A/N: Decided to split this up from the next chapter, because I felt that having this at the beginning sort of detracted from all the emotion in chapter 9. I like the Glinda/Elphaba friendship moments in this chapter, as well as the very subtle Fiyeraba moments. Hope you like it, too!
FINALLY found out how to make the little line that goes across the page! Thanks, Lauren!
Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked. I only play with the characters for the benefit of myself and my readership. I'll put them back relatively unscathed when I'm done, I promise…
Well, here we are, on a train bound for the Emerald City! Oh, sorry, I forgot – you don't know yet that Glinda (no, I didn't misspell it; I'll explain in a moment) came with me!
Galinda came with me to the train station this morning to see me off. As I got ready to board the train, she gave me some last-minute advice. "Remember, eye contact. And don't forget to tell him how wonderful he is – Wizards love that! And be yourself..." She paused, then added, "Well... within reason."
Just then Nessa arrived, wheeled in her chair by Boq. "Elphaba, I'm so proud of you," she smiled, "and I know Father would be, too. We're all proud, aren't we?"
"You'll be all right, won't you?" I asked her worriedly, for about the thousandth time.
"She'll be fine!" Galinda assured me. "Biq will take care of her, won't you, Biq?"
"It's Boq," the poor boy corrected her, probably also for about the thousandth time, his voice oddly strangled. "I... I can't do this anymore." And before any of us could stop him, he ran off.
"Boq..." Nessa called after him, alarmed.
"Nessa, maybe he's just not the right one... for you," Galinda said hesitantly.
"No, it's me that's not right," Nessa told her dejectedly. Then she turned to me. "Don't worry about me, Elphaba, I'll be fine. Safe journey." With that, she wheeled herself away after Boq.
"Nessa, wait!" I shouted after her. But either she couldn't hear me, or she didn't want to. In another moment she, too, was out of sight.
I was about to go after her, but Galinda put a restraining hand on my arm. "Let her go. She'll have to manage without you. We all will."
Her last comment surprised me, and I gave a short laugh. "Please, you'll barely even notice I'm gone. Besides, you have Fiyero." I stopped, suddenly realizing that he hadn't come with her. "Where is he, anyway?" I wondered. Then, aware how strange it sounded that I was asking about him, I quickly added, "Not that I expected him to say goodbye to me. We barely know each other."
Surprisingly, the reminder of Fiyero didn't cheer Galinda up like I had expected it to. Her shoulders slumped, and she shook her head with a sigh. "I don't know him either," she confessed, sounding on the verge of tears. "He's distant, and moodified… and he's been thinking… which really worries me." I fought back a smirk at that as she continued, "It all started the day Doctor Dillamond got fired. I never knew how much he cared about that old goat." Then her face suddenly brightened. "Oh, there he is! He did come!" she pointed over my shoulder, and began waving madly. "Fiyero! Over here, dearest!"
Fiyero caught sight of her and picked his way through the crowd to join us. He carried a bouquet of lovely red poppies, which, to my great surprise, he handed to me. "Elphaba, I'm happy for you," he told me with a smile.
Galinda looked slightly confused, but pasted on a smile as well. "Yes, we're both so happy."
"Uh…listen, Elphaba, I've been thinking..." Fiyero began.
"Yes, I've heard," I told him with a straight face, casting a wry glance at Galinda.
"About that Lion cub and... everything," he continued. "I think about that day a lot."
"Really?" I blinked in surprise, and he nodded. Of all the things I might have expected to hear him say, this was certainly fairly close to the bottom of the list. The unexpectedness of it startled me enough that I forgot to keep up my defenses, and I admitted with a small, rather shy smile, "So do I."
Galinda was looking from Fiyero to me and back again, sensing that there was something she was missing here. Finally she piped up, "Me too! Poor Doctor Dillamond! It makes one want to... uh... take a stand. So I've been thinking of... uh... changing my name." It was obvious, to me at least, that this was a desperate ploy to regain Fiyero's attention.
And apparently it worked, because he looked at her in surprise. "Your name?"
Delighted with her success, she exclaimed, "Well, yes! Since Doctor Dillamond had his own way of pronouncing my name, in solidarity and to express my… my outrage, I will henceforward be known no longer as Galinda, but as simply… Glinda."
Fiyero and I looked at each other. "Well, that's very admirable of you... Glinda," he offered finally. Then he turned to me. "Elphaba, good luck." He nodded to both of us, and then he, too, left to go back to Shiz.
Once he was gone, Galinda's – or rather, Glinda's – smile evaporated like the morning mist around us. "There, you see?" she asked, gesturing to his retreating back, and I realized to my dismay that her eyes were full of tears.
"Oh, don't cry, Galinda," I began, doing my best to make my voice reassuring.
"It's Glinda now," she snapped as she dug through her purse for a tissue. "Stupid idea. I don't even know what made me say it."
" It doesn't matter what your name is! Everyone loves you!" I reminded her encouragingly.
"I don't care! I want him. I don't even think he's perfect anymore, and I still want him!" Her eyes widened as she realized, "This must be what other people feel like. Oh, how do they bear it?"
I couldn't help laughing a little at that before putting my arms around her. As we hugged tightly, I had a sudden inspiration. "Glinda…come with me."
"Where?" she asked, not lifting her head from where she had laid it on my shoulder.
"To the Emerald City," I told her.
That perked her right up. "Really? I've always wanted to see the Emerald City! Oh, Elphie, do you really mean it?"
"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't, Glinda," I assured her, unable to keep from grinning at her enthusiasm. "Well, if you're coming, you'd better hurry up and buy a ticket." She nodded and ran off to get in line at the ticket counter.
Now here we are, albeit a few hours later than I intended (Glinda had to go back to our room and pack for the trip, which took a positively ridiculous amount of time), chugging our way towards the Emerald City and our meeting with the Wizard. Glinda is sitting beside me, chattering nonstop about all the amazing things we're going to see. Somehow I suspect that her definition of 'amazing' isn't quite the same as mine. Still, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm glad I get to experience it with my best friend. (Well, technically, she's my only friend, but you get the point!)
The conductor just came through and told us we'll be arriving in a few minutes. Oh, I'm so excited, I can hardly sit still! This is the day I've waited for my entire life! After I meet the Wizard, my whole life will be different. No one will ever see me the same way again. I'll finally get the respect I deserve – no more laughing, no more pointing, no more staring.
And I can't wait.