Nessarose felt a nudge. "Nessa wake up." She ignored it. "Wake up, we're here!"

"What?"

"You heard me, we're here!" Nessa gave in an opened her eyes. She saw Avaric standing over her and sat up.

"I fell asleep."

"Duh!" Nessarose felt so lifeless next to the ever energetic Avaric. Avaric jumped out the the carriage, "Come on!" Nessa narrowed her eyes. "Oops. I forgot." And he actually had forgotten; again. He ran off. Nessa hoped he was going to fetch her chair. Sure enough he had. "Do you want me to pick you up?"

"Yes please." Nessa said politely. He leaned over her letting her put her arms around his neck. She breathed in and was surprised how good he smelled. He was pretty muscular; picking her up seemed effortless. He set her down gently, as if she was a rag doll. He was the only man to pick her up thus far, other than her father.

She immediately began to search for Elphaba, just as Avaric started looking for Fiyero. Her sister spotted her first and waved then ran over to her. They started talking while they waited for directions.

"Everyone listen up." It was Mrs. Fledge. "You will all be working in pairs on your river labs. I've devised a game in order to decide these plans." Various students began talking but she continued. "If you're birthday fall between the months of January and June please sit down." Fortunately for Nessa her birthday was in May. But either way she disagreed with this method (for obvious reasons). "That leaves July through December birthdays standing. The students currently standing are to pick their partners from those who are seated."

Nessarose noticed that she, Elphaba and Avaric were all sitting while Fiyero, Galinda and Boq were not. She hoped that Boq would pick her. Fiyero picked Avaric, which wasn't a surprise to anyone (though everyone doubted they would get any work done. Then Boq chose Elphaba, whom he had befriended prior to the trip. Nessarose was surprised when Galinda picked her. She thought she would go for one of her bimbettes.

Nessarose was content with the partnering, Galinda seemed interesting if not smart and Nessa needed a few popularity points. She watched as Galinda bounced all around like a bunny.

"This is gonna be so fun, huh Nessa!"

"Yeah definitely." Nessa wasn't sure Galinda would get the sarcasm…she didn't.

"You're smart right?"

"Yeah." Nessa said. She was confident in her intelligence but she knew regretfully she was not as smart as Elphaba.

"Good!" Galinda said in an incredibly high pitched tone. "I'm so glad my birthday is in July, do you know why?"

"No, why?" Nessa said playing along.

"Because if it was before July I would've had to sit on the ground and my skirt would be ruined!"

"Well it is a cute skirt." Nessa said instead of using any of the sarcastic remarks she was thinking of."

"Thank you!"

:"Do you think we should start the lab now?" Even though either way she was going to start.

"Sure. What do we do first?" Nessa was obviously going to be the brains of this operation.

"First you put the thermometer in the water then tell me what it says."

Galinda did so carefully. "55. Way to cold to go swimming!" Nessa wrote it down, ignoring the swimming comment. "Now what?"

"Now you measure the water speed."

"Wait. How come you aren't gonna do this?"

"Galinda hunny I can't." Does this girl ever use logic?

"That's one thing you and Elphaba have in common! You both dislike water!"

"No..." Nessarose said in the "are you really that stupid?" tone of voice. Galinda cocked her head to one side like a confused puppy. Nessa rolled her eyes. "I can't reach down far enough to touch the river."

She considered saying. "See.. this is a wheelchair… can't reach…" but decided Galinda would be able to comprehend without a visual.

"Ohhh.. ok!"

Nessarose managed to finish the lab without pushing Galinda in.

"Good job." Nessarose said to Galinda when they were finished. Even though Galinda hadn't done anything that required thinking. All she did was take directions from Nessarose… but at least she did that right.

"Thanks! You know, you and me..."

"You and I" Nessa corrected.

"Should hang out sometime. You should sit at my table at lunch tomorrow."

Wow. This was one opportunity Nessa couldn't refuse. "Alright cool." Nessa said hiding her excitement.

As everyone was getting redy to leave Fiyero ran over to Galinda and Nessa.

"Galinda sweetie... Avaric and I are gonna ride home together ok?"

"Ok...um sure.. alright." Galinda was clearly disappointed. Fiyero didn't notice and ran off. "Bye dearest, see you later!"

Galinda looked so sad Nessa thought. "Don't worry Galinda, you can ride home with me." Nessa said knowing she needed a new partner as well.

"Ok, thanks!" And just like that the blonde was happy again.

Once in the carriage Nessa knew Galinda would talk about boys and fashion the whole way home and she was right.

"So have you met my boyfriend yet?"

"No, but I've seen him around."

"Oh yeah… you'll get to meet him tomorrow at lunch."

"Can't wait." Though Nessa didn't really like meeting new people it was worth a shot.

"Do you have a boyfriend?

"Nope, haven't yet."

"Oh my goodness. Really?! But you're so pretty!"

"Thanks."

"It's true. Stick with me and you can have any guy you want fall for you." Nessa believe it, this was Galinda after all. "Hey since we have nothing else to do how about I do your hair and makeup!"

"Uh. Ok." Ok so she was a bit unsure of this. How bad could it be?

"First the hair." Galinda said whipping out a straightener. How was this gonna work? She wondered. Solar powered? No freakin' way! Glinda went to work, after about 20 minutes she was done.

"You really need some layers to frame that pretty face." She dug out a pair of sissors from her purse.

"You're cutting my hair?! No way!"

"Relax. I know what I'm doing." Well she did have the highest grade in cosmetology class..

"Alright.." Nessa said reluctantly.

Nessa immediately shut her eyes. She couldn't watch her hair fall to the floor. That would be much to scary….

"I think you can open your eyes now."

"Are you done?"

"Yup. It looks awesome. I'm good." Galinda said looking completely satisfied with her work.

"Lemme see!!" Nessa bounced not unlike Galinda.

"Nuh uh uh. I have to do your makeup before I let you look."

"Ugh. Fine." Nessa was a bit disappointed at this.

Galinda pulled out her huge makeup kit and went to time. The whole time Nessa didn't move a muscle, afraid to have an eye poked out or something. After what seemed like forever Galinda was finished. "Ready to see?"

"Yes already!"

Galinda handed over her mirror. Nessa looked into it an gasped. She was speechless. She looked like an entirely new person. She handed the mirror back without saying anything, still in shock.

Galinda smiled. "You're welcome."