Chapter 1

"I'm sorry, but could we get someone else to wait on us?"

Elphaba looked down, feeling that familiar pang in her chest. She swallowed, putting her pen back behind her ear, forcing a smile on her face, and closed her notepad. "Of course," she nodded and walked away. She looked around for her manager, trying to spot the blue hair, and finally found her at the bar section of the restaurant. "Genesis," she began, "table 31 asked for a different waiter."

Genesis' eyes softened; Elphaba was a great employee, therefore if a customer asked for something, she avoided a plight and just gave it to them. Unfortunately, it was costing her her paycheck. She'd been switched so many times today. "Are you sure?" she asked. "You know I could always say that nobody else is available."

"Then you would lose customers," she reminded her, "yes, I'm sure," Elphaba sighed.

She went over to a small, private section of the restaurant where employees took their break; sat down; and sighed, burying her face in her hands. It was almost the end of the day and still not many tips.

"Elphie?" a voice snapped her out of her head. Elphaba turned around and saw that her best friend, Galinda, had just walked in the room. "Didn't you just get a table assigned?"

The green girl simply shrugged. "You know the drill."

"Ugh!" the petite blonde knew exactly what Elphaba meant. "I swear, why are people such as-"

"Galinda, it's ok."

"No, it's not!" she sat down in front of Elphaba. "Let me see how much I made-"

"No."

Galinda had split her tips with Elphaba before, but she'd already done that last month and Elphaba still needed to pay her back.

"Elphaba."

"I said no, really it's fine. I'll pick up another shift for tomorrow and hopefully it'll be a little better," she said.

"Elphie, I really don't mind-"

"I do, you work hard for your money."

"And you don't?"

Elphaba did get to wait tables at times, but no matter how hard she tried, she was always left coins or nothing. She was lucky if she managed to at least get a whole bill for one table.

"I have to go, the food's ready. But you and I are not done talking," Galinda said and left the room.

Elphaba took out the coins she'd managed to earn, she felt her stomach ache as she finished counting. Just under five dollars. There wasn't enough to buy some more food tonight and all of this needed to go towards next month's rent if she wanted to secure having a roof over her head. Luckily, she'd managed to pay for this month already. There was still some food left in her fridge at her apartment, but it was very little and quickly running out.

She glanced at the clock, ten 'till 10:00 p.m. That's it. She was done for the day.

"Hey, honey," Genesis came in and sat down in front of Elphaba, "I'm so sorry. Do you need to take a plate home tonight?" she asked.

All employees were given one free meal a month from the restaurant, Elphaba used hers every month. But April was just beginning, she should save it for when she really needed it.

"Not that's fine, I still have some food at home," she reassured.

"You know you don't need to hesitate to come to anyone here for help?" Genesis reminded her. They were a medium-sized staff, everybody knew each other and helped out, but Elphaba could get by; barely, but there were some who were struggling even more than she was. They needed the help more than she did.

"I know, thank you," Elphaba squeezed her hand, and glanced at her coins, "by any chance, is there a spot open for me to work tomorrow?" Sundays were usually her day off since she worked 10 hours, from 9 in the morning to 7 in the evening, on the weekdays and the 12 hour shift, 10 in the morning to 10 at night, on Saturdays, their busiest day of the week. But at times, when she really needed it, she'd pick up another 12 hour shift for Sunday.

"Yes, of course! I'll write your name down," she stood up and grabbed the clipboard from the wall, "I'll just add you to the list, and would you mind staying a little bit longer and closing up shop for me, darling? Siegfried had to leave early."

Elphaba nodded. "Yeah, absolutely."

"Thank you," she touched Elphaba's shoulder and left.

"Alright, all my clients left," Galinda came back into the room and sat down. "Now, where was I?"

After a while of going back and forth, Elphaba finally managed to convince her friend that she would be fine. After all, if she needed help, really needed help; when had she ever not reached out to Galinda first? She always paid her back, and right now she owed her about $25. Galinda would ask her to forget about it, Elphaba would have none of that.

"Are you ready to go?" Galinda asked, grabbing her purse.

"Yeah, just hang on a sec; Genesis asked me to lock up."

"Ok, I'll take your stuff."

Elphaba locked the front doors and set the alarm. She grabbed her purse from Galinda and exited through the back door, making sure it locked once it closed behind them.

Galinda and Elphaba walked towards Elphaba's apartment, the sidewalk illuminated by the streetlamps and music from some bars and homes reaching the streets. Galinda always walked with Elphaba to her apartment late at night and her boyfriend would pick her up from there, just to make sure nothing happened to her best friend. Elphaba appreciated it.

After her father died, Elphaba had moved from Munchkinland to the Vinkus because the apartments were cheaper. Definitely smaller, but the space was just right for her: room for her bed, a small kitchen, and a bathroom; like a dorm room. She'd taken a job at Ozma's, which was about a ten minute walk; because it was a fancier, more for rich people. Ironically, they left the least amount of tips, at least, to her. And it wasn't hard to guess why.

After talking inside for a while, lights flickered outside of Elphaba's apartment. Elphaba checked through the blinds of the window.

"Yep, he's here," Elphaba said.

"Alright," Galinda hugged Elphaba, her head barely reaching the taller girl's shoulders, "I'll see you Monday." Galinda exited her apartment and Elphaba raised the blinds and opened the window.

"Hey, bitch!" Elphaba yelled.

"Oh! It's green!" Avaric stepped on the accelerator, the parked car revving in place.

"Wow, that's hot."

"See, baby? I told you she had the hots for me," Avaric said once Galinda got in the car. She rolled her eyes, laughing.

"Yeah look at that, you turned on my middle finger," she said, flashing him the finger and he returned the gesture. Elphaba smiled. "Good to see you again, Avaric!" Elphaba sometimes saw him during the week if he was able to pick up Galinda and drive her to their apartment, but she always saw him for sure on Saturdays. He was a good guy; he and Galinda were good together.

"You too, Elphaba! Goodnight!"

"Goodnight! Drive safely!"

They waved goodbye to each other and Elphaba dropped the blinds and closed the window once they were out of sight.

She changed out of her uniform and into her pajamas, she would shower in the morning, she was way too tired. She crashed onto her bed and let sleep come to her.

Fiyero sighed.

He'd finally finished typing the report he was assigned and submitted it just before his 10:00 p.m. deadline. He rubbed his eyes, tired after having stared at the computer screen for hours.

His phone rang. He sighed in annoyance at looking at the caller ID.

"Yes, Sarima?" he asked, putting on his jacket.

"Where are you?" she spat.

"I'm coming. I told you I would be late. Don't worry, I wouldn't miss my time with my daughter," unlike some people, he bit his tongue to avoid saying that out loud.

At first, they had agreed on him having weekends with his daughter since she was breastfeeding. But very soon, Sarima started to leave her with her food; then she was the one doing weekends. Little by little, it seemed as if Sarima was leaving him with full custody. Zianna was only four months old, and Fiyero loved her, so dearly. He would be a good father to her even if he had to raise her on his own.

If Sarima didn't want to be a part of Zianna's life, fine. But it annoyed the hell out of him when Sarima would demand to see her whenever she felt like it. He was sure Zianna wouldn't recognize her soon if she kept this up.

"It's your turn. You should've been here an hour ago."

"I called you to say I would be late," he repeated through his teeth. Fiyero took a deep breath to calm himself down. "I'm on my way," he grabbed his keys and shut the door to his house behind him.

"I'm telling you, it would be good for both of them, even if it doesn't lead to anything," Avaric told Galinda. They were laying in bed together, ready to go to sleep.

"Yeah it would be. Based on what you've told me, they both deserve to have a little fun. But are you sure? I mean, does he even want to date right now?" she asked.

"That I don't know."

Galinda shot him a look. "Then why are you suggesting setting them up on a date?"

"So that Elphaba can finally get rid of that 'first date virginity'," Galinda laughed and smacked his bare chest. "What? Look, trust me, Fiyero's a nice guy. If I tell him it's a date, he'll treat her well, and then it's up to them whether it's friendship or something else."

Galinda thought about it. It would be good for Elphie to finally have an evening to relax instead of work. Galinda couldn't recall the last time Elphie had worked less than 40 hours and less than six days a week. And it would be good for her to meet more people; since she'd moved to the Vinkus, she stayed pretty private. She didn't really talk to anyone outside of work besides Avaric.

She smiled softly and nodded. "Yeah. Let's set it up. What's his phone number? I can text it to Elphie right now," Galinda reached for her phone.

"No," Avaric stopped her, a mischievous smile creeping on his face, "let's make it a blind date."

"You are so sexy when you get creative," Galinda smiled, pressing a kiss to her boyfriend's lips.

WELCOME! Hope you enjoyed this first chapter, can't wait to go on another journey with y'all. SBS will be updated tomorrow!

And thank y'all SO SO MUCH for nominating/voting me Best New Author at the 14th Greg Awards! Love y'all!

Happy New Year!