Author's Note: See disclaimer in chapter 1. Thank you so much to those who reviewed etc, makes me very happy to read your efforts! So here is the next update, right on time, I think. Fiyero has a big role in this one, and it's a very sad'un.

Enjoy x

Fiyero was winded a little by the intensity of her grasp and wondered if it was meant to remind him that he was on thin ice, or if she was just naturally inclined to convey power to everything she touched. Her expression was utterly blank and impossible for him to decipher. He could not even decide if she was happy or sad. His confusion made him stutter, and Elphaba found it endearing that the so-called charming Prince of the Vinkus should be so lost for words. "I . . . um . . . so do you um think that maybe you would want to help me study again? I really can't do it without you."

Elphaba smiled, realising that to refuse him her friendship still would be pedantic and stubborn of her; he was sorry and he was trying to make it up to her and she was lucky that he even gave her a second glance. She wondered if it had anything to do with Galinda, if he felt about the blonde more strongly than she did him or if they were equally as uninterested in each other.

"No. I wouldn't mind." Fiyero grinned and thanked her. "And . . ." Elphaba looked down sheepishly, he thought, and Fiyero's interest was heightened, "I don't hope you fail." She laughed at her own double negative and suppressed the critic within her; now was not the time. "Not that anyone can change it now but . . . I hope you do well. I hope you answered both questions, at least."

"Thanks, Fae. And yes, I did answer both of them. I have to say, even if I'd answered it all right I'd feel better about my chances if you gave me your blessing."

Elphaba smiled gladly and a pleasant blush crept into her face. At least she had taught him something in the short time they'd spent on the material. They both knew that simply attempting to answer both questions was not enough to perform well, but there was no need to mention that. "Well that's something."

He rolled his eyes at her tone. "That's not very encouraging, you know."

"Sorry." He shook off her apology and Elphaba glanced at her watch, though she had no reason to worry about the time; Nikidik's lecture was the only one she had on Fridays. "Um, what . . . what are you doing today?" Fiyero shuffled through his mental timetable, hoping to God he could find a plausible excuse for blowing off whatever he had for the rest of this Friday. "Fiyero . . . I know what you are doing."

"What?" He tried looking innocent, realising too late that he had already given her his weekly schedule so she would be there to act as motivation. What had she said she would do? Oh yeah . . . she said she'd kick me in the backside and sterilize me.

"You have two lectures and a tutorial this afternoon."

Fiyero's stomach dropped and he felt suddenly tired. "No . . ." he moaned, and trailed lazily after her as she began to walk towards the library. "No, I want to spend the day with you. Come on, you know I'll learn more with you than I will with them. Plus I haven't really done any work for the tutorial, and it's Economy and I don't know what anyone's talking about and –"

"Will you stop moaning?" Fiyero shut his mouth and tried not to smile while Elphaba sighed in irritation at him. He loved to see that he had gotten under her skin, too. "You have to go to these lectures. Just-"

"- be honest?"

"NO!" He jumped. "Don't be honest, you idiot. You never ever tell professors or lecturers or tutors that you haven't done the work."

"Well, what the hell am I supposed to do if I don't know what I'm talking about?"

She smiled gently at him. "You bullshit your way through."

"Elphaba Thropp! How would you know that? Are you telling me that you have bullshitted your way through a tutorial before?"

She stopped in front of him, drew herself to her full height and held up her forefinger. "Once." His face lit up with pleasure and horror at the same time. "I wanted to go to sleep and I just . . . I . . . stop laughing!" She frowned and stalked off.

Fiyero held his hand over his mouth and chased her. "Hey, hey!" He took her hand. "I'm just teasing you. Sorry . . . just . . . I'm actually quite impressed that you chose laziness over work. I knew you had it in you."

She raised one eyebrow. "Be that as it may, you are certainly going to your classes today. I will be waiting for you in the library, and I want to see your notes."

He exhaled and carefully looked her up and down. Perhaps he enjoyed the sight too much, as the boyfriend of another girl, but Elphaba was quite pretty in his opinion. "Can't you come with me?"

Elphaba stopped her thoughts in their tracks. She couldn't go to the tutorial, but there was no issue with lectures. It was not as though they took registers or a headcount. Plus they were subjects she did not take, and even if they were particularly boring ones, at least she would know not to take them next semester. Elphaba pushed back the idea that she was reasoning pointlessly; she knew deep down that if he asked her, she would go. But the logic made her feel better. "Well . . . I supp-"

"Fiyero!" Fiyero had never resented Galinda's voice so much in the whole time he had known her. Granted, that had only been three weeks, but still, the fact remained. "Elphaba, hey." She looked pointedly at her friend and placed a hand on her arm. "Are you alright?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes at Galinda's misplaced but well-meaning delicacy. It was rare that she was tactful. "Fiyero apologised and I accepted, Galinda. You needn't be so gentle anymore."

Galinda nodded and removed her hand. "Um, Elphie, would you mind if I spoke to Fiyero alone?"

"Course not. But Fiyero has a lecture in two hours and he is not allowed to miss it. I keep my promises, Tiggular." She walked away from them and Fiyero couldn't help but watch her leave.

"Fiyero?"

"Huh?" He was waiting until the green girl had disappeared from sight. Galinda followed his gaze, but could not see what had so captured him. She hit his shoulder with her bag to get his attention and took his arm as they walked.

Fiyero looked at Galinda Upland and admitted that he felt very proud to have her on his arm. She was beautiful and beautifully dressed in lilac, and her golden hair and white skin were both perfect. It was regular and comfortable . . . and ever so slightly boring. It was strange to him therefore that he knew he still loved her.

Galinda loved Fiyero too, but she was frightened that it was not with similar sentiment. She was certain he cared very much about her, but that hardly seemed enough. Granted, she had said to Elphaba and the other girls that she felt less for him than she did, but that had been a strategy: if they thought she didn't care about Fiyero, and this conversation didn't go well, then Galinda could at least save herself from pity.

"What did you want to talk about?" Fiyero asked, hoping it would be about their relationship. "You usually say everything in front of Elphaba."

"I know, but I thought she would feel uncomfortable. And this should be private, I think."

She seemed quite solemn. "Wow, Galinda."

"What's so strange about that? I can be solemn."

He laughed and kissed her hand. "I know, but you never have been."

"I suppose not. But I am now, and I have good reason . . . I think." He frowned and Galinda felt her courage was high, so continued before it deserted her. "You've been . . . acting . . . differently lately. I mean that you don't seem very interested in me . . . in us . . . anymore."

Fiyero felt awful: it was true, he had become uninterested in their relationship and it was because his girlfriend's best friend was so intriguing. But he could not tell her that, and yet he felt that it was ridiculous that these days, two people who liked each other couldn't be together. Unfortunately, not only did he have no clue if Elphaba even liked him, but he was also in the ridiculous situation of feeling obligated to remain with a girl he was not in love with because he wanted to spare her feelings.

"I want to know Fiyero, if you are happy with me."

She had been avoiding eye contact with him until that moment and he knew it was because she was searching for the truth. Despite her brave face, he knew that she would be upset. "Of course I'm happy with you, Galinda . . ."

There was an inflection in his voice, and Galinda had try to prepare herself for it, but the reality of the situation was harder that she could have grasped. "But . . ?"

He paused, not knowing if he should lie or if he had the nerve to be honest with her. But he didn't want to be the guy that strung someone along – despite the reputation that preceded him. "But . . . I . . . I don't feel the way about you that I used to . . . I'm not the same person I used to be either." Galinda's mind had gone blank. She wasn't expecting to have no response, but she didn't know what to think or do or say. He would probably want assurance that she was alright. "I love you, Galinda. I do."

"I love you, too." She looked away from him and really wanted to cry. "Um . . . okay. That's kind of what I thought you'd say. We never really had a chance did we?" She smiled and it pained him. "We were perfect for each other as the people we were before university. And now we're very different and it just doesn't work."

"Galinda, no. Sometimes people just aren't meant to be together." He knew it was a platitude, but it was technically true.

"Well, you're a different person. You've been thinking and studying and you're not as . . . as brainless as you were. I mean, those are all good things and I'm glad for you, but I guess I just don't like change." She shook her head and stepped away from him. "Um, I'm sorry; I must be making you uncomfortable."

"You could never do that, sweetheart, you're very good." She scoffed. "You are. Elphaba wouldn't be friends with someone who wasn't good. Neither would I."

The last part had made her wince. They would be friends now and that was all. "True." Silence settled between them, but neither felt awkward. Galinda was still waiting for everything to settle in. "So, we are not dating anymore." Fiyero found he couldn't actually say the words and so simply shook his head instead. He hated to see her unhappy; the emotion seemed so at odds with her personality. Galinda breathed in and out slowly, desperately willing herself not to cry. She did not want to invite any questions as she walked back to her dorm, which she intended on doing very soon. Fiyero saw her struggling and guided her to a spot shielded by thick Quoxwood trees where he pulled her into his arms and hugged her fiercely.

Galinda forgot about her intention to abstain from crying in front of him, wrapped her arms around him and screwed her eyes shut as the tears fell.

"It's just strange, Fiyero." She spluttered, stepping away from his chest. "I'll miss you so much."

"What are you talking about? It's not as if either of us is going anywhere, Galinda. We'll see other every day. I mean, I want to see you . . . do . . . do you want to see me?" Galinda was somewhat comforted by the knowledge that the grief was not entirely on her part alone, and she nodded, returning to his embrace again. "Good. You're not getting rid of me." He heard her laugh. "I love you, Galinda Upland."

"I love you, Fiyero Tiggular."

Oh Galinda! You dug an unwanted hole unknowingly but now you've realised the best thing would be to just get in it anyway. Don't worry, there'll be someone to help her out. Review Review!