Disclaimer: Wicked is sadly not mine.
A/N: A filler chapter of sorts. I just had to get over this whole Galinda/Fiyero awkwardness before I could move the plot with Fiyero/Elphaba along. Next chapter will probably be a practice section, and then the chapter after that will more than likely be the fashion show! (no promises though! I reserve the right to change my mind about that :] ). Thank you so much to those who read, alert, favorite, and review! You guys seriously make my day, and you're the reason I haven't given up on this story yet! The end is sadly near, and I hope you guys enjoy the ride as much as I have!
Elphaba walked into the classroom quickly, a flash of black and green. She claimed her seat without any sort of flourish, remembering the last time she had been in this classroom. Her cheeks flared with warmth as she remembered those silly heels and how she had tripped. But thinking of that made her think of Fiyero, and thinking of Fiyero, she had determined, was simply off limits.
But when she had made that rule for herself, she hadn't counted on Fiyero coming in and sitting next to her, which is exactly what he did. He was even early to class; generally he crept in at the last moment. As soon as he sat down, he placed his arm on the back of her chair good-naturedly and smiled at her. She stared at him blankly as a response; it was as if her face had gone renegade from the rest of her body.
"I got you something," Fiyero beamed at her. Her heart sped up and she fidgeted with her books.
"Oh, yeah?"
He reached into his bag and pulled out a smaller, plastic bag. "I know it might not be your thing…" he started. She reached into the bag and pulled out a soft, black scarf. It had beautiful embroidery around the edges, and it was so soft that it felt like a smooth caress against her skin. "But I saw this when we were out yesterday, and it reminded me of you."
She was speechless. Never had anyone given her a gift that was so personal. Generally she got generic gifts that required no thought. But this…Fiyero thought it looked like her. But how could it? It was too beautiful. Elphaba looked at it, treasuring her new scarf from the boy who might be thinking of her. "Thank you. I love it."
Fiyero grinned, and Elphaba had to grin back. They sat grinning at each other for a long moment, until the spell was broken by the professor. Class started, and Elphaba reluctantly tore her eyes from Fiyero. But try as she might, her mind wasn't anywhere close to being interested in the lecture. She let her mind wander, and it always drifted back to Fiyero and to the scarf that was now wrapped loosely around her neck. She fingered it absentmindedly, enjoying the feel of the fabric across her fingers.
Suddenly a different hand entered her vision. She turned, startled, and saw Fiyero gently touched the edge of the scarf. He grinned sheepishly and withdrew his hand.
"It looks good on you," he whispered.
She grinned, her cheeks nearly bursting into flames. She was too flustered to think of anything to say back, so she simply turned to face the professor again. She picked up her pencil, determined to calm her raging nerves. Just as she managed to get her heart back to a normal rhythm, she saw a paper flutter into her line of vision.
Galinda and I are getting coffee after class today. You coming? He wrote.
Elphaba felt a surge of guilt. Galinda. She hadn't broken up with Fiyero yet. And Fiyero had no idea. He thought that they were all still the best of friends. She closed her eyes, attempting to collect her thoughts.
I don't think I should. Elphaba replied.
She glanced at him sideways and saw his reaction. His face fell, but he soon recovered and was scribbling something quickly across the page.
Why not? I want you there.
She looked at him in surprise. He looked…hopeful? Scared? Vulnerable? But before she had a chance to respond, the class was over and Galinda had rushed up to them. Elphaba crumpled the note quickly and began to gather her books slowly.
"Fiyero, dearest, are you ready to go?"
He looked at Elphaba for an imperceptible moment. Then he turned back to Galinda. "I thought Elphaba might like to come with us."
Galinda face visibly fell. "Oh, well I thought that you and I could have some alone time. I need to tell you something. Besides, I'm sure Elphie has a lot of practicing to do for the fashion show. Right, Elphie?" Galinda turned to the green girl and waggled her eyebrows in a very comical manner.
"Uh, right. Yes. Practicing. Walking in heels. Dresses. Yes," Elphaba stammered.
Galinda suddenly gasped. "Oh, Elphie! Where did you get such a marvelicious scarf?" The blond ran her hand over the scarf that adorned Elphaba's neck.
Elphaba felt herself grow a shade darker. "Fiyero got it for me," she nearly whispered.
Galinda looked shocked. She looked from the green girl to Fiyero and back again. She then broke out into a grin so bright that it rivaled the sun. Galinda grabbed Elphaba's hand in one of hers and Fiyero's hand in the other.
"Oh, this is just so perfect!" she squeaked. "You two will be perfect together!"
"What?" Elphaba said, jerking her hand away. Why was Galinda so…fine with her feelings for Fiyero? And how did Galinda know her feelings for Fiyero in the first place?
Fiyero surprisingly looked rather happy. He grinned first at Galinda and then at Elphaba. Elphaba felt her heart melt, and whatever confusion she had felt dripped away under Fiyero's gaze.
"For the fashion show, silly," Galinda answered Elphaba's long-forgotten question.
"What?" Fiyero asked, surprise marking his features. He pulled his hand out of Galinda's cautiously.
"Well, I wasn't going to tell you until the last minute…" Galinda started. She was quickly becoming uneasy with the situation. Elphaba and Fiyero both leaned in, a stern look on their faces. "Um. Haha. This is funny, you guys!"
"Galinda. I thought we had discussed the fashion show at length. How did you forget to mention…whatever this is?" Elphaba seethed.
"Yeah," Fiyero threw in. Elphaba shot him a glare, and he grinned back.
"Well…I didn't think Fiyero would agree…but I thought if I had already made the designs that he wouldn't want to refuse…and now you two get to do the finale together!" Galinda finished with a flourish. "C'mon guys, this will be fun! I've already got the outfits done, so you two have to do it! Elphie, you've already agreed, so I'm not worried about you." Elphaba blinked. "Fiyero, please say you'll do it. Pleeeeeease?"
Elphaba rolled her eyes. She had already fallen for that trick. She secretly hoped that Fiyero was as gullible to Galinda's wiles as she was. Luckily for her, he was.
Fiyero sighed and rolled his eyes in a very Elphaba-like gesture. "Fine."
Galinda squealed and clapped her hands. "Goodie! I'm so glad! You two make the perfect couple! You'll look great up there!"
Elphaba blushed at Galinda's words. If only Galinda knew how much she wished those words were true. But could Fiyero ever really like "the Cucumber" enough to be a couple with her? Elphaba didn't dare allow her heart to dream.
"So coffee then?" Fiyero asked.
Galinda blushed. "Actually, I'd rather just tell you what I have to tell you here."
"So that wasn't it?"
"Well…that was the big part of it. But since I've gotten that out of the way, all that's left is…"
"I'm going to go," Elphaba interrupted, fearing where the conversation was leading. She had an idea what Galinda was going to tell Fiyero, and she really didn't want to see Fiyero's hurt reaction.
"Okay!" Galinda chirped. "Don't forget, we've got practice tonight!"
Elphaba waved her hand in Galinda's direction, acknowledging the horrid truth of their practice section. Elphaba wondered bemusedly if Fiyero would be there after this. She hoped more earnestly than she should that Fiyero would still want to be her partner in whatever terrible finale Galinda had planned for the fashion show.
"Goodbye, Elphaba," Fiyero called after her. She blushed and waved, scurrying quickly from the room before Galinda broke the poor prince's heart.
But if Elphaba had stayed, she would have seen something that would have surprised her. Galinda talked quickly, but Fiyero interrupted her just as quickly. He talked quickly now, using his hands to explain what he had been thinking about. Galinda squealed in excitement, happy for her friends. And she and Fiyero shared a friendly hug, agreeing to keep Fiyero's secret until he could tell a certain green girl himself.