Disclaimer: I don't own anything (except a broken PC) and I don't want to (though getting my PC fixed would be nice).

Chapter Two: Uncomfortably Human

Elphaba had given up trying to read and was sitting at the window staring out into the sunny day. She was so preoccupied she didn't even hear Galinda and her posse enter.

One of the girls pointed out Elphaba at the window and the group dissolved into high-pitched whispers and giggles. She hasn't even done anything and they are already giving her grief. Galinda scrutinised her roommate while she had the chance. I know I promised to hate her forever...no, what was that word she used...loathe...to loathe her forever, but she really isn't all that bad. Ok, so she is quiet and creepy and always has her nose in a book, but she...

"What are you staring at!" Elphaba had turned from the window and caught Galinda looking at her. "Do I have something in my teeth, again? What is your problem?" Why can't she just let up and leave me alone. It's not as if I asked to be this unwanted, this…lonely. Elphaba blinked. In reality it was to hide the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes, but the gaggle of girls in the room took it, of course, as an insult and started snickering and moaning.

Wow...with the light framing her like that she looks...beautiful. Galinda blinked and swallowed. This realisation had shocked her. That thing...beautiful? "I...uh..."

"Did you swallow too much lip-gloss? What do you want Glinda?" Elphaba purposefully used Dr Dillamond's pronunciation of her roommate's name, knowing that it would irritate her.

Hatred flashed in Galinda's eyes. "It's Ga-linda. One would expect the walking library to know at least some basic pronunciation. Now leave. I have to get ready for the party tonight. Everyone is going to be there and I have to look my best." She pointed one perfectly manicured finger at the door, which was still open.

Elphaba sighed. If she had had the energy she would fight back, but she was still shaken over her encounter with that new boy and couldn't even think of a witty comeback. She randomly gathered some things together and went off to find Nessa. "Happy to go," as she swung her bag over her shoulder something poked her in the ribs. This gave her an idea for a perfect parting line that would annoy everyone and allow her to keep her 'reputation' as the strange and annoying one. "Here," Elphaba reached into her bag and pulled out a shiny pink hairbrush. I have no idea how this got in here, but I can use it anyway. Throwing it in Galinda's general direction, she exited the room. "The school mascot needed a brushing."

Galinda looked at her hairbrush on the floor at her feet.

"Isn't the school mascot that giant rat?" One of the clique whispered.

Galinda picked up the brush gingerly between two fingers and tossed it into a corner. She knew that Elphaba hadn't really used her brush; Galinda had left it on the windowsill after she had finished doing her hair that morning, a long time after Elphaba had left the room. She must have tossed it on to the floor when she sat down earlier and accidentally picked it up in her hurry to leave. "I'll deal with that...thing...and her disrespectataion later," she pulled a customarily shocked/confused/blissfully ignorant face. "Now...tonight...help me choose a dress for tonight. I have to look my best for Fi-yeeeeer-ooooooo."

Why does she always act that way? Like she is purposefully trying to push people away? That's not how she truly is inside...not really...at least I don't think so…Galinda pushed all thought of her roommate to the side as she tried on every dress in her closet and the closets of her friends until she had found the perfect shade of pink to accentuate her shiny blonde hair.

Meanwhile, Elphaba was searching for Nessa. She wasn't sure why, her sister was just as mean and rude towards her as everybody else in her life was. Perhaps it was the knowledge that, had Nessa not been born, Frex would probably have never even acknowledged his eldest child. Too damaged to love, but not too damaged to slave away. Not too damaged to try show love, but nobody ever understands that that is what I am trying to show. Oh, Nessa…father… Elphaba sighed and continued walking.

Strange thing was, there were no students walking anywhere on campus at the moment. Everybody was indoors doing, well, something. Finally, Elphaba found her sister with her head in her closet and a multitude of dresses piled onto the floor like the discarded petals of 'love-me, love-me-not' daisies. Ah,…that party Galinda mentioned…It seemed as if everybody was going. Elphaba started ranting about the party while Nessa pretended to ignore her. I am only upset because nobody asked me to go…dammit…I am so glad nobody can hear my thoughts. I would just give them more ammunition in their quest to ridicule, hate, and embarrass me. Elphaba took a breath to continue her rant, even though her heart wasn't in it, but before she could get a word out Nessa changed the subject to Galinda and then ordered her sister to go do something nice for her roommate.

I am really not a bad person. Elphaba walked away from the conversation with her sister slightly shocked and actually feeling worse than when she had walked in to the room. Why does everybody assume that I have no feelings? Why is the consensus always that I live off sarcasm? Just once, would somebody give me a chance, no, of course not! I'm green, so obviously I don't' have a heart or any emotions other than anger, resentment and pain. Elphaba sighed and stopped walking. She had reached the door to her room, and she was actually nervous about confronting Galinda. Look at that, nerves…I wonder how many students would have heart attacks if they found out I could be nervous.

Elphaba swallowed past the lump in her throat and took a few minutes to arrange her face into a blank/bored/casual expression. If you can't join them, pretend it doesn't matter. She flung the door open to a series of screams and bodies flinging themselves to safety. Sheesh, they are better actors than football players are. Spotting Galinda in the centre of the room, Elphaba attempted to say something nice. The words were stuck though. No matter what she actually said, it would be taken the wrong way. So why try?

Galinda noticed the internal struggle within her roommate. I can't give her the hat…I really don't hate her that much! Suddenly there was a hand in the small of her back pushing her forward, and before she could even think about what was happening she had put out her hands to break her fall. Her hands, and the hat held within, crashed into Elphaba. By the time Galinda had recovered enough to shoot a glance behind her, the owner of the hands had disappeared, and Elphaba was clutching the hat.

Dammit,…what do I say now? Galinda searched through her brain for something that wouldn't make her look like a complete wuss in front of her friends. Finally, she mumbled something about 'black being the new pink' and how Elphaba 'deserved' the hat. Galinda sent a winning smile in Elphaba's direction. Please don't take it the wrong way! I don't mean to imply that you are an objectum-sexual…Galinda grabbed for her purse and exited the room at a near run, glad to escape the awkward situation and followed by what appeared to be the entire female population of Shiz.

Sheesh, where were they hiding! Elphaba examined the hat. It was somewhat appealing…in a weird kind of way. Well, at least it matches my clothing. Now, what can I do for Galinda to repay her? What can I give her in return?

Elphaba smiled. She would go speak with Morrible (as unappealing as that was) and demand Galinda's inclusion in sorcery class. She remembered how much Galinda wanted to learn about sorcery.

Twirling the hat absentmindedly in her hands, Elphaba stared at her closet. Maybe she would go to the party. It couldn't be all that bad…and she might see that handsome fella from earlier.

Sometimes second-first impressions were more memorable.