LifelongLeahstar: Ship them? Really?
Seven Years Later, In the Middle of an Unusually Warm Spring
"Nessarose Seranova Thropp, Valedictorian."
The fifteen year old graduating senior rolled up on the stage, shook hands with the Principal of Munchkin Rock High, and accepted her diploma. No longer able to pay for tutors, Frex had finally relented and sent Nessa to public school. She would have been a Year Nine, but they eagerly threw her in with the graduating class.
Nessa's eyes quickly swept the auditorium, falling on Nanny, who had salty tears rolling down her cheeks. As she rolled off the stage, one of the older guys patted her on the shoulder with a smile, but many of them scowled at her. In their eyes, no fifteen year old should be graduating with them, let alone as valedictorian. But she did, with perfect grades and acceptance to her first choice school, Shiz University, on a hefty scholarship and some money that had been given to her from Carella.
Her lips curled upwards slightly as she thought about going to Shiz in the fall. The Shiz University, where only the best of the best studied. No more people telling her she wasn't good enough and calling her cripple. No more cruel jokes and people blatantly misbehaving. Finally she'd be around people who weren't so judgmental.
"Psst, Nessa," the girl next to her whispered with a gentle elbow to the arm. "It's time for your speech."
She jolted out of her dreamy state and readjusted the cap on her head. With a grateful nod, the class valedictorian rolled up in front of the hundreds of family members and friends. Yet only one was there for her, and it wasn't her father.
Awkwardly clearing her throat and tapping the microphone, she finally spoke.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, to the graduation ceremony. I had such a great…" she paused and stared at the note cards, before tearing them in half and littering them over the stage.
"I don't know how many of you know this, but I'm fifteen," Nessa announced, and about half of the audience gasped. "I know, it's crazy. And my graduating early has nothing to do with my father being…you know. In fact, my home life sucks. Just ask these." She gestured to her legs and a light chuckle slipped out of the crowd.
For the next five minutes, Nessa talked passionately about learning to accept her legs and the repercussions that came with them. She dropped a few of the nicknames people had given her over the year, and how upset they made her at first, but she eventually learned to deal. Luckily, she managed to avoid the pesky topic of her father, as she had learned the truth of his drinking and gambling habits on the eve of her thirteenth birthday.
"I look forward to attending Shiz University next year, with a major in Political Science and double minor in Law and Economics. Who knows? I might just be governess someday," Nessarose smirked at the thought, "But until then, watch what you say and what you assume. Thank you."
The crowd let out a resounding amount of applause.
Letting out a sigh of relief through her clenched teeth, she rolled off the stage once again. She returned to the same area as before, where most of the students were snickering.
"Little bitch."
"She thinks she's so smart."
"Crippled freak."
Nessa straightened her back and tried to tune out the hurtful words. She was focused on the principal's closing remarks, when a hand touched her forearm, belonging to the same guy from earlier. She studied his face, memorizing every feature in an instant. His eyes, though framed by black glasses, were shockingly blue. His dark brown hair flopped over one way, moving every time he touched it. His skin was dark tan like most Munchkin's, and for such a nerdy kid he was well built, Nessa noted.
"Don't listen to them," He whispered with a gentle smile. "I think it's really cool. My name's Wenolu, but everyone calls me Wen." Wen extended his hand, which Nessa shook firmly.
"I'm glad there's at least one person who doesn't despise me."
"Same here," he confessed. When Nessa gave him a confused look, he sighed. "I'm gay."
"Oh…" Nessa mumbled, suddenly realizing why he wasn't very well liked. She opened her mouth to speak, but he held up a hand to silence her. "I don't want your sympathy. I'm going to the University of the Vinkus next year to get away from these Munchkins. They're just so…"
"Small minded," the two said in unison. Blue eyes stared into dark brown, and they realized that they were going to be friends for a long time.
The gay and the cripple. What a team.
Nanny noticed, from her seat in the middle of the audience, that her charge was becoming increasingly friendly with the boy in the seat next to her. Nessa was giggling, the boy was messing with his hair, and they seemed to share a moment, as Nanny called it.
"And with that," the principal said, snapping Nanny back to the present, "I'd like to present the graduating class of Munchkin Rock High. Grads, please turn your tassels and throw the colors." All the former students moved their tassels from the left of their caps to the right and rocketed to their feet, throwing red and purple confetti into the air, letting it fall over them in glory and triumph. Wen stood up and let the scraps of paper collect on his cap. He turned to Nessa, who was looking around dejectedly at the others, and then had an idea.
Nanny watched as this boy she didn't know lifted Nessa out of her chair and hoisted her onto his back. It quite scared her, she had never seen anyone do anything like that, and Nessa had major problems with being out of her chair.
But in reality, Nessa never felt freer. Her arms were wrapped around Wen's shoulders as confetti fell onto her face, eyes closed and mouth beaming. Her eyelids fluttered open and looked around.
This is what it's like for normal people, she thought. Being at eye level all the time, not having to look up at someone who's three feet taller.
Wen turned and looked at her, and seeing her upset face, helped her back into her chair. But Nanny had already seen enough and was yelling in Wen's ear the second he straightened his back.
"What are you doing with her?!" She hollered in his face. Luckily most of the other graduates had cleared out, leaving just Wen, Nessa, and one very infuriated Nanny.
"Nanny I can explain-"
"Hush Nessie, I want to know what he," she shot a pointed look at Wen, making him shrink a little under her glare, "was thinking."
"Ma'am if I may put your mind at ease-"
"You have exactly five seconds to explain," Nanny cut him off.
"I had no ulterior motive I just wanted Nessa to feel accepted."
"Do you like her?"
Wen blinked.
"Do I what?"
"Do. You. Like. Her?" Nanny enunciated every word sharply. She didn't notice Nessa stifling a giggle.
"Romantically?"
"Well of course, you brainless porcupine," Nanny retorted with a gesture to his hair, which was currently standing upright.
"No, I don't like Nessa romantically. Nor will I ever."
"Why not? Is she not good enough? Is the chair a detraction?"
"Lady I'm gay."
At this point, Nessa had seen enough and doubled over in laughter. Her cap tipped off her head and her chestnut hair shook wildly. Wen had a sly smirk on his lips and quirked eyebrow as he watched Nanny come to the realization.
It first looked like she was going to be upset, angry, scared, or all of the above. But no, she smiled. A genuine grin changed her furious facial expression to contented, dare say proud.
The three exited the auditorium, but not without Wen snatching Nessa's purple cap and switching it with his red one. Everyone stared as they proceeded down the hall for the final time, but they held their heads high and continued on their merry way.
Elphaba's graduation was rather uneventful. Her father spoke, of course, and she graduated valedictorian. Everyone thought it had to do with her father and mother being the Wonderful Wizard and the Queen, but they couldn't have been more wrong.
They were, however, paying her tuition to Shiz. She got a small scholarship, but it wasn't much. Elphaba was thrilled to be attending such a prestigious school in the fall, even if it meant going away from her parents. She had never been away from them for more than a few days, but now she was not going to see them for months. The princess quickly brushed off that thought.
When they returned to the palace that night, the Chefs came forward and held out a large marble cake, Elphaba's favorite, coated in green and gold frosting. 'Congratulotions Elphaba!' was written in loopy cursive, more specifically Preena's loopy cursive, across the center. All of the Emerald Staff joined the royal family in devouring the cake, piece by piece, around the dining table. They excitedly chattered with each other and were telling Elphaba how to prepare for college.
Despite seeming slightly afraid and nervous, it was evident she couldn't be more excited.
From the edge of the room, no one seemed to notice Madame Morrible, Press Secretary to His Ozness, watching curiously. For the last sixteen years she had waited, patiently, in the background, for the next few months. With a quiet, yet malicious, laugh, she slinked off into the shadows.
Nessa, Nanny, and Wen all sat in a small coffee shop in the center of Munchkin Square. Still in their gowns, the new grads delicately sipped their drinks and munched on their breads.
When it was time to leave, Wen pulled out his wallet and grabbed a few galleons and went to hand them to Nanny, but she shrugged it away, mumbling something about him being a college student and needing all the money he had.
Two sisters, separated by hundreds of miles, graduated high school on the same day. They would be attending the same university soon, and, as Madame Morrible predicted on that very night, their lives would never be the same.
She would just have to take what the world gave her, she supposed.
Mini cliffie, I suppose? Next stop: Shiz University! (Finally)
