Lurlinemas was fast approaching. Anyone could tell, by the lift in spirits in the students, the beautiful snow, the constant singing and frantic Lurlinemas shopping. The charmed circle of friends were sitting at the cafe by the windows and fire, the snowing floating down outside lazily.

"Elphie, Lurlinemas is coming up, and I simply must know what to get you!" Galinda squealed as the conversation to a turn to the fast approaching Holiday.

"Uh, don't get me anything, I don't celebrate it. It's a religious holiday, and I'm not religious." Elphaba murmured, taking another sip of her hot cocoa.

"You've never celebrated Lurlinemas before?!!!" Galinda shrieked. Elphaba rose her hands to cover her ears as Galinda's voice reached an octave not thought possible until now.

"Ouch." Elphaba said, "I'm surprised the windows didn't shatter!"

Fiyero chuckled at this, "But really Elphaba, Galinda does have a point. You've never really ever celebrated Lurlinemas?" Fiyero asked.

"It's religious and Elphaba doesn't believe in it." Nessa answered for Fiyero, sounding somewhat mockingly and disapproving towards Elphaba.

"That and the fact that I wasn't even aloud downstairs on Lurlinemas!" Elphaba snapped back at Nessa, she hadn't meant to say it, but she did. Nessa looked down into her lap.

"I'm sorry Elphaba." she said.

"No, I'm sorry Nessa, I shouldn't have brought that up." Elphaba murmured, laying a comforting hand on Nessa's. Nessa looked up and smiled, glad her sister was so forgiving.

"Wait, what do you mean you weren't allowed downstairs?" asked Fiyero.

"Nothing, don't worry about it." Elphaba said quietly.

"No, I want to know." Fiyero protested.

"Fiyero, no." Elphaba said firmly.

"Tell me." Fiyero said, he needed to know just how bad Elphaba's home life was, even if it wasn't so pretty.

"Fine, my father locked me in the attic on Lurlinemas every year. He didn't feed me for at least three days so that I wouldn't have to use the restroom and he wouldn't have to let me out. He didn't want his worthless green freak of a daughter ruining the holiday for him and Nessa." Elphaba hissed, "Happy now?"

"No." Fiyero said as the words sunk in. Nessa avoided everyone's glances, feeling terrible.

"Me either." Elphaba snapped, before leaning back in her chair, dismissing the conversation.

"Oh Elphie, I'm so sorry." Galinda laid a hand on Elphaba's knee. Elphaba just half heartedly smiled at her.

"So you won't be going home for Lurlinemas?" asked Galinda.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Elphaba scoffed, "My father doesn't want me home. I just received a letter from him actually, telling me NOT to come home."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Galinda said feeling overly fortunate for parents like her own.

"But really, I'm not religious." Elphaba said, trying to turn the conversation lighter.

"Lurlinemas isn't about religion anyway," Galinda scoffed with a wave of her hand, "It's about family and friend, good times and getting presents! No one even talks about the unnamed God!"

"Oh really?" said Elphaba, raising an eyebrow, "That's not what I heard."

"Well, you're sure as hell hearing it now!" Galinda chirped, "Come on, you have to celebrate it! It'll be your first Lurlinemas. Ooh! Your very first, I have to make it special!"

"Fine, whatever, just as long as I don't have to worship some unnamed God." Elphaba muttered, earning herself a disapproving glare from her sister.

"Yeah!" Galinda cheered, "Now Elphie, what do you want for Lurlinemas?!"

"Uh, I don't know." Elphaba said honestly, she didn't know what to ask for. She'd never really asked for anything in her life as far as presents went because she'd never been asked and was always busying caring for Nessa, "What do you want?"

"Me? I just have to have that new lip gloss I saw in Shimmer Girls magazine!" Galinda squealed.

"Alright, I should have guessed, that's all you've been talking about all week." Elphaba said with an amused smile at her friend.

"Yes I know, but it's just so IN!" Galinda exaggerated, "So. We obviously can't buy everyone a present because we aren't rich enough. Well, besides Fiyero and myself, but let me get to the point. Elphie, you will get me a present, I will get Boq a present, Boq will get Nessa a present, Nessa will get Avaric a preset, Avaric will get Crope a preset, Crope will get Tibbet a present, Tibbet will get Fiyero a present, Fiyero will get me a present and I will get Elphie a present! Sound good?" Everyone nodded their agreements.

"Good, because of Lurlinemas break, we will obviously not be able to spend Lurlinemas together, so we will celebrate the day before break starts." Galinda said, taking the job of party planner, as always.

"Sounds good." Fiyero said, giving Galinda a little pat on the shoulder. She beamed and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Fiyero blushed and averted his eyes from Elphaba.

"Hey, what's this I hear about a Lurlinemas celebration?" asked Lucas, who had just spotted them walking in and was now walking over, taking a seat by Elphaba.

"Oh, Galinda wants to have some sort of celebration for this holiday which she claims to be non-religious.
Elphaba muttered, then she turned to Lucas, a different tone to her voice, "Do you want to come?" she asked sweetly, her voice sounding so beautiful.

"Sure, I'll be there." Lucas said, smiling at her and getting lost in the sweetness of her voice.

"Great." Elphaba flashed him a smile that made Lucas's heart fly and Fiyero's sink.

"Ooh yeah! Another party go-er!" Galinda clapped, "Uh, Lucas, I shall take the liberty of purchasing a present for you since we've already done all of the presents arrangements. And you can buy one for Elphie, I'm sure out of all of us, she's the one who deserves an extra present."

"Alright, I'm fine with that." Lucas said. He smiled at Elphaba, "What would you like?"

"I really don't know Lucas." Elphaba said with a small laugh, "You don't really have to get me anything."

"Even if Galinda hadn't told me to get you a present, I would've gotten you one anyway." said Lucas. Elphaba blushed and looked down shyly that made her look so adorable Lucas's breath caught in his throat. Fiyero scowled at Lucas, but couldn't help but feel his heart melt at Elphaba's adorable shy blush and half smile. Lucas was obviously flirting with Elphaba and stealing his lines too!

"Why would you do that?" asked Elphaba.

"Because you're my friend." said Lucas. Elphaba smiled at him and Lucas felt as though he almost fainted. Her smile made him go dizzy and all he could do was smile back like a fool.