Elphaba and Nessa began to grow older. Elphaba enjoyed having her younger sister around her. But, as Nessa became more popular in school, she began to avoid Elphaba. She would stop inviting Elphaba to sit with her at lunch. She stopped asking Elphaba if she wanted to walk home together. This did not go unnoticed by Elphaba. Elphaba was actually a very smart girl. She was on the top of her class. She had become very good at lip reading. It really came in handy, especially when Nessa and her friends were gossiping about her.
"Nessa, is that your sister over there?" one of the girls asked Nessa.
Nessa looked over at her sister, who was sitting by herself. "Yes," she whispered.
"Why is she green?" the girl asked.
"I don't know. I never asked her."
"Why not?"
"She can't talk."
"She can't or she won't?"
"She can't. She can't hear either."
Elphaba looked up at her sister. As soon as she saw Nessa looking back at her, Elphaba immediately looked back down at her book.
Elphaba hurried home that day. "Elphaba! Elphaba!" Nessa called after her sister. She knew that it was useless. Nessa stopped to catch her breath. Elphaba turned around when she realized that her sister wasn't behind her. She sighed and ran back for her sister. Sure, now she wants me around, Elphaba thought as she offered Nessa her hand. Nessa gave her an apologetic smile and accepted the green hand that was offered to her.
"Nessa, come walk with us!" a girl named Milla called when she saw Nessa. Nessa was about to run to her, when Elphaba grabbed her hand. Please, stay with me! Elphaba thought, looking Nessa directly in the eyes.
"I'm sorry, Fabala," Nessa whispered as she ran to join Milla. Elphaba was left to walk home alone.
Elphaba walked into the Governor's mansion. She wiped her feet on the mat and went to look for her father, who was probably in his office. Sure enough, that's where she found him.
"Hello, Fabala! How was school today?" Frex asked.
Elphaba shrugged her shoulders. She didn't want to tell him that Nessa left her alone, again.
"Where's Nessarose?" Frex asked, searching for the 10-year-old girl. Tears began to slowly form in Elphaba's eyes. She bit her lip and turned away. "Don't cry, Fabala," he whispered as he rubbed her back. "I'll talk to Nessarose."
Nessa walked in a few minutes later. She was still laughing from the jokes Milla had told her. Her smile quickly faded when she saw the scowl on her father's face.
"Nessarose!" Frex said sternly.
"Hello, Papa!" Nessa greeted.
"Elphaba came home alone today."
"Papa, I…"
"Nessa, you know that I don't want Elphaba to walk home alone."
"Papa, I wanted to walk home with my friends."
"What friends?"
"Milla and Rena."
"Nessa, you know that Elphaba…"
"Papa," Nessa whispered. "I shouldn't have to give up my friends just because of Elphaba."
"Nessa, I'm not asking you to do that. Just, be more considerate of your sister."
"Okay, Papa. I will."
Frex hugged his younger daughter. "Thank you!"
Nessa ran upstairs. She went into her room and dropped her bag next to her desk. She jumped on her bed and went into her secret drawer to find her diary. When she opened her drawer, her diary was gone. She tore up her room looking for it. It suddenly dawned on her where her diary might be.
Elphaba ran into her room, hugging Nessa's diary against her chest. She wasn't going to read her sister's diary; she wasn't that type of person. She was just going to keep it, as a hostage, if you will. She closed the door and locked it. She hid the diary under her pillow and went to her desk to start her homework.
"Fabala! Fabala! Open the door this instant!" Nessa shouted as she banged against the door. "Right now, Elphaba! I know you're in there!"
A wicked grin appeared on Elphaba's lips. She could sense Nessa on the other side of the door. She let out a small giggle as Nessa continued to bang on the door.
"Fabala, I'm not joking! If I find out that you read my diary, I will… I will…"
Sweet Oz, this is too good! Elphaba smirked. She got up and opened the door for her sister. Nessa stormed into the room. Her face was red and she looked like a wretch.
"Where is it?" Nessa asked. Elphaba did her best to put on a confused face. "Fabala, don't do that! You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Nessa was near tears. Elphaba's face softened. She didn't mean to hurt Nessa. Elphaba went to her bed and grabbed the diary from under her pillow. She handed it to her sister. Nessa snatched it from Elphaba's hands and held it against her chest. "You didn't read it, did you?"
Elphaba shook her head. She held out her arms to Nessa, wanting a hug. Nessa started to walk out, but then she turned around and saw the apologetic look on Elphaba's face. No matter what happened between the two sisters, Nessa and Elphaba always made up in the end. "I love you!" Nessa whispered into Elphaba shoulder as she hugged her sister.
The next morning, Nessa ran into Elphaba's room and jumped on the bed. She did this until Elphaba opened her eyes.
"Fabala, wake up!" Nessa said.
Elphaba groaned and reached over to her nightstand to retrieve her glasses. She pushed them onto her nose, bringing Nessa into focus. She forced a smile on her face.
Nessa smiled down on her sister. "Happy Birthday, Elphaba!" she sang.
Elphaba smiled. She had totally forgotten that it was her birthday. She hugged her younger sister and got out of bed. She went into the bathroom to get ready for the school day. When she came out, Nessa was waiting for her with a hairbrush. Before Elphaba could protest, Nessa dragged her to the edge of the bed and began to brush her hair. Elphaba's hair was still wet from the shower, and it was very tangled. Elphaba bit back the urge to scream out in pain. She pressed her palms together in her lap. Nessa rubbed her sister's shoulder to tell her that she was sorry and that she was almost finished. She allowed Elphaba's long hair to cascade down her back like a waterfall and ran out of the room to get something. She returned shortly with a little princess tiara. She carefully placed it in her sister's hair. She giggled as she handed Elphaba the hand mirror. Elphaba smiled as she looked up at her sister. She was going to have the best birthday ever!
