Elphaba awoke with a start and a very, very rare smile on her face. She crawled out from underneath her shelter of warm blankets and onto the worn wood floors to scramble excitedly to the windows. Today was the day that they received their mid-term reports, and to Elphaba Thropp, this mattered more than Lurlinemas (which still isn't saying much...).

It was gusty outside, and showed signs of rain, but she didn't care; nothing could ruin this day. She got dressed quickly, wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, and threw on her hat. As she stumbled about pulling on her combat boots, she called out, "Galinda! Galinda wake up!"

From underneath a mountain of frilly pink blankets and lace abound, she heard a grumble/moan come from its depths. She bounded over to the bed semi-cautiously, and gently poked the largest lump in the bed, assuming it was her roommate. "Get up Galinda!"

From out of the lace appeared a small nose followed by a set of half-open sapphire eyes.

"Miss Elphaba...what in Oz's name do you think you're doing? And what time is it?" Galinda grumbled out in a morning croak.

"Does it matter!" Elphaba cried out.

Sweet Oz, Elphaba is smiling...she must be ill...

"Midterms are out today Galinda!" Elphie proclaimed, grasping Galinda's shoulders. It was then that Galinda realized what was happening. She grabbed the green chin hard to stare Elphie in the eyes. "Miss Thropp, I do not enjoy mornings, nor do I enjoy being in a conscious state whilst they are occurring. You would do well to remember this, for the next time you wake me at six A.M., a death will transpire. And let me assure you Miss Elphaba—that death will not be mine."

Elphaba backed slowly away from the furious ball of pink, careful not to make any sudden movements. She did not make eye contact for fear of being reduced to a pile of ash under the horrible death glare Galinda dealt her. "Goodnight Miss Galinda..." Elphie said quietly.

Satisfied, Galinda sunk back under her blankets mumbling something about the severely distorted priorities of green girls.

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Disgruntled roommate forgotten, the green girl frolicked into the Main Office to retrieve her midterm report. The woman at the desk was an aging Munchkin looking none to happy with her job.

"Elphaba Thropp." She announced to the Munchkin. The woman stared at her for a moment with a bland expression, and then turned to a wooden file cabinet made of Quoxwood to seek out the 'Thropp' girls file.

For Elphaba, this took an excruciatingly long amount of time, but the Munchkin finally resurfaced with a joyful looking manila folder. Elphie snatched it out of her hand and eagerly withdrew a seemingly holy sheet of paper.

Emerald eyes flickered down the page finding only perfect grades...until she reached the bottom.

Elphie froze—her heart stopped, and her hands turned ice cold. She fainted dead away.

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Galinda Upland strode determinedly down the corridors of Crage Hall—she had just received word that her roommate was in the sick ward. I guess Elphie really was ill this morning...

She came to the doors of the sick bay and attempted to push them open with no success. She then leaned her entire weight against the doors with still no avail. Stepping back, she was about to reach for her wand when she realized that the door said, 'PULL'. Galinda giggled a little at this, and then entered, quickly identifying her Elphie by the green skin. She saw a white paper clutched tightly in Elphie's hand. Galinda put a comforting hand on her shoulder, asking quietly, "Elphie? Elphie, what's the matter?"

Fierce green eyes turned to her, "My grades, Glin...look at my g-grades." She mumbled out through clenched teeth.

The blonde wrestled the paper out of Elphie's iron grip and scanned the page. Her eyes widened as she reached the bottom. "Oh Miss Elphaba...You're flunking Social Etiquette..."

Elphie bit her lower lip and squeezed her eyes shut in shame. "I know..."

"Why you're doing splendiloquently in your other classes, but this one..." she said, indicating the 'F' at the edge of the page, "Oh Miss Elphaba, do you realize what this means?"

Elphie turned to her friend questioningly.

"I'm going to have to tutor you in Social Etiquette." Galinda said quietly, looking in Elphie's terror-stricken face.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Elphaba's cries for the agony to come could be heard from Center Munch to the Thousand Year Grasslands—for Elphaba Thropp knew that she would indeed have to be taught by Galinda Upland. Oh for the misfortune.

Alrighty folks, let the reviews fly! Please. More chapters will follow soon, if ya'll liked it. Thanks for readin'.

rayn