This is not only my first Wicked fic, but my first fic in general so I apologise in advance if it's horribly written.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked or any of its characters.
Elphaba Thropp had suffered a horrifying amount of torment in the six months she'd spent rooming with one Galinda Arduenna Upland and yet not much of it compared to the utter terror of her current situation. Hundreds of students from both Crage and Briscoe Hall were packed into the usually spacious lunch hall with its high ceiling and large tables. On this day, though, it was stuffy and extremely uncomfortable. Which was why Elphaba had made sure she stayed close to the walls and far to the back to ensure no one spotted her in the crowd. No one, that is, except for her infuriating blonde roommate and mortal enemy.
Galinda was stood right at the front of the sea of students with her empty headed friends Pfannee and Shenshen. Elphaba had heard their inane chatter and giggling all the way at the back, even as Madame Morrible roared out instructions. All Elphaba had gathered from Morrible's ranting was that Shiz was putting on some kind of performance and the fish faced headmistress was urging students to consider taking part. In an exasperated moment of boredom, the green girl had been considering trying to escape before the shrill voice of her roommate stopped her train of thought.
"Miss Elphaba would fit that role perfectly, would she not?" Galinda shrieked. The hall erupted in snickers and giggles and Elphaba clenched her fists.
"She wouldn't even need a costume!" Shenshen's high-pitched voice chimed in between the laughter.
Elphaba could see a head of blonde curls bob up and down frantically and had to fight the urge to growl out a response.
"Don't be preposterous, the villain needs to be a male!" Someone shouted out above the noise.
"Have you seen the green bean's figure lately? She could easily pass for a man!" Pfannee sneered, earning another burst of laughter. "Miss Galinda is right, the artichoke is perfect!" The dark haired Munchkinlander turned her head and squinted, searching for a spot of green in the crowd of pink.
Elphaba ignored the amused glances she received from the students beside her and watched Morrible examine the clipboard she was holding. The headmistress nodded to herself and ticked something off her list.
"That's enough!" She looked Elphaba in the eye, a vile smirk on her lips. "Miss Elphaba will play the villain, Miss Galinda the princess and-"
"Master Fiyero!" Galinda's giddy voice cried out. "Master Fiyero should be my prince!"
Most of the students muttered their agreement and turned this way and that, searching for the dark skinned Vinkun. Elphaba spied Fiyero on the opposite side of the hall, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. She couldn't tell whether the smile on his lips was amused or simply embarrassed but he stepped away from the wall and bowed. Girls swooned and boys rolled their eyes at his display.
"I would be honored to play your prince, Princess Galinda," he said, straightening up and winking at a few of the girls at his side while Galinda and her friends let out cries of joy. "And to slay such a beast as she." Fiyero held his head high and looked right at Elphaba, miming a sword in his hand.
"I'd be careful if I were you, Master Fiyero, you wouldn't want to cut yourself," Elphaba said flatly before turning back to Morrible. "I won't be participating." And with that, she stormed her way through the crowd. Students dodged and dove to avoid colliding with the green freak, as they had so affectionately named her. Before she could leave, however, Galinda made a noise not unlike a newborn baby. Pfannee and Shenshen and an absurd amount of other students rushed to aid her.
"This has to be perfect! And it won't be perfect without Miss Elphaba!"
"Now, now, Miss Galinda!" Shenshen cooed as she grabbed her blonde friend's arm, pulling her upright again.
"Silence!" Madame Morrible growled out above the uproar. "Miss Elphaba, you will take part in this musical. I, and Miss Galinda, shall not take no for an answer."
"Musical?!" Elphaba whispered to herself as the crowd dissipated into a few stragglers. She shook her head and looked around. Boq and Avaric were stood chatting a few feet away from her. Not wanting to speak to her two reluctant acquaintances, she turned on her heel and made for the door.
"Elphaba!"
Her jaw clenched and she forced herself to move over to the owner of the cheerful voice. "Master Boq. Master Avaric." She said, nodding to each boy.
"Our very own villain! Who would have known?" Avaric smirked, his hands deep in the pockets of his trousers.
"The green skin was a hint," Elphaba grunted. "And who or what are you playing, Master Avaric? A rock or a tree?"
"A farmer, actually," Boq said, grinning.
Avaric made a face and nudged his Munchkin friend. "A farmer who just happens to be an important part of the story."
"I'm sure." Elphaba narrowed her eyes.
"I'm one half of a horse," Boq said, playing with the buttons on his cardigan.
"A role every actor aspires to!" Avaric laughed out loud. "I'm sure Fiyero will enjoy riding you!" He clapped Boq on the back and sauntered out of the hall. Elphaba glared after him, shaking her head.
"I was so hoping to be the prince," Boq said wistfully.
"You, and every boy from Briscoe Hall."
"It's not fair! Fiyero probably can't even sing!" Boq stamped his foot like a toddler.
"And you can?" Elphaba quirked a brow, amused but intrigued.
"I'll have you know, Miss Elphaba, that I come from a musically gifted family. My father played the violin!"
"I suppose I'll have to take your word for it." Elphaba shrugged. "Why didn't you push for a singing part, then?"
"I was barely heard above all the commotion. Miss Galinda ignored me," he mumbled, looking at his feet. "I'm supposing you have a good voice though, Elphaba?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, the villain has a big song. And a duet. Surely you were listening?"
Elphaba widened her eyes. She hadn't been listening at all really. Not until Galinda had cruelly mentioned her. She hadn't even known this farce was a musical until the assembly had ended. A musical! "Of course I was listening," she snapped, crossing her arms. "Miss Galinda and her band of ninnies were being too loud, that's all."
"I can teach you, if you'd like," Boq offered, smiling up at her.
Elphaba only furrowed her brow before noticing that Galinda and Pfannee were still sat at one of the tables at the far end of the hall along with a few other girls she didn't recognize. They were scribbling on a large piece of paper and drinking tea. Galinda was absentmindedly biting her lip, gazing around the room as if she were trying to remember something. Her gaze soon fell on Elphaba and Boq and she smirked before muttering something to a red haired girl to her right.
"Come now, we're going to get you a singing part." Elphaba grabbed Boq's shoulder and before he could protest, she hauled him towards the table the girls were seated at.
"Morrible said the prince and princess share a true love's kiss at the end!" One of the girls squeaked. A few of the others made obnoxious noises before Elphaba cleared her throat.
Galinda snapped her head around and was met by the face of her villain and the poor flushing Munchkin boy.
"Miss Galinda, is the role of the horse's behind a singing role?"
Pfannee and the rest of the girls gasped. "Excuse me?"
"Is the horse perhaps a Horse? Does it sing?"
"Don't be ridiculous, of course not!" Galinda said, pursing her red lips.
"Well then, Master Boq needs a different part."
"And why is that, Miss Elphaba?" Galinda asked.
"Master Boq is a talented singer."
The girls burst into laughter, including Galinda herself, who couldn't keep from giggling at the idea. Elphaba frowned, turning to Boq, whose eyes were averting her gaze.
"Nevermind, Miss Elphaba. We - we should-"
"No, Boq." The stubborn green girl slammed her hand on the tabletop. "You deserve a better part."
"He deserves the part he has. He's the only one short enough to be the horse's behind," Pfannee chimed in harshly. Galinda stifled another giggle.
"Now, that just isn't true. I'd say your face is more than qualified to fill the part, Miss Pfannee," Elphaba spat. The group of girls gasped again.
"Miss Elphaba! You will not win Master Biq another role by insulting my friends!" Galinda stood up, poking a manicured finger at her green roommate. The blonde then smoothed out her blue dress and held her head high. "Though perhaps if you asked nicely, I would reconsider."
"I'll give him my role."
"What?!" Galinda wailed before shaking her head. "I mean, excuse me? You cannot do that, Miss Elphaba!"
"I've made it clear that I have no intention of participating in such childish fantasies." Elphaba straightened up and glowered at the small blonde before her. "Therefore Master Boq shall take my place. He's more than adequate."
"I wouldn't say that..." Pfannee murmured but Galinda cut her off.
"That will not do! The villain is an awful beast, a hideoteous monster! Not some," Galinda thought for a moment before pointing at Boq, "little Munchkin critter!"
"And who would play such a horrid creature if not you, Miss Elphaba?" Pfannee asked, grinning. Most of the girls nodded in agreement. It was then that Galinda tilted her head and smiled sweetly before taking her seat once again. Elphaba's jaw clenched, her palms were sweating and she wanted nothing more than to throttle that stupid blonde girl. Fortunately for her, Boq had sensed her growing anger and pulled her out of the lunch hall.
"Thank you, Miss Elphaba," he muttered as they took the walk back to Crage Hall.
"There isn't much to thank me for."
"You tried. That's enough," he said, smiling sadly. "I suppose some people aren't meant to be dashing princes."
Elphaba stayed silent the rest of the way back to the dorm. Boq eventually bid her farewell and left for Briscoe Hall, his shoulders slumped and a sigh on his lips.
Once inside, she sat on her drab bed and read until the sun went down. Elphaba enjoyed reading stories, not being a part of them. And especially not if she had to sing.
Just as the last slither of sunlight was shining through the window, Galinda returned. The bouncing blonde shut the door quietly and hurried to her side of their shared room without even a glance in Elphaba's direction. The sound of her opening drawers and moving papers and bottles of perfume around threw the green girl from her reading. Grumbling, she shut the rather engrossing book and placed it upon her lap. Her eyes were sore from concentration and her stomach rumbled. Galinda didn't notice her green roommate's intense stare; she was far too busy humming a tune and wiggling her behind as she searched for something or other.
"Aha!" The blonde squeaked after rummaging in her bottom drawer. Elphaba saw her pull out what looked like a worn book. The back cover was hanging off and the writing on the spine was almost completely faded. The green girl narrowed her eyes. Of course Miss Galinda wouldn't take care of books like she did. She glanced down at the clean, undamaged book in her lap.
Galinda huffed and puffed out her cheeks as she cleared a space on her normally unused desk and slammed the old book down. Her nimble fingers opened it and flicked through the first few pages. Sheet music. Galinda Upland was reading sheet music. Elphaba's nose wrinkled and she had to suppress a grunt. Galinda flipped through the pages quickly until she got to a different section. Elphaba adjusted her glasses and squinted her eyes but couldn't make out what the airheaded blonde was so interested in.
The two girls sat in silence for over an hour. Elphaba had grown bored of watching Galinda furrow and unfurrow her brows as she read and had returned to reading her own book. She tried to ignore how strange it felt.
"I can teach you," Galinda said, her voice husky from lack of use.
Elphaba didn't look up from her book, though she was curious.
"Miss Elphaba!"
"Hm?"
"I said," Galinda cleared her throat and sat upright. "I can teach you."
"What could you possibly teach me besides how to be an insufferable, obnoxious brat?" Elphaba fixed her roommate with a cold look before slowly closing her book.
"I'm trying to help you!"
"The only way in which you could have helped me was by giving my role to Master Boq."
"I was never going to do that and you know it!"
"Because I'm a - what was it? 'Hideoteous' beast?" Elphaba scoffed.
"No one in Shiz can rival your," Galinda looked the green girl in the eye, "condition."
"And what in Oz is that supposed to mean?" Elphaba was close to getting up and leaving the room.
"You're the perfect monster!" Galinda blurted out, annoyed. "And it would save us money on make-up and costuming," she added feebly.
The room was quiet for a few minutes before Galinda spoke again. "I can teach you how to sing. I was trained from a young age, back in Gillikin. My dear Momsie used to say I could be a professional singer if I kept at it. Though I always preferred the prospect of simply marrying a rich man and raising a family with his money." The blonde giggled but quickly remembered she wasn't speaking with Pfannee or Shenshen or any of her other friends. This was Elphaba Thropp and said Elphaba was glaring at her, unamused and unimpressed.
"How kind of you," Elphaba muttered, "but as I have said, several times, I am not taking part in this charade." She pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. "Find yourself another monster."
Galinda said nothing. She only stood up from her chair and threw herself onto her bed of pink cushions and hid her face in her hands.