A/N: This is a series of one-shots with a topic of relation to one another. I figured it would be easier to post them as one story rather than make them separate.

Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked or any of the characters mentioned in this story.

Dream Series, Part One:
Insomnia
Kirra White Tigress

The sun had set quite a while ago over the Caprice-in-the-Pines, leaving everything dark and haunted. The moon and stars shone brightly over the area, casting an ethereal glow over the waters of Lake Chorge as well as the grounds on which the summerhouse rested upon. But there was one spot where the moonlight seemed to avoid, keeping that particular patch wrapped in darkness. And truthfully, the person sitting there couldn't have cared less.

Normally, everyone would be asleep at this late hour. But Elphaba couldn't sleep at all that night. First of all, it was a new environment, a place to which she had been forced to come to. Secondly, the events of the past day haunted her mind still. She should have known it was a trick—she did know! Not only was it odd that Miss Galinda would ask her to spend Summer Break with her, it was obvious to her now that the writing wasn't even the blonde's. It was similar, but it wasn't the same.

Elphaba sighed, resting her pointed chin on her arms. It was foolish of her, really, to come here. She could have told Boq that she refused and just walked away, but….

But he said she needed me, she thought, though she found it a poor argument. The Munchkindlander wanted to see her so badly; perhaps the reason she came was just to make him happy. He needed this time with Galinda more than she did.

"Were you born to plague me?"

The green girl felt herself flinch at the words of her roommate, though she wasn't sure why. She knew she was a disappointment to everyone in all walks of life, except for teachers, who only cared for her academic mind. But to hear those words from Galinda was like being stabbed repeatedly in the heart. Yet she couldn't have a clue why this was. She felt nothing for her roommate. She couldn't care less for anything that blonde twit said or did.

Then why do I ache whenever she ignores me? Why am I so jealous of Boq for getting so close to her? she wondered. But then she crossed the latter out when she realized the blonde ignored him as well.

Elphaba pulled her cloak tighter around herself as the cool wind blew around her. Her eyes settled on the lake in front of her. She wanted so much to just jump into the watery depths of the lake and melt away. Then she would be free from all of these troublesome emotions. She'd be free from the times of being ignored and ridiculed by the one person she thought would think differently of her.

But it seems she doesn't think at all.

"Miss Elphaba?"

Elphaba startled at the sound of the voice, but she didn't turn around. She wasn't about to submit to this girl just yet—she wasn't that weak. So she just stayed silent, hoping her roommate would get the message and turn back.

There was a high-pitched yawn behind her. "Miss Elphaba, what are you doing out here? It's one o'clock in the morning," she said.

"What are you doing up so early?" Elphaba shot back, though her voice was calm. "You should be getting your rest."

Galinda hesitated before moving closer. She sat down beside the green girl, immediately pulling her legs toward her chest and resting her chin on her arms, copying Elphaba's posture. She was silent for a moment before saying, "I couldn't sleep. I tried, but I can't."

Elphaba looked at her roommate. She did indeed seem exhausted. There were circles beginning to form under her eyes, her eyes were half-open, and she looked like she was about to fall asleep at any given moment despite her claims otherwise. The green girl let out a breath. "I couldn't sleep, either," she admitted. "I had a lot on my mind."

There was a brief moment of silence between the two girls before Galinda spoke. "Was it something I did?" she asked quietly.

The green girl didn't even hesitate. She nodded, which made the blonde pull herself closer. She frowned. "You weren't exactly gentle with me this afternoon, Miss Galinda. I didn't want to come here."

"And I'm sorry I was so harsh," said Galinda, who was blushing as she remembered her words. "I just…." She looked over at the green girl for the first time that day. "Did you have to bring that Munchkin boy? Biq? I mean, he's a nice guy. A good friend, I suppose…."

"But you don't understand why I had to bring an irritating, annoying, clueless prick that doesn't know anything about the word 'no'?" Elphaba saw her roommate nod slowly from the corner of her eye. She shrugged. "I guess I brought him along just to annoy you."

Galinda frowned. "Oh really, Miss Elphaba. That's so kind of you," she said sarcastically. She looked out over the lake, her eyes catching the moonlit water and searching. "Things weren't exactly peaches and cream before you came," she admitted after a moment. "Pfannee and Shenshen were bothering me about you, and I accidentally let it slip that I… well, I admire you in a way."

Elphaba raised an eyebrow at her. "You admire me?"

"In a way," Galinda emphasized, her cheeks flushing. "That means nothing and you know it."

"I didn't think it meant anything," Elphaba said truthfully. She quirked an eyebrow at her roommate as the blonde blushed even more. She waved it off as nothing. "So you told them you admired me. Are you now banned from the rest of society because of it?"

The blonde shook her head. "No. But… it's still kind of bad that I feel this way. After all, you are considered an outcast of society." Galinda blushed lightly when the green girl looked at her. "Well, not entirely. Despite your differences, I do admit that I find you tolerable. Maybe even likeable," she said.

Elphaba smiled. "What's to like about a green reject like me?" she asked. "I'm not like you, with your gowns and finery. How is it that you can say I'm likeable of all things?"

"It's more than just outward appearances," Galinda said slowly, as if she were testing the words herself. She did appear to be struggling with them. "I do think you can be a little too sarcastic and ill-hearted at times, but all in all you seem like a good person. A better person than the rest of Oz. I mean—" She looked up at Elphaba—"how many people do you know actually think about things? How many truly have dreams and ambitions in life? How many actually care?"

The green girl didn't say anything. She couldn't seem to. Everything she thought was whisked away to the world of Abandon, forever forgotten until she looked away. But she couldn't look away—she was trapped.

Galinda was suddenly shaking her head, her blonde curls bouncing with the motion. "No, I can't think this way. I mean, you're green for Lurline's sake! You're the only thing—person—that would never be accepted into normal society, and here I am developing feelings for you!"

Elphaba frowned. "Feelings, Miss Galinda?" she asked. No, that couldn't be possible. Galinda couldn't feel anything toward the green girl. Yet here she was, blushing furiously and trying to avoid her gaze…. She moved a little closer to the blonde and looked straight into her eyes. She saw fear, mostly, with little traces of embarrassment and… was that hope? Elphaba looked closer, her face only inches away from the blonde's. Sure enough, she saw a pleading look in Galinda's eyes. Pleading for what?

Galinda swallowed hard. "Umm… Miss Elphaba?" she whispered, her voice shaky. "Could you… would you please…?"

The green girl was suddenly brought back to reality. She shifted away from the blonde, a blush of her own settling over her cheeks. Yet her stubbornness kicked in, enabling her to get past her embarrassment and not give into it like Galinda had. "I'm sorry, Miss Galinda," she said quietly yet formally. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't," the blonde said. "I just… I felt a little uneasy with you so close. But then again…." She offered a small smile to her roommate. "I think I enjoy being close to you."

Elphaba frowned, unsure of what this might mean. She moved closer to the blonde again nevertheless. "How so?" she questioned.

Galinda blushed visibly, her eyes not once leaving Elphaba's. She looked to want to say something, but didn't. Instead she shook her head again. "Never mind," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Still she smiled at her roommate. "I, um… I guess we should be getting back. Ama Clutch just might notice I'm gone."

The green girl nodded, returning the blonde's smile only slightly. They both stood and walked each other back toward the summer house, a silence left between them. Elphaba just looked at the blonde, who walked just a little bit in front of her, in confusion. She finally decided that she would never come to understand her roommate. And maybe it was for the better.

"Elphaba?"

She was brought back to attention at the sound of Galinda's voice. But she didn't say anything, just silently acknowledging her.

"I am forgiven, right? For my behavior?"

The green girl glanced in her direction for just a moment before looking ahead of her. She waited for her own answer to come—the lack of response seemed to be killing her roommate. But then she replied. "We'll see."

That's all that was said between them, and that's the way it would remain.