"Elphaba, this letter came in the mail today," the Wizard exclaimed, walking into the parlor and sitting down next to Elphaba on the sofa.
"What does it say?" Elphaba, now 18, asked, perking up.
"Dear Miss Elphaba, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Shiz University on a full scholarship. Below is the list of classes you are eligible to take. Please make your selection and return the registration form as soon as possible. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon! Best, Madame Morrible, Head Shiztress," the Wizard read.
Elphaba smiled. She was actually going to Shiz. She was finally going to be free from being watched 24/7. She was going to have the time of her life.
"I'm so happy for you," the Wizard said, pulling Elphaba in for a hug.
"I can't wait!" Elphaba chirped.
The morning came when it was time for her to leave for Shiz. Elphaba woke up early and decided that she going to visit Midnight one more time. She climbed out the window, something that she was forced to do after her father caught her, and reached out and grabbed the tree branch that hung outside her window. She slowly made her way down the tree and walked to the stables.
"Midnight?" she called, searching for her horse.
Midnight poked his head out of his stall and startled Elphaba. "Oh, Midnight! Today's the day I leave for Shiz University," Elphaba whispered. "I'm going to miss you so much!"
Midnight had grown up with Elphaba. He was no longer a little baby horse, but was now the size of a regular, adult house. He began to lightly kick the door of his stall. Elphaba slowly lifted her hand to stroke his nose. Midnight pressed his nose into Elphaba's hand and snickered.
"Alright," Elphaba smiled, knowing that Midnight wanted to go for a ride. "One more for the road."
Elphaba unlocked the stall door and let Midnight out. Once the two were outside, Elphaba mounted her horse and they galloped through the fields.
Elphaba could feel the sun's rays on her face. "We should probably go back before Father sees us."
Midnight neighed and galloped back to the stables. Once Elphaba placed him back in his stall, she gently rested her cheek on his neck. "I'm really going to miss you. You're the only friend I've ever had."
"Elphaba," a voice called.
Elphaba turned towards the sound of the voice. "Father?"
"It's time to get ready," the Wizard said, gently taking Elphaba's hand.
Elphaba gave Midnight one final kiss before following her father back into the palace.
Elphaba gracefully walked down the grand staircase, one hand holding her suitcase, the other clutching the railing. She was wearing a white blouse, a long, navy blue skirt, and the jeweled shoes the governor of Munchkinland gave her. Her hair was flowing down her back with an emerald green headband in her hair.
"You look beautiful, Fabala," the Wizard said, taking the suitcase from his daughter and loading it into the carriage.
"Thank you," Elphaba smiled.
"Now, I have asked Colin to escort you to Shiz."
"Colin?" Elphaba sighed.
"Yes, Colin. He will make sure that you arrive there safely and return back here."
"But, Father –"
"Don't sound so sad about it!" a male voice said from behind Elphaba. She whipped around and saw the tall, 20 year old assistant to the Wizard standing behind her.
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Elphaba replied dryly.
"Be nice, you two," the Wizard admonished.
"I will. I'm not so sure about Miss Elphaba here, but –" Colin started.
"I'll be good," Elphaba interrupted as Colin helped her into the carriage.
"Good luck," the Wizard said, waving his daughter off.
"So, the smartest girl in Oz is going to the best university in Oz. Didn't see that one coming!" Colin joked from his seat across from Elphaba.
"You're hilarious!" Elphaba hissed, bring her hand to her forehead.
"Are you feeling alright, Miss Elphaba," Colin asked.
"Fine!"
"Are you nervous?"
"No!"
"Scared?"
"No!"
"Worried?"
"Shut up!"
Colin was taken back. He knew that Elphaba could be, well… Elphaba. But he never expected her to be this… mean.
"I'm sorry, Colin. You're right. I am nervous and scared and worried. I've never been outside of the Emerald City, or gone off the palace grounds for that matter. Everyone expects me to be someone that I don't think I can be," Elphaba sighed.
"Don't worry about that! Just be yourself and everyone will like you," Colin said, gently holding Elphaba's hand. Elphaba looked up and gave him a grateful smile.
Their moment was interrupted by Elphaba's coughing fit. Colin sighed as he got out a bottle of water. Elphaba stopped coughing after a full minute. Colin gently placed the water bottle into Elphaba's hands. She brought the water bottle to her lips and drank half of the bottle in five seconds.
"What are we going to do?" Colin asked, shaking his head.
"What are we going to do about what?" Elphaba questioned, taking deep breaths.
"About that cough. It seems to be getting worse every day."
Elphaba twirled strands of hair around her finger. "I don't think if there's anything we can do. I mean, this illness is eventually going to kill me, so –"
"Miss Elphaba, don't talk like that!"
"It's true! Father thinks that I don't know, but I do! I'm going to die and there's nothing anyone can do about it!"
Colin took a deep breath. He wanted to comfort Elphaba, but he didn't want to anger her anymore by arguing with her.
"We're almost there," he said in a small, almost scared, tone.
Elphaba brought her knees to her chest. Tears shimmered in her eyes.
"I'm sorry for upsetting you," Colin said, his gaze on the ground.
"No, Colin. It's not your fault. It's just something I have to accept," Elphaba sighed.
Colin opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. He was afraid that if he upset Elphaba more, she would have another coughing fit and might not pull through.
"We're here," Colin announced as the carriage came to a stop. Elphaba looked up and smiled. She was finally at Shiz University.
Colin got out of the carriage first. He gently grabbed Elphaba's hand and helped her out of the carriage.
Elphaba heard the sounds of people talking, parents saying goodbye to their children and suitcases rolling towards the dorms. She kept her gaze down, hoping that no one would recognize her and want to socialize with her. Then again, how many green girls were there in Oz?
"Miss Elphaba!" a voice called. Elphaba slightly jumped at the voice addressing her. She felt someone take her hand and gently squeeze it. "I'm so happy you could join us this year. I'm Madame Morrible, Head Shiztress here at Shiz University," the woman said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Madame Morrible. Thank you for accepting me," Elphaba smiled, quickly switching into her polite and proper voice.
"The pleasure is all our, dearie," Madame Morrible said in a sickly sweet voice.
Elphaba bit her tongue, not wanting to say something to the head. She hated it when people used that sugarcoated voice when speaking to her. She wasn't a baby!
"And who's this?" Morrible asked, looking at Colin.
"I'm… um... Colin, ma'am. I was ordered by the Wizard to help Miss Elphaba settle into her room," Colin said, tugging at his shirt.
"I see. Well, men are usually not allowed into the girls' dormitories. But, I believe that we can make an exception this once. Also, I received this letter from His Ozness yesterday," Morrible said, taking out her glasses and the note. Colin scanned it over and nodded.
"This is correct."
"What?" Elphaba asked.
"Nothing," Colin said, looking the other way.
Elphaba was about to question him further, but he gently took her arm and led her to the girls' dormitories.
"Miss Galinda Upland?" Morrible called once Elphaba and Colin were gone.
"Yes, Madame?" Galinda asked, walking over to the head.
"This year, the Wizard's daughter, Elphaba, is joining us. As you probably know, she suffers from a terrible illness. Her vision is very bad and she requires the assistance of another female. I am to assist the governor of Munchkinland's daughter, Miss Nessarose, so I am unable to help. You seem like a very capable young lady, so would you volunteer to give up your private suit to room with Miss Elphaba?" Morrible asked.
"R-Room with the Wizard's daughter?" Galinda gasped, fanning her face with her hand.
"Yes, Miss Upland."
"I-I-I would be so honored," Galinda squealed.
"Thank you. You girls will be rooming in room 203," Morrible said, giving Galinda the key to her new room.
I'm going to room with the Wizard's daughter! Galinda smiled as her grabbed her suitcase and ran to the girls' dormitories.
"Colin?" Elphaba asked while she unpacked her suitcase.
"Yes?"
"I thought that I was staying in a private suit."
"And?" Colin asked, suddenly becoming worried.
"There are two beds in this room."
Rats! Colin thought! I hoped that she wouldn't notice.
"Colin?"
"Yes?"
"I'm not stupid! What's going on?" Elphaba shouted.
"Now, Miss Elphaba, please try to calm down while I explain," Colin said, throwing his hands in front of him to defend himself.
"Explain what?" Elphaba roared.
Galinda stood in the doorway, watching the exchange between Elphaba and Colin. She went unnoticed for about two minutes. Colin noticed her and smiled.
"Ah, you must be Miss Elphaba's roommate. Charmed," he said, kissing Galinda's hand, causing Galinda to blush.
Elphaba looked shocked. "What?"
"Your father requested that you have a roommate while staying at Shiz," Colin explained.
"Why?" Elphaba asked, more harshly than she intended.
"Hello, Miss Elphaba. I'm Galinda Arduenna Upland of the Upper Uplands," Galinda introduced herself, trying to help Colin.
"Why?" Elphaba repeated, totally ignoring Galinda.
"He's worried about you."
"I'm not a baby!"
"Now, is there anything that you would like me to report back to your father?" Colin asked, talking out a pad and pencil.
"Colin…" Elphaba growled darkly.
"Colin," he recorded. "Is that with one exclamation point or two?"
"COLIN!" Elphaba roared.
"Two it is!" Colin smiled, placing the pad and pencil back in his pocket. "Have a wonderful stay at Shiz." Colin flashed Galinda an apologetic smile before running out of the room.
Galinda nervously shifted her weight. She had to find some way to start a conversation with Elphaba.
"Do you need any help unpacking, Miss Elphaba?" Galinda asked, walking to Elphaba's suitcase and starting to unpack it. Elphaba slapped Galinda's hand away, producing a small scream from the petite blonde.
"I don't need your help!" Elphaba shouted.
Galinda jumped back, shocked by Elphaba's sudden outburst. "But, Miss Elphaba, I-"
"You are not needed or wanted! Now, get out!" Elphaba roared at her.
Galinda stared her down before huffing and storming out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
She walked up to Madame Morrible's office and knocked on the door.
"Miss Upland, is something wrong?" Morrible asked when she opened the door and found a very distressed Galinda standing in the doorway.
"Miss Elphaba doesn't wish for me to be her roommate. I request a change," Galinda said with as much dignity as she could muster.
"I'm terribly sorry, Miss Galinda. It's too late to switch. You two will just have to find some way to get along."
"What?" Galinda asked.
Morrible shook her head and closed the door.
Galinda huffed her way back to her room.
"Look, Madame Morrible said that it was too late to change. I gave up my private suit to be here, so we're stuck with each other. If you don't like it, you can try to talk to her, but she'll just tell you the same thing she told me!" Galinda yelled as she opened the door.
She gasped when she saw Elphaba lying on the floor, not moving. She rushed to her and shook her arm. No response.
"Miss Elphaba!" Galinda called.
She gulped. The Wizard's daughter cannot be dead! Oh Oz, she can't be! Galinda quickly pressed her lips against Elphaba's mouth, forcing air into her lungs. Galinda continued this action until she heard Elphaba's faint heartbeat. She sighed in relief when Elphaba opened her eyes.
"M-Miss Galinda?" Elphaba asked, forcing herself into a sitting position.
"Mmhmm," Galinda muttered, still upset with Elphaba for yelling at her.
"P-Please forgive me for my behavior earlier. I know you were only trying to help," Elphaba huffed, gasping for air.
"It's alright, Miss Elphaba," Galinda said, rising to her feet and walking over to her bed.
"Can we start over?" Elphaba asked, also rising to her feet and sitting down on her bed.
Galinda turned around to look at Elphaba. She had her hands neatly folded in her lap and her gaze was on the floor. She must not have had an easy life, even though she is the Wizard's daughter, Galinda thought, suddenly pitying the green girl. She walked over to Elphaba's bed and sat down, taking one of Elphaba's hands into her own. "I would love to start over and become friends!"
Elphaba looked up at Galinda and smiled. "I've never had a friend before."
"Really?" Galinda asked, shocked.
Elphaba slowly shook her head. "I'm not really the biggest social butterfly in Oz."
"Well, then, I would be honored to be your first friend!"
Elphaba looked at her roommate and smiled. "Thank you. I would really enjoy that."