Chapter 2

Midnight. The time Jamie enjoyed the most. For her it was a magical hour when anything could happen. She was sitting in the kitchen gardens when she heard a rustling sound behind her. Elphaba casually walked towards her.

"Good morning." Elphaba said as she took a seat next to Jamie. Jamie silently giggled.

"Good morning to you, too." Elphaba noted Jamie's giggles.

"What's so funny?"

"How is it that you know exactly where to find me?" Jamie rested her head in her hands.

"You can't answer a question with a question." Elphaba smiled.

"Miss Elphie, I believe I just did." Jamie got up and slowly made her way to a nearby apple tree. She could feel Elphaba's eyes boring a hole in her, exposing her very soul. She reached up and picked a juicy red apple.

"Would you care for one, Elphie?" Jamie glanced over her shoulder. Elphaba nodded.

"Sure." Jamie picked another apple and wandered back over to Elphaba.

"Here you go." Elphie took the smooth apple from Jamie and casually inspected it.

"Are you afraid I poisoned it?" Jamie smiled and sat back down next to her green friend. Elphaba looked at her.

"No. It's just a force of habit nowadays."

"What, Madame Nutter-Butter out to kill us all?" They both giggled slightly. Elphaba looked into Jamie's ruby red eyes. They looked at each other for a moment.

"What is it?" Jamie asked, breaking the silence. Elphaba looked away, blushing.

"You're just, different." Jamie smiled then composed herself, and in a serious tone she said,

"Why, Miss Thropp, you're one to talk." They both smiled.

"Elphie, tell me a secret of yours." Elphaba thought for a moment.

"Only if you tell me a secret first." Elphaba said as she yawned. Jamie smiled, then frowned.

"What? Can't think of any?" Elphaba teased.

"No, I can alright. But, you have to promise you won't think any different of me."

"Promise." Elphaba crossed her heart. Jamie sighed and stood in front of her green friend. Slowly, Jamie held up both of her hands.

"I'll tell you two secrets, only because one leads to the other." Jamie took a deep breath and said, "Elphie, I'm a Witch." Elphaba looked at her stunned, but at the same time not.

"A-and the other secret? Or do I want to know?"

"Okay, the secret I wanted to tell you in the first place is the reason why I don't have many friends and why I get dumped a lot. So if you're my friend you won't care right?"

"Right." Elphaba nodded.

"Okay." Jamie rubbed her palms together, then held up her hands in the moonlight so Elphaba could see them better. All ten of her fingers turned a charcoal black. Elphaba gasped, then cover her mouth to stifle it.

"My fingers have all been blackened."

"How? I mean was it a birth defect or something?" Jamie shook her head and took her seat next to Elphie.

"I was only 10 when it happened. We used to move around from place to place, searching for the right home and neighborhood that would suit us. When we were in the Vinkus my father and mother made some enemies. Late one night they came and lit our house on fire with us in it. We got out safely when I remembered my grandmothers necklace. It was the only thing I had of her, so I went back inside. Long story short, somehow the door closed behind me, and the only way I could escape was by touching the scorching metal knob. That was before I could use my magic without spells, and at that time, I didn't have my spell book. The local doctor said they would have to amputate my fingers, but my mother rummaged around and found a spell that would save me the usage of my hands."

Elphaba tried to understand the terror of a 10 year old girl when the doctor said they would have to cut off her fingers. She could feel fear emitting from Jamie.

"But, then why are your fingers normal the rest of the time?" Elphaba asked, genuinely interested.

"I use a Glamour to make everyone see perfectly normal skin." Tears formed in the corners of Jamie's eyes. A few moments passed and the tears fell. Elphaba reached up to brush them away, but found herself caressing Jamie's cheek instead.

"Please, don't cry." Jamie leaned into Elphaba's warm touch.

"Sorry." Jamie smiled slightly.

"Now it's time for me to tell you a secret." Elphaba took a deep breath as Jamie had done.

"Water burns my skin." Jamie pulled her face away from Elphaba.

"Why were you so close to my tears if water burns your skin? Do you want to get hurt??"

"Not particularly. But I thought it was the nice thing to do." Elphaba turned away. Jamie was about to brush a stray strand of hair out of Elphaba's face, when she remembered her fingers.

"Oh, damn."

"What is it?" Elphaba turned back to Jamie who was looking at her hands.

"I'm too tired to do a Glamour. I'm sure you wouldn't want me touching you without one." Jamie's eyes flashed in the moonlight.

The next day was not as dramatic as the previous. Galinda had moped about all day because she couldn't trade room mates, Pfannee and Shenshen did their best to comfort her and attempt to 'bring Jamie to the dark side' as Elphaba put it. Lacey wouldn't stop trying to get Jamie to go shopping with her in the city. To top it all off, Madame Nut job wouldn't stop hounding Jamie for one thing or another. Simple things like how she did her hair set the floundering fish off. Elphaba wanted to know more about Jamie's family and vice versa. Jamie was intrigued by the emerald girl.

"So, do you have any siblings?" Elphaba asked as the two strode along the garden path.

"No. I'm the only child in the family. Are you an only child Elphie?" Elphaba stopped and picked a flower.

"No. I have a younger sister and brother. Nessa and Shell." Jamie couldn't help herself.

"Are they green as well?" Elphaba smiled.

"Not at all. Although Nessa has her problem, Shell is fit and strong." They continued walking.

"Jamie, I was wondering if you could Glamour other people, or only on yourself." Jamie gave Elphaba a sideways glance.

"Well, I could use one on someone else I suppose. But to be honest, Elphie, you don't need a Glamour. You are positively radiant." There was that feeling again. Elphaba's stomach somersaulted once more. 'She thinks I'm radiant?'

"But I don't feel radiant. I feel like a monster, a green monster." Elphaba looked at Jamie pleadingly. Jamie sighed and took Elphaba's hand.

"Do you really want to use a Glamour? You have to give me a good reason, not that you want to be impressive, or popular, but and honest to god real reason." Elphaba looked down.

"I don't want to be every ones joke, even if it's only for a day." Jamie's heart ached. She knew what it was like to be laughed at behind her back, and it was the worst feeling in the world.

"Alright, I'll do it, only if you promise not to say anything about me being involved. I don't want the whole school to know I'm a witch!" Elphaba agreed to the terms.

"Ok, it will be easier if we went inside. Your room?"

"Absolutely." Elphaba practically dragged Jamie into her room.

"What do you want me to do?" Elphaba was getting excited.

"First, you can take off your dress. It will be easier to get the skin that is covered that way." Elphaba obliged. The black dress came off in no time at all. A thin slip is all that remained on Elphaba's body.

"Okay, now I want you to close your eyes and relax." Elphaba closed her eyes. She could picture Jamie standing there. Her red eyes gleaming with mischief. Jamie approached the almost naked Elphie. She took a deep breath and began. She started with Elphaba's hair. Jamie set her hands atop Elphie's head. Elphaba could feel the magic swirl around them as Jamie ran her hands down Elphie's hair. Then she did her face and neck.

"You might feel a little awkward now." Jamie said as she started on Elphaba's chest. Elphaba's heart quickened. She inhaled sharply when Jamie started on her breasts.

"Sorry." Jamie whispered. With all of the concentration, that was all she could muster to say. Minutes passed and finally, Jamie was done.

"Alright, open your eyes." Elphaba obeyed and rushed to the mirror to see herself as a normal looking girl. Her skin was creamy white and her lips were pink. Her hair was a golden blonde and her eyes green. Elphaba spun around and laughed.

"Thank you so much!" Elphaba lunged at Jamie, knocking her onto the bed. Jamie couldn't breath. The weight of Elphaba was fine, but the shock of Elphaba practically jumping her knocked the wind out of her lungs.

"You're welcome." Elphaba didn't get off but stayed there, resting on Jamie.

"There is one thing I don't understand. Why did you make me blonde?" Jamie smiled and put her hands under her head.

"I like blondes. But I also like green girls who want to be blondes." Elphaba blushed.

"Have you been with blondes?" Jamie stopped smiling.

"Yes, but it wasn't always through honesty. I'm a witch, I can Glamour myself and be anyone I want, even men. Although I don't like to do that, someone might strike my fancy and I cannot resist." The mischievous gleam was back in her eyes.

"So you prefer the ladies?" Elphaba wanted Jamie to say yes for some peculiar reason.

"I never said that. I said I liked blondes. But I do like some ladies and some men, well, to an extent. You are a curious person indeed Elphie. You have a thirst for knowledge that amazes me."

"You are a library of information completely within my reach." Elphaba said. Jamie smiled up at her.

"Come on gorgeous, go strut your stuff."

No one recognized Elphaba. It was like being reborn into society. Everyone thought she was Jamie's visitor, which was fine with Elphaba. For the day she adopted the name Victoria. When she told this to Jamie her only response was, "This will prove most interesting. I've never been with a Victoria before." The two went to the city and bought a few items, such as scarves, books, and the like.

"I have to pick up more oils. Can we stop here for a moment?" Elphaba asked outside of an herbalist shop.

"Sure." They entered and a little bell tinkled, signaling their arrival. Incense swirled in a smoke like fog. A woman who looked to be 100 came out of the back room and when seeing the two girls gave a toothy grin.

"How may I help you young ladies?" Her voice was shaky and worn out.

"I need some oils. Do you have any lavender?" Elphaba scanned the small shop.

"I do dear. It's right over there on your left." Elphaba went to the indicated spot while Jamie waited. The woman smiled at her.

"I've never seen a young Redsontes before. You must be 17 at the most. How is Sara?"

"My mother is quite well. Her and father are coming to visit in a week or two. I shall have them stop by." The woman straightened.

"It would be a pleasure to see her again. The last time I saw her, her belly was full of you." Elphaba returned and paid for the oils.

"Oh, and Miss Redsontes, please try not to Glamour everyone."