AN: This should be the last chapter where I follow the musical's storyline closely. Every chapter afterwards deviates even more.

Thanks again for reading and reviewing!

Elphaba could hear the loud droning of music playing from blocks away as she walked to the Ozdust ballroom. She took a long look at the building, lights flashing and the deafening sound of people talking over one another. She hadn't even stepped foot inside and already she was regretting showing up. After another second of delaying her entrance, she exhaled slowly, fixing her hat on her head and clambering up the stairs. Elphaba took her time going up, barely registering the couple who were making out on the side of the stairs. They stopped and stared at her and Elphaba waved at them with a roll of her eyes. The young man took ahold of his partners hand and took off. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to be here. Even so she took a deep breath and entered the ballroom.

The only sound coming from the students as she stood there was laughter as they pointed at her head. The music that was playing rapidly shut down, leaving the thunderous laughter as the only source of music. She had been so caught up on everything else she forgot to think that this gift was nothing more than a prank.

Elphaba quickly took it off and looked around, feeling the sudden urge of fear enter her mind, at least until her eyes met with her roommate who was hiding behind the Vinkun Prince.

All her fear was pushed to the back of her mind as Elphaba glared at her. Nothing that the blonde could do would make her lose it in front all the students. Although her heart began to beat quickly, Elphaba stepped right in the middle of the suddenly empty dance floor and put her hat back on her head.

It seemed her plan to forget her stress was working quite perfectly.

"Grin at them and shown them it doesn't matter! " She could hear Sans words so clearly.

So she did.

Elphaba grinned at them all and danced. She didn't follow any rhythm, she just moved her arms and legs to the beat of her breathing, twirling here and there.

She closed her eyes doing the exact same steps until a tap on her shoulder a minute later made her open her eyes.

"Mind if I join in?" Elphaba was surprised to see her roommate standing in front of her but gestured her to go right ahead not actually thinking she would actually join in as she was.

Her roommate —Galinda, smiled at her, copying her moves and twirling as she was a minute prior. She realized in that moment that Galinda wasn't playing another prank again and when Elphaba took a look around the Ozdust she stared in awe as everyone else started mimicking her awkward dance.

This… definitely... made her forget about any nightmares.

Elphaba reluctantly acknowledged that she was somewhat enjoying the party, but after a while she grew tired of the dance and went to get a drink, feeling parched, leaving Galinda to dance with her prince. She took a few steps towards the punch bowl and stopped once her hand hit the ladle. Thinking it over a bit, she decided not to go for the punch that was surely spiked by that time. Instead glancing around the room for her sister so she could leave and get a safe drink in her room.

"I see you're doing well." The Prince's voice echoed behind her. Elphaba turned and took a glimpse at him. His smile looking more sincere than it had earlier that day, making him look even more appealing than when he tried to use his winning smile on her. Galinda stared up at him dreamily and Fiyero waited for her to respond. Somehow Elphaba knew that he wouldn't leave until she did.

"I see you made it in without running someone else over." She said dryly and Fiyero raised his eyebrows, smiling cheekily at her.

"I didn't run you over." He scoffed, chuckling lightly.

"You two know each other? " Galinda asked, and Elphaba didn't miss how her hand tightened its hold on his arm.

Fiyero smiled handsomely at her. "We met earlier. She literally fell for me, or on me."

Elphaba was about to disagree when her sister's voice called out for her.

"Elphaba!"

Elphaba scanned the room for her sister, finding her wheeling herself over to her.

"Nessa," She smiled. " Are you enjoying yourself?" She asked her sister who looked quite alarmed over something.

"Is it true what he said?" Nessa asked her ignoring her previous question. Elphaba waved it off, not needing, or wanting her sister to worry about her, "I'm ok Nessa, I'm perfectly fine it's nothing important. Where's Boq?" She tried changing the subject but her sister was having none of that.

"Never mind Boq. Elphaba we need to speak…" Nessa looked at Shiz's new 'it' couple watching them both talk and Nessa looked Elphaba in the eyes. "In private."

"Well, Miss Elphaba, I look forward to seeing you again." Fiyero nodded his head. "It was wonderful meeting you as well Miss…"

"Nessarose." Nessa offered.

"Miss Nessarose." He nodded giving her that annoying smile and twirling a giggling Galinda back to the dance floor.

"Won't Boq be—"

"Elphaba, what's wrong? " Her sister asked quietly, staring at her with concern. She hated making her sister worry over her.

"Nothing is wrong Nessa. I just haven't had much to eat and I barely slept last night because of Galinda's blabbering about Fiyero today and it didn't help when he almost ran me over with his carriage. " She summarized the things that were going on with her, excluding the more worrisome crap.

"Almost ran you over?" Her sister gasped, taking her hand in hers. "Are you hurt?"

"Nessa if I was I would let you know." She lied, rubbing her thumb on her sisters hand and forcing herself to smile for her. "Go and enjoy yourself before the party ends, but not too much ok?" Her sister smiled but her face was still creased with worry.

"You are completely sure you are not hurt?" Nessa asked again and Elphaba nodded in reassurance.

"Yes, is this all?"

Nessa accepted her words. "Just wanted to make sure you were fine, you aren't someone with a weak body."

Elphaba gave her a toothy grin."Yeah, well a combination of no food and almost dying doesn't help much." She explained again, ushering her sister away. "Now go and have fun, I think I've had enough for tonight."

Nessa began to turn her wheelchair but stopped looking at her once more. "Promise me you'll take care of yourself?"

Sometimes it surprised her that Nessa cared for her at all.

"I promise…" She said sincerely, noticing the figure waiting patiently several feet away from them. "Now go, your Munchkin is waiting. "

Nessa smiled when she noticed that Boq was really waiting for her. She watched Nessa wheel over to Boq who smiled at Nessa widely. Boq was a lovesick idiot, but she doubted he would do anything to her sister, especially knowing what she was capable of. So Elphaba snuck out of the ballroom and let the cool air of the night fill her lungs before making her way back to her dorm.

For a small moment she thought she saw a person in the trees, she blinked and shook her head as she looked again. Seeing nothing but the branches waving from the cool breeze that went through.

"Wait up!" She heard a voice call from behind and she turned to see Fiyero and Galinda walking towards her.

"Yes?" Elphaba said warily at the two.

"We thought we ought to accompany you to your room it isn't safe out here. " Fiyero told her putting his arm around Galinda's shoulder.

Elphaba stared at him and shook her head. "I can find my way back. You go enjoy the party, it is yours after all. "

"Yes, well Elphaba, as your roommate I thought we should go back together."

Elphaba looked at Galinda, smiling brightly at Elphaba.

"You don't have your key with you do you?"

Galinda nodded, smiling sheepishly at her.

"You have a great night."

"You too." Galinda giggled, brushing one of her curls behind her ear and fluttering her eyes at Fiyero.

Elphaba turned away, going into the building not necessarily keen on seeing them kiss.

"Oh isn't he just so dreamy!" Elphaba stiffened feeling Galinda's arm wrap around her own as she walked.

"What are you doing?" She asked looking down at her roommate whose eyes were still shining from her kiss with Fiyero.

"Oh, um, I wanted to thank you... I... I wouldn't have a chance of getting into sorcery class without you, and well thanks," Galinda said sincerely, looking a little confused. "But why did you do it? "

"I did it because even if your reasons were selfish, I saw how happy my sister was when she had the opportunity to go to that dance with Boq, so I have to say thanks as well."

Galinda let go of her as they came to the front of their door, looking at her in panic. "I didn't mean— "

Elphaba raised an eyebrow which effectively shut Galinda up. "You didn't mean to pawn him off on her so you could go with Fiyero? "

"Well I did, but I didn't do it to hurt her. " Galinda said quickly.

"Somehow I believe that. " Elphaba said opening the door to their room and kicking off her boots.

"So…" Galinda began to talk again after a second of silence. "Was that your first party? "

Elphaba shrugged, her mind flooding with memories of the day of her graduation and of her first kiss.

"It is your very first party!" Galinda giggled again falling back into her bed.

It was no wonder she was acting so nice to her. The girl was drunk.

"So. " Galinda said again, coming over to her bed. Elphaba could do nothing more but scoot further in when she jumped in.

"How about we tell each other secrets?"

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "Um. No"

Galinda waved her hand in the air."Pish posh... Fiyero and I are getting married!" she squealed laying her head on Elphaba's shoulder.

Elphaba moved her shoulder so Galinda could get off of it, feeling rather uncomfortable at the sudden loss of personal space. "He's already asked you?"

"No... " Galinda sighed, her head falling to the side. "He doesn't know yet," Elphaba couldn't help but snort at her roommate dramatics.

Galinda poked her shoulder as she sat up again. "Now it's your turn Elphie…" Galinda gasped. "Oh. My. Oz... Can I call you Elphie? "

Elphaba winced at the nickname. "It's much too perky —"

"You know what you can call me?" Galinda said quickly before she could finish. "Galinda!"

Elphaba looked at her friend curiously wondering how much the blonde had had to drink that night to get like this.

"Since we are friend now Elphie you have things you must tell me."

"I hardly think I do. "

"For example," Galinda thought for a moment." Who you have been writing to, and why you wake up at night...and…what this little green bottle you sleep with is for!" Galinda moved quickly pulling her bottle out from under her pillow and running off with it.

"Give that back! Galinda, give it back!" Elphaba tore it out of her hand making Galinda yelp at the force of her pull.

"That isn't fair... I told you a really good secret! " Elphaba glared at her softening a little at the sincerity in her blue eyes.

"It's nothing really... just… It was my mother's." Galinda looked at her waiting for her to continue.

Elphaba sighed tiredly."Listen Galinda, I appreciate what you did joining me in that embarrassing dance, but just because you did doesn't make us friends."

"Oh, ok…I mean I only put myself out there to help you because for some reason you helped me get into the class I've been wanting to get into forever...its okay though I'm not complaining." Galinda shrugged daintily.

"I know what you are trying to do and it's not going to work. "

Galinda's lips slightly parted open."I'm not trying anything! Sorcery has always been a interest of mine and now I can actually study it. It's... the nicest thing anyone has done for me, and to prove that I am not joking I'd like to give you a makeover. "

Elphaba had to think of what she said for a second, looking at Galinda twice to fully understand her words. "A makeover? That's only going to convince me to run off right now."

"Just something tiny please! " Galinda begged, pouting her lips.

Elphaba was beyond confused now. Didn't they absolutely hate each other only a couple of hours earlier. "What is happening right now? "

Galinda smiled. "We're becoming friends!"

"I don't know if I believe that."

"Elphie, please! "

She shook her head. She had to stop Galinda before she regretted it in the morning. A drunk Galinda like to run her mouth alot." No, the only reason you are even acting nice is because you are drunk. "

Galinda's smile fell slowly, looking confused. "No I'm not. I didn't have anything to drink that wasn't water."

Elphaba blinked. "What? What do you mean you aren't drunk?" She questioned in confusion. "Then why are you acting so bubbly?"

Galinda gave her a genuine smile. "I was just being myself…"

Elphaba had to blink a few more times at the implication. "Sweet lurline, that's the real you?"

"Yes." Galinda said slowly, looking as if she had said something wrong.

"Well…" Elphaba was about to make fun of her real personality but the honest wonder swirling around in Galinda's face when she made a point of how she was acting, stopped her from saying something hurtful. Galinda wasn't drunk and she was being kind to her. Saying something bad wouldn't make her any better than anyone who made fun of her, "You are a lot more enthusiastic than I thought you would be." Elphaba said instead.

Galinda smiled gratefully. "Does that mean I can do the makeover?"

Her forehead creased. There was only one reason why Galinda would try and insist a makeover on her. She shouldn't fall for it again, the last time the blonde was friendly with her she was laughed at by the entirety of Shiz. Even if she helped her get into sorcery Galinda would not pass off a chance to make fun of her. "Where in my words did I ever mention a makeover? I didn't ask Madame Morrible to have you join sorcery so you can pity me and pretend to be my friend, just so you could try and pull a prank on me by using makeup."

Galinda's brow furrowed."Why are you saying that? I'm not pitying you I'm only trying to be friendly."

She needed to make her understand that she was not going to be a part of another one of her little games."You don't owe me anything. I got you in the class so now you can stop."

Galinda nodded. "I know and I'm thankful but I never said I owed you anything. I'm trying to be friends with my roommate who I haven't been getting along with —"

Elphaba interrupted her. "And it has nothing to do with trying to find some juicy gossip about my life to tell your little friends? If that's the case I'll have you know there is nothing for you to know!" Fear crossed Galinda's face as Elphaba raised her voice. "I listen to rumors not start them." Galinda explained, her bottom lip quivering.

Elphaba couldn't help but feel bad but scoffed nonetheless."Sure."

Galinda swallowed and straightened her head, almost as if unafraid."Listen, I know we didn't have the best start but I think I rather have my roommate as an ally rather than a foe…" Galinda seemed to observe her for a moment before confidently saying, "I know you'd like the same. "

Elphaba looked away, knowing that Galinda was honest and her last statement true. She would rather have Galinda as an ally instead of an enemy.

Galinda seemed to have sense her thoughts and continued speaking, "I'm not saying you and I have to be the best of friends, but friends... We can do that can't we? "

Elphaba closed her eyes. "Well…"

"There's no harm in trying Elphaba. "

Elphaba sighed, finally giving up. "I guess."

She turned her attention back to Galinda who clapped happily in front of her,"Yay! I'll bring my brush! "

She scrunched her nose. "Your brush? For what?"

Galinda gave her a mischievous smile."You'll see! "

What did she get herself into?

Elphaba silently thanked her roommate for her makeover. It helped her immensely, something that Galinda herself mentioned in the morning.

"You didn't have a nightmare tonight Elphie!" She said bouncing with joy across the room. For a moment she was utterly confused until she remembered they had begun to be friendly to one another the night before. Still, she didn't know if she felt comfortable enough to go to class like she was dressed, or if she wanted to wear her hair half out like it was.

"You look beautiful Elphaba." Galinda said truthfully. Although it was still hard for her to believe since the only person to ever call her beautiful was Sanevan.

"All you did was put a flower in my hair and take my glasses off?" Elphaba observed feeling strange without her reading glasses on. She may not have really needed them much to see but they helped her feel safe.

"I also let you borrow my jacket! " Galinda offered, straightening the collar of the coat she lent her. "I guess I never looked past to green to see that underneath it all, there was still a woman that needed just a little help to see how beautiful she actually is."

Elphaba couldn't take it, hastily brushing past Galinda with her school bag to leave the room. She didn't see Galinda in any of her classes that day so by the time her history class was about to begin Elphaba had already forgotten the blondes kind words to her. Elphaba entered the classroom garnering a few stare, but that wasn't any different from any other day so she paid no attention to them. Taking some of her notebooks out of her bag she heard a deep chuckle coming directly from behind her. She pursed her lips watching Fiyero stare at her. "What?"

Fiyero's eyebrows shot up as he shrugged. "Nothing it's just...you've been galindafied. You know, you really don't need to do that? " He said tenderly smiling gently at her.

"Class take your seats there is much to talk about and little time." Doctor Dillamond entered the room and Elphaba rushed to her seat ignoring the look Fiyero had given her.

"Unfortunately today is my last day at shiz, I am no longer permitted to teach." Doctor Dillamond said in resignation and Elphaba straightened in her seat. "What?"

Doctor Dillamond looked at her sadly and smiled, "I truly enjoyed seeing students grow and become adults throughout the years, and —" Madame Morrible entered the room along with two men dressed in a black uniform.

The taller man one of the two smiled at them all, but Elphaba only noticed the way he took Doctor Dillamonds arm lightly."We apologize for cutting this short but we must get on before our—"

"Madame! Why is this happening?" Elphaba cut in standing from her seat. She couldn't just stand by and see him be taken like that. Why were they even taking him?

"It's quite okay Miss Elphaba," Doctor Dillamond started to say but the other man had taken his other hand and coaxed him out of the room. "Times change but I will continue speaking my mind." She heard him say loudly as he was led out.

Elphaba looked around the room at her classmates doing nothing but sitting still in their seat."Why aren't we doing anything to stop them?" She berated them but none showed any desire to say anything so Elphaba took her plea towards Morrible. "Where are they taking him Madame?"

Someone else decided to respond before Madame Morrible could reply to her.

"You do something greenie, we aren't getting in trouble for a goat!"

She glared at the direction of the person but Morrible started to speak. "Elphaba, Dr Dillamond will be perfectly fine." Morrible's lips pressed into a thin smile something that made her feel uneasy. "Please sit down and enjoy the class led by Shiz's new professor Dr Nikidik."

The new professor entered the room and bowed standing beside Morrible.

Elphaba felt herself losing control so she nodded furiously. "Yes Madame. " She plopped herself in her seat crossing her arms across her chest.

"As our beautiful Shiztress just said, I am your new professor….Ahh perfect timing come in." Everyone put their attention to a man entering the room holding something covered in a black sheet.

"I will let the sweet professor to teach his first class." Morrible smiled at the professor as she left, something that was uncomfortable to witness.

"You are amongst the first to see this new invention straight from the Emerald City." Elphaba's head rose at the sound of growling coming from beneath the sheet. The professor swiftly peeled off the sheet and Elphaba's blood felt like it could boil looking at the tiny cub stuck in that container.

"We call it a cage!" The man shook the cage roughly and the poor lion cub quickly shut up.

"He's shivering." She thought out loud and the man gave her a quick glance.

"No worries, it is a little cold in here." Almost as if in response the lion cub whimpered, scurrying into the corner as it watched them all.

"He's afraid can't you see?"

"He just excited to see you all! " The professor smiled rapping a stick to the side of the cage and the lion cub yelped loudly.

"He's terrified, stop that!" Elphaba pointed out looking at the innocent lion cub.

"Just sit down Artichoke!" Someone yelled out but Elphaba didn't care.

"And the best thing about this new inventions is that caging an Animal this young will assure that they never speak! Allowing them to live quietly amongst us and—"

"Never speak?" Elphaba said getting to her feet. It was bad enough she thought it had been a animal but this was an Animal Cub that would never be allowed to speak.

The professor looked agitated but she did not let that stop her. "Yes, now I'm sick of your outburst. If you don't sit down right now miss I'll have you escorted out of this room. " Elphaba thought about doing exactly that but the prospect of her father hearing about it stopped her and with a growl she sat down.

"Just calm down," Came a hushed whisper next to her. Elphaba turned her head to where Fiyero was sitting beside her. She wondered when he had sat there for a moment but her thoughts went back to the Animal. "Calm down? Can you imagine a world where Animals can't speak? "

Both of their eyes were drawn back to the front of the room where the professor shook the cage again and despite the professors warning Elphaba stood up.

"Someone has to do something! " She said throwing her arms out.

There was a quick flash of sparks of a variety of colors and every person in the room twisted every which way. A limb struck her in the chest as she used the opportunity to get to the Lion Cub and stop it from getting hurt.

"What. The. Hell is going on? " Fiyero's bewildered voice jolted her, making her stop in her tracks.

"Fiyero? " Her mouth fell slightly as he came over to her, dodging various people's flailing hands.

"What did you do?" He asked her in shock and Elphaba didn't know what to tell him.

"I don't know I got mad and this happened..." Someone's hand struck Fiyero's face and she stepped forward to help but he put his hand up to keep her back.

"No stop, I'll get the Lion Lub you get out." She smiled at him her heart accelerating as she ran out of that classroom and out of the building. He caught up to her gesturing for them to keep going.

"Come on." He said breathlessly as he struggled to keep up with her. Both of them running towards the forest that surrounded Shiz. After a few more minutes of running they stopped at a little clearing, both out of breath.

Elphaba heard the Lion Cub crying and her eyes widened. "Don't shake him! "

"I'm not!" Fiyero argued setting the cage down in front of her so he could take his jacket off.

Elphaba ignored Fiyero as she kneeled to check on the Lion Cub. It was shaking and sticking in the corner. "We have to find someplace to leave him it isn't safe here on campus ground." Elphaba told Fiyero who stared back with wide eyes.

" I think I realize that, do you think I'm that stupid?" He asked and Elphaba shrugged.

"Not that stupid." She blurted out and Fiyero scoffed.

"How come each time we meet you're causing some sort of commotion?"

Elphaba felt like laughing at his face but didn't. "I don't cause any sort of commotion I am one."

Fiyero didn't hold back his laughter at all. "Understatement of the year. "

Elphaba scowled at him. "So do you prefer I keep my mouth shut?"

Fiyero swallowed his laughter at her look."No I didn't mean—"

"Don't you think I would love to be able to just not care and blend in with everyone else?"

Fiyero blanched as he shook his head."I'm only saying—"

"What do you want me to do?" Elphaba asked him angrily and Fiyero groaned.

"Can I speak? Or is that something you don't let anyone else do? " He yelled in exasperation and Elphaba realized she was letting her emotions take control of her, so she backed away from him. She wasn't aware of how close she had been standing next to him.

"I'm sorry." She apologized and Fiyero nodded, looking relieved.

"Okay, right, so I think—"

"Can I say one more thing?" Fiyero closed his mouth, his lips pressed together and waved her on.

"You could have just walked away back there. " She told him and Fiyero frowned.

"And?"

"And." She continued. "No matter how you try and pretend that you don't care about anything and how shallow you seem to think you are—" Fiyero started to laugh again. This time however she felt like it was forced on his part.

"Excuse me?" He chuckled again. "I really don't care, and I am very deeply shallow if I do say so myself."

"Really?" She questioned and Fiyero only looked at her. "Then why did you look so worried when I stumbled yesterday? Why did you help me with this Lion Cub right now?"

Fiyero looked shaken, his mouth opening and closing before he lifted the corners of his lips."I-You know what? If you don't need my help I'll just go! " He put both his hands up and turned to leave.

"Wait, no! " She lurched forward to stop him, freezing as her hand tangled with his. Her mind went blank as the feeling coursed through her stomach, her body feeling warm. An intense feeling she felt only once before…Only she didn't want to feel this.

For that moment neither moved, neither looked anywhere else other than at their hands that had pulled away. She glanced up, catching his eye before a whimper made her turn back towards the Lion Cub.

Elphaba kneeled to check on the Lion Cub again. The Lion Cub whimpered and ran to the other side of the cage, burrowing its tiny head in its paws.

"I think I scared him... I didn't mean to. "

"What exactly did you mean to do? And why didn't it happen to me? " Elphaba looked at him as he knelt next to her, fearing the answer to that question herself. Her eyes trailed down his face and to his cheek where she noticed a small trickle of blood.

"You're bleeding..." Elphaba unintentionally brought her hand up to his cheek to clean it, once her hand touched his cheek she felt that spark again.

This could not be happening... She already had Sanevan… She didn't need this...

That didn't stop herself from leaning in when he did as well; both glad and disappointed when he jerked away.

"I think... I'll take my—him to safety... You get back to Shiz." Fiyero rambled clearly as shaken up by what they almost did as she was.

Elphaba murmured her agreement before he ran off with the Lion Cub. She watched him go but felt the need to tell him that what almost happened was nothing to think about.

"Wait, Fiyero! " She exclaimed but he was already out of her sight.

Elphaba only sat there, feeling like she had betrayed him somehow.

I'll have the next update up by Tuesday.