Chapter Three: New Perspective

She said, "You ain't no son of mine
for what you've done they're gonna find
A place for you, and just you mind
your manners when you go
and when you go, don't return to me, my love"

"Mama" – My Chemical Romance

"The rumours are true; she's as green as sin"

Whispers that sounded more like hisses of mockery. She was used to it; after all there were times when her father couldn't protect her. Those times she made sure to keep a secret.

"Her surname is De Lune; do you think she's related to THE De Lune?"

"I wouldn't think so, after all why would a well known and respectable family like them take in someone like her?"

"Out of pity?"

"She doesn't deserve to be pitied"

She ignored them and did her best to get away from them by walking faster than normal as she gripped her book tightly. Not looking where she was going the otherwise deep in thought her accidentally ran into a poor passer-by forcefully knocking them both over.

"Oh sweet Lurline I'm so sorry!" the stranger said as he bounced back on his feet. Elphaba grunted in reply and ignored his offered help.

"Not at all it is I who should apologize, I wasn't looking to where I was going" she said forcing herself to be polite.

"Then we are both at fault here, for I've been known to dream while I walk" he chuckled. "I see you are new here, my name is Vicktor Keristoff" he said and held out his hand which Elphaba reluctantly shook. In her mind she was baffled to why he was being so friendly towards her and even briefly pondered on the thought of him being blind. But the way he looked directly in her eyes she just knew he wasn't blind in that sense.

"Hey! Vicky, we're going to be late" the young man, Vicktor, rolled his eyes at his friend's overbearing tone.

"Coming mother!" he replied sarcastically. "Well, it was nice meeting you miss…?"

"Elphaba"

"Elphaba" he confirmed and then smiled at her kindly. "I like it, it's beautiful like you"

She faltered. She wasn't expecting that and looking at him now he seemed truly genuine, but why? With Elphaba there was always some ulterior motive, there had to be. Her father often teased her about her paranoid nature.

"Vicktor! For crying out loud!" his friend yelled, losing patience by the second.

"Coming Yero dearest, keep your hair on" he said shooting the impatient man an annoyed glance before turning back to her. "I hope we will meet again Miss Elphaba"

"Uh, right" she replied, not sure of what she was to say to that.

"I can't believe you talked to her" he said, fuming as they walked to their next classes.

"Talked to who?" he asked, his face the picture of innocence.

"You know exactly who I mean" he replied, his irritation at his non-chalant friend could only continue to rise.

"Well I couldn't possibly know who you mean Fiyero dearest, after all I've talked to many people today"

Fiyero could only frown, "I meant dear Vicktor, why did you speak with the green one"

The dark haired man sent his Winkie friend a questioning look. "I wouldn't take you for the racist type Yero"

"And I wouldn't take you for the stupid type either Vicky"

"I don't see how my speaking with her can be considered stupid"

"She's green Vicky and you know how people talk, if they catch wind of your encounter with her Oz knows what people would think!"

"So what if she's green? You're brown and I'm white and don't even talk to me about reputation, since when have either of us cared for such trivial matters? Besides you're probably too good looking to be brought down to her social status", he argued, he always knew that Fiyero wasn't the brightest crayon in the box but he was never nasty to anyone. It was probably Morrible's influence, that cow fish could drive anyone insane.

His outrage soon calmed after several deep breaths and finally he said, "Let's not argue Yero, it's tiring."

"My God it's that green girl again and she's talking to Vicktor Keristoff!" a girl seethed.

"Miss Milla!" Galinda scolded, she didn't approve of how her 'friends' spoke of her strange roomie and spoke up about it on many occasion. They didn't get along and had very little in common and only became somewhat friends due to social status; it seemed like the most logical thing to do at the time and would have been an inconvenience not to.

"Miss Galinda I know she's you're roommate but that doesn't mean you or I should become acquainted with her" one of them said, the most annoying out of the three but Galinda didn't care to remember her name. Instead she rolled her eyes and ignored her comment; it wasn't as if she was actually acquainted with the green girl no matter how many times she tried. But the blonde was never the one to give up.

My dear daughter you might just get your wish yet as I will be in Shiz for a few days and will arrive on Friday but before you personally execute me I'd like a detailed account as to what are my charges, I demand at least a fair trial. Isn't this exciting!

Also I have a surprise that might make your time there more tolerable and please at least try to make friends?

Love Ceri

Elphaba sighed; it was really like her dear father to not take her displeasure with being insisted upon with making friends with people seriously.

Folding up the letter and putting it away, she began to get dressed for the day. Thinking for a moment she pulled on one of her father's shirts that she took without the brunette's knowledge. A small smile found itself tugging at the corners of her mouth.

It was then her loud roommate decided to walk in.

"Oh" the usually talkative blonde said, which came as a surprise to Elphaba, she never thought the blue-eyed girl could ever be rendered speechless.

"I…I'm so sorry, I uh should have knocked"

"Uh no not at all I was just uh leaving" even with an extensive vocabulary even Elphaba had moments where she struggled for words. An awkward silence passed between them before Elphaba finally spoke again.

"Right, uh I'll leave now"

"Um right okay"

But just before she opened the door her roommate spoke again.

"Uh Miss Elphaba?"

Turning around she found Galinda looking slightly flushed.

"Yes?"

"You uh might want to put some pants on"

"Oh"