Okay, to the reviewers, sorry for not posting sooner:
sweet saturn:this is one of few, if not the only, flashback chapters. And the reason the last few chapters have seemed slow is probably because chapters 1 and 2 used to be combined, as did chapters 3 and 4. so hang in there, I promise it'll move more quickly!
nancystagerat: lol I have writers block usually halfway through stories, and I desert them forever. Hopefully that's not the case with this one.
WickedwitchoftheNE: I actually don't think I would taste too good...
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed! Now, back to Oz!
"So, what's the most swankified place in town?" asked the handsome prince.
"Th-that would b-be the Ozdust Ballroom," Galinda managed to get out through her lovesick lips.
"That sounds perfect!" Fiyero leapt onto the front fountain with such grace that Galinda nearly swooned.
"Attention all Shiz students! I say we should all go down to the Ozdust Ballroom! We'll meet there later tonight! We'll dance till it's light!"
Fiyero stepped down and, taking Galinda's hands in his, said, "I hope to find the prettiest girl and give her a whirl. You'll come, won't you?"
All Galinda could do was nod.
"Terrific!" cried Fiyero. "We'll go right on down to the Ozdust Ballroom. You'll be happy to be there!"
Soon all campus was buzzing with news of the party. Galinda was on the way back to her dorm, still a little dazed from the invitation from Fiyero, when Boq-.or was it Biq?- anyway, the annoying Munchkin who'd followed Galinda around all day approached her and said, " M-miss Galinda, I-I hope you save at least one dance for me. I'll be r-right there, waiting, all n-night."
Now Galinda knew this could NOT happen! How could she be seen in the company of someone so...well...LITTLE?
"Oh, that's so kind..." she said, scanning the grounds for some way out of this. Elphaba's invalid sister Nessarose caught her eye. " But you know what would be even kinder?" The Munchkin leaned in closer, his eyes wide, "What, Miss G-Galinda?"
"Do you see that...tragically beautiful girl?" asked Galinda, remembering Madame Morrible's first words on Nessa. "The one in the chair? Well, I just think it seems so unfair we should go on a spree, and not her. Gee," for now Galinda knew her fake sarcasm would even fool the stupid boy. "I know someone would be my HERO if that someone were to invite her to come with us!"
"Well..." the boy seemed a little doubtful. "Maybe I could invite her!"
Galinda forced mock-surprise on her face and exclaimed, "Oh, Biq, really? Would you do that? For ME?" She reached up and gently touched his cheek with her finger.
The munchkin leaned against the wall, a lovesick expression on his face. "I'd do ANYTHING for you Miss Galinda!" He ran off down the stairs, and Galinda watched through the windows with satidfaction. " Well, that took care of him!"
Galinda went back to her room and spent the next few hours trying on outfits for the party with Shenshen and Pffanee, and everything was going wonderfully. That is, until Shenshen found that hat.
"Oh, yes," said Galinda, trying to cover up her embarassment at having such a hideous piece of clothing. "My grandmother always sends the WORST things for my birthday."
"Maybe you should give it to someone you absolutely HATE, embarrass them at the party tonight," offered Pffanee.
"It is horrificus..." thought Galinda outloud. "But I don't hate anyone THAT much."
The two other girls laughed. "Yes, you do!" Shenshen managed to say.
Galinda stood there, confused. Then she put two and two together.
"No, I wouldn't...would I. I couldn't...could I?" she wondered.
Elphaba had come into the room just then, it seems, the thank Galinda for getting Nessarose a date for the dance. Instead, Galinda had shoved the hat at her, mumbling some stuff about being sharp and smart, it was really just a bunch of nonsense. Then she ran out of the room, leaving Elphaba behind with Shenshen and Pffanee, who were looking a bit confusifyed.
That night, Galinda was looking spectactular ( as usual) and had almost forgotten about Elphaba until Madame Morrible showed up, saying Elphaba requested Galinda to be included in the seminar for sorcery. Then Elphaba had shown up in the hideous hat. Everyone laughed at her. Elphaba pretended not to care, but Galinda knew she did, and started dancing horribly. She unlike the other girls, she had CLEARLY never been given lessons. Galinda felt terrible for humiliating her, and danced just as horribly, until the other students accepted it.
Galinda paused in her memory. She recalled something in Elphaba's eyes that night. At the time, she couldn't place it. It was like a glow, a special spark. Now she knew- to be accepted, instead of shunned- that was all Elphaba had ever wanted. Back in their room that night, Galinda had attempted a makeover on Elphaba, trying to...what had been Fiyero's term for it? Oh, yes..."galindify" her. Unfortunately, Galinda hadn't gotten very far before Elphaba saw her reflection and fled. Galinda had never understood why, it was only a little lipliner and eyeshadow...and the flower.
Elphaba had kept the flower in her hair. The last time Glinda had seen it was on their journey to the Emerald City, right after changing her name for the sake of love. She smiled gently, remembering those days. She was so young, so naïve, believing everyone had to love her. Of course, Glinda remembered, more than her name changed that day. From changing from Galinda to Glinda, she had turned from a self-absorbed, snobby girl to a caring, sensitive friend. Yes, Elphaba really had changed her for the better.
Glinda looked down at the flower. There had to be something in that trunk that could help her find her best friend.
She probed further. An old leather satchel, and some pages that seemed to be torn out from the Grimmerie. The silver ink had almost faded on them. Glinda was about to place them back in the trunk, then hesitated and put them inside the satchel. They could be worth keeping.
Glinda was reaching the bottom of the trunk. She uncovered a small wooden box, containing empty bottles. No, one was half-full. Glinda took the cork out and poured it onto her hand. Oil? How strange. What could Elphie need with this?
Glinda cleared away some blankets littered with straw. She could see the bottom of the trunk. Glinda's eyes filled with tears. Nothing in this trunk that could help her find Elphie. All this was for nothing.
In her desperation, Glinda punched the pile of blankets she had uncovered. She stopped suddenly as her had connected with something solid.
Carefully, Glinda unwrapped the folds in the blanket, revealing a hard-cover red book. Across the cover was the word "Journal".
A/NL: gets better!!! I promise!!!! I'm in preparation for the beginning of school, so after next week I may not write as often. But I promise to get the next chapter up ASAP!!!
