My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!

As a chill began to settle over autumn, it occurred to Galinda that her old outfits simply wouldn't do and there was nothing else she could do but buy an entirely new wardrobe.

"Elphaba, are you ready yet?" Galinda stood impatiently by the door. "If you don't hurry up, I'll take Fiyero with me instead of you. You know how the girls don't like to wait..."

"I'm coming." Elphaba pulled her cloak over her shoulders as she approached the blonde. "Perhaps if you hadn't taken so long deciding on what bag you wanted…"

Galinda walked out the door. "Don't even try to blame this on me."

"Of course. Because nothing is ever your fault, is it?" Elphaba said as she followed her.

"Not if you want to keep your job." She turned the corner and waved to her friends, a bright smile on her face. "Hi! Sorry I'm late."

Elphaba fell silent as Galinda's friends came into view. It was usually at this time that she stayed near the back of the group, silent and unseen. She leaned close to the blonde's ear. "But I thought you were always…fashionably late…"

Galinda shot her a quick glare. "Shush, you vegetable!" she turned away from her and headed for the building door with her friends.

Elphaba followed her, and soon after getting the carriage and pilling in, the girls arrived in town. Elphaba opened the door, offering her hand as a support for Galinda, though she didn't expect her to take it. Still…in those ridiculous heels...

The blonde took the hand offered to her, not really paying attention. It wasn't until she was safely on the ground that she realized it was Elphaba's hand, and she quickly pulled her own hand away. She turned towards the store in front of them and waited for her friends to get out of the carriage too.

Elphaba was somewhat surprised, but by the way Galinda pulled away, she assumed her hand had been grabbed by accident. She approached the blonde, leaning in close again. "Don't worry...it's not contagious…at least not to my knowledge. Her warm breath tickled Galinda's ear as she spoke and grinned slightly

Galinda shuddered at the feeling of the green woman being so close. "I know that!" The other three girls had gotten out of the carriage, so Galinda headed into the store, the girls following closely behind.

Elphaba followed the girls into the store with a suppressed sigh. "What was wrong with your old winter wardrobe?" she asked the blonde. "Must you buy an entire new one?"

Galinda looked at her as though it were obvious. "I must stay up to date on the latest fashions."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins, Miss Galinda. Or greed. Whatever you prefer to call it."

"Well, being out of style will get me nowhere in life." She gestured at Elphaba with a laugh. "I mean, look at you."

"At least I don't live in self-induced misery. And for your information, when you are on that throne, no one will give a damn what you're wearing when their children are starving and their livestock and crops are dying from plague."

"Well, I'm not on the throne yet, am I? And I am not miserable."

"Your ears are turning red because you're lying. And it doesn't matter that you're not there yet. You need to start these good habits now, or they will never develop. Though I may be a fool for having such confidence in you."

"Yet again, you have overstepped yourself, Miss Thropp. It is not in your place to be telling me what to do and what not to." Galinda turned away from her, moving to look around at the outfits in the store.

"And yet again, if I don't tell you this, no one ever will. You're living in a protected bubble, Miss Galinda. Once that bubble pops, and believe me, it will, everything you know will fall apart…and you will eventually destroy yourself. It's a fact that's been proven throughout history; if you paid attention in Dr. Dillamond's class, you'd see that and try to prevent it." Elphaba's gaze wandered and fell on an off-white jacket with cream faux fur lining the hood. She didn't say anything, but continued to stare. She wished she could wear pretty things. "What exactly do you hope to find?"

Galinda continued to look around, ignoring Elphaba. She chose a few dresses and sweaters, trying them on and then paying for them. Her and the other girls left the store and moved on to the next one. As soon as she walked in, she wandered over to the jewelry counter, looking into the glasses cases.

Elphaba followed, peering into the cases as well. "Remember what I said, Miss Galinda…even diamonds, as beautiful as they are, have their breaking points. None of these trinkets will fill the void you so desperately ignore."

The blonde continued to ignore her, moving farther away from her down the case. Her eyes suddenly fell on one of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry she had ever seen, and she gasped. She called out to her friends. "Girls, come here, come here!" The other three girls rushed over and looked at the emerald studded hair comb that Galinda was pointing at. "What do you think, girls? Should I get it? Wouldn't it go perfect with that dress I got for my birthday ball?"

Elphaba sauntered over, her height allowing her to easily peer over the blonde's shoulder

Milla shook her head, skeptical. "I'm not sure, Galinda…"

Pfannee stood back with a frown. "I don't think you should get it."

Galinda looked at them, a little upset, but not showing it. "Why do you think? It's quite pretty, isn't it?"

Shenshen frowned, shrugging her shoulders. "Well, yes. It is pretty, I suppose. But, you wouldn't want something as simple as that, would you? I'm sure you'll find something much more elaborate and, well…more you."

"Well, I suppose you're right…" The girls went back to looking around the store. Galinda slowly followed, her fingers lingering a little over the hair cob.

Elphaba looked from the comb to the blonde and her eyes filled with brief sadness and pity. "Why do you care so much what they think?" she asked in a soft voice, much different than her usual voice. "Why not buy it if you like it so much?"

"They're right. It is far too simple for someone of my stature."

Elphaba sighed, watching the blonde go. She looked back at the comb again, then back up at the girls leaving the shop. A few minutes later, the green woman emerged from the shop, making up the distance between her and the four girls. "I think you should do what you want, not what others tell you."

"Who says I'm only listening to them? I just so happen to agree with them."

"Oh look. Your ears are quite red." Elphaba reached forward and grabbed one of Galinda's ears gently.

Galinda slapped her hand away. "Don't touch me! This is none of your business. So, just stay out of it."

"If that is what you wish..." Elphaba flicked her ear again, despite her better judgment

The blonde shot her another glare. "Touch me again, and you'll be having another 'accident' with my bath."

"I'm sorry. You mean this?" Elphaba flicked her ear a third time, observing the blonde's glare. "What are you going to do? Risk losing your composure in front of your friends? Show them how you beat your servant to keep her in line?"

Galinda's fist clenched at her side. She whipped around and stormed off to catch up to her friends, grumbling under her breath. "The nerveof her! I can't believe her..."

"I am quite unbelievable." Elphaba said as she followed the blonde. She grinned slightly as she flicked the blonde's ear yet again. "You're restraining yourself quite well, Miss Galinda. I'm impressed." She flicked the blonde's ear once more.

The blonde slapped away her hand again as she turned around on her, tears welling up in her eyes. "Just stop it, would you!"

Elphaba was taken aback by the tears. She hadn't meant to make Galinda cry. "I...I'm sorry. I meant no harm, Miss Galinda."

"Well, clearly you don't know when enough is enough!"

"I...I didn't...I apologize. It won't happen again."

"Good! It better not!" She turned around again to enter the shop that her friends had already gone into.

Elphaba followed her and the sound of gleeful screaming immediately reached her ears as a group of girls swarmed the blonde. Elphaba quickly moved in front of the blonde, ready to shield her.

Galinda looked around, slightly startled. She quickly hid it though, with a smile, politely shaking hands and nodding at those whom she could still reach. "Why, hello there. It is so nice to see all of you."

Elphaba put her arms around Galinda forced her way through the crowd, shielding her from the fans and newspaper reporters, who were all asking questions at once. What Elphaba couldn't understand was how they all knew Galinda was going to be here. One of her friends must have said something... "Miss Galinda has nothing to say!"

"Elphaba! What are you- Don't be rude!" She turned, waving back at the reporters. "Please, excuse her! She takes her job a tad bit too seriously."

Elphaba growled and continued to drag Galinda with her. "Don't say anything! Let me handle this and for once, shut your mouth and trust me!"

Galinda kept a smile pasted onto her face, but growled just loud enough for Elphaba to hear her. "Absolutely not. It's not your image you're ruining, Miss Thropp. It's mine." She yanked herself out of her grasp.

Despite her best efforts, Elphaba snapped. She let out another, louder growl before she grabbed the blonde around the thighs and hoisted her over her shoulder. "We're leaving. NOW." She started back for the carriage holding Galinda tightly.

The blonde gave a shriek of surprise. "What are you doing? Put me down! Put me down!" She hid her face from the reporters.

"I've told you time and time again: my job is to protect your life not your image. I do what I have to in order to protect you." She reached the carriage and set Galinda in the seat none too gently before she climbed in after her, closing the door as the carriage took off. She crossed her arms, her dark gaze on Galinda. "I told you to trust me. You didn't. I did what was necessary. Your 'friends' can find their own way home."

The blonde burst into tears, collapsing across the seat and burying her face in her arms. Her shoulders shook with sobs.

Elphaba felt a pang of guilt. "Miss Galinda...please...don't. I only did what I had to...please don't cry..." Elphaba hesitantly placed a hand on her shoulder.

Galinda slapped away her hand, glaring up at her through tear-filled eyes. "Don't touch me! I have never been so embarrassed in my entire life! You…mean green thing, you!"

Elphaba winced. "I...I had to. It's my job. I didn't realize... please don't cry..." she tried to place her hand on Galinda's shoulder again. "I was only...trying to help."

"Don't. You. Touch. Me." she growled. She sat up, angrily wiping away her tears. "Next time, 'help' less."

"You don't understand! Those people can destroy lives! They come in, ask invasive questions, then twist your words! They tear families apart, turn loved ones against each other, just like they did to my mother and-" Elphaba stopped, catching herself. She looked down. "I'm sorry...for embarrassing you...but I did what needed to be done."

"My life isn't like the lives of others, Miss Thropp, in case you hadn't noticed. I will always be in the eyes of the newspapers and reporters. Pulling stunts like you just did, will only make it worse, don't you see that?"

"SHUT UP!"

"How dare you-"

Elphaba stood, her fists clenched and her body shaking. "NO! HOW DARE YOU! FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS I'VE PUT UP WITH YOUR SHIT, AND I'VE HAD ENOUGH!" Galinda looked at her, shocked. "I am trying to make the best of this life!" Tears started down her face, burning it. "Every day I live in fear because I know that if I screw up, your father will have me killed! Then who will be there for Nessa? She'll never know!" Elphaba collapsed into her seat. "She'll never know...that we...she and I..." She looked back up, anger on her features. "So when I say I did what was necessary, I would appreciate it if you would just say 'thank you' instead of always fighting me!"

"Doing things like what you just did will get you in much more trouble! If I say something wrong, then it's on me. Not you! You tell me all the time to think for myself, and yet you never give me the chance!" Galinda turned her angry gaze out the window.

"Because you don't know how to make the right decisions! Just back then was an example! You don't talk to the media, Galinda! You don't!"

"I wasn't going to!"

"You already did! You're like a little kid. You don't know right from wrong, which is why I have to show you!"

"It isn't your place to show me!"

"SHUT UP!"

"I was merely politely dismissing them!"

"Just...stop talking!"

"Rudely leaving would only cause an even bigger uproar!"

Elphaba lunged forward, her fist hitting the wall inches from Galinda's head. "Shut. The. Fuck. Up."

"No." Galinda glared up at her defiantly. "Hit me. I dare you. Let's see what Father has to say about that, why don't we?"

Elphaba twitched angrily before she withdrew her fist, sinking back in her seat

She looked back out the window. "That's what I thought..."

Elphaba leaned forward and slapped Galinda smartly across the face. "Go ahead. Run to daddy. See if I care."

Galinda banged on the side of the carriage and yelled at the driver to stop. As soon as that carriage halted, she flung the door open and started storming down the road towards the University.

Elphaba leapt out after her. "Don't you walk away from me! Go ahead. Tell your father I hit you!"

"Stay away from me!"

Elphaba ran up to her and grabbed her, forcing her to look into her eyes. "You've caused me so much pain...so honestly, I don't care if it ends now!" she pulled a golden knife from her belt and shoved it in Galinda's hand. "If you hate me so much, then just kill me! Just take care of Nessa, would ya?"

Galinda threw the knife to the ground and stormed away, tears once again welling up in her eyes. "How dare you!"

Elphaba picked up the knife and followed her. "What do you want from me? Huh?"

"NOTHING! I want nothing from you..."

Elphaba wanted to grab her and shake her...but she didn't. "I can't...I can't figure out what you want me to do. You don't want me as a friend...or as a servant. So what do you want?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" Galinda stumbled to the ground. She looked down at her broken heel with an exasperated sigh. She angrily took off her shoes and got up, walking down the road again. "Just...leave me alone."

"I can't. Not while you're like this. I can't leave you alone, don't you understand? For once, try to see this from my situation! You're so conceited!"

The blonde ignored her and kept walking, wincing slightly when she stepped on a particularly sharp rock, but continuing on. "Well, leave me alone, anyway!"

Elphaba moved in and picked the blonde up, more gently than she had before. "When I'm dead, I'll leave you alone. Deal?"

"Put me down right this instant!" She smacked Elphaba over the head with her purse and struggled to get free.

Elphaba growled lightly, but her grip only tightened. "We're coming up on a particularly nasty section of road. If I set you down, your feet will be torn to shreds. When we arrive at Shiz, I will set you down. If you hadn't leapt from the carriage, we wouldn't be in this situation."

"If you hadn't acted the way you did, I never would have left the carriage in the first place! Now, put me down!" She twisted out of Elphaba's arms. She landed on her bottom on the hard ground, but quickly got up and continued down the road, glaring back at her. "Don't you dare touch me again."

Elphaba ignored her and grabbed her in a tight bear hug, lifting her over her shoulder again. "You continue to fight me when I am obviously stronger. I am a trained killer, you know. Stop. Resisting."

"No. I. Will. Not!" Galinda kept struggling as best she could.

"I am sorry." Elphaba delivered a swift blow to the back of Galinda's neck, right where she knew it would put the blonde out.

"What are you-" The blonde stopped suddenly, her body going limp across Elphaba's shoulders.

Elphaba felt Galinda become motionless and a single tear ran down her face. "I'm sorry..." She carried the blonde back to Shiz, lying her gently on her bed when she arrived at their room. She prepared a hot bath for the blonde, knowing she'd be sore when she awoke, which would be any moment now.

Galinda began to stir. Her eyes cracked open and she put her hand to her head as she slowly sat up. "What happe-" She cut off when everything came back to her. She glared up at Elphaba. "YOU. How dare you!" She shakily got out of the bed. "You're supposed to be my bodyguard! Why is it that I always find myself being injured by you!"

Elphaba straightened up and turned to face her. "I warned you. Now get in your bath before it runs cold." She looked down, unable to look at the blonde.

"And now you're telling me what to do? Look at me when I'm speaking to you!"

"I...I can't. I'm sorry."

Galinda stormed over and grabbed her firmly by the chin, forcing her to look up at her. "Am I understood?"

Elphaba closed her eyes tightly. "I can't! I didn't want to! I'm sorry...I had to do it...to protect you."

"That is total bullshit! I wasn't in any danger!"

Elphaba pushed her away. "Not that you could see..."

Galinda grabbed her again. "The only danger I was in was from you."

In one swift move, Elphaba grabbed the blonde by the front of her dress, turned, and threw her into the tub with a splash. "There. Now I'll leave you alone."

Galinda shrieked, standing and looking down at her soaked dress. "You bitch!"

"Save your breath. I've heard it all before."

"I can't believe you!"

"Then close your eyes." She whipped out her knife and slit Galinda's dress all the way up the front. "There. Problem solved. Anything else I can do for you?"

Galinda grasped at her torn dress, holding it up to cover herself. "How dare you!"

"Apparently I dare, since that is the third time you've said that." Elphaba put her knife away. "Is there anything else you'd like from me at this time?"

The blonde turned away from her, her fists clenched at her sides. "Get. Out."

"Gladly." Elphaba turned and left, collapsing onto her bed

Galinda stripped off her shredded dress angrily, throwing it to the bathroom floor. She sat down in the tub with huff, soon, involuntarily relaxing in the warm water.

Elphaba gripped her book tightly, breathing deeply as she tried to calm down. She opened to where she had left off and pulled her hair from its tight braid as she began to read, twirling the same piece of hair around her index finger.

Galinda stayed in the bath until the water turned cold. She reluctantly got out of the tub, drying herself off with a towel and wrapping it around herself. She sat on the edge of the tub and brought her legs up so she could look at the bottom of her feet. The blonde sighed and grabbed some thin gauze and a roll of medical tape from one of the drawers. She proceeded to lightly bandage her feet. Although she didn't want to admit it, she was kind of thankful that the green woman hadn't let her walk any farther. If her feet were as bad as they were just from little way, then it would have been much worse if she had walked all the way back to Shiz.

Elphaba stood up and approached the blonde, wringing her hands. "Galinda…I'm sorry...about what happened today. I really am. If you feel you must tell your father...then I agree and will deny nothing. I was out of line...and I apologize."

Galinda shook her head, not looking up at her. "No. I won't tell him. I'm not as cruel and heartless as you think I am. I don't want anybody to die..."

Elphaba looked down, a tear falling onto the tiled floor. "Thank you..." She returned to her cot.

She glanced up. "Don't cry. It's depressing..."

"I'm not crying!" She shouted from the other room.

"And you're so full of shit."

"That's why my eyes are brown."

Galinda gave a little giggle despite herself. She hid it with a small cough as she left the bathroom and headed into her closet. Elphaba had buried herself in her book again, making sure to hide her face from Galinda. The blonde reemerged soon after, wearing a new dress. She sat at her vanity and started to brush through her hair.

"I also apologize for ruining your dress, but it never looked good on you anyway." Elphaba added, keeping her book in front of her face.

The blonde gripped her hairbrush tightly, glaring at the green woman in her mirror. "You're really not helping yourself, here. I may change my mind about telling Father if you keep acting like this."

"Yes ma'am..." She fell silent, jack-knifing herself farther into the corner.

"That's better." Galinda continued brushing her hair.

It was degrading, yes, but Elphaba knew it was in her best interest to just do what Galinda wanted at the moment. The blonde finished brushing her hair, and, wincing a little, she slid on a new pair of shoes. She picked up her purse and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"You don't expect me to stay in this room cooped up with you all day, do you? Because you'll have to be sorely disappointed. I made plans with Fiyero for tonight, but, seeing as I'm not doing anything right now, I'm just going to head over early." She walked through the door.

As much as it pained her all right. "I hope you enjoy yourself."

"Have fun with your books." Galinda called behind her as she left the suite. She walked down the hallway, a smile on her face.

Elphaba dropped her book, grabbing her head. A part of her said to go after Galinda while the other told her to stay. Elphaba paced the room before she threw her hood over her head and chose to instead take a stroll around the campus in an attempt to distract herself.

Galinda arrived outside her boyfriend's room. She knocked on his door. "Fiyero, dearest, are you in?" Fiyero answered the door with his shirt unbuttoned. He looked at her with a slightly confused look. "Galinda? I thought our date wasn't for another 3 hours..."

Elphaba sat in a tree outside Briscoe Hall, waiting for the two to emerge. She wasn't following the blonde per say...just sitting in a tree...outside the building she happened to be in...rather close to Master Fiyero's window...

The blonde smiled at him. "I know. I'm sorry. I've just had a rough day, and I really didn't want to stay in my room alone with her. May I come in?"

Fiyero gave her a smile in return, standing back so she could come in. "So...you actually managed to get away without her?"

Galinda moved to sit on his bed with a nod. "Yup. We had a little...um, I'll just say trouble, this morning. So I managed to convince her to let me leave, or something might happen."

He grinned at her. "Oh, you're good."

She tossed her hair with a smile. "Oh, I don't know what you're talking about...Might I possibly get you to do one little thing for me, though?"

Fiyero leaned down to give her a gentle kiss. "Anything."

Galinda blushed. "Could I get you to give me a massage? I feel so uptight after everything that happened this morning..."

Fiyero nodded and moved to kneel on the bed behind her. He moved up to slide the straps of her dress off of her shoulders, his hands beginning to massage her shoulders. "Why don't you tell me about what happened?"

Elphaba bristled at the sight of Fiyero touching Galinda in such a way. She gripped the tree trunk harder, unaware she was actually splintering the wood.

Galinda's eyes drifted closed and she let out a soft moan. "That feels...amazing..."

Fiyero leaned down and kissed her neck. "Oh, really? I'm glad..."

The blonde leaned back into him.

Elphaba couldn't take this anymore. She grabbed a knife from her belt and threw it through the tiny open slit in the window, where it stuck into the opposite wall in the room.

Galinda gave a shriek and jumped a little, holding tight to Fiyero. "What was that?"

Fiyero looked over at the knife sticking out of his wall. He walked over to it, pulling it out and looking at it. "Apparently you didn't escape your bodyguard as well as you thought you did..." He sighed. "Why is it that we can never seem to be truly alone?"

Elphaba paused, watching to see if she'd get the hint

Galinda frowned. "I'm sorry, Fiyero. This is all my fault..."

Fiyero tossed the knife onto his desk and moved to shut the window, closing the curtains as well. He turned back to Galinda. "It's alright."

The blonde looked up at him, a smile growing on her face. She held her hand out to him. "Perhaps we could...try again?"

Fiyero strode forward and leaned down to her, kissing her as he laid her back onto the bed. "That sounds like a wonderful idea..." He kissed her again, his hand massaging her thigh and slowly moving upward.

It was at that moment that there was a loud pounding on the door. "OPEN. NOW."

Fiyero sighed and started to get up, but Galinda pulled him back down for another kiss. "Ignore her. I always do..."

The door was suddenly kicked off its hinges. "I can hear you. I try to be nice and leave you alone, but apparently, all you can do it get in trouble."

Galinda glared over at her. "I am not in any trouble. I'm allowed to have private time with my boyfriend, ya know!"

"You're 17. It's illegal. But if you must, please, go right on ahead. I'll just make myself comfortable."

"Fine. I will." She pulled Fiyero down for another kiss, taking his hand and returning it to her thigh. Fiyero shrugged and continued on as Galinda wanted.

Elphaba pulled out another knife and flipped it once, looking at Fiyero. "I have very good aim, Master Fiyero...ask yourself just how badly you want this...So unless you want to be a castrated..."

Fiyero froze and slowly pulled away from Galinda, moving his hands down to protect his private parts. "Um, how about we go on our date early, Galinda?"

Galinda sighed, glaring at Elphaba yet again.

Elphaba grinned, flipping her knife again. "Good choice." She collected her other knife from Fiyero's desk and put both away.

Galinda sat up, giving Fiyero a quick kiss and whispering, "Sorry, again..."

Fiyero stood and buttoned up his shirt, throwing on a jacket over it. He held his hand out to the blonde and helped her up, giving her a light kiss on the forehead. "It's ok. It'll happen...eventually..."

Elphaba laughed. "Not while I'm still green. Move it, lover boy." She grabbed his arm, pushing him from the room. She shot Galinda a grin over her shoulder. "I'm like a bad penny; I always turn up."

"Apparently so." Galinda glared at her as she left the room as well, taking Fiyero's offered arm. Elphaba just grinned as she followed the two.

Fiyero led the blonde into the restaurant and found them a table for two outside on the deck. He held her chair out for her. Galinda smiled and sat daintily into the chair. She picked up the menu and looked over at her boyfriend. "So, what will you be getting, dearest?"

He gave her a quick kiss before taking his own seat and picking up the menu as well. "I'm not sure…perhaps the brisket. What do you think?"

Galinda took one last look at the menu, setting it down in front of her. "I think I'll get a fruit salad." She smiled at him.

Fiyero grinned back at her. "There's grapes in it, isn't there?"

The blonde looked away with a blush. "Maybe…You know how much I like grapes."

"Yes. Yes, I do." He winked at her, setting down his own menu. "I changed my mind. I think I'm going to get the pot roast." He looked at her. "So, where would you like to go after dinner?"

Galinda looked back at him. "I'm not sure."

"How about we head into town and look around?"

An idea suddenly hit the blonde. "Oh. I know where I'd like to go. I saw something earlier while I was out shopping with the girls. I was thinking about getting it, but I'd like your opinion."

Fiyero smiled. "You know that I think you look fabulous in anything."

She blushed again. "I know. But, still I'd like to know what you think of it."

He nodded. "Alright, then."

"Oh come now. Do say something interesting. I'm starting to wish I'd stayed in that tree," Elphaba said from where she was leaning against the wall, feeling rather nauseous from all this show of affection.

Galinda looked at her. "Shush yourself, Miss Thropp. We are not here to entertain you." The two ordered their food and finished their meals without further incident. They left the restaurant and climbed into a carriage heading into town. The blonde quickly pulled Fiyero into the store as soon as the carriage stopped, pulling him over to the jewelry cases. But when she looked around for the hair comb, it wasn't there. "Oh no. It appears somebody already bought it…"

Sensing her disappointment, Fiyero put an arm around her. "Did you really like it that much? Couldn't you just have another made for you?"

She shook her head. "No, it's alright. It was nothing, really. Just a simple little hair comb." She threaded her arm through his. "Now, let's go. We have to figure out something else to do tonight." She lead him out of the store again.

Elphaba's gaze fell on Galinda as emerged. "So, what have we learned today, Miss Galinda? That not everything waits for you, despite your high standing? What a pity. It was awful rude of that hair comb to allow itself to be bought without notifying you, wasn't it? If only you knew how to be your own person instead of always listening to the mindless opinions of others…maybe then you'd have everything you want."

Galinda turned to her. "Just stop talking, would you? That little bobble meant nothing at all to me. It was simply pretty. Besides, it's just like my dear Fiyero said: I can just have one made for me whenever I'd like." She stuck her tongue out at the green woman.

"But then where's the fun in that? Shopping and buying things as they are must bring you some sort of pleasure, or else you'd just have everything made for you all the time. You'd never leave your home, and become quite deficient in vitamin D, I must add, though it seems you may be already starting to suffer from that…"

"I have absolutely no idea what you are blabbing on about now."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Of course you don't, because that information would require you to actually open a book. Let me make it simple for you: no sun equals no vitamin D. No vitamin D means Miss Galinda is very pale and sickly. No wonder you're so short."

"I do not look sick! This is my natural skin color. Besides, anybody looks pale when in comparison to you." She turned away again and continued walking with Fiyero.

"Why thank you Miss Galinda. I admit we can't all be blessed with such lovely skin as mine… but you could try." She grinned as she followed the two. "Yes, we could certainly try…"