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CHAPTER 4
Elphaba had tried all day to block out the memories of her dream. When Galinda had been allowed to return to their room, she immediately questioned her roomie. Concern was etched on her face, but Elphaba deflected the queries with a feigned headache and Nanny scolded the blonde for her inquisition. Defeated, she ventured off for most of the day, and Elphaba was certain that she had spent the time walking around the gardens with Pfannee and Shenshen. Undoubtedly, they had been avoiding their obnoxious pursuer, Boq, and gossiping about the mysterious Fiyero. As the darkness of another night enveloped her in its cool breath, the olive girl remained awake with her troubled thoughts continuing to plague her. Why did thinking about Galinda, bathed in sunlight and strolling around the grounds, make Elphaba's heart leap? And why did the possibility that Galinda might feel the same palpitations when thinking of a certain new boy cause her stomach to knot? Was it longing? Was it jealousy? NO! The distressed, emerald girl refused to let her mind journey down that path. It was just one insignificant, little dream!
If only it had remained that way.
Now, weeks later and after suffering through the beautiful torture of the dream every single night, the lack of sleep was apparent on emerald features. Mahogany eyes had become bloodshot and watery, and olive eyelids remained at half-mast. She had tried to reason with her mind. She had attempted to trick herself into doubting her emotions. As a last resort, she had even taken a stab at praying. However, every night, without fail, the dream came and reminded her that it was all lies. No matter how many walls she had erected around her heart to block out the world; nothing could withstand the rampage of the rebel emotions from within. The few small steps she had made to become friendly with her roommate faded away as she withdrew back into herself to hide from her feelings. Her time in the library increased dramatically. She was never seen in the common dining areas. Whenever Galinda was around, Elphaba made it a point to seem either extraordinarily busy or to be elsewhere.
It wasn't particularly hard. At least it shouldn't have been. Elphaba figured that, if she merely reverted back to the way things were before she and Galinda had kindled a friendship, the dreams would fade. Instead, and unfortunately for Elphaba, the reverse happened. It appeared that the more she tried to deny the dreams and her feelings, the more they haunted her. Her dreams had not diminished, but had become more vivid, almost real.
Galinda had noticed the change in her emerald roommate. At first, the blonde had attributed Elphaba's behavior to her natural studious temperament, but as the weeks wore on it became increasingly clear that something was troubling the green girl. Galinda noticed that Elphaba seemed to be sleeping less and less. Elphaba was always awake and studying when Galinda drifted off to sleep, and was usually up and out of the room when the blonde awoke. She also noted that when she managed to catch the green girl dozing, it was an uneasy and fitful slumber. In fact, she had been roused several times in the past month, by the soft moans issuing from the neighboring bed. When Elphaba stopped raising her hand in class, the petite blonde grew even more concerned.
No one else seemed to have noticed the strange change that had overcome her roommate. Galinda had tried to confront Nanny about it several times, but all Nanny did was assure her that Elphaba was just working through some personal issues and would be fine. However, this did not comfort the blonde, and, as she painfully watched her roommate deteriorate, she made a decision. She was going to help Elphaba whether the green girl liked it or not!
Galinda spent many hours thinking long and hard before she was able to formulate a plan, and was glad when she was able to set it in motion without delay. Throughout the next week, she talked nonstop about a party at a local tavern that she was planning on attending. She fussed about what to wear. She gossiped with her friends about the eligible boys that had promised to attend. She squealed when Fiyero asked her to accompany him. But throughout this whole process, she made sure of one thing above all others: that Elphaba was fully aware of her social schedule as well.
Friday came, and Galinda was a bunch of nerves. Luckily, everyone attributed her excitement to the party later that night. After dinner, Galinda made her way to her room and was not surprised to find it empty. She dressed for the party in record time. The rest of the time waiting for her escort was spent rehearsing a speech that she had prepared and nervously looking out of her window for the green girl. The clock in the corner struck half past nine, and caused Galinda to jump slightly. Fiyero was supposed to be here by now, but so was Elphaba. Galinda bit her bottom lip and hoped that all of her hard work was going to pay off.
There was a soft knock on the room door that disturbed Galinda from her machinations. It was the night porter delivering a message that Mr. Fiyero Tiggular was waiting downstairs to escort her to a party. Galinda thanked him and told him she would be down shortly, but as she shut the door her mind raced. 'This isn't going to work! Elphie was supposed to be back in the room by now! What am I going to do?' She took a few deep, calming breaths which not only relaxed her but also gave her back her resolve. 'I will make this work. I might have to use a little improvimation, but I can do this.'
Fiyero had assumed that Galinda would not be ready when he arrived, which is why he hadn't bothered with punctuality. However, he was stunned when Galinda appeared at the top of the girls' dormitory stairs minutes after he had received word from the porter that she would be along shortly. He strutted over to the base of the stairs as she descended, and offered her his arm. "You look more beautiful than usual tonight, Galinda." he said with his perfected macho voice as he led her to the waiting carriage.
Galinda smiled politely at his statement, as was expected, but was preoccupied thinking about Elphaba and her scheme. Fiyero helped her into their transport and then climbed in after her. He slid down next to her and coolly draped his arm around her shoulder. A broad smile appeared on his face as he contemplated how they would look together at the party. She was dressed, in accordance with the latest fashion trends, in a frilly pink dress, which nicely complemented his casual blue suit. 'Yes," he thought, 'we're going to be the hottest couple out on the dance floor tonight. With this hottie at my side, I'm going to rule this school even more than all the others.' But even as his mind considered that thought, another part of his brain screamed from the back of his mind and begged him to consider his future and other realities. He sighed and was happy that the party was taking place at a tavern, where there would be plenty of beer to silence the rational part of his subconscious. He stuck his free hand into his pocket and jingled the numerous coins it contained. It was a nervous habit of his, which his parents' had unsuccessfully tried to train out of him. He smiled at his small rebellion, and glanced over at his unusually quiet partner.
She seemed strangely preoccupied. Her attention was directed towards the large carriage window. Her porcelain brow was knit with distant thoughts and she bit her bottom lip as her eyes nervously scanned the university grounds. This vision struck Fiyero in a funny way, and his breath caught in his throat. Due to his predilection for pretty airheads, he had never really seen a girl so caught up in her thoughts. The sight was uniquely beautiful, and added a mysterious quality to the gorgeous woman before him. He longed to know what she was thinking, what had troubled her so, but he was afraid to interrupt and startle her from her elegant reverie. Unfortunately, a bump in the road acted in his stead, and Galinda turned to face him, her eyes still shining with faraway thoughts.
Galinda had been working out the new details of her scheme. Elphaba was supposed to have come back to the room before she left with Fiyero. The blonde had wanted the added reassurance of knowing that Elphaba would be the correct location. However, the aloof, olive-skinned girl had not cooperated, and Galinda was forced to continue with her plan without the desired knowledge of her roommate's position. The sudden jolt of the carriage had reminded her of her current situation and the time constraints of the first stage of her plan. 'It's now or never.' Galinda told herself, and she turned to the boy next to her and started reciting the speech she had been working on all week.
The night porter was surprised when the elegant carriage that had left the girls' dormitory returned less than forty minutes after its initial departure. The aloof, young gentleman that had boarded the vehicle looked rather worried as he hastily jumped out of the coach and assisted a rather pale-looking Miss Galinda to the door. Galinda had to be careful that she did not overdo her charade, or she would end up in the infirmary for the night. Her plan had been to use the simple I-have-a-headache-and-need-to-go-home-immediately ploy, but suddenly, she felt the situation spiraling out of her control. Fiyero's face betrayed his honest concern for the petite young woman, and he refused to leave her side until the porter threatened to call the night watchman. The porter had also caused her trouble when he insisted on calling upon Nanny to examine her. Before she was fully aware of the state of affairs, Galinda found that she had been quickly rushed to the room that the old woman shared with Nessa.
The porter hurriedly explained the situation to the caregiver and reminded her that he was stationed downstairs in case a physician needed to be called. As he curtly exited the room, Nanny crossed to the blonde and raised her chin in order to inspect her and look her in the eye. Galinda silently panicked. Certainly, Nanny would be one of the few people who would be able to discern that she had been faking. This was proven true when the elder finally spoke. "You look more scared than sick, my dear." she stated simply raising one of her eyebrows, "Did that boy give you any trouble?"
Galinda's mind reeled as she tried to save herself. She couldn't say that Fiyero had been inappropriate because that would get him in trouble. However, she had to provide a good explanation for abandoning her evening plans, without hinting at her true goal. Suddenly, like a flash, the answer came. All she had to do to sell the lie was act the part. "Uh no, ma'am." she stuttered with a slight blush, "It's just that. Well, see. On the ride to the party, I started to notice a little, well to be perfectly frank, cramping. I immediamentally realized that it was my time of the month, and that I needed to retire to my room to, well, set things in order. I didn't want to tell the boys because, well, you know." A knowing smile eased onto Nanny's face, and the blonde knew that old woman had eaten up the whole act. Phase one of her plan was going to succeed. All that remained for the instigation of phase two was for a certain emerald roommate to be in their room.
