Author's Note: Yeeeeeeeeeah. I didn't update for a month or so… I guess that's just how I work, sorry all. I'm headed on vacation in a week or so, so this may be the last update till August. I'm lazy, can't give any other excuse but that… Sorry again, faithful readers, for keeping you waiting! I just hope this chapter will make up for it!

Chapter 11: Lunch Reservations

I woke up the following morning refreshed and, I am pleased to announce, hangover free. Elphie, who had been missing in action for most of yesterday, was already out of bed when I awoke. I could hear the faucet running as the girl was most likely brushing her teeth. I didn't understand why she got up so early. Sure, I always get up at least 2 hours before class starts, but that's only so I can make sure I look decent and find the perfect outfit (giving myself a little extra time in case my hair fell flat). But that was me. Elphaba, on the other hand, didn't have much of a wardrobe to choose from, nor did she care to fix her hair…

Maybe she was already feeling the effects of my 'beautification' session, and currently in there combing her hair into little waves. As I thought of that (and how it had turned out) I made a mental note to give her a better makeover.

"Morning, Elphie!" I called to the bathroom, hoping she'd take it as a signal that she needed to finish up so I could shower.

"Good morning, Galinda." She stepped out, revealing that she hadn't done anything special to herself. Ugh, the usual braid, the same blue turtleneck beneath the same blue blazer and the same blue skirt that covered her entire lower body.

"Elphaba Thropp, have I taught you nothing?" I gasped, leaping from my bed and reaching for her hair, "Your hair looks ten times better when it's down."

She stepped away, "I don't want to look good today!" She said, nervously.

Did she realize how strange she sounded? I stared at her, a quizzical look on my face. She didn't bother to explain herself, and reached for the door.

"Elphie, wait!" I called after her.

She stopped, but kept her hand on the door, ready to sprint the moment I was done talking.

"When do I begin sorcery?"

"You were supposed to start yesterday…" She answered, hoping that was it and turning the knob.

"Oh damn! It totally slipped my mind!" Great! I'd skipped a class Madame Morrible already didn't want me in. What a great way to start off the very class I came here for.

"I told Madame Morrible there was a conflict with your schedule, and you couldn't make it… She said you should come to her office today and work it out." And without waiting to see if I had more questions, she bolted down the hall.

What was her deal?

Despite how weird Elphaba had acted that morning, I was happy that the girl had saved me by telling that lie to Madame Morrible. I'd have to make it up to her somehow…

After getting ready for the day, I decided that I would have to drop one class. Not that I wasn't a hard worker, but 4 classes would leave no time for Fiyero. Was it bad that I was dropping a class for a boy? No, it wasn't only for him. I needed to drop a class so I wouldn't be with Pfannee and Shenshen the entire day. I was safe in Sorcery, but they shared Chemistry, History and Economics with me.

With the 45 minutes I had till Chemistry, I decided to make the trip to Madame Morrible's office. I just hoped that the woman would be there, because I didn't feel like returning in the afternoon (I had other plans)…

"Miss Galinda, what a pleasant surprise." The elderly witch said as I stepped inside the office. Papers were stacked neatly; quill pens were sitting perfectly in the wells. I was in the realm of an obsessive compulsive old bat.

"Good Morning Madame Morrible." I gave a charming smile (an attempt to soften her up, so she wouldn't be so harsh).

She took a sip of tea, motioning for me to take a seat on the mahogany chair parallel to her own cushioned seat.

"And what brings you here this morning?" She asked after a drawn out sip, as if she'd forgotten I was actually supposed to be here today.

"I'm here to discuss my schedule." I replied, even though I was sure she knew that.

She placed a paper on the desk. It was a copy of my schedule, which made me sure that the woman had known why I was here. Why she insisted on playing these games with people, I may never understand.

The woman leaned over, pointing out my classes, "Yes, I can see how your economics class would overlap with your Sorcery, considering they are both after History. I don't know if you should drop Economics though… Look at you, you're such a smart little girl, no doubt you'd do well in business. And you know, Sorcery isn't a solid career choice. Surely a respectable girl from such a powerful family would-,"

"Madame, I am not dropping either course, rest assured." I said, holding back the urge to smack the woman, "Rather, I'm dropping Chemistry. You can move Economics to the morning slot, leaving me open for your seminar."

I couldn't believe the woman. She was actually trying to make me quit the seminar! Oh well, I wouldn't play her game. I could shut her up right now; keep both of those damn courses. Besides, I'd enjoyed Economics much more than Chemistry. Of course, I could have dropped History, but Elphaba was in that class with me. No way was I dropping a class I shared with my new friend.

The woman smirked at me, almost amused at my determination to stay in the seminar, "Miss Galinda, you skipped out on Sorcery to go into Economics, you obviously enjoy that class more-,"

"And that's why I'm keeping both classes." I said, standing up, "If that will be all, I shall be going. After all, I now have Economics in 30 minutes."

So I got my way. Madame Morrible tried another excuse to push me from the seminar, but I merely brought up the fact that if I wasn't there, Elphaba wouldn't either. And at that thought, the woman had my schedule ready for me. All I had to do was tell the teacher I was in the morning class, tell the Chemistry teacher I was dropping his class, and I was all set. And I enjoyed the little bit of extra attention I got when the morning class realized I was their new classmate.

But after all the voices chiming "Galinda, sit over here!" I was happy to get to History, where everyone already knew me.

Why I was happy to go to History is beyond me. I was actually eager to get to the class where the teacher acknowledges someone else as the smartest. Was I eager to learn? Or Maybe I was eager to see Elphaba… Or maybe History class meant being one step closer to Sorcery.

"There you are!" Pfannee jumped me, looking at me with an interrogating look, Shenshen right behind her, "You weren't in Chemistry today!"

I let out a sigh, "Oh girls, I'm sorry… I dropped Chemistry to make room for Sorcery."

The girls grimaced, but quickly shook it off and smiled, "Oh Well, we'll see you in Economics, anyway."

"No, sorry, you won't." I couldn't hold back a nervous giggle, "I moved Economics to the morning slot to make room for Sorcery."

The girls exchanged glances. Shenshen shrugged, "Oh well. Let's do lunch today, alright?"

"Can I bring someone?"

They assumed I was talking about Fiyero, and giggled.

"Of course! That hunk is always welcome." Shenshen chortled.

"He is your boyfriend. We can't exactly deny you time with him!"

Oh, they'd find out about who I was bringing soon enough. Besides, if they knew before hand, they'd probably try and talk me out of it.

I pretended that I didn't see them motioning for me to sit near them, and took a place in the front. There was a vacant seat right next to a certain green girl, who always seemed to get to class 15 minutes early.

"Hey Elphie, want to have lunch today?"

She seemed to leap at the sight of me, still on edge. I'll ask her what was wrong later.

"Ah I'm… Well, Is… I mean…"

"I'll take that as a yes."