Chapter 12!

When Elphaba and Nessa entered the church, they found that it was completely empty. Elphaba noticed the casket at the front of the church.

"It figures father decided to have it open casket." Nessa said. She wheeled down to the casket, Elphaba following her. She looked down at the man who had once been her father and she felt bad that she couldn't even remember his name. She heard a sniffling noise and looked over at her sister. Nessa was trying very hard not to cry, but Elphaba saw some tears slide down her face. She wheeled her sister to a front row pew and sat down beside her. She pulled her sister from her wheelchair and onto her lap. She expected some resistance, but was surprised when she received none.

Elphaba wrapped her arms around the smaller girl and held her close as Nessa, for the first and last time in her life, cried.

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Galinda sighed as she made her usual morning coffee. It had been a few days now since Elphaba had left and Galinda found herself missing Elphaba more with each passing day. She wasn't sure how she could survive the rest of her time at Shiz without her. The ring on her finger only served to remind her of what had been taken from her. She sighed again and raised her hand, examining the ring for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"Miss Galinda?" she heard someone say.

"Yes?" she said, not really paying attention.

"Your cup is overflowing." Galinda let out a small shriek and turned the machine off. Her cup was too full and now there was hot coffee running down her hand. The blonde abandoned her cup and went over to the sink to wash her hand off.

"Miss Galinda, you've seemed quite distracted lately. Is anything wrong?" Boq asked. Galinda realized that it had been him who had saved her from the coffee disaster.

"No. I've just been… thinking." she replied. The munchkin looked nervous.

"I… I noticed that ring on your finger." he said. Galinda smiled and looked at it again.

"It's nice, isn't it?" she said.

"Who is it from?" Galinda paused. That was a difficult question. She couldn't say it was from Elphaba, but to say it was from anyone else would start rumors.

Why am I afraid to admit I like Elphaba?

Galinda knew why. Had Elphaba taught her nothing? She was still being the same selfish person she had once been. What did she care if anyone else liked her? Elphaba loved her and she was the only person who mattered. The rest of the world could hate her for all she cared. As long as she had Elphaba.

"Elphaba." Galinda said. Boq looked confused.

"Really, Miss Galinda. Who?"

"I told you. Elphaba gave it to me."

"Because you're good friends right?" Galinda turned to face him.

"No. Elphaba gave me this ring as a promise. Some day, we're going to live our lives together. Elphaba loves me… and I love her."

Boq didn't want to believe it, but the blonde looked and sounded serious.

"Miss Galinda, I must say… this is very unexpected." he managed to say.

"You can think what you want. It doesn't matter to me. Tell everyone you want." Galinda said. Boq just looked shocked. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to my room to drink my coffee and think scandalacious thoughts about Elphaba."

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"All right, Elphaba. All you have to do when people come up to you is shake their hand and nod, or say thank you. No names needed. You can do that, right?" Elphaba nodded weakly.

"R- right. I can do that." she replied. The brunette rolled her eyes.

"Just follow my lead." she said as people started to trickle in.

It wasn't as hard as Elphaba had anticipated, but it was difficult to hear people talk about her father with such admiration and she could only nod. Multiple times people asked her what she planned to do as the next Eminent Thropp and she would pause for a moment, mind completely blank. Luckily, Nessa usually stepped in when these questions were asked, saving her sister.

After everyone had left, Nessa and Elphaba were left alone at their father's grave.

"See, Elphaba? And you were all worried for nothing." the brunette said as the two started off across the grass.

"I suppose." There was a silence. "Well, now what?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do we do now? The funeral's over and that's why we came, isn't it? Where do our lives go from here?"

"You have to become the new Eminent Thropp, which means you have to meet with a group of other officials and have a meeting and all that other good stuff."

"By myself? You can't go with me?"

"Of course not. I'm not nearly that important. Besides, how would it look if the next Eminent Thropp had her sister there with her?" Elphaba looked down and kicked at a rock.

"It's just… I don't think I can do this. I'm not ready." Nessa gave her a small smile.

"I don't think anyone ever is."

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Galinda was starting to find out how Elphaba felt when she was at Shiz. Every time she walked into a room, people started whispering and casting glances at her. She did her best to ignore them, but she had been so used to being popular that it was hard.

It's for Elphaba. It will all be worth it in the end.

That's what she kept telling herself, anyway. And it usually kept her under control.

Usually.

She was in the student lounge area when it happened.

"I always knew there was something about Elphaba. Well, the green skin was obvious, but there was something else. I guess I just didn't expect her to be such a sorry excuse for a human being." Laughter accompanied that statement and Galinda felt something inside of her snap.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Galinda was on top of the offensive student. She just didn't expect it to be Fiyero.

"Don't talk about Elphaba that way! She's more of a person than you could ever hope to be!" Galinda shouted, grabbing him by the front of his shirt.

"Galinda, get off!"

"Not until you take it back!"

"Get off!"

"Take it back!"

This would have gone on longer, but Galinda's friends pulled her off the prince.

"Let go of me!" she said, jerking away from them. Fiyero stood up and she glared at him before turning on her heel and storming away.

"She's crazy." she heard him say behind her. She wanted to cry, but didn't.

Not until she reached the safety of her room, that is. Galinda fell onto her bed, sobbing.

"Oh, Elphie. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

End of chapter 12! Hope you enjoyed it and please review! Thanks!