A/N: To those who read these, I just want to say hi! I'm new to Fanfiction, and this is my first fic. Enjoy!

BTW: I don't own Wicked.

"Elphie! Come on! We reeeeally want you to come!" Galinda tugged on Elphaba's arm. Elphaba pulled back her hand and placed it on the book in her lap.

"No thanks, Galinda. I'd rather read."

"Are you kidding me?" Galinda made a face. "Read? Instead of party?"

"Yes!" Elphaba smiled. Because heaven knows I'd only do something I'd regret, she thought. I mean, that's what people do at parties, right?

"Please, Elphie?" asked Fiyero, tossing a strand of brown hair out of his electric green eyes.

"I'd really rather not, Fifi." Elphaba replied smoothly, shooting his nickname back at him.

"Pleeease!" the two begged. Galinda turned her puppy-dog eyes at her green friend.

"There'll be other parties." Elphaba protested. I don't want to be the only girl in Oz without a date to go to a party.

"Yeah, but the other parties, you say no to, too!" exclaimed Fiyero. Elphaba was a little shocked that the brainless boy had managed to make a reasonable argument. Then again, this is Fiyero. Anything party-wise he could probably make sound reasonable.

"No," Elphaba said firmly.

"Galinda, give it up. She's never going to come." Fiyero sighed. He and Galinda weren't dating, mostly because they didn't want to be more than friends.

"Fiyero's right, Galinda." Never thought you'd hear yourself say that, did you, Elphaba? she thought to herself. Fiyero's face mirrored her shock.

"Fine!" huffed Galinda, tossing her hair. The blonde curls settled exactly where they had been a minute ago. Galinda exited, a mere blur of pink and blonde. Fiyero cast one last look at Elphaba before following the small girl out.

Galinda was a total chatterbox, as usual.

"I don't get her, Fifi! I mean, who would want to read a book instead of go to a party? She's insane. And, really, I had the perfect dress picked out for her, too. She would've liked it, too. I think. It's so hard to read her! Although, she can read anything. Even the dryest books!"

"What color was the dress, Glin?"

"Pink, what else?"

"And what did it look like?"

"Well, it was strapless... Oh, Oz, Fifi, you're right! She'd never like that dress!" Galinda gasped. "Oh my Oz! What if I'm the reason she hates parties? Because I would prettify her! Oh my Oz! I could never forgive myself! Ever! We're going to march right back there and ask her! Um, after the party, of course!"

"Glin, I have an idea!"

"Oh no! I'm so sorry for you, Fifi! Should I get the nurse? Are you feeling okay?"

"No, I've been thinking-"

"Oh, dear. You're definitely not feeling well."

"Galinda, after the party, let's check in on Elphie, then go dress shopping for her! You're the fashion queen, I'm the fashion king, it'll be perfect!" Galinda's blue eyes lit up.

"With a vanity, and - but wait, where will we get the money for that stuff?"

"I'm a Prince, Glin."

"Oh, right. I knew that."

"Yeah."

The party went quickly, as parties go. Galinda found herself with a new boyfriend, Taylor, and Fiyero almost got tied down with a drunk girl who kept trying to propose to him. But the party was soon over, and Fiyero was soon leading Galinda back to her room. Galinda unlocked the door and popped her head in.

"Shhhh, Fifi, she's sleeping." Fiyero followed Galinda in, and looked over at Elphaba. A light was still on, and Elphaba lay on her bed, eyes closed, black hair loose, surrounding her. Her arms held a book, her head was tilted so that her nose brushed the pages, and she had curled herself around the book.

"She fell asleep reading; that's unusual." he mumbled. He looked at the still-flickering lantern on Elphie's night-stand, and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. Elphaba stiffened under his touch automatically, and clutched the book tighter. Her slight movement caused the blankets to shift until they fell off of the girl. She was lying in a fetal position, her body curled tightly under her nightgown. Fiyero gently uncurled her emerald fingers from the book, not realizing until then how strong she was. She would be horrified to find out that she had "abused" the book by sleeping with it. "C'mon, Elphie," he whispered. "There you go." Fiyero examined the title: The History of Animals and animals. He was about to toss it onto the floor, his usual place for "useless" things like books, when he realized how appalled Elphaba would be at this. He put it on her night-stand, tucked her in, and blew out the lantern. Elphaba whimpered softly, curling up tighter.

"Afraid of the dark? Why, Miss Elphaba Thropp, I thought you weren't scared of anything!" he whispered. Elphaba whimpered again, in her sleep. He turned on her lamp and tucked her hair behind her ear. Again, she stiffened, but slowly softened as he stroked the rest of the natural black waves off of her face. When his hand left her hair, she started softly, her gentle snore softening.

"Fifi, let's go!" hissed Galinda. As Fiyero followed the pink blonde out, he thought he saw something almost like a smile dancing around Miss Elphaba Thropp's dark green lips.

Do you think Elphie's gonna like her surprise? I don't know, Galinda, surprising Elphie? Doesn't sound good...