Wow! Thank you for all of the feedback! Props to Lusito, for catching the fact that in this version of the story, Nessarose is actually Glinda's younger sister. Also, I noticed there was a bit of a concern about the ElphabaXAvaric pairing this seems to have... Well, I'm just pointing out that just because two people are susposed to be together doesn't mean they will be. Just ask Fiyero. ;-) As for pairings.. well, as you will probably guess after this chapter, it will eventually be Gloq. As for the Elphaba pairing, I'm keeping my mouth shut.

The next morning, Elphaba was gone long before Glinda even woke up. Glinda felt an urge to find her, and try to talk to her about the night before, but decided against it; she couldn't comfort Elphaba without revealing the fact that she was eavesdropping.

Instead of tracking her down, Glinda set off to explore the campus. She ended up getting herself rather turned around in the gardens near the agricultural school. Feeling bold(and desperate) she approached a young man who was digging through some vegetables. He was obviously Munchkinlander, however she susposed he was taller than most of the little Munchkins.

"Excuse me?" She tapped his shoulder lightly.

"Yes..." He turned to her, with his dirty blond hair a mess. She guessed he had been concentrating on whatever he had been doing. "Miss?"

"I was just wondering if you could point me back in the direction of Crage Hall?" She felt herself smiling stupidly.

He wiped his brow, and brushed his hands against his pants. "Follow me. You really must have gotten yourself lost. Is this your first year here?"

"Yes."

As they walked back, she asked, "What's your name?"

"Boq. And you, Miss?"

"Gali-Glinda."

The girls' first class was Life Sciences, with Doctor Dillamond, one of the few Animals on staff at Shiz. Glinda couldn't concentrate- and she was hardly alone in that. She noticed most of the girls seemed to be occpied with things other than the lecture.

She took to watching Elphaba, who sat a row ahead of her. She looked down into her desk, twirling a lock of midnight colored hair around her green finger. This surprised Glinda- she had taken Elphaba to be the type to pay full attention. She susposed even the green girl had other things on her mind.

She wondered about the argument she had overheard- what had happened between Elphaba and Master Avaric? They obviously didn't care for each other. And he obviously held her freedom over her head.

Glinda wondered if there was some way she could console her without seeming awkward. She felt compelled to learn more about the odd girl she lived with.

But how? Elphaba barely even spoke to her- why would Glinda expect anything other than a cold stare from the her?

And why did she care? Elphaba was not her friend. Elphaba seemed to be no one's friend. How could she expect to change that? Glinda was more than relieved when Dillamond dismissed the girls.

Elphaba sat in her desk, a few moments longer than neccesary, staring blankly out the window. Doctor Dillamond coughed. "Miss Arduena? I dismissed class a moment ago. You may leave."

"Oh. Sorry sir." Elphaba said, slowly rising, cursing herself for being so thoughtless. She quickly gathered her books together. A moment before she left the room, she looked up at her professor. He was struggeling to erase the board with his hooves. On the spur of the moment, she approached and took the eraser from him. "Let me help."

"If you wish." He said, moving away. He hadn't ever experienced such behavior from a Gillikinese girl.

She busied herself about the room, not wanting to return to her dorm, or worse run into Avaric on the way back. "If you don't mind me saying so, sir, I can't help but think it would be hard for an Animal to do some of the tasks neccesary to teach."

"I make do- though that was their reasoning from banning Animals from the men's schools," He scoffed. "They claimed it would hinder the minds of tomorrow's education."

"Yet they deemed Animals fit to teach women?"

"I suspose we're both a bit biased against, Miss."

"Well, I could help you, sir..." She said, an idea forming. "I could work for you." And buy my freedom. "I could be your secretary, and help with paper work."

The Goat looked at her. "Very well, Miss Elphaba. I have been looking for a scribe."

Elphaba smiled. Maybe she wasn't so stuck after all?