Thanks for the reviews! So... I just noticed that this chapter starts with the exact same words as the last one. But I'm kind of too lazy to change that now lol.
Stay safe everyone!

Started writing: 07.03.2020

Finished writing: 09.03.2020

Chapter 36
Another

Elphaba woke up to the sound of curtains being drawn open, and she blinked into the sunlight that crept into her room. Fiyero was sitting on her chair and looked at her with a tilted head.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, straightening up.

Elphaba couldn't help but snort. "Good morning to you too, Fiyero."

She slowly propped herself up on her elbows, looking around in her room.

"And I'm fine, really," she added, noticing the way his brows were knit in worry. "It's just a normal headache now."

Though with Elphaba, a 'normal headache' could very well mean 'a damn strong migraine'. But she meant it this time; her headache was mostly gone. From time to time, the throbbing pain would return for a few seconds, but it wasn't anywhere close to what she'd felt yesterday.

"Okay," Fiyero said slowly, rubbing his hands on his trousers. "You really scared me yesterday. When the doc came, and we sat you up… you looked absolutely ready to throw up or something."

He stood up and sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling her into his arms.

"You were so pale… almost white."

Elphaba couldn't help but snort at the irony, "The closest I've ever come to a normal skin colour, right?"

Fiyero grinned half-heartedly. "I really missed the green there, for some seconds."

She arched an eyebrow at him. "Missed the green? I don't think anyone would 'miss the green'. Ever."

Fiyero shook his head. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and captured her lips in a small kiss.

"I would. With every ounce of my being," he said seriously, stroking through her hair. "It belongs to you, Fae. Without it, you wouldn't be my little, green Fae anymore."

Elphaba glared at him with her head cocked to one side. "Call me 'little' once more, and you're going to lose certain parts of your body."

Fiyero grinned. "Uh, that wouldn't be that smart, Fae, you'd really miss out on something there."

The green girl couldn't suppress a laugh, head going far back. "You're too full of yourself for your own good."

He leant closer to her, trying to kiss her lips although she wriggled in his arms. "And you love me for it."

Elphaba smiled up at him. "That might even be true."

She shifted from his lap so that she sat with her back against the bedhead and pulled a knee close to her chest, resting her chin on it.

"What are you going to do today?" asked Elphaba after some seconds, watching in amusement how Fiyero tried to catch the fluttering curtain. "I guess I'm going to have to stay in bed. Momma would never let me run around like this."

Fiyero shrugged. "I'll find something to do, trust me. And if the worst comes to the worst, I might just try to read a book."

Elphaba arched an eyebrow at him. "A book? Uh, how intellectual, Mr Tiggular."

It was at that exact moment that the door was slowly pushed open and her mother entered, carrying a tray with two plates and glasses on it.

"Breakfast," the older woman announced and put the tray onto Elphaba's nightstand.

"Fiyero, the others are waiting for you downstairs," she told the young man and laughed quietly at the face he made.

He pressed another quick kiss on Elphaba's face before crawling out of bed and making his way out the door. "See you later, Fae."

Meanwhile, Momma leant closer to Elphaba, cupping her cheek gently.

"How are you feeling, Fabala?" she asked, worry displaying in her brown eyes.

Elphaba slowly moved aside so her mother could settle in under the blanket beside her.

"It's much better," the green girl said, taking the tray from her mother and placing it on their legs. "I mean it's still hurting sometimes and from time to time there's a slight throbbing near my temples, but other than that…"

Momma sighed in relief, tugging a strand of hair behind her ear, "Thank Oz. Oh Fabala, I was so worried yesterday."

She pressed a kiss to Elphaba's forehead, brows knit together as though she could remember how she'd felt yesterday, "I thought you were going to faint at any second."

Elphaba looked at her with a furrowed brow, "How did I get up here anyway? I can't remember anything other than pain, really."

Momma took the plate with a croissant on it from the tray and handed it to her daughter.

"Well," she began, stroking through her hair. "After Doctor Jonason gave you the injection and left, you just passed out on the chair. And Fiyero carried you upstairs. That was around half-past three o'clock, so you must've slept really long."

But Elphaba shook her head. "No, I didn't."

She took a sip from her orange juice. "I-I had a vision… I think."

Momma sat up straight. "A vision?"

Elphaba nodded. "It was… horrible."

"Do you want to tell me about it?" asked her mother softly and Elphaba bit her lip.

"Well," she sighed. "I- It was something about the Emerald City, something about the Wizard, I think. I can't really remember, though, as always. Galinda and I were there and- and then something terrible happened -but I can't remember what exactly- and we- we just died."

She watched her mother's eyes widen.

"Aren't your visions sometimes telling the future?" she asked horror-struck.

Elphaba nodded, biting her lip. "But this felt different from any other visions I've had before; it felt so… blurred, so… unreal."

She slowly let her head sink against her mother's, losing herself in her thoughts for a few seconds.

"Are you afraid?" asked Momma quietly and Elphaba shook her head.

"Not anymore," she answered. "I lay awake for some time after I woke up and… well, I had some time to think about everything."

Momma tilted her head to one side. "So?"

Elphaba took a deep breath. "I was thinking… what if the headache had something to do with the vision? And what if the vision had something to do with the spell I cast earlier yesterday?"

"You cast a spell?"

She nodded. "But it somehow didn't work and- and then I remembered lunch and I came downstairs."

"And then the pain came," Momma finished for her, eyeing her with a questioning look.

"And then the pain came," the green girl nodded slowly.

She took another sip from her orange juice. "But, thinking about it again; I never had a headache before I had a vision, right? So, why now?"

Her mother knit her brows together. "I have no idea, Fabala, I'm the last person you should ask when it comes to magic and everything."

But who to ask then? Elphaba mused. There was no one around that had any knowledge of magic and sorcery. And asking Madame Morrible wouldn't get her anywhere either, for the woman often seemed just as helpless as everyone else.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Elphaba said quietly.

She hated that. 'Wait and see' was the last thing Elphaba Thropp wanted to do. She wasn't exactly what some would call a patient person. She wasn't impatient either, but sometimes she just ran out of patience and what was she to do then?

"You're right," Momma's voice sounded, and the older woman lifted the tray off their legs. "Do you want to come downstairs, maybe? Lay down on the sofa and relax some? I bet you'd get bored pretty fast up here."

"I guess I could use some distraction," Elphaba nodded, inching towards the edge of the bed.

"Feel better?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "You're hovering, Fiyero."

The prince flashed her a smile, falling onto the empty spot beside her. "It's my job as your boyfriend, Fae."

Elphaba raised her eyebrows. "I'm sure annoying me to no end doesn't belong to your job as a boyfriend."

She tried to focus on the book in her hands, but she could feel his eyes on her, and it made her restless.

"Fiyero, stop it," she reached for the pillow behind her back and tried to hit his head with it.

Fiyero laughed at her grumpiness, ignoring the glare she threw his way.

"I'm just making sure you're okay," he said and gently poked her side. "You scared the crap out of me yesterday."

He inched closer to her, forcing her to rest her head against his shoulder.

"I'm fine, Fiyero," Elphaba murmured into his shirt. "You can stop hovering now."

"You sure?"

She nudged his side. "Don't test me."

But he simply laughed and kissed her temple. "I thought you loved exams."

With a groan, Elphaba let her head fall back onto the backrest of the sofa. "You're insufferable."

"I love you too."

The doorbell rang. Fiyero sat up straight.

"Who could that be?"

Elphaba shrugged. "Boq, maybe? He tends to come over without announcing his visits."

"Yeah, because he knows he can get away with it," Fiyero grinned. "Nessa's all into him."

There were steps out in the corridor, the sound of a door opening, a muffled conversation.

And then the door of the living room was shoved open and slammed against the wall with a bang and a whirlwind of pink boasted into the room.

"I really don't know whether I want to hug or strangle you right now!"

Elphaba's jaw hit the floor.

"Galinda?!"

There she stood, right before them, in all her pink and frilly glory; hands on her hips and a small purse dangling from her arm, swinging angrily.

"Now that's a surprise," Fiyero muttered quietly.

Galinda narrowed her eyes at them. "No, not really. I think the surprise is that I got a letter this morning -and horrendible timing, by the way, Elphie! I was just unpacking my new dress- and that letter was from my bestest friend Elphie who told me something about a crazy dream-vision thing she'd had and told me she just wanted to know if I was alright. And she accidentally slipped up about my other bestest friend, Fiyero, being there with her. For one week already. And to say I was angry about them not telling me is the understatement of the year. But then I continued reading the letter, and there was something about a headache that somehow felt like an inferno in my bestest friend's head-"

Elphaba knit her brows together. "I wrote that down?"

Galinda stomped her foot. "Not the point, Elphie, so not the point!"

She tossed her hair back in a swift motion. "The point is that you" -she pointed at Fiyero- "are here since last week, and you didn't tell me, and I could've missed out on so much."

"Yeah," Elphaba said drily. "The cornfields and windmills are not to be missed, after all."

Galinda tilted her head to one side. "Consider yourself lucky that I was having fun back in Pertha Hills. I would've killed you, had you had the time of your lives whilst I was bored to death."

"You know, Glin," Elphaba started with a grin. "For someone so popular, you're uncharacteristically clingy with us."

The blonde glared at her for a second, then she suddenly began to grin.

"Oh, Elphie! I missed you so much!"

And just like that, Elphaba found herself in a tight hug by her best friend, arms wrapped around her neck.

"I missed you too, Galinda," she smiled into the blonde's hair.

For a second, they lingered on in the embrace, then Elphaba slowly pulled back.

"But Glin, let me ask you this," she stated with a frown. "What exactly are you doing here?"

The blonde recoiled, brow furrowed. "I'm visiting you, isn't that obvious?"

She greeted Fiyero with a quick hug and settled down next to them. "You just seemed so helpless in your letter, Elphie, and I figured I could just come and spend the rest of the holidays with you."

She threw Elphaba a pleading look. "I know it's a bit short notice but, you know, I just thought it would be fun, spending the last week together."

The green girl grinned broadly. "Well, my parents couldn't possibly throw you out, so I guess you can stay here."

Galinda clapped her hands in excitement. "Uh, it's going to be so much fun!"

She flashed first Elphaba and then Fiyero a broad grin. "So, what are we going to do?"

Elphaba sighed deeply. "There's nothing planned, Glin. My mother put me on bedrest for this day…"

The blonde knit her brows together. "Bedrest? It almost sounds like a disease itself if you ask me."

Fiyero nudged Elphaba's side, grinning.

"She's been whining for hours."

"Because I have a headache -it's not as bad as yesterday, so don't make a fuss- and you're not helping it," she glared at him, but the small smile on her lips hindered the effect of her glare.

For a moment, the three friends just sat there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Then, Elphaba looked up at Galinda with a furrowed brow. "Who let you in, by the way?"

Galinda pursed her lips. "Your momsie, I think? She said something about tea, but I was too busy storming in here."

The green girl couldn't help but roll her eyes. That was so typical for the blonde.

"Anyway," Galinda smiled contentedly. "I was planning on telling you all about my holidays. You know… the parties, the dresses, the boys…"

She drew out the end of the word in a small squeal, leaning forwards to take Elphaba's hands.

"Elphie, I met this guy."

"Who would've guessed," Elphaba rolled her eyes.

"Elphie!" The blonde smacked her friend's leg. "I'm trying to tell you something here!"

She crossed her legs, stroking her hair out of her forehead. "So, as I was saying; I met this guy. He was at the Pertha Hill Summer Ball as a waiter. And when he served the first round of champagne, he slipped me a note, asking for a dance later on. And, oh Elphie, it was so cute! His name is Ericson -what were his parents thinking, really- and he's just so charming. We sneaked out early and just wandered around. And my momsie was super worried about me, and she made me pay my newest dress from my own money, but, in the end, it was worth it. We just had so much fun and- and I actually think he could be the one."

Suddenly, Galinda's eyes widened, and she squeezed Elphaba's hands, squealing. "Oh, sweet Oz! What if he's the one?!"

Elphaba raised her brows at the girl. "Then you still don't need to crush my hands, you know?"

"Uh, shut up, Elphie," Galinda rolled her eyes, giggling.

There was a light knock on the door that made the three friends turn around in their seats. It was Elphaba's mother standing in the threshold, a tray with a teapot and teacups in her hands.

"I made you some tea," she said, eyeing them with her head tilted to one side.

"Thank you, Mrs Thropp," Galinda smiled.

"Oh, call me Melena," the older woman put the tray onto the coffee table.

For a second, she stopped, looking at Elphaba with a furrowed brow. In an almost incidental way, she brushed her fingers against her daughter's forehead.

"You still look a little pale, Fabala," said Momma gently. "Perhaps you should rest a little."

The green girl groaned quietly. "Really, Momma? What is it that I'm doing if it's not resting?"

Galinda pursed her lips. "Well, you do look a little… mint-coloured."

"Thank you, Glin," Elphaba sighed, turning to her mother. "Alright, fine, I'll rest a little more."

She took a cup of tea from the tray and leant back, sipping the tea.

"I'll leave you to it, then," Momma smiled. "I guess there's much you have to tell each other."

And Oz, there was.

City of Emeralds; a day of cheering and clapping. A day of excitement. A normal Saturday for the citizens of the Emerald City. A blue sky without a single cloud, a light breeze stroking through blonde and black hair. They're buzzing with excitement. It's like a dream. It's their dream; her dream.

A night of fun, actors and actresses in funny costumes presenting the newest play; Wizomania. The two of them in the middle of the crowd, cheering and clapping along. Having the time of their lives.

Staying up, talking till the end of the night; they're not tired in the morning. They're too excited. Going for a walk in the morning through the streets and alleys of the Emerald City. Laughing at a mime's performance, enjoying the time that she's not being stared at.

Leaving for the audience, skipping down the street, hand in hand arriving at the gates of the Emerald Palace. Announcing themselves proudly, handing the guy at the reception the green envelope.

Being led into a corridor, staring at their reflections in the polished glass of a large statue; two good -no best- friends; Galinda and Elphaba; two so very strong girls -strong in their own ways.

Being accompanied by another guard down and down the corridor. A door opens and closes again. They're alone. Alone with a roaring head -no, a coughing man.

Living her dream whilst getting it crushed.

Turning them down; her one true dream, her one way out. Staying true to what she believes in. Keeping it all inside, crying quietly at night, feeling empty at daytime.

Leaving again; leaving it all behind; the City of Emeralds -no, the City of Dreams, be they broken or lived. Dreams come along with sacrifices.

She can find another dream, she can find another happiness, another way out.

Returning to where they'd started their journey, returning to what they'd been before. Finding their own ways through life, their own ways through love and dreams, be they broken or lived.

Elphaba woke up with a quiet gasp. Thunder was rumbling in the distance, rain lashing against the windowpanes. Lightning lit up the room, and Elphaba sat up straight in her bed. What was it about this sudden change of weather?

Slowly, feeling her heart pound far too fast to be able to fall back asleep, Elphaba pushed the blanket away and got up, quietly walking on tiptoe to her door to peek through the small gap.

She was met by a pair of dark brown eyes that looked so undeniably like her own.

"What are you doing awake, Fabala?" asked Momma quietly, pulling her dressing gown tighter around her shoulders.

"I- the thunder woke me."

Momma knit her brows. "It just started -without warning. Appeared out of nowhere."

"Out of nowhere?" Elphaba recoiled.

She turned around, eyes wandering through the room until she found what she was looking for; the spell books still lay there exactly as she left them. Just that one of them was now glowing slightly.

With a gasp, Elphaba realised that the headache was gone. As was the tension that had been haunting ever since her spell hadn't worked. It was as though it had all left her with this last vision. Or perhaps, if she thought about it again, it left her with the very first lightning that had flashed across the black night sky.