A/N: Okay. I tried to take each review seriously. Here's the end result. :o) R/R if you please.

Galinda came to the conclusion that Elphaba might not have seen her kiss Boq. She chastised herself for being so silly and wondered what might be bothering Elphaba.

They sat in silence for a while before Galinda felt Elphaba had calmed down and shifted towards her. She touched Elphaba's knee lightly with her fingers, positioning herself in front of the girl. When there was no flinch or any other sign of protest or violence, Galinda placed her hands on each of Elphaba's arms and pulled gently. Quietly, Elphaba unfolded herself and allowed to be pulled into Galinda's embrace.

"Elphie," Galinda whispered running her fingers along Elphaba's braid. "Tell me what's wrong. Really, it's not like you to—well, no this is like you, but tell me anyway."

Elphaba pulled away from Galinda just enough to look at her. She brought a finger to Galinda's lips and traced the borders. The contact sent a shudder through Galinda's spine and she closed her eyes to absorb the feeling. "Before this morning, I'd always wondered what the lips of another person might taste like. And when you kissed me, I let myself just be, just—but then Grommetik—"

"That tick tock thing? That's why you pushed me away?"

Elphaba smiled, "Did you think it was the wine?"

"No, I thought you decided you should come to your senses or I don't know," Galinda stammered. Elphaba's smile faded and she started to move away from Galinda.

"Well, I did, I guess. I come from a world where passion and desire, I can't believe I'm using those words. Anyway, desire and passion come from those who give it to you. My mother was like you, rich girl with everything. My father is a priest, but she left Colwen Grounds to be with him," Elphaba explained. "But you, I mean I know how important staying in your social circle is."

"I don't understand."

"Yes, you do," Elphaba insisted. "If you can't accept Boq, how could you truly ever accept me into your life or even, dare I say, into your heart."

"There you go, undermining our friendship again," Galinda huffed. She leaned toward Elphaba and kissed her lightly. "What I feel when I'm this close to Boq doesn't even compare what you stir in me."

"You're friends will have a fit. Your family—"

"Elphie, slow down. You're always thinking so many steps ahead. Family and social circles and where I'm from and who you are, we'll figure it out. For now, whatever this is, it's just budding, so there's no need to kill it dead with questions just yet," Galinda soothed, placing a few stray black hairs behind Elphaba's ear.

"But you—" Elphaba started but she was stopped by Galinda's lips on her own.

"Me what? I know, I'm not usually the rational and intelligent one, but someone's going to have to pull you together," Galinda teased after they parted. Elphaba mocked a glare.

"Intelligence suits you, Miss Galinda," she whispered. "But you know I've always thought that."

When Elphaba awoke the next morning, she heard Shenshen and Pfannee talking to Galinda in the hallway outside her door. She got up to look for a book pretending to not overhear the conversation outside.

"I know! Summer won't be the same without you," Galinda was gushing, presumably hugging the girls.

"We're just sorry you have to ride back with that fiend," Pfannee said. Elphaba gritted her teeth.

"Oh, Miss Pfannee, don't be silly. Really, I owe you a great deal of gratitude. I mean, before this summer, Miss Elphaba and I weren't on speaking terms, as you well know. But after she has come here, I've realized what an asset to our social circle she's going to be," Galinda was saying. Elphaba chuckled to herself imagining how low Pfannee and Shenshen's jaws must have dropped.

"Miss Galinda, you're jesting! I can't see how a girl as detestable as she is could be an assettation to any sort of a circle," Shenshen said, no doubt speaking for a dumbfounded Pfannee. "I mean, she's green, for Lurline's sake!"

"Yes, I know. And assettation isn't a word, my dear. When you return I must loan you my dictionary," Galinda said in a demeaning tone. "Haven't you girls read up on your current events? Everyone in the Emerald City, which most call EC but I'm coming to realize you're not quite fashionable enough to know that, anyway, everyone there knows that green is the newest fad these days. The wizard has practically made it the official color of Oz."

"I hadn't read that," Pfannee managed in disbelief. Elphaba couldn't tell through the door if they were buying Galinda's narrative, but it enlightened Elphaba to know that she was trying.

"Girls, her skin color alone clearly makes her the perfect accessory to any person, we'd be so lucky to have her around," Galinda said. "I just hope your joke hasn't done permanent damage. I mean, she seems to have forgiven me, hopefully she'll grant you the same good fortune."

Elphaba shook her head and smiled. She wasn't surprised to hear a knock a moment later. Opening the door, Elphaba stood before the three girls with her arms crossed. She said nothing and Shenshen and Pfannee stared at each other. Pfannee poked Shenshen.

"Oh, Miss Elphaba," Shenshen said as if just noticing the figure before her. She looked to Pfannee for support; Galinda gave Elphaba a wink and smirked.

"We just came to wish you well on your trip today," Pfannee said. Shenshen nudged her a little. "And, uh, we're really glad, you know, that you, well, that you accepted our invitation."

"We only wish you'd stay a few days more," Shenshen spluttered. Elphaba and Galinda looked to each other trying to contain their laughter.

"Well, girls," Elphaba breathed. "I'm not sure I'm ready to forgive the scorn I've received here."

"But you forgave Galinda!" Shenshen blurted.

Pfannee slapped her arm and glared at her. "Shen"

"We should leave her alone to think," Galinda pronounced, taking their arms and leading them away, turning to wink at Elphaba one last time. Elphaba chuckled and shut her door.

Not an hour later, everyone's luggage was loaded onto the carriage and saying their goodbyes. Boq practically bounced toward the door of the carriage.

"Oh, I don't think so, duckie," Ama Clutched clicked, jerking Boq back and gesturing toward the coachman. "Miss Galinda insists that only females ride together. It'd be indecent of me to disagree."

Boq slowly took his place next the coachman, also a Munchkinlander. They were both silent the entire six hour ride back to Shiz.

"I always knew you too'd be friends," Ama Clutch droned. Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Always knew."

"Oh, Ama, you did not!" Galinda squealed. "Besides, we're not friends!"

"That's true," Elphaba added. "I mean, I can barely stand the girl's voice." Ama Clutch looked between the two girls a little confused and then chuckled to herself, returning to her knitting. Not ten minutes later she was out cold and Galinda moved to sit next to Elphaba.

"Hi," she said, smiling.

"Hello," Elphaba responded, returning the smile. "How long should I wait before feigning friendship with my two new admirers?" Galinda pursed her lips and looked up in thought.

"I'd say by the second day of school you will have gotten so annoyed with their fawning they'll either have died of shame because you haven't accepted them or you will have killed them yourself."

They laughed and Galinda reached for Elphaba's hand. She kissed it softly and leaned forward to kiss Elphaba. She felt Elphaba tense up and pulled away quickly.

"What's wrong?"

"What about Ama?" Elphaba breathed. Galinda kissed the girl again and shook her head.

"She sleeps deeper than me," Galinda revealed. Elphaba nodded and pulled Galinda to her, kissing her on the forehead. Their fingers intertwined, green and pink flesh dancing together. For the tiniest moment, Elphaba Thropp let herself feel happy. They slept in each other's arm the rest of the ride.