That Girl, Ch 1 through 5!

[SaSa]

No worries...I'm just damned impaitient is all. Fiyeraba....yummmy

Sa

[SugarTherapy]

To anyone who is curious, Chapter Five is finished. I'm just waiting on a beta. ;D

[SugarTherapy]

(huge thanks to chance and sasa, for serving as betas in cate's absence)
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Elphaba woke snuggled deeply into her covers and surrounded by the flowery scent of her roomie. Galinda’s bed was perfectly made, but Elphaba had the distinct feeling she hadn’t slept in it the night before. Her throat was dry and a little sore, her eyes were gritty, and her head felt like it was filled with cotton, but her heart seemed somehow lighter. She could admit now that it had been a well-deserved and long overdue crying jag, and as long as Galinda didn’t poke fun at her for it, she wasn’t going to let herself regret it.

The blonde in question slipped quietly into the room, then noticed Elphaba was awake and smiled. “Good morning. Feeling better today?”

“Much.” Her voice was rough, so she cleared her throat a few times before speaking again. “Thank you.”

Galinda simply nodded, handing the green girl the glass of water she’d been carrying. “Thought you might be thirsty.”

Elphaba was touched by the consideration, and gratefully gulped down the entire glass. “So, um, what are you doing today?” She drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them while she attempted small talk.

Galinda sat at her vanity and primped. “Oh, Fiyero and I are going to the park.” She spun to face her roomie. “You should come!”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose.” And watch you and him together all day.

“You wouldn’t be imposing, Elphie. Fiyero likes you! He even thinks you’re pretty,” she added with a wink.

“He told you that?” Elphaba flushed with pleasure.

“Uh huh.” She was carefully applying lipstick as she spoke. “Last night. He said, and I quote, ‘If they could all get over the green, they’d see just how pretty she is.’”

Elphie didn’t know what to think. He’d said she was beautiful, but she’d never expected him to tell Galinda. The fact that Galinda seemed to find it absolutely charming and not the least bit threatening sent a quick twist of guilt through Elphaba, and she momentarily considered telling her and apologizing. However, there was a very real chance that it could only hurt her relationship with her roomie, and that relationship was quickly becoming precious to her. Too precious to risk over one stolen kiss in the moonlight.

“Well, get up, lazybones! I’ll help you get ready!” the blonde insisted.

“Ready for what?”

“Oh, honestly, Elphie! Haven’t you listened to a word I’ve said? The park. With Fiyero.”

“I told you-“

“And I told you you weren’t imposing! Now, come on. I won’t take no for an answer!”

With a sigh, Elphaba crawled from her bed.


~~~~


When Elphaba returned from her shower, wet hair braided tightly over one shoulder, Galinda pounced.

“No! No braid today.” She huffed dramatically. “I told you I’d help you, now sit.” She shoved the towel-clad Elphie into her vanity seat and began untwisting the braided locks.

“Can I at least get dressed first?” the green girl ventured.

“Oh, I suppose,” her roomie grumbled, letting the now-loosened hair fall back to Elphie’s shoulders with a wet slap. “But I get to choose the outfit!”

Elphaba waited, a small smile on her lips, as Galinda stalked to her dresser. The handful of identical blue frocks had Galinda making a noise of despair Elphaba had never heard before.

“You’ve got to be kidding. They’re all the same, Elphie!”

“Yes, well, they all keep me covered. That’s their job,” Elphaba reasoned.

“Clothes do more than cover, Elphie,” Galinda informed, somehow finding the newest of the frocks and laying it out on her bed. “They express who you are, what you like, what you do. They’re a reflection of how others see you, and how you see yourself. And that closet says ‘I’m dull and in desperate need of a makeover!’ You are so lucky I volunteered to be your roomie.”

Elphie’s brow shot up at that. This had hardly been a volunteer assignment. When her roomie began pulling all sorts of pink accessories out, Elphaba began to worry. “Those aren’t for me, are they?”

“Of course, silly! If you’re going to wear just that one drab color, you’re going to have to add some accents.”

“Oh, but Galinda, I’m not just wearing that color. I’m also green,” Elphaba teased.

“Just put your clothes on!” Her roomie laughed.

[SugarTherapy]

In the end, it was a compromise. Galinda pulled half of her roomie’s dark locks away from her face and Elphaba let her wind a pink ribbon into the braid. She also agreed to a delicate pink and silver necklace, and a subtle dusting of makeup. Elphaba had to admit, she looked, well, pretty. Galinda was good at makeovers, but she was still dreading the shopping trip her roomie had promised as Elphie had laced up her “hideous excuses for footwear.”

As always, Galinda chattered excitedly as they made their way to the park. Students lounged on blankets in couples and groups, or played games on the expanse of green that was the Shiz University Commons. They met up with Fiyero under a looming tree on the far end of the Commons. He had spread a blanket out on a slight incline in the shade; a large picnic basket sat on its perimeter.

“Elphaba! You made it,” he greeted, rising fluidly to his feet.

“I knew you planned this,” she muttered to Galinda, holding out a hand in greeting for Fiyero. He took it, and gallantly kissed the knuckle.

“Ugh, it was like pulling teeth to get her to come!” the blonde complained. “And there was nothing I could do about the book; she just wouldn’t leave it behind.”

One emerald hand tightened around A History of the Great Draughts. “There’s nothing like reading in the park on a nice day,” Elphaba defended, making Fiyero chuckle.

“Come, sit. Eat,” he invited Elphaba, leading her to the blanket. “You look nice,” he added when she was settled across from him.

“Oh, um, thank you.” Damn that blush. “Galinda did it.”

“You should wear it down more often,” Fiyero commented, sliding his fingers through the wavy strands.

“See? It’s not just me, Elphie!” Galinda teased, meticulously dispersing some spread onto a cracker, then tasting it delicately. Elphaba recognized the action for what it was: a show for Fiyero. She’d seen Galinda tear into food in a decidedly unladylike manner in their dormitory when nobody but her roomie was watching. Fiyero, however, didn’t give her the same consideration, slathering the spread sloppily on his cracker and popping the entire thing into his mouth at once.

They chatted about school, and life back home while they munched on fruits and crackers and drank shizberry juice until their tongues were stained purple (which, according to Galinda, also went well with green). Late in the afternoon, Galinda spotted Pfanee and Shenshen and scampered off to fulfill her duties as queen bee of the Shiz social system, leaving Elphaba and Fiyero alone. Elphie turned onto her belly and quickly became absorbed in her book, the glasses she’d managed to sneak with her perched on her nose. She did her best to ignore the way Fiyero stared at her until he finally rolled onto his back and closed his eyes. Then she let her eyes slide over his form, appreciating the way the shadows fell on his face, the way he filled out his clothing, the steady rhythm of his breathing.

She was still studying him when Galinda returned some time later, groupies in tow. Fiyero’s eyes cracked open, his gaze locking with Elphaba’s before he sent her a wink, letting her know that she’d been fooled: he’d been awake all along.

“We’re going to walk down to the promenade and – you found your glasses? Brought! Brought your glasses.” Galinda nearly blushed at her slip, confirming Elphie’s suspicion that her own absentmindedness had not been the reason for her ten-minute search before they’d left.

“Can’t read without them,” she explained, shooting her roomie a pointed look.

“Well, I suppose not. Anyway, will you come with us? Both of you?”

“Oh, I don’t know. This is actually really interesting and-”

“Oh, Elphie, forget about the Great Drought for five minutes and come for a walk!” Galinda scolded, much to the delight of her friends. It was painfully obvious to Elphaba that all but her roomie wanted her far, far away from their little excursion.

“Actually, Galinda, I was just about to sneak attack and get that book away from her. Make her talk for a while. You go on, I’ll make sure she behaves,” Fiyero ribbed, reaching over and tickling Elphaba’s side, and seeming to revel in the way it made her jump in surprise and squirm away.

“Oh, alright. But no more books, Elphie! They’ll rot your brain.” And with that they were off, and Elphaba and Fiyero were once again left to themselves.

“Thanks for that,” Elphaba remarked as she pulled her glasses off and set them aside, still propped up on her elbows, belly-down.

“ ‘Welcome.” He rolled onto his side, closer to her than before. “You really do look pretty today, Elphie.”

Why did every compliment from him make her blush? “Um, thank you. Again. But don’t call me Elphie. Galinda only does it because I can’t seem to get her to stop.”

“You don’t like it? I think it’s cute.”

“Exactly. I’m not cute. I’m not perky. I’m… Elphaba.”

“So no nicknames?”

She shook her head.

“Ever?”

Elphaba studied him for a minute. “My father called my Fabala. But only my father.”

“Oh, Elphaba, Elphaba…” He seemed to be testing the word, feeling its weight and texture on his tongue. “I still think it’s too long.”

“Well, then what do you suggest, Fiyero?” she countered.

“Hm… Elph.” He stated finally.

“Elph?”

“Elph. Not too cute and it goes well with that pretty green skin of yours.” Warm fingers trailed over her cheek, then into her hair, raising goosebumps over her skin.

“Elph is alright.” Fingertips were teasing the back of her neck now and she could tell where this was headed. She tried to at least prolong the inevitable by keeping the conversation going. “So how about you?”

“Hmm?”

“Nicknames. Do you have any?” She breathed the last word on a shiver as he brushed the particularly sensitive spot where neck met shoulder.

“Nope.”

“Well, then I’ll have to give you one…” It was becoming extremely hard to concentrate in the conversation, on anything really.

“I guess.” Fiyero had apparently given up before he even began, and was now thoroughly engrossed in the responses he could call out of her with just a brush of his hand.

“Um… how about… uh…”

“Elph?”

“Yes?”

“Stop talking,” he whispered in her ear, before nipping it gently. Not talking suddenly sounded like a great plan.

[SugarTherapy]

Fiyero’s mouth playfully attacked the spot behind her ear and she wasn’t aware a body could flood with pleasure as quickly as hers just had. When he sucked kisses down her neck, the breath she hadn’t even been aware she was holding exploded out. Teeth scraped with the wet swipe of his tongue along the place that had made her shiver so before, and she let her head drop forward, her hands fisting tightly as those sneaky fingers of his began tracing her spine. He shifted closer, the length of his body settling against hers, his hand now cradling her shoulder, rubbing softly as those delicious kisses migrated to the back of her neck. Elphaba was fairly certain she’d hyperventilate if she didn’t get control of her breathing. He began whispering to her between kisses, telling her how beautiful she was, how good she smelled, tasted. Calling her his little Elph. Breath and cool autumn air made every warm, wet patch left in his wake turn icy cold; the contrast was staggering.

She was pliant and eager when he rolled her onto her back. Elph opened her eyes to a world that seemed too bright, even in the shade, and sucked in air that was crisp and sharp. She had a moment of panic – they were in the Commons, in plain view of everyone, but a glance around realized they were far enough away from the crowds and positioned just so, leaving them completely out of sight. He’d planned this, he had to have. The wicked smile he gave her before he descended proved he knew exactly what she was thinking, and that she was exactly right. With his mouth on hers, she couldn’t seem to care.

Fiyero’s fingers tangled in her hair, holding her head in place as his tongue swept in to twist with hers. He tasted like shizberries and salt, the combination heady and arousing. She kissed back ravenously, starving for the taste of him. In response, he pressed her more firmly into the blanket, one hand leaving her hair to clutch hers and bring it over her head. She gasped in a breath when he abandoned her mouth for her throat, arching against him as he sucked and licked. He was never allowed to stop this, never allowed to take his mouth from her, his body from hers. It was the only thing she knew right now: Fiyero was hers, absolutely. Had to be. She couldn’t live any other way.

She squeezed his hand, and he released her, rumbling against her ear, “Leave it there. And the other.”

Elphie nodded, bringing her other hand up and linking them together, squeezing when Fiyero began to run a broad hand up and down her side, skimming the side of her breast with each pass, and lipping his way along her collar. Torsos shifted against each other when she pulled his head back to hers. He nipped her lip with a grunt of disapproval, soothing it with his tongue when she let her hand drop back above her head. They kissed furiously again, the press and shift of bodies creating a sweet promise of friction. Elph wrapped a leg around his, dragging it up until it cradled his side. She itched to touch him, but kept her hands exactly where he’d told her to, mostly because the idea thrilled her to no end. She wasn’t exactly sure why. Seconds passed – or was it hours? Elphaba wasn’t sure, but finally he slid his hands into hers, squeezing gently as he pulled away.

“She’ll be back soon,” Fiyero whispered.

“Who?”

“Galinda.”

“Oh,” Elphie breathed, her world crashing around her. Fiyero would never be hers.

“Look, Elph…” He eased off of her.

“Yero,” she muttered, straightening her frock, and loosening her mussed hair.

“What?”

“Your nickname. It’s Yero,” she muttered, before replacing her glasses and grabbing her book. “Tell Galinda I wasn’t feeling well and went back to the dormitory. Goodnight, Fiyero.”

“Elphaba, wait!” He grabbed her wrist, holding her there. He was disheveled and slightly flushed, and she imagined she looked much the same. “I’m sorry.”

“No you’re not. But I guess… I guess I’m not really either, so-”

“So stay. At least until she comes back. I won’t touch you, I promise.”

“Ever again?”

“I thought you weren’t sorry.”

“I’m not. That doesn’t mean I don’t know it’s wrong.” She lay back down, crossed her arms over her chest and closed her eyes.

“I like Yero,” he said, shifting on the blanket, but not touching her.

“Good,” she answered, frowning, but not resisting when he found her hand and linked their fingers. That was how Galinda found them when she returned: two friends dozing peacefully. She was absolutely thrillified.

[gypsy]

Oh man, Aly, so hottified. You are right about over-sexing the neck thing, but that's no problem for me! I really love your characterisations and situations and shizberries! Oh, I want some. Keep it up!
-gyps

[Cate]

Yay for shizberries. I gotta get me some of those...are they aphrodisiacs? (sp) They sound like it to me...

*waiting to beta chap 6* Hehehe...

[ChancetoFly]

YAY for chapter 5! Can't wait for more

[Scarecrow]

Ok... you have crossed the line! breast?! It's getting a lil too steamy in the Shiz fo' me!

[SugarTherapy]

Sweetie, if that bothers you, wait until you see what's coming. Right, girls?

[ChancetoFly]

Ah-yup....Ryero, you'll positivly blush

[Elphie]

Whew what a great ending to a wonderful night ;D Soooooooooo good Aly!! The anticipation for chapter 6 is killing me!

[SugarTherapy]

Eh, chapter six will probably be boring. Although, it is slated to have that kiss y'all have read... Of course, ch 3 was also supposed to have the kiss. As was 4. And 5. As I said to Sa, I don't control my characters, I just type for them. They do what they want.

[Elphie]

SugarTherapy said:

Eh, chapter six will probably be boring. Although, it is slated to have that kiss y'all have read... Of course, ch 3 was also supposed to have the kiss. As was 4. And 5. As I said to Sa, I don't control my characters, I just type for them. They do what they want.

I always say that about my own characters, too And here I thought I was crazy...

[SugarTherapy]

Nope, not crazy! Unless we both are. Anyway, this letting them go where they want thing is not a good way to write unless you know where they're going to end up. I'm lucky with this fic because I know where it's going to end, and I have a number of bits of dialogue, scenes, even a future chapter already written so I know I have to guide them toward a certain place. Still gotta let them do their thing, but I've gotta give 'em some direction.