It was a cold day at Shiz. Lurlinemas was upon them. Everyone at Shiz was wandering about, talking aimlessly about how their holidays will be. Everyone, that is, except Elphaba.
It was Elphie's second year at Shiz, and for the second year she would not be going home for Lurlinemas. She was needing someway to get her mind off of things. She decided she would go to the library. The library would offer her comfort. It would be quiet, serene, and lonely just like her. She would have all the peace she could stand to read about the politics and origins of Oz.
While on the way downstairs, Elphaba ran into Galinda. "Uh...hi Galinda."
"Hi Elphie! Where are you off to at this hour? Aren't you going to go to the room and pack? I haven't seen you're luggage." Galinda said the green girl.
Elphie looked down and fidgetted a bit. "Well, no. I'm not going home for Lurlinemas. Father and I decided it would be better if I stayed at Shiz. It would give me a chance to catch up on my studies." She sulked her head down. It really wasn't something Father and her discussed at all. It was more like Father saying she needed to stay, while he took Nessa with him.
"WHAT! You aren't going home? That's sad Elphie. And what do you mean by catching up with your studies? You are at the top of all your classes. What will you do all these two weeks?" Galinda knew better. She knew staying was not something Elphaba wanted to do, but had no choice in the matter.
"I plan to spend most of my time in the library. I can read up on some things that have been interesting me. Maybe something about the Animals and how they came to be." Elphaba didn't seem too convincing, but Galinda let it go.
"Okay. Well...I guess I will see you later then." Galinda said somewhat disappointedly.
"Okay. See you then I guess." They both stood there for a minute looking at each other. "I'm going to the library now actually. You can come if you want." Elphaba was as smooth as ever. She chuckled on the inside. What was it that made her stumble on her words and become stupified whenever she was around the blonde girl?
"Oh. No." It was as if Galinda was coming out of a daze. "I am on my way to get ready. Why would you go to the library tonight? Aren't you going to the ball. It will be the last for a while. Lurlinemas and all." Galinda had a since of hope in her voice.
"No. I hadn't been aware of the ball. I won't go anyway. A bunch of uppity girls worrying about who is wearing what and dancing with who. It's a lot of hooplah that I don't welcome. I wouldn't fit in well anyway. I don't really have anything to wear. Nothing festive enough." Elphaba was searching for reasons. There really wasn't any. She just didn't feel like going tonight. Especially not if Galinda was there. She found herself following that thought up with one of how she would be upset that she couldn't dance with her. But why would she want to dance with the blonde girl? Why? It's not like Galinda would want to dance with Elphaba. There was so much that was rushing through her mind at once.
"Uh? Elphie?" Elphaba snapped out of her daze. She apparently was giving the ball way too much thought. "Well...it would be nice to see you there. I mean...um...You should enjoy tonight. Um. OH! I almost forgot." It was a last attempt. "I still need to give you your present."
"Oh Galinda. You didn't have to get me anything. I haven't gotten you one." It didn't come off harsh, but Elphie felt bad all the same.
"Don't worry about it. Just follow me to the room so I can give it to you before I go." They walked back to the room. There was a little awkwardness between them. They both wondered why. It was silent until they got inside. "Okay, Elphie. Sit down while I go get it. And cover your eyes! I don't want you to see what it is." Elphaba obliged, but felt rather silly. She was rushed over with a joy she didn't know she could have. In all actuality, this would be the first gift she was given since the orb Turtle Heart gave her all those years ago. She still had it, somewhere amongst her belongings.
"Okay, hold your hands out." Galinda dropped the hat into Elphaba's hands. "Now open your eyes." Elphaba looked at the hat. It was black, pointy. Somewhat awkward, but there was something about it. Maybe it was just the fact that it was a gift from Galinda. Who knows. "Well. Put it on silly!" and with that Galinda pulled the hat from Elphie's hands and put it on her head.
"You're beautiful. I mean...the hat looks good on you. Dresses you up a bit. You know...You could go to the ball tonight in that." Galinda was almost pleading now. She really wanted to see Elphaba there. She was hoping there would be some way that she could steal a dance with the green girl. Friends do that you know...atleast, that's how Galinda was justifying it to herself.
Without an excuse, because there really was no reason to go to the library now, Elphie agreed. "Ok. I guess, since you're dragging me along and whatnot." She chuckled. "I guess I'll go."
"Oh! I'm not making you, but thanks." Galinda gave Elphie a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. She was so nervous afterwards that she ran off to get ready.
Elphaba was shocked by the affection. She blushed a bit. Then looked back to see Galinda getting ready. "Do you want me to wait for you? Or should I just go ahead?" With that, there was a knock at the door.
"Can you answer that Elphie? I am somewhat indecent at the moment," Galinda called from behind a door.
Elphaba moved towards the door and opened it. It was Fiyero. "Hey Elphaba. Is Galinda here?"
"I'm here," Galinda called from behind the same door. "Give me a minute."
Elphaba stood at the door for a moment. "Oh. Come in won't you." Elphaba ushered Fiyero into the room. Her heart sank a moment. What game was Galinda playing? Why ask her to the ball when all along she was going with Fiyero? Why is she so jealous? "Galinda will be out shortly, I'm sure. Have fun tonight won't you." Elphaba ran out the room.
Galinda walked out from where she was dressing. "Oh, Fiyero, what are you doing here? Where's Elphaba?"
"She ran off somewhere. I don't know. She looked a little upset or something. She always looks a little upset though, so who knows. Anyway, I came by to ask you to the ball. I hope you haven't already promised yourself to another this evening?" Fiyero stood and walked over to Galinda. "You look amazing. Absolutely stunning. You look like you are dressed to impress, maybe you do already have a date."
"Oh. Well. No, I suppose I don't have a date. Um..." She thought about where Elphaba had gone. Why had she run off like that? "I guess we should go then."
Out in the courtyard Elphaba sat on a bench. She was almost in tears. She was beating herself up. "What is this feeling? Why am I jealous? Why? Is this...love? No. I can't love Galinda. She's so...bright. She's everything I am not. She is perfect. And I...I...can't go tonight. I can't. But what if...I mean, Galinda did go through the trouble of giving me this hat and all. I guess...I'll go for just a few minutes." She got up and walked to the auditorium where the ball was being held.
Upon entering the room everyone stopped. Nobody was expecting her there, and she was right. She didn't have the appropriate attire. She was clad in solid black while everyone else was in beautiful colors. She walked in awkwardly. In the corner of the room she say Galinda. She was with Fiyero. "Why did I come?" she thought. To make herself look less awkward she attempted a dance. She only made things worse apparently. Everybody started to laugh. Elphaba was only a moment away from running away crying when she saw Galinda walking up to her. She walked right up to Elphie and started dancing with her.
Galinda wasn't really sure how to dance this way, she didn't know all the hand movements. She was nervous, and it showed. She put on a smile anyway. She looked at the green girl and was willing her to know that she wasn't alone. Elphaba smiled back. Mean while, since Galinda is a somewhat popular person, everybody decided that maybe it wasn't all that strange. Other people joined in. This made Elphaba feel a lot better. She wasn't so singled out.
When the song was over, Galinda started, "So Elphie, what took you so long? You left before-"
"Hi girls!" Fiyero cut in. "Oh Galinda, would you come get some punch with me?" He pulled Galinda off. She did look back and showed Elphaba that she really didn't want to go, but was being forced.
Elphaba, not wanting to tear Fiyero and Galinda apart, retreated back to the room. She had made a big enough fool of herself, she thought. Why bother staying? Galinda obviously didn't care that she had shown up. She didn't even ask where she had been. She did seem a little concerned that she had taken off. But never the less. Elphaba undressed. She took off the hat and gave it a good look over. A half smile came over her. Elphaba placed the hat down on her dresser. She put on her sleeping gown and crawled into bed. She was trying to sleep, but thoughts of Galinda dancing with her that evening kept creeping up on her. She could see those beautiful green eyes every time she closed her own eyes. She couldn't sleep at any rate, so she pulled out one of her text books and began reading. She fell asleep at some point between the liguistics of old Oz and the fall of Ozma.
"...okay, but get off with you. It's much too late for you to be out. Go!" Galinda was coming into the room. She turned and saw that Elphie was still asleep. She was tossing quite a bit though. Galinda tried to just ignore it. She undressed and put on her own sheer pink nighty. Now fully ready for bed she went to ready the bed for sleeping. She pulled back the sheets and fluffed the pillow, when she heard Elphaba moaning. It startled her a bit. So she turned and walked to Elphie's bed. There was sweat beading up on her forehead, so Galinda wiped it away. With this maneuver she also brushed Elphaba's hair back. She smiled as she looked at her. She really was beautiful, you know, when she wasn't off trying to make herself look stoic.
"GALINDA!" Elphaba shot upright. Galinda fell back and jumped up. She was...she didn't know what she was. Why did Elphie scream out her name? Never mind it now. She ran to Elphaba's side.
"Elphie? Are you okay?" Galinda asked.
"Me. Yea. I'm fine. Why?" She blushed. She hoped that nothing would give away the rather steamy dream she just had."What time is it? Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"Elphie...you screamed out my name. I...I...was startled, so I got up to see what was the matter. Was it a dream?" Galinda didn't know what to think.
"Damn it. So I didn't just scream in my sleep," Elphaba thought to herself. "Yes. It was a dream. I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sorry. I know you have to leave early in the morning." Elphaba blushed a bit, and turned her head away.
"No, It's ok. I had just come in. I'm not leaving until early afternoon. As long as you are sure that you are okay... Well...goodnight." Galinda wasn't sure she wanted to know what the dream was about. She gave Elphie a hug. "Sleep well..." She got up, walked to her side of the room and got in bed.
Elphaba just sat there for a moment. She was a little embarrassed that she had actually called out Galinda's name. She was a little stunned as well. She got more affection this evening than she had in a whole years time at home. She finally decided to lie down and attempt to sleep. "Good night, Galinda."
Elphaba fell asleep almost immediately. Galinda, on the other hand, couldn't seem to get to sleep at all. She found herself watching Elphaba. She kept wondering why had Elphaba called out her name? There was the sweat, and the moaning. Was it a nightmare? It wasn't until almost dawn when Galinda fell asleep.