The conversation with Elphaba and Fiyero had made Glinda wonder if the two of them were the only ones not knowing about the Lurlinemas Ball.

Shiz wasn't greatly advertising it, as it was an old established tradition the school simply expected its students to know about.

Glinda spent the next day passing around a survey in class, demanding everyone to write down whether they were celebrating Lurlinemas and if they even knew about the Lurlinemas Ball.

When Glinda received back the sheet of paper, she was shocked to discover that indeed a great number of people was not intending on celebrating, neither the ball nor Lurlinemas in general.

"Elphie, you have to help me!"

Glinda rushed into the library energetically, making Elphaba jump in her seat.

"For Oz' sake, Glinda! You'll give me a heart attack one day! What's the matter?"

"Literally no one wants to celebrate Lurlinemas with me! It's horridulous", she complained whiningly and Elphaba sighed heavily.

"Are you still trying to force people to be festive? I really believe they have to get in the mood by themselves, it's nothing you can tell them to do."

"But most of them don't even know about the ball! Will you at least help me advertising the ball?"

"And what exactly did you have in mind?"

"I wondered if you might be willing to talk to Madame Morrible about officially announcing it?", Glinda explained slowly, showing her friend her best pleading look - wide eyes, knitting her brows ever so slightly and pouting her lips just a little bit.

"I'll see what I can do. But on one condition. Stop going around pestering everybody with your strange addiction to this holiday."

"You're the best, Elphie", Glinda said, thrilled to bits with anticipation of the holidays.

On the way to the Headmistress' office, Elphaba contemplated if she considered attending the ball despite of the fact that she would probably have to go by herself and eventually came to the conclusion that not attending would probably not be an option, at least not with Glinda and her feverish adoration of Lurlinemas celebrations.

"Enter, Miss Elphaba."

Elphaba pulled back the hand she had raised to knock at Madame Morrible's door. She would never get used to the teacher's sixth sense.

"Good afternoon, Miss Elphaba, how may I help you?"

"Good afternoon, Madame Morrible. Pardon my interrupting you at work but I'd like to ask a small favour concerning the upcoming Lurlinemas Ball."

She observed the fish-eyed Headmistress raise an eyebrow at her mentioning the ball.

"I didn't know you were so keen on festivities like this one."

"I, uhm, think it bears a good possibilty for socialising", Elphaba explained hastily, hoping the Headmistress wouldn't ask further.

"So, what would this favour be you came to ask me?"

"I wondered if it was possible to officially announce the ball to the student body, so the event might get more recognition. You see, not everybody is aware of the long established tradition of the Lurlinemas Ball."

Madame Morrible was silent for a moment.

"It is true that the ball has indeed lacked attendance in the last years. You think this is to accredit to the fact that some pupils don't know about the Lurlinemas holiday?"

"Yes, Madame. Maybe a public announcement will make more people curious."

"This seems like a terrificent idea, Miss Thropp, and although I am a little surprised by your sudden interest in social events, I very much appreciate your input, thank you."

"Thank you, too, Madame Morrible."

"Elphie, you're the best!", Glinda repeated her compliment from earlier after the public announcement of the Lurlinemas Ball had been made in the dining hall after lunch on the next day.

"Now we can start to think about outfits and, of course, presents!"

Glinda seemed to be distracted for a moment, then continued speaking.

"And I just decided I have to set you up with a nice gentleman to be your companion for the ball, Elphie, what do you think?"

"Don't you dare!", Elphaba shouted, horrified.

"It's enough that I have to attend this silly ball at all, I do most definitely not need a companion that will most likely have the brain capacity of a bean! No, thank you, I appreciate the thought though."

Glinda looked slightly miffed at Elphaba's harsh rebuff.

"Well, I won't force you, no need to be so cruel."

"Not force me, eh? I know you well enough by now that I know all the efforts you'd make just to get me a date I never actually asked for, so I need to nip this plan in the bud right away."

Glinda's look became puffed up as she nodded to another table at which Fiyero was sitting, joking with some of his friends.

"I already have a date for the ball, I don't need to worry about this problem anymore, but fair enough, I won't interfere with your aversion against bean-brained companions."

Elphaba felt the slightest hint of jealousness creeping up inside of her.

Glinda already had the perfect boyfriend, and really, of all of the boys Elphaba knew at this school (though there weren't that many) only said boyfriend was actually considerable for ball-companionship in her eyes - for reasons she would never dare to inform her lightheaded roommate of.

And there was another reason she definitely didn't want Glinda to fix her up with anyone just for the fun of it.

No one would actually want to go out with her anyways.

Elphaba shooed away the cloudy thoughts and focused on another important question. What would she wear for the ball?

And just as the thought had formed in her mind, she flinched.

She had already been living in a room with Glinda for far too long.