Disclaimer: Still don't own anything. Don't sue me.
A/N: Well, here's the next chapter. Hope you guys enjoy! Thanks for my wonderful reviewers, I love all the positive feedback I've been getting. I don't really like the ending to this chapter, but hopefully the next one will be better;
A knock on the door woke both girls early the next morning. Elphaba rolled over, her hair hanging roughly over her bandaged face. Surely the knock had been a figment of her imagination, for no one in their right mind would come to visit Galinda this early in the morning. But the knock came again, a hard couple of raps against the door. Groaning and mumbling the green girl rose out of bed, tossing a look over at her roommate who'd set herself up on her elbows, looking equally as disheveled. Oh she was going to murder whoever this was, curse them until their brain turned to-. Elphaba opened the door with a sharp glare, not expecting to see Madame Morrible standing there, her hand poised to knock again.
"Madame Morrible! What -"
Galinda had sat straight up and wrapped the covers around her chest modestly.
"Good morning Madame!"
But the headmistress had no time for such greetings. She ignored both girls and instead motioned for them to come close to her.
"If you would both follow me please."
The seriousness of the older woman's tone worried the girls, so both followed her without question. The halls were silent and the cold stone floors made them both wish they'd brought a jacket. Madame Morrible led them to her office and pointed to a pair of chairs in front of her desk.
"Sit please."
The voice was commanding, and the two girls immediately did so. The headmistress sat herself in a large chair behind the desk and looped her fingers in front of her, a strict gaze set upon Elphaba.
"It was brought to my attention last night that a girl returning from town was attacked as she neared school grounds. I believe you both know Miss. Shenshen?"
Galinda gasped and covered her mouth with a hand. Seeing her distress, Madame Morrible spoke again.
"Rest assured that she will fully recover, I know how worried you both are."
Her gaze increased on Elphaba, who's face had grown quite cold. She didn't give a flying monkey's ass about Shenshen, the girl was as wicked as anyone could be, and certainly deserved whatever injuries she'd sustained. The headmistress continued on, her eyes never leaving the green girl's hazel ones.
"Miss. Shenshen was kind enough to talk to me in the nurse's ward last night. She informed me that she was returning from a lunch date. Is this correct Miss. Galinda?"
The blonde nodded, her face giving away how horrified she was. She never should have let Shenshen come home by herself, and was surprised that Avaric hadn't insisted upon that himself. Madame Morrible continued, her gaze only briefly leaving Elphaba.
"She also told me that her attacker was cloaked when they advanced upon her. But she did mention something to me that I thought was particularly useful."
Galinda inched forward in her chair, eager to hear a clue as to who had attacked her best friend.
"And what was that Madame?"
Elphaba looked over at her roommate, not finding it hard to believe that the blonde was taking Shenshen's side. The headmistress bent forward on her desk, and when the green girl looked back around, she was met by one of the most intense gazes she'd ever seen. Never one to back down from such a challenge, she returned the look.
"Miss. Shenshen told me that when her attacker drew back with intent to strike, that she swore she saw a flash of green upon the hand."
Elphaba's eyes went wide, as she was fully aware of what was being said. Shenshen was framing her! The green girl felt her blood begin to boil at the thought of that stupid prep getting her in serious trouble for something she hadn't even done. Galinda took a moment to understand the situation, and when she did, she shot up from her chair and turned towards her roommate.
"Elphie! How could you?"
Quick to defend herself, Elphaba stood as well, using her height as an advantage over the shorter blonde. Madame Morrible sat back in her chair, a bit surprised by the sudden outburst.
"I didn't do anything!"
No one seemed to believe her, so Elphaba grabbed her roommate by the shoulders and leaned in a bit to emphasis her point.
"Galinda, listen to me! You were with me all evening, how could I have gotten out without you noticing?"
This seemed to be a valid point, but the blonde remembered something that threw her roommate off.
"I took one of my long baths last night. You could have gone out while I was in the bathroom."
Elphaba couldn't argue with this. She could only hope that Galinda could see past the lie that her friend was setting up. Madame Morrible continued on.
"Please take your seats ladies."
Both sat grudgingly, the blonde still looking rather angry. Shenshen was so innocent, who would want to hurt her? She refused to look at her roommate, not able to believe that the green girl would attack someone. She'd always been anti-social yes, but never violent. It just didn't seem right, but she was going to believe Shenshen, for her friend's evidence certainly narrowed down the list of suspects.
"Now Miss. Elphaba, this is a very serious offence that merit's a punishment equaling expulsion."
She was going to be expelled? Now how in the world was this fair? The next time she saw that girl, she'd really give her an attack worth expelling her over!
"But lucky for you, Miss. Shenshen is an extremely forgiving soul. She has requested that you simply be kept from your classes for one week."
Elphaba had sat up straight again upon hearing her punishment.
"How will I get my work? I'll fall so far behind that you'll have to expel me!"
The green girl was fuming, Galinda could tell by her pursed lips and narrowed eyes. She began to pity Shenshen, for who knew what kind of treatment awaited her now with Elphaba so angry.
"Perhaps you should have considered that before you attacked an innocent girl Miss. Elphaba. Your father will be notified shortly. I only dare to imagine his reaction… You're dismissed ladies."
By the time Galinda had risen from her chair, Elphaba was out the door. When the blonde got back to the room, she could hear objects being thrown about and mumbled curses through the door. Taking a deep breath she entered, and the green girl's gaze fell immediately upon her. There were red trails down her cheeks, which could only mean that she'd been crying. The blonde had never seen her roommate cry before, and she suddenly felt the entire weight of Elphaba's world pushed upon her. In that moment, Galinda knew that the green girl was innocent.
"Elphaba I -"
But she didn't want to hear it.
"You've picked your side Galinda, now stay over there."
The green girl's tone was spoken so shakily that the blonde felt her tremble. She had trouble finding her voice, and when she did, it was extremely weak.
"You're innocent, I know that."
This seemed to trigger something in Elphaba, who immediately became more alert. Taking to menacing steps towards the blonde, she watched Galinda shrink back from her.
"You know I'm innocent and yet you sat there and let me get blamed? Wow Galinda, what a great friend you are!"
The sarcasm dripped from her last sentence like venom, and the blonde frowned, knowing the words to be true.
"I know, I'm sorry Elphaba! I'll go talk to Shenshen and get her to stay that it wasn't you."
But that apparently wasn't good enough. The green girl stepped back, making her roommate far more comfortable.
"No, I'm going to talk to your little friend myself. If she wants an attack, I'll give her one!"
Now it was Galinda's turn to step forward, which made Elphaba eye her curiously.
"You mustn't!"
The blonde seemed so urgent with her words that the green girl actually reconsidered attacking Shenshen. But that anger was still there, and she needed to act on it. Shaking her head Elphaba stormed past Galinda, not expecting to be stopped by a hand grabbing her own. The green girl turned and looked from their joined hands to her roommate's face, which still persisted.
"Elphie please, for me, don't."
No wonder Galinda got whatever she wanted. Who could resist that face? Elphaba sighed, knowing that the longer she looked into those blue eyes, the less of a chance there was that she would actually leave.
"Fine… but you better talk to her for me."
The blonde smiled and nodded in agreement.
"I will, I promise."
Their hands were still joined, and upon realizing this, both girls quickly let go. Galinda blushed and turned away to go brush her hair. Elphaba just stood there, a small smile on her face, her hand warm and tingling. She'd never swayed her opinions around anyone else before, so why now had she done so? And suddenly, she didn't feel so angry anymore.
