Elphaba remembered cupcakes. Or was it cupcakes? Perhaps it had been a real cake, with lots of frosting and bright candles. Yes, that had been it. It was a large pink frosted cake with many candles, such a luxury in sparse Quadling country. And on the top, "Happy Birthday Nessa" in red writing. How had that cake come about? There was a fuzz of activity, there in the hut. Yes, Nanny and Elphaba had all pitched many hours of work into the confection. And the brightly wrapped presents littering the table in front of Nessa. The smile on her face was giant and she was so happy. It gave Elphaba only the slightest twinge of jealousy that day, only because Nessa was feeling so good and Elphaba hadn't wanted to ruin it.
--------
"Elphie!" Glinda shook her roommate carefully by the shoulders, pressing her forehead to Elphaba's and calling to her. Elphaba had been moaning in her sleep, tossing about under the covers and whimpering. There were some words, "Nessa" and occasionally "birthday."
Elphaba gasped and her eyes shot open. Her arms, pinned to her sides by Glinda's thighs, wriggled and she squirmed uncomfortably.
"Glinda!" Elphaba panted, out of breath. Glinda retreated to the foot of the bed and waited for Elphaba to collect herself.
"Elphie, what did you dream about?" Glinda asked worriedly. Elphaba turned her eyes down and blinked several times.
"Nessa's birthday party, years ago." Elphaba sighed and laid her head back on the pillow, blinking slowly now. "There was a big cake that Nanny and I took forever to make and Nessa was so happy, she got a pile of presents, most from Father." Elphaba smiled thinly at the memory of her sister's happiness.
"Was that it?" Glinda asked, twirling her fingers around her toes absentmindedly. Elphaba nodded, not wanting to share her guilt at feeling jealous of her poor sister.
"That was the year he got her this beautiful dress, it was covered with small stones, they shone in the sun like diamonds. I think she might still have it, though I'm not sure it would fit her any longer." Elphaba sighed wistfully and sat up again, quickly erasing all traces of emotion from her face. Suddenly, she recalled why she was in bed and her face fell.
"Elphaba?" Nessa had carefully tottered into the room on unsure feet and was resting herself on the door jamb. Elphaba looked up and smiled.
"Nessa!" The voice she put out was false and happy. Nessa saw through it immediately.
"Elphaba, I heard about what you did to Doctor Nikidik." Nessa's voice was stern and her features hard. Glinda grasped Elphaba's hand gently and turned to face the green girl.
"Yes, I shouldn't have done it. I don't know why I did it." Elphaba cast her face down and avoided both her sister's and Glinda's eye. Nessa maneuvered herself up with the help of the wood behind her and began to return to her room. As if on a whim, she poked her head back into the doorway and frowned.
"You should ask the Unnamed God for forgiveness, Fabala." And she was gone. Elphaba buried her face in Glinda's knees, letting the shorter girl tangle her dainty fingers in Elphaba's heavy raven hair.
--------
"He's going to kill me," Elphaba sighed and knocked gently on Doctor Nikidik's door.
"Enter." Doctor Nikidik called. Elphaba entered and took a deep breath. Doctor Nikidik frowned up at her with narrowed eyes.
"Doctor?" Elphaba stood uncomfortably and held her hands close to her body, trying to put on a reassuring pose. Doctor Nikidik sighed and motioned for her to sit.
"Miss Elphaba, you have done a very--" Doctor Nikidik began to mumble again. Elphaba stifled a sigh of disappointment that she would not be able to understand what he really intended. "So I think you ought to mumble mumble, to make up for your mumble." Elphaba frowned.
"I'm sorry?" She asked, as politely as she could. Doctor Nikidik frowned at her, but repeated his sentence. "Yes, sir." Elphaba trudged out of the room and fought back tears of sorrow.
--------
"How'd it go!" Glinda excitedly rushed to Elphaba as the door opened and pulled her to the bed. "Elphie?" Elphaba lifted her head and wiped furiously at burning tears.
"He said I needed to be s-suspended." Elphaba hated herself for the stutter in her voice. "I'm going home for a week." Glinda made a soft sound of disappointment.
"Dear, I'll be back soon, I promise. Niki-dick head said Morrible would magic me home so I wouldn't have to use the train." Glinda giggled at the nickname, but quickly stifled it.
"Must you be so crass, Elphie?" Elphaba nodded sanctimoniously. Glinda kissed her and kissed her and kissed her, waiting for a reaction.
"Oh, Glinda, dear, I need to pack." Elphaba stood and left Glinda feeling disappointed.
----------------------------
Love it? Hate it? Reviews equal chapters!