"ELPHIE!"

A loud, high-pitched squeal startled Elphaba as she was about to enter her dorm fresh off the train. Before she even managed to set down her suitcase, Galinda's arms were already wrapped around her shoulders.

"Oh, I've missed you so much!" she chimed and bounced excitedly, making Elphaba chuckle; then let go of her and jumped onto her pink frilly bed. "Oh, Elphie, I have so much to tell you! I had the most splendifying time back home. Mumsie and Popsie were so happy to see me; and all of my aunties and uncles and cousins were super impressed when I told about how we met the Wizard! We've had such wonderful parties almost every night, I must have bought at least five dozen new dresses, and danced with a hundred of Gillikin's most richest and handsomest boys! There were the Andillets and the Clanwigs, there was the famous Ryall Ginerisey with his sister Hamira, and, you won't believe this – Vaan Belmont Vespertine III!"

Elphaba let out a theatrical gasp.

"I can indeed not believe that a single person's name could sound so incredibly pompous."

"Elphie!" Galinda crossed her arms and pouted.

"Sorry, sorry," Elphaba laughed. "Go on. I'm all ears."

"Well, for your information," Galinda huffed, "we've actually known each other for a long time. His father is the owner of Gillikin Gimmicks Enterprises. He's smart and well-spoken and criminally handsome."

"His father?" Elphaba teased. "Didn't know you had a thing for older men…"

"No! Vaan… Oh, Elphie, stop laughing at me!" Glinda exclaimed said, slapping her friend on the arm.

"I'm not laughing at you," Elphaba said, clearly stifling a laugh. "I'm smiling at you. You know, for someone seemingly so innocent, you're surprisingly thirsty."

Galinda pouted.

"It's not me being thirsty, it's you being a… non-hydrating person. A cactus!" Elphaba's eyebrows shot up and Galinda huffed in exasperation. "You know perfectly well what I mean! I'm not thirsty, you're just a relationship cactus."

"I am not!"

Galinda scoffed.

"Oh no? Please, you're twenty two years old and you've probably never even had a crush!"

"Of course I have," Elphaba protested vehemently, immediately realizing her mistake when she saw Galinda's eyes light up.

"You have?" she gasped, momentarily forgetting about the argument. "When and where and how and why didn't you ever tell me and who was he—or who is he, and what is he like, and is it even a he, and…"

Elphaba frowned, but said nothing.

"Fine!" Galinda huffed. "Don't tell me anything. I'll figure it out on my own. You have been warned!"

•••

On the last day of the summer break, as Elphaba sat outside, enjoying a book and basking in the afternoon sun, she heard a familiar voice that made her heart stop for a moment.

"Elphaba…?"

Her eyes shot up to see Nessarose, wheeling up to her hesitantly.

"Galinda said I might find you here."

"Oh."

They both averted their eyes, sitting in awkward silence, until Elphaba eventually decided to speak.

"Nessa…" she began, in the exact same moment that Nessarose said: "Elphaba…"

"You go first," Elphaba suggested, looking up at her sister, who sat in her chair, fidgeting with her hands. There was a prolonged silence on Nessarose's part, but just when it seemed she'd gone mute for good, she spoke.

"So you're staying at Shiz," she stated more than asked.

"I am."

"That's… that's good. I'm glad."

"As am I," Elphaba said curtly.

"No, that's not what… I wanted to say that I—well, that I'm happy… for you."

Despite herself, Elphaba felt warmth spread through her chest.

"Thank you, Nessa. That means a lot."

There was more awkward silence before Nessarose spoke again.

"And… I'm sorry. I was very upset with you after I left, but then, when I got home, I found this." She opened her palm to reveal a silver necklace with a little emerald heart in the middle. "It's from you, isn't it?"

Elphaba nodded grudgingly.

"I found this, and father's letter to you..." Nessarose looked down at her hands and kept talking, faster and faster with each word. "Elphaba, I didn't know… I never meant for him to get angry at you, and I didn't think he could write such things to you, or that he would try to hurt you… And I know you're not going to be looking out for me anymore, but I just want to say—"

"Nessa," Elphaba interrupted softly and crouched down to face her sister. "What in Oz gave you the idea that I'm not going to take care of you anymore?"

"Well, you said it yourself before I left, didn't you?"

Elphaba bit her lip.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I was angry, but I never should have said that."

"But still…" Nessarose gulped and tears formed in her eyes. "You're no longer be forced to do as father says, so…"

"So I should just abandon my baby sister?" Elphaba asked and shook her head. "Did you really think I've been looking out for you because father told me to?"

"I don't see why else you would."

Hearing that one little sentence made Elphaba realize – maybe for the first time in her life – how alike she and Nessa actually were. She had always been focused on her own misfortune, her own green skin, her own guilt and sadness and self-hate. Never before had she thought about how Nessarose could be battling similar thoughts. That, despite being their father's perfect porcelain princess, she too may struggle with feeling broken, unlovable, unloved. And maybe she always took her older sister for granted because she was too afraid to even consider the possibility of losing her. The realization broke Elphaba's heart into a million pieces.

"Oh, Nessa…" she said, and was surprised to hear her own voice tremble. She rose to embrace her sister, who was full-on crying now, and gently stroked her soft curls. "My dear, sweet little Nessa. How could you ever, ever think something like that? I never took care of you because of obligation, or fear, or guilt. I took care of you – and will continue to take care of you – because you're my sister, and because I love you."

Nessarose's quiet tears turned into sobs, making her words barely comprehensible.

"But I never stopped father… What… I said to you… I don't deserve… You can't… shouldn't…"

"But I do," Elphaba said firmly, cupping her sister's cheek. "I do love you, Nessa. I always have. I'm sorry if I never made you feel that I did."

Nessarose sniffled and wrapped her arms around Elphaba's waist.

"I love you too, Fabala," she said shyly, using the affectionate nickname she'd given her sister when she was still too young to voice out her name properly. Elphaba smiled, wiping the tears away from Nessarose's cheeks.

"May I?"

She gestured at the necklace in her sister's hand.

"This is so you never forget," she said, clasping it around Nessarose's pale neck, "that your sister loves you with all of her green heart."