Hello everyone! I'm out of school now hence the update. I'm very proud that it hasn't taken me a year or more to update this. Also I am in love with this chapter. I feel like it is way more well written than any of the other chapters. Also, this is quite longer than the others aaaaand... this chapter is all about Fiyeraba! So I hope you all love it! And if anyone is wondering why this chapter is named 'Out Tonight' when a previous chapter was named that... I really wanted the name of this chapter to be Out Tonight so I changed some names around.
Also, thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I love everyone who reviews, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :) Keep 'em coming!
~Enjoy~
Chapter 11/Out Tonight
The cast ended rehearsal early that day in order for crews to finish fixing the theater. They would not be allowed to return until late the next day, so the cast began packing up for the day. Fiyero used this as an opportunity to talk to Eliana about plans for that night.
"Hey… Eliana? Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Fiyero gestured with his head to move away from any nosy ears. Elphaba simply nodded, and followed him to a secluded corner of the theater.
Glinda watched this interaction, and smiled to herself. Maybe Fiyero was coming around after all.
Fiyero stood in front of Elphaba, rubbing the back of his neck. "So listen, I've been thinking…"
Elphaba scoffed, thinking back to the day at Shiz, with their goodbyes at the railroad station. However, she realized her mistake, and immediately made to cover the noise with a cough.
Fiyero looked highly confused, but recovered, asking, "Are you sick?"
"No I'm fine," Elphaba quickly replied, desperate to remove the awkward tension between them.
Fiyero, making another attempt, stammered, "So, uh, since we don't have rehearsal tonight, and everything, that means we have some free time, and I know I've been a jerk lately… Okay more like all the time, but my point is, is that I would like to make it up to you by taking you to dinner. That is, if you'd oblige me…"
Not thinking, she responded with her old attitude, "No."
"Wait- What?" Fiyero was stunned. Wasn't this the same girl who was practically begging for his attention a few days ago?
"Why should I oblige you, especially with how you've treated me?"
"I know I've been a total jack ass to you, but that's why I want to take you to dinner, to apologize."
"You mean to bribe me for your forgiveness?" Elphaba didn't know what had come over her. Somehow she no longer felt like Elphaba, but Eliana, who was sick of being treated like she was worthless. Or maybe it was Elphaba who was just sick of Fiyero's blindness to the truth of what was in front of him. Or maybe, somewhere inside Elphaba, she was crying that Fiyero was asking, what he thought was another girl, out on a date. Even though it was just to apologize for his rudeness.
Or maybe she was just overreacting.
"No! I am deeply sorry for how I've treated you, and I want to prove to you that I've changed. I want to makeup for all of those times that I hurt you. I thought you might appreciate a fancy dinner. Since we've been working so hard rehearsing, I thought you'd like to do something nice during your free time."
"You don't know the first thing about me," Elphaba bristled.
Elphaba quickly realized, however, that if she and Fiyero spent more time together, without the company of the rest of the cast, Fiyero might come to his senses.
"But I want to learn more about you! I should have done that in the first place, instead of giving you the cold shoulder," Fiyero sighed, "What do I have to do to make you come to dinner with me tonight? Apologize to you in front of the whole cast and make myself look like a fool?"
Elphaba's mouth curved into a wicked grin. "That's a start…"
Without another beat, Fiyero ran, jumping onto the stage. This attracted the attention of the cast members and any other crew that remained in the theater.
Standing alone in the middle of the stage, already feeling like a fool, Fiyero cleared his throat to make his speech.
"I would like to formally apologize, first to Eliana, and then to the rest of the cast, for being such an ass, and the unfair treatment I've given all of you."
Elphaba, moving away from the corner, smiled at the fact that Fiyero was manning up for his actions. However, her eyes widened when Fiyero continued his speech, looking directly at her.
"I would also like to beg for the honor of having Eliana accompany me out to dinner tonight, as further proof of my regret and apology."
Many delighted sighs could be heard through the theater, and everyone's attention turned toward Elphaba, waiting for her answer.
With a sigh, Elphaba answered, "Alright, I'll go to dinner with you tonight."
Fiyero smiled triumphantly from the stage, a genuine smile that hadn't been seen on his face for a long time.
Glinda squealed, lightly bouncing, relieved that the wait for this turning point was over.
After that, the cast rushed Fiyero and Elphaba back to the palace to prepare them for their date. The men and women parted ways, with the girls ready to gussy up Elphaba, and the boys, mostly Crope and Tibbett, to prepare Fiyero.
The girls crowded around Elphaba in Glinda's suite, far away from Fiyero. Pfannee and Shenshen began doing Elphaba's hair and makeup while Glinda frantically looked through her closet. A few minutes, and a pile of dresses later, Glinda produced a long, flowing gown made out of light green silk that shimmered in the light. The girls seized their work on Elphaba and the dress, along with Elphaba were pushed into the spacious bathroom.
After a few moments, Elphaba slowly opened the bathroom door, and trudged out. The other girls immediately gasped. The dress fell around her shape almost perfectly, with the collar dipping modestly in the front. The collar continued back, where the material cascaded very low, leaving the tan skin of her back, uncovered. The sleeves barely capped her shoulders and the rest of the soft material pooled at Elphaba's feet.
The girls then sat Elphaba down again in front of the vanity and began finishing her hair and makeup. Once complete, Glinda added a cream colored flower to Elphaba's hair, which fell in loose curls down her back. She smiled at Elphaba in the mirror.
"Oh Elphie… Look at you, you're beautiful!"
Both girls smiled; the memory of when Elphaba was first "Galindafied" drifting into their minds.
Fiyero stood in Avaric's best suit, which he gave to Fiyero, because of Fiyero's lack of clothing. Crope and Tibbett had fussed over Fiyero's hair for what seemed like forever, but now he felt he was ready as he could be for the upcoming date.
The men headed down to the foyer, and waited by the stairs for the girls to make their entrance.
Glinda, Pfannee, and Shenshen made their way down the stairs, bringing the men's attention solely to them.
"Fiyero Tiggular, prepare to have your socks knocked off," Glinda jokingly cautioned.
As the girls made their way down the stairs, Fiyero put on his best "Prince Charming face," waiting for Eliana to grace their presence. However when she entered, and began descending the stairs, his smile faltered. He found himself in shock at how beautiful this woman was before him. It was like Lurline was descending from the heavens. It was almost as if Elphaba was coming down from the skies to rescue him from his misery.
He quickly shook himself out of his trance-like state and smiled at the blushing girl before him.
Softly he asked, "Ready to go?"
She slowly nodded, and he offered her his arm. She happily accepted, relishing at the feel of him. They said their goodbyes and made their way out to an awaiting carriage.
Back in the palace Glinda breathed a sigh of relief. "Please Oz, let this work." Everyone else nodded in agreement and headed into the dining room for their own dinner.
After a short, quiet ride through the city, the carriage arrived at what promised to be a very elegant restaurant. Fiyero helped Elphaba out of the carriage as any gentlemen would do, and together they walked arm-in-arm into the luxurious building. Once inside, Elphaba marveled at the extravagant chandelier that hung over a large marble dance floor, containing many waltzing couples. Around the dance floor were many tables containing well-dressed diners, who probably had more money than they knew what to do with.
The hostess immediately recognized Fiyero, and welcomed him back to the restaurant, giving Elphaba the impression that he'd been a frequent guest here before he had run off with her. The hostess led them to a secluded table away from the excitement of the dance floor, laying the menus on the table and leaving the pair alone. As Fiyero went to pull out the chair for Elphaba, a wealthy-looking man, who looked like he was never denied a full meal, noticed Fiyero and made his way over.
"Fiyero my boy! How wonderful to see you again!" the man greeted with an outstretched hand.
"Duke Eustace," Fiyero replied curtly, shaking the man's hand.
"How are you? I heard all about what happened to you, my poor man, and I must say that I am so sorry for what you had to go through. I hear you are in an upcoming musical, directed by your ex-fiancé… That must be strange, no?"
There was something about this man that Elphaba did not like, and could tell Fiyero was not too enthused either.
"And who is this lovely creature?" The Duke gestured to Elphaba who was trying to hide behind her date.
"Eliana Thurston, a fellow cast member. Eliana, this is Duke Eustace Purston of Kvon Altar."
The Duke held out his hand, and Elphaba reluctantly placed her hand in his. After he kissed her hand, she quickly removed it from his, turning to Fiyero for assistance.
"What a lovely date you have found Fiyero! What all Vinkan woman should look like, I believe. She would make a beautiful mother to the next heir to the Vinkan throne. I am so glad to see your taste in women has changed to… less green."
By this time Fiyero was red-faced, and looked as if he was ready to explode on the man.
As calmly as he could Fiyero replied, "Yes well if you don't mind, Duke, Eliana and I would like to enjoy the rest of our evening."
"Oh yes of course! So sorry to interrupt! Have a good night. It was lovely to meet you Miss Thurston."
Elphaba quickly nodded, and then the pair watch as the Duke headed to the other side of the room. Once he was gone, Fiyero turned to Elphaba.
"I am so sorry about him. I don't even know-"
"Its fine," Elphaba cut him off. "You had no control over that, I understand."
Fiyero looked grateful. "Thank you for understanding. Now let's enjoy our evening, shall we?"
Elphaba smiled, and nodded, sitting down in the chair Fiyero held out for her. Fiyero then seated himself across from her and together they began looking over their menus. From the first page Elphaba had no idea what she was reading, and she had read a lot in her day.
The waitress came over at that time, asking for drink orders. Elphaba had no idea what to order, so she asked Fiyero to order for both of them.
"Can we have a bottle of your best Vinkan wine?"
The waitress nodded and hurried off. Silence fell between the pair, and Elphaba reached out and grabbed the customary small glass of water, taking a long sip. Fiyero watched this, thinking of what was told to him when he awoke in that hospital.
"…the Dorothy girl threw a bucket of water on her, and melted her."
Back when they told him that, he was barely thinking straight enough to know who told him that. He didn't think about all the times back at Shiz when he'd watched Elphaba drink water. That bucket of water couldn't have killed her! But could it be possible that Elphaba was still alive? No! She would have come to him if she was alive. She wouldn't leave him alone like this. No. Don't wish, don't start. They probably lied about how she died to spare Fiyero from the gruesome truth.
Fiyero shook himself from his thoughts when he noticed Eliana was giving him a curious look. In an attempt to block any of her questions, he turned the focus on her.
"So Eliana, tell me about yourself."
Elphaba's eyes grew wide, desperate to come up with some stories that would satisfy his curiosity.
"Well where should I start?" Elphaba asked, desperate to stall for more time to makeup stories in her mind.
"Well how about some of your favorite things?" Fiyero asked innocently.
"Um, well my favorite color is blue…" Elphaba blushed, thinking of Fiyero's blue diamonds underneath his suit. He was the reason blue was her favorite color, those beautiful diamonds, and his eyes.
"My favorite food is… Um, well it's all delicious. And my favorite place is, well, here in The Emerald City."
The waitress arrived with the wine and took their orders, with Elphaba ordering a pasta dish, the simplest thing on the menu, and Fiyero ordering a hearty steak. The waitress left, again leaving the pair to continue their dinner chat.
Smiling, Fiyero prodded, "So what's your family like? Where did you go to school?"
"Well I have a father and mother… They're nice, but can be strict. I have a sister; she's one of the nicest people you could ever meet. And I went to a little school in my village, and I never went to collage because my parents couldn't afford it." Elphaba let out a breath, frantically hoping Fiyero wouldn't ask her anymore questions.
"Maybe I can meet them one day…"
Elphaba smiled sadly. No he wouldn't. The truth was everyone in her family was dead. And nothing could change that.
"Maybe… So what about you? What's your story?"
Fiyero grimaced. "You know what my story is. All of Oz knows what my story is. Or at least they think they do…"
"Do you want to talk about it? It might help…"
"Help what? It won't help bring her back."
"I know… I'm sorry I asked."
"No, please don't apologize. I brought you here to apologize and instead I'm still being the heartless shell of a man that everyone hates. For the rest of the night, I promise I won't be that person. Tonight we'll just have a good time, okay?"
Elphaba smiled, "Alright."
The waitress arrived with their plates of food, and the pair enjoyed their dinner in silence.
"Well I am absolutely stuffed!" Fiyero groaned, rubbing his stomach.
Elphaba laughed. "Same here! I can't even think about dessert."
The waitress cleared the table and left the bill, which Fiyero quickly paid. The restaurant orchestra began a new song, and Fiyero stood up, offering his hand to Elphaba. She looked up with a glimmer of confusion gracing her eyes.
Fiyero chuckled. "May I have this dance?"
"You've got to be joking. I can't dance!"
"Well then, you'll have to learn fast."
Before Elphaba knew what was happening, Fiyero grabbed her hand and was leading her out to where other couples were dancing the night away. Once they were in the center of the shining dance floor, Fiyero spun Elphaba to him, and she instinctively placed her free hand on his shoulder. Taking that as a good sign, Fiyero gently placed his hand on her bare back, thanking Glinda in his mind for picking this dress.
Slowly they began to sway with the music. Elphaba seemed to become less tense, and Fiyero began to lead her into a beautiful waltz. Lost in each other's eyes, the pair didn't notice that the other couples stopped dancing and the other patrons in the restaurant were watching their graceful dance.
As the music began to slow to an end, Fiyero spun Elphaba so that her dress twirled around her feet, gently dipping her thin frame. They remained frozen there for a moment as clapping could be heard around them. Once Elphaba was securely on her feet again, and the two realized that everyone in the restaurant was looking at them, they made a hasty exit into the cold air outside.
The normal business of the city had gone down along with the sun and now the street only contained the unknowing lovers. The exclusive lighting outside was the lamp posts lining the streets, and the moon casting its familiar glow upon the sleeping city.
Elphaba shivered as the cold night air wisped through her hair and tugged on her dress. Noticing this, Fiyero removed his jacket and gently placed it around her slim shoulders. Grateful, Elphaba hugged the article close, relishing in the smell of her love that seemed to radiate off of it.
"So where is the carriage?" Elphaba wondered tiredly.
Smiling, Fiyero answered, "I told the driver not to come. I was thinking we could go for a walk in the park instead… If that's alright with you."
"Oh of course!" Elphaba replied, trying not to sound as excited as she felt.
The couple slowly walked to the quiet park, not far from the restaurant or palace. As they walked, Elphaba took the chance and wrapped her arm around Fiyero's, mumbling something about being cold as an excuse to be close to him. He didn't seem to mind, only giving her a quick look and then returning his gaze back to the starry sky above. When they reached the water fountain, they took a seat on the edge of the large structure.
"These shoes are killing me!" Elphaba moaned as she ripped the large heels off that Glinda had forced upon her.
Fiyero laughed, thinking how Elphaba and this girl would have likely been friends if they had ever met. With that thought about his love, he found himself once more in a somber mood. He tried to hide it but Eliana already looked concerned.
"It's Elphaba, isn't it?"
Fiyero's gaze shifted down and he nodded. "I just miss her so much." Tears welled in his eyes as he met Eliana's gaze. "One night. That's all we had together. And… Oz! Why did she have to be taken away from me? From the world? She was the most amazing, compassionate woman you would ever meet. She didn't deserve to die. She didn't deserve the terror she had to live through. I loved-" he corrected, "love her so much and I don't think I ever got to truly tell her."
By that time, both had tears falling from their eyes. Elphaba reached out turning his gaze to her.
"You may not have gotten to tell her, but I'm positive that she knew. She knows, and I'm sure that she loved you just as much. And you had no control over what happened to her in the end, but that doesn't mean you should stop living. We all have suffered loses in our lives, but we still continue on."
Elphaba stood up and began walking on the edge of the fountain. She stopped and looked at the sky, then looked back at Fiyero.
"And I know that wherever she may be today, she's looking over you, protecting you. And I also know that she didn't save your life just for you not to live it to the fullest."
Fiyero smiled at the girl, turned philosopher, realizing that she was right. And in the moonlight he could swear he saw Elphaba in this girl who spoke the words to heal his broken heart. He stood up and made his way over to Eliana, who had become fascinated with looking at the moon and stars.
Not moving her gaze away from the sky, Elphaba murmured, "I don't think I should drink anymore…"
When she turned on her heal to face Fiyero, she realized just how slippery the stone was, and fell directly into Fiyero's strong arms. They remained like that, for what felt like a lifetime just looking into each other's eyes. Elphaba's arms were locked around Fiyero's strong neck and his large hands capturing her hips from when she fell.
And under the star-filled sky and moonlight, the lovers were reunited with a gentle kiss.
Review if you loved the love! I really want opinions on this one because I feel like my writing has greatly improved, so please take a moment to review!