Chapter Three: A Business Matter

He was toying with the idea that he'd had the other day, though that was a bit crazy. Of course, it wouldn't work. It was just a fleeting thought; though the more he thought about it, the more it seemed legitimate. But there were obvious problems with it and very big holes in his plan.

"Fiyero, if you sit there staring at the wall people might think you're crazy." Boq commented beside him. "Class ended five minutes ago."

Elphaba stood with her arms crossed over her chest. "Are you daydreaming over there?"

"Not quite." He shook himself back into the present moment. "I was just thinking about an issue I was having. It's nothing important."

"Are you coming to lunch with us or not, then?" Boq asked.

He couldn't recall being asked, but he certainly wouldn't turn down the invitation. "Gladly. Are we going to be at the same place we ate last time?"

Elphaba nodded at him. "You really weren't paying attention at all, were you? Well, don't expect to borrow my notes to help you figure out what you missed."

"But you've got the best handwriting in the class. I can't read any of Boq's scribbling. Besides, you're more thorough." He pleaded. "I know I shouldn't have let my mind wander off like that, and I swear it's not something I usually do. I won't ask again unless I have a good reason." Fiyero stood and gathered his things. "It was just the last few minutes of class. I can copy them during lunch. They won't ever leave your sight."

"You're lucky I like you enough to let you." She sighed. "If it were Avaric asking, that would be a different story."

Fiyero snorted. "Avaric doesn't care if he misses anything. I do."

"That's certainly true enough. If his father didn't have all that money, he would've failed out of this school long ago." Elphaba began walking.

He and Boq followed at almost a trot. Sweet Oz, she walked fast! And poor Boq's short little legs had to go twice as fast just to catch up. "Elphie!" The Munchkin panted. "Wait up. It's lunch. We won't get in trouble if we're late."

She slowed and turned to the boys. "I forgot not everyone is as punctual as I am."

"It's Fiyero's fault. He slowed us down by sitting there drifting off into space." Boq protested. "Please slow down. I might pass out."

Her pace finally matched theirs. "I don't see why you can't just keep your own pace and stray behind. I'm not great company, anyway."

"You are, though. With a mind like yours, Elphie, you could talk to us about any number of subjects." Fiyero said.

"I let Boq and Glinda call me that because there's no stopping them. You, dear boy, are not to continue using that dreadful nickname." Her eyes pierced into his.

"Right. I apologize."

"By the way," she fumbled through her bag, "here's my notebook. I want it back by the end of lunch."

"Thank you so much. If you ever miss a class that we share, feel free to ask me for notes. I'd gladly give them to you."

She raised a single eyebrow at that. "I don't miss class."

"Of course." He rolled his eyes. "Do you not get sick?"

"Not often."

"Well, should the unthinkable happen and you're unable to get to class, just ask me for my notes." He replied sarcastically.

He could tell she wasn't used to someone giving her attitude, and for a moment he thought she was going to snap at him, but her face broke out into a rare, lovely smile. "I suppose I will. Should that ever happen."

It was at that moment that he knew she was the missing piece of his plan.

That evening as the group walked home, he fell into step beside her again. "Here's your notebook back."

"Thank you. I trust you got what you needed."

"Yes."

She put her notebook away and stared in front of her, obviously with no intention of continuing the conversation.

He decided to push a little. "How was your meal?"

"Fine. Why do you care?"

"You're my friend. I'm being friendly."

"Right."

"I am, Elphaba. Or do you not have friends?"

"What do you want from me, Fiyero?" She demanded, seeing right through him.

Clearly small talk wasn't going to work with her. "I want to talk to you about something."

"Go ahead."

"In private. Could we meet tomorrow for lunch?"

She stopped walking and Pfanee, who was walking behind her, almost tripped. Ignoring the brunette's glare, she eyed him. "I don't know about this."

"Elphaba, it's just lunch." He waved Pfanee ahead of them. "It's a business thing. What do you think I'm going to do, poison your food?"

"I don't know. People don't generally spend time with me alone unless they're forced. Or they want something from me. And I don't know what you want from me."

"Nothing bad, I assure you. It's just a personal situation I would like your help with that I don't care to discuss in front of others. I'm sure you understand that I like my privacy."

She began walking again. "Fine. Tomorrow."

"Great."

When he got back to his dorm, he tried to arrange his words in the right way. She'd be perfect, if he could only get her to agree to it. Somehow he didn't think things that would persuade most girls would work for her. Would she pretend to date him, even eventually pretend to be engaged to him? It was a long ruse to carry out, and he knew that. It would have to continue until he took the throne. Then he could do as he wished and she'd be free. Not that she cared that she'd be free, which was why he'd thought of her in the first place. It wouldn't get in the way of her personal life, since she'd openly said she didn't want one.

Would she be offended when he asked her? He thought that most women might be, but she was completely different from any woman he had known, and not just because she wasn't Vinkun. It was intriguing. He couldn't figure her out or predict her behavior. Everything she did was a mystery to him.

Of course, the danger here was falling for her. She'd never stand for it. And he shouldn't. This had to be business only, or things could go sour early and he couldn't afford to take that risk. But sometimes he looked at her and he wanted to run his hands through her hair or press her fingers to his mouth. Maybe no one else saw it, but to him everything she did was sensual and enchanting.

What was he thinking? Fiyero shook his head. He couldn't do this. The thoughts that had just entered his mind made it clear enough. On paper she was perfect, but he wasn't sure that was enough. Then again, he wasn't certain he had any other choice.