AN: This afternoon, when I was riding my scooter back from uni, I was surprised by a downpour. I was drenched. Like, even my underwear was soaked. And the stupid part was that the moment it started raining, my first thought was of Elphaba in this story and how she would be dead if she were me. Yeah, I should probably spend just a little less time on this website :P.

Anyway, hank you all so much for your lovely reviews, you made my day! :) And if you get the time, please tell me your favourite lines - I love to hear them!

Musicgal... I think you just broke your own 'AWW'-record. LOL :D.

And a cliffy, because it's been a while since my last, and because I can.

Chapter 9. Love is in the air

'Fifi!' A loud squeal and then two arms being thrown around him, nearly knocking him over. Galinda hugged him tightly, then swatted at his arm. 'What in Oz were you thinking all this time?' she demanded in a high-pitched voice.

'I wasn't,' he admitted immediately. 'But I'm changing now, Glin. I swear.'

Galinda looked at Cohvu and Elphaba first to verify that, and when they both nodded, smiling, she squealed again. 'Thank goodness!' Suddenly, her eyes narrowed and she glared at the prince.

He blinked back at her, taken aback by the pissed look in her blue eyes. 'What?'

She continued to glare at him. Then she raised her hand and slapped him in the face.

'Galinda!' Elphaba cried, horrified, and Fiyero gasped. 'Hey!' he protested. 'What was that for!'

'That's for being mean to my best friend,' Galinda declared haughtily. Then she stomped his arm – hard – making him yelp. 'And for hurting my boyfriend.' Smack. 'Your father.' Bang. 'Your mother.' Whack. 'And me-'

'Galinda!' Cohvu grabbed his girlfriend around her waist from behind, gently pulling her away from Fiyero. 'I think he gets the message.'

Fiyero glared back at the blonde, rubbing the spots where she had hit him. 'Good to see you, too, Glin.'

She smiled sweetly at him. 'Yes, it is good to see you.' She looked around again, beaming. 'It's good to see all of you!' she then exclaimed, hugging Elphaba, then Cohvu, then Fiyero again. 'I've missed you guys so much!' She gasped and clasped her hands together in delight. 'We should get out of this castle and do something fun!'

Immediately, Elphaba scrambled away from her friend, hiding behind Cohvu. 'No shopping,' she pleaded. 'Please, Galinda, anything but shopping!'

The boys laughed and Galinda huffed, crossing her arms. 'Fine,' she said grumpily. 'We won't go shopping. But we're going to do something else,' she warned them. 'And I get to pick what, and you're going to like it, whether you like it or not.'

Elphaba quirked an eyebrow at her and Cohvu chuckled, pulling the blonde into his arms. 'You're kind of contradicting yourself there, darling.'

Now she sent him a death glare and he gulped. 'So, yes, okay. Let's go do something!' he said cheerfully, and Galinda immediately became her bubbly, bouncy self again. 'Yay!'

They all looked at the petite blonde expectantly. Galinda tapped her chin and started pacing around the room. 'Alright, let's see. We could go and get beauty treatments…'

'No!' the three others yelled in unison, and the blonde rolled her eyes. 'Alright, fine, relax. Um… Ooh!' Her face brightened. 'We could go to that new pool they opened in the city! It's only a fifteen-minute carriage drive!'

'Yeah!' Fiyero agreed enthusiastically. The other two stared at them in exasperation. Cohvu waved a hand up and down, indicating Elphaba. 'Swimming? In a pool?'

Both Galinda and Fiyero just blinked at him, still not understanding.

'Fresh water?' Elphaba helped them. 'Or do you want to see me change into a sizzling green puddle?'

Now their eyes widened. 'Oh,' Galinda said sheepishly. 'Sorry. I hadn't really thought about that.'

Fiyero looked embarrassed. 'Me, neither,' he confessed, and Cohvu chuckled. 'It's clear that his change of attitude didn't change anything about his being brainless.'

Elphaba reached out and patted Fiyero's head, as if he were a dog. 'Don't worry, Fifi,' she cooed, smirking. 'Just keep practising, and you might even grow a brain someday!'

He shot her a look, but kept quiet. He was smiling, however, and Elphaba blushed a little when she saw that he was still looking at her. 'What?'

He shook his head. 'Nothing.'

Galinda stood on her tiptoes to whisper in Cohvu's ear, 'Oh my Oz, they are so in love.'

Cohvu chuckled. 'Yes, well, don't say anything. I don't think they've figured it out for themselves yet.'

'How can you not notice this?' Galinda demanded. 'Come on. A boy never looks at a girl liked that unless he's totally into her. And Elphie doesn't blush. Ever.' She sighed happily. 'This is so romantic. You know, her getting mad at him, him changing for her, them falling in love…' She squealed softly. 'It's like a story from a book!'

Cohvu looked at her, one eyebrow raised. 'You read books?'

'Only romance stories,' she assured him, and he chuckled. 'Makes sense.'

Suddenly, Galinda squealed again. 'Oh, guys!' she said enthusiastically, waving her hands around in wild gestures. 'We can't go to the pool, but we can go swim in the sea!'

'You can go to the pool, if you want to,' offered Elphaba. 'I'll just stay here.'

Galinda, however, shook her head firmly. 'No way, Elphie,' she declared. 'We'll just go to the beach. Then we can all swim.'

'You know?' Fiyero said to Elphaba. 'I still haven't seen you swim.'

She stuck out her tongue. 'That's because last time I tried to swim when you were there, you plucked me off the beach and threw me over your shoulder, convinced that I was trying to kill myself.'

He reddened and cleared his throat awkwardly. 'Yes, well…'

'Okay!' Galinda interrupted them. 'Let's go get changed and get some towels, and oh, I'll ask one of the maids to make us a picnic basket! And then we can set out to the beach. Yes? Okay, let's go!'

'Are you really sure you can touch salt water?' Fiyero asked for what must have been the fourth time.

Elphaba quirked an eyebrow at him. 'Would I jump into the ocean if I wasn't sure?'

He sighed, still not convinced, but he figured she had a point. He wouldn't be reassured unless he saw it for himself, however. 'Alright, fine. Show me.'

She grinned at him, then jumped into the water. He held his hand above his eyes to protect them against the sun, squinting a little. He saw her disappear under the water; then she came back up, splashing around. 'Ahh! It burns! I'm melting!'

Galinda giggled and Cohvu snickered softly, but Fiyero immediately panicked again. 'Elphaba!' He jumped into the water after her, making Galinda and Cohvu laugh even harder. 'He's so brainless!' Galinda shrieked, kicking her feet with laughter.

Fiyero caught Elphaba around the waist, pulling her out of the water. She was twitching and his heart skipped a beat - for a moment, he thought that she was dying or something… but then he realised she was twitching with laughter.

'I can't believe you bought that!' she roared, trying to catch her breath and almost succeeding; but when she saw Fiyero's face, she dissolved into laughter once again.

'Oh, you think that's funny, do you?' he grunted. He dropped her, and with a surprised cry, she fell down into the water again.

When she surfaced, he was glaring down at her. 'You're mean.'

She laughed. 'I know.' Then she grabbed his leg and pulled it, causing him to topple over into the water as well.

Galinda smirked and cuddled closer to Cohvu. 'They're so cute together!' She gasped when an idea hit her. 'Oh my Oz, we should play matchmaker!'

'Glin,' he warned her softly. 'Don't meddle with their affairs, please. If they like each other, they can figure it out themselves.'

Galinda sighed and huffed. 'No, they can't. Elphie is too stubborn to believe that anyone could like her in that way, and Fiyero would never make a move because he'd be afraid to scare Elphie away – and he would be right, too.'

'So you think Yero wouldn't make a move?' Cohvu asked. Galinda shook her head. 'If he has something that even remotely resembles a brain, he wouldn't.'

'There's one flaw in your reasoning, Galinda.'

She looked at him. 'What's that?'

Cohvu pointed towards the prince and the green girl in the water. 'He doesn't have a brain.'

Elphaba and Fiyero had been playing around in the water for some time, but apparently, he had caught her, because they had stilled their movements. Elphaba was still smiling, but that smile faded and a blush crept up her cheeks when she looked at Fiyero and saw the intense gaze in his sapphire blue eyes.

'He's going to kiss her,' Galinda whispered. 'I know he is.'

Cohvu shook his head. 'He's not that brainless,' he declared. 'He wouldn't… would he?' he added, suddenly not so sure anymore.

Galinda kept her gaze fixed on her friends, not wanting to miss a thing, but she held out her hand to Cohvu. 'If he tries to kiss her, you let me pick what we're going to do on our date next Friday,' she whispered. 'If he doesn't, you can decide. Deal?'

He shook her hand. 'Deal.'

They both watched intently as Fiyero raised his hand, seemingly to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, but then he shook his head and dropped his hand again. He held out his hand to Elphaba, who looked kind of nervous; but then he said something that made her laugh and she visibly relaxed. She took his hand and they walked back to the beach together.

Galinda swore softly under her breath and Cohvu smirked at her. 'A deal's a deal, darling.'

'I know,' she grumbled. Then she sighed. 'So where are we going?'

Cohvu tapped his chin thoughtfully. 'I was thinking a football game… Or perhaps we could just stay at home and relax on the couch with beer and a bag of potato chips!'

His girlfriend shoved him. 'You're such a man!'

He laughed and kissed her nose. 'I know just the thing,' he said cheerfully. 'There's a fun fair in the village nearby this weekend.'

At that, Galinda immediately brightened. 'Will you win me a stuffed animal?' she begged him, and he laughed again, cupping her cheek. 'Sure. Anything for you.'

'You are so romantic!' the blonde declared with a squeal, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him. Elphaba plopped down onto the towel next to her friends, trying to dry her hair. 'Would you guys get a room?'

Galinda stuck out her tongue, letting go of her boyfriend. 'Hey, Fiyero,' she said as the prince joined them as well. 'Is it true that there's going to be a party next week?'

He sighed and rolled his eyes. 'Yes, but it's an official thing,' he said, clearly not very happy about that. 'My parents are hosting this ball or something for some important dudes.'

Cohvu stifled a laugh. 'What kind of 'important dudes'?' he asked, amused. Elphaba sniggered.

'Oh, you know.' Fiyero fell back onto the towel. 'Galinda's parents, who are already here, but also the Duke of Gillikin, the Governor of Munchkinland… some officials from the Vinkus.' He shrugged. 'Most of them will arrive in the next few days, and stay here for a couple of days.'

'The Governor of Munchkinland…' Elphaba mused. 'Have I met him before?'

Fiyero shook his head. 'Probably not. Apparently, he's kind of a hermit. He never really goes to banquets or meetings or anything, he always stays inside his mansion with his crippled daughter. He's going to bring her to the ball now, though.'

'Momsie and Popsicle have gone shopping today,' Galinda informed them. 'To get themselves some new outfits for the ball. They were really looking forward to it.'

'Will more of those people bring their children?' asked Cohvu. 'Are there any kids our age?'

Fiyero cocked his head. 'The Governor's daughter is about fifteen, from what I understand,' he said. 'And Avaric Tenmeadows will be there, too.'

Elphaba immediately bristled. 'Please tell me you're joking!' she hissed. 'I can't stand that obnoxious-'

Fiyero quickly clamped his hand over her mouth. 'We get the point,' he said quickly. 'But yes, he's coming.'

'Who is he?' Galinda asked, puzzled, and Elphaba yanked Fiyero's hand away from her face. 'He's one of Fiyero's 'dancing-through-life'-friends,' she said. 'He lives kind of nearby, and he goes to our school. You're never going to meet anyone more irritating in your life.'

Galinda tilted her head. 'Is he cute?'

Elphaba gave her a look. 'No.'

'Well…' Fiyero said, and now she gave him a look. He held up his hands in defeat. 'Hey, I'm just saying. Not that I'm into guys or anything, but you can't really call Avaric ugly.'

Elphaba glared at him. 'Fine. He's not ugly. But he's still obnoxious and a total jerk,' she declared firmly. 'Even more so than you were.'

That that was true, was proven to them several days later, when Elphaba found herself hanging above the pond in the gardens.

She wasn't even sure how he had gotten a hold on her in the first place. She had ventured out into the gardens; it had been a beautiful day and she had decided to study outside for a little while. Before she knew it, Avaric had shown up, taunted her with annoying remarks for a while, and then he had lifted her off her feet and taken her over to the pond. She had fought, but she hadn't stood a chance against him – he was twice as broad and muscular as she was and he was at least a head taller.

Right now, he was holding her by the fabric of her dress, dangling her half a meter or so above the deadly water. She swallowed as she looked right down into it. She wasn't someone that could be scared very easily, but right now, she wasn't afraid to admit that she was. Avaric didn't know that she really had a water allergy, and she knew that it was a realistic possibility for him to just drop her.

Avaric, who was holding her, smirked at her. 'What's up, little green bean? Already scared?'

She squirmed in an attempt to get free, but to no avail. 'I'm not afraid of water, you stupid pighead!' she screamed, trying desperately to get through to him. 'I'm allergic to it! I'll die if you drop me now!'

'Somehow, I have trouble believing that.' He dropped her a few inches, causing her to yelp in fear, and his grin only broadened. 'No one is allergic to water, green bean. It's not possible. So would you stop whining already? It's just water.'

'Avaric!' She never thought she would be begging him someday, but she didn't really have another choice. 'Please. I'll do anything, just don't drop me!'

He cackled. 'Now that I like to hear,' he chuckled. 'But I'm bored, and it's fun to watch you squirm like this, so… no, I don't really feel like putting you down.'

She gritted her teeth. Oz, she wanted to kill him right now.

Avaric and Elphaba had a history together. He had been her worst tormenter when she was younger, and still he took every opportunity to bully her somehow. She had soon learned how to stand up for herself, however – within weeks from her first day at school, when she had realised that the other children wouldn't stop making remarks about her skin until she made them stop – which had resulted in rather regular clashes between the two of them. Sometimes it was just a verbal fight, but there had been multiple times, too, when one of them had lost their temper and they had both ended up in detention for it.

She thought it was safe to say that she hated him. She wasn't a very hateful person, but she absolutely loathed Avaric Tenmeadows, and right now he wasn't making things any better.

'Avaric!' a high-pitched squeal suddenly sounded through the gardens. Galinda came running towards them – a pretty impressive sight, given the fact that she was wearing six inch high heels – with Cohvu and Fiyero right behind her. Elphaba let out a sigh with relief. Surely he would put her down now, wouldn't he?

Cohvu grunted when he saw them. 'I knew you were up to something the moment I saw you sneaking into the gardens,' he hissed at Avaric. 'Put her down!'

The other boy just laughed. 'Like this?'

He dropped her a few more inches and she sucked in her breath. Galinda shrieked and Cohvu's face turned red. 'Avaric…'

'I'm bored,' he declared again. 'And that's her fault.' He nodded towards Elphaba. 'If she hadn't made Fiyero start to think again, I would be out there right now, having fun with him and a couple of girls. But since he's gotten all boring now, and there's no one interesting around here, I figured I should search my amusement elsewhere.' He grinned down at the dark-haired girl he was holding.

'You are such an idiot!' Galinda screeched, running up towards him and pounding her fists on his back. 'Put her down!'

'Let me think about that.' Avaric cocked his head thoughtfully. 'Um… No.' He looked down at the green girl, grinning broadly. 'Say goodbye, green bean.'

Elphaba's eyes widened and Galinda gasped. 'Avaric, no!' she cried, but he ignored her. Instead, he smirked at Elphaba…

…and he let go.