2- Celebration the G(a)linda Way

Elphaba's appearance was no longer a source of excitement among the students in Shiz. It was her unusually broad smile that drew everyone's attention, including Nessarose. She thought that hanging around Galinda would be a good chance for her sister to be more… well, ladylike. She thought that Elphaba looked pretty wearing Galinda's fancy, sophisticated dresses, especially in that pink one that did wonders to her emerald skin.

But that smile… it was bothersome; Nessarose couldn't remember when was the last time she saw her sister smile like that. Since their childhood she was always grim and depressed. Though she was a small child, merely a baby, when their mother died, Melena's death affected her greatly. And now, from a strange, mysterious reason, Elphaba smiled. It made Nessarose want to smile, too.

"Elphaba dear, is everything alright?" she asked, her expression concerned.

"Never better," Elphaba replying, tossing back her unusually loose hair. She kissed Nessarose's forehead and then sat next to her wheelchair. Galinda found a chair facing them. She did her best ignoring Boq, which was quite impossible for he sat right next to her. Some other students were also there; few people who studied with Elphaba and Galinda in Morrible's seminar and several friends of Galinda's, who actually accepted Elphaba's company.

Fiyero entered the crowded café just several minutes after the girls did. He expected only Galinda since they have decided to meet there, and was surprised to see some of their friends there, including Elphaba.

"Fiyero! Over here, dearest!" called Galinda, waving in his direction.

He waved back as he joined the merry gang. "Well, hello all, what is everyone doing here?" he asked in his usual cheerful tone. Of course, he expected to spend some time alone with Galinda, but he always felt so natural being among many people in crowded places. Besides, he was always glad to hang out with his new friends. Shiz was not as bad a place as he thought it would be. It was better than most schools he had been kicked out of.

"There is this tiny change in our plans, dear," Galinda explained sweetly.

Fiyero smiled in reply as he took a seat on the only vacant chair, next to Elphaba.

Galinda frowned. She expected him to ask Boq to move, so that he could sit next to her and save her from the Munchkin's endless chatter. She couldn't tell him something about it, though, without shouting it; he was too far away.

Elphaba raised her head in surprise when Fiyero sat next to her. Their eyes met for a slight second before she turned to say something to her sister. Fiyero kept staring at her in amazement. True, he didn't like her becoming Galindafied, yet that night was different. She looked absolutely beautiful in the pink dress she wore, which was probably Galinda's. Her hair was streaming down her shoulders and it looked so soft and silky that Fiyero longed to touch it, but couldn't.

Elphaba turned around suddenly and caught him looking at her before he had a chance to remove his gaze. She frowned. "What are you staring at?"

"Nothing. Sorry. Didn't realize I was… forget it," he mumbled, ashamed of himself. Smooth move indeed, master Tiggular, he scorned himself. Elphaba turned her attention back to her sister and he caught himself staring at her again. What was it about her today? She looked more… glamorous? Happy? Was that it?

"You're staring again," she said softly, loud enough that he'd hear her but quiet enough so the others, especially Galinda, wouldn't. After she said it she wondered whether it was too softly, and blushed.

Fiyero nodded. "I am staring," he admitted, flashing an apologetic smile at her. "My apologies. It's just that-" he didn't have a chance to finish. Galinda stood up and tried to catch everyone's attention by clicking on her glass with a spoon.

Elphaba raised her head sharply at the sound of it, and tried to shoot Galinda a warning glare, but to no avail. She lowered her head in dismay, hoping she could just disappear. She knew there was no way she could stop Galinda from making a public announcement of what had taken place earlier that day.

"Listen, everyone, may I have your attention please?" The noises gradually ceased, and everyone now looked curiously at Galinda. Once she was at the center of everyone's attention, she flashed her best smile at them, tossed her hair, then continued. "I have an important announcement to make. Elphaba, will you stand up please?"

Although Elphaba did her best to protest, somehow Galinda managed to grab her wrist and pull her off her chair. Now she was the one at the center of everyone's attention. It felt awkward; almost wrong.

"Our Elphaba got exciting news today," said Galinda. "The great and wonderful Wizard of Oz personally summoned her for an audience at his throne in the Emerald City!"

A hiss of admiration passed among the crowd in the café, but nothing louder than that. Galinda's beautiful features wrinkled into an unsatisfied frown. These were not the excited cheers she expected to hear. In their table, on the other hand, things went up more as planned.

"Elphaba, really?" Nessarose exclaimed. "Oh my Oz, I'm so proud of you!" Tears of joy sparkled in her eyes as she gave her older sister a hug.

Boq shook her hand formally and wished her good luck, and some other brave students did the same. Galinda ordered a bottle of champagne from a passing-by waiter.

Fiyero took advantage on her momentary lack of attention and leaned towards Elphaba, who managed to go back to her chair. "So this is why you are so pretty today," he whispered softly in her ear.

She held back a gasp, flattered and absolutely shocked at the same time. Her cheeks were burning up. She knew she was blushing. Did he actually say that? To her? In a room full of people? And worse, in Galinda's presence? "Thanks, I guess," she whispered back, not really looking at him so he wouldn't see how flushed her face was.

"And congrats," he took her hand in his under the table and gave it a little squeeze. Elphaba froze. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe. What in Oz he was doing?

Nessarose sighed happily, clearly unaware of her sister's distress. "This is such a great honor, Elphaba, I'm so excited!"

"Thanks, Nessa," Elphaba replied, distracted. She could hardly concentrate. Her heart was pounding so fast now, she was afraid it would burst.

"When are you going, Miss Elphaba?" asked Boq. He was happy for her. She wasn't as horrible as he first thought. She was actually kind of nice, once you got to know her. And she was smart, so smart it was scary sometimes. She deserved that audience with the great Wizard, Boq had no doubts about that.

"I didn't have a chance to discuss it with Morrible yet. I guess that I'll go during the spring break, right after the mid-terms."

Meanwhile, Fiyero let go of her hand, which was a good thing. Everyone kept asking her so many questions which she could no way answer while he held her. Her head was reeling.

The waiter came back with the bottle of champagne in an ice bucket and gave it to Galinda, who gave it to Fiyero with a sweet smile. "There you go, dearest. You seem to be a strong man, open it up for us."

Fiyero smiled. "Gladly," he said, then easily corked the bottle to the cheers of everyone around the table. He poured the bubbly liquid to glasses and passed them on between everyone. Once everyone had glasses in hand he got up on his chair and cleared his throat. "A toast," he said dramatically, "to our future representative figure in the Wizard's throne. Elphaba, we are all counting on you to make some good in Oz." Murmurs of agreement passed among everyone. "And when you get there, remember to let other people speak, for Oz's sake!" Everyone laughed at that, including Elphaba.

"I'll try. I promise," she said, smiling. She was actually holding back tears. For one hopeful moment, it felt as if her dream might come true someday. "Thanks, guys. All of you."

"To Elphaba," called Nessarose and raised her glass. Everyone did the same.

"Cheers!" everyone called to the sound of clanging glasses.

Fiyero leaned towards her again when no-one seemed to notice. "Cheers, Elf," he said, flashing a smile at her.

She said nothing, just stared at him incredulously. Did he just call her Elf?

"What are you staring at?" he asked, amused by the change in their roles.

This caught her somewhat off-guard. For a moment, she lost her way with words, then replied weakly, "I'm not staring."

Fiyero was about to say something but interrupted by Galinda's voice above their heads. "There you are, dearest! I didn't have a chance to say hello to you!"

Elphaba discreetly excused herself, moving away from them. The last thing she wanted was to be a third wheel, interrupting their conversation. She found herself seated next to Boq, who smiled politely as he noticed her.

"This is great news, Miss Elphaba," he said. "As Fiyero here said, we are all counting on you."

"Thank you, Boq."

"You know, I have recently read some interesting essays about the whole issue of Animal rights, you might find them interesting yourself."

Elphaba nodded. She was greatly affected by the forced departure of Dr. Dillamond. They are not telling you the whole story, remember that, he told them right before he left. This statement haunted her. She still wondered what he meant by that. She hoped the Wizard would be able to shed some light about this mystery.

Boq noticed the sad expression on her face and assumed correctly that she was thinking about the day when Dr. Dillamond was forced to leave Shiz. "The situation is really bad, much more complicated than we might think. Dr. Dillamond is only a single teacher here, but there are so many like him out there, it's terrible. Really breaks your heart. If you want I can bring them to class tomorrow so you can look at them," he suggested.

"That would be great, Boq, thanks," she replied, somewhat distracted by the sight of Galinda and Fiyero sitting close together, their heads almost touching. Boq said something else but she didn't listen. She had the slightest headache now; it felt as if the room was closing in on her. She had to get out of there. She got up.

"Miss Elphaba? Is everything alright?" asked Boq, concerned.

"I… have to go. I'm sorry, I don't feel very well," she said weakly.

Fiyero and Galinda stopped talking and looked at her. So did Nessarose.

"Elphie? What's wrong?" asked Galinda.

"Too much champagne, I guess. Don't you worry about me. I just need to lie down for a while, that's all," she managed a small smile but felt like crying.

Galinda looked concerned. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Elphaba shook her head. "No, thanks. I'll be fine. Thanks, everyone. Good night."

She allowed herself one last glance at Fiyero before she turned to leave the café.