Hello, everyone. My friend Kyra and I wanted to do a story together, and this modern-day AU was born. To see Elphaba's point of view, simply click on the link that you'll find under this story's description on my homepage.
Enjoy.
I do not own any characters, themes, ideas, songs, or anything from the musical Wicked. They belong to Stephen Schwartz, Gregory Maguire, and Winnie Holzman.
Galinda walks into the small café, pondering what she's going to buy as she stands in line Finally, she decides on a cappuccino, and pays, turning to look for a place to sit, but the small area full of tables is completely packed, and there isn't at least one table that is completely empty. She scans the crowd, looking for a friend, someone she's at least talked to on more than one occasion, but it would seem that Fate would have it differently. Her gaze finally lands on a table, where a single girl sits, her nose buried in a book. After looking around once more, she sighs, deciding that it can't hurt that much to sit with someone new.
Slowly, but still confidently, she makes her way to the table in the far back corner. She notices the girl look up at her with piercing green eyes, and she's almost tempted to turn back, but she shakes her head a bit, determined to sit with her. Finally, after what feels like ages of walking, she's standing in front of her.
"Mind if I sit here?" she asks, putting on her best friendly face.
"Yes, I would," the girl responds almost instantaneously. "I'm sure that in this crowd of people, you can find at least one person more willing to sit with you."
Galinda is almost put off by the girl's cold attitude, blinking a bit in surprise, but she tries not to let her astonishment show through too much. "Well... Maybe I don't want to sit anywhere else," she states, a pout taking place of the smile she was formerly wearing. She notices a faint smirk on the girl's face, causing her to pout more.
"I'll let you sit here if you remember my name."
Her name? Oh, dear. Well, two could play at that game, she supposed. "Well, do you even know my name?" she asked, skepticism etched into her face as she tries to draw attention away from her inability to answer the girl's question.
"Galinda Upland," the girl answers, and Galinda can just hear the smirk in her tone. Drat. That was easier than she thought it would be, but she supposes that's the price of being 'popular.' Everyone knows who you are and what you do and everything about you.
"Right. And your name? Well, that's easy. It's... um..." She quickly goes through all the names in her mind, trying to decide if she actually does know this girl's name. Milla? No. Pfannee? Definitely not. Shenshen? Uh-uh. "Um..." She sighs, frustrated, but with herself more than anyone else. Although the look the other girl is giving her is almost enough to make her want to slap that smirk right off her face. "Your name... is..." She sighs, defeated. "All right. I don't know your name. But that doesn't mean I can't sit here, anyways." She plops herself down on the empty chair, crossing her legs daintily, shooting her own little smirk at the girl across from her. She almost lets her jaw drop when she sees the girl do nothing but go right back to her reading.
There is silence for a while, before the girl finally speaks up again. "It's Elphaba, by the way. Elphaba Thropp."
"Elphaba..." She tests the name out quietly, under her breath, almost so quiet that she's sure the other girl, Elphaba, can't hear her. She clears her throat finally, looking up at her. "Well... Elphaba Thropp. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm sure." She looks up at Elphaba, but she has gone back to her reading. "What is so interesting about that book that has you burying your nose in it?" she asks, a bit annoyed that she isn't the center of attention, like usual.
"Genetically mutated bird kids," is the answer the Elphaba gives her, and she fights to keep a look of horror hidden.
"Genetically... mutated... bird kids?" she repeats, just to make sure she heard correctly.
"Yes, that is what I said. Congratulations, you aren't deaf!"
Galinda huffs. Never has she been treated so rudely in her whole entire life. "I was just making sure I heard correctly. That's all." She sticks her little chin up in the air, giving a quiet little 'hmph!' as she does so.
"Maybe you should do the same in class."
"Excuse me?" She looks up at Elphaba, struggling to keep her temper from getting the best of her, but it isn't really working.
"Yes, you are excused." Elphaba waves, as if letting her know she's free to leave.
She makes a little sound of indignation, but she won't give Elphaba the satisfaction of leaving just yet. "That's not what I meant, and you know it, you mean... thing, you." She crosses her arms, cappuccino long forgotten.
"Ow! Oh, that hurt. That is by far the most cruel insult I have ever heard. My tender heart just cannot bear it." Elphaba dramatically puts a hand over her heart, feigning distress.
At first, Galinda thinks she has succeeded in insulting the girl, but quickly realises that sarcasm is the key here. "You must think you're so smart, don't you? Coming up with clever, sarcastic comments all the time. I bet you don't even have a heart." Her arms are no longer crossed, instead, her palms are flat against the table as she leans over the table, glaring at the girl across from her.
"I have indeed been reliably informed that I don't have one."
Galinda almost shrieks in rage, now. "You are so... You make me so... You just... You're impossible!" she yells, not caring if anyone else hears.
"I am going to take that as a compliment. Thank you."
Galinda knows her temper is getting the better of her, and she knows that she should calm down, but it's a little hard to think clearly when the person in front of her is so infuriating. "I have half a mind to smack that smirk right off of your face right now, I'll have you know. Thinking you're better than everyone else just because you read more, or... or just because you have a quicker tongue than everyone else. No wonder you don't have any friends!" She knows her comment is harsh, but right now, she couldn't care less as she breathes heavily. She remains silent as she watches for Elphaba's reaction.
"I don't think I'm better than everyone; I am better than everyone."
Galinda remains silent for a while, studying Elphaba for a bit. "No you're not. If you were, you wouldn't be so upset with yourself all the time." She's pretty sure she may just be making things up now, but she's rolling with it.
"How do you know I'm not the best when you didn't even know my name before this day?"
"If you were the best, I would have heard of you before." That has to be true, right? "And don't think you can avoid what I said so easily. I know what you're trying to do. You don't have to pretend." Is she... being nice to Elphaba? No, surely not... How could she be so nice to this girl, when clearly she isn't going to be nice back?
"What a pathetic display. You're suddenly trying to be nice to me? I think you've made it quite clear that you don't like me, and I hope I have expressed the same sentiment toward you well enough. Excuse me." She stands, picking her books up and stomping away, and Galinda can't help but feel a bit triumphant that she has gotten the girl worked up enough to actually leave.
She sips her cappuccino, making a face when she realises it's gone far too cold for her liking, so she stands up, as well, brushing her clothes off. She has a feeling that this won't be the last time she hears from Miss Elphaba Thropp.