Hello, all. I just got back from LA again. "Wicked" was divine - Laura Woyasz played Glinda and impressed me; no small feat considering I was expecting Megan! Then, we went again to try and win Lottery tickets - we didn't. We did, however, get to purchase 45 dollar orchestra seats. AND MEGAN WAS BACK!! She was super tired, but still amazing! We went to the stage door afterward and met her; first in line! She signed our programs and I got a picture with her - she is soooo tiny, I couldn't believe it. SO AWESOME! We would have waited for the rest of the cast but Caissie was de-greenifying and Kris had guests... Megan was the big deal, and we got her. Though I've just found out that today is Caissie's last show as well (I thought it was just Kris') so I'm a little sad that I'll never see her again; she was flawless. 4th time seeing the show and I can't get enough. P.S. The New Glinda is ONLY 21!! OMO!! So, sorry I haven't been on, but I was re-inspired, so here's some fic. Even though I wasn't really inspired on this particular one... Sigh. And pleeeease excuse typos, they're probably there.

Faced with the sight of her door, closed and foreboding, Elphaba thought for a moment that she should just move into the library. But, no, she couldn't do that. She took a deep breath, unlocked her door, and entered.

It was empty. Galinda was off somewhere, Oz knew where, Elphaba discovered, as she gazed around, into the empty bathroom, and, even into the wardrobe, though why her room mate would be there, she'd never know.

Sighing, she dropped down onto her bed, feeling dirty all over, and, finally, pulled a pillow over her head so she could hear nothing but her brain, screaming mercilessly at her about her betrayal.

She woke later that day when Galinda returned, laden with shopping bags, her heels making a surprisingly big sound for someone so light and bouncy. "Shopping is exhaustifying," she announced. "I - oh, sorry," she whispered.

"It's all right," Elphaba groaned. "I'm awake..."

"You were already up and gone when I woke up this morning," Galinda said, frowning slightly. "You've been studying far too much, Elphie. No wonder you conked out during the day."

"I've been meaning to take a break from it," Elphaba murmured.

"Do you want to get some coffee from the café?"

Elphaba pushed down the wave of guilt she felt. "Sure," she complied. As she pulled herself out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom, she reminded herself that what had happened between her and Fiyero had been a one-time thing. It had been a mistake, a fluke, something that was bound to happen considering the events of the past couple weeks, and all the time they'd spent before it. But it wasn't going to happen again.

She would be fine. Just fine.

At the café, bumping into Fiyero and Boq, Elphaba was not fine. She stared at the floor the entire time, flushing with shame, as Fiyero played much more cool than she was comfortable with. How was he this good at lying? Or had he been lying to her that night?

Their "coffee" ended up being an ordeal that included a walk back to Shiz and through the grounds. "Oh, drat," Galinda exclaimed at one point. "I must have left my gloves back at the café!"

"We should run and fetch them," Boq suggested.

"Yes, let's," Elphaba agreed.

"Well, there's no point in us all traipsing back there," Galinda said. "Why don't you and Yero stay here and keep this gorgeous spot, and Boq and I will run back."

"We should all go," Elphaba said. "Or, Boq can stay here with Fiyero, and I'll come with you."

"It's more appropriate if it's a boy with me," Galinda pointed out. Boq's look of dismay turned to one of hope.

"Then take Fiyero," Elphaba tried.

"Honestly, Elphie, since when do you not want to spend time with Fiyero?" Elphaba couldn't respond to that, and so, with a little kick and a bounce, Galinda was off, Boq gallantly escorting her. "Wait here for us," she called over her shoulder.

The moment they were out of sight, Fiyero tugged Elphaba into a stand of some nearby trees. "You don't even want to be around me anymore?"

"It's not that," Elphaba whispered. "It's just too much, I feel so bad, and you look so good..."

Fiyero's face broke into a smile at that, and Elphaba regretted it. "It would all be much easier if we were just together."

"We can't," Elphaba tried, but Fiyero was already putting his former threat into action.

"Elphie, just say you'll be with me," he whispered, his lips so close to brushing her neck she thought she was going to explode. "I love you, just say you'll be with me, and then we can be together."

"Fiyero?"

Galinda's voice stopped Elphaba's heart, until she realized that Galinda was looking for Fiyero; they hadn't been caught. "You're a bastard," she whispered, fighting the urge to sob.

Fiyero shook his head. "I'm a broken heart," he sighed. "I'm over here, Galinda," he called, as Elphaba turned and fled in the other direction. "You're back fast," he said, emerging from the trees.

"My gloves were in the bottom of my purse," Galinda said, blushing. "Where's Elphie?"

Fiyero sighed. "She didn't feel well, I think she went back to the dorm."

"Oh, well that's just awful! I should go check on her," Galinda said.

"If you want," Fiyero complied. "But I think she said she was going to try to sleep."

"She'd better not be running off to study. Honestly, Fiyero, she looks completely... She's all washed out."

Fiyero said nothing for a good long while. "Where'd Boq get to?"

"Nessa spotted him," Galinda shrugged. "Well, the two of us could certainly make the most of this unexpected time alone together..."

Fiyero forced a smile. "Sure, of course." They walked in silence for a couple minutes. "You know, about Elphaba... Maybe she just needs a good meal. When was the last time you saw her eat?"

Galinda fought a wave of disappointment, but knew that her boyfriend was probably right. "Maybe we could all go to dinner tonight?"

"That's a great idea, Lin," Fiyero smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Galinda had to admit that the praise and smile, and accompanying embrace, made her heart flutter enough to make it worth it.

When they got back to the dorm Galinda and Elphaba shared, they found Elphaba buried in a book. "Elphie," Galinda said, plopping down on Elphaba's bed. "Fiyero said you weren't feeling very great, and we decided that you need some good food and time off."

"I really don't think - "

"Elphaba," Galinda barked. "You and me and Fiyero and Nessa and Boq and Kers are going to dinner."

"Oh, Galinda..."

"Don't argue with me," Galinda started.

"No, I... Kers and I... We're not..."

"They broke up," Fiyero supplied.

Galinda's jaw dropped. "Oh, Elphie, when?"

"Just this morning," Elphaba replied.

"Who... did it?"

"It was me," Elphaba sighed, closing her book. "It was awful."

"Well then maybe tonight isn't a good night for dinner," Galinda nodded, looking downcast.

"Well, if you really wanted to go... I don't want to ruin the night. Or, perhaps just you two couples could go," Elphaba suggested.

"Elphaba, we couldn't all go out without you," Galinda said, as if it were obvious. "Obviously," she scoffed.

"Come on, Elphie," Fiyero suggested, softly.

"Well... If Nessa and Boq agree," she complied, feeling dubious.

Where Galinda went, Boq would go, and where Boq would go, Nessa would go. And even if Elphaba hadn't wanted to go before, Nessa's presence at dinner would have been enough to make her appear, and so, of course, Fiyero would have been there as well. Really, they were a tight group, even if the reasons for it were less-than-honourable. Elphaba pondered their tight knit existence as she picked at a dinner roll.

Dinner was actually enjoyable, save Fiyero's presence to her left. She could feel him watching her throughout the night, and her face was burning so hot she thought it might melt off. All she wanted to do was shove him off his chair, down to the floor, and straddle him.

She doubted that would go over well.

As the conversation grew around them, Elphaba felt the tension between herself and Fiyero start to bubble in her veins.

"Fiyero," she murmured, when all else at the table seemed distracted. "Don't... You're staring."

He glanced at their companions. "Am I?"

Elphaba gasped at the sensation of his hand sliding up the inside of her thigh, and all heads at the table shot to her. Fiyero froze, knowing he couldn't pull his arm away now. "I... thought I saw someone I knew," Elphaba lied, weakly. "But I was wrong." She took a pointed pause. "I don't know him at all."

All others at the table resumed their dinner, and after an eternity, Elphaba turned her head to meet Fiyero's eyes. Though she only held them for a fraction of a second, he could see the pain she was in, and pulled his hand away. I don' t know him at all. Fiyero didn't know himself, anymore, either. He was reckless and foolish and cruel, and, beyond all that, probably insane.

It was one thing to love her, it was another to hurt her with his love, to drive her away with it. He had thought that seducing her would be easy, and he wished that it could be.

Don't wish, he thought. Don't start. Wishing only wounds the heart...