Wow I can't believe I've written 10 chapters of this story…YAY! Hope you guys like a little action!
The three Ozians lay in their sleeping bags, staring at the ceiling. Since, for some odd reason, none of them could sleep they were talking. Somehow the topic got around to love at first sight. "It just doesn't make any sense," Elphaba exclaimed. "How can you truly love someone without even knowing their name?"
"Maybe it's physical attraction," Fiyero suggested.
"If it's solely based on physical attraction then it isn't really love," the green girl argued.
"I think it's destiny," Galinda mused dreamily. Her green friend snorted.
"You really believe in that stuff?" Elphaba asked scornfully.
"Yes I do," the blonde replied, her tone defensive. "I think people are drawn to those who need them."
"Well Bella sure needs Edward," the green witch mused. "She can't do a thing without putting herself in harm's way. First he has to save her from Tyler's van. Then she goes dress shopping and almost gets raped. That girl really is a danger magnet."
"I thought you were Bella's friend," Galinda chirped.
"I am," Elphaba assured her. "I was just pointing out that she needs Edward."
"Fiyero are you awake?" the blonde wondered softly, having noticed that he was silent.
"Yes," the prince assured her, voice alert. "I'm listening."
"I think it's time to stop talking," Elphaba yawned. "Let's all close our eyes and be quiet." Galinda and Fiyero muttered agreements into their pillows.
***
"Ooh Elphie, try this one on," Galinda squealed excitedly, waving a purple dress in front of the irritated green witch. They were shopping with Angela, Jessica, and Bella (Lauren had other plans) and Elphaba was not enjoying it one bit.
"You said I wouldn't have to wear anything I didn't want to," the green girl reminded. "In fact you promised."
"But this would look so good on you," Galinda insisted.
"I'm gonna go sit with Bella," Elphaba hissed, striding away. "Why don't you go talk clothes with someone who cares?" She hadn't meant the words to come out so harshly and as the green girl walked away she saw Galinda's face crumple with hurt. "I'm sorry," Elphaba apologized, turning back to her friend. "That came out wrong."
"It's ok," the blonde pouted. "I know you just don't like clothes." This was a guilt trip and the green witch knew it. However Galinda was her best friend so she played along.
"If you stop moping I'll let you pick out one dress for me to try on," Elphaba bargained. "But it has to be simple and it has to be black. No sequins or bright colors."
"Fine," Galinda agreed, scowling a little. Then the petite blonde darted off to join Jessica. The green girl collapsed into a seat beside Bella.
"That was nice," the pale girl observed.
"She's my best friend," Elphaba shrugged. "I can endure one dress."
"You're a good person Elphaba," Bella told her sincerely.
"You too," the green witch informed her pale friend. "You're a good person too."
***
"Come on out Elphie," the enthusiastic blonde urged. "There's no point in putting the dress on if you're not gonna show us."
"I am not coming out," the green girl repeated stubbornly. Jessica, Angela, and Bella had all lined up outside the dressing rooms to see Elphaba in the dress Galinda had picked.
"I will drag you out if I have to," the blonde threatened.
"Fine," the green witch huffed, reluctantly emerging. The dress was simple and black, as Elphaba had specified. It was gathered slightly at the hips and had a low neckline. The sleeves extended to the green girl's wrists. It flowed like dark silk over her slim and graceful frame. Elphaba looked up to see Angela and Bella staring with admiration. Jessica's mouth was hanging open.
"Sweet Oz," Galinda gasped. "Elphie you look absolutely amazing." The green witch's cheeks darkened. "You have got to get that dress."
"I would never get a chance to wear it," the green girl pointed out. "What's the point?"
"There's always prom," Angela offered.
"In what twisted universe would I ever go to prom?" Elphaba growled, stalking back into the dressing room. "I am not wasting money on this dress and that's final!"
***
When the group of girls split up, Bella going to find a bookstore while Jessica and Angela explored Port Angeles, the two Ozians decided to accompany the pale girl. "Are you sure you guys want to come with me?" Bella verified. "I can get pretty distracted when I'm surrounded by books."
"So can Elphie," Galinda informed her. "I'm used to it." The odd trio quickly found a bookstore Jessica had mentioned, but it wasn't exactly the type they expected. A book on spiritual healing and several dream catchers were displayed in the window.
"I think that's one conversation we can skip," Elphaba observed dryly. Bella nodded and they walked on.
"There's got to be a normal bookstore somewhere around here," the pale girl exclaimed in exasperation.
"I'm sure there is," the green girl assured her. "Let's just keep walking." They meandered lazily through the streets of Port Angeles, discussing the most random of topics. It was the most Bella had spoken since she arrived in Forks. In fact the girls weren't even paying attention to where they were going until Galinda noticed that they were surrounded by warehouses.
"I don't think we should be here," she observed, shivering little. Elphaba glanced around. They had wandered away from the safe, welcoming storefronts and this clearly scared the petite blonde a little. She had never set foot in the unfriendly parts of any town before.
"Let's loop back around," Bella suggested, turning a corner. A group of four men passed them laughing rowdily and joking loudly. Elphaba shot them a look of disgust and Galinda skittered to the far end of the sidewalk frightfully. Bella sped up.
"Hey Greenie!" called one of the men as he glimpsed the green witch's skin. She didn't look up but the back of her neck prickled. Her body tensed when she realized those were the men Edward saved Bella from. She and Galinda were about to mess up the plot again.
"Um, I've got to go to the bathroom," the green girl improvised. Galinda and Bella halted. "I think I saw one back that way." Elphaba tugged her blonde friend backwards. "You keep going," she told Bella. "We'll catch up with you."
"Ok," the pale girl agreed nervously as they parted.
"What was that about?" Galinda demanded her voice tight with fear.
"Edward's going to save Bella from those guys," Elphaba explained. "If we go with her we'll screw up the plot again."
"Oh," the blonde said, realization dawning in her eyes. "So what do we do now?" The green witch pondered that for a moment as two guys from the group they'd passed earlier, the two that were going to herd Bella towards the others, walked by.
"Let's follow them," Elphaba suggested. "Just to make sure Edward shows up when he's supposed to."
"What will we do if he doesn't?" the blonde girl wanted to know.
"We'll improvise," the green witch shrugged, turning to follow the two drunk males.
***
"Stay away from me," Bella warned, her voice shaking. Elphaba bit her lip as she peered around the corner. This was going to be hard to watch.
"Don't be like that sugar," crooned the dark haired ringleader as he approached her.
"Shouldn't we do something?" Galinda whispered.
"No," the green witch answered. "Just watch." As if on cue headlights illuminated the scene and a silver Volvo skidded to a halt beside Bella.
"Get in," Edward commanded and the pale girl obeyed. Then the car spun around and disappeared.
"That was so cool!" Galinda squealed a little too loudly.
"Oh shiz," Elphaba hissed. All four men turned to stare at the eavesdroppers their eyes glinting maliciously. Both girls began to back away as the frightening strangers advanced.
"Hey look," one called. "It's the Artichoke." There was rowdy laughter. Galinda heard a rattle as she backed into one of the many chain link fences in the area. They were cornered. Elphaba glanced behind her and spotted the terrified blonde shaking against the fence. Taking a solid stance the green witch stepped slightly in front of her friend and spread her arms out protectively.
"Aww, don't hog the princess all to yourself," leered one man.
"Don't touch her," Elphaba spat with such venom that they all took an instinctual step back. The green witch desperately clawed for her magic, but it eluded her grasp. This was not good.
"Elphie," Galinda whimpered. "I'm scared."
"Don't be," the green girl snarled, trying so sound fearless. "They're just a bunch of drunk idiots." Four sets of cruel eyes focused on her.
"Hey Frog," the ringleader slurred slouching closer to the green witch. "Do you need a prince to kiss you?" He leaned in lips puckered, giving her no room to escape. Elphaba's teeth clamped down hard on the surprised man's nose. He stumbled backwards. "Ah," the man laughed. "A feisty one."
"Come any closer and you'll see just how feisty I am," the green witch growled viciously. Without warning the dark haired ringleader swung his fist into Elphaba's stomach. Hard. Galinda screamed shrilly as her friend stumbled backwards, doubled over in pain. The green girl gritted her teeth and squinted against the tears.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," bargained one of the boys suggestively.
"I say the hard way," came a wonderfully familiar voice. Elphaba glanced upwards to see Fiyero's fist connect with the ringleader's face, knocking him over.
"Fiyero!" she practically sang with relief, before realizing that the situation had not gotten much better. The Winkie prince was strong but he wasn't Edward. They were all still in very big trouble.
"That was a very dangerous maneuver," hissed one of the men as they started to advance on Fiyero. He held his fists up, ready to fight, but they all knew he would lose. These heartless boys would show no mercy. Elphaba saw a knife flash in one man's hands and Galinda saw lightning throb in her friend's eyes. A violent wind twisted the green witch's hair around her face and her entire being fairly glowed with energy. Suddenly Elphaba looked dangerous and powerful and…wicked. An impossibly loud explosion cracked the through the air as waves of green flame hurled the four men into a wall. They slumped to the ground unconscious and the green girl abruptly felt her strength drain away. She stumbled into Fiyero's arms and felt Galinda hugging her tightly.
"Elphie that was so scary," the blonde sobbed, tears dripping down her face. "I thought we were going to die and then I thought they were going to kill Fiyero." He thin arms trembled around Elphaba.
"That was amazing," the prince told her as she regained some strength and straightened up. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," Elphaba assured them both, turning to wrap her arms around Galinda, who was still shaking like a leaf. "Let's get out of here before they wake up." As they walked briskly away questions began to form in the green girl's mind. "How did you get here?" she demanded of Fiyero as they walked.
"I remembered that you said Bella almost got raped when she was dress shopping," he explained. "And then I realized that you guys were dress shopping with Bella so I got Alice to drive me down here. She was worried to get out of the car though because the sun hadn't totally set."
"Sounds like your unused brain got quite the workout," Elphaba teased.
"How did you find us?" Galinda wanted to know.
"I heard you scream," Fiyero informed her. "I'd know that sound anywhere."
So what did you guys think? Too much action? Was it too choppy? Let me know what you think. Suggestions are always welcome (so are reviews)!