Chapter One:

Focus.

Focus.

Don't look at anyone else in the room.

Elphaba took a breath and held the scalpel in one hand over the dead body on the table in front of her. Her instructions were simple, Dr. Nikidik had said them out loud and very clearly almost a minute ago. She understood everything that was being asked of her, she had been preparing for this moment all of her life, especially the last six years with Dr. Dillamond as her mentor, and ex-teacher. Though some would say that he was just "The Old Goat" as they referred to him as in the medical world, Elphaba thought he was brilliant. She had been studying under his wing ever since her first semester at Shiz and today was the day that she could finally prove to everyone that she had what it takes.

Today was finally the day that she could really call herself a doctor.

All she had to do was pass this test.

Elphaba knew as soon as she made the first incision that there would be no turning back. As soon as she cut into this body her test would start.

For a moment, Elphaba was slightly overwhelmed. Her green fingers twitched as she held her scalpel. Her dark eyes glanced up to the silent room full of her peers, all male, and she quickly looked back down at the body in front of her. She could feel their energy, their hungering for her to fail but she would not let them win. She was prepared and she was more than determined to pass.

"You may begin now, Miss Thropp... unless of course, you've reconsidered your choice of profession," Dr. Nikidik commented from the gallery above where he sat with his pen and parchment, ready to record her every movement for observation.

"No, sir. I haven't reconsidered," she said sternly. A few of her classmates groaned in protest and she felt her face heat up fast and flush a darker green.

"Then, please do begin Miss Thropp or I'm afraid I'll have to fail you for wasting too much time," said Dr. Nikidik as he repositioned his spectacles on his nose so he could see her technique better.

Elphaba nodded quickly and moved to her right where she could get a clear view of the heart.

Her scalpel touched the skin lightly before she began to put pressure on the blade and saw the skin split open in a line.

Dr. Nikidik tipped over the hourglass and Elphaba's test started.

"Okay everyone, now remember that we're counting to three before we yell surprise," reminded Glinda as she scurried her party guests behind whatever furniture and objects were in the grand foyer. The noise and music slowly died down and Glinda waited in her spot for Elphaba to come.

The gorgeous grandfather clock that stood across from her ticked away the seconds and the blonde found herself constantly checking the time. Elphaba had said that her test ended around six, and it was just shy of six ten. She would be here any moment.

Glinda couldn't contain her excitement for her friend, the blonde had been grinning from ear to ear all morning, her eyes bright and anxious. This was the most important day of Elphaba's life and she couldn't wait to celebrate her success with her. Every detail down to the color of the flowers had been arranged weeks in advance by Glinda. She had spared no expense on Elphaba, clearly shown by the extravagant array of flowers and food that brought bursts of color into the mansion.

A few voices rose in the crowd and Glinda twirled around in a blur of light blue and sparkles to shush them.

Her attention returned once more to the white lacquered door that was in front of her and she waited patiently for the sound of the doorbell.

When the bell finally rang out its musical notes a few minutes later, Glinda eagerly ran to open it. Keeping one hand behind her back to signal to the guests when to shout surprise, Glinda pulled open the door with her other hand and was just about to greet Elphaba with a joyous "Congratulations!" when she took a good look at her friend's face.

There was nothing happy about her features. They were sad, defeated, meek and for the first time in Glinda's time of knowing Elphaba, she truly thought the woman was going to burst into tears.

"Elphie...?" questioned the blonde as she reached out a hand towards the woman in comfort.

Elphaba's lip trembled and she averted looking her best friend in the eyes.

She mumbled something under her breath but Glinda didn't hear it. She didn't dare ask her what was wrong, she knew that would just send Elphaba off the edge.

So instead she said in a quiet, low voice, "You didn't pass your exam, did you?"

Elphaba shook her head and Glinda could hear faint sniffling. The blonde took Elphaba's hands in her own.

"Oh, Elphie. I'm so sorry, darling! I can't imagine what you must be feeling now," Glinda put on her genuinely concerned face and thankfully not her fake sympathetic puppy dog eyes that she reserved for people who she did not care for, "I truly am sorry, Elphaba. I know how hard you worked for this day."

Elphaba swallowed hard and looked up at the blonde, giving her a quizzical look once she looked at the blonde's sparkling attire and updo.

"Do I even want to ask why you are dressed like that?" she asked hoarsely.

Glinda looked down at her outfit to quickly remind herself what she was wearing and then gave Elphaba a sad look.

"Well, it's just... I- I planned a surprise party for you... and I told everyone to dress up... I even had a dress picked out for you too and..." She twirled a few loose strands of shimmering blonde hair that had escaped the tight restraints of her bun between her fingers in despair.

"No offense, Glin, but I'm not really in the party mood," muttered Elphaba trying her best not to crush Glinda's hard work and effort.

"Of course, I completely understand... I'll send everyone home right away," the blonde complied to Elphaba's demands without so much as a pout.

She released Elphaba's hands from her grip and quietly slipped inside to tell everyone to head home and that there was no party. Elphaba saw no one exit which told her that Glinda and her parents must have directed them all out the back entrance and of that she was glad. She didn't want to have to keep telling people that she failed her test, it only made the truth sting even more.

When Glinda finally opened the door to let Elphaba in, she was relieved to see that the only people left in the mansion for her to talk to were Glinda and Fiyero. Glinda's parents had disappeared to some other room in the house to give her some privacy which was quite thoughtful of them.

Elphaba entered the Upland's mansion with the urge to shut herself away from the world for a good long time. She was in no mood to talk even with her best friend and fiance.

Her fiance immediately came over towards her and lovingly wrapped his arms around her, as if his body was a shield from the hurt she was feeling by not passing her test. She readily melted into his embrace and buried her head in his chest. They didn't say a word to each other, they didn't need to.

For a moment, the couple nearly forgot about their generous hostess, who had been awkwardly busying herself with the arrangement of a bouquet of flowers in the corner at that moment, casually stealing glances at them every once in a while. But a brief noise from the blonde, an accidental shift in her step causing a loud creak to erupt from the floorboards, separated the couple and brought them back to reality.

"Do you want to go home or would you rather stay here, my love?" asked Fiyero gently cupping her face with a hand.

Elphaba's head tilted to one side, "Quite frankly, I don't know," she said after a pause, "I guess it doesn't matter where I am."

Fiyero kissed the top of her forehead softly, "Then how about you stay here for the night? I'll be gone for most of the night anyways," he reminded her of his work schedule.

"Right, right... staying here sounds agreeable," she nodded slowly, as if she had been in a trance since her coming here.

Fiyero's eyes looked up from Elphaba's.

"Glinda, would you mind terribly if Fae stayed here for the night? I'd rather not leave her alone at this moment," he called out to the blonde.

Glinda immediately discarded her fake interest in her flowers and a bright smile highlighted her features.

"Oh, of course! She'll be in good hands here," the blonde beamed as she walked over to the couple and laced one arm through Elphaba's, leaning on her shoulder closely.

"Thank you, Glinda. I'll have to find some way to repay you another time," said Fiyero as he quickly kissed his fiancee goodbye and headed for the door.

The two women watched as he left, and when the door finally closed Glinda turned to Elphaba and took her hand.

"Come on, darling," she said softly in a caring voice, "I'll have Cook bring us some ice cream."

Elphaba followed her lead without so much as a protest, in fact she was glad to have Glinda to lean on now. She needed her smile and comfort.

"Thank you," said Elphaba softly once they both had finished their ice cream, "for everything, Glinda. I'm sorry about the party."

"It's alright," the blonde shrugged, remaining indifferent about the wasted opportunity and glittering ballgowns, "But I have an idea of how you can make it up to me."

Glinda's smile was wide with happiness and a hint of mystery and Elphaba was in no position to refuse her request whatever it was, so she reluctantly accepted and followed the blonde back to her bedroom, feeling just a little bit better about her whole situation.

Hey everyone~! Long time, no see! So this is a new story that I'm writing and it is based off of the TV show Dracula. I hope you guys like it and stick along for the ride!

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