Elphaba sat meekly on her bed, Glinda beside her. "I don't know why it upset me so much- I know he does things like that."

"But that's-"

Elphaba cut her off. She needed to get it out now or she never would and would go insane. "And it's not like I love him, and he certaintly doesn't love me." The thought of loving Avaric actually made Elphaba a little sick.

"You still shouldn't have to look at it. And in public! The little hussy." Glinda said, bitingly.

This comforted Elphaba, in some bizarre way. "I suspose she doesn't care about her reputation."

Good. Now that she's talked it out, distract her. "I was thinking of going off campus later. Would you like to join me? Get a bite to eat?"

And Elphaba surprised them both when she agreed.


Of course, the trip wound up being more than a light meal. Glinda led a rather reluctant Elphaba into a shop. "Oh, look at this. Something for one of the grande Arduenna balls?"

"Buy it- I'll write my mother and have her invite you- they would adore showing a pretty girl like you off."

"Oh... Elphaba, you can't mean that. Don't your parents throw all of those events for you?"

Elphaba scoffed. "Of course they do- I'm the Arduenna's only daughter. Of course I'm invited to all of the parties... though I've never been the beautiful girl surrounded by friends. I was the one in a corner, perhaps with a book in my lap, wearing one of the dresses my mother had made for me."

Glinda swallowed hard. Elphaba's aloofness was not the one mandated by society, it was one created by that same cruel society. "Elphie.."

"What?"

"Elphie. If you don't mind, that is." She forced a smile and picked up a light purple dress. It was simple, but made of soft silk, with a bit of embroidery on the skirt, silver thread running through it. "This is so pretty."

"Let me buy it for you."

Glinda cocked her head. She had never been able to afford something like that. And someone to buy it for her as a gift.. "Elphaba no."

She rolled her eyes. "Please. My father won't miss the money."


There was something odd in the air the next morning. The girls woke up late- their minder was missing. They both dressed quickly and ran downstairs toward their class, when they noticed a gaggle of girls standing in a mob. Normal enough.

But not really- they weren't giggling or chattering like normal school girls, but dead silent. Glinda and Elphaba exchanged a glance, and hurried closer.

"Miss Pfannee? What is it?" Glinda asked of one of her 'friends'.

"Oh.. Glinda.." She noted the green girl. "Miss Elphaba." But there was no jab in her voice- which put them even more off ease. "They won't tell us anything, and they won't let us in. A moment ago several police officers and a doctor went in- but they weren't hurrying." She took a step toward Elphaba, and genuinely seemed sorry. "We think something happened to Doctor Dilamond."

Just then a group of boys aproached, Boq and Avaric included. "Ladies..." Boq started, aware of how off things seemed. He took Glinda's arm. "Are you all right? Miss Elphaba, I don't mean to insult you, but you've nearly gone white."

Glinda and Boq both watched Avaric, both wanting him to do something and praying he wouldn't. "Elphaba-"

"No. Don't. I have nothing to say to you." She made to walk off, but just then the door to the professor's lab opened. Out walked a gaggle of teachers, several police officers, a doctor- and a stretcher. A figure could be seen under a white sheet. A gust of wind chose the right moment, just when Elphaba was to cross it's path, and lifted a corner of it. All of the students gasped- the Goat's throat was slashed. Blood collected. Elphaba stopped in her tracks, and an officer quickly tucked the blanket back.

Elphaba stumbled back and bolted toward the bushes and emptied her stomach. How can this happen? He was going to get me out of here- but now, nothing... I'm going to be stuck in this life and there's nothing I can do. He was my chance of freedom, and now he's dead, killed. Murdered. And whoever did may as well have murdered me, because my life will be hell.

A soft voice and a hand on her shoulder."Elphie, it's me." Of course, who else calls me Elphie?

"Keep him away from me," she managed to say, her throat thick with tears.

"Alright, I will. Come on now Elphie, you should lie down. Let's go back- we've all been excused from our classes for the next week." And Glinda gently put an arm around Elphaba, letting her lean on her.

While a fleeting part of Elphaba was touched by Glinda's true show of friendship, too much of her was lost in grief and a feeling of hoplessness to appreciate it.