AN. I'm sitting here in Adelaide airport waiting for my flight home. Thank goodness for Wifi.

Drea... no. :)

This chapter is for ComingandGoingbyBubble, who's review for chapter 8 made me laugh.

Nine

Fiyero and Elphaba's presentation and assignment went well. Although Fiyero complained to Elphaba that now his teachers would be expecting that level of achievement for all his classes and assignments, he was kind of pleased with how it had gone.

Mostly, however, he was confusified.

When he'd first met Elphaba- that day in Identity, he'd thought she was pretty, feisty and funny. Green, yes, and the complete opposite of every other girl he'd ever dated; but overall, attractive.

And then Galinda had told him about her. That she was an orphan, and only at Shiz on a scholarship.

Now, Fiyero didn't like to think of himself as a snob. But he was a prince. And as a prince, and the future King of the Vinkus, his parents had drilled into him his whole life the importance of connections. Meeting the right people.

Even the girls he'd dated were all socialites, the type of girls who had debutante balls, could use the right fork at the dinner table, and were the essence of proper young ladies of good breeding. In short- their families had money and understood the social hierarchy. These girls, like Fiyero's mother had, would get an education, marry well and then spend their lives raising children, running their homes and hosting functions. Balls, dinner parties and charity fundraisers… Fiyero had lost count of how many he'd been to since he was a child.

But this was the world he had grown up in, the social circles he was expected to move within, and one day- marry from within. In recent years, Fiyero had enjoyed making the most of the perks and freedoms that came with all of it- knowing he didn't have to work too hard for anything or try too hard, and being free to simply dance through life and have a good time. But he was always aware of what was expected of him- and that was more than enough reason to rebel against all of it, in his books.

Galinda and her friends fit very well into the world Fiyero knew. They were the sort of people his parents would approve of- he wouldn't be surprised if his parents and Galinda's knew one another, or at least had mutual friends.

"That's a smart match," Fiyero knew his mother would say if he knew he and Galinda were dating.

Which may be exactly why he hadn't told her.

Because simply, he was more intrigued by Elphaba Rozek- the orphan girl.

If he was to date someone like Elphaba- not even mentioning the fact that she was green, but simply that she was an orphan, his parents would throw a fit. They would insist, he knew, that she was not good enough for Fiyero and not fit to be a princess or the future queen of the Vinkus.

In the beginning, Fiyero had dealt with this simply by staying away from her, by ignoring her and focusing on Galinda. But since he'd been working on this assignment with Elphaba, he'd gotten to know her a little bit more.

And she was even more fascinating. She was brilliant, Fiyero could see why she had won a scholarship. And she was witty, fiercely independent, and still beautiful- even with the green. The Emerald tone of her skin seemed to suit her like no one else- anyone else would look ridiculous with green skin, but Fiyero couldn't imagine Elphaba any other way.

He wasn't too sure what to do about what he was feeling.

"It's just a crush," he told himself. "You can't date her."

He knew that was true. Not only because of his parents' reaction, or the fact he was still dating Galinda, but because Fiyero wasn't exactly a commitment kind of guy. Yes, he was dating Galinda, but it was very casual and not at all serious. He'd had a few relationships, but none lasted more than two months (a deadline he and Galinda were only a week off) and they'd all ended badly.

If Fiyero was honest with himself, he liked Elphaba too much to want to go down that road with her. And although a little voice suggested that maybe it could be different this time, he wasn't going to entertain that thought.

But that didn't make the feelings go away. And the more he was aware of them, the more he began to notice little details. Like how Galinda was always giggling modestly about how "good" she was and being nice to (mostly) everyone on campus, when it was just their group, she gossiped and complained about half of them. It was obvious to Fiyero that the Munchkin boy, Boq, had a huge crush on Galinda; but the blonde still addressed him as "Bick."

And then there was Elphaba, whom she taunted, mocked and generally insulted in every conversation.

"Galinda, I think we should break up."

Galinda broke off from her recount of a recent shopping trip with Pfannee, Shen-Shen and Milla and gaped at Fiyero. The two were sitting in the local campus coffee shop, The Wilted Rose, and Fiyero's comment had come from nowhere.

"Excuse me?" she gasped, thinking she'd misheard.

"I think we should break up," Fiyero repeated.

Galinda started at him for a moment, then giggled loudly. "Oh! You're joking! Fiyero, don't do that! You almost gave me a heart attack!"

"I'm not joking, Galinda," Fiyero said gently.

It took Galinda a moment to truly believe that. "You're breaking up with me? You can't! Do you realise that everyone on campus looks up to us as the perfect couple? How many people I've had tell me that we are what makes them believe in true love?" Galinda demanded.

"Well, maybe they're wrong," Fiyero replied.

Galinda wasn't going down without a fight. "But… when we met… you said we were perfect together. You said that I was perfect," she said, tears welling up in her blue eyes.

Fiyero winced. "Yes. But, Galinda… we'd just met. I barely knew you."

"Are you saying I'm not perfect?" Galinda demanded shrilly.

Fiyero sighed. "Galinda, no one is perfect."

"Give me one good reason why we're not the perfect couple?" she retorted hotly.

Fiyero hesitated, then decided to be honest. He sat up straight in his chair, and looked her in the eyes.

"Because I don't like this 'aren't I good?' act that almost everyone on campus swallows."

Galinda looked as though she'd been slapped. "What are you talking about?"

Fiyero looked around and saw Boq sitting with Nessarose and surprisingly, Elphaba, at a table on the other side of the room.

"There's the perfect example at that table. What's that boy's name?"

Galinda frowned. "You mean Bick?"

"It's Boq," Fiyero corrected her. "You go around acting like you're everyone's best friend, but you don't even know his name. And it's not for lack of trying on his part, I can tell you."

"I- I don't understand what you're saying," Galinda stammered.

"And what about Elphaba?" Fiyero continued, and Galinda stiffened.

"What about her?"

"Well…what has she ever done to you? I don't understand why you're so horrendible to her all the time. Is it because of her skin colour?"

Galinda faltered and turned discreetly to look over at the table where the girl in question was sitting. She observed her closely, as she tried to put her feelings towards Elphaba into words. She saw her long black hair pulled back into a tight braid, the same as she wore to class every day. Her black, unfashionable clothing that hung off her bony frame and the glasses that sat on her nose. And of course, the bright green colour of her skin.

She couldn't actually pinpoint what it was about Elphaba that irritated her so. She felt a little embarrassed by that, but ignored the feeling and looked away.

"She doesn't belong here," she said finally, turning back to Fiyero.

"Why? Because she was raised in an orphanage? Because she worked hard to get a scholarship? Because she works instead of living off a trust fund like you and I, or any of our friends? Because she wants to be here?"

Once again, Galinda couldn't answer and decided the best way to reply was to turn the question back on Fiyero.

"Why do you care?" Galinda demanded. "Do you like her or something?"

"I'm getting to know her," Fiyero retorted. "Which is something that can't be said for many people here. I just think you should get to know her before judging her."

Galinda stared at him. "So that's it? You're ending it?"

"Yes," Fiyero said simply.

"Fine. Well, that's just fine," she snapped and stormed away.

Of course, the news that Fiyero Tiggular had broken up with Galinda Upland was the biggest thing that had happened on campus since Fiyero's arrival just shy of two months ago. Galinda and her friends had taken it upon themselves to spread the news, which naturally presented the view that Fiyero had unceremoniously dumped the blonde. Girls seemed torn between wanting to hate Fiyero for daring to dump the beautiful, popular blonde; and finding ways to gain his attention to end his single status.

There had actually been whispered debates in classrooms, corridors and the cafeteria as to just how soon was too soon to try and make a move on Fiyero without incurring Galinda's wrath.

Elphaba was oblivious to all of this. As the holidays neared closer, she was taking any shifts she could get. She was working every free moment she had, which left her drained and exhausted. Not just as a reason for more money, but as a way to get out of the crapartment as much as possible. Elphaba had been dismayed to discover as December set in, that her building lacked one important facility she hadn't thought of when she'd signed the lease- heat.

She'd been forced to dip into her precious savings to stock up on blankets and hot water bottles, but it wasn't enough to battle against the cold winds that whistled through the floorboards and formed ice on her windows and bathroom mirror every morning.

Elphaba was reluctant to touch her savings too much, because Idonea and Alun had already informed her they were closing both the restaurant and the OzDust for the three weeks of winter break.

"With all our staff and customers going home for the holidays, it doesn't seem much point," Idonea had told her apologetically.

"But… you were open in the summer," Elphaba had protested, caught unaware.

"Only Identity," Alun pointed out. "And we were only just starting to pick up business when we hired you."

"It's a college town, we have seasonal lulls. And it would be impractical and a waste of money to open for so few people," Idonea shrugged.

So, Elphaba was looking at three weeks without work or pay; and unfortunately for the timing of those three weeks, she would also be expected to pay her rent and electricity bills- not even mentioning the long list of books she was expected to buy for next semester.

It was a little cause for panic, but Elphaba was trying to remain calm. Of course, remaining calm, was another story. Between stress over mid-terms and now her money worries, she'd even begun losing weight- which she didn't really need to do. She'd spent hours going over her budget and finances and had worked out that if she ate lunch either at the Shiz cafeteria or managed to grab some leftovers from Identity, she could save money on food. Shiz, at least, was remaining open for the holidays- for those students who chose not to return home for Lurlinemas. And the money usually reserved for food would just allow her to scrape through with her bills and rent. She would have to start now- even before the end of semester, or she would fall short, but Elphaba was determined to get by.

And really, what other choice did she have?

There was only two weeks until the end of semester, and Elphaba was dreading it. At least classes and mid-terms were keeping her busy and distracted, and she thought she may even be becoming friends with Nessarose and Boq. She'd eaten lunch with them a few times now, and had even been invited for coffee at the Wilted Rose once or twice. Boq still seemed intimidated by Elphaba at times, but was slowly beginning to relax in her presence.

And then there was Fiyero… she couldn't help but notice that since they'd completed their assignment, he no longer ignored her in the halls or when he saw her around campus. He never went out of his way to sit with her or to make conversation, but if they passed within earshot of one another and made eye contact, he would usually flash her a smile and a "Hey, Fae."

It had thrown Elphaba in the beginning- quite frankly, it still did a bit. She wasn't quite sure how to react, and it happened so fast he was long gone before she could even open her mouth to say "hello" in return. And of course, as he was so often with Cailean and Fyonn, they often chimed in with their own greetings.

"Good morrow, fair Lady of Emeralds," was Fyonn's favourite greeting.

"How's it going, Little Orphan Elphie?" Cailean would grin.

Elphaba at first would roll her eyes, but after a while, they began to make her smile. They weren't said with malice or mocking, merely teasing.

If she wasn't careful, Elphaba laughed to herself, she might actually end up with friends. And then where would she be?

AN. Cailean and Fyonn were inspired by Colin and Finn from Gilmore Girls.

Little Orphan Elphie= Little Orphan Annie.