Author''s Note: Please understand I am incredibly busy. I do intend to work on this story. I promise.
Chapter 3: Shiz University Campus, The Next Week
Fiyero returned from class exasperated. The feeling of isolation was beginning to grate on him, and he was starting to struggle in class, as well. One-on-one tutoring in the Vinkus was much different than a large lecture hall where he couldn't ask any questions. He knew if he raised his hand, everyone would stare. People would comment on his accent, mock him. The first day of classes had taught him that much. As a prince, he was used to attention, but not that kind of attention.
The only person who didn't act afraid of him or mock him was Elphaba, and he couldn't truly talk to her, even if she did want to. His wife was an enigma herself. She seemed to thrive sitting by herself in classes, while he felt lonely. And every attempt to talk to her was brushed off. They'd both agreed not to speak at Shiz for the time being. While women and men were allowed to be friendly so long as they were never in a dormitory alone together, it would be too easy to let something slip.
As Fiyero put his books down on his desk with a frustrated grunt, his roommate looked up. Boq was a Munchkinlander. Unlike Elphaba, however, he was of smaller stature and still appeared to have some of what Fiyero's mother called "baby fat," on his belly and his cheeks. To Fiyero, he appeared kind enough, but he rarely spoke. He nodded in acknowledgement.
Fiyero decided to see if he could get the shy young man to talk. "How was your day?"
The boy looked surprised that Fiyero had asked him anything. "I… it was fine. And yours?"
He shook his head. "I wish I could say the same." Fiyero sighed and sat down at his desk. "It's difficult to understand some of these professors. I can't write fast enough to keep up with them!"
The chubby young man nodded. "I certainly can understand that."
"I'm used to one-on-one instruction," Fiyero told him. "What about you?"
"Oh, a lot of the children in our town and nearby towns were at the schoolhouse. But there were only two teachers who had all of the kids of every age. Only one of them is here, though. Elphaba, the green girl. She was always very smart, so it doesn't surprise me. The rest either didn't care much for learning or they couldn't afford to be here. My parents barely could…" Boq flushed, as though being poor was an embarrassment.
At the mention of Elphaba, Fiyero's curiosity flared. What had she been like? What was she like now? All he knew of her was how she was when they were together for those hours once a week, and that was mostly her body - though he'd started to get glimpses of her fierce, headstrong personality. But he couldn't ask of her, could he? It would look odd. Instead he said, "What matters is that you're here. Who cares how much money anyone's family makes? If you're smart enough to be here, then that's that."
Boq smiled widely at that, and he seemed to become more relaxed. "Thank you. That's very true."
"You mentioned the green girl?" Fiyero couldn't help it. "How… her skin…?" He hadn't thought it appropriate to ask her himself, and that was probably something that anyone would want to know, so it might not arouse much suspicion.
"People asked, but no one ever gave us a straight answer. I get the feeling her family doesn't even know." Boq shrugged. "She was teased dreadfully for it, though. I felt a little sorry for her."
Somehow Fiyero didn't think Elphaba would like being pitied. "She seems like it doesn't bother her," he observed.
"She's normal enough otherwise, I think. I mean, from what I can tell."
He couldn't think of anything else to ask that wouldn't seem odd or intrusive, so he merely nodded.
"She's not exactly well-off, either. I know she's supposed to be Eminent Thropp or something, but her family has no money. I hear it's because of her father. Plus, her poor sister… they spent so much money on a wheelchair for her that would work…"
Elphaba had never mentioned a sister. The only person present at their wedding had been her father. His parents hadn't even been there, claiming it would look suspicious if too many important people were in town at the same time. He hadn't minded. "What about her sister? Is she…?"
"Green? No. Nessarose is as pale as they come. But she was born without arms. She can't stand up straight because of balance issues, but she obviously can't work a regular wheelchair. They had to get one made with pedals that helped move the wheels and some strange attachment for her feet that helps her change directions. I'm sure if she attends Shiz, you'll see it. She's only a bit younger than Elphaba." Boq seemed not to care about Fiyero's interest in Elphaba's family, or not to notice.
"You seem to know the family well," Fiyero observed.
"Not that well. Elphaba and I were never chums or anything. But in a town the size of ours two children with such notable… deformities… people talk, especially when they come from such an important family."
Fiyero didn't consider Elphaba's skin to be a deformity, but he didn't argue the fact. It must've been rough. She already attracted enough attention from her differentness, but add in her sister and her family name and she must've been a pariah.
"I've heard that Elphaba's baby teeth were pointed and sharp. I never saw it, and even if I had I'd have been too young to remember. People thought she was a monster."
Fiyero shook his head. "That's awful. She seems nice enough."
Boq shrugged. "I'm sorry. I must be boring you, all this talk about someone you barely know. But they were as close as it gets to celebrity in Munchkinland."
He understood that, having been in a similar situation when it came to his status. "I imagine so."
"Anyway, you were saying you're having trouble in classes? Have you thought about finding a tutor? Maybe if someone were to explain things to you one-on-one, you'd do better."
"That's a good idea. Thank you." But Fiyero wasn't certain he wanted to take that route, yet. He didn't want to seem unintelligent. If he asked for help, people might think he'd never been smart enough to get here, and was only here because he was a prince.
"I'm a bit distracted in some of my classes as well, but…" Boq flushed. "I'd best not say…"
Fiyero raised his eyebrows. "What is it?"
"It's frowned upon," Boq said shortly.
"I won't tell anyone," Fiyero promised. Who could he even tell, anyway? He had no friends and his wife would rather pretend she didn't know him.
"I don't know…"
"I swear never to tell a soul." Fiyero pressed.
"There's a girl. She's beautiful. And she's in a few of my classes, and I can't help but stare at her."
"What's the matter with that?"
"She's… She's Gillikinese." Boq hung his head.
"Is she noble?"
"Not that I know."
"And you're not."
"I'm not."
"Then what's the issue?" Fiyero knew the law all too well. So long as Boq and this mystery girl were not upper class, it wasn't specifically forbidden.
"It's simply not done, Fiyero. When that law was put in place, some of the higher-ups in certain countries got angry. They thought it should be that romantic fraternization between countries should be illegal altogether. They felt targeted. So many of the common people followed it as well." Boq cocked his head and asked, "Is that not how it is in the Vinkus?"
So few people actually left the Vinkus that no one had even cared when the law had been put in place. It had been around the same time of the prophecy made by the Clock of the Time Dragon, so his parents hadn't been pleased, but they hadn't made a complaint for fear of alerting the Wizard to the situation. They'd already been in contact with Elphaba's father by that point, and they'd all agreed to continue to go along with their plan despite the risks.
"I'm doomed to be in love with a woman I can never have," Boq sighed so dramatically that Fiyero had to stifle a laugh.
"I'm sorry," Fiyero offered, unsure of what else to say.
"That's why I haven't even tried to talk to her…"
"You haven't even spoken to her?" Fiyero was incredulous. How could Boq be in love when he knew nothing about the girl? Then again, he knew nothing about his own wife. But he wasn't in love with her, anyway. "Maybe that's a good thing. In fact, maybe she's a terrible person! Maybe you're lucky that she's Gillikinese."
"She doesn't seem terrible," Boq said defensively. "I've overheard her chatting with her friends a few times, and she seems very sweet."
"I didn't mean to say anything bad about her. I was just trying to make you feel better about the situation."
"I know. I'm sorry. Galinda has gotten me all in a twist."
Galinda? Where had he heard that name before? "Women do that, don't they?" Fiyero laughed.
"That they do. Do you have a girl back in the Vinkus?"
"Not currently," he replied evasively. Boq may have confided in him, but Fiyero wasn't going to tell him the truth. Unacted upon feelings that weren't even technically illegal were one thing, but deliberately disobeying a law was treason.
"But there was a girl?"
"Um, yes." Fiyero lied. The closest he'd gotten to girls before Elphaba was some very detailed drawings and erotic novels. "But that's over."
Boq seemed to understand that Fiyero didn't wish to continue talking about that. "What classes are you struggling with most?"
"Life sciences and Ozian literature."
Boq nodded. "I'd be no help there, then. I'm not taking literature until next semester, and I'm barely scraping by in life sciences as it is, either. I can't afford a tutor, though. I've thought about asking Elphaba for help. She's the only person I know here, and she seems to love the subject."
Why was everything always coming back to her? It seemed like even outside of that dark room in the inn, she haunted him. And yet, he knew she'd want nothing to do with him. So when he saw her again that weekend, he didn't bring up Boq or the things he'd learned.
"Well, that was exhausting," she grinned at him.
"Do you want to rest a bit?" They still had hours left in the room, and he could tell she was tired when she came in. "I could use a nap," he admitted. "That takes a lot out of me after a while."
"I would think so," she shivered a little. "Maybe just for a few minutes…"
"I think that would be best. You do seem quite tired." Another round wasn't necessary at this point, though he'd probably enjoy it. He drew the sweat-dampened blankets back on the bed and settled in.
Elphaba crawled between the sheets and turned away from him without another word, closing her eyes.
It felt strange to go from fevered sex to blocking each other out like this. He watched her for just a moment, curious. The sheet covering her only went up to her waist, and he watched her side rise and fall as she breathed. Her long hair had long since been pulled from the braid that usually confined it and was scattered about her pillow in soft waves. Who was this woman, and what did she mean to him?
As soon as he was certain she was asleep, he got up for a moment and went to wash off a bit. He stared at himself in the dirty mirror. They'd only been at Shiz for a few weeks, and already he was not the young man he had been when he left the Vinkus. He looked the same, but he felt… heavier. Before, his only responsibilities had been to attend tutoring and help his father with the hunt. Now he had classes to pass and a wife he was expected to impregnate.
Looking over at her, he wondered what she felt about the whole thing. He knew she wasn't happy about it, but what did she think of him? Physically, they seemed compatible. Of course, she never made a sound when they were in bed, but her body responded enough that he knew she was pleased. But she kept him at a distance when it came to conversation. Fiyero realized there was a good reason for that, but it still seemed strange to him. He sighed heavily and went back to the bed.
Elphaba shifted when he got there, and she asked, "Have I been asleep long?"
"No more than five minutes," he told her.
"And you haven't gotten any rest," she observed.
"No."
"Then get some." She turned to face him. "These first few weeks at school have been overwhelming for many reasons. I understand."
That was probably the first personal thing she'd said. He smiled a little. "You're right. I'm adjusting to a new environment, a new life."
"As am I. Everyone on campus is, Fiyero."
He nodded. It was harder for some of them than others. And of course, he had other new things to adjust to, like the woman beside him.
