My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!
Elphaba cringed at his outburst and tried to shrink behind the blanket.
"What in Oz's name happened?" the Wizard continued. He rushed to Galinda. "Are you all right? Were you hurt? Your face is bruised!"
Still wide-eyed, Galinda somehow managed to use her voice. "I-I-I'm fine, Father." She turned her gaze to the ground so she wasn't looking into his angry gaze.
"I don't understand how this could happen!" he roared. "I demand to speak to someone in charge!"
At that moment, Madame Morrible rushed through the open door. "Oh, your Wizardship!" She bowed deeply to him. "I came just as soon as I heard the news." As soon as her father was distracted, Galinda shrunk into a corner over by Elphaba's bed.
The Wizard immediately turned on the headmistress. "Is this your idea of a safe environment? What the hell happened to security? How could you allow this to happen? I will shut down your school if I don't get an answer NOW!"
"W-well your Wizardship, y-you see, it wasn't technically a school function...i-it was a student organized event, y-you see." Even the normally proud woman, trembled at the Wizard's anger.
"And that gives you an excuse? Why wasn't anyone watching these students? What is wrong with you?"
"F-from what I've heard, the incident actually occurred after y-your daughter and Miss Thropp left the party..."
The minute he heard "Thropp," he turned on the green woman. "ELPHABA!" The green woman turned very pale, trembling. "What is the meaning of this? Speak, you miserable creature!"
Elphaba struggled to find the words. "I-I-I...We got in a fight..."
"A fight?"
"Verbally, sir! I...I left and-"
"You left? You LEFT? What possessed you to leave?" Elphaba sat petrified with fear.
Galinda gently laid a hand on her father's arm, trying to smile a little. "Popsicle, dear, you need to calm yourself down. It wasn't her fault."
Morrible finally spoke up, in a small voice. "Sir, if I may? What students do on their own time is their choice. I don't see a reason why you should punish the school for what these ladies got themselves into."
"Don't you 'popsicle' me! Of course it's her fault!" He turned to Elphaba again. "You should have been watching her!" He then looked back to Morrible. "And that is still no excuse! Do you realize what could have happened? I should have you arrested!"
With a sigh, the blonde moved to sit in her chair quietly, remaining silent. Morrible, however, was starting to regain some of her backbone. "Sir, it was not a school function! Shiz is not inclined to provide security throughout the entire town just for a party that has nothing to do with it."
"Sir, she's right!" Elphaba called before she could stop herself. When he turned to her, she soon wished she hadn't.
He closed the gap between them in one stride, grabbing her by the front of her gown and yanking her up. "You are in no position to speak! I will see you hanged, you miserable thing!" He shook her violently, and Elphaba couldn't even react out of fear.
Galinda jumped out of her chair and rushed to the bed. "Stop!" She pulled at her father's arm until she managed to get him far enough away from Elphaba to wedge herself between them. She glared up at him. "Stop this right now! It was not her fault! It was mine!"
He released her, and Elphaba fell back to the bed harshly. "Wh-what? Galinda, dear, you are confused from your injury. I don't blame you."
"What injury? I have a bum knee and a bruise on my face! Neither affects how my mind thinks! It was my fault. I'm the one who got angry and fired her and stormed away. It was me! And I would be the one in that bed right now if it weren't for her, so don't you dare say another word against her, Father." She glared up at him through her now tear-filled eyes.
The Wizard was taken aback. "Please don't cry...If you're certain you still want her, though she appears USELESS!" Elphaba shrunk back, her dark eyes filled with terror.
The blonde gave a small, but determined, nod of her head. "Yes, it is what I want. She has dealt with me for years and even went through all of this for me. I will not just drop her like she is nothing."
The Wizard took a step back. "Fine, but I will have a word with you in private," he said to Morrible before he left.
As Morrible left the room following the Wizard, Galinda somehow managed to get to her chair before her legs gave out on her. She sat there wide-eyed and pale, staring at the wall and mumbling to herself. "I can't...just did that..."
Elphaba looked at her, still trembling. "Galinda...you...you...actually stood up to him...for me."
"Yeah...I suppose I did..." after a few moments, she got up and poured herself a cup of water. The cup in her hand trembled, and her other hand gripped the edge of the table with white knuckles as she took a sip, trying to calm herself. "Scared the shit out of me too…"
"But you did it..." Elphaba took her hand gently and stared into her eyes. "Thank you."
"Um...you're welcome..." She looked away to hide her slight blush.
"Galinda...I mean it. What you did...it's something you never would have before." She offered her a smile. "You are finally changing. And I...I apologize for...my behavior...earlier."
The blonde gave her a small smile in return, giving her hand a squeeze before pulling away to sit in her chair again. "It's alright. You had every right to not believe me. I don't blame you at all."
Elphaba nodded. "M-miss Galinda? Might I...ask you something?" She looked down, her face turning dark green.
"Uh, sure, I guess."
"After this is all over...might we both...make an effort to...treat each other better? I will no longer insult you, and maybe you could..."
"Maybe I could not beat you up and be a cruel bitch to you? Yeah. You can say it. It's alright." She sighed. "I admit that I've been horrible to you, but I've already said that I'm going to change. I swear to you, I will."
Elphaba nodded. "I believe you. And I will do my best to change as well." She held her hand out to the blonde.
She looked at the green woman's hand curiously, but took it in her own. "Soooo...?"
Elphaba smiled again. "So we both agree. Confused?"
"Nope. Just making sure that's what was decided." She smiled back.
"I was under the impression it was." She pulled her hand away. "So...where do we go from here?"
"I have no idea." She shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose we could just go with the flow, but...somebody in this room," she looked pointedly at Elphaba with a grin, "seems more like the kind of person who uses exact and precise schedules for everything. So I guess that's out of the question."
Elphaba winced slightly, but there was a small smile on her face. "I apologize...I-I suppose I can try to 'go with the flow' this one time..."
"It's ok. I'm just joking with you." She gave a little giggle.
"Jo-king?" Elphaba acted as though she had never heard the word. "What is this 'joking' you speak of?"
The blonde broke out into laughter at the seriousness on Elphaba's face.
"Did...did I say something to amuse you?"
"Your face...you just...looked so serious..." she got out between laughs.
"My...face?" Elphaba smiled as well, despite herself. "I suppose it would make one laugh...glad to see you are amused." She sighed, the smile fading. "I fear for what bodes when your father returns though..."
"Yes," Galinda sighed as well. "But then again, when don't we?"
"He may be upset again...he was serious when he said he'd have me killed."
"Well, he won't. Not unless he wants to lose his daughter too."
Elphaba's head snapped up. "M-Miss Galinda! You don't really mean that?"
"Oh, but don't I? If he can't see and respect how serious I was when I stood up to him, then I will revoke my right to the throne. I won't rule knowing that my every decision isn't taken seriously by own father, for Lurline's sake. And as much as we may love Nessa, you and I both know that she isn't ready for that much pressure. I mean, I'm not even ready yet. And she's led an even more sheltered life than me."
Elphaba could only stare, open-mouthed. "I...you...I can't..." She closed her mouth and looked down. "Even though it was at my expense...I'm glad you're starting to see the light."
"I know. It's hard to believe, isn't it?" She smiled. "This 'blissful, blonde brain' is finally starting to think for itself."
Elphaba smiled. "It's an amazing thing...the human mind. Most people don't realize...and waste it..." She looked up at the blonde. "You are thinking." Her smile turned to a grin.
She stuck her tongue out at the green woman, but smiled nonetheless. "Well, don't get used to it. My poor brain is hurting just from those few minutes of working..."
"Then we must train it! I will not see such a good brain go to waste!" Elphaba was excited now, and she sat up, still grinning.
"But that sounds so boring..." she whined.
"Knowledge is one of the most important things you'll ever have. Besides, we needn't start at my level. We can start with something you enjoy."
"But I just don't enjoy learning in general. It's all so...so bleh."
"Perhaps we could start with something light...say...a look at the Ozma Regime."
"Are you kidding? Please tell me you're kidding. That's the most boring of all!"
Elphaba looked taken aback. "A-all right..." She looked down. "I apologize..."
"Um, it's ok." She looked up, surprised at the sudden turn in the conversation. "I guess I was being a little too...resistant, huh?"
"No...It's all right. Why would you care to learn of the regime your father overthrew?" Elphaba tried to smile.
"It's not like it's of any importance to you..." Elphaba shook her head. "Forgive me for even bringing this subject up. "I...um..." For once, Elphaba was speechless. "So...what else can that brain of yours do?" Elphaba asked, poking Galinda in the ribs slightly, trying to lighten the mood.
"EEEEEP!" Galinda gave a loud squeak and jerked away from the green woman's hand, slapping her own hand over her mouth.
Elphaba jumped. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! Please don't call your father back!"
The blonde took a deep breath, calming herself. "Don't worry. You didn't hurt me, Miss Elphaba."
"B-but you jumped...and made a strange noise..." Elphaba was still a little shaken up from the reaction.
"It just...well, it tickled." She gave a little giggle. "That's all. I couldn't help my reaction."
"Tickled?" Elphaba paused in thought. "I believe I have heard of that...but could you explain it to me?"
Galinda sat in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I don't know. It's kinda hard to explain...it's a touch that feels funny, I guess. Usually when you're tickled it makes you laugh...or sometimes, if you're like me, and someone surprises you with it, you kind of spaz or jerk away...kind of like I just did a moment ago...I don't really know how to describe the feeling. It just...tickles." She gave a shrug of her shoulders. "Oh! Have you ever bumped a certain little spot on your elbow and then you get this little kind of funny but kind of painful feeling?"
Elphaba blinked. "No."
"You've never ever hit your funny bone?"
"Perhaps I have. Is that what tickling feels like?"
"Well, I suppose it's like that, except without the painful part. It's just that funny feeling. But sometimes it's a little different. I guess it all really depends on how hard or where you're being tickled."
Elphaba shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't understand. Is there a purpose of tickling?"
"Nope." She smiled. "It's done just for the fun of it. Maybe sometimes to make somebody laugh or smile when they need cheering up."
Elphaba furrowed her brow. "Fun? I don't understand...is feeling funny really that fun? I feel so confused."
"Wait. You've never been tickled before, have you?"
"Miss Galinda, when would I have had time for such frivolities? And who would risk touching me?"
The blonde's shoulders slumped. "Hmm. I suppose you're right." She brightened up a little. "Well, would you like to try experiencing it for yourself?"
Elphaba's face turned somewhat pale. "Um...I don't really think that's such a good idea..."
"I don't see why not."
"Miss Galinda, please..."
"What? It's all good fun."
"I really don't think you should...I-I may not even be ticklish!"
"Well, the only way to find out is to try."
"Please don't! I don't think it'll work!" The blonde quickly reached over to poke Elphaba in the side, but making sure not to be so hard as to hurt her. Elphaba jerked away, letting out a strange mixture of a yell and laugh. "NO!" She raised her hands in front of her face, trembling slightly. "P-please...no more..."
She withdrew her hand, giggling. "I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. And you made such a funny little noise."
Elphaba lowered her hands slowly, slight fear in her dark eyes. "I...I...please don't touch me."
Galinda stopped the moment she saw the fear in Elphaba's eyes. She quickly looked away. "Alright." After a few moments of silence, she spoke again. "I won't hurt you anymore, you know. You don't need to be afraid any longer."
Elphaba looked down at her hands. "I...I believe you...but I...after fourteen years...abuse is all I know."
"I know." The blonde felt the familiar queasiness in her stomach at the thought. "And, I know it probably doesn't mean anything to you, but...I'm sorry." She stood and stepped towards the door, tears slowly welling in her eyes. "Um, I'm sorry, but I need to use the restroom. I'll...be back soon."
"Miss Galinda, wait...please..." Elphaba looked up at her. "It...it does mean...something to me...a lot actually...thank you."
Galinda gave a small nod of her head, afraid to speak. She even had a slight, if somewhat forced, smile on her face before she shot out of the room, sprinting down the hall to the restroom.
Elphaba watched her go and looked down with a sigh. It was odd...seeing Galinda so open and...was it vulnerable? Elphaba wasn't sure what to make of it all.
After her body's failed attempt at vomiting, the blonde slowly made her way back to Elphaba's room, silently going to sit in her chair.
"Galinda...are you all right?"
"Yeah." She nodded her head, giving her a small smile. "I am totally fine. My stomach is just acting up a little is all. Nothing to worry about."
Elphaba nodded slowly. "It's all right...to feel guilty. It proves you're not heartless...like your fa..." Elphaba trailed off.
"Yeah...I suppose so..." She looked down at her hands in her lap.
"He'll never forgive me you know. For allowing this to happen...what if...what if I..." Elphaba closed her eyes and quickly swiped at a tear before it could run down her face.
Galinda quickly stood and took Elphaba's hand in her own, stroking it comfortingly. "It wasn't your fault, Elphaba. You didn't allow anything to happen. That's why we're both her right now...though in varying conditions..."
Elphaba looked at the blonde's hand, somewhat surprised. "But...you still got hurt...what if he decides that I am no longer a fit bodyguard? What if he never lets me see Nessa again?"
"He won't. I've stood up to him once already, and I'll do it again if I have to. And compared to what could have happened, a bruised cheek is nothing."
Elphaba sighed. "How...how can you still want me around? I asked you before if you had the option to get rid of me, would you, and you said yes. So why do you still want me? You've already apologized..."
"I didn't mean it when I said that. I was just so frustrated that you wouldn't leave me alone. I just said what I thought that you would expect to hear."
Elphaba didn't reply to that. "Ozdamn doctors...keeping me here so long..." She pulled away from Galinda as she leaned forward, trying to scratch under her cast.
The blonde gave a slight chuckle. "Leave your poor leg alone. Would you like me to go find out how much longer they'll be keeping you here?"
"No...they'll give you some crap answer and keep me longer. I'm considering just sneaking out tonight."
She gaped at the green woman. "Absolutely not. I won't allow it."
"That's why I'm sneaking instead of asking for permission."
"Well, since I'll be awake the whole time, it will be a tad difficult to sneak out."
"You have to sleep sometime, Miss Galinda."
"I'll make sure it is when there will be somebody to stop you from escaping."
Elphaba sighed and rolled her eyes. "I don't think you realize how torturous this is for me."
"And I don't think you realize that I'm feeling the same way."
"But you choose to stay. You are free to leave at any time, Miss Galinda. I am stuck here."
"And I am stuck here too. Perhaps not by nurses and doctors, but by my own conscience."
Elphaba bit back her sarcastic reply. "I see...then we'll both sneak out!"
"No we will not. I can't let you leave until the doctors say it is ok. I'm sorry, but I just can't."
"Galinda!" Elphaba sighed in frustration. "HEY!" she shouted, her voice carrying into the hall. "HOW MUCH LONGER ARE YOU PLANNING ON KEEPING ME HERE?"
"Hush down, would you?" She quickly covered Elphaba's mouth with her hand, but she couldn't stop a smile from showing. "I told you I'd go ask if you wanted me too." A muffled reply came from the green woman. "What was that?"
Elphaba took Galinda's wrist gently and moved her hand. "I said, I am perfectly capable of asking. Besides, you sound too nice. If they're afraid of me, they'll let me out earlier. I'M WAITING FOR AN ANSWER!" she called again.
"Hush!" She covered her mouth again. "If they think you're being rude, they will just want to keep you hear longer to torture you. Let me go ask." She stood up.
"No, they'll want to get rid of me if I'm terrible. I'D BETTER BE OUT OF HERE BY TOMORROW!"
Galinda went out into the hallway shaking her head with a smile, shutting the door behind her. After a few minutes, she finally found a nurse who knew when Elphaba was supposed to be released. When she found out, she headed for the front desk with a sudden idea. She asked for a pen and paper, jotted down a few requests, and asked the nurse to send it out. She made a quick stop by the cafeteria before heading back to the room. The blonde set the new tray of food on the table by the bed. "Well you will be happy to hear that you are all set to be released tomorrow night." She took the empty tray from the day before and set it on the chair by the door before returning to the bedside and handing Elphaba a new glass of milk.
Elphaba looked up. "You were gone for a while...what were you up to?" she asked as she took the glass.
"Well, I had to find a nurse and then wait in the line at the cafeteria. Surprisingly enough, finding the nurse took longer than the line." She smiled.
Elphaba looked at her suspiciously. "Hmm...I'll take your word for it...this time." She took a drink from the glass, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Tomorrow night?"
"Yup. Another twenty four hours, and you will be free."
"That's all right I suppose...I would prefer tomorrow morning..."
"I'm sorry. But those are the doctor's orders."
"Fine." Elphaba set the glass down. "But the minute I am released, this stops."
"What stops?"
"This. You doing stuff for me. I will go back to serving you."
"But I don't want you to."
"You...you don't?" That was surprising to hear. "But...no offense, but you don't really know how to do anything for yourself..."
"No, I don't. Well...at least not for a little while longer. Please, let me take care of you until you're better. That's all I ask.
Elphaba winced slightly. "I...I will only allow you to help me...if you allow to me to somewhat go back to my job."
"It depends on what you mean by 'somewhat'."
"At least allow me to do what I can for you...I won't be able to do everything I did before, but I can still help you."
"Do I get to say when enough is enough?"
"In what sense? You mean if I do too much?"
She nodded her head. "Yes."
"All right. That's fair enough, as long as you do not baby me."
"Ok. Deal." She held her hand out to Elphaba.
Elphaba took her hand with a slight smile. "Thank you. Now tell me what else you were doing earlier besides waiting for a nurse and getting food."
The blonde shrugged. "I was just jotting down a few requests while I still remembered them. No big deal."
"Requests?"
"Nothing of too much importance, really."
Elphaba made a face. "Fine. Don't tell me. I didn't want to know anyway."
"If you really want to know...it was just canceling small plans and getting makeup work. Just little things like that." She smiled at her. "Happy?"
"Nope. Thank you for asking." The blonde rolled her eyes. "I heard that."
"No, you didn't. You can't hear eyes rolling."
"I can." Elphaba grinned at her. "Impressed?"
She shook her head. "Nope. Not really."
Elphaba's face fell. "Well...some of us are just hard to please, aren't we?"
"Yes. Yes, I am." She grinned at her. "Thank you for noticing."
Elphaba shook her head, but she was smiling. That smile soon fell, however. "Is...is this what it feels like?"
"Is this what what feels like?" The blonde looked at her, confused.
Elphaba looked the blonde in the eyes. "Having a friend." Her face immediately turned dark green. "Not that we are friends, because we're not! I was just...curious."
Galinda blushed as well. "No...no, it's ok. I honestly don't know if it will ever be possible for us to be friends, with everything we have been through and all...but, if it is ok with you...I'd, um, well, I would like to try."
Elphaba stared. "You...I...no." She shook her head firmly. "We cannot be friends."
The blonde found herself surprisingly sad at the reply. "Alright...just forget I ever brought it up, ok?"
"We cannot be friends because...I will destroy everything you ever worked for." A tear slid down her face and she quickly wiped it away.
"Wha-" She looked at the green woman, confused again. "What do you mean?"
"I am a lower class than you. If people see us acting as anything more than servant and master...you will lose everything. Besides, as you so kindly pointed out before: I will never amount to anything more than your bitch."
Galinda quickly looked away, wincing at the remark and whispering, "I'm sorry..."
Elphaba looked at her. "Don't you think I wish it was different?" she said quietly.
"Sometimes I dream that I wasn't me...that I had a normal life with a normal family and normal friends..." A small smile crept onto her face, and then it disappeared. "But then I wake up...and everything is exactly the way it usually is..."
Elphaba looked at the blonde and hesitantly took her hand. "Look...I am not good at this kind of stuff, and I may say the wrong thing multiple times, but...I think you could have that, or something close to it...if you would just try. I mean...perhaps you need to stop seeing people in classes as...well, the person as an individual instead of just Deprived or Privileged. These students...they idolize you. Perhaps...you could just be yourself instead of always trying to out on a pretense"
Galinda looked down at their hands, giving Elphaba's a slight squeeze. "Thanks." She gave a small chuckle.
Elphaba nodded. "Y-yes...but I still don't know...if we can be..."
"I know." The blonde buried her face in her hands. "Trust me, I know." She sniffled. "Oz, I'm pathetic..."
"No! You're not. I just...I don't want to be a liability. I could never live with myself...if something happened to you...because of me."
"It's not that. You're not even my friend...and yet you're the best friend I've ever had...pathetic, isn't it?"
"Not really...maybe a tiny bit, but you could change that! Galinda, please don't be upset. If it makes you feel better, we can try."
"Thank you. That's all I'm asking..."
"I have to warn you though: I have no idea what the hell to do." Elphaba smiled slightly.
"Me neither. I just want to at least try."
"So...how do we begin this 'trying'?"
She gave a small shrug and a smile. "I have no idea."
Elphaba paused. "This...could potentially be a problem."
Galinda sat back in her chair. "Yes. Yes, it could."
Elphaba thought. "Well...you know that I can play the piano...what do you do that I don't know about?"
The blonde blushed. "I...I...uh, I...well...um..."
"You seem flustered...I'm sorry." Elphaba looked down. "I didn't realize those noises you made in your sleep were because of...that."
"N-no! I didn't mean that." She took a deep breath. "I...I really like to draw. All of those art things really. And not just the stuff I do for class...I do a lot outside of class too."
Elphaba looked back up at her. "Is that what you're always hiding from me?"
Galinda gave a sheepish nod of her head. "Yeah..."
Elphaba smiled. "That's...very nice. Why...why did you hide it?"
"I just...I don't know...I guess maybe...I don't want people to judge me or my work..."
"Yes...again with the judging...perhaps this is easier for me to say, seeing as I'm green, but you need to stop caring so much about what people say."
She sighed. "I suppose you're right...but I just can't help it."
"Well then that's something we need to work on I suppose." She offered the blonde a smile
Galinda gave a small smile back. "I guess so..."
"Though I can't do anything to help you if you aren't willing. I don't want to waste my time."
"I...I am willing."
"Are you? Really? Because every other time I tried to help you, you resisted me."
"I know that, but...I'm trying to change, remember?"
"Yes I remember. I'm just making sure. For once in your life, I want you to actually go through with something."
"I want to. I really do. But you can't just expect me to change overnight. It's going to take some time."
"Of course I realize that. So we start today. First things first: show me some of your drawings."
"Um..." She blushed. "They're all back in the room. Oh well."
"Then go get them. I'll wait." Elphaba crossed her arms.
"But I don't want to leave you alone here."
"I'll be fine. Honestly. I promise I won't try to go anywhere."
"But...but..." she sighed. "Fiiine. I'll go get them." She stood and moved towards the door, turning to Elphaba. "But you better not move from that spot, Miss Elphaba. Or I won't let you see them ever."
Elphaba held her hands up in defense. "I'm rooted here. No moving. I promise. Now run along. I'll be here."
"Good. Now stay that way. I'll be back in a clock tick." She left the hospital and nearly ran over to their room. Galinda opened up her bottom desk drawer to pull out a few of her sketchbooks and a pencil or two. Before she left, she decided to change into a clean dress really quick. She also pulled out her hairbrush and, after some searching, one of Elphaba's dresses before gathering up her stuff again and heading back to Elphaba. She saw the workers she had requested coming into the hall on her way out, and she gave them a few more details on what she wanted and then continued on her way. After walking through the door, she sat in her chair, setting her bag on the table and rifling through it. "While I was out, I thought you might appreciate a change of clothes, so I brought you one of your frocks. I hope that's ok. Oh, and I brought a brush too."
"How thoughtful of you," Elphaba said, looking up. She let out a sigh. "That nurse just gave me some medication, so I'm feeling a little drowsy...I'll try to stay awake as long as I can though. Let me see these drawings now."
With a sigh, Galinda pulled out a few of her sketchbooks, keeping one on the table. She stood by the bed, holding them close to her as she blushed profusely. "Please understand. You...you're the first person, well besides Professor Riviera of course, that I've ever shown my drawings to...ever."
Elphaba blinked. "I...I'm honored. I won't be a harsh critic...I promise."
"Um...alright. Here." She handed them out to her.
Elphaba took the sketchbooks into her lap and opened the first one. Her dark eyes widened slightly. "Galinda...did you teach yourself how to draw?"
"Y-yeah. Is it that obvious?" She moved to sit in her chair, opening her other sketchbook and starting to draw on a new page.
"N-no! These drawings...they're...so impressive..." Elphaba looked up at her. "You...you have something special here, Galinda. I never would have..."
"You really think so?" She stopped drawing to look up at the green woman, somewhat surprised.
Elphaba nodded. "I really mean it, Galinda." She closed the sketchbook and gave the blonde a smile. "You're so concerned with what people think...that you don't even give them a chance to see how amazing you can be."
"Well that's where the problem is. How am I supposed to know if I'm truly good? Most of the time people only say I'm amazing at something because they want to get on my good side?"
Elphaba paused. "I suppose...that's a risk you'll have to take. Your attitude might set them that way as well. You have to let them know that you can take criticism."
"I don't see how I'm supposed to do that. I already can take criticism, but they can't see it."
"You have to let them see it. I can't exactly explain it...perhaps if you came down off your high perch a little...don't take that the wrong way."
"Honestly, I'm too tired to even care about what people think about my artwork right now. It's not like I'm going to be showing it to all of Oz anyway. Besides, I have Professor Riviera to help me, and, I suppose, I have you now too, right?" She smiled at the green woman.
Elphaba turned slightly dark green. "Y-yes...I suppose you do...if you'll accept me in that sense."
"Of course I do." She chuckled softly. "You've been painfully honest to me my whole life. Am I to suspect that that will change when you critique my art?"
"Most likely not. I cannot help my blunt honesty. It's in my very nature." Elphaba opened the second sketchbook with a yawn. "I'm...awake...I swear..."
"Elphaba, you need to sleep." She reached over and held out her hand for her sketchbooks.
"No...I'm fine...I swear..."
"They'll still be here tomorrow. I promise." She gently took them from the green woman's hands, setting them on the table. "Go to sleep."
"Nooo..." Elphaba reached for them weakly before she flopped forward, a soft snore emitting from her. The blonde returned to her drawing, a small smile on her face.