Sparks Fly

[heatherkinz]

Sparks Fly
Author: Heatherkinz
Chapter: 18/?
Rating: NC-17
Verse: Musical and Book
Pairing: Gelphie
Notes: The 18th chapter of my story is here a bit slower than last time, sorry!!!
Elphaba wakes to a disturbing reality and doesn't know what to do with the new knowledge. Galinda seeks solace in Fiyero once more who clearly has his eyes on a different girl at Shiz. Things seem to get very complicated very quickly and eventually Galinda decides there is only one solution and it isn't likely to please everyone.
Cheers to blowers_daughter for being my beta and doing a smashing job!!!



Swiftly Down From A Cloud.

The last thing Elphaba remembered before opening her eyes was the heartbroken look in Galinda’s eyes as her dream replayed the previous night’s ordeal over and over again.

Elphaba opened her eyes and was startled by the close proximity of Fiyero, who was looking down at her somewhat absurdly. He quickly withdrew his hand on hearing her wake. Elphaba had a dismal feeling she knew where it had been but she didn’t want to think about Fiyero stroking her hair whilst she was asleep, that wouldn’t be proper.

An uncomfortable feeling began to form in the pit of her stomach as she realised she had slept for longer than she intended, and that in doing so she had unconsciously invited Fiyero back into his own room, to apparently study her whilst she slept.

“I’m sorry,” Fiyero muttered, embarrassed as he backed away and averted his eyes to the window.

Elphaba wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself, let alone what to say. It was all too apparent Fiyero had been watching her for who knew how long and this knowledge did not please her greatly. She wasn’t used to male company at the best of times but this was seriously overstepping the mark Elphaba considered as she pulled the covers around herself. Despite the fact that she was fully dressed, Elphaba felt exposed.

“Could you give me a minute?” Elphaba stated rather than asked.

“Course, I’m sorry,” was all Fiyero could manage, mortified he had been caught in the act of stroking that sensual, raven hair, knowing full well Elphaba would now know all he had weakly attempted to keep inside.

Instead of speaking again, Fiyero indicated to the bathroom, and Elphaba wasn’t sure whether he meant for her to go in there or that he meant for himself to retreat into there. How had things become so complicated? Elphaba wondered this as she began to think of the impact of Fiyero’s actions, not only upon herself but on Galinda. Sweet Galinda, who Elphaba had abandoned in her hour of need, abandoned as she was about to confess her darkest secret. Elphaba inwardly kicked herself.

Fiyero made his way out of the dormitory awkwardly, leaving Elphaba alone for the first in what felt like a very long time.

The green girl stretched, realising that for someone who had slept in so late she still felt surprisingly tired due to the strains of the previous night. She cursed herself for the embarrassing situation in which she now found herself, wishing more than anything she hadn’t seen that look in Fiyero’s eyes as she woke.

“Shit,” she mumbled to herself as she pulled herself from Fiyero’s bed.

It wasn’t long before Elphaba managed to make herself look somewhat respectable. She sighed as she laced her boots up tightly, how had it come to this? All from a date Galinda and Fiyero were meant to have shared. This couldn’t be happening.

Elphaba folded back Fiyero’s bed covers neatly, keenly aware that he would be sleeping there, exactly where she had been, that very night, possibly even with Galinda the alarming way things were going between the three of them. Elphaba knew it was of the utmost importance to leave no trace of her presence; the last thing she wanted to do was come between Galinda and Fiyero, not when both were acting so out of character and focusing their unwanted attention on Elphaba.

“Elphaba?” Fiyero’s voice drifted in from outside.

Elphaba remembered the look in Fiyero’s eyes when she had woken up, and shuddered involuntarily. Regardless of what Fiyero had done since, Elphaba recognised that she did have a lot to thank him for, especially when it came to last night’s events.

“It’s okay, you can come in now,” she replied, finding herself nervous about his expected presence.

Fiyero looked sheepishly through the door, hanging back a little and then entering cautiously as he observed Elphaba’s reaction towards him. It was instantly recognisable as cold and unfriendly.

“Elphaba I’m sorry,” Fiyero began.

“No need,” Elphaba interrupted waving a hand dismissively, after all the last thing she wanted was to make this into a big deal; Galinda was bound to notice if she overreacted.

“No, really, I shouldn’t have…” Fiyero trailed off, unable to find the words.

Elphaba stomped her foot somewhat impatiently, despite herself, “Shouldn’t have what? Stared longingly at the sleeping green girl? Taken advantage of the terrible situation said green girl got into? Moved uncomfortably close and behaved highly inappropriately for a boy taken by the most beautiful girl in Shiz? Which is it Fiyero?”

How Elphaba wished she had learnt the art to keeping her council, how could she expect Galinda not to find out when she was acting so absurdly? Yet it was for Galinda that she responded so angrily. After all, Fiyero was meant to love Galinda. That was how it was suppose to be, Winkie Prince and Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands, most popular girl in Shiz, hand in hand, deeply in love.

Elphaba would have smirked if she had thought it appropriate at the thought. Who was she kidding? She knew damn well they didn’t love each other, the clue being they both had, in their very own different ways, expressed their feelings for her. The problem was that Elphaba wasn’t prepared for the fact she had fallen hopelessly in love with one of them, as well. Still, facing that was not an option, not now, not ever. She had to save Fiyero’s relationship with Galinda, despite her own feelings and inside knowledge. The reality was Galinda needed Fiyero, her social standing required that she date him. It was what her family and society expected, it was where her future led her, and she wasn’t going to let some silly crush Fiyero had picked up spoil that.

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” Fiyero excused himself apologetically.

“It isn’t me you need to convince though, is it?” Elphaba’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as she continued, “Perhaps you should go tell it to Galinda? After all, she is your girlfriend is she not?” Elphaba stomped her foot again, knowing part of her sudden outrage was a desperate need to get back to Galinda and explain her own feelings before Fiyero said or did anything stupid. “Go on, go tell Galinda.” The name reverberated loud in her ears as she remembered the cold sweat she had woken up to in the middle of the night, courtesy of her roommate.

“I was just looking Elphaba, and…” Fiyero paused, considering his next words carefully, “well to be honest, I couldn’t help it.”

Fiyero attempted to seek out Elphaba’s dark eyes, but he was immediately rebuked.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Elphaba snapped.

Fiyero continued to stare despite Elphaba’s warning. Those eyes did something to him he could never quite explain, but it was a feeling stronger than any he had ever experienced with Galinda. Fiyero couldn’t help himself; he had become closer to Elphaba over the past hours and in that time had realised how hopelessly attracted to her he really was.

“Don’t,” Elphaba almost snarled before making her way to the door, feeling an urgent need to be away from her best friend’s boyfriend.

“Elphaba.”

The pleading in Fiyero’s voice did not go unnoticed, nor did it have her fooled.

Elphaba swept around on her heel, missing her cloak for effect, and spoke directly to Fiyero, who was still making eyes at her.

“Fiyero, may I take this opportunity to remind you of your status as Galinda’s handsome boyfriend? I will reiterate the fact that as Galinda’s best friend I will break every bone in your body if you hurt or humiliate her in any way.”

Fiyero was about to protest, but the warning look in Elphaba’s eyes convinced him not to bother. Before he had an opportunity to respond, the door slammed shut and Elphaba was well and truly gone.

“Shit!” Fiyero groaned as he threw himself onto his bed. He immediately picked up the woody scent of Elphaba in his sheets and the aroma of her oils on his pillow. Fiyero shut his eyes and tried to think of the beautiful, sweet Galinda as arousal swept over him. Still, it wasn’t Galinda that came back to him time and time again. It was more than he could do to get the image of the entrancing and wild sleeping Elphaba out of his head.

“Shit!”

Hours seemed to pass by as Fiyero lay there sexually aroused but unwilling to do anything about it, remembering Elphaba’s warning. Besides, how could he think of Elphaba at such a time when she clearly harboured a severe distaste for his very presence?

Fiyero was woken from his reverie by a quiet knock on his door, half hoping it would be Elphaba returning and yet knowing exactly who it would be, Fiyero approached the door. He already knew he had missed his morning lessons, and was fairly sure both Elphaba and Galinda had missed theirs too. Now he would have to keep it cool, he knew full well what Galinda would have to say, and he wasn’t sure how much more he could take of her Elphaba-talk. His emotions were too strong for talk of Elphaba right now. He took a deep breath and answered the door.

“Galinda,” he smiled weakly.

“Can we talk?” Galinda had that false smile painted so carefully across her face that it was almost painful.

“Sure,” Fiyero indicated for her to come in, and Galinda promptly took a seat on the bed Elphaba had spent the night in, looking more uncomfortable than usual in Fiyero’s presence.

“What’s up?” Fiyero asked kindly, remembering Elphaba’s warning.

“I thought we should talk about last night,” Galinda looked embarrassed, but she tried to control the flush in her cheeks. “I owe you an explanation. I seem to have a lot of explaining to do.” Galinda looked down at her feet wishing that somehow this could be easier.

Galinda looked so small and despondent, Fiyero’s heart warmed to her as he looked at her with almost new eyes. Galinda really was stunning to look at, a conventional beauty to fill the heads and hearts of all those who looked upon her. He allowed his eyes to wander, studying her voluptuous breasts and shapely legs that her yellow skirt was particularly showing off. To his utmost surprise he found himself desiring Galinda more than he could ever remember before. He focused on her luscious lips and imagined himself drawing patterns upon them with his own tongue sooner rather than later. Elphaba really had worked wonders on him.

“Galinda, you know you don’t have to explain anything to me,” Fiyero moved closer to her, taking her hand.

“Where did you learn to be so perfect?” Galinda laughed half heartedly, still looking as if the world was about to end despite that smile, the one Elphaba found so infuriating.

“It comes with the territory,” Fiyero grinned sweeping the blonde from the bed and holding her strongly in his arms.

“Still, I feel I ought to say a few…”

Fiyero silenced her with the deepest kiss Galinda had ever received; it practically swept her off her feet. He continued to kiss with such an intense passion that she swooned into his arms and returned the kiss with more fervour than she ever had before. The kiss lasted longer than Galinda could ever remember-and that was saying something considering Galinda had participated in some outrageously long public kisses for show.

As Galinda fell into the rhythm she half expected all her problems to lift, but much to her dismay although the passion was stronger, the kiss more full on, Fiyero wilder than ever, on her part there was nothing, always nothing.

Although Galinda had thrown herself into the kiss full throttle, she soon began to tire, and instead of enjoying the moment she felt herself gasp for air on a number of occasions resulting in her finally pushing Fiyero away somewhat harshly.

Unfortunately for Galinda, Fiyero couldn’t hide his frustration any longer, he had already been through too much. Despite all he now desired Galinda, he knew it was a reaction to those moments he had spent watching Elphaba. The fact that neither really wanted him was driving him to distraction. He turned his back on Galinda, walked over to where his books were strewn on a table, and in one deft, angry movement he swept them all to the floor.

“In Oz name what is it now, Galinda?”

“Fiyero, please don’t be angry,” Galinda begged, frightened by the change in her boyfriend.

Galinda had never seen this side of him before and he realised she never would have had to if it hadn’t been for Elphaba. Why did Elphaba seem to be the root of everyone’s problems?

“Well what do you expect, Galinda, honesty? All the time you build me up to let me down. I don’t know Galinda, anyone would think you’re frigid!”

As soon as the words came out of his mouth he regretted them, knowing it was a highly inappropriate thing to say to any girl, never mind his own girlfriend. Still, he forgave himself thinking about the way Galinda always behaved around him. Galinda did lead him on, only to stop him just when he thought he was getting somewhere. Perhaps she enjoyed being a tease, but somehow Fiyero considered if that were the case he wouldn’t mind terribly, no this was definitely something else...

“Don’t speak to me like that, Fiyero!” Galinda was appalled and humiliated by what he had said, and also a little alarmed he had hit the nail on the head where he was concerned.

“Don’t treat me like a fool, then! Do you think I don’t know when something is wrong? Oz knows you’re not the first girl I’ve dated, I know when something is drastically wrong and although I can’t pin point what, there’s something seriously wrong with you Galinda.”

“There’s nothing wrong!” Galinda felt her tears begin to spill as she considered everything was wrong in her little world.

“You could have fooled me, and it’s not like I’m the only one that’s noticed it. Avaric said exactly the same thing, and you should hear what your friends are saying about you, and what Nessa Rose is saying for that matter…”

“Fiyero stop!” Galinda almost screamed, unable to hear any more hurtful things about herself as her tears fell fast.

Immediately, Fiyero felt guilty, guilty for hurting Galinda but guiltier still for wanting Elphaba more than he dared to think. The truth of the matter was that he was hurting Galinda precisely because she wasn’t Elphaba. How was that fair?

“Wise up to it then, Galinda,” was all Fiyero could manage as he remembered the touch of Elphaba’s silky hair against his skin.

“I don’t care what any of them are saying, I don’t care what any of them think, I can’t help the way I feel, I…I…I just want Elphie,” Galinda stammered.

With that Galinda threw herself to the ground and broke down in tears, pushing Fiyero away when he tried to comfort her, frightened by the intensity of her tears and the rate at which she appeared to be falling to pieces. Fiyero began to stroke her hair, whispering comforting words into her ear as guilt continued to creep through him.

The tears lasted longer than Fiyero knew was possible, but eventually the sobs began to subside and Galinda weakly attempted to pull herself together. It was Fiyero who spoke first, his voice calmed, his anger evaporated.

“I am so sorry Galinda, I was out of order and I should never have said those mean things, I didn’t realise you were still so upset about Elphaba,” he felt a lump in his throat as he said the name.

“No, you’re right. Everyone in all damn Shiz does judge me. If it’s not the Misses Pfannee, Shen Shen and Milla, then it’s Nessa Rose, and if they give it a rest then Elphaba gets onto me and now you too, I can’t bear it,” Galinda’s voice was shaky as if there were more tears to come.

“Elphaba doesn’t judge you,” Fiyero stated defending the green girl without even thinking about it.

“Since when do you know her better than I do?” Galinda stared accusingly.

“I don’t,” Fiyero admitted. “It’s just I think she’d be the last person to judge anyone, that’s all.”

“Well you don’t know her at all then, do you?” All Galinda’s pain and anguish from the previous night’s rejection came seeping out as Galinda began her speech. “It’s all she ever does, and it’s not easy to take constantly, not when you try so hard to be yourself, despite everyone else thinking you’ve gone mad. I’ve tried so hard to impress Elphaba at the cost of my position in society and she wouldn’t even listen when I tried to tell her something really important. All my life I’ve had to put on a show for someone, to always be the Galinda people want to see and it’s not easy. I thought Elphaba wanted something different, but really she’s just the same as everyone else, expecting me to be something I’m not, to hide my feelings and I can’t do it anymore, I just can’t!”

Galinda broke down completely, and Fiyero swept her up in his strong embrace and allowed her to cry onto his shoulder for as long as she needed, regretting his behaviour deeply.

It took Fiyero a long time to comfort his heartbroken girlfriend, as she needed to cry more than she had ever done in her life but eventually when her sobs subsided Fiyero spoke tenderly.

“I’ll get you a drink of water,” he kissed her head and made his way to the bathroom to fill a glass.

“Elphaba’s allergic to water,” Galinda muttered to herself as she ran her fingers over her lips wishing more than ever she had just for one moment in time shared a kiss with those green lips.

Fiyero returned, a new demeanour about him as he spoke gently, wanting to soothe his distraught girlfriend and try to help her solve these mysterious problems Elphaba seemed to have created.

“There you go,” he handed her the water. “It will make you feel better.”

“I don’t deserve you,” Galinda replied meekly.

“No, I don’t deserve you, I really don’t,” Fiyero shook his head, knowing he spoke the truth. “I’m sorry, I should never have spoken to you the way I did earlier. It was most unkind and untrue.”

“Not entirely untrue,” Galinda shook her head and looked ashamed. “I have been a terrible girlfriend.”

“Nonsense, you could never be a terrible girlfriend,” Fiyero’s kind eyes were back and Galinda appreciated them.

“It’s just…” Galinda paused considering how to phrase the rest of her sentence, “Well…you’re so ready for that next step and I’m just not.” Galinda breathed a sigh of relief; finally she had said it.

Fiyero took Galinda’s small hand in his own and spoke softly, straight from the heart, after all he was very fond of the blonde girl despite his romantic feelings for her roommate.

“Dearest Galinda if you asked me to, I would wait forever for you. It’s true your radiant beauty drives me quite wild, but I am yours on your terms.”

“But you were so angry earlier…” Galinda stared wide-eyed.

“I was stupid and insensitive, and perhaps a little frustrated, but we have all the time in the world and I would never rush you. Not ever.”

Galinda let out a sigh of relief as she took in Fiyero’s words and the familiar kindness etched across his face, after all Fiyero wasn’t a bad guy, she could understand his frustrations. After all, in Galinda’s mind it was she who had fallen head over heels for another woman, not Fiyero.

“Still, I feel so useless.” Galinda admitted.

“Well don’t, and don’t take a moment’s notice of anything anyone says to you. They’re just jealous, you can see it written across their faces, especially Nessa Rose, look at it from her point of view: she has pretty much lost her sister to you. She isn’t used to Elphaba having friends, her own need has always come first, that is until now. Don’t take what I said to heart, I was being hurtful, and I apologise profoundly. Do things your own way, in your own time and to hell with the rest of them! If you want to keep Elphaba close then do it, after all I’d say she’s pretty much the best and most tolerable friend you have.”

Galinda laughed at this and considered only Fiyero would consider Elphaba more tolerable than the society girls she kept the company of.

“You do say the nicest things.”

“I know,” Fiyero grinned.

“Have you seen Elphaba?” Galinda enquired, trying not to sound like her life depended on it.

“No,” Fiyero lied.

“I wonder where she will be? I have to talk to her.”

“She’s probably gone home thinking you are in class. Or to the library, she’s a sucker for that place.”

“Will she forgive me?” Galinda looked serious.

“Talk to her, that’s all I can say. Whatever you fought about, talk about it; tell her how you feel. After all you are her only friend, she won’t want to lose you.”

“You’re her friend, too.”

“Hardly, she thinks I’m the biggest waste of space thrown onto Oz actually. Especially after last night,” Fiyero smiled.

Galinda giggled, “I was rather ridiculous, wasn’t I?”

“You could say.”

“I’m sorry,” Galinda kissed him gently on the cheek.

“Me too,” Fiyero replied planting one delicate kiss on her lips.

Still, something was nagging away at Galinda, something she was ashamed of but couldn’t quite control. Were people really talking, laughing behind her back? and if so, was Elphaba really the root of the problem? Galinda already knew the answer to that question, and a thought crossed her mind, one she hated herself for but one that was very important to the popular girl hidden away inside when it came to Elphaba.

“Do you really think people judge me for being friends with Elphaba?” Galinda enquired almost as an afterthought.

“Does it matter?”

Fiyero looked puzzled as he saw Galinda’s expression change. Somewhere inside the proud, popular girl of Shiz was still beating. Fiyero was only afraid she was about to come back into life, as Galinda’s face seemed to portray a physical battle between what was right and popularity. Fiyero could read her like a book.

“To an extent, of course it matters,” Galinda looked incredulous as if she couldn’t believe he had asked such a question; it was very easy for Galinda to step back into her old ways despite all that had passed.

“You’d change your friendship with Elphaba for popularity?”

Fiyero tried to remain calm, he even tried to understand, but drew a blank. He would give anything to share even half the time the two girls spent together, and yet here was Galinda about to make what he felt would be another ridiculous mistake Galinda would later come to regret.

“Well I’m not saying that but what if she doesn’t want to know? What if she doesn’t understand the things I said? After all she did leave rather abruptly. Surely then it would be a possibility?”

Fiyero could see the cogs visibly begin to turn in Galinda’s mind as he spoke, “Well I don’t know what it was that you said and as it seems to be some great secret, I won’t force it out of you but I’m sure Elphaba’s really rather understanding, If you approach her in the right manner I am sure you two will make it up, after all you are her only friend, she won’t want to lose you.” Fiyero smiled feeling ever so slightly sick.

Galinda continued, “I mean I’ll try to make up with her, I really will but that’s at the cost of everything else and to be honest she hasn’t been that nice to me recently. Worse case scenario and she doesn’t want to know, I will regain my popularity at the cost of a friend who was never really that great. One has to think of these things.”

Fiyero looked baffled, was this really the same girl that had cried out for Elphaba minutes before? Still he knew from this point forth there was no way Galinda was going to approach Elphaba, she would convince herself she had done all she could do without doing anything and would easily fall back into her old ways, with the loss of Elphaba. Fiyero could hardly believe how one person could undergo such a transformation in such a short space of time. Fiyero simply had to say something.

“What happened to the girl who was heartbroken at Elphaba’s departure last night?”

Galinda knew there was more to this decision than Fiyero would ever understand. Elphaba had rejected her, there was no other word for it, and to go back to how it was before would be uncomfortable for both she and Elphaba. What Galinda was doing was for the best even, if Elphaba didn’t understand. Galinda had to give herself the space she needed to calm down her feelings for Elphaba, and shutting her out completely seemed like the only sensible option. Yes, it was decided; Galinda would go back to being the centre of attention at Shiz for all the right reasons. To put it quite simply, Galinda had to quickly fall out of love with her Elphaba, her sweetest, dearest Elphaba. Galinda felt sick as she mustered up the strength to speak.

“She grew up,” Galinda tossed her hair.

At the end of the day of her relationship with Fiyero was to work out which Elphaba was adamant about herself, along with her parents and pretty much the rest of Ozian society then Elphaba had to be put to the back of her mind. Elphaba could no longer be the one Galinda called for in the middle of the night. Galinda would have to cross that line sometime with Fiyero. Making love to Fiyero was for the best now, there could be no more dreaming and visions of her green skinned roommate, it all had to stop now.

Galinda thought about her friendships. She could redevelop her relationship with the Misses Pfannee, Shen Shen and Milla and regain her social standing. She could go back to enjoying the things she used to, shopping, dining out, gossiping. Yes, the lifestyle would altogether suit her better.

Galinda hated herself ever so slightly for her sudden decision, in fact she felt sick to her stomach, remembering the looks Elphaba had given her on more than one occasion allowing her to think just for the briefest of moment Elphaba felt the same way she did. Still, it was Elphaba who abandoned her, what else could she expect? If Galinda tried hard enough she could lay all the blame on Elphaba, and that made giving her up considerably easier.

Fiyero was her future now, Elphaba had made that choice for her, made it clear as daylight now she would have to live Galinda’s own choice to disown her in favour of a more popular and conventional lifestyle. Galinda knew deep down going back to being friends after such an awkward conversation was impossible anyway, this was all for the best, the best for both of them. That Galinda she felt sure Elphaba wouldn’t understand which pained Galinda more than she dared to let on.

Still, as much as Galinda needed, wanted, desired Elphaba she would not have her. She was going to choose the easy path, make the easy decision: Fiyero and social standing.

“As long as you know you don’t have to any of this for me? I think the world of you exactly how you are and I don’t care who you choose to spend your time with. None of that matters to me,” Fiyero felt himself panic inwardly at the adverse effect this was going to have on Elphaba’s own lifestyle as she was so committed to Galinda’s friendship.

“I understand what you are saying, but sadly not everyone can be as understanding as you are, and after all, appearances do matter,” Galinda hated herself more and more as she spoke.

“Well I don’t care what anyone else thinks. It doesn’t matter to me.”

“What about what I think? Doesn’t that matter?” Galinda enquired trying to forget the sick feeling that was quickly developing in her stomach at her cruelty.

“And what do you think?” Fiyero asked, unable to predict her answer.

Galinda’s heart shut coldly as with one final remark she threw Elphaba out of it.

“I think I love you,” Galinda lied.

“I love you too,” Fiyero lied.

“So kiss me,” Galinda demanded, remembering exactly what was required of her now she had made her decision.

Fiyero was only too happy to oblige, and he kissed her softly on the lips, lingering a touch longer than perhaps he should have as the green girl, beautiful and wild crept into both their minds, Fiyero could only hope the thoughts would one day go away, Galinda knew they never would. No matter how she dressed it up and acted out her new lifestyle one thing was undeniable, she was and always would be, ridiculously, hopelessly and passionately in love with Elphaba Thropp. What Galinda did not know was that Fiyero felt exactly the same.