Author's Note: Okay, I know it's horrendously short, but the next chapter is going to be longer and I felt like if I spliced the two together it would be introducing stuff too quickly. Nonetheless, hope you enjoy the first focus on Elphaba!

Also, thanks a bunch for the reviews on the first chapter! I thoroughly appreciate it. :)

The Ultimate Test

Chapter Two:

Elphaba, to the surprise of nobody, was busy studying. A pair of well used spectacles sat on the bridge of her somewhat slanted nose, which was perhaps a little too close to the surface of the textbook she was currently lost inside in. Never was the phrase "model student" more appropriately utilised than in reference to this girl, who although still in her first year of attendance at Shiz University, must've broken some sort of record for most time spent in the library (indeed, she'd probably borrowed more books than everyone else in her year combined). Her left arm, in a perpetual state of being raised, was surely the most exercised muscle in her body. Her lecture attendance record was so spotless you could probably use it clean a desk.

Unfortunately, exemplary behaviour and top marks on every exam may have made her the most popular student with the professors, but had pretty much the opposite effect with those of her age group. Not that being good at sports and hanging out with the right cohorts would've made any difference, because Elphaba was also totally, impossibly and undeniably green.

Needless to say, this particular appearance trait elicited constant mockery from her peers and, in fairness, an admittedly imaginative carousel of wry vegetable comments. Very few people actually knew her by her name, instead preferring to refer to her simply as "the green girl"; but Elphaba was used to such treatment at this stage in her life. Until arriving at Shiz, the only person who'd been willing to sustain a civilised conversation with her was Nessarose, so the fact that this select group had recently been extended to five continued to astound her.

Just as Elphaba had reached the concluding paragraph of her textbook chapter, she heard the sound of the door knob being twisted. It swung open to reveal Galinda, her roomate, and speak of the devil, one of her new found friends. They were absolute polar opposites: the layout of their shared dorm was evidence enough of this, for on the Gilikin girl's side there lay deserts and swamps of dresses and pink accessories, whereas Elphaba's was the definition of neat that's most overriding colour was black. For the better part of three or four months, the unlikely pair had loathed each other, until an incident involving a hat (it'd become a mutual agreement never to speak of it). Now, there couldn't have been a stronger contrast.

When Galinda entered a room, you could usually be guaranteed of some sort of bright, cheerful exclamation, but the stormy silence and leap onto her bed informed Elphaba the blonde was annoyed.

'I assume something's wrong?' she commented drily, without glancing up.

The lack of a response spurned her forward. 'Allow me to guess- relationship problems? Perhaps our favourite Vinkun prince priotised speaking over thinking again?'

'How did you know?'

'What, that Fiyero's a brainless idiot or that you had an argument?'

Galinda snorted. 'The first's one certainly true. He's just such a... such a meanie!'

'Indeed.'

She crossed her arms and pouted, looking very childish. 'You could at least try to sound interested, Elphie.'

'Well, excuse me, but I finding your so called "dream" relationship nightmarishly tiresome. How in Oz is that wedding you told me was a mere formality going to happen if you squabble every other day?'

Elphaba didn't really need an indication to see inform her the words were a tad harsh, but Galinda's murderous glare certainly provided one. Sighing, she closed her textbook with a great deal of reluctance and refocused her attention.

'I apologise, my pretty. Go on.'

She didn't require another invite. 'Why does Fiyero always feel the need to put his foot in it? Us, Nessa and Boq were just hanging out in the cafe, having a wonderfying time, and then he ruined everything!'

She buried her head in her hands, and Elphaba couldn't resist a smile at her typical melodramatics. 'Is this the point where I inquire what exactly his atrocious verbal crime entailed?'

To her surprise, Galinda immediately stiffened and didn't answer for a moment, as if contemplating whether she was trustworthy or not.

'There's not much point. You don't care anyway,' she said finally.

With a frown, Elphaba stood up and took a seat on the opposite bed beside her. 'Galinda, I was only teasing. You can tell me anything you want. We're best friends, after all...' She hesitated. 'Right?'

The Gilikan's facade of grumpiness melted away, leaving a beam in its place. 'Oh Elphie, of course we are!' she cried, flinging her arms around the green girl in a rather aggressive hug.

Elphaba froze, still unused to blatant shows of affection from anyone. Awkwardly, she returned the gesture, but her insides were fluttering. Friendship, she mused. She'd thought it was something reserved only for those who were pretty and frivolous and popular, but in the Wizard's name, she now wondered how she'd ever survived without it.

Eventually, Galinda pulled away, still smiling. 'Oh, I wish you'd be less of a grump all of the time. It would make our little project a whole lot easier.'

Elphaba snorted. 'You can't still be lingering on that popularity nonsense?'

'Of course I am! Don't worry Elphie, people will be begging you to spend time with them by the time I'm finished. If you're lucky, they'll like you almost as much as me!'

'I concede that you're mindless optimism is vaguely amusing, if entirely misplaced. It would take a miraculous change of heart for them to forgot "The Artichoke's" skin colour.'

Glinda slapped her lightly on the shoulder. 'What did I just say about your attitude?' she scolded.

Elphaba fought the urge to slap her back, preferably harder, but was aware of the blonde's stubborness (one of the personality traits they shared). Thus, all she did was roll her eyes and sit back down at her desk.

'I refuse to have this conversation again,' she said wearily. 'There's exams to prepare for- a fact which you should also take heed of.'

'Those exams are in three months. Three months.'

The green girl merely reopened her textbook.

Silence reigned in the dormitory for almost ten minutes, which was an impressive feat for Galinda. Having said that, she looked exceedingly bored the whole time, as if they'd just received a homework assignment on the science behind the drying of paint. Or any homework assignment for that matter. Elphaba ignored this and concentrated on the subject content, meaning she failed to notice the second emotion that soon found its place in her friend's countenance. Anxiety.

'Elphaba...'

'Yes?' came the expected monotonous reply.

'What do you think of Avaric?'

Pale blue eyes narrowed. 'And why have I been graced with such a question?'

'Just interested,' Galinda said, far too quickly to avoid suspicion.

'Well, I shall humour you, my pretty. Avaric is quite possibly the most moronic and irritating individual I have met thus far in my life, and I spent the majority of it in Munchkinland. He is the epitome and the physical embodiment of the word "idiocy". His dedication to an existence of debauchery and persistent disregard of school work shows a certain degree of commitment- coincidentally, a degree is one thing I can guarantee he won't be receiving come the end if our time at Shiz.'

If Galinda wasn't too busy revelling in self pity, and wondering how in Oz she was going to pull her dare off, she might've laughed.

'Prepossessing though?' she tried.

'I'd rather not even acknowledge such a distasteful comment.'