DISCLAIMER: I don't own the musical, the script, the lyrics, or anything else that belongs to Wicked and Co. This is just a bit of fun.
A/N: I just randomly found this chapter saved on my puter, so here it is. I do not promise any or many more updates from here, but this is a start!
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Chapter 4: Lost
Cursing under her breath for allowing her fantasies of a life that was never going to be within her reach, she marched back to the main building desperate to locate her sister and purge any grievances she might have about their current situation before her sister could get word back to their father.
Despite the fact that it was her father's omission of his eldest daughter that meant she was no longer residing with her sister and carrying out the duties she had been sent to Shiz to fulfil, she was certain that somehow he would twist the situation so that the blame would lie with her. The handle of her suitcase felt the brunt of her unspoken building rage.
Elphaba tried to negotiate the many identical hallways that made up Shiz as she searched for Madame Morrible's compartment, and more importantly her sister, but the idea of signposting seemed to have biased the aging institute completely. The corridors were empty, not a single student or teacher in sight.
She was about to loose her last ounce of hope, when she turned the corner and caught sight of a familiar figure that looked just as lost as she was, although it seemed this young red-head had the advantage of a map and welcome pack, something that was apparently only bestowed upon those that were expected at Shiz.
"Excuse me," Elphaba called out, drawing the girl's attention away from the diagram she was trying to decipher. Whipping her head around to greet her fellow student, Elphaba suddenly understood why this petite figure had seemed so familiar. "Oh Sweet Oz!" Elphaba muttered, "It's fainting girl!"
She sent a prayer skyward to the Unnamed God requesting that the young girl's earlier actions were not repeated again now. Taking a deep breath, she approached the girl as calmly as she could manage. "Hi. Can you help me? I'm looking for Madame Morrible's room?"
The poor girl stood totally startled. Her mouth fell open, and remained that way, no form of greeting slipping out in response. Elphaba watched frustrated as the colour started to drain from her face, and fearing a fainting attack was fast on its way, she demanded quite forcefully, "don't you dare faint on me again!"
Her sternness seemed to work a treat. Afraid to disobey the green girl before her, the blood returned immediately to her features, the disaster averted. In contrast, she now stood up straight, fully attentive to Elphaba and her next command. However, her eyes betrayed her calm exterior, the shivers of fear not unnoticed by Elphaba.
"Do you know where I can find Madame Morrible's room?"
The girl's mouth remained open, but Elphaba was at least able to elicit an answer from her in the form of a negative shake of the head. "May I?" She asked, indicating to the map. She relinquished the map, but not before a frightened gasp escaped as her fingers grazed her green guest's. Scanning the complex diagrams of rooms, corridors and buildings, Elphaba spotted her desired location and memorised the route she would need. She handed the map back with a quick 'thank you'.
Preparing to leave, Elphaba noticed the young girl starting to turn an alarming shade of blue. She picked up her suitcase and took a couple of steps down the corridor before turning to announce with a bitter twang, "I'm leaving. You can breathe now." She sighed as a huge gasp filled the girl's lungs with much needed oxygen.
Why did people always have to react in such a manor to her skin colour? The Winkies were known for having darker skin than most, and most were decorated with those infamous blue diamonds. Yet no one looked twice at them. Their differences were socially acceptable, whereas she was not. She always had, and no doubt always would, continue to get a similar reaction as she had experienced earlier, and now again.
Pushing away the thoughts that had haunted her since she was old enough to comprehend what others thought about her, she picked up the pace of her steps, wanting to get to her sister sooner rather than later. Her father would never forgive her for what had happened already, let alone if she were to neglect her duties any further.
Morrible and Nessa were sat at the small round coffee table enjoying a cup of freshly brewed herbal tea, when a knock at the door interrupted their conversation. As the door opened, Elphaba heard her sister's infectious chuckle fill the room, reassuring her that Nessa had been cared for during her absence.
"Why Miss Elphaba, we did not expect to see you until supper."
"I know Madame, and I am sorry to intrude, but I made a promise to my father that I intend to keep."
Impressed by her young charge's loyalty and determination, she stepped aside allowing her entrance to her compartment. Nessa had since rolled herself to the doorway, and permitted her sister to greet her with a quick kiss on the cheek, a gesture that was not reciprocated. Her sister was always one for holding a grudge, and it was obvious Elphaba was on the receiving end of one right now.
She set to work immediate, opening up one of the seven trunks that had been delivered to her new accommodation over the last hour. Her sister had nearly as many possessions at that annoying Galinda brat. The contents were quickly distributed among the expensive Quoxwood drawers, Nessa's protests to leave her alone to settle in going unheard.
The conversation seemed one-sided this afternoon, Elphaba noted. Usually she could arouse some sort of interaction from her sister, even if the words were hurtful or condescending, but not today. "Elphaba please," she insisted. "I can manage by myself you know. And anything I can't, then I'm sure Madame Morrible will help."
"But I promised father."
"Yes dear, I know," Morrible added, an arm landing on her shoulder. "But what he doesn't know won't hurt him. I will take care of your sister. Besides," she started, guiding a reluctant Elphaba towards the door, "you need to unpack yourself. We can't have you being late for supper and orientation, can we?"
"I suppose." With a shovel that was more force than encouragement, Elphaba stumbled across the threshold. She turned to complain, but instead found herself face to face with the large wooden door. Profanities were brewing on her tongue. Raising a clenched fist, she went to pound on the door. Her hand stopped short of knocking, and she let out a sigh. It was no use. Her sister didn't want her. Worse, her sister didn't need her.
Dejected, she left Nessarose in the care of Madame Morrible. She could only trust that the elder lady would supply sufficient support when needed.
Finding Morrible's compartment had proved difficult enough; finding Miss Upland's private suite was another matter entirely. She trudged down the empty halls of Shiz, her eyes perplexed by the scribbled notes and directions the headmistress had haphazardly applied to paper. She had, at the time, been more interesting in winning Nessarose's approval than listening to the verbal instructions that accompanied the icons and words.
Elphaba snorted as Morrible's earlier comments about how 'every students' welfare was her concern' echoed in her head. If that was so, then where was her concern now? Why was she not here, by Elphaba's side, directing her to her new abode? She had seen Morrible help the other students earlier, but now, when Elphaba needed help, she was not to be found. Morrible was no different than any other ignorant person Elphaba had ever had the displeasure of meeting.
It still perplexed her how everyone could treat her so differently. True, people, especially kids, were notorious for finding the 'defects' of a person and exploiting them. Yet Nessa, whose disability and difference was so blatant, was accepted and she was always spared the torment and torture that only kids can deliver. Elphaba on the other hand, was shunned, shamed and shouted at.
Angrily she kicked at the ground, the edge of her boot connecting with the marble floor and sending a squeak down the empty corridor. All she wanted was to be accepted and acknowledged for the person she was on the inside, and not the hideous green tint that coated the outside.
