Elphaba slept like a baby that night. It felt good to have a friend. She really enjoyed having Miss Galinda there to help her. She woke up early the next morning, almost forgetting that she was at Shiz University. When she heard Galinda's steady breathing next to her, she quickly remembered the events of the night before. She sat up in her bed and hugged her knees.

"Miss Elphaba?" Galinda asked, opening her eyes and looking at Elphaba.

"Good morning," Elphaba smiled, looking in Galinda's direction.

"How are you?"

"Fine. Why do you ask?"

"I'm just wondering. It's what people say to great one another."

"Oh, is it? Forgive me. How are you, Miss Galinda?"

"Very well, thank you," Galinda giggled as she jumped on Elphaba's bed. "Did you sleep well?"

"I suppose," Elphaba sighed.

Galinda looked down, wondering if she should keep the conversation going.

"What time is it?" Elphaba asked, breaking the silence.

"5:00. We should probably get ready for classes," Galinda said, helping Elphaba to her feet. "Do you need any help?"

Elphaba looked down as Galinda grabbed her arm. Galinda quickly learned that Elphaba hated asking for help.

"Please," Elphaba whispered.

Galinda smiled. She quickly helped Elphaba pick out her clothes for the day and led her to the bathroom. When Elphaba came out, Galinda was waiting for her with a hairbrush.

"May I brush your hair?" Galinda asked shyly.

"Why?" Elphaba responded, stunned.

"It looks so beautiful."

"A-Alright," Elphaba smiled, sitting down on her bed as Galinda brushed her hair.

Elphaba lifted her hand to her head, rubbing her temple.

"Am I hurting you, Miss Elphaba?" Galinda asked, scared that she was inflicting pain on the Wizard's daughter.

"N-No, Miss Galinda. You're not hurting me. And… you can just call me Elphaba, if you want," Elphaba said, playing with her fingers.

Galinda squealed. She was becoming Elphaba's friend. "Thank you… Elphaba. And you can call me… Galinda!"

Elphaba smiled.

"I'm finished!" Galinda announced, stepping back to admire her work. "You look very pretty with your hair down!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

"You know," Elphaba laughed. "I've been told that I was pretty my entire life. I always thought that it was people trying to make me feel better about myself. And I've never really believed that I was pretty until now. Thank you!"

Galinda wrapped her arms around Elphaba and hugged her. "You are pretty. And I really mean that!"

"Thank you! I really appreciate you being my friend!"

Galinda wiped a tear from her eye. She quickly helped Elphaba to her feet and led her to the door.

Once they were in the café, Galinda and Elphaba sat down at a table near the window.

"Are you hungry?" Galinda asked, getting up to leave the table.

Elphaba shook her head. "You can go. I'll be fine."

Galinda looked skeptical, but she eventually left Elphaba to get herself some breakfast. Once Elphaba was sure that Galinda was gone, she quickly pulled out a book and opened it. She found that if people saw that she was busy reading or studying, they wouldn't bother with talking to her. And that was fine with Elphaba. She didn't really like to socialize with other people.

Galinda came back with a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea.

"I got you some tea, Elphaba. You should get really try to eat something," Galinda said, placing the cup in front of Elphaba.

"Thank you," Elphaba smiled, feeling the hot steam floating up to her nose. It smelt of green tea and honey.

"What are you reading?" Galinda asked, sitting across from her roommate.

"Well, I wasn't really reading. I found out a while ago that no one talks to me if it looks like I'm busy."

"You don't want people to talk to you?"

"It's not that. It's just… I was never a very social person. I don't like it when I let people into my world too easily."

"Do you feel insecure?"

Elphaba squirmed in her seat. "I guess you could say that."

"I'm going to help you!"

"What?"

"I'm gonna help you become popular!"

"Please don't."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"No!"

"Elphaba!"

"You're just going to keep asking me until I say yes, aren't you?"

"You're correct!"

"Fine!"

Galinda's face lit up. "First things first. Nicknames. Elphie! Is it alright if I call you Elphie?"

"It's a little perky."

"I'll take that as a yes," Galinda smiled. "And you can call me… well, Galinda. Miss Elphaba, you have just enrolled yourself in a new class!"

"A new class?" Elphaba questioned, sipping her tea.

"Galinda's Course on How to be Popular!" Galinda said proudly.

Elphaba almost choked. "How to be popular?"

"Yes, Elphie! You need to socialize! Life is easier when you have friends."

"I've lived without friends for this long!"

"And what do you have to show for it, exactly?"

"Good grades!"

Galinda sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought. "Alright, Elphaba! You require seven lessons. Which is not too bad, considering that I've given more."

"Lessons?"

"Yes, and your first lesson will begin right after classes! You will be going shopping with ShenShen, Pfannee and me!" Galinda proudly declared.

"And what lesson is this?" Elphaba questioned.

"How to properly go shopping!"

Elphaba leaned back in her chair. There was no point in arguing with Galinda. She knew that she would eventually have to give in. "Okay, I will go on this shopping spree with you," she huffed, putting 'shopping spree' in bunny quotes.

Galinda smiled and gently held Elphaba's hand. "Thank you."

"We should probably get to class now," Elphaba said, slowly rising out of her seat before Galinda could come up with more 'popular' ideas.

Galinda nodded as she led Elphaba out of the café and back towards their classes.

"Are you ready, Elphie?" Galinda asked as she and Elphaba walked back to the café, where they were supposed to meet ShenShen and Pfannee.

"Not really," Elphaba whispered, gripping Galinda's hand.

"Don't worry about anything, Elphaba! You'll be fine."

"If you say so," Elphaba responded.

"Hello, girls!" Galinda smiled, noticing that ShenShen and Pfannee were already there, waiting for them.

"Hello Galinda. Miss Elphaba, it's so nice that you could join us," Pfannee smiled.

Elphaba looked up and offered them a slight smile.

"Come on, or we'll be late!" Galinda exclaimed, gently pulling Elphaba towards the door.

The girls went on a long shopping trip. Elphaba managed to hold back a groan as Galinda dragged her into store, after store, after store, after… you get it! They went to a lot of stores! They were just about to go back, when ShenShen perked up.

"Wait, we haven't bought anything for Miss Elphaba," she observed, trying to carry her multiple shopping bags.

"That's really unnecessary," Elphaba said, slowly shaking her head.

"ShenShen's right. We must buy Miss Elphaba a new outfit!" Pfannee perked up.

"I really don't have a need for new clothes."

"Elphaba, we're not going shopping because we need new clothes. We're going shopping because it's a fun way to bond. What kind of a friend would I be if I dragged you on this outing and didn't buy you anything?" Galinda asked.

"A good one?" Elphaba suggested.

Galinda gently tugged on Elphaba's arm. "Please?" she begged.

"Well, if it will make you happy, please feel free to dress me up like a doll."

Galinda laughed as she led Elphaba into a little boutique. She went through fifteen dress racks before she finally pulled out a pretty, medium length, dark purple dress with a satin bow in the back. She also pulled out a bunch of other dresses, all of different styles, colors and lengths.

"Which one do you like best?" Galinda asked, struggling to remain standing while holding about fifty different dresses. "There's this pink one, this green one, this purple one, this red –" she suddenly stopped herself, realizing how insensitive she was being.

"Galinda… I…" Elphaba started, her hand flying to her stomach as her gaze fell on the floor.

"I'm sorry," Galinda whispered, dropping all of the dresses to the floor. "I forgot that you can't –"

"No. It's not you," Elphaba said quickly. Galinda didn't feel any better. Elphaba hoped that she didn't force Galinda into a state of pity for her. That's the last thing she wanted. Elphaba walked up to the pile of dresses at Galinda's feet and randomly selected a dress. It was the dark purple dress with the satin bow in the back.

"I can try on this one, if you want me to," Elphaba said, holding the dress up against her body.

"It's getting late. Are you tired? We should probably go," Galinda said so quickly that it sounded like one big word. She quickly grabbed Elphaba's hand and led her out the door.

"Galinda, wait!" Elphaba said, pulling her hand away from Galinda. "First, even though I'm the Wizard's daughter, that doesn't mean I can walk out of a store with a dress that I didn't pay for." Galinda cracked a smile. "And second, to answer your question, I like this one."

"But –"

"I like this one because you picked it out for me and I trust you," Elphaba smiled, reaching for Galinda's hand. Galinda giggled as she took the emerald green hand into her own.

"We still have time. I told Pfannee and ShenShen to meet me in the café later," Galinda said as she and Elphaba walked back to the dressing rooms together.

Elphaba came out a few minutes later. She dress looked absolutely stunning on her. Elphaba did a little circle, showing off more of the dress.

"How does it look on me?" Elphaba asked, giving Galinda a weak smile.

"You look stunning!" Galinda exclaimed.

Elphaba shifted her weight. She didn't fully believe Galinda, but she appreciated her kind words.

"I know you don't believe me, Elphie, but I'm telling you the truth. You look amazing," Galinda said, as if reading Elphaba's mind.

Elphaba chuckled and went to put her regular clothes back on. When she came out again, Galinda took the dress and paid for it.

"You really didn't have to buy me the dress, Galinda," Elphaba said as they left the boutique.

"That's what friends do, Elphie!" Galinda chirped.

"Galinda, can you promise me something?"

"Sure! Anything."

"Promise me that you will never lie to me."

"What?"

"Promise me that you will never lie to me."

"Why would I –"

"Some people think that I can't handle the truth. They keep things hidden from me. They think that it's best for me, but sometimes, it isn't."

"Do you still think that I was lying when I said you look beautiful?"

Elphaba didn't respond.

"Elphie, I wasn't lying. I would never lie to you. I don't want to risk loosing you as a friend."

"Promise?"

"I, Galinda Arduenna Upland of the Upper Uplands, solemnly promise to never lie to you, Elphaba, the daughter of His Ozness, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz," Galinda promised, squeezing Elphaba's hand.

"Thank you."

"Lesson one is complete. Tomorrow, we shall begin lesson two."

"What's lesson two?"

"Make-overs!"

"Lurline, help us!"

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