What is This Feeling?
"Elphaba, wait!", Galinda cried out. She chased Elphaba through the flowery courtyard and empty halls of Shiz University until she finally came to a stop, flopped onto a stone bench, and cried into her beautifully emerald hands. "Elphie, please don't cry." Galinda said kindly. "It's awful that Dr. Dillamond had to go so suddenly, I know." Elphaba continued to cry genuine tears, trying to ignore Galinda, although she was obviously aware of Galinda's presence. Galinda put her hand on Elphaba's shoulder, trying to comfort her. As her coconut-scented, French-tipped hand touched her shoulder, Elphaba felt a wave of emotion flow through her.
Is this, friendship?, she thought to herself. No, it can't be, but how would I know, I wouldn't know a friend if they bit me on the nose.
Elphaba looked up to find her new friend, Galinda, sitting next to her. Galinda smiled. "Wasn't it you who said people shouldn't let ignorant statements bother them?"
"It's not that simple, Galina." Elphaba said, trying to fight more tears. "It's not just the words on a chalkboard, it's that they took Dr. Dillamond away like that, just because he's different. Then they leave us with this monster teacher who captures animals and cages and makes them forget how to speak!" Fiyero ran up to the girls, he panted and put his hands on his knees "Wow, you are fast!" he said, looking down. Quickly, however, he looked up to see Elphaba sitting and even through the glow of her emerald skin, he could tell she was crying. Don't make her think you care too much! "Oh, Elphaba, I'm so sorry, I feel horrible about this!" Damn it! "Fiyero, I know you don't really care about how I feel, so take your ego and go bother someone else." Elphaba snapped. Wow she's smart! Fiyero thought. "I-ah-I-I, Fae, don't go!" Elphaba began to cry again as she picked up her leather messenger bag and stormed off. Galinda scowled at Fiyero and started off after Elphaba. She didn't get very far, however when she stopped, turned around and slapped him across the face. "Ow!" he said, rubbing his cheek. As Galinda ran off, he yelled after her "I deserved that!" He sighed and sauntered off toward his dorm.
In the dorm of Elphaba and Galinda….
Elphaba was taking a shower and Galinda had some music playing in her room, so now would be the perfect time for Galinda to throw a complete hissy fit. "That no good, cheating, lying, son-of-a-witch!!" she cried out. Elphaba walked out of the bathroom in a bathrobe and a towel wrapped around her long, dark hair. She appeared to be refreshed, but still a little bit shaken. "Galinda, are you ok?" Galinda whipped around to face Elphaba. Thinking quickly, she grabbed a hairbrush from her vanity and pretended to be singing into it. "Ooh, Elphie, you have to hear the new Ozian remix of Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood! It's sooooo Ozmipolitan!" she said. Elphaba wrinkled her nose and stared at Galinda. "You seem upset, what's wrong?" she said. "It's nothing, Elphie. I'm fine." Galinda said. Elphaba knew it wasn't "nothing", but she was trying to sort out her own emotions right now. "Ok" Elphaba said softly, and she walked into her own room to get dressed.
Dinner….
Elphaba sat down at an empty table in the courtyard with a potato salad and an apple. Turkey. She thought, another Animal killed for human pleasure. Fiyero came up and sat with her "Mmmm, these turkey sandwiches are absolutely delicious!" he said. Elphaba stared at him "How can you be enjoying that when eating it means another Animal has been subjected to sacrifice?!" she asked angrily. "I have no idea what you just said, but I think it means I'm in trouble." Fiyero said. "Are you still upset about the lion cub and such?" he asked. "Yes, I am, and I know you don't actually care about any of this, why don't you go and sit with your girlfriend?" Elphaba said, referring to Galinda. Although she pretended she hated Fiyero, her secret love for him was enough to make her heart jump every time she saw him. Galinda walked over, carrying yet another turkey sandwich in her hand. "Oh, there you are Elphie! I was looking for you." She glanced over, did a double take, was that really her boyfriend sitting with her roommate?! "Oh, hello, Fiyero." She said. "I'm sorry about earlier, honey, I still love you." Galinda smiled an Ozmipolitan lip gloss smile and sat down next to Elphaba. Ok, now, Fiyero! If you don't break up with Galinda now, you never will! Fiyero thought to himself. He tried to approach Galinda, but his feet wouldn't move. When he tried to speak, he stuttered nervously. "Galinda, I-ah-I- um, I-I…." he said. Galinda looked thoroughly confused "What, sweetie?" she asked. "I need to talk to you. " Fiyero said softly, for that was the most he could communicate. Galinda giggled a little, and she stood up gracefully and took Fiyero's hand. Fiyero's stomach jumped, I wish she wasn't acting so happy, she doesn't know what she's in for….
Back in Elphaba and Galinda's dorm…..
"He said it, just like that?" Elphaba asked. They were sitting in the common room, and Galinda's friends were waiting on her hand and foot as Elphaba sat with her and tried to help her stop crying. "Yes, just like that, it was horrible!" Galinda said, and bawled into a beautiful lace kerchief. "Another cherry cocoa, please Pfannee?" she asked one of her blonde groupies. "Of course, anything, sweetie!" Pfannee said. "Oh, something must be horribly wrong with him, how could he break up with me of all people? I would understand if it was Shensen, what with that nose of hers." Shensen's mouth went agate and she stared at Galinda angrily. Then she smiled, suddenly remembering that she had to be strong for her friend. "But me, I wake up two hours earlier than I have to so I can get dolled up, just for him." Galinda cried. "Even without the makeup, I'm the most beautiful girl he's ever going to get! Then he said that there was someone else, I hope he doesn't mean Elphie, why, she's so hideous, her skin clashes with everything!" All of Galinda's friends laughed hysterically. Elphaba, who was fetching Galinda her mirror, looked back at her blonde roommate, her smile dropped, and so did the mirror she was holding, with a loud crash. Glass shattered and flew everywhere. "Oh no" Galinda said as she heard Elphaba's door slam shut. "What have I done?"
Galinda didn't talk to Elphaba for the rest of the night, part of the reason being that her door stayed shut the duration of the evening until bed. That morning, when Galinda woke up at 5:00 to apply her pricey cosmetics, Elphaba had already left. Probably gone to the library early again. Galinda thought. Or she got up before the sun rises just to avoid seeing me…. Galinda suddenly remembered her insensitive comment from that evening. Then she said out loud "I have to fix this!" Without putting on any makeup except a little eyeliner and some blush, she picked out a simple dress from her closet. To the shock of everyone she passed in the hallway, she hadn't even curled her beautiful blonde hair, but simply brushed it and put it in a pony tail with a pink bow. When chasing your best friend, you have to look somewhat descent!, she thought to herself as she sprinted through the quad. Finally, Galinda reached the library. Never having been in such a place before, she almost fainted at the overwhelming sight of so many books! Walking around for a bit, looking at all the covers and bindings It's so, so colorful! Galinda thought. Wait! Snap out of it, Galinda! You're here for one reason and one reason only, to find Elphaba. Besides, think of how stupid you probably look right now, gazing around like you have no idea where you are And dressed like, well one of them! Get out now!! Galinda wondered why everyone wasn't running up to her to get an autograph or a piece of fashion advice. Frankly, many of these girls needed Galinda's mentoring, they all dressed the same, grey and white. She was lucky to have run out of her dorm so quickly wearing her plainest sundress, or her normally elaborate outfits would cause her to stick out like a sore thumb. Finally, she found Elphaba in the back of the freakishly silent library, reading a very large book. As Galinda approached, Elphaba looked up, then looked down at the book again quickly when she saw who was coming. Galinda stood in front of Elphaba's table for a few moments, when her emerald-skinned friend said "Why are you here, oh, where you going to read? Wow, that's a first! I'm afraid these books don't come with pictures." By the look on Galinda's face, she looked like she was going to burst into tears herself. "Elphie" she said. "Elphie, I am so sorry, what I said, my emotions can cause me to say crazy things, I was angry with Fiyero, I'm sorry, Elphaba, I really am." Some small teardrops began to fall down Elphaba's cheeks and onto the pages of the huge book she had in her lap. "I don't blame you for what you said, who would want to be with a green ugly freak like me?" she said. "I did believe I could change my appearance to get Fiyero to like me, but after what you said, I don't think its worth it anymore. I can't believe I actually thought he could love me." Galinda fell onto her knees in front of Elphaba, and she talked to her softly and kindly. "Elphaba, Fiyero does love you, he loves you for who you are, I love you for who you are, as a friend of course." Elphaba chuckled slightly "Believe me, I know that's what you meant!" she said. Galinda added "Ok, first of all, you are not a freak, you are the kindest, sweetest girl I have ever met, and you've felt like more a friend to me than any of the many, many friends I've had."
"You're the only friend I've ever had, Galinda." Elphaba said.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Another thing, Elphaba, you're not ugly, you're beautiful, and you're not green, you're emerald, the prettiest emerald I've ever seen."
"Really?" Elphaba asked.
"Absolutely! Can we get out of here now? The silence is making me nauseas." Galinda said. "Sure" said Elphaba "Besides, this book is making my legs go numb." She laughed.
"Friends?" asked Galinda.
"Forever." said Elphaba.
And the forever best friends walked to class together….