(A/N: Yes, I'm back, and yes, it's early. And there's probably another chappie comin' up later today or tomorrow. Gah, I'm running my muses [I have decided that I have two] ragged. *yells over shoulder* Sorry Thalia! Sorry Euterpe! [that's Comedy and Music for you un-Greekified people]

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this. It's a little shorter than my usual chappies, but oh well.)

The group of girls exited the History building a little later than the rest of the class.

"Elphaba, come on! We're gonna be late for Science! You already missed Sorcery!"

Elphaba ignored Bri. "Can you believe that the Animals are forgetting how to talk? It's just not right!"

Olwyn sighed. "Look, I care about the Animals too, but if you're even going to get a chance to talk to the Wizard about it, you're gonna need to do well in school, which means we can't be late. So come on!" She tried to drag Elphaba along with them, but she wouldn't move.

"Does anyone else realize that we're the only ones even trying to get to our next class?" She was glancing behind them, where there was a large commotion in Shiz common. "Let's go check it out!" she yelled, running off.

Bri and Olwyn stood there, dumbfounded. "Since when is she outgoing?"

"Since about five seconds ago."

A few minutes later, Elphaba marched back past them, her dress slightly rumpled and her glasses askew.

"Um, Elphaba? What-?"

"That dumb Winkie Prince nearly ran me over in his stupid carriage!" She kicked the ground, sending a clump of grass flying.

Olwyn squealed. "OmiOz! He's here!?" She ran over to the common.

Mere seconds later, Bri and Elphaba heard singing. Bri turned on her heel and walked off. "When the random musical numbers start, it's time to leave."

Elphaba laughed. "Agreed."

~*~*~*~*~*~

In Science, once everyone had made it (including said brainless Prince), the teacher could barely hold the attention of the class. Everyone was too excited about the dance that night.

Mr. Sinne yelled above the din. "Oi! You can all focus on this dance later! Everyone turn to page 394!"

Everyone except for Bri and Elphaba ignored him.

"PAGE 394!!!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, his face turning a threatening shade of plum. Everyone quickly shut up and opened their books to the desired page.

After class, they had a free period, so Bri, Olwyn, and Elphaba sat in the middle of the common, reading. All of a sudden, Elphaba's sister, Nessarose, wheeled in and began doing donuts, giggling like a madwoman.

"Er, Nessa? Are you feeling alright?" Elphaba was concerned for her sister's sanity.

Nessa stopped the donuts and wheeled herself up to where the girls were sitting. "Oh, Fabala, I'm better than alright! I just got asked to the dance!" She giggled again.

"Really? Nessa, that's wonderful!" Elphaba said. Olwyn and Brielle remained silent, not sure what to say.

"Yes, Boq was too shy to ask me on his own, but once Galinda encouraged him-"

"Wait. Galinda?"

"Elphaba! Don't you dare say another word against her! I'm about to have the first happy night of my life, and it's all thanks to Galinda! Finally for this one night-"

Bri stood up. "Argh! What's wrong with you people and randomly breaking into song?"

Nessa looked confused. "I'm honestly not sure. Who are you?"

Elphaba laughed. "This is Bri and Olwyn. They're the reason I'm still sane." Olwyn waved energetically at Nessa, while Bri nodded in acknowledgement.

"Er, nice to meet you?" Nessa said, still confused. She turned back to her sister. "But, Elphaba, really! I like Boq, and he actually likes me! At least try to understand."

"Okay, fine, whatever. Just, don't do anything stupid."

Nessa squealed in delight. "Thanks Fabala!" She hugged her sister and wheeled off again, humming the tune she had started to sing.

Olwyn snickered. " 'Fabala'?"

"She had trouble pronouncing my name when she was little, okay?"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that night, after failing to convince Elphaba to come, Bri and Olwyn were attempting to get ready.

"Oh, come on, Bri! It's just a dance!"

"There's no way you're getting me out of this room, Olwyn. No frickin' way."

"But I already made you a dress!"

Brielle blinked. "That fast? We just found out about the party today!"

Olwyn smirked. "I work fast. Now come on! You'll look absolutely stunning!" She giggled. "I know I do."

Brielle rolled her eyes. "Hey, good attempt at modesty. I think you need a bit more practice, though."

Olwyn grabbed her roomate's hand and pulled her toward the closet. "You are going to this dance whether you like it or not. So just suck it up, okay?"

Brielle mumbled something about cruel and unusual punishment, but complied.

After a few minutes of grumbled protests, hair pulling, and having trouble lacing up a corset, they were done.

Brielle glanced down at her dress. "Well, Olwyn. I gotta say, you have great taste. But does it really have to be so short?" The dark red dress barely went down to her knees, yet the sleeves covered her entire hands, save for her black-painted nails.

"Yes. Yes it does." Olwyn ran her eyes up and down her friend. The dress had turned out better that she'd dared to hope for. And the black combat boots that went halfway to Bri's knees were definitely a nice touch.

"But, I feel... Weird. I don't usually wear this sort of thing. I mean really! I'm wearing a corset!" Bri unconsciously tried to tuck her hair behind her ear, only to remember that it was up in some sort of messy updo.

Olwyn laughed. "That's the point! You're supposed to look different. Although, I for one am completely inside my comfort zone." She was wearing a kimono-ish teal blue dress with a dragon winding around her chest up to her neck.

Bri snorted. "That's the thing though. You're so out there, you don't have a comfort zone."

"Whatever. Let's go!" Olwyn grabbed Bri's hand and yanked her out the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"It's so... Glittery." Brielle looked around, astounded by the number of students that showed up.

"How articulate. You want some punch?" Olwyn asked, gazing toward the refreshment table. All the guys were over there.

"Sure," Bri answered, still in awe of the ballroom. The place looked waaaay smaller from the outside.

As Olwyn walked off to get the drinks (of course, she was really doing no such thing. She just needed an excuse to go flirt with all the guys), Brielle continued staring, trying to take the whole thing in at once. She didn't notice the dark-haired guy staring at her from the other side of the ballroom.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Fiyero and Galinda sat down on the bench. Galinda was giggling, and Fiyero had a rather absentminded smile on his face.

The guy with black hair they'd sat by snorted. "You two enjoy your snogging?"

Galinda giggled louder, and Fiyero aimed a swat at his head. "Whatever, Einon. You're just jealous that I already have a girlfriend."

Einon rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. I could if I wanted to."

"Then why don't you go over and talk to that girl over there." Fiyero gestured in the direction of a pale girl in a dark red dress.

Einon blinked. "What? Why her?"

Fiyero laughed. Galinda rolled her eyes. "You've been staring at her all night."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Shoooooooor you don't." Galinda grinned. "In fact, I think we should get her opinion on this." She stood up and walked over to the girl. "Hi! I'm Galinda."

The girl eyed her warily. "I kinda already knew that. I'm Brielle."

"That's a pretty name!" Galinda giggled. "Anyway, there's a guy over there. His name's Einon. We (meaning Fiyero and I) think he's been staring at you all night, but he won't admit it. Honestly, it's kind of patheticifying. Anyway, we think it would make him feel better if you'd go over there and talk to him."

Brielle blinked. "He's been staring. At me. Does he have a mental deficiency or something?"

Galinda laughed. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You look prettytastic. Now, come on." She grabbed Bri's hand. "Mr. Third Wheel needs a pick-me-up."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Bri couldn't shake the feeling that the guy's name sounded familiar. And she also couldn't help but wonder if Galinda knew that it was her and Elphaba that trashed their dorm, and this was some sort of payback.

Making it over to the bench, Brielle sat down by Einon. He even looks familiar. He's cute too.

They sat there in silence, until Galinda finally grew fed up with the lack of conversation. "Oh, go dance or something!" The two got up and obediently walked out onto the dance floor. Galinda sighed and looked at Fiyero. "I swear, nothing around here's ever going to get done without me."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Einon smiled slightly at the blush that seemed to be a permanent fixture on Brielle's face. They'd been dancing for about two songs now (the DJ was apparently fond of slow songs) and she hadn't said one word.

"What're you smiling at?" she asked, noticing his expression.

"You're blushing," he replied, shrugging.

"Really? I had no idea."

"Ah, yes. Sarcasm. That's constructive."

"It's even more constructive when retaliated with more sarcasm."

Einon blinked. "Touche. So," he said trying to ease the tension. "What are you majoring in?"

"Not sure. You?" she said.

"I'm not sure yet either. I have to choose this year, though, so I'd better get cracking. I'm hoping for something to do with Musical Theatre, but I'm not sure yet."

"Oh! I have that class. I'm in the last block class."

"Hey, me too!" Einon brightened. Now, this was getting somewhere.

Brielle frowned. "You weren't in class today. Are you sure you didn't get your schedule mixed up?"

"No, I only have it every other day. I probably would've gotten full time, but my little sister stole my train ticket so I was late."

"Little sister?" Brielle blinked in recognition.

"Yeah. Her name's Olwyn. I think she's in your year. This is your first, right?"

Brielle blinked. "Olwyn?"

"Yeah, you know her?"

"She's my roomate." Brielle laughed.

Einon laughed too. "I bet you've heard all about the ladies' man older brother by now, haven't you?"

Brielle smiled. "Yeah, it tends to be a favorite topic with her. You're really not all that bad though." She moved almost imperceptibly closer to him as they danced.

Einon perceived it, but gave no sign. He just smiled a bit bigger. "You're not seeing anyone, are you?"

"No, why?" Brielle tried to keep her voice casual, but she blushed again, giving herself away.

Phrase it right, or you'll sound like a dork. "Would you like to see me?" Sweet Lurline, what kind of pickup line was that?

Brielle stared at him, silvery-green eyes trying to decipher something. "Are you serious, or is this some sort of dare from the happy couple over there?" She moved her arm from his shoulder and pointed to Galinda and Fiyero, who had resumed their makeout session.

Einon gently grabbed her arm and put it back on his shoulder. "No joke, I promise. I'm being completely sincere."

Brielle sighed. "Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, I'd like to see you. Do you really have the attention span of a gerbil?"

Einon laughed. "So, is Saturday night okay?"

"Sure." Brielle laid her head on his shoulder. "That sound fine."

Just, then, Olwyn walked up balancing two cups of the lemon/melon/pear punch. "Okey-dokey, Bri! Here's your-" She stopped dead in her tracks. "SWEET LURLINE, EINON! WHAT IN OZ'S NAME IS GOING ON HERE?!"

(A/N: Yes, I felt evil this chapter. And I'm leaving you at a cliffhanger. And Elphaba hasn't even shown up yet! You see, in my mind, she got the hat from Galinda, then spent a few hours in her room deciding whether she was even going to go. Don't worry, she'll show up next chapter.

Yes, Bri is in the school's drama department. Everyone's been put in there, because either A) they sing in the actual musical, B) they can sing well, or C) they were late in turning in their applications and got put in there by default *cough* Olwyn *cough* You see, the reason she stole Einon's tickets and made him late, was because it was revenge for him telling her that the teachers at Shiz are inherently evil, thereby forestalling her sending in of the application form.

Hope y'all enjoyed!

~ The Humble Authoress)