Isn't it amazing how when you aren't under pressure from yourself to write...you can write so much? I have finished the story. Don't go stressing it's two chapters away after this one. But it is finished. Well I think it is...we'll see what the fans out there think huh? :)

Thank you all for your patience and support. I look forward to hearing from you guys again.

This is dedicated to everyone who's found someone special, everyone who's waiting to find someone special, and everyone who lost someone special. Keep loving people. :)

XX

Chapter 9:

It was pitch black, no moon, no stars, the clouds hung heavy and thick blocking all natural light, the only light came from a laptop screen that sat amongst papers and a pen on the desk. By the artificial light, a silhouette moved in a frantic pace. Back and fourth, back and fourth. The only sound was that of her soft foot falls on her padded carpet. Back and fourth, back and fourth. And then...a few words...softly uttered up to the heavens for some unknown being to hear.

'Lurline help me'

XX

In a state, far away, a girl sat in the artificial light of her lamp on her bedside table. Her legs were tucked under her as she sat atop her bed. The pink comforter wrapped around her shoulders as she stared at the computer screen across the room, almost as if it might leap up on legs and bite her. She had sent her description, hoping the smartest girl she knew would understand, realise that it's her that had been described but it had been to no avail. She had said her goodnights and watched as the emails stopped flowing, no sudden reply from her love to say she understood, to say the light had been metaphorically switched on. She should sleep...she knows she should sleep, everything always seemed worse in the heat of the moment, she was always so easy to upset when tired.

As she went to lay down, her head had just brushed the pillow when a flashing light causes her to sit upright. An email...from who? It had to be her. It had to be, who else would be emailing her at this time of night? Well...not her either but if she was to ever email at this time of night then it would be her. Did that make sense? Never mind.

Leaping up from the bed, she looked at the screen in nervous impatience, waiting for the name she desperately wanted to see pop up in her inbox.

Elphaba Thropp – RE: Tonight...well last night...damn it...

Galinda giggled at the title of the email, she realised that Elphaba always made her feel better, even when it seemed like nothing could. Then it hit her, what could she be wanting to talk about? Could she have figured it out? Could she have finally understand and then decided to let her down, tell her it's no use? Now Galinda finally understood, she wasn't feeling nervous before, certainly not compared to the nerves she was feeling now. Shaking slightly, she clicked open the email.

'My sweet Galinda,

It took me three hours, fifteen minutes and twenty three seconds to realise exactly who you were talking about when you described the girl of your dreams...'

Galinda smirked, there's the smart girl she had grown to love

'...And when I realised exactly who it was, well...to say I was shocked would be...

I was really shocked. Me? Really? I don't mean to sound condescending but...me? I felt a mixture of emotions when I found out. Firstly I felt confused, surely not me. Then fear, what is good about this? What can I offer you? I'm not good enough. I'm not deserving of you. Then I felt...'

Oh Oz, this is it...this is where she say's disgust.

'...I felt...light. I felt happiness beyond any dreams. My stomach clenched, I couldn't breathe, I was walking on air. Well..in all honesty I was walking on my carpet, back and forth as I paced it out, trying to get up the courage to send this to you. I am not very confident, you'll have to put up with a lot of...uncertainty. Am I honestly worth it?

Ah...doesn't matter right now. What I'm trying to say is...you're my perfect girl. And...I'd love nothing more then to...to be your girlfriend. If you want me...

Anyway, I'm sure you're asleep right now. So...I'll not expect a reply for a while...just think it over my sweet.

Yours

Elphaba.

Xoxox'

Her breathing had stopped, she had forgotten how to move, how to...do anything.

'She wants me'. The moment the words left her lips, Galinda could taste the sweetness it brought. 'SHE WANT'S ME!' An almost piercing cry erupted from Galinda who felt like at the moment not even two very irate parents would make her feel down. This was everything she had wanted. Her Elphaba...'my Elphie' with a giggle Galinda decided she had to reply instantly. Leaping from her bed, Galinda raced across the short distance, almost falling out of her computer chair...twice...in her haste to get her hands on the keyboard.

'WAIT!' her inner voice screamed at her halting the fumbling girl. 'Let's just think about this for a moment shall we? Elphaba said to just think it over, I know we want this but, let's be realistic.' Realistic? About what? This is perfect. 'It's almost three am. Even though she sent this through, she'll be sleeping by now. Let's just wait. Besides, you're all emotion right now. Best to just calm down and respond first thing in the morning.' Sighing, Galinda stood back up, a lot more steady on her feet, and walked back to her bed. That sounded like a plan.

XX

Although a calm had overtaken Elphaba the minute she pressed send, she also got a wave of strong fear. Despite her body screaming for sleep, Elphaba's mind would not rest and the sun was suddenly peaking over the tattered curtains in her room. Please, don't hate me Lyndie. Elphaba thought before she stood, going into the kitchen to prepare breakfast like any other morning.

'ELPHABA!' Her father roared down the passageway and Elphaba could have sworn the wooden cupboards and window pains rattled with the intensity of the voice. She knew she was in trouble, and she also knew why she was in trouble. Her distracted mind had carried her out of the kitchen...well...mentally at least and when she had been plopped back into her surroundings, she realised with an almost impish grin that her father and sister were going to be eating burnt eggs and bacon. Not that they didn't deserve it. It was almost like the Unnamed God her father was always preaching about was playing a game of irony, showing the man just how black his heart was by serving him the blackened remains of food. 'And about bloody time' Elphaba thought happily. Oh...she'll be punished. Punished badly...but it was worth it if she could believe this was the work of her fathers maker.

XX

Galinda Upland – RE: Tonight...well last night...damn it...

[response from message above-view message]

Dearest Elphie,

I never thought it was possible to go through such a wide variety of emotions in such a short time. I was a mess last night. In all honesty I was awake when I got your email but didn't want to wake you up. I figured you'd gone to bed and, well, thinking it over seemed like a good idea. Not because I don't want this, only because I was so emotionally wound up I was about ready to spring off the bed. I did fall out of my desk chair...I think the total amount of times was 12. I didn't sleep a wink.

I've always heard of love at first sight. But we haven't really seen each other. I never heard of love at first email. But it was Elphie. Your first rude, insensitive comment had me hooked. I was so addicted to those emails. I loved sparring with you. You were hurtful but I couldn't get enough. Weird...but true. When I saw your picture. That one photo that had a smiling, intense girl looking like the world was hers for the grasping...I lost all control. How could someone so beautiful be so ignored? I wanted all your wounds to be healed, your differences to be lifted. I wanted you to see who you are in my eyes. I want you to see. I know you mark yourself as someone hideously different, deformed and just not beautiful in anyone's eyes, but you are. In my eyes you're so gorgeous. I want you to believe me. I know you might never, but I want to try.

I know our distance is hard. I've never seen you in person, never touched you, never smiled at you. You've never even heard my voice. It's probably really whiny and high pitched in your opinion. I have been in a couple of relationships in my life but none are anything like this. I'm so open with you, I don't feel embarrassed to admit something, or declare something. I know long distance relationships are hard. But I think what we have is special.

Goodness...this has to be my biggest email to you yet. I'm sorry if it's all full on. My end reply to it all though is yes. Yes Ms. Thropp, I want to be yours.

All my love

Your Lyndie

xox '

XX

For the first time in almost sixteen years Elphaba walked outside her house, opened her arms and smiled up into the warmth of the sun. She never really felt like leaving her studies in her warm, dusty room, the sun outside never attracted her. The warmth, though nice on cool days, never made her smile and feel an urge to run around like other children. Today though, for the first time, Elphaba was thankful for the sun, for her life. For being the girl she was. She felt beautiful, felt open and happy. She whistled happily and waved to two people on a bike riding by, who almost crashed into a post when they saw the elusive Elphaba Thropp outside. AND SMILING. With a chuckle Elphaba wrapped her arms around herself in a tight hug and sighed happily. She was loved. Loved by the most gorgeous girl in all of Oz. How wonderful it was to be Elphaba Thropp.

XX

Fourteen year old Nessa Thropp rolled down the path, school had been let out early for the young Thropp and she was enjoying the rather slow amble back to her home. She never really loved Elphaba like a normal sister would her oldest sibling. But she didn't hate her either, just...didn't care for her existence. Father's rather insistent lack of acknowledging Elphaba unless needing something from her, made Nessa's life more easy going. Why Elphaba was even alive was a mystery to Nessa, Father certainly didn't want her around and only paid attention to Nessa. Elphaba's existence was almost...inefficient.

Still it was a wonderful day, sunlight was pouring down, a gift from the Unnamed God, surely praising Nessa for the hard work she had put in. Even Elphaba couldn't ruin it. But the sight in the front yard as Nessa rose over the crest towards home, almost made the young Thropp fall out of her chair. Elphaba was twirling and humming in the yard, smiling as if the world was finally seeing her. This caused Nessa to frown. If there was one thing Nessa believed it was everything has a place and everything in it's place. Something was causing Elphaba to forget her place, and to Nessa that was like the plague was knocking at her door. It had to be removed before it infected her life. Nessa noticed Elphaba was on her computer a lot more, something she hadn't really done before her pen-pal assignment. Maybe Nessa could start there.

What ever it was, Nessa knew one thing. When father got home tonight, he was going to get rid of this virus. And Elphaba was going back into her place.