A/N: See previous chapters for disclaimer. Okay. So, I've written and rewritten, and tweaked this chapter. And I still hate it. But, it's leading up to other ideas. It's a foot in the door, I guess. R/R please. :o)

Galinda was excited to hear Milla had returned early to Shiz from summer holiday. Elphaba was spending most of her free time with Dr. Dillamond and after waking up so early and coming home so late; she generally crawled into Galinda's arms and fell asleep. And so Galinda would watch her sleep and even picked up a book from time to time, trying some words out loud to soothe Elphaba.

There was a soft knock and Galinda smoothed her dress over before answering.

"Miss Galinda!" cried Milla. They embraced, smiling and cooing. Milla pulled away, studying her friend. "You are glowing! The summer has been good to you?"

"I traveled to Neverdale, staying at Caprice-in-the-Pines—"

"Yes! Misses Pfannee and Shenshen sent me the strangest account of Miss Elphaba's arrival at Lake Chorge. They really can be quite petty," Milla said. Galinda smiled, relieved Milla hadn't joined ranks with her summer roommates. "You must give me the real story."

Galinda told her about the fake invitation and the shock of seeing Boq, Avaric, and yes, Miss Elphaba.

"How did you find Boq?" Milla asked suddenly. Galinda looked at Milla funny who seemed to be blushing.

"Pestering as always," replied Galinda.

"Still crazy for you, I trust," Milla said and Galinda noted a little sadness. Was it possible Milla had room in her heart for as silly a boy as Boq? But then, people would probably ask that of Galinda in reference to the current person filling her own thoughts.

"Dearest Milla, is there something you'd like to reveal to me?" asked Galinda, smiling with encouragement. Milla covered her face in embarrassment and Galinda giggled. "Why, you have a crush on Boq, don't you!" Milla only nodded and Galinda hugged her friend. It was the perfect diversion. Galinda would begin her work immediately.

A couple nights later, Elphaba arrived to the room earlier than usual. Galinda wasn't there, so the green girl took a book out of her satchel and settled in at her desk. She leafed through the book, going over her day in her mind. She'd risen early, before Ama Clutch had managed to bring in the tea. Galinda, of course, was still sleeping as Elphaba slipped quietly out.

Upon arriving to Dr. Dillamond's laboratory, she was not shocked to find him dozing at his desk. She smiled, removing his glasses and pulling a worn shawl around the Goat's shoulders. It was rare he let himself sleep, Elphaba decided to start her work and wait for him to finish his catnap, or Goatnap as it were. Elphaba shook her head at the corny joke unable to resist how "Galindafied" her thoughts were this morning.

Elphaba went over some notes she'd taken the day before, carefully recopying them into the Goat's notebook for his final proposal. Before too long, Dr. Dillamond was up skirting about and Elphaba was taking new notes.

"Doctor, would it be all right if I took these notes home this evening, I'd like to have them copied over for you by morning," Elphaba asked. Dillamond looked up from his work and smiled.

"That'd be all right, Miss Elphaba. But it won't be necessary, in fact, I won't need you tomorrow," he said. He put a paw on Elphaba's shoulder and smiled. "I have everything I need. And seeing as the new semester has started, you will need to get ready for your new classes. You've already worked past your requirement."

"But Doctor—"

"Shhh," the Goat more squirted than anything else. Elphaba smiled allowing her instructor to collect her in an excited hug. "We've done it, my dear! By next week, I'll have sent proof—" He stopped short, large eyes darting around the room.

"Doctor?" Elphaba whispered. He seemed paranoid, putting up his paw to silence the girl. She obliged, also looking around but hearing nothing. She reached up to touch his chest lightly.

"Not enough sleep, I think," he laughed at himself.

Elphaba was shaken from her memory when the door clicked and two laughing girls entered the room and flopped down on Galinda's bed.

"I can't believe we just did that," Milla giggled. "I mean, did you see her face?"

"Oh, Master Avaric, how I pine for you!" Galinda gushed, lowering her voice to sound more masculine. "I don't think I've ever seen Miss Pfannee so mortified." Elphaba cleared her throat.

"Oh, dear!" Milla exclaimed. She looked at Galinda who was peering at Elphaba.

"You're back early," Galinda said steadily. She wasn't sure how to play her budding romance around Milla. "Is Ama Clutch around?"

"Not sure," Elphaba said, for no reason feeling rather angry with the intrusion. She looked at Milla. "Good holiday?"

"It was, until I found that all the excitement was right here with my friends," Milla said. Elphaba took this to be a joke at her expense and eyed Galinda. "And yours?"

"I wouldn't dare bore you with the details of my summer working with a Goat," Elphaba sneered. "If you please, I'm going to bed."

"Elphaba?" Galinda let out, moving towards the green girl.

"Miss Galinda, I do hope once the quarter begins you'll be so kind as to not have social gatherings at such a late hour. After all—"

"Enough!" stated Galinda. She took Elphaba's hands, Milla watching the whole exchange in stunned silence. "I saw you when I walked in, you were not angry. Why are you being like this?"

"Oh, so you did notice I was here, but ignored me all the same?"

"Maybe I should go," Milla said, moving for the door. "Miss Galinda, I will see you in class tomorrow morning." And with that she was out and Galinda put a soft hand to a green cheek.

"What's wrong?" Galinda asked. Elphaba shrugged.

"You flounce in, carefree, but don't you know…oh, no," Elphaba trailed off, shaking her head.

"Did you learn some new language I'm unaware of? Because you are making no sense and you're acting very strange. Like, well, a lot like—"

"You?" Elphaba finished. "I've been playing the part of flitty pink girl all day. I can't imagine how you handle the wicked mood changes."

"Right, you know nothing about mood changes," Galinda said, smiling and kissing Elphaba's forehead. "Come on, let's get ready for bed. I have big news for you."

A quarter of an hour later, Galinda was resting on Elphaba's telling her about her day with Milla. They had faked a love note in effort to revenge the invitation Pfannee had written. Ama Clutch came in to say goodnight and encouraged the girl's to go to bed—separate beds—soon. Galinda giggled, Elphaba blushed, and Ama snorted as she went back to her quarters.

"And I'm moving full head forward with putting Boq's heart to Milla," Galinda continued as if Ama had never entered at all.

"Milla and Boq? And Galinda the Matchmaker. Sounds like disaster," Elphaba grunted, setting her book to the side. They were talking more than she was reading. "Just like us, I'd say."

"Why would you say that?" scoffed Galinda. Elphaba sighed.

"Galinda, this is nice, it's certainly made the room more bearable to live in. But eventually my sister will come to Shiz. Eventually you'll have to marry a wealthy man, of which I am neither. And honestly, spending so much time with one person and therefore taking on their characteristics, well it's all a bit much to bear. And I don't need a distraction once the quarter begins," Elphaba explained. She regretted the words immediately, unsure of where this had all come from.

Galinda stood up and crossed the room. "I don't believe you."

"Please, listen, sit down," Elphaba pleaded. Galinda's jawed tensed and she shook her head. "Okay, stand then."

"I stood up for you, and yes, those ninnies are hardly worth my time, but Milla and I went out of our way to try to get back at them for you," Galinda said. Elphaba looked down to her lap.

"I don't need you to fight my fights for me, Galinda," responded Elphaba.

Galinda simply nodded and quietly moved back towards the beds. Instead of joining Elphaba, she curled up in her own for the first time since returning to Shiz. Elphaba picked up a book to read but Galinda simply stared straight ahead. It wasn't before long that Ama came back in to move the drapes aside for the girls in preparation of the morning's sun.

Both girls heard Ama Clutch mumble something about Dr. Dillamond, but only Elphaba acknowledged the old woman with a response. She mumbled something more and hurried out of the room. Elphaba glanced over at Galinda's bed who was pretending to be asleep.

"We're talking about this tomorrow," Elphaba said loudly, and she too succumbed to sleep.