Glinda sat on her bed back at Shiz, staring over at Elphie's empty one.
Her best friend was wanted.
She, herself, was considered a hero because she agreed to lie about her best friend.
She hated herself.
After Elphaba had, well, flew off, the guards were uncertain of what to do, and completely baffled by what had just happened. They turned on Glinda.
"How did she do that?" they asked ferociously.
Glinda's eyes were wide and frightened. "I don't know," she told them, tears threatening to overflow. It wasn't until after she said it that she remembered that she did know, but she held her tongue.
The guards saw the epitome of innocence on Glinda's face, and they couldn't interrogate her more. One brought her down to the Wizard's, speaking to her nicely, trying to get her to calm down. She didn't hear anything he said.
The guard brought her to the Wizard and Madame Morrible. The Wizard was behind the big head, and it said, "Leave the girl."
The guard left at once, leaving Glinda there. She looked fearfully upon Madame Morrible's unforgiving face. The Wizard, after hearing the door close, came out from behind the head.
"You foolish girl," Madame Morrible spat. "You let her go!"
Tears ran down Glinda's face, as she realized how much trouble she was in. "I didn't know what to do," she said, in a voice shaking from crying.
The Wizard put a hand up to Madame Morrible. "She didn't do it," said the Wizard. He crossed to Glinda and stood in front of her, and Glinda wiped her eyes and sniffed. "Now, Miss…" he trailed off, forgetting her name.
"Glinda," she hiccupped.
"Miss Glinda," he said to her kindly. "I think we can work something out."
And that had been what happened. Glinda promised to not say anything about what really happened with Elphaba, and the Wizard promised Glinda a position of power once she graduated. Madame Morrible wasn't happy with it in the beginning, but then when she saw that Glinda was willing to cooperate, she gave in.
Glinda had not been back at Shiz for more than three hours. It was the day after Elphie had made her decision and defied everything that could make her happy, and Glinda had had to fight an onslaught of fellow students, all wanting to hear the exact tale of her bravery. Glinda feigned a smile, told them all, "it was nothing," and went straight to her room. No one had come to call on her, so she assumed Madame Morrible was taking care of the other students for her. Glinda was alone with her thoughts, however, Glinda didn't like being alone very much. She thought of Nessarose very soon.
She supposed she should go see her…her and Nessa hadn't been friends, exactly, but they had been acquaintances…sort of. She talked to her on occasion, at least. But that wasn't why, of course. She needed to see how Nessa was holding up.
Glinda went to her door and bravely opened it. She was surprised to see no one waiting there, but down the hall, there were some people that saw her and waved. She waved back, not knowing who they were, and walked the other way, down to Nessa's room.
It was right next to Madame Morrible's (a door connected the two rooms), but Madame Morrible was almost never there, so it wasn't too much of a problem. Glinda knocked.
"Go away," a voice said bitterly.
"It's me, Nessa," Glinda said softly.
There wasn't an answer for a moment, and while Glinda contemplated knocking again, Nessa said, "Come in."
Glinda opened the door. It was a large room, much nicer than any of the other students rooms. Nessa sat in her wheelchair in front of her desk, facing the door. Her eyes were angry.
"Hi, Nessa," Glinda said tentatively.
Nessa said nothing.
Glinda stared at her for a moment, then gestured towards the bed. "Can I sit down?"
"Yes." Nessa responded simply.
Glinda did. "Are you okay, Nessa?" she asked, her tone timid.
"You're lying," Nessa hissed.
Glinda paused for a moment, confused. "What?"
"You're lying!" Nessa cried, tears springing to her eyes. "Elphaba wouldn't do that, I know she wouldn't! And you're saying she would!"
"Nessa, I have – "
"No! Just shut up! Tell me the truth! Tell me what happened!"
Nessa looked so angry that Glinda hesitated. "Well…" she trailed off, at a loss for words. "What exactly do you want to know?"
Nessa opened her mouth, and then took a deep breath. "What happened with the monkeys?"
Glinda furtively glanced at the door that led to Madame Morrible's room. "I'm not supposed to – "
"What?" Nessa looked so eager at this new piece of information that Glinda was confused.
"I mean, I…" she paused helplessly, then sighed. "Nessa, your sister really did mutilate those monkeys."
Nessa's eyes were wide, and she was quiet for a moment. The tears were still in her eyes, and she leaned back in her wheelchair. "You're lying," she said, though her tone suggested she had nearly given up.
"She didn't mean to, exactly, though…"
Nessa sat forward, hopeful. "What happened?" she demanded.
Glinda didn't know what to do, then she went to the door and locked it, sat on the bed, and told Nessa everything.
Nessa breathed a shaky sigh of relief. "I knew you were lying," she said, her words triumphant, her tone almost…sad. "I knew it."
"But Nessa, you can't tell anyone."
"I know," she said irritably. "Or your precious reputation will be spoiled."
"Not only that, I'll probably go to jail! Nessa, it's really important!"
"I know!" she shouted again. She lowered her voice, and looked hopeful. "Do you think this will get resolved?"
"Of course," Glinda said quickly. "She'll apologize, or…something, and everything will work out."
Nessa looked thoughtful. "She'll come back and help me," she murmured excitedly. "She'll come back for me," she told Glinda confidently. "I know my sister, she'll come back."