SURPRISE! I updated. How big a surprise is that? :D

Ok so I've got some things to talk to you about to do with this chapter and people responsible…yadda yadda yadda. You paying attention? Thank you :D

Ok, this chapter has a bit of back and forth banter between our two girls BUT it is an Elphaba chapter. It's all about our Elphie and the wonderful, magnificent life she leads…*wink wink* Anyway, I'll leave you to figure it out. But forgive the back and forth. It's just how this happens :P

I dedicate this to my friend LeShea as always. She is still so special in my life and I am glad she's returning to us all. If you can, pray for her. She is in a moment of need and needs her friends to help her. So please, offer a prayer for my friend…and if you're not religious…say hi :P

Ok, before you get sick of my constant yammering, I have a very special girl in my life. This is also for her. For pushing me to get it out there. She's my Sunshine in all of this.

Ok folks. Let's get this show on the road. :D

Enjoy

XX

Elphaba's POV:

The sunlight sneaking through the edges of the blinds stung Elphaba's sleep-heavy eyes as she slowly woke from a troubled sleep. She had been dreaming all night of Galinda, happy and in love with a stranger. Now that Elphaba had seen the image of her perfect girl, she could put a face to her dreams which now taunted her every night. Galinda's own 'love of her life' was a grey smudge against a bright and colourful world. Elphaba was always sitting there, crying out to Galinda who would giggle and talk animatedly with her 'smudgy' girlfriend and ignore the green girls cries. At first Elphaba woke up crying. But after a week of the same dream…she just woke up tired and hurt.

The smudge in the dream was starting to clear now though, the girl becoming gorgeous and 'normal coloured' more and more every night. Elphaba was sure it was going to get worse and worse until she'd either die of stress, loneliness or maybe even depression. Hmm…that sounded like a plan.

No…she couldn't. Even if she was only a 'friend' to Galinda, at least she could be that. If she were to die…she'd lose Galinda completely. She couldn't do that. Sighing deeply, Elphaba pushed herself out of bed to start another day of classes. Another day of emptiness until later tonight when she could chat to her sweet, her…

Friend. Come off it Elphaba you're her friend, only a friend. Always just a friend.

'Oh must you be so bitter?' Elphaba mumbled to the voice, sick of how it always managed to make her stomach turn every time it pointed out how much of a no-brainer it was that Galinda would never be hers.

Elphaba sighed, she sat at her desk looking at the pile of papers her father had left for her like he had every morning since Elphaba had begun schooling. Her father was a minister, preaching the 'Good Faith' of the Unknown God. And making it very clear to the supporters of Lurline that they were all going to burn in a fiery pit of hell. Well that didn't matter to Elphaba. She was going to burn in hell just for being green. Or so her father told her. Not that she listened very hard.

Every morning, Frex left Elphaba a pile of work that she needed to do. Some would be marked with due dates, and others would need to be finished that day. Elphaba would sit down, open her text books and study, doing the work until she was finished.

Elphaba was smart, very smart. Her father, being a Minister and not needing much money to survive because his 'Beloved God' would sate him, was not rich. He had enough money to keep food on the table and nothing much after that. Due to his lack in riches, Elphaba was never given a tutor. Instead, Frex taught Elphaba as a young child to read and the rest was up to Elphaba after that.

Elphaba had soaked everything in like a sponge. From Chemistry to advanced Mathematics. Elphaba loved to learn. But today there was a problem at the back of her mind. Today? Ha! Try for the past month! Or how about the past five months? Ever since you met that girl you've been distracted.

'Do you blame me?' Elphaba asked the air around her as she slumped onto the desk, scattering the papers everywhere. A groan left her lips as she buried her head in her hands.

'Oz help me. I'm not strong enough for this.'

XX

A loud slam woke Elphaba from where she lay. Her head was sore from lying on a hard surface, her neck stiff from the odd angle and her butt was asleep. That was not very pleasant at all. Drool had slipped from her open mouth as she had slept, dribbling down her chin to the papers that lined the desk beneath her. As she sat up, several pieces came up with her, stuck to her face. Oh that's nice.

'Elphaba!'

Sh….iz, Father's home and we've done NO work. Glancing frantically at the work beneath her, she was relieved to find that none was due in today. Standing quickly, Elphaba raced from her room straightening her frock as she did so. When father beckoned, you came.

'Yes Father?' Elphaba asked walking into the kitchen to find her father sitting across the bench talking to Nessarose excitedly. As Elphaba walked in Frex turned to her, his soft smile disappearing.

'Where have you been girl?' Elphaba was taught to never lie…but this seemed to be one time where a little white lie wouldn't hurt.

'I was studying father.' This answer seemed to appease him for Frex turned around and rummaged through his satchel without another word to her, instead continuing on with his discussion with Nessa.

Nessa was only two years younger then Elphaba but was normal skinned. She was in a wheelchair but no one seemed to mind, in fact, it often got her younger sister more attention then anything else. And Nessa craved attention. Nessa attended the school Elphaba should be attending, and was rather popular. She was also a bit independent and had demanded that Father allow her to make her way home on her own. Much to Elphaba's pleasure…Frex agreed. Nothing was worse then when Nessa didn't get her way. You never heard the end of it.

Elphaba's job in this family was to cook, clean and work…and of course, dote on Nessa. Be seen but never heard, speak only when spoken to. It was like living at an army base for the Gale Force Soldiers. Elphaba wasn't anything, with a sigh, she resigned herself to the fact that she was going to cook for her dysfunctional and very broken family.

As she rummaged around the kitchen for the supplies and utensils, Elphaba thought over the friendship she had with Galinda and how it developed.

They had started so roughly, so heatedly and then something changed. Galinda had gotten sick and Elphaba's need to protect her stunned her. Suddenly new feelings had begun to pour through Elphaba. She thought at first it was just because someone was liking her…for her mind not her appearance, but then…

Elphaba sighed as she heated the stew. When she had actually started loving Galinda she couldn't say. It had been so sudden. And then, Oz it all happened so fast.

And before you had her you lost her. Suddenly she wasn't so hungry any more. She finished dinner and served it to her father before excusing herself and going to her room. Her sister shot some snot nosed comment at her but Elphaba ignored her like normal. She could hear her sisters whine all the way down the hallway to her room and Frex trying to convince her that she wasn't worth the distress. It made her smile.

XX

Galinda:
'Dearest Elphaba,
It is good to hear from you. I have missed you even though we only spoke last night. What are you doing?'

Elphaba:
'Dear Lyndie,
My sweet, glad to see you're on. I am just sitting in my room talking to you. How about you?'

Galinda:
'Oh Elphie! I'm so glad I caught you. Hi. I'm well, just sitting here in my room. Oz homework can be so hard. I had this maths work, well…as if I need to know how to balance my debts. I don't even know what they are. I'm sure he's just making up that word.'

Elphaba:
'My sweet, debts are part of growing up. You need to know about them. It is hard but I'm sure you'll get it.'

Galinda:
'Ooohh…maybe I can hire someone to do that for me. Oh and I'll get them to do yours so you never have to worry either.'

Elphaba:
'That's very sweet Lyndie but, you really don't have to do that.'

Galinda:
'*giggles* I know. That's what makes me so nice. How was "school"?'

Elphaba:
'Horrible. I just fell asleep. Didn't wake up till father got home so now I've done no work at all!'

Galinda:
':( Awww Elphie. What's wrong. You're super smart. Is something bothering you? OH…Are you sick?'

Elphaba paused for thought. This was a perfect chance to declare her feelings for the small blonde. For the love of her life. But she knew she couldn't do that. Galinda just wasn't hers.

Elphaba:
'I'm just distracted my sweet. I'm fine really.'

Both girls looked at the screen dejectedly and sighed:
'Oh'
Both felt the searing pain of denial.

Galinda:
'You silly thing, you need to stop thinking about me and get to work ;)'

Elphaba felt her heart race and stomach turn at the thought.

Elphaba:
'Now now Lyndie, you know it's impossible to stop thinking about a pretty girl like you.'

Galinda:
'You…
Think I'm pretty?'

Elphaba:
'Yes my sweet.'

Elphaba could feel her heart racing as she waited eagerly for the reply. She couldn't believe she'd said that so openly. It was without thinking and then she couldn't seem to stop. And then Galinda was taking so long to reply. It seemed like time had stopped in it's tracks.

Then again, every time she spoke to Galinda they had these moments together, they seemed to say something that two close friends really shouldn't say. And then the pause, Elphaba's stomach would knot and then Galinda would giggle it off and they'd be fine. But it was happening more and more and Elphaba hadn't really heard anything about the 'girlfriend' either. She felt like she was cheating with Galinda on the 'other one' and sadly Elphaba realised she didn't care.

Galinda:
'I'm touched Elphie. You're so sweet.

Elphaba:
'I'm sorry Galinda, I shouldn't have said anything. You've got your girlfriend. I didn't mean to disrespect you both.'

Galinda:
'Oh no Elphie, you didn't disrespect me. She's…fine.'

Elphaba:
'Lyndie. Why do you never talk about your girlfriend? If I may ask'

Galinda:
'I guess…she's just not someone I can talk about.'

Elphaba:
'I'm confused. Are you two…alright?'

Galinda:
'Well…she's not actually aware I like her.'

WHAT? Where the hell has that come from? Oh my Oz…Elphaba…you and I could actually have a SHOT! Well…sort of. She's still in love with this girl. You can't change the heart. Damn

Elphaba:
'Well…what does she look like? How did you meet her? Is she wonderful? You should tell her my sweet. You never know till you try.'

Galinda:
'We met online, like you and I. She's…so smart, so wonderful. Her mind is so fierce and she almost hated me when we first met. But I got her to actually like me…for me. She's so gorgeous and that was before I saw her picture.
I thought she even liked me at one stage but now I'm not so sure. She's so sweet to me, makes sure I'm safe and happy. But I don't know if I blew my chance with her. Besides…distance makes it hard. We're so far away.'

Elphaba's heart broke slowly at the pain she could just envision in Galinda's voice as she talked about this loss…this confusion. She could Empathise. She knew what it felt like. The only thing she could think of doing was acting supportive.

Elphaba:
'Oh my sweet. I'm sorry this is so hard for you. She sounds wonderful. I'm sure her picture just blew you away. ;) What is she? Blonde and green eyes? Tanned and skinny? Tell me the goss.'

The support Elphaba was giving Galinda was actually hurting her more then Elphaba could have imagined…but what Elphaba did know was that she never used the word 'goss' and was never interested in gossip so she knew that saying and being interested in such would cheer her…sorry, not her, Lyndie. She was right.

Galinda:
'Hahaha, no silly Elphie, she's not. She's beautiful…exotic skin you could almost never imagine how gorgeous her skin is. She's got raven black hair, deep dark eyes almost troubled with so much emotion. She's thin, very thin…almost too thin. I think I'd need to feed her up a bit. And she's just so…different.'

Elphaba:
'Different? Why…I would have never seen you as a fan of things different my sweet.'

Galinda:
'Why miss Elphaba, you are a tease.'

The girls talked on and on for a while forgetting the banter and the near declarations that were so blatantly there. Elphaba couldn't seem to register what Galinda had been saying. The description was very familiar but she was content to just let it pass. This girl seemed so wonderful and the way Lyndie described her made it seem that she was very happy to dream about this girl. Like Elphaba could blame her.
'Oh dear…you love her so much, you're willing to let her go aren't you?' Her inner voice questioned. With a sad nod Elphaba sighed. Yes, she was willing to let her go.

Elphaba said her goodnight to Lyndie and then snuggled down into her bed. Her eyes shut but her mind still whirred, thinking about this girl…trying to put an image to her words. Black hair, dark eyes, exotic skin…all she could seem to see was her…

Her…

Elphaba bolted upright in her bed, eyes wide.

'Oh Shit. It's ME!'

XX

Yay right? *sing songs* We're getting, some action, it's going to, be really great! :P
Thank you all so much for sticking with me you lot. You've all been such fantastic friends. I love you all.
Stay safe everyone.

Your pal
Grumbello