A Million Dreams
The next morning, Elphaba awoke to the sunlight streaming in through her window across her face, she turned over with a soft groan and slowly opened her eyes to look at her clock. 10:15. 'Well, at least there's no classes on Saturdays.' She thought as she lay on her front, her head buried back into her pillow.
What seemed like only a few clock-ticks later, a shrill voice called through the dorm. "Elphie!" She didn't need to open her eyes again or lift her head to know Galinda had flounced into the room.
"Elphie come on! It's very not like you to miss breakfast, but you did! You promised you'd come shopping with me. I need a new dress for when we visit the Emerald City!"
Elphaba didn't recall agreeing to such a thing but nonetheless rolled herself over to face her best friend.
"Sweet Oz, Ephie! You look awful." Galinda put a hand to the green girl's forehead to check for a temperature.
"Thank you, Galinda, we don't all wake up with perfect curls or a face full of makeup." She said dryly, swatting the hand away and yelped when the blonde caught her by the wrist and yanked her up by the arm into a sitting position. "If we weren't friends, you'd get a horrendible surprise for that."
Galinda waved her hand dismissively, having heard such threats before. "And I've yet to see it." She pulled her up, satisfied that her friend was not unwell, and shoved her in the direction of the bathroom. "Now, unless you have gained a sudden allergic reaction to water, go shower and I'll meet you outside. That is unless you happen to enjoy smelling like a forest." she smirked. "I did notice your bed was empty last night. Did you go for one of your walks again?"
Ignoring her question, Elphaba just looked at her friend strangely. "Who in Oz is allergic to water?"
The blonde shrugged with a grin and a pointed finger. "Go."
The green witch rolled her eyes and headed to the bathroom and shut the door behind her.
Galinda left the room once she was satisfied that she heard the water running.
Twenty minutes later, Elphaba emerged from her dorm, her hair in its usual braid, wearing a well-worn black dress and her equally worn boots, and she made her way out of the building towards the water fountain to meet Galinda, who was talking with Nessarose.
"Oh! Finally! I was beginning to think you'd gone back to bed."
"Galinda was telling me you weren't in your bed when she came in." Nessarose looked at her sister.
Elphaba waved a hand. "I had an essay to finish and then I couldn't sleep so I walked around out here for a bit." She answered, leaving out the fact that she'd spoken with Fiyero.
"Did you hear back from father?"
Elphaba nodded. "He's forbidden me from going."
Galinda and Nessarose's responses blended together.
"What?! Fabala you have to go! The Wizard asked for you especially!"
"Elphie you must go! It's a once in a lifetime!"
"Oh, I know. And I intend on going." Faintly she heard Fiyero's plea to be careful in her head.
"Oh. Good. You simply must tell me everything when you return." the wheelchair-bound girl spoke as though she hadn't just embarrassed herself with such a display of emotion.
"Don't worry, Nessa. I will. I just have to make it past my finals first. And then hopefully I can make good."
"Which you will be amazifying at Elphie!" Galinda gushed. "You're too smart not to. Even Fiyero's taking your lead. Whatever you said to him when Doctor Dillamond left, I think it's made an impression."
That made the green girl's head turn to her friend, a confused look on her face. "What?"
"I know! It's most confusifying. But he's getting better in his grades. He's struggling a little with some of it so he was going to ask for your help."
Strange... He hadn't mentioned it before. Granted, they weren't talking about school at the time. "I'll track him down when we come back from finding you a dress." Even though she has more than the average person could possibly need.
"And you! Elphie, you can't see the Wizard dressed like you're going to a funeral! We'll just have to find what goes well with green..."
Elphaba tuned her friend out at that point. Her mind drifted, unwillingly, to Fiyero. Was he really changing for her? Did her words really give him the shove he needed? She didn't dare hope too much, he was still, after all, her best friend's boyfriend. That didn't mean they couldn't be friendly with each other, right? She could help him study - Galinda had as much as given her blessing for that to happen. She was pulled from her thoughts by a jab to the ribs. "Ouch! What was that for?!"
"You were ignoring me! I'm trying to give you some style advice, Elphie!" Galinda pouted, pointing a perfectly painted fingernail at her.
The green witch scowled and rubbed the sore spot between her ribs. "Black just happens to be my colour."
"It brings out her eyes. And the green of course."
She didn't need to look up to know the voice belonged to the prince. "Hilarious, Yero. You could earn a living with your wit." she smirked, sarcasm seeping into her tones.
He smirked back, dropping down beside her, resisting the urge to kiss her then and there. "You love my wit."
"I wouldn't go that far." Yes, she would.
The flirting exchange passed Galinda obliviously. Unfortunately for Elphaba, her sister was far more observant.
"I'll catch you later, Fabala. Good luck." Nessa wheeled off.
"Where are you lovely ladies headed?"
"Galinda needs a new dress, and apparently, so do I."
"Yes, and we're already running late." The blonde pouted.
"Why don't you get us a carriage, and I'll come quick. I just need to talk to Fiyero about something from our last class."
Galinda perked up and bounced away, leaving the two together.
"But, we already discussed that yesterday." he looked at her.
"I know... She doesn't know that though. Listen, about what you said last night... I'll listen to you. I'll be careful."
A look of relief passed over him. "Thank Oz." he breathed.
She smiled. "Galinda says you've been getting better grades. Why didn't you say anything?"
He shrugged. "Nobody else has pulled me up on my... antics... outside of my parents like you do. You made me look at things differently."
"How?"
"By just being you." He looked at her.
"Well... If you're struggling with anything else, I could help you, if you like?"
He nodded. "Sure. Just try not to get too... Galindafied again." He grinned.
"Oh, I've already warned her against pink. I've already told her when I make the Wizard's Grand Vizier, I'll find a way to ban that horrendible colour."
"Elphie!"
"I'd better go. I swear she'd got the hearing of a bat..."
He chuckled.
"I'll meet you later?"
"Sure. Out here?" He looked at her.
She nodded with a smile and left him sat at the water fountain as she had the early hours that morning.
"What took you so long?" Galinda asked as her friend climbed into the carriage and they were on the move.
"I decided to take him up on his offer of helping him. Someone needs to get him through to next year."
"I'm glad you two are getting along. I would have hated to have to choose between my best friend and my boyfriend."
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "Who would have made you choose?"
Galinda waved a hand. "It was just something I overheard someone saying. I must admit it was a little confusifying."
'Not that it takes much to confusify you.' Elphaba thought. "What was being said?"
"Just that you and Fiyero don't get along, you hate each other actually... And if you ever argued I'd have to choose a side. But I know you'd never let that happen."
"Fiyero and I get along just fine, don't worry." Elphaba smiled. 'Well... We get along a lot better than when we first met... but I think that's more to do with me...' she thought.
"I see that now." The blonde hugged her friend.
Elphaba stiffened slightly before hugging back. "What was that for?"
Her friend smiled. "I know you haven't had the best of times before. I want to change that, Elphie. Of course I'm not expecting you to suddenly enjoy being hugged, and I know it takes time. So I'm starting now."
Elphaba simply nodded, wondering how exactly they'd got from the subject of Fiyero to hugging.
"I mean, it's working, because you no longer push me away." Galinda grinned, taking the small victory. "Oh! We're here!" She dragged her out as the carriage came to a stop.