Disclaimer: Wicked is sadly still not mine.

A/N: So, long time no see! I've missed you guys! I've been hiding away, finishing up summer school. But, luckily today was my last day, so I can come back to the land of the living! Sorry to have been away so long! I really hated it, trust me. But now I'm back! Yayayayay! So I hope you guys still like this story!

"No, no, no, Elphie! We've practiced this! You know how to walk down the runway, I know you do! Now get out of whatever funk you are in and work it!" Galinda hollered instructions to Elphaba. The blond girl concentrated on Elphaba's every move, making sure that Elphie wouldn't embarrass herself in front of the large crowd at the fashion show.

Elphaba, for her part, was just ready to get the silly show over with. It was tomorrow, and she couldn't have been happier to do the deed and move on with her life. After tomorrow, it would be back to studying and forgetting about Fiyero. That's all she needed, really, was a time away from Fiyero. She didn't even like him that much, she reasoned. The only reason she thought that she liked him was because he was the only boy who was nice to her. That had to be it.

Elphaba turned at the end of the runway and sauntered as best she could back to the curtain. When she poked her head out again, Galinda was shaking her head and frowning. Ever since that morning, Elphaba had been in a mood, and it was starting to affect Galinda.

"Elphie, I've showed you how to turn that corner so you don't look like you're going to topple over. Now, come out here and do it again. And this time, try not to look like you're having a terrible time."

Elphaba scowled and walked the ridiculous runway again, making sure to frown extra hard at Galinda when she saw her. Galinda returned the face, and Elphaba stopped at the end of the runway. The two girls stood staring at each other, daring the other to back down. Galinda put her hand on her hip, and Elphaba raised an eyebrow.

The two girls were so fixated on one another that neither noticed the prince leaning against the doorway. He was grinning wickedly, clutching a bouquet of flowers in each hand. He let the girls glare at each a little longer, but when he saw Elphaba take a step forward, he walked quickly into the room.

"Ladies, I've come to save this practice!" he announced, presenting Elphaba the flowers with a flourish.

She rolled her eyes and snatched the flowers from his hand. She turned and walked quickly back to the stairs and stepped off the runway. But despite her annoyed face, she was quite happy to see Fiyero. She had heard from Galinda that they had officially broken up, so she didn't expect to see him there that night.

Galinda, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all. She had actually expected the prince's arrival and had looked forward to seeing Elphie and Fiyero interact on the runway. She wore a playful smirk as she watched Elphaba walk up to Fiyero very deliberately. Galinda saw how her roommate looked at Fiyero now, and she couldn't believe she had missed it before. After all, Elphaba did seem to bring out the best in Fiyero.

"How about we take five?" Galinda said in her best professional voice. She took the flowers that Fiyero offered her as she went by and closed the door softly after herself.

"So…" Fiyero started.

"So…you're still doing this?"

"Of course. Did you really thing I'd miss a chance to catwalk with you?" His eyes twinkled mischievously.

Elphaba smelled her flowers absentmindedly. Was Fiyero flirting with her? What would Galinda think? In the back of her mind, she knew that Fiyero was forever off-limits for her because he was Galinda's ex-boyfriend. But the rest of her mind wanted to claim him for herself. Her heart agreed with the majority of her mind, but that little piece in the back was awfully annoying for its size. It nagged her into submission, so instead of flirting back, she simply stood there awkwardly.

Fiyero cleared his throat. "Yes, well, not my best, I'll admit, but I don't even get a pity smile?"

Elphaba couldn't help the grin that blossomed on her lips then. "I suppose I can sacrifice a little pity for you."

He grinned. "That's what I'm talking about." He moved beside of her and leaned against the runway. "So, are you ready for this show?"

Elphaba leaned beside of him. "I'm ready for it to be over."

"I didn't expect you'd do it."

Elphaba looked at him sharply. "Why not? Did you think I was afraid?" Her tone was angry on the surface, but even Fiyero could hear the hurt behind her words.

"No. I just didn't think it was your thing. You seem…too smart for all of the…frills." He grinned at her, his blue eyes sparkling and melting into her brown ones.

"It's not my thing. I'm like a fish out of water here. But I promised Galinda, and if I went back on a promise I wouldn't hear anything else for at least the rest of the semester. I would flunk every class and then have to retake this whole semester. All because I wouldn't walk up and down some silly strip of carpet." Elphaba's look was one of horror when she mentioned having to repeat a grade. Fiyero chuckled to himself, trying to imagine the look that she would have if he told her about his sordid past with academics.

"Well, then, you're quite admirable."

"I suppose. Or just stupid. But I'd prefer admirable."

"And I would never call you stupid. I'm pretty sure that's the last thing that you are."

Elphaba, who was looking intently in Fiyero's eyes, averted her gaze before he could see her eyes soften with the emotion she felt for him. She was still determined to keep him off-limits, but it felt as if she were a young sapling caught in a tornado. It was only a matter of time before she would yield to the wind. And Fiyero was definitely making it windy.

"Well," Elphaba started. "What would you call me then?"

"Perfect," he answered right away. He hadn't meant to say it, but it was the first thing that came to him. He supposed it was better that she know what he truly felt about her.

Elphaba scoffed. "Me? I think you're getting me confused with Galinda."

He shook his head and grabbed her hands to show his earnestness. "No, I was talking about you. You're beautiful and kind, even to those who don't deserve it. You're smart and determined, and I love that about you." Both Elphaba and Fiyero blushed when he said the word "love."

But Elphaba didn't avert her gaze for once. Their eyes burned into each other, the gaze saying everything that they couldn't say in words. Fiyero suddenly understood that Elphaba felt the same about him as he did about her. He reached up and touched her face ever so gently. She closed her eyes, feeling his warm hand on her cheek.

She licked her lips unconsciously, and it took all Fiyero had in him to not kiss her right then. As it was, he leaned in slowly, taking in everything about Elphaba that he could. He moved his hand from her face to the back of her neck, his fingers twining in her dark hair. Just as he felt Elphaba's quick breath on his lips, Galinda bustled into the room.

Elphaba and Fiyero jumped away from each other as if there were a rabid dog between them. Elphaba cleared her throat and muttered something about getting a drink, and Fiyero ran a hand over his face and moved to the opposite side of the room. Galinda simply stood in the doorway, wondering why her friends were acting so silly.

"Okay, guys, it is time to practice this finale!" Galinda chirped happily.

Fiyero and Elphaba practiced with each other but avoided each other's gaze as much as possible. Fiyero left shortly after he had been fitted in his outfit. Elphaba simply sighed and thought of what might of happened between she and Fiyero had Galinda not walked in.