Again, apologies for my little hiatus. Thank you so much to those who stick with me though I can't update as regularly. You guys rock.

Hopefully updates will be coming a lot sooner after this week!


The sun filtering through the only window in the room filled the dorm with a brilliant orange light that shone directly in Elphaba's eyes.

She groaned softly and held up a hand to shield her face. Why did the sun hurt so much? It had never shone this brightly on her side of the room before.

Her side of the room.

She shut her eyes against the sunlight. Of course. She had asked Glin for help, and this is what she got. A change of beds and burning orange in her pupils.

She rolled over, away from the sun, and came face to face with her blonde roommate. Galinda was, in Elphaba's opinion, a little too close to her, but to her credit, she was rather pretty, even in sleep - though she was taking up far too much room. Elphaba chuckled. She wondered if Galinda, not exactly a light sleeper, would actually wake up if Elphaba moved.

Yawning, Elphaba slowly pulled herself up by her elbows, rubbing her eyes with one hand as she exhaled. Another day, another war. But last night hadn't been so bad, at least, towards the end. She glanced at the clock. 10:13. Funny. She had never slept in that late before.

Usually because she had class.

Elphaba bolted upright. Class. Oh Oz, how could she forget?

Throwing the comforter aside, she leapt out of bed, hitting the ground lightly as she ran towards her closet. 10:13. She missed Economics in its entirety and Ozian History started about ten minutes ago but if she hurried, she could make it with an hour left of class -

"Elphie!"

She spun around to Galinda, bleary-eyed but alert and alarmed, sitting up on the edge of the bed like a cat about to pounce. "Elphaba, are you all right? What's the matter?"

Elphaba paused, taking a breath. "Class! I missed Economics and if I don't hurry" - she turned frantically back to her closet, grabbing at whatever was within her reach - "I'll miss History too. Oz, I've never done this! Never!"

Galinda glanced at the clock, then back at her with a resigned (and slightly relieved) sigh. "Elphie, it's Tuesday. You don't have class till eleven."

Elphaba froze before slumping against the frame of the closet, shutting her eyes. "Oh."

Glin chuckled, shaking her head. "Would you look at that! I knew something you didn't. Sort of." She flopped back down on the bed. "Have you really never missed a class before? It's not that big of a deal."

Elphaba sent an irritated glare in her direction. "Not for you, but I have more important things to do than sleep in."

Galinda yawned, unperturbed by her tone. "Clearly stressing out for no reason is one of them." She rested her chin in her hands and looked over at her. "But I am glad there wasn't a serious problem. And also that my plan worked."

Elphaba crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. "What plan?"

The blonde smirked. "The one where we share a bed! See? I can wake up like that - all quick-like. I can help you."

Elphaba sighed. "Yes. You can wake up. Congratulations."

"And you didn't have any more nightmares?"

She paused. "No."

Galinda grinned triumphantly. "Told you. It is working."

The green girl bit back the response that it had only been one time and she had already had a nightmare that night, that the sun had been in her eyes when she woke up and Galinda took up half the bed but it was more comfortable and - "Time shall tell, Glin." But she offered a slight smile before resuming grabbing clothes out of the closet. "How long must I share a bed with you?"

Galinda took a breath. "Three weeks."

"Three weeks?!"

"You're lucky," she said, with an air of teasing. "I'm being merciful."

"Galinda, be serious. That's not necessary."

"Oh, come on, Elphie, indulge me. It does make me feel better. And don't put that shade of navy with black unless you want me to be irritated with you all day."

Elphaba huffed as she put the navy sweater back in the closet. "Two weeks."

"Fine."

"And for Oz's sake, don't take up so much of the bed. I was sleeping in the corner the whole time."

Galinda grinned sheepishly. "Sorry." She sat up, a hint of concern tainting her face. "But ... Elphie. I know - well - if it does make things worse, us sharing a bed, you can cop out at any time. I just, you know, wanted to help."

Elphaba sighed and allowed her face to soften. "Yes, Glin. I know. I may sound harsh, but I'm mostly teasing." She held up a cardigan. "Now, does this gain your approval? Or must I start stressing about being late again?"

Galinda shook her head. "Nope." She got out of bed, running her hand through her hair as she did so, and took a white and blue sweater from the closet. "Take this instead. Black pants. Those shoes over there. I approve of that."


Despite her mixed feelings about the previous night's occurrences, the day went relatively well. She got one hundred percent on her Animal rights essay and she had been progressing well in Sorcery. She didn't know what it felt like to be proud of herself until she mastered the advanced levitation spell that had been puzzling her for weeks.

However, she should have realized just how much everything was going to change when Nessa approached her hesitantly and cautiously and couldn't find the words to articulate properly. She may be many things, but she was never speechless - which was one trait the sisters had in common.

"Elphaba," Nessa said slowly, "I was just ... just wondering, um, if you are aware that ... well ..."

Elphaba sighed. "What's going on? Please, be concise. I have to get to class."

Nessa swallowed. "Did you ever read that letter Father sent you a while ago?"

Elphaba's face blanched at the mention of his name and her voice grew frigid. "No. No, I didn't." Her breath hitched. "Why? What's the matter? Did you?"

"No! Well ... yes, but only the part that was for me," she said hastily. "There were two letters, one for you, one for me, but that's not important - um ..."

"Spit it out, Nessa." Elphaba clutched the tattered handle in stiff fingers. "What is it? What does he want?"

She shook her head. "No, he's ... um ..."

"Nessarose!"

"Here!" Her voice tensed and she pulled out another letter from her bag and shoved it toward her. "Just take it! Read it for yourself and stop yelling at me!"

Elphaba snatched it from her and yanked the letter out of the already torn envelope. She zipped through it with trembling hands, bypassing the note for Nessa, the scathing remarks, the common obscenities, and then she saw it. It was one sentence. Just one. But it instantly held control over her like a death penalty.

The letter fluttered out of Elphaba's grasp and Nessa managed to snag it before the wind could, but it wouldn't have mattered. She had seen all that she needed to.

"He's coming for me."