what it was. "I'll see you tomorrow, Elphie."

"Perhaps we could have lunch? Just you and me?"

Fiyero paused in the middle of his turn to go, and looked at her, only half believing she'd just suggested they meet without their romantic counterparts. "I would love that. Just you and me."

"Goodnight, Yero," she said, in that way she had of making him feel like he was the most important person in the world. "Thanks for dragging me out of bed."

"I can't help it if I love ya," he shrugged.

"Suckup," she muttered.

"Sweet dreams."