By the end of spring, while most students at Shiz were preoccupied with the approaching exams, there was another oncoming challenge on Elphaba's mind. If everything was going according to plan, she should receive her invitation to the Emerald City any day. She wasn't sure which scenario she dreaded more: the one where the Wizard, for some reason, does not want to see her, or the one when she has to face him again.
"You've been so moodified lately!" Galinda said one afternoon, sensing her best friend's worry, though unaware of its real cause. "You spend too much time inside, that's what it is. Come on, let's get you some fresh air!"
Elphaba, who had been hoping to 'accidentally' run into Fiyero at the library, tried to argue, but Galinda was unrelenting.
"You can sit at the library and gather dust in the winter, but now that the sun is out, we're going studying outside!" she said, stacking her notebooks into a neat pile and putting them into her stylish cream-colored purse. "Come on, now, hurry up!"
Elphaba reluctantly followed in her friend's peppy footsteps, but was soon pulled to a stop by someone calling her name.
"Miss Elphaba! There you are!" came a familiar toad-like shriek. It was Madame Morrible, trotting, as fast as her bulbous figure allowed, in Elphaba's direction and, as per usual, completely ignoring Galinda. "Oh, I have the most thrillifying news! I finally heard back from the Wizard, and my dear – he wishes to meet you!"
Elphaba felt her heart pound all of a sudden.
"He asked for me, personally?" she asked, hoping that the tremble in her voice would sound more like excitement and less like fear. Madame Morrible nodded with almost comical enthusiasm and raised up an emerald green envelope.
"Make me proud!" she said. If Elphaba hadn't known what kind of person the headmistress actually was, she would have bought her wide smile in a heartbeat. Now, however, she had to fight a nauseating feeling as Morrible lay a hand on her shoulder.
"Madame," she said, trying to step away as discreetly as possible. "I don't want to sound like I'm not grateful, because I am, I really am! I was just wondering…," she cut off and glanced at Galinda, who stood a few steps away and gaped at what she'd just witnessed.
"What is it, my dear?" the headmistress asked, furrowing her brows.
"Well, I was wondering if maybe… maybe I could take Galinda with me?"
It was hard to say who was more shocked by the request: Galinda or Morrible.
"Well…," the latter said, obviously trying to find a good reason to refuse. "I suppose if Miss Upland is not worried about the trip coming in the way of her exams…"
Galinda blushed in excitement and smiled, ignoring Morrible's passive-aggressive words.
"Oh, Madame, I won't let you down!" she exclaimed, to which the headmistress gave her a sour half-smile and walked away. Galinda turned her head to Elphaba.
"Sweet Oz, Elphie! Do you mean it?" she asked, skipping like an excited little girl. "Would you really take me with you?"
Elphaba smiled.
"Of course," she said softly. "If I'm supposed to meet the Wizard, I want my best friend by my side."
Although it hardly seemed possible, Galinda's eyes went even bigger. She hopped up to Elphaba and threw her arms around her, squealing into her ear:
"I can't believe it! Oh, I've always wanted to see the Emerald City!"