After class, I ran after Boq and called, "Boq! Wait up!" He looked at me and went and stood under a tree, and waited for me. I joined him and said, "Hello, Boq." "Elphaba?" he said slowly. I grinned and waved and said, "Yeah, it's me." "How have you been?" he asked. "I haven't seen you since the day before you left Munchkinland." he said quickly. I grinned and said, "I haven't seen you since the last time I've played with you—wait—that was the day before I left. Anyway, I've been good." "That's good to hear—it hasn't been the same since you left. I've missed you," he admitted. "I've missed you, too—haven't made any new friends," I told him.
Suddenly, I asked, "Do you know Emilia Riddle?" "Yeah, she's my sister," Boq said. I nodded and he asked, "Wait, how do you know my sister?" I sighed and said, "Sit down." He sat down and I sat down next to him. "She's my social worker," I said. "What do you mean?" Boq asked slowly. "The thing is, Boq, I am a foster child," I admitted. He nodded and said, "So you're not living with Frexspar and Nessarose anymore?" I nodded and said, "Supposedly, I'm currently living with Miss Pfanne and her family—that won't last long." Boq asked, "What do you mean it won't last long?"
I grinned and said, "I have a tendency to run away from my various foster homes." "Why?" I froze and asked, "Can you keep a secret?" "Yeah, Elphaba, you can trust me. I won't tell anyone," Boq said. "The thing is, Boq, I'm actually Nessa's half-sister." I said, uncertain if I could really trust him. "Half-sister," he repeated. I nodded and said, "I'm the Wizard's daughter." He stared at me and said, "I'm friends with the daughter of the Wizard of Oz?" I nodded and grabbing his shoulders, I hissed, "Boq, you have to swear on my mother's grave that you'll never, ever, ever, ever tell anyone what I told you." He nodded and said, "I won't tell anyone, Elphaba." "Thanks," I said. "That's why I'd run away a lot—sometimes, if I'm really unhappy I still do—to get to the Emerald City to rejoin the Wizard." He laughed and I said, "What? I want to live with him." Boq grinned and said, "Well, I guess I'll see you in class." "See you in class," I replied. "And, remember, not one word of this conversation to anyone," I hissed at my friend.