"Fiyero?" Fiyero's heart sank a little when he realized it was Galinda at his door. "I wanted to check on you..."
He sighed, and stood up from his desk. "Hello," he greeted.
Galinda knew he should be happier to see her. She also knew that Elphaba had scarcely been seen since the incident at the Philosophy Club, making Galinda feel suspicious. She also knew that Fiyero had chosen to take Elphaba's place at said Club, which showed an unconditional love she simply couldn't believe he had for her.
She also knew she'd stay with him, anyway.
"How is your back?"
"Healing," he promised, offering a comforting smile and pulling her close in a hug devoid of need but full of fondness. "How are you? I feel like I never see you anymore."
If Galinda was anything, it was cheerful. "Oh, well, Elphie's been helping you, really, and so I've been taking time to study and..." she didn't want to admit to the hours sitting bored amongst her minions. "Sorting my clothes. I might donate some to charity."
How fake. She was ashamed of herself, making something like that up so that he'd think she was a good person. "That's very generous of you," Fiyero said, looking genuinely impressed.
"Can I get you anything? Some dinner?"
"Fiyero, if you're already in -" Elphaba froze, panicked, at the sight of Galinda in Fiyero's arms. "Oh..."
"Elphie," Galinda smiled. "I feel like I never see you anymore! Where have you been?"
"Studying," she said, her gaze dropping.
"I'm glad you're checking on Yero," the blonde forced, hoping she didn't sound jealous that her best friend and boyfriend had a more intense bond than she shared with either of them.
"Well, only briefly... I really need to get back to the library, and -"
"Oh, Elphaba," Galinda pouted. "Couldn't you please take a night off from studying? It's all you seem to do! You're still at the library when I go to sleep, you've already left when I wake up... It can't be good for you, this late night torture!"
Fiyero felt like Galinda was talking about him, about the way he felt lying next to the Emerald Goddess of Shiz each night, while desperately missing her during the day. Why did she have to go to class, anyway? He was relieved that he wouldn't have to spend any more time "recovering" in his room. He was going stir-crazy, and, more than that, Elphaba spent far too little time in his room with him for his liking, even including the hours she spent curled next to him.
Oz, those hours were unending. Exhilarating and infuriating. Her long body, begging to be touched, often pressed against his with an innocent obliviousness to how he ached for her. He was certain it was clear, from the heat on his skin, the flush he knew constantly plagued his face, the way his heart almost pounded straight through his sternum.
But Elphaba never seemed to guess.
Sometimes he wished she would.
It was... sad. The only word Fiyero could think of was "sad". Sad that he was with Galinda, who adored him, but couldn't get his mind off Elphaba, who thought he was great, but not quite in the same way as he thought of her.
That was the most sad part of all - Fiyero had been in denial about his feelings for Elphaba for far too long, and was now in a long-term relationship with her best friend. And she was dating someone. Not much of a someone, in the end, but someone. And she was his best friend. He didn't want to lose her, and she was important to him even in a way that was completely independent from his attraction to her. He'd never cared so deeply for a girl - no, woman - without sex as a cherry on top. Elphaba was sexy, there was no doubt. But she was perfection even without her sex appeal.
How unfair, that he should realize his feelings were real at such a time, or, rather, realize he couldn't ignore that his feelings were real. They confused him - he knew he should want his girlfriend. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her. Galinda was great. Beautiful. Fun. Sweet. Everyone wanted to be next to her, everyone was jealous of him for being with her, in awe of the perfect couple.
Fiyero was just in awe of Elphaba...
"...Don't you think, Fiyero?"
He was caught. Worse, he'd drifted off into his dreamland while gazing in Elphaba's direction, so coming out of his trance was doubly difficult. "Um," he fumbled. "Whatever you think is best..."
Elphaba glared at him, then smirked as Galinda jumped up and down, clapping madly. "Then it's settled! Elphie and I will have a real girlie sleep over tonight, and -"
"No," Fiyero interrupted, realizing that Elphaba's smirk had been one in anticipation of him hearing the news that she wouldn't be sprawled next to him that night. She knew that Fiyero's sleep was less troubled, now, and that he only kept her there for company. It was still for his benefit that she slept in his bed, only without as just a cause. Now, he'd be sleeping alone.
"Pardon?" Galinda wasn't used to that word at all.
"I mean, well... If Elphie -"
"Could everyone quit calling me that?"
"If Elphaba needs to study..." he gazed at her with a look that only she could see was full of silent begging. "We can't corrupt her away from that." He paused. "It's very important," he continued, at Galinda's look of shock. "Her grades are very important to me. She's getting me through. Through school, I mean."
Elphaba rolled her eyes, but was punished herself only moments later. "Well, can't I at least give you a makeover? We haven't done one in ages!"
"You really don't have to keep doing that," she grimaced.
"I know, Elphie, but it's fun!" She put on the saddest face she could muster. "Pleeeeeease, Elphie, my Elphie?"
"I... Damn. Alright." She turned to go. "A quick one. Small. Smaller than small."
"And then you're going to study," Fiyero pressed.
She sighed, softly. "Of course," she conceded.
Back in their room, Galinda prattled on endlessly about nothing, hoping to chatter right on through the awkwardness they felt having barely spoken in days. In his own room, Fiyero sat on his bed with his head in his hands, wondering how much longer he could stay with Galinda. How much longer he could sleep next to Elphaba. How much longer he could just plain lie to the women in his life.
He knew that tonight would probably be the second-to-last night. It taunted him - his back was mostly better, and he was returning to school. When he was injured enough to be off school, he could manipulate Elphaba. Now, she'd tell him that, along with the step of returning to class, he'd have to learn to sleep without her. She was clearly fine, he was healing - they went hand in hand.
Dropping back, he winced, and, to distract himself, he did the thing he'd been avoiding for many nights: he let himself fantasize about Elphaba. It started very innocently, with an imagined scenario of them walking into class, holding hands, then sitting down next to each other. He imagined putting his arm around her shoulders, and smiled knowing she'd shrug it off when the lesson began.
His next fantasy led them back to his room after class, where he could kiss her, and she would let him. "Yero," she would sigh. "I love you..."
He would return the sentiment, verbally and physically. When he closed his eyes, Fiyero imagined being in love with Elphaba in a world where he wasn't the only one who knew about it...