It has been a couple weeks since I last updated- and in that time, acquired 2 more reviews. This has lead me to the serious question: is anyone really out there? Is there anyone actually reading this story? I wouldn't know, so why don't you tell me? ;-) A desperate authoress looking for reviews; save a fangirl, won't you? Just pop in to say hi? I'd like to know if I should still continue this...

And so besides me being a review whore, I would now like to offer a bit of reason why I haven't been updating. I know I shouldn't be now - if you're reading this, Leanne, I know... the bad updating habits, I know... but still. I worked quite hard on this chapter (4216 words, a new record in one chapter for me) and though I know it is probably not my best work, I still wanted to get this out. Don't kill me. :P And I've been kinda busy over the last few days anyway; homework, projects and the like. And I've kind-of beta'd Leanne's story- shh. I don't think I'm meant to say anything about it yet! And I have to admit, I'm a really bad beta. I don't get things done quickly enough. D: So, I'd want to thank her again for beta'ing for me. Best beta ever.

Please enjoy this chapter of blood, sweat and tears (just to be poetic), and drop a review on the way out. You'd make my day. :-)

"You don't see, Boq? The answer's rights there in front of you - and you still do not see it?"

"Miss Elphie, I obviously don't. If I had, I would've spoken much earlier and saved us both this much pain. The evidence just doesn't add up. Do not blame me for not being as quick on this as you! You needed me to explain the simple calculus equation twice, so don't come yapping back to me about not getting your far-fetched Life Science theories."

"Well," Elphaba snapped, "You don't have to be so irritable about it. You sound just the same way as when you try to explain your calculus, which you know is not a exactly strong point for me."

"Life Science is not a strong point for me either." Boq shot back, equally annoyed. He and Elphaba had been spending gradually increasing amounts of time together - studying, reminiscing of their very few childhood memories (at Boq's insistence, not Elphaba's), or just enjoying the other's company. Boq was one of the few people in Shiz who deigned to speak with Elphaba, being as green and snappy as always to people. Boq sometimes wondered if Elphaba's solitude was mostly self-induced, and maybe she pushed people away more than she realized. She had certainly been pushing him away as best she could in the first few days post to their meeting on the grounds of Shiz, but after a week or so, she must have realized there was no getting rid of him. He assumed she simply learned to tolerate his (near constant) presence around her, and gradually learned to welcome it even- if he would flatter himself to think as far as that.

School had started weeks ago, and classes were harder than Boq would care to admit. He was the highest of his class back in Munchkinland, but obviously Shiz had much higher standards- or at least, in Boq's classes. From what Elphaba had reported, her own classmates were a bunch of dunderheads. Boq was thankful that he was only in a handful of the many classes Elphie took, because she did not mention him when she drew this opinion. Boq had yet to decide for himself whether he thought she had included him in her statement or not.

He was surprised to find himself hoping she did not find him brainless as well, and viewed him higher (if not by slightly) than the rest of their peers. He cared what Miss Elphie thought of him, whether he wanted to or not.

"Then let's go over it once more," Elphaba's voice was clear, too clear, and he couldn't help but notice the forced patience in her voice. She must really need his tutoring in calculus if she was keeping her temper. It was unlike Elphaba to be so calm when she tutored him- she was as snippy and sarcastic as her usual, charming self. Elphaba then explained the differences in Animal and animal vocal chords, then comparing them to that of a human's. "The vocal chords of an Animal bear resemblance to that of a human's, but are mostly modeled after the animal in which they are related to- whether closely or not is yet to be debated. Animals' speech are not impeded by their animal origin, they follow that closely enough, with just enough modifications to allow them normal human speech."

"So, in theory, an Animal could make animal sounds?" Boq asked, feeling a bit stupid for asking such an unintelligent question in such an inelegant way. Elphaba, though, did not notice this, as she was too wrapped up in scientific matter to do so.

"Yes, Boq. You're finally getting it." She gave him one of her rare smiles, genuine even if it did look a bit tired.

"Well, that's a relief." He said, stretching his limbs out. Sitting on the grass under the shade of a tree on a day as wonderful as this one certainly had its good effects on him. He flopped back lazily onto the grass, folding his arms and resting his head on his hands as a makeshift protection from the hard ground. Boq gazed up at the sky; it was a brilliant azure blue, with only a few white streaks drifting lazily across it. Perfect.

Boq raised his head to look at Elphaba. "Why, Elphie, I do think that-" But he was cut short by the person walking behind his green companion. Boq's mouth fell open to rest on his chest; a line of drool appearing at the corner of his mouth to pool on his shirt.

She was a goddess; her hair seemed to be spun from the finest gold, curled into soft ringlets that spilled over her shoulders. Her skin was so flawless and perfect- not a blemish nor mark to be seen. Her eyes were a sapphire blue, which sparkled so brightly they seemed to rival the biggest star in the sky. More so than the biggest star. More brilliant, more intense, more….

"Oz to Boq! Hello, Boq? Can you hear me? Boq…."

"Whaazzuh?" Boq jolted out of his reverie, just as a green palm collided with his cheek. "Ow! Elphaba Melena Thropp, what in Oz was that for?" He intoned, rubbing his sore cheek gingerly. "Ow… ow…. I think you broke my cheek, the force of your hand…"

Elphaba quirked her eyebrow and crosses her arms over her chest, looking at him in a funny mixture of amusement and disdain. "You spaced out. I have the right to do as I deem right. And from what I recall, one cannot break one's cheek." She gave up and allowed a smirk to play across her lips. "Now, do tell, what did you see that made you drool so?" She flicked her pencil, gesturing at the sticky drip that was still drip-dripping from his mouth.

Boq flushed and wiped it away hastily with his sleeve. He sat up and righted himself with as much dignity as he could. "I," He announced, drawing himself up. "have seen an angel."

At this, Elphaba burst out laughing. "And who, might I inquire, is this angel?" She said, in between gasps of breath and her insane cackles.

Boq merely shook his head and waved his hand in the vague direction of Galinda and her troupe of followers.

At this, Elphaba howled even louder with laughter. "Boq," She said, when she had finally calmed down enough to speak normally. "You have got to be mad. Galinda Upland, of all people? My roommate?"

"Your roommate?" Boq all but yelped. "She's your roommate?"

"Well, yes. Since Madame Morrible roomed us." She sighed, and jabbed her finger into his already hurting chin. Boq glared at her unappreciatively. "Get up. We still have a lot of work to do. I still need to explain the history of the droughts to you, because if the grades on your last essay say anything, you need some -forgive me- a lot of reviewing the material. And you need to explain the calculus we learned yesterday. I still don't understand it and-"

"Elphieeee," Boq said, sharply, suddenly cutting over her voice. Elphaba fell silent. "You don't ever let anyone else talk, do you? The history can wait. So can the calculus. In case you hadn't noticed, today is a beautiful day- and I won't let you ruin it for yourself… or me." Boq added, as an afterthought. "Shut up for a moment, will you? You can just hear the birds singing if you don't open that loud mouth of yours for more than five seconds."

Elphaba scowled at him, and Boq knew he'd probably pay for that later, but to his relief his green companion kept to his wishes and said nothing, however grudgingly she did so. Finally, Elphaba couldn't seem to keep quiet any longer and burst out. "So can we get back to that calculus, then?"

Boq only laughed and pulled his and Elphaba's books from under all the sheets of paper and books out and handed hers to her.

Shiz was, to Elphaba's ideals, quite good, on the whole. The schoolwork kept her occupied for copious amounts of time, the library was more extensive and larger than by far to what Elphaba had expected, and she was not completely alone in this new place. However reluctantly she would admit it, she appreciated Boq and his company more than she'd like to, and found herself getting more and more dependent on him. Independency was something Elphaba valued- quite highly, might she add, and the feeling of depending on him for something she regarded as exceedingly trivial as company was odd; she wasn't sure if she liked it or not. Boq was a good friend, she agreed with that, but what exactly was her relationship with the munchkin?

She returned to her shared dorm room with Galinda much later that evening. The blonde had already turned in for the night, but apparently was still wide-awake, despite the mask of sleep she had carefully melded into her porcelain features. She jumped up when Elphaba turned on her bed-side lamp. "Do you know what time it is, Miss Elphaba?" She asked, snootily. Elphaba resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Seven past eight."

"Well then, so where have you been? It's seven past eight."

"We've established that, Miss Galinda," Elphaba said with a smirk. Her roommate was less than presentable- much less respectable at the present moment. Her usually tamed and elaborately done-up hairstyle was gone, replaced with what Elphaba could only assume to be Galinda's bed-head. Her blonde curls were messed up; wild like a Lion's mane. Her also-perfect complexion had somewhat dulled without the extra benefits of her makeup. Elphaba found it harder and harder with each passing day to comprehend how Boq could even tolerate her presence, much less have such the infatuation he had with her; Miss Galinda certainly could only barely tolerate him.

Elphaba's smirk only grew wider as the blonde harrumphed, turning on her heel sharply to collapse on the mountain of cushions, pillows, and fluffy pink throws indiscernible from one another. Galinda herself blended right into the pink monstrosity bed, and you wouldn't have seen her there if not for the fact her head popped up every minute or so to catch a breath.

Elphaba sighed and sat down heavily on her bed, grimacing slightly as Galinda muttered very muffled threats to her already low social standing. She sighed and sat down on her bed. "Miss Galinda?"

"What?" Galinda's head popped up from her rather uncomfortable position facedown on the pillow. Her face looked slightly squashed and disgruntled, and the green girl had to battle down the urge to laugh.

"Miss Galinda, if it bothers you so much, I should be more than happy to go to Madame Morrible with a request to change rooms with someone else."

Galinda had the decency to look surprised- if not only for a moment before refitting her face with a look ill-hidden disgust and contempt. "No, Miss Elphaba, there will be no need. I have already tried long before you. The headmistress would prefer it more if we kept the room arrangements for now because all the other girls are settled in." Elphaba noticed the emphasis on the words, but said nothing on it.

"So you are saying you will bear my presence in your private," Elphaba made her own emphasis. "suite for the rest of the year, most probably term?" To say she was shocked in the very least was an understatement.

"I shall have to tolerate you for now."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. Of course, what could she have expected?

She took her things -clothes for the night and her simple wash bag- and headed to the bathroom where she swiftly stripped, cleaned herself, and redressed, all done under the half hour. When she reappeared in the dorm, Galinda had already switched the lamp off, and was lying face down again in her bed. Elphaba raised her eyebrows but said nothing, walking as carefully and calmly as she could through the dark and silent dormitory, careful not to trip over anything in her path. She finally deposited her clothes and wash bag on the floor of her closet- finally making her way to her bed and falling upon it. Her eyes closed just as her head hit the pillow.

"Elphie? Oh, Elphie!"

"What, Maureen?"

"How's your little boyfriend… Biq?"

"It's Boq, Maureen. And he isn't exactly my boyfriend…?"

"Elphaba, I'm honestly happy for you. This is the happiest I have ever seen you in a long while and Maureen and I-"

"What? Boq, you mean? Boq and I aren't going out, where did you get that silly idea? We are only friends- old friends, too. I couldn't go out with anybody who knew me at infancy. It's much too embarrassing."

"He reminds me of Mark, if that's your type. Hey, it could totally work out! I can see it now: double dates; me and Joanne, you, Biq and Mark!"

"Mo, honeybear, I don't think that's going to-"

"What? Are you kidding me? Boq and I… on a date? Maureen!"

"Yes, Elphie?"

"You're kidding. Please. Say you're kidding."

"I'm not."

"Maureen-"

"Miss Elphaba!" Galinda had switched on the light, and was glaring at her with all the ferocity and regality that her little blonde frame could produce. "Miss Elphaba, who in Oz can you be muttering to? Whoever it is, please shut up, because you are louder than a trumpet playing that horredibble Animals' blues music at the OzDust on Fridays."

Elphaba closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "No one, Miss Galinda. Go get your well-deserved beauty sleep."

"You need it more than Elphaba does, bit-"

Elphaba cleared her throat quickly. She nodded to the Gillikinese. "Go on, Miss Upland. I don't mind you sleeping in my presence in the slightest. Please, I won't take it as an insult to my-" She flashed Galinda a cold smirk. "might I flatter myself- colorful personality."

Galinda, in turn, laid her head back to sleep, beaten for now but not defeated. She turned her head back to face the wall, the ceiling, anywhere but her freak-roommate. Why did the Artichoke have to barge in and ruin everything? Shiz was meant to be her chance at boys, power and popularity, and Miss Elphaba certainly was not helping her achieve as well as she thought she could have. She scowled to herself. Momsie would not have been pleased at all with her current rooming situation. Galinda had written a thousand letters to her parents, each rattled on about how deplorable every single aspect of Miss Elphaba was; her hair, her skin, her clothes, her personality. Popsicle had simply written that maybe Galinda would have to adjust- and he was certain that she would adjust, given the right time. Her mother had not said anything about it, other than a wobbly concurrence with her father's words.

Loathing was something Galinda was not accustomed to, being the perfect Gillikinese daughter that she was. Practically everyone she had every met in her life had fawned over her- falling over themselves in turn trying to appease her every whim and desire. She was not used to the odd one who looked at her with contempt, nothing less than utter resentment. Galinda decided that the slight change in order was slightly refreshing. Maybe, she thought, curling her hair idly with a finger, that maybe, just maybe Miss Elphaba might not be so bad? Her father always said that she should always give people a chance….

"Miss Elphaba," Galinda rolled over to face her roommate, being careful not to cringe. Instead, she schooled her features into a forced smile. "Miss Elphaba- how is it like to be as unpopular and loathed as you are?"

The question was simple, short and seemingly innocent. So very blonde, Elphaba decided, rolling over as well to face her. She rolled her eyes. Such comments from people usually earned them a good, sarcastic comment, but as her roommate was so obviously oblivious, she decided to humor her.

"It depends on one's definition of the word 'unpopular' and 'loathed'. I find myself surprised more and more each day with exactly how popular are to me at this school."

"Popular to throw rocks at, that's what she means."

"Miss Elphaba, please do not joke; I am deadly serious, here!" Galinda had her hands on her hips.

Elphaba cleared her throat and raised her eyebrows. "If you insist, Miss Galinda. My views on popularity and the like are exceedingly variable with the person, and the situation. I would say that Shiz is leaning to the better side of my past life experiences, but it is yet to be my best."

"Well? What is there to like, and what not? And you haven't answered my original question; how do you deal without friends?"

"It's not like I don't a have friends completely," Elphaba said, slightly disgruntled. "There's Master Boq, for starters. And my sister."

"Oh well, they don't count," Galinda said, giggling a little bit. Elphaba couldn't help but pick up on the patronizing undertones it carried. A muscle in her jaw twitched, but she left it.

"Then, pray tell, who does count?"

"Well… people like… well, me!"

Elphaba couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at this. Friends? Miss Galinda and herself? Not in a million years. "And we are friends?" She asked, her voice unnaturally low and dubious.

"Miss Elphaba!" Galinda was staring at her roommate, mouth gaping. "Of course we are. Don't be silly."

Somehow, Elphaba couldn't bring herself to completely believe her.

She opened her mouth again to contradict but Galinda was too far gone to notice now. The blonde was jumping up and down, and twirling around in a blur of pink-and-blonde. "Miss Elphaba, I can't sleep-"

"Well, as you are jumping up and down, I wouldn't think you could either."

"-and when I can't sleep, I talk." Galinda finished, completely ignoring the green girl.

"That's an odd habit," Elphaba offered, quietly, watching her.

"BITCH! Of course she can't sleep, she's a hyperactive ball of-"

"Maureen! Mind your language- Miss Galinda might appear to be slightly hyper, but it doesn't mean she's a-"

"Maureen, I can't, don't you-"

"Elphaba, I want you to pull that blanket right over your face right now, and tell her to sod off. Can you do that?"

"MAUREEN!"

"I- Well, I… MAUREEN!"

"Well… you can talk now. I'm not that sleepy, really." Elphaba said weakly. Galinda paused in her wild dance-like movements to stare at Elphaba. Her eyes flicked towards the stack of boxes by the foot of her bed. The eldest Thropp suddenly felt a jolt to her stomach, realizing what the blonde was thinking. "Miss Galinda, please, not-"

"MISS ELPHABA! I KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO!"

Elphie cringed at the blonde's loud and shrill squeal. "What's that?" She asked, not feeling her supposed curiosity at all.

But Galinda did not hear her under the boxes she was now crouching over. Her petite hands ran across each box, and she was muttering to herself quietly. Finally, she grabbed a round blackish-brown box that she held out to Elphaba, a rather worryingly bright smile spreading across her face. The green woman in question raised her eyebrows before taking the box and opening it.

Inside sat, in all its full glory, large black hat with what seemed like a conical-shaped top squished down to fit inside its box. It was plain with no frills, lace or decoration that Elphie could see. She lifted it out of the box tentatively, and Galinda pulled on the tip, making it straighten out into its proud, full cone-shape.

"Well?" Galinda demanded, looking at Elphaba. "What do you think of it?"

"It's very…. uhh…. sharp?"

Galinda blinked, obviously taken aback. She looked over Elphaba before breaking Elphie's eardrums once again: "Yes! Yes, it's very sharp, don't you think?" Elphaba cringed and nodded. "In fact, I'm going to be such a nice person and give it to you as a gift."

It was Elphaba's turn to be shocked. "Miss Galinda, are you feeling alright?"

"Quite, Miss Elphaba. And as we are now friends," Elphaba noticed Galinda's emphasis on the word. "I have the perfect liberty to give you things when I want to. So- here!" She said, with another shrill giggle. "Out of the goodness of my heart!"

Elphaba nodded wordlessly and took the hat. She was stunned. No one had ever given her a present like this before…

"Well? Aren't you going to say thank you to her?"

"Jo, dearest, I love you and everything, and I wouldn't want to rain on your parade, Elphie, but don't you think that that hat is utterly…. hideodeous?"

"Maureen, come on. That hat isn't that bad… It kind looks like a witch hat they wear on Halloween! Come on, Mo, not that bad…"

"Witch Hat?"

"Yes, witch hat. I'll bet you'll look spiffy in it."

"Nobody says spiffy anymore."

"I do."

"Only you, Jo. Only you."

"But Elphaba, that hat-"

"-is fine, Reen. Stop it. Just wear the hat, Elphie."

"Aren't you going to wear it?" Galinda said, all giggles again. "To see how you'll look?"

"Yes," Elphaba said, glancing around awkwardly. Maureen and Joanne's resounded in her skull, Joanne's more than Maureen's. Witch hat?

Nevertheless, she dropped the hat onto her head. It was slightly heavier than she'd expected, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

Galinda gasped. "Oh Miss Elphaba, you terrible mean thing, you're pretty."

"I do not know what you're talking about."

"Oh come off it," Elphaba was whacked by a pillow. "Don't be so modest. The least you could do is have the decency to at least be on less than speaking terms with me to start throwing my compliments back in my face. I can easily take them back."

"No… no, it's alright," Elphaba said, uncertainly. "I'm just… just not used to compliments."

"You're not, Elphie? When I always? Shame. Shame on you, me, everyone."

"Shut up, Mo."

"That'll be the day."

"Why I oughta-"

"No, you behave yourself, you two."

She tipped the brim of the hat, casting dark shadows across her face. Her lips tweaked up slightly into a small smile. "But, you really think so?" And she surprised herself by actually wanting the blonde's opinions; something she wouldn't have wanted even an hour ago.

"I really do think so."

Elphaba flushed with the small bit of pride, and Galinda felt herself smile too. Maybe her Popsicle was right; being kind to the common peoples maybe wasn't such a bad thing at all. Galinda contemplated the warm, fuzzy feeling at the pit of her stomach. It was certainly rewarding.

"….and she looked utterly ridiculous in that hat."

Shenshen and Milla squealed; Pfannee put her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow. "And how in Oz did you manage to get her into it?"

"Charm," She said, flashing Pfannee a dazzling smile. "She is so gullible- you wouldn't believe it."

"I still can't believe it. Your Aunt's hat? The hideodeous, black, pointy one? My dear Miss Galinda," Pfannee leaned forward as though to tell Galinda a secret, though she not bother to lower her voice as her action might suggest. "That is so simply wicked of you!"

Galinda's throat constricted.

"In fact, I do believe you have finally given the Artichoke her just deserts I just can't believe you actually went through with it. I didn't think you had what it took." Pfannee straightened back into her normal, impeccably straight posture and flicked her brown hair over her shoulder, smiling in approval at the blonde. Shenshen and Milla echoed this by giggling shrilly again.

Galinda found she could breathe freely once more. She gave her own small –slightly weak- smile in return and opened her mouth to speak. "Of course I went through with it. Well, I owe it all to the fact Miss Elphaba was completely…"

But the words died on her lips as she saw the green girl in question standing by the cafeteria doorway, holding her morning cup of coffee. Her face was nearly unreadable as she watched Galinda, and it was obvious in her expression she had witnessed the entire conversation… or enough of it to understand what was going on.

Her eyes connected with Galinda's for a moment, and Galinda decided then and there that she had never seen another more miserable person than Elphaba Thropp. Her heart sank into her stomach and she gulped nervously. Elphaba's gaze didn't even look like it could kill anymore; none of that ferocity from the moment they first met.

But then the moment was gone and the green girl bolted; dropping her cup of coffee. It fell to the floor, scalding brown liquid splashing onto the floor everywhere.

"Was completely what?" Pfannee prompted, seemingly oblivious to the scene around her, giving Galinda another look- this time, not as pleased as the last time.

"Was… nothing. Please excuse me, I just have to…" Galinda hastily gathered up her belongings and ran out of the cafeteria as fast as she could in her heels after to green roommate, the fuzzy feeling in the pit of her stomach from the night before quickly being replaced by one of sinking dread.

Reviews make Elphie and Galinda feel better! ;-)