Chapter4 - And Then There Was Glinda
After dinner, Elphaba washed their dirty dishes, while Fiyero dried them. He told jokes, and she laughed. She felt like a normal person, and not a green girl that everyone ridiculed. The prince made her feel special that even doing the dishes was fun. A loud knocking on her door startled the two.
Fiyero glanced at his wristwatch. "It's almost 10:00. Who could that be at this hour? Are you expecting anyone?"
Elphaba shook her head. "No."
"I'll get it," he said, throwing the dish towel on the counter. "It's not safe for you answering the door at this time of night."
As he opened the door, a petite blonde in curls dressed in pink from head to toe was rummaging through a large tote bag and immediately walked into the house.
"Elphie, I'm back! I thought you'd be asleep by now," Glinda said without looking up. "I just got home from my buying trip and I couldn't wait to give you all the goodies I got for you! Did you miss me?"
Glinda heard the door shut and turned to whom she thought was her best friend. "Wait till you see...you're not Elphie!" She dropped the tote on the living room floor.
"No, I'm not," Fiyero said.
"Hi, Glinda. I'm here," Elphaba said.
"Oh, oh! I didn't know you were entertaining! A gentleman friend! And I was worried about you being all alone while I was away!"
Glinda held out her hand, and shook the Prince's hand. "I'm Elphie's best friend! Glinda! I just got back from a buying trip! I would have waited until tomorrow but I couldn't wait to see her! Got gifts for her. Oh Oz! Was I interrupting something? I could come back tomorrow if you'd like!" She looked at the both of them. "You look familiar! Have we met before? Do you work at the library? Now where do I know you from? Elphie's never mentioned you before!" Glinda turned to her best friend. "How come you never mentioned your friend before?" She turned back to Fiyero. "She's never mentioned you before!"
Fiyero rubbed his temples as if to rid of an oncoming headache.
"What's the matter? Do you have a headache? Elphie, get him some aspirins!"
Elphaba stood in the middle of the room with her arms crossed in front of her, and held in her laugh as she watched Glinda chattering excitedly to her guest.
"I'm fine," Fiyero said. "I'm fine."
"That's good! For a minute I thought I was giving you a headache! I didn't catch your name," Glinda said.
"And I didn't throw it," he said.
"How do you know Elphie?"
"We met at the flower garden around the corner."
"The flower garden! That's nice! You know, that's owned by the Royal family!"
"Glinda," Elphaba said.
"I've read about them! Know a lot about them! Ask me anything! Did Elphie tell you that Queen Yasaman goes to the library once a week? I've never met her, but I will one day!"
"Glinda, will you stop and breathe? This is Fiyero."
"Very nice to meet you! Any friend of Elphie is a friend of mine! You have the same name as the Crown Prince! His name is Fiyero, too! Were you named after him? You look about the same age! In a way you look like him!"
Fiyero turned to Elphaba. He found her best friend to be very exhausting.
Glinda stared at him. Silence deafened the room, but it was short-lived. "Oh Great Oz! Wait a tick-tock! You're Prince Fiyero! Oh Oz, Elphie! He's Prince Fiyero!"
"How are you, Glinda? It's very nice to meet you," he said.
"Prince Fiyero! I was hoping I'd meet you one day! Never thought that it would be here in Elphie's house!" Glinda giggled. "Oh Elphie! How scandalacious!"
"Scandalacious," Fiyero mouthed to Elphaba. "Well, I'd better leave you two ladies to catch up on things." He moved toward her. "Thank you for dinner. I'll pick you up around 10:30 tomorrow morning. I'll give you a tour of the castle and then we can have lunch there. I'll tell Cook to whipped up those Monte Cristos."
"Okay. That sounds good," she said.
"Elphie! A special tour of the castle! How exciting! Oh, Prince Fiyero! How kind of you to do that!"
Fiyero ignored Glinda, giving Elphaba a warm hug. "I had a nice time tonight." He kissed her lightly on her cheek which surprised her. He then headed to the door, but stopped, and turned to Glinda before walking out. "See you around, Miss Glinda."
"Elphie! Elphie! Has he been keeping you company while I was away? Has he been here every night?" Glinda noticed the roses on the table. "Roses! Roses from their flower garden! How romantic!" She grabbed Elphaba's hand, and pulled her down on the sofa. "Now tell me everything! And I mean everything! Have you been a naughty girl?"
"Don't be ridiculous. There's not much to say. I was passing through his garden a week ago smelling the flowers and there he was. We exchanged words," she said, leaving out the unpleasantry of their first meeting. "Tonight as I passed by the garden he was there waiting for me. And that's all."
Glinda fluffed her blonde curls away from her face. "That's all? And he gave you flowers? You must have left him some impression!" She hugged her best friend. "I'm so happy for you! Although, you stole my dream guy away from me! How can I ever forgive you? And you're already going to his castle? I have the perfect dress for you! It's a good thing I came by tonight!"
Glinda pulled out a laced long sleeved deep purple knee length dress. "When I saw this on my buying trip, I thought it was made especially for you. Isn't it beautiful? And don't you love the neckline? It's not too low nor is it too high. And I got you an amethyst pendant." She searched for it in her purse. "Here it is! Isn't it just a gorgeous gem in a sterling silver halo shaped setting? It glows beautifully against the light. This will go perfectly with your dress."
Elphaba stood up, and held the dress against her. "It really is very pretty, and the necklace, too. Thank you. But don't you think they're a little too dressy for daytime wear?"
Glinda clapped her hands in excitement. "Elphie! You're going to be with Prince Fiyero! He's taking you home to see his castle!"
"Alright, I guess it's no harm in dressing up a bit. Although, I'll wear black stockings to cover my legs."
"Why? Why cover them? You've got beautiful legs!"
"Glinda, have you forgotten that I'm green?"
"Elphie! That's what makes you intriguing, and beautiful. You're one of a kind. I'll drop by early tomorrow and help you get ready."
"I can dress myself. I'm a big girl."
"At least let me do your hair. I'll brush it for you and I'll..."
"I think you're more excited than I am," Elphaba said. "I'll be fine. I'll tell you all about my day when I get back. It's just a tour of the castle and lunch. I'm just surprised Fiyero invited me to his home."
"Didn't you see the way he looked at you? It's like I wasn't even in the room. Elphie! Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Anyone would want to be in your place. I can't wait until tomorrow! Aren't you a bit nervous? Here," Glinda grabbed her hand. "Let me teach you how to curtsy properly."
Elphaba role her eyes. "Oh for Oz sakes, Glinda. Stop it."
"You do want to make a good impression for the King and Queen, don't you?"
"And where did you learn to curtsy?"
"I've been practicing in case I got to meet them. Now watch." Glinda stood in the middle of the living room. "First of all, you lower your head slightly and give a respectful nod. Elphie! Are you paying attention?"
"Yes," Elphaba said in a low toned voice.
"Okay, now you hold your skirt on the sides. Extend your right foot behind your left. Now you bend your knees, and then lower yourself into a curtsy. Did you get that?"
"Got it!"
"Elphie! I know you. You weren't paying attention. Let me do it again."
"I said I've got it," Elphaba said. "I lower my head and give a nod. I hold my skirt on the sides. Put my right foot behind my left. Bend my knees. Lower myself into a curtsy."
"Don't just say it...do it!"
"I'll be fine, Glinda. You worry too much."
"I'm not leaving until you do it for me," Glinda demanded in her high pitched voice.
"Why do I even put up with you? Once. I'll do it once." Elphaba did the routine as instructed.
"That's great, Elphie! Aren't I a wonderful teacher? You're a fast learner!"
Elphaba smiled. Like I'm ever going to do that, she told herself.
TBC - Chapter 5