Elphaba shivered, she'd ran off without grabbing her sweater and only wore the navy blue dress she'd warn to the party. By now it was so late, it might be considered early. She knew she should've gone back to her dorm, but didn't especially want to talk to Galinda.
Galinda. The girl meant well, Elphaba knew that now. She didn't mean anyone harm, and her makeover had been genuine; she had wanted to make Elphaba beautiful. Of course, that didn't mean her little plan had worked. Elphaba knew exactly what she looked like: a green skinned freak in a pretty dress, wearing pretty makeup, with a pretty pink flower in her hair.
She didn't feel pretty at all.
"Elphaba? Is that you?"
Damn it. Reason number three hundred and eighty-two to not leave your dorm room at two in the morning: you never know what kind of lunatic will be around. "What are you doing here?"
The voice was surprised. "I could be asking you the same thing. It's late."
Elphaba turned, and located Galinda's boyfriend in the darkness. "What do you want, Fiyero?"
"Want? Nothing, I was just surprised to see anyone else out here. I was just clearing my head."
"Of what, cobwebs?" She knew it was harsh, but didn't care. She'd been intent on being alone. "Mr. Dancing Through Life is preoccupied about something?"
She thought she saw him smile, but it was too dark out to be sure. "Hey, it takes work to be brainless. Especially when you've just met someone unlike anyone you've ever met before."
She rolled her eyes. "They must have plenty of pretty girls in the Vinkus, though I guess none match Miss Galinda Upland in beauty or vanity. She is one of a kind, isn't she."
"I wasn't talking about Galinda." He stepped into the light of one of the street lamps, and she followed suit. He was about to clarify when something caught his attention. "Are you wearing make up?"
She nearly hissed. When she thought the night could only get better... "Do you have a problem with it?"
He raised his hands in surrender. "I just noticed. It's not bad... A little much, but not bad."
She frowned despite herself. "Much?"
"It's not bad. It's just... well, do you really need the glitter eyeshadow? Your eyes stand out enough without it."
She scowled. "Your girlfriend's the one who did it."
"Who am I to second guess a Master?" He rolled his eyes. "Anyway, it's not bad. Just a bit too strong for you. I though you looked nice without it."
She froze up. Had he really just said she looked nice? "Well, I don't exactly plan on making this an everyday thing. Galinda was just having fun using me as a living doll."
He nodded, understanding. "One thing... really, a pink flower? What was she thinking?" He plucked the thing out of her hair, then offered it back to her. She fiddled with it, anxious though she didn't know why. "There, that's a lot better. Now you look like Elphaba."
"What did I look like before?" She was almost afraid of the answer.
"Elphaba with a huge pink flower stuck on her head." Despite herself, she laughed with him. But then his expression changed, more thoughtful, and she began to suspect who he had been thinking about before. "Elphaba, I-"
She panicked. "I have to go... Sorry!" She was halfway back to her dorm before he could even blink.