"We'll see," said Nessa laughing. "You look nice too."
She was radiant. She was smiling wider than before, her face cream-colored and of a gentle blush. Her hair was brushed back, silk straight with soft curls at the ends, a dark pink clothed headband holding her hair back. She was wearing a baby pink gown with a modest shawl draped around her shoulders. Her silver slippers sparkled below.
"Are those for me?" asked Nessarose.
Boq just gawked and absent-mindedly handed her the roses. She took it, reluctantly observing it with a thoughtful eye.
"These are… lovely," she said slowly. But then she smiled.
"My goat ate it," he said, still gawking.
"I'll keep them forever," she said adoringly. This is going to be harder than I thought, panicked Boq. He also couldn't help but notice how oddly optimistic she was. He took a breath and smiled.
"Shall we?" asked Boq trying to ease his nerves.
"We shall," she replied and wheeled herself out into the hall. He closed the door and started to walk beside her. The Ozdust ballroom wasn't far from Shiz. It was actually right across the artificial field. It was built as a gymnasium before, but then the school decided to debunk the idea of closed-in sporting, and declared that sports should be exercised in the open air. They talked lightly. Boq mostly let her do all the talking and she happily chatted away, mostly about how she got ready for the dance and how her sister helped her. She asked him if it took him long to get ready.
"Oh definitely," said Boq teasingly. "I couldn't decide whether to wear my red and white polka dotted bowtie, or my sparkly green one. Oh…" He reached out of his pocket and pulled out her scarf. "I think this belongs to you."
She looked at it and refused it. "I want you to keep it. Something to remember me by."
"You're not going anywhere."
"No, but you never know what's going to happen."
"I'm not going to let you get away from me." Boq stopped himself. Why do I lie like this? Boq thought furiously. He wanted to kick himself. She didn't respond, however. She merely let out a chuckle and they kept walking until they approached the ballroom. He opened the door for her and they went inside. The room blazed of a midnight blue, with lights of yellow and white appearing, disappearing, and reappearing in star-shaped diamonds on the walls and ceiling. It was like they stepped into another galaxy, another world.
"It's as if we're somewhere under the rainbow," she said admiring the room.
"There's no such place," said Boq.
"Can't you be a romantic for just one night?" teased Nessa.
"I'm always a romantic," answered Boq. "I'm a romantic realist."
"There's no such person. And if there was, you wouldn't even be on the list."
Boq grinned at her and they conversed for a little while as Boq became a bit more edgy and stiff around her. The more they got to know each other, the more he felt as if he was breaking her heart. Her presence, her essence seemed so different ever since she said yes to him. It's as if she really wanted to be with him, and the more he got the hint, the more he started to care about her. And he didn't want to hurt her. Suddenly, he saw Galinda from across the room. She was wearing a light pink dress that shimmered as she danced. Her smile was contagious and bright. He couldn't help but smile too.
"Isn't she wonderful?" asked Nessa.
"Huh?" said Boq startled. "Yeah… wonderful."
"She really knows how to charm her way through anybody. I wish I had that trait. Then I'd have everyone under my wings."
"Under the dictatorship of the Great Empress Nessarose… I can't imagine you being so cruel."
Nessa laughed. "I was right, you aren't a realist."
Boq curled his lips. She continued. "I wish there was some way I can repay her. If it wasn't for her, then we wouldn't be together right?"
"Uhh… I, um suppose.. erm, would you like some punch?" said Boq.
"Sure," said Nessa. Boq poured her some strawberry flavored punch and gave it to her. She thanked him and Boq was glad that that topic had passed. Boq looked around, seeing everyone enjoying themselves, dancing, being gay. He clutched the handle of her wheelchair. He felt tense. He let go and let his arms fall to his side. He shook them a little, hoping to get rid of his nerves. Nessa noticed his tension. Boq felt her hand cup unto his and he relaxed. It felt kind of nice.
"Yoo-hoo! Woo-wee, Boq dearest!" Boq looked up and to his horror saw what looked like the ugliest female on the face of Oz. She started to approach them with extreme rapidness.
"Who is that?" asked Nessa.
"I have no idea," admitted Boq. As the horrid thing started to come closer, her image became clearer. What started to look like a real being, Boq couldn't help but stare at her… her… strange features. She was wearing a turquoise dress, which looked as if it had been torn by a lion. Underneath the dress were two of the hairiest legs he had ever seen; she also had blonde, straggly hair, manly facial features, and… dare he think it? A pair of the most lopsided breasts ever.
"Do I know you?" asked Boq.
"Oh don't you remember," she said with a strange, faint falsetto. "I'm Galinda's bumpkin cousin from the countryside! Isn't it amazing how much more alike we look after time passed?"
"Uhh…" said Boq. He had no clue who this crazy cousin was.
"Oh is this your little girlfriend?" said she, pointing to Nessa. "Isn't she adorable? What's your name, dearest?"
"N-nessarose," she stumbled.
"Nessarose… like a sweet-scented red rose." It suddenly hit him. Boq squinted his eyes and looked closely. Beneath the heavy blue eye shadow, magenta colored blush, and ruby red lipstick, he saw a familiar face. Strands of dark hair peered through the mount of catastrophic blonde hair. Chandelier earrings were seen dangling from her ears. Oh no, thought Boq. It can't be…
"What's your name?" asked Nessarose.
"Dalinga!" the thing exclaimed.
"Dalinga?" Boq asked. Damn you, Tibbett, thought Boq madly. What in Ozma's name are you thinking?
"Don't you think Boq is just the sweetest little thing?" said Dalinga pinching his cheeks. "So devoted… so committed… so honest."
"Oh yes… he is quite grand," said Nessa. Boq glared at "Dalinga," but she simply spread a conniving smile.
"What's your aim?" murmured Boq to "Dalinga's" ear.
Dalinga threw her hands modestly. "Oh Boq you mustn't whisper sweet nothings in my ear in the presence of others."
"What!" exclaimed Boq.
"Oh don't get excited, we'll be together soon… perhaps… tonight."
"Tonight?"
"At school," she said thoughtfully.
"At school?"
"In the janitor's closet."
"In the what?" Boq grabbed Dalinga by the straps of her dress. "If you think this is going to work-"
"Boq, you frisky little devil, not above the breast line!"
"Boq, what are you doing?" asked Nessa.
"Oh dear, don't worry, he's nothing I can't handle," replied Dalinga.
"Nessa, this Dalinga isn't Dalinga," said Boq fervently.
"What?" asked Nessa.
"This grotesque looking this is Tibbett!"
"Tibbett?"
"Who is this Tibbett you speak of?" demanded Dalinga wildly. Boq ripped off the V-cut of her dress and threw it behind him. Nessa gasped. Boq revealed a torso full of curly chest hair, with a satin black bra stuffed with two huge coconuts. Tibbett wrapped his arms around himself.
"My boobies!" exclaimed Tibbett. "I'm naked! Utterly, utterly naked!"
"Tibbett, I've had it with your immaturity!" claimed Boq.
"My immaturity." His falsetto turned into an angry baritone. "MY immaturity? You play around and juggle people's hearts, and you dare scold at my immaturity? I'll should you immaturity!"
In a swift move, Tibbett jumped behind Nessa's wheelchair, strapped his feet onto it, and pushed off. Boq watched in terror as a boy gone crazy rode halfway across the dance floor on the back of a helpless girl's wheelchair.
"You'll never get away with this Boq!" yelled Tibbett, his bra flying behind him.
"Tibbett, stop, you're going to crash into something!" yelled Boq running after him. People watched in shock, in amusement.
"You can't catch me Boq!"
"Tibbett, get off!" said Boq.
"NEVER!"
A wild goose chase rallied over and across the ballroom, a roar of laughter drowning out the music. A few people egged Tibbett on. Boq saw Galinda hide behind Fiyero in embarrassment. Tibbett then turned around to face Boq. He then gave an evil grin, and charged toward him. Nessa made a trembling face, as if she was going to burst into tears.
"On guard!" yelled Tibbett as he bolted toward him. Boq's eyes widened and he started to turn around and run. He chased Boq halfway across the room. Suddenly Boq had an idea. He headed for the open window and then zigzagged his way toward it. He then quickly pulled out Nessa's scarf, dropped it along the way, then moved aside after taking a few more steps. Out of habit, Tibbett mimicked his movements, and lost balance when he tried to dodge the scarf. As fast as he could, Boq wrapped his arms around Nessa's upper back, and the back of her knees and carried her off. Tibbett crashed into the wall and flew right through the open window. People laughed, but continued with their dancing. They all expected nothing less from Tibbett. Nessa wrapped her arms around Boq's neck.
"You saved my life," she whispered smiling. "Thank you."
"It was nothing at all Miss Nessarose," said Boq kind of nervously. He carried her back to her wheelchair and set her down. He pushed her back toward the snack table, taking time to calm their excitement. Suddenly people stopped dancing and the music faded in the background. Elphaba walked in with a sleeveless blue frock that came above her ankles, and a tall black pointed hat.
"What's that hat she's wearing?" asked Boq almost spitting out his punch.
"Galinda gave it to her," mentioned Nessa. Boq gave her a surprised look as Elphaba walked to the center of the floor. Then out of the complete blue, she started to wind her arms like a mill and started to jerk her head to an offbeat. Everyone started giggling and commenting, as she presumed. Then she started to do the chicken dance.
"Is this some Animal rights protest?" asked Boq.
Nessa laughed. "No… I think she's trying to have fun." All of a sudden Galinda clicked her way to Elphaba.
"Excuse me, may I cut in?" she asked and Elphaba stopped dancing. Galinda then started to present her interpretation of Elphaba's dance, and everyone watched in awe. Galinda started to smile. "You know, this is kind of fun!" she remarked, and grabbed Elphaba's hands and started moving her to the music rising from the atmosphere. Pretty soon, everyone started to go along with it and Elphaba grinned.
"I'm glad she's getting along well," said Nessa. "Boq, isn't it wonderful?" She took his hand.
"Uh Nessa?" said Boq hesitantly.
"Yes?"
"Listen Nessa. There's something I have to tell you… something I have to confess… the reason I asked you here tonight, that is."
"Oh… Boq," she said disappointedly. "Boq, I know why."
"You do?"
"I knew it was too good to be true. You asked me to the dance because I'm in this stupid chair, and you… you felt sorry for me." Boq looked down, and frowned. He had to turn away. "Well? Isn't that right?"
"No!" pressed Boq, rubbing the back of his neck. "No… uhh… it's because… uhh…" Think, think, think! "Because…" Boq had it. He knelt down on one knee, took her hand, and blurted, "Because you are so beautiful."
"Oh Boq!" Nessa glowed. "You're so wonderful! We deserve each other, don't we Boq?"
"Nessa…"
"Don't you see? This is our chance to be happy for the rest of our lives. We deserve each other don't we Boq?" Nessa smiled like never before. And for once Boq believed his own words. She was so beautiful when she smiled. But, he just couldn't be with her. He knew she would never compare to Galinda. He was so close to her, he could almost feel it.
"Don't we Boq?" asked Nessa. Boq panicked.
"You know what?" he said changing subjects. "Let's dance."
Nessa gave him a bewildered look. "What?"
"Let's DANCE!" he said and pulled her chair to the dance floor. He started doing the robot.
"Boq I feel silly," mumbled Nessa.
"Come on, I love this song," said Boq. "And the strange, your life can end up changing, when you're dancing throooouuuggghh." Suddenly the song stopped. "Boy that was fun."
Nessa laughed. "Can you excuse me? Id' like to talk with my sister."
"No problem," said Boq and she wheeled herself away. Boq gradually made his way toward Galinda and Fiyero who apparently got away from Elphaba.
"Good evening Miss Galinda," said Boq approaching them. Fiyero gave him a kind of odd look. "I hope you're having a pleasant night."
"Oh I am," said Galinda grabbing Fiyero's arm.
"I hope you can return the favor for the night I spent with Miss Nessarose, Miss Galinda."
"What?" Galinda's eyebrows rose.
"A f-favor perhaps… Miss Nessa's date… you said-"
"Um, Fiyero dearest, can you help Elphaba with the drinks? It seems so pitiful that she had to get them on her lonesome."
"Sure," he said and walked away.
"Would you mind stepping outside with me?" she said and tapped towards the door. Boq stood there speechless. Did his sweetheart actually want to be alone?
"Come good sir," she said. "Come on, come on…here boy."
"I'll be right there Miss Galinda," said Boq running after her. They stepped outside into the silent moonlit darkness, alone at last.
"Master Book, I'm concerned about "us," if there even is an "us," which I don't think there is. Not that I like it, but society calls for importance of appearance. Appearance is everything, and, though I don't like it one bit, I must oblige to it. I can't have everyone seeing me with you."
"What?" said Boq kind of hurt. "But you were my partner just the other day-"
"Oh people love pity," she said lightly. "Oh, believe me Master Beak, I don't want to feel this way. If I could, I'd change society. If I could, I'd have everyone under my feet because of all the good I'd do to this land. But alas I'm only on stage one." She lifted a long wand with a star shape at the end. "Miss Elphaba got me in Morrible's sorcery class. By my gratitude, I shall assist her with her problem. But you… well I'm very content with you, but first of all… your clothes Master Bark… appalling."
Boq looked at himself. "Oh… you don't understand, this-"
"Oh I understand completely. You're an abomination!"
Boq drooped his head down sadly. This was so embarrassing. It felt as if he was slapped in the face.
"Oh good sir," said Galinda, sorry for him. She pecked a kiss on his cheek. "Why… well… I insist you take me to brunch tomorrow."
"What?" said Boq. "But… I thought…"
"Never mind what you thought, it's settled then?" She cringed as if she just tasted a sour lemon.
"Of course Miss Galinda. Anything for you."