Chapter 10

A Friend

"Fuck," Galinda mutters as she wakes. Not because her head is pounding in the aftermath of her drinking spree from the night previous. Oh no, she can easily ignore that.

At the moment she's far more concerned about why she's woken to find her hands bound behind her back.

She knew she shouldn't have ignored her instincts!

She lets out a groan as she sits up along the floor. Beside her Elphaba lies sleeping, hands also tied but resting just in front of her body instead. Galinda is relieved that Elphaba is at least with her. She doesn't know what she would have done if she'd woken up alone.

Aside from murder the first person who decides to walk in through the door but that was already a given.

As her eyes take in Elphaba's body her stomach drops. The green girl's dress is unbuttoned in the front partway down her chest. Nothing is showing but Galinda knows Elphaba never leaves her clothes unbuttoned. Someone has touched Elphaba.

Galinda clenches her fists, her jaw tightening as she silently seethes, fury blinding her. She doesn't care what they could have done to her but if they so much as hurt Elphie she cannot be held accountable for the rash actions that will soon follow. She tries tugging on the ropes behind her back, finding the knots unyielding. Her legs are tied as well, the end of the rope wrapped about a wooden support in the small room. She notices the other rope is similarly tied about Elphaba's bare ankles.

Galinda tries not to let the rage overwhelm her again. She cannot get them free if all she can think about is slitting someone's throat. She quickly takes in her surroundings while trying to pry a hand from her bonds. The room is small, empty and dark save for the little amount of dawn light streaming in through the sole window. Galinda knows the Scrow haven't taken them from camp; she can still see some wildflowers tied to the top of the flag post through the dirty glass.

The rope rubs against her wrists, skin burning from the friction. Galinda lets out a loud groan, wincing when she notices the sound has woken Elphaba.

The green girl rolls from her back onto her side, still drowsy as her eyes blink open.

"Elphie," Galinda whispers, scooting closer. "Are you okay?"

"Mmm hmm," Elphaba mumbles, nodding. She doesn't know why Galinda is asking her such an absurd question. Of course she's all right. She's never slept better in her entire life. Not one night terror played in her dreams. But as she stretches Elphaba suddenly becomes alert. Her eyes dart to her tied hands, then down to her bound legs.

Galinda watches Elphaba's expression contort with fear. She shifts ever closer and asks, "Are you sure you're okay? You don't… hurt, anywhere, do you?"

Elphaba is taken by surprise by the concern coating Galinda's words, so much that she almost forgets she's lying tied up in a strange room. She sits up, feeling safer now that Galinda is near. She also doesn't feel any different than the night before. Except for maybe the splitting throb along her temple. It's the same feeling she would always get after waking up from one of Frexspar's procedures. She sighs thinking perhaps there was something more in their liquor than just strong alcohol. It would explain their current predicament. When Elphaba looks back over to Galinda to find two very worried blue eyes staring back at her Elphaba realizes she hasn't answered Galinda's concern. "I'm fine," she replies quietly, trying to muster a smile to her lips. "My side doesn't even hurt as much."

Galinda lets out a long breath, relieved. "I know this looks bad," she tells her, voice as soothing as she can possibly make it. "But don't panic. We're in a bit of a… uh, situation currently, but I am working on getting us out, all right?"

"Do I look like I'm still panicking?" Elphaba asks, quirking an eyebrow at Galinda. "I think I'm getting used to this now actually. Perhaps tomorrow we'll wake up surrounded by Quadlings wanting to enslave us in their ruby mines. "

"This isn't funny," Galinda mutters. She bites her bottom lip as she wriggles within her bonds. "Do you remember seeing anyone last night? Anyone acting strange around you?"

"Aside from you? No."

Galinda stops fidgeting, eyeing Elphaba curiously. "Was that sarcasm? This isn't exactly the best time to be practicing your newfound cynicism."

Elphaba massages the side of her head. "I think we were drugged."

"We weren't drugged. You just can't hold your liquor very well," Galinda groans, still struggling to free her hands. She glances down to Elphaba's wrists. A grin appears on her face. If Elphaba can untie her hands, then they'll be as good as free. "Come here, try undoing my knots."

Elphaba slides over, inspecting the thick ropes holding Galinda's wrists together. She doesn't even see where the end could be. "These are incredibly intricate."

"Just fiddle with them. I can wiggle my right a bit."

Elphaba tugs on the rope and Galinda sways against the weight. Elphaba leans over, hoping to find a place to begin undoing the mess of rope but grows still when she realizes her dress is hanging loosely from her neck…the first couple buttons undone. "Galinda?" she asks, hesitant.

"Elphie, it's all right." Galinda tells her softly. "You're doing great."

Elphaba quickly brings her shaking hands to her chest, buttoning her dress up once more. "D-did you undo my dress?"

Galinda tenses then turns to look at Elphaba. "No, I-"

"I did," a voice says quietly from the doorway. Both girls turn quickly at the sound. Elphaba's fingers clutch the front of her dress while Galinda's clench in rage.

"I'll kill you." Galinda growls, trying to make out the shadowed figure standing in the light.

"I'm sorry Miss Glinda, it was an accident," Dr. Dillamond says as he enters the room, holding in his arms their clean clothing and boots. "I was hoping I could pick you both up and sneak you from here last night but they brought you in here before I could. I'm afraid without fingers it was much harder to try and lift you then it looked. I got snagged a few times. Hence the broken buttons," he explains as he places the pile of clothes down on the floor next to Galinda's feet. She notices her dagger lying on top.

Galinda is about to lunge for the weapon when Dillamond picks it up between his hooves and holds it out to the blonde.

"Quickly now," he urges.

Galinda arches her shoulder to grab the knife, swiping it quickly from Dr. Dillamond. She flicks the blade around in her fingers and begins cutting through the bonds on her wrists. As she does, she looks back up to Dillamond, eyes questioning. "Why are you helping us?"

Dr. Dillamond grins, bending next to Elphaba and using his teeth to easily snap the ropes around her ankles. He spits it to the ground before saying, "I've read your research."

Elphaba gasps.

"I know, it was wrong of me to take but Miss Glinda said you'd discovered the cause and I just had to see for myself!" Dillamond exclaims in a hushed tone. He looks over at Elphaba, absolute respect and admiration shining in his eyes. "You're brilliant," he tells her earnestly. "What you've discovered is incredible! I can't stand idly by claiming to be an Animal of science as you're handed off to the highest bidder. You need to leave here before the Gale Force can arrest you. I doubt the Wizard is in control of his men any longer. You need to bring this to him!"

"I did," Elphaba tells him while Galinda quickly works to cut her green hands free. "That's why we're on the run."

Dr. Dillamond lets out a frustrated snort, helping Elphaba to her feet. "Well, you need to get this seen somehow then."

"We're trying," Galinda says, tossing Elphaba her clothes. "You said the Gale Force are on their way? How long do we have?"

"Not long," Dillamond says, looking out the window. A few men from Harvler's team pass, yawning in the morning light. Dillamond glares at their retreating backs. "They've known all along whom you truly are. I just found out myself late last night."

"Why didn't they just tie us up then?" Elphaba asks. "Why let us participate in their celebration?

"I don't know. I believe it was at your expense. They had a great laugh about it last night as they brought you here," Dillamond explains then turns to Galinda. "Why didn't you tell me you were wanted? I could have helped."

Galinda thinks back to last night. To how she treated her one-time professor. "I'm sorry," she says softly. "I didn't… I just… I'm just sorry for, everything."

Dr. Dillamond doesn't quite know why his least favorite pupil is apologizing to him but he shrugs, accepting it nonetheless. Who is he to try and understand the inner workings of the human female mind? From what he's heard, it's far more difficult territory to tread upon than even the overrun, Undead-filled pastures of Munchkinland.

"It's all right, Miss Glinda," he says, patting the girl awkwardly upon her shoulder.

"Galinda," she corrects him halfheartedly.

"Yes, Glinda." Dillamond nods. "I have your weapons, just outside in the hay cart," he tells them. "Finish dressing and I'll sneak you from camp."

"Can we trust him?" Elphaba asks, once Dillamond closes the flap to the curtain door behind him.

Galinda grins. "Absolutely."

They quickly dress and dive into the hay bale atop the cart. Galinda manages to slip her quiver over her shoulders before Dillamond packs more hay, obscuring the girls from view. The cart squeaks loudly as Dillamond pushes it slowly down the worn path through the center of the Scrow. Galinda feels they might as well paint a target on the side for all the subtly their escape is affording them. She buries herself deeper into the hay halting only once she realizes the blockage below her isn't the cart bottom but in fact a very warm body.

Elphaba tries to concentrate on being as still as possible when Galinda settles around her. She desperately tries not to think about how warm, how wonderful the blonde feels pressed against her in the cramped cart. She swears for a fleeting moment last night Galinda was about to kiss her. The blonde's blue eyes kept flicking down to Elphaba's lips, making Elphaba's stomach squirm every time she did so. Elphaba feels the same sensation in her stomach now just remembering those moments. Galinda kissing her…Her. Green, ugly, boring Elphaba? It's impossible. But she also knows Galinda was drunk… and drunk people do ridiculous things they always regret the next day. She doesn't know what would have hurt more, Galinda kissing her and brushing her aside come morning or Galinda kissing her and being repulsed an instant later.

Neither would have ever happened though, she realizes.

Galinda, at least sober Galinda anyway, would never want to kiss her.

And even if she did it's not like I know what I'm doing, Elphaba groans to herself.

Hopeless. She'll always be hopeless.

She closes her eyes tightly, repeating like a mantra in her head, Galinda deserves someone wonderful. She deserves someone better than you.

Galinda holds up no better being so close to the green girl. Elphaba does something to her, something so unbelievably incredible that it scares her. She's never been so protective of anyone. So completely concerned for another's well-being. So enthralled. So attracted. And after a few days no less! Galinda thinks she must be going crazy. There is no other explanation for why she feels as she does. Why she wants to somehow be closer to Elphaba even though she's practically already lying on top of her. Oz, even something as simple as breathing becomes difficult when she's this close to her.

Through the hay she notices Elphaba's eyes are screwed shut, her brow furrowed.

Galinda has to stop herself from reaching up and running a finger over the green girl's temple in an attempt to relax her sharp yet handsome features. She hates seeing Elphaba in pain, even if the pain is from within her own mind. She wishes she could hear the girl's thoughts. She imagines they must never stop. Elphaba always seems to be thinking about something, lost in her own world.

Galinda sighs, pressing her cheek back against Elphaba's forearm. Elphaba's been alone for a better part of her life. She can understand why the girl would be inclined to retreat into her mind so much after years of solitude. But Galinda wants that to change. Elphaba isn't alone anymore, and she wants so much for her to get the happiness she deserves.

Voices approach and both girls tense. They listen, not daring to breathe as Dillamond explains calmly that he's been given hay duty this morning. The guards grunt something in response and Elphaba nearly gasps when a rifle is poked inside, the tip mere inches from touching her face.

It's pulled out a moment later, followed by the sound of tapping against the side of the cart's wood panels.

"Let him through!" they hear shouted.

The cart is in motion once more, both girls breathing out a thankful sigh.

And yet not a moment later another guard calls, "Did Ansfield kill the girl yet? He better get to it before the freak wakes up!"

Elphaba feels her heart skipping a beat as a chill settles in her bones. She knows the guard means Galinda... that if it weren't for Dillamond a certain Ansfield would have killed the woman holding her so tightly that Elphaba is afraid Galinda will suffocate her soon. Galinda hugs Elphaba closer, hoping to ease the green woman's obvious tension. They are safe now.

"It's okay, Elphie," she whispers. "We're okay."

Dillamond stops the cart after a few minutes once he feels they're a safe distance from the camp. He tosses the hay off, digging the girls out. Galinda stands first, jumping down from the cart before helping Elphaba out.

"It's a day's journey or so from here to the Cloister of Saint Glinda," he says, hurriedly handing Elphaba their survival pack once she resettles her research bag. "I have friends there who can help you into the City."

"We've just escaped from the City," Galinda tells him as she brushes the straw out from her quiver. "We're headed west for help."

"Prince Fiyero?" Dillamond asks, and Galinda is surprised he knows. He grins at her stunned expression and hands her the bow. "I may have been a, how did you always put it? Ah, yes, a dense old Goat, but I did know who you kept as friends."

"I am sorry professor," Galinda says.

"No need," Dillamond chuckles. "Now go. The Vinkus River is about a few days' walk directly west of here. You best get going. And please stay safe."

"We will," Galinda tells him, giving a nod of thanks as she nudges Elphaba to follow her down through the forest.

Elphaba doesn't though, instead stepping up to Dillamond. She takes his hooved hand within her own, shaking his arm gently as she tells him, "Thank you. Truly, thank you."

"Of course, now go," he insists, nodding toward where Galinda watches them a few feet away. Elphaba gives him a smile before jogging over to the blonde. They begin walking, Elphaba turning to wave back at Dillamond. He raises his arm, waving as well. "Be sa-arrrg!" Dillamond doubles over, an arrow punctured straight through his chest.

Galinda grabs Elphaba by the hand and tugs hard as she begins to run further into the thick trees. Elphaba can't tear her eyes from the Goat as a shot rings out into the forest, the bullet implanting itself into Dillamond's head. His body jerks forward and collapses to the ground, dead.

Galinda glances over her shoulder, surprised to find the shooter not far behind Dillamond's fallen body. She makes a sharp turn, pulling Elphaba alongside her as she ducks them both behind a large tree. "Get down," she whispers to Elphaba quickly and they crouch to the moist ground. There must be at least two, Galinda thinks. An archer and a separate rifleman. She peeks out from behind the tree to see the rifleman now prodding Dillamond's body with his gun. Galinda pulls an arrow from her quiver, stringing it quickly and taking aim. She lets it fly, the point tearing right through the man's neck.

His body joins Dillamond's shortly after. Galinda is about to string another when she hears the telltale sound of an arrow piercing through the air. One barely misses her by a hair as it slams into the bark of the tree beside her head. Galinda ducks down back next to Elphaba.

"Galinda?" Elphaba asks, eyes wide, silently asking for instruction.

"Stay put," Galinda tells her softly, squeezing Elphaba's shoulder as she stands to her feet once more. She sprints out from behind the tree, barely ahead of the arrow that rips through the air behind her. Galinda presses her back against the next tree, breathing hard. The archer has the upper hand. He knows her position.

"Give up!" A voice, male, shouts from a distance.

Galinda smirks. He's just given away his one advantage. She gets down to her knees slowly, pulling her quiver from around her shoulders and laying it along with her bow to the ground. She crawls along the forest floor, staying hidden beneath the overgrown shrubs.

"You're surrounded!" the man shouts again.

Galinda rolls her eyes as she withdraws her dagger. She peeks out from the bush she's snuck into. The man is just a few yards off, eyes focused on the tree she was once ducked behind. Galinda picks up a small stick from the ground and throws it into a bush a few paces opposite where she hides. The guard's head snaps in the direction of the rustling sound. He steps out from his position, arrow ready to fire.

As he makes his way slowly to the bush Galinda stands to her feet, dagger already in hand. He's too far for her to throw it but Galinda doesn't want to anyway. This man could have been the one to tie up Elphaba. He deserves something far more… personal.

Galinda silently moves in position behind the guard. She sneaks up, jumping onto his back, her legs pinning his arms to his sides. He stumbles forward under her weight, letting out a string of curses. Galinda slits his throat with her blade before he can yell any more.

She pushes off him just as he falls into the bush below.

Behind her she can hear the faint sounds of the others coming to their fallen comrades' aid. Galinda quickly takes some of the arrows from his quiver before sprinting back over to her own discarded weapons.

Elphaba leans out from the tree when she hears Galinda's light steps. She runs over to the blonde just as Galinda picks her bow and quiver from the ground. "Are you okay?" she asks, voice barely above a whisper.

Galinda nods, giving Elphaba a smile as she shows her the bloodied blade. Elphaba makes a face, looking away as Galinda wipes the blood on the ground before pocketing her knife. "Come on," she says, patting Elphaba's arm before running further into the forest.

Elphaba takes one last look behind her to Dillamond before taking off after Galinda.

They don't run for long. Elphaba tires after only a few minutes. Galinda knows she can't yell at the girl like her trainers always used to do to her. She can't push Elphaba. Neither does she want to. She merely slows their pace down to a walk and waits for Elphaba to catch up to her side before she asks if the green girl is all right.

Elphaba nods, breathless.

They walk in silence for a long while; the only sounds come from the crunch of the dead leaves beneath their feet and the birds chirping overhead. Elphaba thinks of Dillamond. Of yet another soul who has died so she could live. She feels her bottom lip quiver, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She wipes at them furiously before they can fall to her cheeks. She doesn't understand why so many must be hurt in their path.

She's sure Yackle is dead too.

All because one man wants her for his own brand of torture! More experiments. It seems as though nothing and no one will stand in his way.

She thinks she should have never left the Consulate.

At least there she only had to endure one man's insanity.

She can't imagine how many scientists the Wizard has who will act the same.

Her skin truly is a curse.

Galinda has better sense than to question the sudden appearance of tears in Elphaba's eyes. It's obvious that Dillamond's death is hitting her hard. Galinda doesn't even know what she could say to offer Elphaba solace. Instead she walks a bit closer to the green girl hoping that what she lacks in words, she can make up for in presence.

She is still here.

She is still fighting for her.

She won't leave her.

To say Elphaba is surprised when she feels Galinda's fingers twine with her own is an understatement. She's absolutely floored. She stares, stunned at Galinda even as her heart beats rapidly in her chest. But Galinda keeps her eyes forward, merely giving Elphaba's hand a squeeze in response.

And Elphaba cries new tears.

She may not be what Galinda wants and she is definitely not the woman she deserves… but for this moment Elphaba pretends as if she is.

That night, in an abandoned farmer's field of dying corn Galinda takes the first watch. Elphaba curls up along the fence, using her bag as a pillow. It doesn't take long for her to succumb to sleep. And once Galinda's sure she's in a deep slumber she watches Elphaba, candidly. Watches as she breathes. As her brow knits and later as a smile tugs at her lips, remnants of her dreams. Galinda doesn't want to wake her.

A chill rolls through the night, unusual for this part of Oz so early in the summer. Galinda sees Elphaba curl further into herself. A pang of distress shoots through her heart when she notices Elphaba shivering. So Galinda pulls their only blanket from out of the survival pack and lays it gently over the trembling girl. Elphaba snuggles into the fabric, body relaxing and Galinda stays awake, all through the night, not wanting to disturb Elphaba from the peace she so rightfully deserves.

The next morning Elphaba wakes to find Galinda standing just a few yards off in the field. The blonde is staring into the distance, hugging her arms over her chest. Elphaba tosses the blanket off her shoulders, surprised by the chill hanging in the air. She grabs the blanket and walks over to Galinda. Just because she's currently mad at the blonde doesn't mean she's just going to let her stand in the cold.

"Why didn't you wake me?" she asks, upset with the soldier for having allowed her to sleep though the night.

Galinda is pulled from her thoughts as she looks over her shoulder to Elphaba. It's strange how the green girl always seems to pull her from her thoughts when she's about to get lost in them. Galinda welcomes the distraction, though. Her thoughts were getting far too serious. And far too many revolved around the green woman. Far too many bringing her true feelings to the surface…

But right now Galinda just wants to smile at Elphaba. That is until she sees the disagreeable expression on the girls green face. Galinda brushes Elphaba's earlier question off with a small shrug as she turns back to watch the rising sun. "I've stayed up far longer before, in worse conditions."

Elphaba doesn't buy the excuse though. "I'm not useless," she tells Galinda hotly. "I could have done that simple task."

Galinda feels herself bristling at Elphaba's tone. But she can't tell her the real reason why she let her sleep. Instead Galinda narrows her eyes at Elphaba as she says bitterly, "As simple as casting a spell against a horde of Undead about to kill us would have been?"

Elphaba glares at Galinda, saying nothing before throwing the blanket into Galinda's chest. "Here, you clearly need this more than I," she mutters before stalking back toward the fence.

Galinda lets out a groan. She doesn't know why she was so harsh with Elphaba. The green girl has every reason to be upset with her. Just because she can't accept her own feelings doesn't mean she has to take out her frustration on Elphaba. Galinda sighs, folding the blanket back up as she jogs over to where Elphaba is irritably readjusting her bag across her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Elphie," Galinda tells her softly. Elphaba stops fussing to look up at Galinda, though her expression is anything but accepting. She wants to know why. Galinda takes a step closer, eyes suddenly needing to be anywhere but on Elphaba. "I was out of line. I didn't mean it. I don't know why I get so… so angry sometimes."

"I know why," Elphaba says, tone still sour. "It's simple. You're living a lie."

Galinda lets out frustrated cry as she glares up at Elphaba. So much for her apology, she thinks. "And how would you have me live otherwise?"

"I don't know!" Elphaba exclaims. "I just know you're not happy being who you are."

Galinda lets out a laugh. "Of course I'm not happy! I'm on the run from the law with a green recluse!"

Elphaba winces, brown eyes narrowing dangerously at Galinda. "That didn't seem to bother you the other night," she snarls.

Galinda feels her cheeks heating, her heart pounding against her chest. She steps up to Elphaba, glaring right back into the girl's furious brown eyes. "People say stupid things when they're drunk. Last night included. Forget it."

"No," Elphaba counters, the air around them charging with her unchecked emotions. "You were more yourself last night then you've probably ever been. I'll never forget it."

"Fine," Galinda snaps, pulling away and turning and collect her things.

But Elphaba is not done yet. "What is it you want, Galinda?" she asks. "If all of this had never happened, if Oz could be as it once was… if you'd never met me, what would you have wanted?"

Galinda stares at Elphaba, watching as the green girls once glowering expression softens, the magic disappearing along with it. Galinda's never felt Elphaba's powers come out like they just did. She's also not entirely sure it was magic… it could have just been them. She feels the words she wants to say forming along her tongue. It would be so easy to tell Elphaba what she wants. What she truly wants, especially now that she knows how she feels about the woman. She cares. She cares so much it hurts.

But then Galinda remembers what Elphaba asked. What would she have wanted had she never met Elphaba?

Easy. To have someone just like her. Oz, she just wants her, period.

But Galinda shakes her head, and tells Elphaba, "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," Elphaba replies softly. "I care about you, Galinda. Whether you care for me or not is irrelevant. You've done so much for me that I can't help but want to see you happy. To see you be you."

"Why?" Galinda barely manages to ask past the lump that's formed in her throat at Elphaba's confession. "I'm not… I'm not worth being cared for. Oz, I don't even think I have a soul left in me most of the time."

"Don't say that," Elphaba says, shaking her head. "How can you believe that?"

"Because it died a long time ago," Galinda confesses quietly. She wishes she could just tell Elphaba what she feels. That the closest she's felt to living since… well, since always, is now, with her. But what kind of person would she be if she allowed Elphaba in? No, Elphaba deserves someone with a whole soul. Not the shabby, barely recognizable one stuck under her skin. She looks back up to Elphaba, tired, so tired all of the sudden.

"You know what, Elphaba? I can't change what's happened to me and I'm just so… so exhausted. What's the point anymore? What's the point of all of this?"

"You have a purpose. You're here to save lives." Elphaba tells her earnestly. "Oz knows you've saved mine enough times already."

Galinda shakes her head. "I never wanted to be this," Galinda says, picking at the strap to her quiver. "I never wanted to go to Academy. I only did it because I knew it's what my father would have wanted. He died saving me. So I could live. And how do I repay him? I only stayed at Kellswater because I thought I could have learned magic. That's all I've ever wanted really. I know it sounds frivolous and petty but that's it. That's who I was," Galinda sighs, feeling so very different from that girl now. She looks up into Elphaba's eyes. "Now I'm not even sure why I ever did. Magic can't save us. The Undead can't be stopped. There's no cure. What's the point?"

"To live despite all that," Elphaba whispers. "To just be."

Galinda stares at her for a moment, before letting a small smile cross her lips. "And what is it you want most in this world, Elphie?"

Elphaba smiles down at Galinda. "I've already found what I wanted. I've only ever wanted a friend."

Galinda feels her cheeks warm as she laughs because, "I make quite a shit friend."

"I don't care," Elphaba says, chuckling as well. "Shit or not at least you're here."

"I will try to be a better friend, Elphie," Galinda tells her as she packs the blanket back into the survival pack. She can do this, Galinda thinks. She can be Elphaba's friend. She can get over this silly crush.

Elphaba blushes, hearing Galinda call her by that name again. Galinda looks back up, noticing Elphaba's darkened cheeks and downcast eyes. "You don't like it when I call you that, do you?" Galinda asks, feeling a bit disappointed. She rather liked the nickname.

"Oh no, I do," Elphaba assures her quickly, still embarrassed by her flushed face. She smiles shyly at Galinda. "It's nice. I've never had one before. Do I need to think of one for you as well?"

Galinda laughs as she hands Elphaba the pack and they begin walking once again. "That's not quite how friendships work. You can't force a nickname."

"Galinny?" Elphaba tries out the name.

Galinda scrunches her nose, shaking her head. "Pass."

"How about just Linny?" Elphaba suggests.

"Just because you dropped some letters doesn't make it any better."

"You're right, you're not really the 'ie' ending type."

"I'm not any type. I am just Galinda."

"Glin?"

"You're missing a crucial vowel in there."

"You're making this difficult."

"You're making this a bigger deal than it need be."

"I should just call you insufferable."

"Too long."

"Oh, I know the perfect one. Bitch."

"Heard too often but points for the sarcasm. I really am rubbing off on you, huh?"

"I give up! Fine, just Galinda."

"Aww, don't worry, Elphie. I'm still your friend despite your lacking skills in manifesting cute nicknames."

"In time, I'll think of one."

"Think any harder and you might attract some Undead with that prime brain of yours."

"Is this normal? Do all friends talk to each other like this?"

"Yes, actually."

"People are… very strange."