"Elphie! The celebration will start any minute!" Galinda squealed, "You have GOT to let me dress you up! You are in serious need of the gorgifying make-up I gave you for the Ozdust that one time! Please!"
"No, no and, can you guess? NO." Elphaba said, getting rather irritated at this constant nagging from Galinda to give her another make-over.
"But Elphie!" Galinda whined.
"I don't even know why I'm going to this stupid Lurlinemas celebration in the first place! I don't even celebrate it." Elphaba muttered.
"You do now!" Galinda snapped before she changed her tone back to bubbly and perky, "And because this is your first Lurlinemas, and I am a wondrously good friend, I'm going to make you look special!"
"Special? I'm about as special as it gets!" Elphaba said, exasperated.
"Oh pish, c'mon Elphie! Please!" Galinda whined
"No."
"PLEASE!"
"NO!"
"Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty please, please, please!" Galinda tried again, running over to Elphaba and grabbing her arm, jumping with every pretty and please.
"Ugh! You are so annoying! Fine!" Elphaba growled, and she tore her arm away from Galinda and turned away to walk to her desk so that she might get some reading in before this celebration. Galinda squealed and clapped, then stopped as she noticed Elphaba was walking away.
"Where do you think you're going?" she asked in a stern tone.
"To study, it's not like it's going to take you an hour to make me look, 'special'." Elphaba said.
"Oh yes it will!" Galinda snapped, "Now, here, put this dress on." Elphaba glanced at the dress in Galinda's hands, it was black, so Elphaba didn't think it could be too bad. Galinda shoved it into Elphaba's hands and then shoved Elphaba into the bathroom to change. While Elphaba was changing, Galinda went to work picking out make-up from her piles upon piles of make-up on her vanity. The only make up she really needed for Elphie was black mascara. Blush would just look weird and Elphaba didn't need lipstick because her lips were already dark red. Eye shadow would look weird too, so she settled for black mascara. When Elphaba came out, she looked very pretty, just as Galinda thought she would. The dress she wore was like the one she'd worn to the Ozdust, the dress stopping just short of her knees. The top had a wide v-neck that showed her thin shoulders and dipped down a bit in the front. It fit perfectly, like it was made for Elphaba, showing off all of her good features.
"Oh Elphie! You look so pretty!" Galinda squealed.
"It's tolerable." Elphaba muttered, ignoring Galinda's comment, "But it's a little revealing. It shows my shoulders and is a little low in the neck." Elphaba self-consciously adjusted the dress a little.
"Oh Elphie, you call that revealing? I've worn way more revealing things." Galinda said with a wave of her hand.
"Oz knows that's true." Elphaba rolled her eyes, "I've seen you dress for Fiyero's dates, and yes Galinda, you're not shy about showing your skin. But your skin isn't green."
"But Elphie! You look good green!" Galinda sighed. Elphaba had to laugh at that.
"I don't have much of a choice." she laughed. Galinda laughed too and she pulled Elphaba over to her chair, "Now, for your mascara!" she declared.
"That's the only makeup I'm tolerating." Elphaba warned before Galinda got started.
"Oh I know," Galinda assured her. Elphaba smiled softly at how well Galinda knew her and began to read a book as Galinda did her makeup. When she was done, she grabbed a brush
"Now hair!" she declared.
"What? Why can't I just leave it down? I left it down last time." Elphaba complained.
"You weren't wearing this dress last time." Galinda informed her matter-of-factly.
"Ugh, make it quick." Elphaba muttered. Galinda squealed and began.
*******
"Hey, Boq, let's go pick up the girls." said Fiyero as he grabbed his jacket off of his desk chair.
"Yeah," Boq agreed, "Nessa's on the route to Galinda so we'll get her first."
"Got it." Fiyero said, "So, how are you and Nessa working out?"
"Um...fairly well?" Boq tried.
"I'll take that as not so good." Fiyero commented with a chuckle.
"No, we're fine." Boq said quickly, "How about you and Galinda?"
"She's great." Fiyero said convincingly. Boq nodded, a surge of jealousy sweeping through his heart, followed by self pity as they neared Nessa's room. He knocked twice and stepped back politely until she opened the door.
"Hello Boq." she smiled.
"Hey Nessa." he smiled back half-heartedly, "Ready to go? We're going with Fiyero to pick up Galinda and Elphaba next."
"Alright, great." Nessa said, "Hi Fiyero." she said noticing Fiyero.
"Hi Nessa." Fiyero greeted awkwardly as they began to walk to Galinda and Elphaba's dorm room. Boq and Nessa walked ahead. Fiyero stayed a few steps behind, feeling a bit awkward in the presence of the odd couple. Finally, they reached the dorms and Nessa and Boq waited downstairs because it would've been too much trouble to drag Nessa's chair upstairs, only to bring it back down. So Fiyero went up alone, he was about to knock on the door when he heard Elphaba's voice.
"Are you seriously planning on putting that in my hair?!" she said.
"Oh course! Now stay still!" Galinda ordered.
"No way, that thing's not coming within an inch of my head." Elphaba warned, "It looks like a murder weapon!" Fiyero could hear her stepping back and tripping over something, catching herself at the last moment. He chuckled at what she'd said.
"But Elphie! Then it won't look right! Come one, if you don't let me, then I wasted all this time on your hair for nothing." Galinda whined, her voice sounding a bit offended.
"I never asked you to do my hair." Elphaba snapped.
"Elphie! Please!" Galinda whined.
"Don't look at me like that!" Elphaba cried. Fiyero knew exactly what face Galinda was pulling, the one that made you do whatever she asked. It worked ever time, even on Elphaba.
"Ugh, fine!" Elphaba finally said.
"Yay! Now sit down and don't move." Galinda ordered. Fiyero waited a few more moments, before he heard Galinda gasp.
"Why, Miss Elphaba, look at you! You're beautiful!" she cried. Fiyero suddenly couldn't wait anymore to see Elphaba. Hearing Galinda reaction, she must have looked amazing. Fiyero knocked on the door quickly.
"Oh! He's here!" he heard Galinda squeal, "Oh, I have to find the hair ribbon that matches my dress! Elphaba, go greet him."
"Yeah, you can't look like more of a candy cane then you already do, but hey, go ahead and add a hair ribbon to it." Elphaba muttered sarcastically. Hearing this, Fiyero chuckled, wondering what kind of dress Galinda was wearing.
"Oh, hush. Now quick, put these on before you answer the door." Galinda said.
"I'm not wearing heels." Elphaba said dismissively.
"Relax, they aren't heels, they're flats." Galinda said.
"Fine." Elphaba sighed. Fiyero chuckled again, it was funny listening to Galinda and Elphaba, they were two most opposite people, and yet, they were best friends. Fiyero was caught off guard when the door suddenly opened and Elphaba was standing there. She was so light; she didn't make a sound when she walked, so Fiyero hadn't heard her walk to the door.
"Hi, it'll just be a minute. Galinda has to find a matching hair ribbon for her dress." Elphaba said. Fiyero nearly fell backwards as his breath hitched in his throat. Her dress showed her thin shoulder and hugged her soft curves, making them more obvious. Her hair was in a bun, not a tight one like a teacher of librarian wears, but a loose messy one, with a few strands of hair that hung loose from the bun arranged artfully around her face, curled only slightly. Fiyero could only stare. Elphaba noticed him staring.
"I know, it looks terrible, but Galinda gave me that look, you know, the one with the big puppy dog eyes, and I couldn't say no, and then she had to choose this dress and--" Elphaba was cut short.
"That's not why I was staring. You look beautiful." Fiyero said softly, looking into her eyes.
"Oh..." Elphaba blushed, which melted Fiyero's heart. Just then, Galinda bustled out in her red and white dress, tying a red and white striped ribbon in her hair.
"Wow, Galinda, you look great." Fiyero said automatically. She wore a poufy red dress, striped like a candy cane and white fur on the bottom, end of the sleeve and neck line. The dress was rather short, in fact, it was impractically short, but that was Galinda, fashion before practicality, as always. She wore long heeled black boots that came up to her knees and her golden hair was in a curly pony-tail, held together by a red and white bow.
"You think?" Galinda giggled.
"I know." Fiyero said. Elphaba rolled her eyes and started walking downstairs. Fiyero chuckled and offered his arm to Galinda. She took his arm and they proceeded to follow Elphaba downstairs.
"Hi Boq, Nessa." Elphaba greeted the two as she neared the bottom of the stairs. Boq stared wide-eyed at her and Nessa's expression was about the same. Elphaba ignored them and waited next to Nessa's chair for Fiyero and Galinda to reach the bottom of the stairs.
"Ready to go?" asked Fiyero once he'd reached the bottom of the stairs, Galinda hanging on his arm.
"Of course dearest! I can't wait!" Galinda chirped. Fiyero grinned at her, an amused expression on his face. Elphaba stifled a laugh as the five began to walk to the restaurant.
*************
Later, the circle of friends sat around the big round table at an off campus restaurant, laughing and having a good time. They were seated as follows: Galinda, Fiyero, Crope, Tibbet, Avaric, Lucas, Boq, Nessa and Elphaba (who at next to Galinda). They'd just finished the meal and were in the midst of ordering desert, when Galinda daintily picked up her fork and tapped her glass to get everyone's attention. Nobody paid any attention to Galinda's call for attention, all to immersed in their own laughter and conversation, causing Galinda to tap her glass harder. Fiyero chuckled at this as Galinda huffed and slammed down her glass.
"Alright!" Galinda yelled, "Attention!" nearly everyone in the restaurant turned to her. She blushed, "Not you." she said, "Them," she pointed to her group of friends. There was a chorus of 'ohh's' from the other diners in the restaurant.
"What is it Galinda?" asked Elphaba when everyone at their table looked at her expectantly.
"I believe it is time to open the Lurlinemas gifts!" she called. Everyone suddenly felt very anxious wondering if they'd chosen the right present, hoping not to disappoint whoever they'd bought a gift for. Everyone pulled their gifts out from underneath the table where'd they'd kept them during the meal, a surplus of fluffy tissue paper and brightly colored packages and bags cluttered onto the table.
"Alright, Fiyero, you can go first, then whoever the present is for chooses the next one. Just pick one out and read who it's to and from." Galinda instructed making the exchange of gifts sound more like instructions to a board game or something. Fiyero reached out and picked up a small blue package, holding the shape of a book.
"Alright, this one's for Crope and it's from Avaric." Fiyero announced, handing the package to Crope. The short Munchkin took it and opened it.
"How to Get Girls." he read the title. All of the boys laughed, while the girls send disapproving looks at them, mostly directed at Avaric. Then Crope reached forward and picked up a bright pink one, obviously from Galinda.
"This one's from Galinda, duh, and it's for....Boq!" Crope tossed the package across the table to Boq, who was blushing mildly, while glancing secretively at Galinda. Nessa didn't miss this and hurried Boq to open it. He did so, pulling out an expensive looking pale blue cufflinks.
"Wow, thanks Galinda." said Boq.
"Do you simply love them?" Galinda gushed, "I saw them and just knew they'd look great on you!"
"Absolutely." Boq said in a daze. Galinda beamed. Elphaba kept an eye on Nessa, who stared—no glared between Boq and Galinda.
"Nessa, are you okay?" asked Elphaba quietly, resting a hand on Nessa's shoulder.
"I'm fine Elphaba, don't worry." Nessa replied.
"Are you--" Elphaba was cut off when she heard her name.
"Here, this one's for you." Boq handed the present to Elphaba. Lucas felt his stomach tighten in anxiety as he watched her pull the big volume of literature authored by Animals.
"Oh, Lucas, thank you." Elphaba said, "I wanted this. I saw it the other day, but I couldn't afford it. Thank you." Lucas smiled hugely at her, a relief rising from his chest, she actually looked genuinely happy with the present. She started to read the book right then and there, not bothering to see what the other gifts were until she heard Galinda's squeal a while later.
"Oh Elphie! Thanks so much!" she gushed.
"Do you like them?" asked Elphaba.
"Like them? I love them Elphie!" Galinda exclaimed, holding up the pink diamond earrings to the light, "Are these real?"
"Yes." Elphaba said, she'd spent a good deal of her money on her present for Galinda.
"No way!" Galinda squealed, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Elphaba laughed.
"Now here, this one's from me to you." Galinda gave Elphaba small package. She opened it and pulled out a key.
"What's it to?" she asked puzzled.
"The library." Galinda said, "The librarian said that now you can go there whenever you like! Even during the holidays when the library is closed and you will be stuck here all break!"
"Galinda, thank you!" Elphaba cried, sincerely touched by her friend's thoughtfulness, "This is the best gift I've ever gotten."
"I'm glad you like it!" Galinda beamed.
"Yes, only Elphaba could be so thrilled by a key to the library." Crope joked. Everyone laughed at that, including Elphaba who laughed somewhat shyly and softly. Fiyero noticed and couldn't help but feel his heart turn to butter at her shy innocent expression.
"Fiyero dearest? What are staring at?" Galinda suddenly pulled him out of his trance.
"Oh, nothing." said Fiyero.
"Oh, ok." Galinda giggled, "Here, this is for you!" Fiyero opened the package and revealed a clearly expensive silver watch. Fiyero didn't really wear watches, in fact he found them uncomfortable, but it was a typical gift from any rich girlfriend who happened to be obsessed with fashion.
"Wow, thanks Galinda. It's great." Fiyero said, he leaned down and kissed Galinda quickly. She giggled and put a hand over her lips daintily.
"I wasn't sure if you'd like it or not." she admitted.
"I love it." Fiyero smiled, "Here, this is your present." He pulled a small flat square box out of his pocket, obviously jewelry. Galinda took it and opened it, squealing with delight as she pulled out the silver bracelet with pink diamonds. He and Elphaba had bought matching gifts for Galinda.
"Oh my Oz! They match my earrings!" she squealed. Fiyero chuckled.
"That was kind of the point Lin." Galinda giggled before pulling him to her with surprising force and kissing him passionately. Avaric, Crope and Tibbet all cheered while Boq looked down, Elphaba and Nessa pretended not to notice, striking up a random conversation and Lucas just continued to stare at Elphaba.
*************
The next day, Fiyero, Elphaba and Galinda decided to spend their last morning together before break at the coffee shop. Fiyero and Galinda would be leaving at noon.
"Oh Elphie, I hate to think of you all alone here during break." Galinda said for about the fifth time.
"Galinda, don't worry, I'll be fine, I've got the library, remember?" Elphaba held up the key. Galinda laughed.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Those books are like people to you." Galinda joked. Elphaba smiled.
"So, are you two spending break together?" asked Elphaba.
"Huh?" said Fiyero, "No, my parents need me home in the Vinkus, and we've got something to attend with one of the other mayors of some other place, I forget where. But we're supposedly having dinner along with some other leaders and such."
"It sounds very official and politically important." Elphaba commented.
"Yeah, you know me, always the political leader." Fiyero said. Elphaba laughed softy, Galinda giggling into her palm. Suddenly, the door of the café burst open, the small bell ringing. A young boy burst in, carrying a messenger bag and traveling clothes, breathing as though he'd just run two miles. He looked around the cozy café, spotted Elphaba and began walking towards her.
"Do you know who that is?" asked Fiyero, noticing the boys come their way.
"Not a clue." Elphaba muttered. The boy finally reached them. Elphaba flashed him a smile and he wavered on the spot, dazed, then pulled himself together and hurriedly gave her a telegram, watching her with a dreamy look on his face.
"Um, do you need an immediate reply or are you just in shock of realizing that I'm green?" asked Elphaba, noticing him linger.
"Oh, sorry." he blushed, then hurried out of the café. Elphaba then read the telegram. Her face suddenly darkened and she hurriedly stood up.
"I have to go." she said abruptly, grabbing her bag and staggering to her feet.
"Why? Where are you going?" asked Fiyero, standing up as well.
"I—my---father just wrote to me, he needs me home for Lurlinemas." she said softly, sounding as though she was biting back tears. Fiyero knew that her father was terrible, but he could tell that there was something she wasn't telling him, beneath the surface of the already obvious abuse.
"Needs you there? What for?" asked Fiyero urgently.
"I'll---I'll see you at the train station." Elphaba said and quickly hurried out of the café.