DISCLAIMER: in the first chapter...

A/N: Thank you for Orlissa92 nd The-Good-Die-Alone for reviewing. You are going to heaven!

NEW ELPHABA IN SHIZ

Fiyero arrived late for class.

Nothing really unusual about that. He was rarely on time for any academic related appointment, if he bothered to show up at all. He did get away with it most of the time, mostly because of his family connections and his status as Prince of the Vinkus. Most students weren't as lucky. He had to achieve new heights of scandalous behavior to succeed expulsion.

Never been a problem in the past, though.

Fiyero sat in the back, eyes scanning his fellow students.

Five months was his average stay per school and, having gotten to that point the week before, the strong young man should have been already scheming his return home.

He didn't want to, though.

A frown descended upon his brow. No emerald skin in sight. Very upsetting. The only reason he had even bothered with History that morning had been the chance of seeing her.

Fiyero leaned sideways and, not even trying to be conspicuous, called out to Boq. The munchkin, a few seats to his right, stopped his note taking and straightened up. Slowly, his green eyes chanced a look towards the Winkie Prince.

"Boq!" After insisting a couple of times, the boy finally looked his way.

"Do you know why Elphaba isn't in class?" the frown that graced the short boy's face indicated clearly that Fiyero's question had managed to catch him off guard.

"Elphaba?" Boq shot a quick glance at the professor, afraid of being caught. The teacher, though, seemed too focused on the blackboard to pay their conversation any mind. "What about Miss Galinda?"

Fiyero only shrugged. It wasn't that unusual for his girlfriend to be skipping class, specially that particular one. Elphaba, on the other hand, never missed it. Boq couldn't really argue with that. He sighed. The studious boy had never been all that comfortable with sharing gossip.

"She dropped History."

Fiyero looked speechless and Boq couldn't say he didn't understand the sentiment. He had been quite surprised himself.

"Why?" Boq shrugged. How should he know?

Not seeing the need to be in class any longer and strangely desperate to shed more light on the Elphaba matter, Fiyero shot a polite nod of thanks the other boy's way and rose from his seat. Boq looked shocked as he made his way towards the teacher, told him something no one else could hear and left.

Huh.

The munchkin returned his attention to the discussion being put forth by Dr. Eldroth. Sigh… He kind of missed Dr. Dillamond.

--

Fiyero had debated finding Elphaba. Going to the source was always the best way to clear up a doubt. However, knowing she was not in class, he had found himself without that many places to look.

The library, maybe.

Her room, though it was unlikely.

So, Fiyero decided that finding his girlfriend would be easier. She would certainly have some answers, if not all of them. Being her best friend and all that. He walked up to the pond near Shiz's main building and scanned the lawn, trying to catch a glimpse of her golden locks.

He found Elphaba, instead.

Looking upon the pond, with her back to him and her beautiful hair flowing gently against the wind, she appeared to be a million miles away. No one stood near her, though a few chanced glances her way. She was never one to be discreet, be it thanks to her skin, be it due to her personality. With caution and slow steps, Fiyero approached the pensive woman, almost afraid to disturb the peaceful sight she bore.

Elphaba was anything but peaceful, though.

As he reached her side and finally caught sight of her sharp features, her turmoil became evident. A deep frown marred her brow and her dark brown eyes were cast far away, lost within a nightmare no one else could see. Worried, he waited for his presence to register. It didn't. So he placed his hand on her shoulder gently.

She wasn't startled as he feared she could be.

Calmly, Elphaba twisted her face his way and allowed her gaze to meet his.

An involuntary step back.

Surely those tormented eyes were not the same fiery eyes which had challenged his that day, when, together, they had fought for the freedom of a frightened Lion cub. Surely, that girl had not seemed so utterly broken as the woman who now stood before him.

Surely…

"Yes, Master Fiyero?" no emotion displayed.

"Elphaba? What happened? Why did you drop a class?" Any subtle approach he may have planed before had dissolved upon their meeting. "I went to class and Boq told me…"

A dark eyebrow rose among a field of green.

"You went to class…of your own accord?" The sarcasm was sharp as ever, amusement also shinning through. There, Fiyero caught a glimpse of the old Elphaba.

She quickly vanished, though.

Softly she shook her head, as if clearing the mirth away. A somber expression replaced the small smile.

"I don't feel as if I have to justify my actions to you, Master Fiyero." Cold pierced his skin at her icy tone. "However, if you insist in knowing, better hearing it from me than from a third party that'll inevitably distort the truth."

She turned away.

"I have dropped History and Madame Morrible's Sorcery Seminar. I am taking Political Sciences and Arts, instead." She spared him a sideway glance. "Anything else, Master Fiyero?"

Yes!

"Why the formalities, Elphaba?" He highlighted her name the same way she had his honorific. Brown eyes returned to their perusal of the lake's calm waters; a sigh escaped her lips.

"We are not friends, regardless of your relationship with my roommate. Please, try to remember that." She then dismissed him.

At least, that's what it had felt like. Fiyero paid that no heed, though. He had practice at that.

"Arts?" jestingly, he enquired. "What for? It isn't very you…"

Back straight, chin raised and eyes slit practically closed, she faced him.

"Do not presume to know me, Master Fiyero." And then, no goodbyes, she was gone in a blur of black and emerald green.

The Prince watched her go and did not try to follow. He may have been brainless, but he wasn't stupid. A grin was brightly etched upon his lips though, and he allowed his eyes to seek her curves as she walked away from sight.

Elphaba…

What is it about you that draws me in so?

Fiyero wasn't really sure how long he remained lost in thought. All he knew was that blonde curls suddenly came into view and demanded his attention.

"Fiyero!!"

With a charming smile, if still with a somewhat distant expression, he acknowledged his bubbly girlfriend. Without paying too much attention, he agreed to escort her to lunch and allowed himself to be dragged off.

"Say, Galinda… Why did Elphaba change her curriculum so suddenly?" If the blonde found strange that he would ask after her roommate, she didn't let it shine through. A somber look replaced her smile, though, and she surreptitiously checked their surroundings.

"She had a vision of the future."

He nodded, demonstrating his curiosity, while trying to keep his worry hidden.

"She said it was horrible. That bad things happened to everyone we know." Slight pause "She cried, Fiyero." Galinda turned within herself. "I had never seen her cry…" she added; a bare whisper.

Fiyero frowned.

What could she have possibly seen?

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