Hellooooooo! I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack! I survived exams! All that's left is graduation!

I get a cap and gown, and you guys get … Fiyeraba! Yay!

Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Elphie

The next day, Glinda, through the blinding haze of heartbreak, could tell that her roommate was acting … strange. Not that Elphie was usually the epitome of normal, but throughout breakfast and their biology exam, the green girl had the air of someone who had just gotten away with a misdeed. She avoided Glinda's eyes, and when Glinda attempted a smile, Elphie could only look guiltily at the blonde. Glinda vowed to get to the bottom of what was going on.

"Some exam, huh?" Elphie remarked nervously as they made their way to the dining hall for lunch. "Biology is not my strong suit."

"Neither is acting," Glinda said pointedly. "I'm not as dumb as I look, Elphie. What's up?"

Elphie tried her best to look nonchalant. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Just … uh … tired! From the exam! It was a hard exam, wasn't it, Glin?"

Glinda rolled her eyes. "Not for you it wasn't! You're a fricking genius! Now, you were there for me last night about Fiyero, so now it's my turn!"

"Yeah. Um, about Fiyero …" Elphie bit her lip, reluctant to continue. "I talked to him last night after you lay down, you know, to do the angry best friend thing, and … he said he loves me."

Glinda gasped. "What?!"

"But I know it's not true!" Elphie said quickly. "I mean, how could he know? But anyway, I kind of … have a date with him tonight. I really didn't want to, but he can be extremely persuasive, and okay, maybe I like him too. A little bit." She braced herself for Glinda's reaction.

"SO YOU WERE JUST WAITING FOR US TO SPILT SO YOU COULD HAVE HIM FOR YOURSELF?! MY HEAD IS THROBBING, AND YOU'VE GOT A DATE WITH …" But here, words failed Glinda, and all she could manage was: "BITCH!"

Elphie let her guard down too quickly, so she was thoroughly shocked when Glinda's hand came into contact with her face. The shock of the slap stunned Elphie more than the pain. "Glin …"

"No!" Glinda shrieked. "Fuck you!" And before Elphie could say any more, Glinda turned and walked quickly and primly out of the cafeteria.

Elphie sighed and got her food. If she was actually a good friend, she would have hexed Fiyero into next Thursday, and defended Glinda to the last. But could she really help her own feelings? Despite everything, she did love the idiot. Well, maybe not love, at least not yet, but she was definitely smitten. She started her lunch and began drafting a letter to Lukas.

Dear Lukas,

I am very well here at Shiz. I'm almost, almost done with my exams; all that's left is my sorcery exam, proctored by Morrible. Fun, right?

In other news, my personal life has just been rocked. Big time. It seems you were right about Fiyero because you know what he did last night? He went and broke up with Glinda. For me. I know you're thinking, "I told you so," but I really am surprised. This is all happening so fast! He broke up with Glinda last night, and I have a date with him tonight …

"Elphie?" She looked up to see none other than Boq standing beside her. "Mind if I join you?"

"Yes, you're not allowed here."

Boq's face fell, hurt.

Elphie smirked. "Kidding! Make yourself comfortable." She moved over to make room for the Munchkin. "So, how're your exams going?"

"Blech. Horrible. I hate irrigation theory." He made a face. "How about yours?"

"Mm, okay, I guess," Elphie said with a shrug.

Suddenly, Boq's eyes widened in horror. "Elphie! What happened to you? Did you get into a fight?!"
Elphie's hands automatically rose to her face. "What? What's wrong?"

"Your cheek! It's all bruised! Look!" He snatched up the napkin dispenser and handed it to her. She tried not to gasp. It seemed Glinda's slap had done more damage than she thought it had. For while the rest of her face was its usual emerald green, her left cheek was now a dark, forest green, the color her skin would turn when she blushed – or got hurt. Boq was freaking out. "We gotta get you to the infirmary! It … it could get infected!"

"It's just a bruise, Boq," Elphie said, chuckling. "Even though, I'm touched by your concern for me; my sister is in good hands."

"Well, do you know how it happened?" Boq asked curiously.

"Yes," Elphie sighed. "Glinda and I had a bit of a … disagreement."

Boq's eyes widened. "And she hit you?!"

"Pretty much." Suddenly, Elphie's voice lost its flip tone. "She's upset because Fiyero broke up with her last night. I'm surprised you haven't heard about it."

"No! I haven't! But that's …" Boq had to stop himself from saying something dangerous. "That's really awful. They were so perfect together."

Elphie smiled wryly. "I know."

But Boq was now confused. "But … how is Fiyero breaking up with Glinda suddenly your fault? I don't get it."

"Boq. Think about that for a second." Boq was a scholarship student, Elphie thought. This should be easy for him to figure out.

"Oh!" It finally came to him.

She snorted. "Yeah. Oh. And, wow. I'm still half expecting this to be just some crazed dream. Him, interested in me!" She chuckled in disbelief.

"I guess it could happen," Boq said with a shrug. "And if you ever need help getting ready for a date …"

Elphie rolled her eyes. "No thank you, Boq."

That evening as she was getting ready, Elphie was starting to think that she should have taken Boq up on his offer. She was wearing the same thing she had worn to her first party at Shiz: her black sleeveless frock, minus the hat that Glinda had given her. Glinda was sitting on her bed, pretending to be engrossed in a fashion magazine. She would be able to ascertain whether Elphie looked good or not, but due to the circumstances, Elphie didn't ask her. Instead, she took one last look at herself, decided she didn't give a damn, and left the room without a word.

She found Fiyero waiting outside of Crage Hall, just like she'd asked him to be, holding a large bouquet of poppies. "These are for you," he said, handing her the flowers. "I-I figured since you seemed to like the ones I gave you at the train station …"

"They're beautiful, Fiyero," Elphie said, tickled that he was so nervous. "Now, shall we go?"

"It's not far, is it? We don't need to get a cab?"

Elphie smiled and shook her head. "No. We can walk. I believe you would take my arm now, correct?" She raised her eyebrow at him.

"Y-yeah, that's right." On the journey to Turtle Heart's Bistro, Fiyero could not get over the fact that he was arm and arm with Elphaba Thropp.

Twenty minutes later, they were sitting across from one another at Turtle Heart's Bistro, sipping water and waiting for someone to attend to them. "So …" Elphie began, unsure of how to start a conversation.

"So …" Fiyero said. "You're going to work for the Wizard?"

Elphie nodded. "Yep. Royal Grand Vizier. I'm excited at the prospect but also kind of losing my shit."

Fiyero snorted and choked on his water. "You'll rock it, Elphie, I'm sure. The Wizard wouldn't want anyone but you!"

"Yeah, but I also have a cause to fight for, you know that! Think about it, Yero. In order to speak for the Animals and stay in good favor, I have to walk a political tightrope!" Her bruise had gotten better, thank Oz, but her cheeks were dark now anyway from emotion.

"But I'll be there in case you fall." Her heart fluttered as he grinned at her, and she suddenly was lost in his blue eyes.

They ordered their food, it came, and meanwhile Fiyero attempted to impress Elphie with his knowledge of the history of the Vinkus. "The Arjiki tribe is by far the most superior," he informed her. "We're the most militaristic. Both the Scrow and the Yunameta have tried to attack us, and we've taken them both down! Bam!"

Elphie snickered. "Wow."

Fiyero looked crestfallen. "Aaand, you're completely bored."

"No, this is interesting, really," Elphie said, taking a bite of her salad. "You know more about the Vinkus than I thought you would. I think you'll make a great king."

He scoffed. "That makes one of us."

They slowly walked back to Crage Hall, savoring the moonlight and the peacefulness of a college town during finals. Elphie flinched in surprise as Fiyero put his arm around her waist, but she almost immediately relaxed into his embrace. How the crap did I end up at this school with this gorgeous guy? She laughed internally at that thought and cursed herself for being so sappy.

"Well," Elphie started once they arrived at Crage Hall. "I better go in alone. If you go in, you'll probably get axe murdered."

Fiyero chuckled nervously. "Yeah." Suddenly, there was nothing else to say that night, and Elphie found herself kissing the Prince of the Arijikis. It was everything she imagined it would be, and more. For the first time in forever, she went to sleep with a grin on her face.

Ending the night at 23rd and 3rd,

Elphie and her date, who's hanging on each word …

Happy to be back!

Thanks for reading!

Cheers,

Elle Dottore