Disclaimer: Wicked belongs to Gregory Maguire. The musical-verse belongs to Stephen Schwartz and Universal, I believe. I am but a mere fan. I own nothing.
A/N: As usual, thanks to all of you who read and reviewed the last chapter, your comments make my day. :)
Cheers to Wolfie for the quick, painless and flawless beta work.
Chapter four:
"Hell is a place in Oz
Elphaba used to believe she had lived a truly horrifying life: Her family hated her, the world hated her, and of course, she was green.
Trying to get Pfanne to understand chemistry, however, added an entirely new layer of meaning to the word-
"Horrors."
"What did you say, Miss Elphaba?" asked Galinda. She was sitting across from Elphaba at the table in their room with her chemistry book open in front of her. Elphabalooked exhausted
Actually, they all looked exhausted. The four of them had been studying for hours, and Pfanne had yet to grasp a single concept.
"Electrons," Elphaba answered. "I said 'electrons.' You need to balance the electric charges, Miss Pfanne. Remember?"
"Electric?" Pfanne looked up from her book with an expression of pure terror on her face. "What do elec-tons have to do with chemistry?"
Elphaba wanted to murder her. Slowly, creatively, and, if possible, repeatedly. Then, she would murder Galinda for devising this mad torture in the first place.
"E-lec-trons have a lot to do with chemistry, Miss Pfanne!" intervened Galinda, preventing Elphaba from saying something not very nice at all.
"They have to do with chemistry because, well," Galinda frowned, "because they do! Miss Elphaba, please, explain to Miss Pfanne why electrons are important to chemistry."
Elphaba glared at her. Well, maybe she glared at her. She was so drained she wasn't sure she could even manage a decent glare.
Elphaba stopped her desperate attempt at a glare, surrendered to her fate, and started explaining to Pfanne the very basics of chemistry again, for time number… she had lost count about two hours ago.
"Electrons are a vital part of chemistry." With that declaration, Elphaba began the explanation number one-hundred-too-many.
Meanwhile, Milla slept using Organic Chemistry I as a pillow. She had understood what Elphaba was explaining hours ago.
ShenShen was looking daggers at her book, as if trying to make it so afraid that the poor book would tell her everything it knew.
Galinda, to her credit, was mainly awake. Elphaba suspected that the sheer weight of her guilt was keeping her alert.
Oh, you better stay awake, Elphaba thought as she droned on about electrical charges and atomic balance. You form the very bowels of hell itself. I'm going to slaughter you once this is over. As long as you don't pout or smile. Or do that thing you do when you act like yourself, making me unable to think clearly. Elphaba frowned. I actually pity myself.
"Do you understand now, Miss Pfanne?" Elphaba asked twenty minutes later as nicely as she could manage. It apparently wasn't very nice at all, because Pfanne immediately jumped to her own defense.
"Now, see here, Miss Elphaba! Just because you understand this nonsense doesn't mean you can start acting like you're better than me!" Pfanne shouted, pointing a manicured finger at Elphaba's face.
"And because you don't, you should act like a spoiled little brat?"
"Stop it you two!" Galinda stood up from her chair and rapidly positioned herself between Elphaba and Pfanne. "Look, we are all very tired and tempers are running a little high. Maybe we should continue studying tomorrow."
Continuing tomorrow was the last thing Elphaba wanted. This was the third night in a row that their 'study group' had met.
Elphaba couldn't - wouldn't - put up with one more night of explaining the first two chapters of Organic Chemistry I, or as Elphaba called it, Chemistry for Morons I.They hadn't even covered half of the material Pfanne had to learn to pass the test yet.
The hellish brat was going to understand this, tonight. Elphaba was sure Pfanne could. She wasn't scientist material by any means, but – and it pained Elphaba to admit this- she wasn't completely stupid. She just wasn't making an effort.
"I apologize, Miss Pfanne," said Elphaba through clenched teeth.
"I-" Pfanne looked nauseous, and she gripped her book tightly. "I apologize too, Miss Elphaba."
Galinda, sadistic little thing she was, looked beside herself with joy. "Oh, isn't it wonderful when we can all let go of our differences and be friends?"
This time, both Elphaba and Pfanne glared at her.
"Look," Elphaba sighed. "Maybe I've been doing this the wrong way. Let's try a different approach."
"Different approach?" asked Pfanne after an enormous yawn.
"Yes. We will forgo the theory for a while. Instead, let's try some exercises and see how you fare with them," Elphaba explained while flipping through her book for the simplest, idiot-proof chemistry exercise she could find.
"Here." Elphaba pointed at a page. "Try to solve this one."
"Alright." Pfanne armed herself with a pen and began to write.
As Elphaba watched Pfanne write out a chemistry equation that was an insult to intelligent life, she wondered why in Oz's name she had let Galinda convince her to take part in this torture.
She looked at Galinda, who gave her a tired half smile.
Oh, right.
Galinda was going to be the end of her.
Galinda was in the middle of a rather nice dream involving Elphaba, strawberries, and lots of pink bubbles when a scream woke her.
"I got it! I got it!" Pfanne was running around the room, waving a piece of paper like a woman possessed.
"You did?" asked Milla, rubbing her eyes. Then, Milla realized what she'd said and repeated, "You did?"
"She did?" Galinda heard ShenShen ask from the place on the floor she had fallen asleep, about an hour before Galinda herself had fallen asleep.
"You did? You really, actually did?" Galinda was afraid to hope she could finally go to sleep in her comfy, warm, wonderful bed.
Sleep, what a grand idea! She thought. Maybe I can continue that very nice dream…
Galinda shook her head vigorously.
Chemistry, she thought. Chemistry is important. Think scientific thoughts! Atoms! Oxygen!
Pfanne was too exhilarated to be offended by her friends' lack of trust in her, so she simply smiled proudly and said, "Yes, I did."
She was grinning widely. Galinda thought she looked rather nice when she smiled that way.
"Of course she did," Elphaba added without a hint of sarcasm or malice. She looked like she was about to fall apart, but she also looked sort of…maybe kind of happy for Pfanne.
"Congratulations, Miss Pfanne," she said. "I knew you could do it."
And that was why Galinda was so taken with Elphaba. In her own way, Elphaba was really sweet.
She had helped her friends study, even though they had always been nothing but horrible to her, just because Galinda had asked her to. Elphaba had explained the same thing to Pfanne over and over again because she believed, even if no one else did, that the girl would understand it.
Galinda wanted to kiss her so badly; she almost didn't manage to contain herself.
The wind was cold and harsh on the way to the bar, but Galinda didn't mind. She was so happy about the success of the study group that a thing as insignificant as a little cold could not annoy her.
Galinda had managed, in yet another example of her true greatness, to get Elphaba to go out with her friends and her to celebrate Pfanne's success on the chemistry exam. She couldn't be happier.
To be honest, Galinda suspected Elphaba's agreeableness had something to do with the fact that she had spent the previous five nights studying with Pfanne until it was almost morning. Once Pfanne had succeeded in understanding the basic equations, they still had to make up for half a year of her not paying the least bit of attention to the subject. Therefore, while Galinda, ShenShen and Milla slept, the two of them went on for hours, doing exercise after exercise until they couldn't keep their eyes open.
When the dreaded exam day finally came, Elphaba looked like something half-dead.
When Pfanne exited the classroom with a shell-shocked expression, Elphaba looked like something completely dead.
"I-" Pfanne had said, with evident disbelief. "I passed."
ShenShen had wasted no time in suggesting they go out to celebrate, and of course, Milla and Galinda had readily agreed. They had a dire need to be as far away from chemistry as they could manage.
In a truly historical moment, Pfanne had adopted a dubitative expression. Galinda had been surprised; she couldn't believe Pfanne was actually considering not going out, until Pfanne spoke and it all became very clear. "Miss Elphaba?"
"Yes, Miss Pfanne?"
Pfanne clenched her fists and inhaled loudly."You can come with us."
It hadn't exactly been a heartfelt declaration of friendship, but Galinda suspected it was the best she would get from Pfanne. Elphaba, from the place where she had been resting against a wall only half – or a quarter – awake, had sort of mumbled something Galinda had assumed was a "yes."
"Perfect! Oh, you'll see Miss Elphaba, you'll have so much fun!" Galinda had squealed, bouncing up and down.
When Elphaba had actually processed what was happening, she had awoken, albeit only slightly, and had given Galinda a look akin to a frightened rabbit.
"I believe I am not armed with the mental tools to even try to comprehend why I am doing this." Elphaba's voice brought Galinda back to the present as they were about five minutes away from the bar where they had arranged to meet the others.
"Don't be difficult, Elphie." Galinda smacked Elphaba playfully on the arm. "You'll have a great time."
"I most sincerely doubt it," snorted Elphaba.
"Would it kill you to try and have fun once in your life?" Galinda frowned. At least Elphaba was being difficult again. That meant she had recovered her normal level of consciousness.
"Possibly," answered Elphaba
"Elphie!" Galinda whined. "Please, please, try to be nice today. Please?"
Elphaba made a noncommittal sound and shrugged.
"Elphie, please." Galinda stopped walking and grabbed Elphaba by the arms. She spun her around so that they were facing each other. "I promised I would change the world for you, and I did, didn't I? I got my friends to talk to you, people don't laugh at you anymore, and some of them are even treating you nicely."
"Yes. I've been meaning to ask about that. What exactly did you do to achieve this sudden change of attitude of our classmates?" Elphaba asked, narrowing her eyes.
"A lady has her secrets, Elphie." Galinda smiled mysteriously.
Elphaba just rolled her eyes and continued walking.
"Miss Galinda! Miss Galinda!" Galinda heard someone behind them shout, and she turned around.
Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.
"Hello…M-Miss Galinda!" Boq was panting with the effort of running to catch up with them.
"Hello, Master Boq," responded Galinda, checking for any possible escape routes. Besides her, Elphaba looked amused.
"If I may be so bold-"
"You may not," Elphaba interjected. Boq retaliated with what Galinda suspected was his version of a scathing look.
"You look beautiful tonight," Boq concluded, blushing furiously.
"Boq, my friend, you have the natural charm of a rock," Avaric said, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. He was followed closely by Fiyero.
"Hello, Miss Elphaba," Fiyero added, his eyes shining. He was smiling dumbly at Elphaba.
Elphaba looked very disturbed.
"Hello," she barked before grabbing Galinda's arm and continuing to walk.
"Wait!" called Avaric. "Where are you two going? Can we join you?"
"To the bar that's around the corner. We are meeting Misses ShenShen, Pfanne and Milla. And no, you may not join us. Fiyero, however, is welcome to," answered Galinda.
Avaric made a big show of being hurt, and Fiyero kept staring dumbly at Elphaba with that smile which Galinda didn't like at all. Elphaba apparently didn't like it either, because she looked extremely uncomfortable.
Boq frowned at the realization that he was being ignored by Galinda. He opened his mouth to say something, but Avaric beat him to it. "Perfect! Led the way, Miss Galinda!" He put one arm around Boq and smirked. "Who knows? If ShenShen is in a mood, I may even score tonight!"
"Avaric, honestly!" said Fiyero, aghast. "They are ladies present!" He indicated Elphaba with a wave of his hand.
Avaric looked confused.
Elphaba glared at him, said nothing, and then turned around and walked away.
"Don't worry Miss Galinda!" Galinda heard Boq shout as she was jogging to catch up to Elphaba. "We are right behind you!"
"Galinda" Elphaba said as they were about to reach the bar. She could hear Avaric and Boq laughing at something Fiyero had said a few meters away.
"Yes?" Galinda asked.
"I loathe you."
"No you don't," Galinda giggled. "Now, come on, you green thing. The world is changed and ready for you. You just need to enter it."
Finally, they reached the bar. Elphaba put her head against the door and sighed.
"I do. I hate you." She banged her head against the door. "I hate you, I hate you."
Galinda simply smiled and took Elphaba's hand to lead her inside.
A/N The Second: Next chapter is going to take a little longer than usual, since right now I have no power, no phone and no water in my house thanks to an apocalyptic storm. Isn't that nice?