Rifiuto: Non Miriena
A/N: Written: 2013. Found: 2018.
As soon as I stepped into the lobby of the admissions office, every head turned towards me. Dad says I tend to bring it on by dressing the way I do, but I figure, why not? Better to be noticed for how I look than not noticed at all, I say. Or the way Nessa is noticed. But then again, it's not Nessa's fault that she was born green. I'd say chalk it up to genetics, but that's highly unlikely. A freak occurrence is more likely, but that's just my opinion. I ignored them as usual, making my way towards the counter. The woman working the desk started before giving me a forced smile. Must be the black diamond stud in my nose. She's probably never seen one before. Though I knew it wasn't. It was just me, in general.
"Elphaba Thropp."
The woman nodded, quickly glancing down at the list of names, before checking me off the list and handing me a key. "Crage Hall, Room 306."
"Ah, you mean I'm not going to be rooming with the devil?" Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped; the key fell neatly into my palm, and I grinned. "Kidding." She nodded, but didn't respond. She handed me the welcome packet, and I blew her a kiss. "Thanks." Then, without another word, I left, heading in search of Crage.
I found it; the oldest, most prestigious hall in all of Shiz University, built back in 1832, when it had been an All Girls' Finishing School, named for Aleemah Shiz, the daughter of the Governor of The Emerald City at the time. She'd attended finishing schools all her life, but decided that the best thing would be to start one for girls so she could mentor 'tomorrow's daughters'. I rolled my eyes, slipping the packet into my bag and making my way towards the building. Decked out in crawling ivy, it had a look of dilapidation to it; like it had seen some sordid history within its ivy-covered walls. I liked it already.
It was a three story climb to the third floor, and then down a long hallway; my room was at the very end of the hall, on the right. Upon entering, I found two sets of beds; each sat across from each other, against the walls with desks side by side near the window. The small boudoirs were against the back wall, the door just barely brushed against the one closest to me.
I made a beeline for the bed near the window, set my stuff down, and then glanced around. There was plenty of space for me to shift some things around. I pulled out my mp3 play and put my headphones in, slipping it into my jacket pocket before turning to the desk. An hour's work later, and I'd managed to shift the boudoir so that it was against the wall facing the bed, and then slipped my desk into the space left behind, and my suitcases unpacked. Whoever I ended up rooming with could do what they wanted with their side.
Absentmindedly, I checked the packet, finding my roommate's name: Glinda Upland.
Glinda.
The name radiated perky.
As long as she stayed on her side of the room and didn't bother or associate with me, I was fine. I don't hang out with cream puffs. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a loner, I'm just... selective when it it comes to my friends and who I hang out with.
Once everything was settled and put away, I grabbed my bag and headed for the communal bathroom that everyone on the third floor shared. I quickly checked my makeup in the mirror and applied another faint layer of bright red lipstick before deciding that I should probably be sociable. I don't often stay in front of the mirror, but on occasion I do. I'm not vain, far from it, I just like making sure my makeup is on par.
After leaving the door, I trekked back to the admissions office, taking a seat on the bottom steps leading to the office, one leg stretched out, the other bent up. I leaned back, letting the warm fall sun bake me. A little tan never hurt anyone. I closed my eyes, relaxing.
It didn't last long.
My eyes snapped open, and backed up, just as a car stopped inches from where I'd been sitting. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?" I stood, smoothing my skirt and moving down the steps towards the car as the driver's side door opened. "You moron! You nearly ran me over!"
"I didn't see you!" He replied, slamming the door shut, and then he stopped, mouth dropping open.
I immediately narrowed my gaze. "What are you staring at?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. I just... I didn't see you."
I snorted. "Obviously."
"Well what were you doing sitting on the bottom steps stretched out like a cat anyway?"
"I thought you said that you didn't see me."
"I saw you as I came up the drive." His response was lame, and even he knew it. He sighed, holding out a hand. "Look, I'm sorry. Start over?" He waited. "I'm Fiyero." All I did was raise an eyebrow in response before turning and walking up the steps towards the doors. "Hey! Wait! Aren't you going to tell me your name?"
I turned back at the double doors. "No." I could feel his eyes on me as I entered the building, even after the doors closed behind me.