Chapter 12
"What do you mean!?" Fiyero demanded. Of course, he knew what Nessa had meant, he just didn't wanna believe it. "She's going to try and kill herself." Nessa could feel tears welling up in her eyes. "But why in Oz would she do that!?" Fiyero asked, completely shocked that Elphaba would to do this. "From what I've heard from Fabala, her life has been a living hell from the moment she was born. She's lasted this long, but I think the attack was her final breaking point. She doesn't even believe she's beautiful in any way. T-that's why we wanted you to talk to her. Glinda and I know you like Fabala as more then a friend. We thought you might be able to talk some sense into her." Nessa explained.
"H-how did you know I liked Elphaba?" Fiyero was completely shocked that they knew. "It's pretty obvious, really. I know love when I see it." Glinda told him. Glinda may not be book smart, but she was the go-to girl when it came to love (or fashion). "Well, none of that matters right now. We have to find Elphaba!" Fiyero said, worried about where Elphaba was.
"You're right. I might even know where she went. Every once in awhile when Elphaba is especially upset, she'll tell me she just wants to jump into Suicide Canal. Maybe that's where she went!" Nessa explained. "She's gonna jump into Suicide Canal!?" Fiyero didn't waste any time to run out of the room and outside. If Nessa was right, Elphaba wouldn't be alive much longer. "Fiyero, wait for us!" Glinda called, she and Nessa running after Fiyero.
Elphaba stood at the edge of the canal, listening to the raging waters below her. she didn't wanna do this, but life was becoming unbearable. Elphaba was about to jump, when she heard someone behind her. "Elphaba! What are you doing!?" Fiyero called to her, panic plainly audible in his voice. "What would you care what I was doing? Most people would be thrilled to see the green girl jump into Suicide Canal." Elphaba muttered, not turning to look at him. There was no point trying to see him since she was clearly blind anyways.
"You can't! What about your life?" Fiyero stepped closer to where she was standing. Glinda and Nessa were standing a distance away, watching the conversation. "What life? I have no life! I don't wanna live if it means I'm going to be tortured for the fact that I'm different!" Elphaba screamed at him. "Please, Elphaba! I want to help you! But I can't if you don't let me." Fiyero spoke calmly, trying to get her to come to him.
A tear fell down Elphaba's cheek. "Nobody can help me." She whispered. And before Fiyero, Nessa and Glinda could stop her, Elphaba jumped off the edge of the cliff, right into the raging river. "Elphaba!" Fiyero screamed, jumping in after her. It was a crazy thing to do, but he had to save Elphaba.
It didn't take long for Elphaba to be pulled completely under the water. Of course, she didn't care if she was drowning. That was the point, after all. She was almost unconscious by the time she felt someone grab onto her. She tried to make the person let go of her, but she was already too weak to put up much of a struggle. A few minutes later, Elphaba was dragged out of the water by whoever had saved her. "Elphaba? Elphaba, please be alive!" She heard Fiyero's voice, revealing the identity of her hero.
Elphaba laid on the ground, coughing all the water out of her lungs. Fiyero breathed a sigh of relief, happy to know that Elphaba was alive. "W-why did you s-save me?" Elphaba managed to ask after a few minutes of catching her breath. "I couldn't just let you kill yourself." Fiyero held her close to him when he noticed she was shivering. "B-but why?" Elphaba repeated her question, still wanting an answer.
Elphaba waited for a response, but instead of Fiyero saying anything else, Elphaba felt him press his lips to hers. Instead of pulling away, Elphaba melted into his embrace, kissing him in return. He pulled back a few minutes later. "That's why." He whispered. "I-i don't understand." Elphaba couldn't believe he had just kissed her. "You don't have to. You just need to know that I love you and nobody is ever going to hurt you again." Fiyero took off his jacket and wrapped it around Elphaba's shivering form.
Elphaba didn't respond after that. She was completely speechless. "Come on. Let's get you inside so you can dry off." Fiyero said, lifting her into his arms and carrying her back inside the school. Glinda and Nessa followed them inside. "Let's take her up to my dorm. Fabala shouldn't have to stay in the hospital wing anymore. I think she'd be more comfortable in her own bed." Nessa suggested, leading them up to her room. She opened the door and they all walked inside.
"Nessa's you go help Elphaba get some dry cloths on." Fiyero instructed, carefully setting Elphaba down on her feet. Nessa had already grabbed some cloths out of Elphaba's drawer and led her sister to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, they came back out. Elphaba was still shivering, but at least she had dried off. Fiyero held both of Elphaba's hands and slowly led her to her bed. For some reason, Elphaba didn't mind being led around like she was a helpless child. She was too tired to care. She just onto Fiyero's hands and followed him. A few more steps and they stopped walking. "Okay, you can sit down now." Fiyero told her. Elphaba obeyed, falling backwards onto the bed and laying her head on the pillow.
"Now you just rest, okay? I'll be right here if you need me." Fiyero pulled Elphaba's blanket up to her chin before sitting down in a chair next to her bed. "Y-you'll be here the whole time? You're not gonna leave me, right?" Elphaba asked, not wanting to be alone. "The whole time. I promise. Now go to sleep." Fiyero said, kissing her forehead. And soon, Elphaba was fast asleep.