9- Down at the Ozdust
Elphaba and Galinda left the auditorium where their last exam had taken place. Galinda skipped along the hall and chattered as enthusiastically as ever, Elphaba was just relieved that their last exam was over. She still had a lot of packing to do; she was about to leave for the Emerald City the next morning. All the students at Shiz expected for the spring dance, that night at the Ozdust Ballroom.
"I can't believe we finished this!" Galinda exclaimed. "And I have so much to do before tonight! Oh, Elphie, and we must finish your packing before the ball tonight too! Aren't you excited?"
"More terrified than excited, actually," Elphaba admitted.
Galinda stopped skipping and took Elphaba's hand in hers. "Don't be," she said seriously, then smiled. "I'm sure you'll knock him over."
Elphaba returned her smile. It was in that moment that she realized she would miss this impossibly spoiled and popular girl, who became her only friend. How would she manage there without her? "Thanks, Galinda," she whispered and turned around before Galinda could notice the tears that sparkled in her eyes.
xoxoxoxox
When Galinda walked into the Ozdust Ballroom that night, leaning against Fiyero's arm, she couldn't help but remember their first party there. He had just arrived at Shiz and had taken everyone under his spell, including her, obviously. How long ago it suddenly seemed. She felt so different, more grown-up somehow, though it happened only four months ago.
Fiyero suddenly noticed the contemplated shadow that had crossed her face. "What happened?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just happy to be here, that's all."
"Where's your roommate?"
"Elphaba? Oh, she'll come along. She wanted to finish packing before she'd be here."
"But she is coming, right?" He hoped that he didn't sound so concerned. He hadn't seen Elphaba in three days, when he did his last exam; he was looking forward for that dance she had promised him. Now he wondered if she decided to back away. He hoped she wouldn't.
"Of course she is coming!" Then Galinda seemed to realize what he had just asked her. "But why would you care if she's coming here or not?" she asked, a little suspicious.
Ugh, what was he supposed to say? He paused, frantically searching for a decent answer. "It's her last day here, right? I thought we might all say goodbye to her before she leaves.
Luckily, that was a decent answer. Galinda squealed. "Oh, how sweet of you!" "Come on, enough with that. Let's dance!"
xoxoxoxox
Just like that first dance in the Ozdust, this time too, Elphaba's entrance drew everyone's attention, but from completely different reasons. She looked absolutely stunning in one of her mother's gowns; black satin dress that fell softly down to her feet and shown off a narrow waist and a surprisingly remarkable figure. Her loosened hair was streaming down her back in beautiful raven locks. She looked like a witch, everyone agreed, but a beautiful witch.
Fiyero froze on the spot when he noticed her.
"Dearest? Is everything alright?" asked Galinda, concerned.
"Hmm?" he tried to focus his attention on Galinda but as lovely as she was in her lavender dress, he found it impossible. His gaze wandered across the ballroom and was set back on Elphaba, who had just found Nessarose and Boq next to the punch table.
"You just stopped dancing all of a sudden."
"Oh, I thought… never mind. Oh, look, your roommate finished packing," he said in the most neutral voice he could possibly manage and pointed towards Elphaba.
Galinda gasped when she noticed her friend's unusual appearance.
"What in Oz?" she exclaimed, completely shocked. She grabbed Fiyero's wrist and hurried to where Elphaba was standing. She tapped on her shoulder. "Excuse me, who are you and what have you done with my roommate?" she asked, then fell into a fit of giggles. "You look stunning! Amazing! I have never thought…" she pulled Elphaba into an embrace.
Fiyero stood there, silent, and just stared at her as long as he had the chance. He could not believe that she was about to leave them tomorrow… about to leave him… Wait just a clock tick, where did that come from?
"Isn't she gorgeous? This is one of our mother's dresses, I'm sure she looked just like Elphaba in that dress!" said Nessarose.
"You look beautiful," said Galinda in a reassuring smile.
"Thanks," whispered Elphaba, somewhat embarrassed from all that fussing about the way she was dressed. She avoided Fiyero's eyes.
"So, you're leaving tomorrow. How does that feel?" asked Boq.
"Terrifying, mostly," she replied, laughing nervously. "Really. Sometimes I think that maybe I should just stay here with all of you, I mean… we just learnt to know each other," she held Galinda's hand tightly in hers.
"You'll be back in no time!" promised Galinda. They went through that earlier that day. Elphaba felt anxious from a reason she couldn't quite explain. She started to have second thoughts and almost went to Morrible's room to tell her that she wouldn't go, but Galinda insisted that going away would be best. That was what she wanted. Someone had to tell the Wizard that something bad was happening in Oz, and no one could have done it better than Elphaba.
"I agree," said Fiyero. It was the first thing he said since Elphaba entered the room. He looked straight into her eyes and smiled. "This music is too good to be wasted. Care to dance, Miss Elphaba?"
She snorted. "I'm not buying this royal attitude, you know, I still think you're not a real prince," she said in an attempt to sound as cynical and as superior as ever, but the truth was, that her heart was pounding. She held her breath for Galinda's reaction.
Galinda wrinkled her nose but managed somehow to still look graceful. "Oh, I hate this music," she said. "You go ahead, dearest, save the next dance for me, I'll go to check on my makeup!" she blew him a kiss and disappeared among the crowd.
Fiyero waited until she disappeared from his sight, then turned to look at Elphaba again. "So, how about this dance?"
Elphaba chuckled. "I'm not much of a dancer, I'm afraid."
He smiled. That day in the library looked so far away now. There was only one answer he could think about. "Well, I'll have to teach you then, right?" Before she knew it, he pulled her gently into his arms. She froze. "Come on, you can't be that bad."
She looked amused. "Didn't we have this conversation before?" she asked quietly as they danced away from where Boq and Nessarose were standing.
"Probably. Now stop thinking. Follow my lead. Can you do that?"
"There's one way to find out. I hope I won't step on your feet."
He held her tighter. His grip was strong and confident. She shivered. "You won't," he promised.
She wasn't a bad dancer, not at all, she just needed some practice. And he was a strong lead. The music went on, and Elphaba realized that she actually stopped thinking. Everyone else, especially Galinda, seemed to fade away. There was nothing else in the world at the moment except for her, and Fiyero, and the music. She felt like she was floating.
"You see, I knew you weren't that bad," he said quietly. The band slowed its pace. He looked at her seriously. "Look, Elphaba, I… wanted to thank you for helping me. You did so much for me, I don't think you have any idea how much it meant for me."
"Fiyero-"
"Let other people to talk for a change," he reminded her gently. She smiled. "What I'm trying to say, I guess, is… that… you are leaving tomorrow… and I'll miss you. I'll miss this short time we spent together."
"I know," she whispered. "I'll miss it too." She didn't dare looking at him. She feared of what she might find in his eyes.
"Maybe when you are back…we could… talk about this… or something."
Nessarose's remark was alive and burning in her memory. If I hadn't known better, I would suspect he was in love with you! "Maybe," she said. "You are smart, you know. I never bought that 'life is painless for the brainless' attitude. And I never doubted you'd pass these exams."
"I had the best teacher," said Fiyero. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek before she had a chance to object or back away. She was too stunned to react anyway.
"We… should probably… go back…" she stammered finally. She hoped Galinda wasn't standing there, watching them.
"Yes, I guess we should," he agreed reluctantly. There were so many things he still wanted to tell her, but there was no use. She would still leave the next day, no matter what he'd say.
They didn't dance again that night. Elphaba stayed next to Nessarose's wheelchair all night and talked with Boq and her sister. She kept glancing at Fiyero and Galinda from time to time. They danced and danced and looked so perfect together. Even though she was somewhat jealous that it was Galinda in Fiyero's arms and not herself, as far as Elphaba was concerned, it had been the greatest night of her life. She touched her cheek, then smiled to herself.
She couldn't wait for the day she'd be back from the exciting trip to the Emerald City.
