Elphaba gathered her books for class, straightening her glasses and tugging her braid. Walking out the door in enough time to arrive ten minutes earlier for class as usual, she smacked into a person waiting outside the door, hand raised to knock.

"Ow! Fiyero, what are you doing?" She rubbed her forehead which had smacked unceremoniously on his jawbone.

"I was just about to knock." On his behalf, he was rubbing his jaw with a similar expression of surprised pain. "Is Galinda home?"

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Of course he would be here for her. Honestly, she didn't even know where her roommate was. "She's probably at lunch with her giggly friends."

He smiled, looking surprisingly happy for someone who couldn't locate his girlfriend. "Oh, well. I guess I'll see her later. Are you on your way to class? I'll walk with you." He left her no chance to interrupt or decline, so she walked along beside him. To his credit, Fiyero was very civilized and chivalrous, opening doors for her despite her green-skinned abnormality and freak status.

She was engaged in relatively pleasant conversation with him about nothing of consequence when she felt arms wrap around her from behind. She tensed immediately. Never mind the fact that they were masculine, no one touched her ever except Galinda, and then only when she couldn't avoid it. "Guess who?" cooed a voice in her ear, and she smelled Avaric's too-strong cologne with an after-hint of alcohol. How could he drink so early? It was barely after noon.

"Let go of me this instant!" She struggled to pull away, and he laughed, releasing her.

"Hey greenie. What brings you out in the sunlight?" She rolled her eyes, about to retort when his attention shifted to Fiyero. "Hey Fiyero, how'd you get stuck walking with the artichoke?"

Fiyero didn't look pleased. "Avaric cut it out. You know she's a friend of mine. I'd appreciate it if you'd stop making fun of her." Elphaba was so shocked she dropped her books. Fiyero considered her a friend? And actually stuck up for her to one of his popular crowd?

Avaric smirked, "Sure thing Fiyero. See you around." He kicked her book as he strode away. "Later greenie."

Fiyero shook his head at the other boy's retreating back. "Sorry, he's kind of a jerk at times."

"At times?" she replied bitingly, bending down to collect her books. Fiyero bent down to help her, and their hands touched as they reached for the same one. They both dropped the book as if electrocuted, and she felt a blush steal over her face. What was it about him that always made her feel so…unsettled?

Fiyero collected the rest of the books and stood up. She held out her hand, but he merely starting walking toward class. "Fiyero, what are you doing? Let me have my books."

He looked at her as if she'd said something very rude. Well, perhaps she had said it a little louder and more forcefully than intended. "I was just going to carry them for you. So they don't fall again. In fact…" he reached over, extracting the rest of her books. She stood there shocked again, but he and her books were already on their way toward class.

When she caught up to him, he ignored her searching look, returning to their earlier conversation as if nothing had happened. What an odd day this was turning out to be. She took her customary seat in the front, taking her books back from Fiyero. He usually sat in the back with Avaric and Boq, but today he sat next to her. Surprised, she turned to him. "You're in Galinda's seat."

He looked a little hurt. "Sorry, I'll move if you want me to."

She felt bad after he had been such a good friend. "No, I'm sorry. Of course not." He smiled and leaned back in his new seat, happily nodding to Boq as he walked in. Boq looked as confused as she was, but merely nodded back.

He turned to look at her after a moment. "What?" she asked, annoyance fighting insecurity in her voice.

He smiled, "Are you wearing makeup?"

She rolled her eyes again. "No, but this stupid eyeliner that Galinda put on me hasn't worn off for days. I've tried everything to get rid of it. I'm starting to wonder if I'll have to spend the rest of my life looking like I had a raccoon for a father." Galinda was prone to playing dress up with Elphaba as an unwilling participant.

He chuckled, and then looked at her carefully. "It looks really good on you. Maybe you should leave it."

Taken aback, she was left speechless. No one had ever given her a compliment, let alone someone like Fiyero. Class started, and she turned her attention to the subject. She found herself becoming immersed in her work as always. Then Fiyero shifted in his chair, and she was reminded that the seat next to her was occupied by a more attractive and male person than typically inhabited it. She willed herself to pay attention. She had work to do. He would not distract her.

As if reading her thoughts, he leaned toward her, his breath stirring her hair as he whispered, "Hey, Elphie. Can I borrow a pencil?"

Fighting to keep her face even, she reached for her extra pencil, handing it to him without looking over.

Still much too close, he whispered, "Thanks. I promise I'll give it back to you." She nodded, still not chancing to look at him, afraid what her eyes would reveal. Ok, so she might have the smallest of small crushes on her roommate's boyfriend.

The professor announced that the next major project, a group project no less, would start tomorrow. She hated group projects, hoping there would be an odd number so she could talk the teacher into letting her work alone. The groups would not be assigned, but they would be selected by a few randomly chosen students. Fiyero's name was among them, and he leaned over to ask, "Would you like to be in my group?"

She supposed it wouldn't be too bad, and when it was Fiyero's turn, he volunteered himself, her, Boq, Glinda and Avaric to complete the group of five. For the sake of the other three she could work with that ignoramus Avaric, though every minute she spent with him grated on her nerves. They would receive their assignment tomorrow, having run out of time while creating groups.

Fiyero took her books back as they headed toward the exit. She sighed, "You know, you don't have to carry my books. I may be a girl, but I do have arms."

He just smiled smugly at her, "I know." But he did not return the books.

"Fiyero, just give me my books back!" Why she was so upset by this, she couldn't say. Suddenly she felt as if he was joined with Avaric playing a silly prank on her, as if he knew how she felt and was exploiting it.

Surprised at her angry tone, he stopped to face her. "Why does it upset you so? I'm just trying to do something nice for you."

"Well don't." She snapped, walking away angrily after pulling her books out of his arms. His startled look only made her more determined to escape at once.

"Elphaba, wait! Come back." She didn't even spare a glance.