Galinda looked down from her perch on top of her bags, completely baffled by the cluster of about eight students who failed to notice her spectacular arrival at Shiz. They just carried on talking, whispering, and laughing. The whole 'rebellion', as Galinda viewed it, seemed to be centered on a girl with black hair in a long braid. One of the students on the outside turned momentarily, looked Galinda over, then elbowed the center girl. She turned, and instantly Galinda and her followers drew back disgustedly. This girl was green. Green! It was unheard of. And she had friends! Oz was turned upside down.
The girl examined Galinda perched atop her luggage critically. "Did you remember the kitchen sink?" The small cluster laughed. The joke even drew a few nervous smiles from Galinda's group.
"And you are?" Galinda said regally, determined to put this thing back in her place.
"Clearly inferior to the Queen of Over-Packing," The girl bowed mockingly, causing more prominent giggles as some of Galinda's friends saw her with different eyes for the first time. Galinda's Gillikin blood began to boil.
"Elphaba," a bald man pushing a girl in a wheelchair addressed the green girl. She excused herself from her friends and talked to him and the girl.
Elphaba, Galinda loathed those three little syllables with all of her heart. She just hoped she wouldn't ever have to even hear of that wretched girl ever again.
"Elphaba, I know you have friends attending Shiz, but remember to be nice to everybody," Frex said to his rebellious daughter. He didn't quite like her sarcastic nature, and feared it would make her more enemies.
"I'm sorry, but you saw her! She acts like she's better than everybody!" Elphaba protested.
"Just…put up with her then. You shouldn't have to see too much of her." Frex turned Nessa's wheelchair for Elphaba to take. "And you'll remember to-"
"I know," Elphaba looked down at her sister kindly. "To look after Nessie."
"You'll remember to write home often?" Frex handed each girl a present. Nessa opened hers anxioulsy, not really wanting to leave her father. Elphaba followed suit, though not as excitedly. She was getting too old for frivilous presents.
"Oh! They're beautiful!" Nessa held up a pair of stunningly silver shoes. Frex kissed Nessa on the forehead. Elphaba's package contained an embroidered bag, black, but with intricate floral patterns in tiny maroon stitches.
"Thank you," Elphaba hugged her father, affection filling her voice. Frex sighed. Elphaba was so hard to buy for! Most books she had read, as with Nessa, but it seemed kind of plain to get her a book every time. At least Nessa somewhat cared about fashion.
A door opened, and a woman more with a large dress than anything walked into the room.
"Welcome, Students! Welcome! I am Madame Morrible, Headmistress here at Shiz University." Frex left so they could pay attention.
Elphaba and Nessa tried to pay attention to the lengthy acceptance speech. Soon, she asked about room assignments. Instantly the blonde girl's hand shot up, and Elphaba leaned down to talk to Nessa.
"Do you want to ask her? You do have the more accepted face." Nessa blushed.
"Elphaba, I couldn't. You ask her." Nessa slouched slightly in her chair shyly. Elphaba nodded and raised her hand.
"Ye- ooh…um, yes, Miss…?" Madame Morrible, like many before her, had been taken aback by Elphaba's surprising skin tone.
"Elphaba. I need to make sure the room my sister, Nessarose, and I will be sharing is chair accessible." Elphaba said confidently. Galinda bit her lip in unknown jealousy. That girl was so…
Evil. Galinda forced herself to think. Wicked.
"I'm afraid almost all of the rooms are not accessible by chair, with the exception of my private suite. Nessarose will room with me, where I will be able to assist her as needed."
"No, you don't understand, Madame. I've always looked after Nessa!" Elphaba tried to explain, but Madame Morrible wouldn't have anything of it.
"Now, which of you lovely girls would like to room with Miss Elphaba?"
"Madame Morrible?" The blonde girl had raised her hand.
"Ah! Miss Galinda has been assigned a private suite and she is good enough to share it!" The student body looked on approvingly. Elphaba's friends seemed critical. "Miss Elphaba, you shall room with Miss Galinda!"
Galinda's eyes widened.
"Oh-, no, Madame Morrible! That's not what I-"
Madame Morrible wasn't listening to a word she was saying.
Crap. Elphaba and Galinda thought in unison.
Mini-cliffhanger, but next is The Wizard and I! So sit there and check your computer every two seconds. I will laugh.