Song: 'For Good'- the musical 'Wicked' (Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth)
Season: 1
Pairing: Perri/Bec
Author: aussiebabe290 (Rhyleigh)


Perri Lawe couldn't help the tears that had gathered in her eyes, as she opened her suitcase, for the first time in twelve months. Twelve months she had been at Solar Blue Surf Academy, and she had lived the high life with her best friends.

Matt was her Prince Charming on a surfboard, Fly was their sweet, giggly girl, and Anna was their toughie. Edge, who found it easier to bicker with them than show his heart, Heath, the joking kid who had caught everything on camera. And her roommate and ultimate best friend. Bec was the local surfer chick, who knew the beaches like the back of her hand.

She loved them all, and they were leaving, going their separate ways in the world.

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

"Are you alright, Perri?" Bec wanted to know, perching cross legged on the end of Perri's bed. "You're very quiet".

Normally, Perri was the one asking Bec to turn down her chatter, so she could attempt to get something done. The two couldn't get through the day without an argument, and that was the best part about their friendship. It was how they lived.

"I'm fine", Perri said thickly. "I'm just going to miss this place, that's all".

Bec smiled. "We're had some good times, haven't we? Remember the first sleepover we had?"

"Hardly a sleepover", Perri snorted, wiping her eyes. "They live in the next room, Bec, that doesn't count as a sleepover".

"Remind me again whose idea it was, Perri Lawe?" laughter danced in her coffee coloured eyes, as she giggled at her roommate.

"I will admit, Bec, that was my idea". Giggling, Perri tossed a jacket into the bottom of her suitcase. "I just can't believe we're leaving".

"It's too soon", Bec agreed firmly.

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

Bec had grown accustomed to waking up in the morning to hear Perri's gentle breathing, watching the rise and fall of her chest as she flailed around to turn off the alarm clock. Out of all the kids in the house, they were the most competitive, agreeing and yet disagreeing in the same motion. She was the only girl at home- and here she had three sisters, that she loved.

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

They knew that nothing, after Solar Blue, would be the same. It wouldn't be the same waking up in the morning and not finding a house full of teenagers. There would be no more inedible dinners, prepared by their best friends. No coaches to gently chide and yet parent them at the same time. And they knew- they knew- that they would never be the same again. Bec had six separate handprints on her heart- one for each of her fellow housemates.

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a sky bird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

"It'll never be the same, will it?" Perri asked.

Because I knew you

"Nope".

I have been changed for good

"I'm sorry", Bec offered. "You know, for being a bad roommate and everything".

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the thing I've done you blame me for

"You? A bad roommate?" Perri snorted. "You're looking at the most un-morning person in the entire world! I'm basically the Wicked Witch in the morning".

But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

"Not that I noticed", Bec said cheekily, earning a thwack to the face with a pillow. Giggling, Bec rolled off the bed and snatched up her own pillow, thumping Perri back just as hard. Squealing, the two launched into a full-on pillow fight, as they had so many time during the year.

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Sighing, Bec fell to the floor, hugging Perri hard. "I'm gonna miss you".

"I'm gonna miss you too", Perri mumbled into Bec's brown hair, finally letting the tears fall.

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

"This isn't the end, is it?" Perri fretted. "I mean, this isn't the last time we'll see each other?"

"We'll be back, one day", Bec said knowingly. "All of us. So much for Edge's stupid 'fishbowl' theory or whatever he was talking about the other night. We'll all be back in Blue Water one day, playing Scrabble around the coffee table. And we might even be able to convince Heath that 'shaboodle' isn't a word!"

Perri spluttered with laughter.

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

"Nothing's gonna change, Perri. We're all together, really", Bec said wisely, hugging her tight. "Because we're best friends. And best friends change the others".

Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better