A/N: Again, whoever has been reading this, thanks so much! REVIEW!

Chapter Three

What had come over her? She was usually an ice cold, smart-alecky bitch – and she liked it that way. That Fiyero just made something spark in her. That was the strangest behaviour she'd ever experienced. He didn't know the real Elphaba, the person she was around the other students (sometimes with the exception of Galinda). Maybe it was because he wasn't like the other students. He was different, like her – he liked her company. It was an odd feeling, and that's all she knew.

Elphaba saw that Galinda wasn't in the room and felt relieved that she could rest. She unpacked, grabbed her book, and plopped down on her bead to read. After about ten minutes of reading, Galinda walked in.

"Elphaba!" she exclaimed, quickly going over to the green girl's bed. "Get up and give me a hug!"

Elphaba abided and got up to hug her roommate. After all, the girls hadn't seen each other all winter holiday; Galinda went home to her family.

She decided to get it all out of the way and over with, "How was your trip, Galinda? Was everyone well?"

"Oh it was great, thanks!" Galinda said excitedly. She was always so full of life and happy to share conversation with anyone. "Everyone was just wonderful! We spent the days at the lake and the nights by the fireplace…" She went on and on, like she usually does, but Elphaba learned she could tune it out.

She finally came back to listening again when Galinda said, "So how was your vacation? You stayed here didn't you?"

"Yeah I stayed here." She replied drearily. "I went into town a few times, bought some books…"

"Just books?" Galinda asked disbelievingly.

"And some other things…" said Elphaba, trying to sound uninterested, while refusing to tell what else she bought.

"Like what kind of other things?" asked Galinda as she strolled over to her roommate's shopping bags. She opened the bags and looked through the contents. "Books, books, books…" said Galinda, exaggeratingly uninterested. Then she came across an unfamiliar looking bag.

"Ooh," she squealed, "what's this?" She opened the bag, and her eyes grew wide and a smile appeared on her face. "Elphaba! Dresses! You bought dresses?" Galinda was ecstatic – Elphaba was never interested in girl stuff. Now that she just might be warming up to being a real girl, maybe they could talk about stuff that the other roommates did: gossip, boys, dresses, etc.

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Yes, dresses Galinda! I thought maybe it was time for a change, since I've had some of my dresses for a few years now. They're still my usual colours though, don't get too excited."

Elphaba only wore dark colours, usually black and navy. She occasionally bought other colours, if they were in a shade dark enough not to terribly clash with her skin.

"Talkative today, are we?" Galinda said, teasing. But she was in a way serious – Elphaba wasn't so social, and today she seemed almost in the mood to carry on a casual conversation.

"I guess you could say that." Elphaba replied smartly. Galinda smiled at this.

"So did you do anything else? Talk to anyone lately…?" asked Galinda, mirroring the smart aleck tone in her roommate's voice.

"Uh. Not necessarily." She replied concisely.

"What do you mean? You did talk to someone? You weren't by yourself all week?" Galinda became interested. Since when was Elphaba interested in other people? Never.

"Yes, I did actually. On the train back here today."

"Oh, well that's a start. Who was it?"

"A new boy, Fiyero Tiggular. He is just starting here at Shiz when classes resume tomorrow."

"A boy? I thought you hated boys."

"I do. But… He was different. He was very nice, and he cared about what I had to say, and he cared about my…water issue. He let me under his umbrella." Elphaba was starting to get a little bit embarrassed, and a shade of red was showing through her green skin. But, why? She didn't even know what there was to be embarrassed about.

Galinda began to smile. Elphaba was confused. "What are you smiling about?"

"You're blushing. You have a crush on him!" Galinda said, excitedly.

"Excuse me? I don't think I could." Elphaba did not ever, and will never, have a crush on anyone. Because she was not capable of loving another, as no one was capable of loving her in the first place. Besides, boys got in the way of everything, especially the train of thought – Elphaba's best weapon.

"Yes, you do! Elphaba, I can tell. And by what you're telling me, it seems like he might have a crush on you."

"That is not even humanly possible. Who in their right mind would ever like me in that way? People don't even want to be friends with me! I mean, besides you… And maybe Fiyero…"

"Of course it's possible! You're pretty, but not in the normal, upfront way. You have a way to you… But it's a good thing. Once someone gets to know you they'd like you. You just don't ever let people get to know you; you never let people in and you intimidate them with your… ways." Galinda was right, she had known her roommate for long enough. Elphaba pretended to be stone cold and downright scary, but Galinda knew she was a genuinely lovely girl. "It seems that you've let Fiyero into your comfort zone. What happened?"

Elphaba was shocked at the other girl's observations. Wow, she was good at noticing things. Galinda was completely right, but Elphaba always knew it. She always knew she kept people out, and she liked it that way.

"Well I guess maybe just because he's from far away; he hasn't been with our group of people ever. He doesn't know people's rumours about me, and he didn't even know how antisocial I am. I guess that's why he even attempted socializing with me." Elphaba pondered.

"But why did you continue talking? Why did you let him escort you under his umbrella?" Galinda asked, wanting to know for herself, yet also wanted Elphaba to realize it as well, as she obviously was pushing the answers away.

"Well… I… I don't know." This was the first time she actually didn't know something. "I felt… Comfortable around him, I guess. I thought I felt uncomfortable, but I guess I warmed up to him."

"Did you two do anything else besides talk on the train and walk back with the umbrella?" Galinda asked, wanting maybe some gossip…

"Well, we went to the office to get his schedule and room assignment, and then he walked me back here, to the building."

"Anything else? Did he ask to see you later?"

"He said 'See you soon,' but I'm not sure if he was telling me or asking me… And he hugged me before he left."

"Oooh!" Galinda squealed. "He likes you! You like him! I think… I need to see how you two interact! If we don't have any classes with him tomorrow, we'll find him at lunch and sit with him – since he's new he probably won't have anyone to sit with." She said this rather eagerly. "Okay?" Galinda was so excited for something to be going on with her roommate. "Oh! And wear one of your new dresses… Purple looks nice on you."

"Uh…" This was a little much for Elphaba to take in at the moment. "Okay. Thanks." She looked down and took a deep breath. Was Galinda right? I guess she'd find out soon enough.

Elphaba had surprised herself today; she acted so… normal. What had come over her? She talked to a complete stranger, ending with having him as a new friend, and according to Galinda, a "crush." Then she talked about her feelings with Galinda, and agreed to let her prove herself right! Oh boy… This was going to be a long semester.