No amount of writing could do justice to the Cullen house. It looked like it had been taken from a more elegant time and placed in the middle of a forest. Although the house was huge it didn't look obscenely expensive like so many modern-day mansions. All three Ozians stared out the windows of the Volvo in open mouthed awe. The drive home with the Cullens had been more than a little awkward. After the initial explanations and introductions Rosalie and Jasper had opted to run home in order to make room for the trio of humans in the small car. Emmett spent the entire drive making jokes about the odd visitors while Alice cast curious eyes over their strange clothes. Edward remained silent.
Esme, Rosalie, and Jasper were all waiting just inside the front door. Rosalie's eyes were icy and Jasper looked strained but Esme had a welcoming motherly expression on her face. "Welcome to our home," cooed the caramel haired vampire as she moved forward to shake hands with the Ozians. "It's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too," Elphaba smiled, trying not to flinch at Esme's icy hands. She wasn't one for physical contact, much less physical contact with a vampire. "Thanks for sharing your home with us."
"We didn't have much of a choice," Rosalie snorted, earning a sharp look from Alice.
"Ignore Rosalie," Esme told them, eyes tight. "We're happy to help you in any way we can." Rosalie stormed from the room and Emmett followed with an exasperated sigh.
"You can stay in the guest room," Alice chirped enthusiastically, heading towards the stairs with the three visitors in tow. "We'll have to forge some documents so you can get into school," she mused, leading the way down a hall paneled with honey colored wood. "And I guess I'll have to loan you some of my clothes." Alice opened a door near the end of the hallway to reveal a spacious room with pale blue walls and a thick white carpet. One wall was made of glass and another was completely covered by a massive bookshelf. A short blue couch was pushed into one corner. "Sorry there aren't any beds," Alice apologized. "We've got a lot of hiking gear in the garage though. It's all for show, but there are some decent sleeping bags." She paused and once again raked disapproving eyes over their clothing. "I'll be right back." In a flash of dark hair and pale skin she was gone.
"These vampires freak me out," Fiyero hissed.
"Shh!" Elphaba hushed. "They can probably hear you!" Fiyero clamped his mouth shut.
"I can't believe I'm in the same house with Edward Cullen!" Galinda squealed. Elphaba rolled her eyes.
"Maybe if you're lucky he'll suck your blood," Fiyero taunted. The blonde gave him a glare.
"Edward is a vegetarian vampire," she informed him snottily. "Everyone knows that."
"How is it possible to be a vegetarian vampire?" Fiyero asked. Before Elphaba could answer him Alice reappeared holding three sleeping bags and some basic toiletries.
"Time for a tour," she sang, tossing everything to the floor. The tour involved pointing out where the bathroom was and then leading Galinda and Elphaba into Alice's room. "Sorry Fiyero," the enthusiastic vampire apologized. "You'll have to borrow some clothes from Edward or Jasper." Then she shut the door in his face and turned to the girls. "So," Alice began. "What colors do you like to wear?"
"Pink!" Galinda exclaimed.
"Black," Elphaba said in a monotone.
"Well it's a start," Alice chirped, throwing open the doors to her massive closet. Galinda darted inside after her and Elphaba warily peered in. How could anyone have so many clothes?
"This is amazing!" Galinda squealed. "I wish Popsicle would let me have a closet this big." With a sigh Elphaba took a seat on the carpeted floor and waited while Alice and Galinda traded fashion knowledge. It didn't take them long to put together several outfits for the blonde. Luckily both girls were pixies so what fit Alice also fit Galinda. "Elphie don't I look great!" she squealed, dancing out of the closet. The blonde was wearing a pink v-neck t-shirt and bedazzled blue jeans. A tiny rose colored purse was slung over one arm.
"You look great," Elphaba assured her, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Elphaba, it's your turn now!" Alice called from the depths of her closet.
"That's ok, I'm fine with the stuff I've got," the green girl assured her.
"No you aren't," Galinda insisted, pushing her friend into the clothing filled torture chamber. "Alice will make you look amazing."
"I don't think I'll fit into any of her clothes," Elphaba protested.
"That's ok," Alice told her. "I've got some of Rosalie's stuff in here too. You guys are about the same size." Elphaba groaned as Alice led her past rack after rack of elegant attire. Everything became a whirl of fabric until Alice pulled the green girl out of the closet, clad in a fitted black t-shirt and dark jeans.
"Wow," Galinda breathed. "Elphie you look really good!"
"I'm not finished," Alice informed them before turning to Elphaba. "How do you do your hair?"
"I usually braid it," the green girl shrugged gesturing to the tight braid her hair was in now. Alice clucked her tongue.
"That won't work," she chirped. "You have the most beautiful hair. Let's just leave it down." Alice unraveled the braid in record time.
"Fine," Elphaba grumbled. "Are you finished now?"
"No," Alice laughed. "Of course not. You still need makeup."
"Ohh, can I do it?" Galinda pleaded. "I did Elphie's makeup before and she looked amazing!" Alice nodded and handed her cosmetic kit to the bouncing blonde.
"Why do you guys need to do my makeup now? I'm not actually going to school until tomorrow," Elphaba pointed out.
"Right now we're just experimenting," Alice informed her. "Once we've figured out what works we can do it every morning."
"Every morning?" Elphaba screeched.
"Don't be such a baby," Galinda reprimanded her green friend as she began to apply some dark lipstick. Elphaba scowled darkly at the two pixie like women in front of her. When Galinda had finished with the final touches of makeup Alice rolled an enormous mirror towards the green girl. Elphaba averted her eyes. "Come on Elphie," Galinda urged. "You look great."
Warily Elphaba raised her eyes to look at the mirror. Galinda was right. The clothes from this strange world showed off her figure in a way Ozian garb never had. Her gorgeous raven hair flowed gracefully around her shoulders and the dark makeup made Elphaba's deep brown eyes look dangerous and smoky. "Good job," Elphaba whispered.
"Let's go show Fiyero," Galinda squealed, dragging her friend out into the hallway. Fiyero was in the guest room unrolling his sleeping bag when the girls burst in. He looked up and barely kept his jaw from dropping. As usual Galinda looked like a pint sized supermodel but Elphaba...The dark clothes and makeup combined with her unusual skin color and amazing figure made her look exotic, mysterious and…hot.
"Well?" Elphaba snapped, eyes smoldering. "What are you staring at?"
"You guys look great," he informed them.
"I know!" Galinda exclaimed, throwing herself onto the small couch. "Earth is so wonderful!"
"We'll see how wonderful you guys think Earth is when school starts," Elphaba snorted.
"Don't be such a downer," Galinda complained. "Let's enjoy our time here."
"Our time here might be forever!" Elphaba pointed out harshly. "I don't know the first thing about how to get us home. My magic couldn't even change one book into another without screwing something up! What if we're stuck here for the rest of our lives?"
"I'm sure you can do it," Fiyero assured her. "It just might take awhile." Elphaba gave him a weak smile.
"I'm glad you think so."
***
The next day Alice and Edward drove the Ozians to school early so they could be enrolled. Dangerous looking black ice coated the roads and parking lot. Galinda and Fiyero were both very wary of the shiny black streaks that covered the pavement but Elphaba, who had never actually seen ice, was terrified. "It doesn't look safe," she protested upon encountering the slick surface. "Maybe I should just wait over here."
"Don't be silly," Galinda called from the other side of the ice patch. "Even if you do fall it won't hurt." Fiyero, who was also safe on the other side, turned to face Elphaba.
"It's ok," he assured her. "Just glide across. You won't fall."
"Promise?" Elphaba squeaked.
"I promise," Fiyero vowed with a smile. Seeing Elphaba, who was usually so strong and confident, afraid of something like ice was very amusing. Taking a deep breath the green girl put an unsteady foot on the ice. She slowly moved forward, gaining speed. By the time she reached the middle of the ice patch Elphaba was going a little faster than was safe. She lost control and went flying forward. Rather than falling though, the green girl smacked into Fiyero's chest. He wrapped his strong arms around Elphaba, steadying her. It took her only a minute to realize that she was pressed against Fiyero's chest. When realization hit she jerked away, but Fiyero's arms didn't release her. "Maybe you should be afraid of ice," he chuckled. The green girl's cheeks flushed as she pulled away again. This time Fiyero seemed to realize how tightly he was holding her and let go.
Well that was interesting, Elphaba thought to herself, making a futile attempt to stop blushing. Worriedly the green girl glanced towards Galinda, but the blonde was too busy staring after Edward to notice.
***
When the Ozians emerged from the school office a few minutes later they were officially enrolled in Forks High School. How Alice had managed to get fake documents so quickly Elphaba had no idea. Students were just beginning to arrive and they seemed to have no trouble handling the ice. Even Bella, who had spent most of her life in Phoenix, easily maneuvered her truck into a parking space. Then again she did have chains on her tires. Suddenly Elphaba was struck with curiosity. Was Bella really as shy and self conscious as Twilight had portrayed her? Was she really unafraid of falling in love with a vampire? Here was a perfect opportunity to answer such questions. The green girl made her way across the parking lot towards Bella's truck, carefully avoiding ice patches whenever she could.
"Hey," the green girl called as Bella stepped out of her truck. "I'm Elphaba." Twilight's heroine looked confused by Elphaba's sudden introduction and shocked by her skin color.
"I'm Bella," she responded somewhat awkwardly, walking around the back of her truck. "Do you need something?"
"I'm new here," the green girl explained. "I was wondering if…" At that moment a painful screeching sound distracted both girls. A dark blue van was skidding across the parking lot right towards them. Elphaba didn't have time to think, only to react. When the menacing car was only a few feet away her hands shot out in front of her and there was a bright flash of green. The van halted immediately and Elphaba looked around. Screams of terror were rapidly filling the air and Bella was staring at her, eyes wide with shock. The green girl's own eyes grew wide as she realized that her powers had just meddled with a key part of the story. What have I done?
