Author's Note: I'm not even sure we have to make a disclaiming statement. Well, I disclaim anyway. Thanks for the reviews. Let me state that there is so much more to happen in this story beyond even fiyeraba and all that, so bear with me and enjoy the moments! Just finished chapter 18 and I am very proud of it. I'll remind you that I am totally open to plot suggestions and I look forward to hearing what you think about it.

You must know what it's like to post and hear nothing back! Brick Wall Syndrome :0 Please review when you've finished with your thoughts. Thank you x

"Miss Elphaba?" Madame Morrible's dulcet tones reached Elphaba's ears an instant or two before she was out of earshot. "May I speak with you a moment?"

It was a demand not a request, despite the inflection, Elphaba knew, and she curtly smiled and walked over to her headmistress. She would certainly be late for her lecture with the odious Doctor Nikidik if the equally Horrible Morrible forced her attention for too long. What a shame that would be. "Certainly Madame."

"I do believe there is a student in your Life Sciences class whose failing grades require immediate attention." Elphaba sensed the point of this summons. Oh fantastic. The previous evening had been fun, dare she admit it, and now, because some idiot was too lazy to learn independently, she had to give up all her options for free time and spend them with someone who would probably resent her presence even more than she did.

Morrible smiled at her in a way she guessed was supposed to be friendly and consulted a heavy book. "I want to warn you that it may be asked of you to tutor this student in your spare time. I am cautioning you in advance so that you might have time to get ahead in your work. He is quite desperate."

Elphaba stared. "He?"

Morrible seemed not to hear her and closed her book and began to move away. "This extra curricular work will be very appealing in the eyes of Our Glorious Wizard."

Feelings of rage welled up inside Elphaba at this news. Not only had they dumped their extra work onto her, but they had done it without consulting her and they had assumed she would be unconcerned at working with a boy. At no other time had they ever shown ease towards boys and girls mixing within the grounds, and now Madame Morrible was sanctioning such activities? It was sexist, perverse, cruel and unjust. But any feelings of resentment Elphaba may have harboured towards this assignment disappeared at Madame Morrible's last words. Appealing in the eyes of Our Glorious Wizard. She sighed, satisfied at the remembrance of her potential at Shiz, and wandered happily into class instead of charging to her seat like she normally did.

"Elphie?" Galinda had started at the sight of her friend; usually Elphaba announced her presence with her stampeding boots clomping into the room. This time she had – almost gracefully – seated herself and for Oz knows how long, Galinda had had to endure the ridiculous attentions of Boq.

"Hello, Boq. Morning Galinda."

"Elphie, what's wrong? Or what's right, I guess?"

Elphaba laughed. "Nothing. I was just reminded of Morrible's promise to contact the Wizard for me. She's assigned me a student to tutor for extra credit in that respect."

Galinda squealed in delight for her and then leaned in to whisper. "Well I am decidedly less happy than I was last night. Boq has taken Fiyero's seat."

Elphaba wondered why she was so bothered if she was losing interest in Fiyero, but she concluded that even she would prefer to sit next to Fiyero as his arch rival than be grovelled at by Boq. "Well, next time, don't be so eager to get here. Come in with me and then at least you can spy where everyone's sitting." Galinda humphed and craned around to see where Fiyero might come in. "There's nothing wrong with Boq." She said as a whisper and a guilty look swept over Galinda's face.

"There he is, Elphie there's a seat next to you, and he can sit there. Fiyero!"

Elphaba blushed when he looked at the spare seat next to her. She turned away; he was just as handsome as always, more so if that was possible. All her determination to rid her mind of thoughts about him seemed to have been wiped from her mind. He was just so accommodating of her. It was stupid though, to like someone just because they were one of a few not repulsed by you. He scooted to the bench beside her and whispered. "Hey Fae." A deep red hue came over her face and she did her level best to remain nonchalant despite the fact that he could see it.

"Hel-lo."

"You alright? No hangover?" He joked, pulling out his notes, though scarce, and spreading them out as much as he could.

"None at all. But I've been forced to take on this idiot who has failing grades."

Fiyero glanced round at her. "Madame Morrible?" Elphaba confirmed it. "She can't make you do that if you don't want to."

His concern was touching, if simplistic. "Of course she can. She knows I want to see the Wizard, and she knows I'm talented enough to do it. I'm just not looking forward to having to spend time alone with this idiot boy."

He touched her on the shoulder. "Wait, wait. You have to be alone with him?"

"Well, I expect so. How else am I going to teach him?"

Fiyero shook his head. "You are not going to be alone with a random boy! Elphaba for the love of Oz! It's so inappropriate."

She rolled her eyes and pushed his hand away. "Fiyero, when did I give you the impression that I'm a delicate flower? I am perfectly able to take care of myself – not that I'll have to. I've done it since Nessa was born."

Her sharp tone told him that to not respond would be the best course of action.

"Morning, ladies and gentlemen." Dr Nikidik clambered to his desk and slammed his own material down. Elphaba stifled a laugh when there was an almost audible sigh of disappointment from around her. "I had planned to move on today, but certain information has come to my attention that leads me to believe a revision of our recent exam paper might be more useful."

Fiyero leaned back in his seat. They were near the back, which surprised him, as he would have guessed Elphaba to be sitting at the front. He didn't over-analyse her placement however, he was just grateful it was next to him. As the mumbling professor continued his lecture, Fiyero realised it was probably partly due to him that they were being forced to go through the questions again. Oh well. No surprises there. Can't have been that bad. He was certain that Elphaba must be more bored than he was; she had probably gained full marks. Hell, she probably wrote the damn thing. A new part of him wished he could find this whole learning thing as interesting as she did and maybe complete a test where he actually knew what the questions referred to.

An excruciating hour passed before Nikidik's rambling finally came to an end. Gratefully, Fiyero stood and let out Elphaba and Galinda before an unexpected call came from the front of the room. "Master Fiyero, Miss Elphaba, may I see you a moment?"

The two in question turned slowly. Neither expected to be called at the same time. "This can't be for the same reason, Elphaba. My grades are the exact opposite of yours."

Confused at the source of Nikidik's request and angry that she had to talk to him, she said bitterly. "Whose fault is that?"

Fiyero kissed Galinda on the cheek and followed Elphaba down to the front. Nikidik didn't exactly look pleased but then, he never did. "Alright, you two. I am sure you are confused as to the reason why I have called you here, Miss Elphaba," She raised her brow in expectation of an explanation, "since your grades give me no concern. But that is precisely the reason." He looked at Fiyero, who remained disaffected; he'd heard this before. "Master Fiyero, your work is deplorable and an embarrassment."

Elphaba suddenly felt out of place. This was no discussion to have in front of another student and it was only out of concern that she might further humiliate Fiyero that she did not voice her opinion to the professor. What was his purpose? To compare their different work ethics?

". . . and as such I am handing over your learning to Miss Elphaba here."

"What?" Elphaba blurted, her eyes burning with anger. Fiyero smiled in the knowledge that she supported his hatred.

"I am aware that Madame Morrible has told you that you were to tutor a failing student. Well, here you have him." She looked at Fiyero. "I am by no means about to punish you if you do not succeed, but your own academic career would certainly be boosted. Something Master Fiyero here should also take into consideration." They continued to stare at one another. "I have done with you. Off you go."

Elphaba and Fiyero shuffled out of the room in complete bewilderment. Fiyero was not surprised that his grades had necessitated a tutor because it had happened at every other educational institution he had attended. No, what surprised him was that he was scared. Why was it that this time he was frightened of being kicked out? Looking at Elphaba, whose back was to him so he could not read her expression, he knew why. It was her. It was everyone. He had never tried to do well before and it worried him that he really wasn't that intelligent.

For Elphaba's part, she was worried that spending time with him was very ill-advised. Apart from anything else she had mouthed off about having to tutor a . . . what was it? An 'idiot boy'. She didn't know what to feel about it.. In front of him, however, and in front of Galinda, she tried to guess what her reaction should be; should she act annoyed that she had to give up her time for Fiyero, thereby demonstrating to Galinda that she had no romantic feelings towards her boyfriend and risk losing Fiyero's friendship?

"Oh dear, what happened? You two look like you've been ridden hard and put away wet." Galinda's expression would have been amusing had it not been under the circumstances.

"It was about me," Fiyero said, kissing Galinda on the cheek, to which she seemed indifferent, "I'm pretty much failing in every way that a person could fail and Elphaba's been assigned the insurmountable task of helping me."

"It's not insurmountable." Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Don't you have any faith in yourself?" He shook his head and Galinda laughed. "If you can get everyone to practically worship you on your first day here then you should be able to pass a few tests."

Galinda nodded. "Well, Fiyero. It looks like you have as your tutor the one person in the world who could turn you around . . . academically." She glanced at her watch and jumped. "Oh sweet Oz! I'm late for a shopping expedition."

"Oh no!" Gasped Elphaba, full of sarcasm. Fiyero chuckled.

Galinda sighed frustratingly at her friend and then strutted along the hall. Fiyero gestured for them to walk in the opposite direction and they did so in companionable silence, before he turned to Elphaba, smiling knowingly. "So, I got everyone to worship me on my first day?"

"What?" She said, alarmed and surprised at the implication in her own words.

He leaned in towards her and whispered the next, making her blush. "Did I get everyone to worship me, Fae?"

"Oh – well yes," His eyes widened and she panicked, "I mean, no you didn't . . . but um . . ." Taking a breath to steady her nerves she made him laugh at the effect he could have on her when she was always so fearless and impenetrable. "I don't worship you, Fiyero." He nodded, finally letting it go. "But I do like you."

Her admission was progress, Fiyero thought to himself, though he had no comprehension of the depth of her feelings. "Good. Well, I like you too. And seeing as we'll be spending a lot of time together in the weeks and, knowing me, months to come, that is a very good thing." She smiled, more comfortable now. "Everyone's going back to the B Bar tonight." She stopped and appeared to be appraising him, her eyes trailing up and down his body; it completely unnerved him. "Um . . . you should come again. Keep your promise to dance with me."

Elphaba had never expected that she would be in a position where she had to disappoint him; he seemed impervious to that sort of feeling. But quite obviously their conversation with Dr Nikidik had been entirely wiped from his mind. "No, I can't."

A part of her rejoiced at seeing his face fall. "Why not? I thought you'd had fun."

She smiled and kicked at the floor, embarrassed at his inevitable embarrassment. "I did have fun. In fact, the most fun I've ever had in my entire life." He grinned. "But Fiyero, did you not pay any attention in class today? Dr Nikidik wants you to improve your grades and we have a test at the end of the week, which incidentally means it is in two days time." Realisation dawned on him and he blushed deeply. "You are not going out anywhere."

"Alright, alright. Where and when, my sharp green girl?"

"I am not your sharp green girl. I am no one's." Though he knew she was teasing him and her words weren't in earnest, she seemed a little hurt at the admission of the fact. A second later, she had snapped back. "Three Queens Library at five pm." She turned to leave him, and had gone several paces before swivelling round and striding right up to him. "And I don't think you're an idiot boy."

Fiyero watched her until she had completely disappeared from sight.

Reviews make angels sing and Galinda spend money on you! x